Teasing Help
a Psych story
by Meg
From his spot on the edge of Juliet's desk Shawn Spencer had a perfect view of the other detective's desk across the room. Even though he had been eating and talking to the two people around him, Shawn couldn't help but keep the other man in the corner of his eye.
Carlton Lassiter had been trying to hold back a sneeze for almost ten minutes. Shawn could tell it by the way the man had been wiggling his nose around, the way his eyes squinted, the way his breath hitched for a split second, a brief lapse in control here and there, all the while not giving up on the paperwork that lay on the desk in front of him.
Shawn finally couldn't stand it anymore, Lassie needed help.
Shawn stared up at the ceiling, fluorescent light bursting in his eyes; he squinted against the light for a moment, focusing his gaze in just the right spot to get the reaction he needed. It didn't take too much time for the desired effect to take hold, causing Shawn to sneeze.
There was a scattering of blesses from around the room but not one from Lassiter.
Gus and Juliet continued their conversation and Shawn pretended to listen.
Shawn frowned.
Lassiter continued to read his paperwork.
Shawn looked up again; the lights hit his eyes causing Shawn to blink rapidly in reaction. He stared at the light for a minute fully aware that Juliet and Gus were watching him.
After setting his Chinese food carton and chopsticks on the desk, Shawn swallowed; wanting to make sure his mouth was empty before he tickled the roof of the mouth with his tongue. It took a few seconds, but after a few swipes back and forth, Shawn sneezed.
"Shawn, are you okay?" Juliet asked, concerned.
Shawn held up his hand. Another swipe, another sneeze.
Gus didn't share in Juliet's reaction. With one look over at Lassiter, Gus figured out exactly what his friend was up to.
"Shawn!" Gus chided, almost feeling bad for the detective.
"Gus--" Shawn rubbed his palm against his nose, "I know what I'm doing." Finished for the time being, Shawn stopped to take a quick glace across the room.
From far away Lassiter almost appeared to be reading, but Shawn could see that the man's eyes were fluttering, hovering between closed and open. Shawn bit his bottom lip in anticipation, almost as if he was going to sneeze himself.
No such luck. Lassiter pinched the bridge of his nose between his eyes then quickly rubbed at the bottom of his nose. As Lassiter opened his eyes, Shawn could see that he was looking straight in his direction.
Lassiter frowned.
Shawn sighed.
Time to get serious.
Shawn reached into his pocket and pulled out a wadded napkin into which he quickly and very dramatically blew his nose, making sure to end with a loud, "Oh, God that felt good!"
Lassiter finally looked up from his paperwork, eyebrow peaked.
"My nose just started bothering me all of a sudden. I don't know what's wrong; maybe someone is trying to tell me something." Shawn got up from his perch on the desk and made his way across the room, arms outstretched he stopped in front of Lassiter's desk.
"Lassie, I'm getting something from you. It's a very strong sensation; I could feel it all the way across the room."
"Leave me alone, Spencer. I'm warning you…" Lassiter growled while taking one last wipe at his nose.
By this time, Juliet and Gus had made there way over as well and stood across from Shawn and Lassiter on the other side of the desk. Shawn moved in closer, practically sitting on Lassiter`s lap. "C'mon, I know there's something bothering you, it's affecting your aura."
Lassiter did his best to ignore the man in front of him. "No--nothing is wrong. Now, hit the road, Spencer!"
"Now, now, Lassie," Shawn clucked his tongue. "I can tell there is something going on, something irritating you--"
"You mean besides yourself?"
Shawn chuckled then used the tip of his tongue to tickle the roof of his mouth again. "Carlton," he sneezed, "Lassiter," and again then shook his head. "Oh, wow. Yeah, definitely something. I know you can feel it too," he placed a hand on Lassiter's head.
Shawn's dramatics were both annoying and influencing Lassiter's mind. Shawn could tell that Lassiter was slowly letting his guard down, distracted by the fake psychic's flailing about than the tickle in his nose.
"Shawn, I think it's time to leave Detective Lassiter to his work," Juliet said, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Almost…" Shawn moved his hand from Lassiter's head to his forehead, his cheek, before it came to rest under the other man's nose. "There."
Lassiter crossed his eyes in an attempt to see what Shawn was doing. "Spencer!" He made a grab for Shawn's hand.
"Shhh. It's okay now, let the tickle go. You'll feel so much better when it's gone." Shawn placed his hand back on Lassiter's head and started to pet.
Juliet blushed, covering her eyes with her hand. Gus walked away, making his way to the exit.
Lassiter gritted his teeth, "You reh-eally need to go."
Shawn heard Lassiter's breath hitch and smiled. "Yep, the feeling is going now. It's finally going to leave." With one last pat, Shawn quickly glanced at the ceiling, forcing a final sneeze for temptation's sake before leaving Lassiter to his work once again.
Shawn took his spot on the edge of Juliet's desk again and picked up his food where he left off. Poking his chopsticks around in the Chow Mien, Shawn pretended to watch Juliet and Gus talk over something or other all the while locking Carlton Lassiter into his peripheral vision. It didn't take more than two minutes before the man was at it again, inconspicuous rubs and sniffles here and there, a soft cough.
Then two or so minutes after that it happened.
If Shawn hadn't been watching so carefully he would have missed it as everyone else in the office seemed to. Carlton Lassiter brought his head to the crook of his arm and sneezed. A moment passed then another, this time Lassiter cupping his hands over his mouth and nose. It was a small, quick burst that left as soon as it had come (minus the build-up).
Shawn watched as Lassiter's cheeks flushed, silently groaning he wiped his hand on a handkerchief he pulled from his pocket. The man then pushed away from the desk and made for the restroom. Despite Lassiter's embarrassment, Shawn smiled truly hoping he prevented Lassiter's head from imploding from the sinus pressure building inside.
Disclaimer: Not mine so no moolah was made.