"Hold up! The punch is what?" interrupted Gus, looking into his glass with disgust.

"Spiked, Burton. The punch is spiked. Haven't you been keeping up with my awesome poem?" Shawn cleared his throat dramatically to continue, but Gus just scoffed.

"You do this every year, Shawn. I stopped listening around year 3." Gus was still inspecting the contents in his cup.

Shawn thought for a moment before he nodded his head. "Fair enough. At least let me finish though. Now where was I? Oh, yes. Ahem; Buzz is passing out presents with a child-like glee, and I'm sure he's the only one actually enjoying this Christmas party. Lassie looks mad, he's heading right toward us. Let's hope that the first one he attacks is Gus. If I don't end now, he'll cause a big fright so Merry Christmas to all and-"

"SPENCER!!"

Shawn quickly hopped out of Lassiter's chair and moved to stand behind Gus. Gus grabbed Shawn's arm and forcefully pulled him so that he was the one in front. Shawn was standing face-to-face with the head detective before he had time to react. Well, face-to-chest really. Shawn's nose was about an inch away from Carlton's suited pectorals.

"How many times have I told you to stay away from my desk?" He was just not in the mood to deal with this psych-o. Lassiter's voice was low and dangerous, but Shawn took the bait anyway. His nerves were working, also, and just wouldn't let him shy away.

"Does telling me to, and I quote, ‘beat it' count?" The fake psychic counted to three before he heard the head detective growl. "I'll take that as a yes, which my response would then be many, many times. Which is going to turn into one more since I left my box of Razzles on your desk." Shawn made to move toward the desk, only to be stopped by a death-grip which resembled that of his upper bicep being stuck inside an inner-tube.

"If I catch you by my desk one more time, I will not hesitate to shoot. Tonight is the night you do not want to piss me off, Spencer." Lassiter's threat was whispered very close to Shawn's ear, giving him an involuntary shiver.

Gus slowly intervened and little needles pricked Shawn's fingers as the circulation began to flow through his arm again. Shawn rubbed his arm and rolled his eyes at the head detective. Lassiter growled once again and stepped closer to the ‘psychic'. Gus moved forward and positioned himself in-between the two bantering ‘friends'.

"Look, Lassiter. Shawn is just a little hyped for the holidays, so he has a little more energy that usual. We'll be out of your way right now if you just hold off on killing him," said Gus. Carlton gave the duo a curt nod. Shawn's only response was another eye roll. "Big mistake, Buck-o," thought Lassiter.

"It must have been so hard growing up so spoiled in a house with good parents, huh, Spencer?"
Shawn's eyes hardened, sort of resembling steel shutters coming to a close. His whole demeanor changed as he tensed, all humor visibly deflating from his body. "And what would you know about my life, Detective." Shawn spit the word out as if it were poison, obviously using it as an insult. "But of course, this coming from the lonely child with no one to love." Lassiter's eyes widened with shock.

"Shawn!" Gus shouted, echoed by two more new voices. Shawn spun around, all traces of anger gone as he flung himself toward Henry and Madeline Spencer.

"Mom!" yelled Shawn as he wrapped his arms around Maddie. "You're here!"

"Oh, Goose. I've missed you so much. I'm so happy I could make it. Now what in the world is going on over here?" Shawn reluctantly let go of his mom and stepped back with a tight smile.

"Detective Lassiter and I were just discussing our plans for the holidays. It was all very interesting, but we should leave so that the our dinner doesn't burn. Dad has become quite the Chef, you know." Shawn tried to pull his mother to the exit, but she just stepped out of his reach and turned to the head detective.

"And what are you up to for the holidays, Carlton?"

"Well, actu-" Lassiter was cut off before he could even start.

"He's having a nice holiday with his 9 mm. He likes to clean it excessively, over and over. Now let's go," Shawn urged. Carlton shot him a hard glare with narrowed eyes. Spencer was only half right.

"Well, that's no fun. Why don't you join us? I'm sure we have plenty of food and we'd love he company. Right, Henry?" Madeline smiled at her ex-husband.

Henry smiled back and nodded. "Sure thing, Carlton. Come join us."

"No!" yelled Shawn. Four sets of eyes quickly focused on him and he laughed nervously. "I mean, Lassie here probably has so much to do. He doesn't want to eat with us, so let's go please."

"Actually, I'd love to, Madeline. Count me in." Lassiter had no intention of going at first - c'mon, a whole evening with Spencer? - but the pseudo-psychic's response made him change his mind. It was going to be so much fun messing with the child-like man.

"Please, call me ‘Maddie'."

"Please, call me ‘Maddie'," Shawn mocked quietly, dragging behind the rest of group as they headed towards the exit. "Worst. Christmas. Ever."

*~*~*~*~*~*

Henry, Madeline, Shawn and Lassiter were all seated at Henry Spencer's living room table, mountains of amazing food spread out in front of them. Gus had gone home to spend the holidays with his own family, promising to stop by later to exchange gifts.

"Thank you again for having me, both of you. I really appreciate it." Lassiter smiled sweetly at the two older Spencers before he turned a smug grin to the youngest of the group. Shawn narrowed his eyes at the Irish man before forcefully slapping a spoon of mashed potatoes onto his plate. Henry gave his son a stern look that said ‘behave' before turning to their guest.

"It was our pleasure, Lassiter, really," Henry said with a genuine smile. "So, tell us a bit about yourself."

"Does he really have to? We work with him everyday, I think we can shove past the formalities. Oh, better idea! Let's play pin the tail on the Lassie!" Shawn said sarcastically. Henry sighed and raised a brow. Shawn picked up a pea and flicked it at Lassiter, his eyes purposely remaining focused on his father's.

"Hey!" cried Lassie as the pea hit his eye. Shawn gave his enemy - Lassie was his enemy for the night - a wry smile.

"Really, son? Are you really going to start this so early? I wish you would just act normal for one night, at least." Shawn scoffed and opened his mouth to reply, but his mother beat him to it.

"Henry, be nice. You, too, Goose. This is going to be a good Christmas, ok?" Maddie's tone left no room for argument, father and son nodding in unison.

The small talk lasted about a half hour before Maddie, Henry and Lassiter delved into the detective talk. To Shawn, it was all ‘geek-speak'. He was shut out of the conversation, as always. He sighed loudly and moved his fork around his plate, appetite completely gone. He closed his eyes and sighed again, flinching as something small and wet harassed his nose. His eyes snapped open and zoomed in on the lone piece of corn on his plate. He hated corn.

Shawn looked up to see Lassiter still in conversation with his parents, but a newly formed smirk sitting on the Irish man's face. Shawn huffed and picked up his bread roll, slathered butter all over it, and launched it directly at the man sitting across from him. He punched the air in victory as the roll hit its mark. He burst out into laughter as the bread slid down the head detective's forehead and dropped onto his lap. Lassiter was not as amused, however. He stood and picked up the bowl of mashed potatoes in retaliation and dumped them on top of the younger man's head. Shawn shot to his feet and reached for the bowl of marshmallowed yams, but his hand was stopped mid-reach. He looked up into the eyes of his father and gave up, shoulders slumping in defeat.

"That is quite enough. Both of you, living room, now," Henry demanded. Shawn jerked his hand back and bee-lined toward the couch. Lassiter followed, meeting up with Spencer at the doorway. Shawn saw him come closer and picked up his pace, silently starting a race. Carlton picked up on the challenge and started to go faster himself. Shawn put an arm out to hinder the detective's attempt to gain lead, only to be pulled back by said detective.

"It's on like Donkey Kong, old man," muttered Shawn as he turned back and took the detective to the floor.

An ear-splitting whistle stopped both men mid-wrestle. Henry stepped forward and took both men gruffly by their collars and sat them on the couch. Lassiter's hand connected with the back of Shawn's head as Shawn's fist found its way into Carlton's gut.

"Enough!" shouted Henry and Maddie at the same time.

"What is wrong with you two?" Maddie looked back and forth between Shawn and Carlton.

"Why am I not surprised? This always happens, Shawn. I'm very disappointed in you."

"Story of my life, Dad." Shawn stood abruptly and hurried out onto the back porch. Henry shook his head and looked to his ex-wife, who in return sighed. Maddie moved to go talk to the youngest Spencer, but Lassiter stood and held up a hand.

"Let me," he said softly. Maddie nodded and Lassiter slowly made his way to the back porch. He stopped at the sliding door, a wave of guilt washing over him. Great, now he felt bad for Spencer. He grabbed the handle and slid the door open, closing it softly behind him. He squinted into the dark, letting his eyes adjust, and quickly found Shawn leaning on the railing. He shuffled over and positioned himself next to the younger man, letting the silence stretch out between them.

"I'm sorry, Lassie." It was so quiet that Lassiter almost convinced himself that he'd imagined it. Almost. "I shouldn't have said what I did to you back at the station and I sure as hell shouldn't of acted the way I did in there." Shawn pointed his finger toward the inside of the house. "I've just been nervous all day, and sometimes I let my nerves get the best of me."

Carlton sighed and rubbed a hand across his slimy face. "It doesn't help that I was the one who started it. I should be the one apologizing, Spencer. I only came because I knew it would bug the hell outta you."

"It was never about you. I mean, I don't mind that you came, I just...This was going to be the first Christmas in a very long time where my mom, dad and I were going to spend it together. I guess I just wanted....I dunno. Whatever." Shawn forced out a laugh to cover up his discomfort. "Here." Shawn shoved a small box into the palm of Carlton's hand. "It's not much, but I thought you'd like it."

Carlton was speechless. He wasn't expecting this, not in the least. They'd never gotten along, not really. He thought he'd had the younger man pegged, but the surprises just kept on coming. He let his eyes fall to the small box in his hand and slowly opened it. Inside was a key chain of some sort, medium-sized and light.

Carlton picked it up and studied it, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. It was a small replica of his gun, under it dangled the words "#1 Detective".

"I know it's cheesy, but....yeah."

"No, it's not. Thank you, Spencer. I really like it," Lassiter said softly.

"Shawn."

"What?"

"You can call me ‘Shawn' outside of work." The ‘psychic' sounded amused. Lassiter laughed softly and nodded.

"Ok....Shawn. And you can call me Carlton. But only outside of work." Lassiter couldn't believe he actually felt this at ease around this menace - wait, not a menace anymore....this man - and had offered up his first name willingly. Still, he couldn't help but grin when he heard Spencer - Shawn - give a small chuckle. Who would have thought that the first friend, who was actually choosing to be his friend, would be Spencer?

"You got it.....Carltoes.....Carliston....Carmello....Sorry, can't do it, Lassie-pants."

The two shared another laugh before Shawn pushed himself off of the railing. He reached up and pulled a lumped of mashed potatoes out of his hair and offered it to Lassiter. "How about we go in and finish whatever is left of dinner?"

"Sounds good. But you can have the potatoes," replied Lassiter as he straightened and pushed away the out-stretched hand. Shawn scoffed and headed inside.

"Merry Christmas, Carlton," Shawn threw over his shoulder before he disappeared into the house. Lassiter stared at the empty doorway and smiled, glad he'd decided to come.

"And to all a good night," he said, following behind his new friend. Not that he'd ever admit it in public.