They returned to Lassie’s desk to wait for an answer.  Meanwhile, Palar and Suina were back at the Foundation, going over plans for the following day.  Their mentors, L’wana and J’ahara, were assisting in the plan.

“We may need to kidnap another human for your plan to work,” L’wana said.

“No, we shouldn’t put any more humans in danger.  It should be one of us.  I believe it should be you, J’ahara.  You are the strongest of the four of us, and you’ve been on the planet the longest.  You know more about these humans,” Palar said.

J’ahara contemplated for a moment, “I suppose, but what are you going to do?”

Palar looked at Suina, then back at their superiors, “This is what we’re going to do.”

Shawn, Juliet, Lassie and Gus were now in the Chief’s office.  They were explaining the information when she held up a hand to stop them.

“Is this police business?” she asked.

The four looked at each other, then Shawn answered, “Well, not exactly, Chief.  We needed Lassie’s help with the fake FBI agents.”

“So this is a private case?” she asked.

“No.  Chief, these people made a threat toward Shawn,” Gus said.

“They threatened you, Mr. Spencer?” Chief Vick asked.

“No, not exactly.  Gus is just being over dramatic.  They said they wanted me to come with them to test my abilities,” Shawn corrected.

“How do you know they were fake agents?” she asked.

“I…” Shawn looked over at Juliet, “I could see it on their badges, Chief.  There’s a distinctive mark on real FBI badges.  These two didn’t have that mark. I know it’s illegal to impersonate an agent, so that’s why I involved Lassie and Jules.”

Lassie looked at him, “I thought you *sensed* they were fake,” he demanded.

“Well, I never got around to telling you the part about their badges,” Shawn said, mentally slapping himself for the slip.

The Chief stood behind her desk, looking at the two consultants and her two detectives.  She studied them all for a long moment before speaking again.

“Mr. Spencer,” she started, “Normally, I would’ve said that my detectives are not to be involved.  However, you are employees of the SBPD, and these people are impersonating agents of the FBI, then I will allow it.  But,” she added, “I want to be involved in every step of the way.  Is that clear?”

The four of them nodded, leaving the Chief to her own devices.  Once outside, they began to talk about the similarities between the agents and the couple from the day before.

“Number one, they were very interested in your abilities,” Gus said.

“Number two, the agents today were, also,” Shawn added.

“As well, Shawn,” Gus said.

“I’ve heard it both ways,” Shawn replied nonchalantly.

“Let’s continue,” Juliet said, giving her boyfriend a look, “Number three,” she started.  She looked at her partner, “Wait, there isn’t a number three, is there?”

Shawn was about to open his mouth, when he was cut off by Gus, “No, there isn’t, Juliet.”

“Okay, then let’s go back to yesterday with the couple.  I,” Lassie started, but looked up to find Henry standing there with a look on his face.

“Dad?  What are you doing here?” Shawn asked.

“Shawn, I need to talk to you a moment,” he answered.

“Um, okay.  Be right back,” Shawn said hesitantly.

The two walked into the conference room and shut the door before speaking again.  Henry turned to his son with concern.

“Shawn, those people yesterday worried me.  They seemed to be too involved in the case.  As if they set it up,” he said.

“My thoughts exactly, Dad.  Today, they came to the office, impersonating FBI agents.  Well, that’s Lassie’s theory, anyway.  They did look a lot like them, so it’s not far off point,” Shawn said.

“FBI?  Are you sure they weren’t really agents?” Henry asked.

“Dad, you taught me long ago about the badges.  Things haven’t changed, they still have that secret mark that makes them impossible to forge.  These two didn’t have that mark,” Shawn replied.

Henry considered this, “What did they want?”

“They wanted to test my “psychic” powers,” Shawn answered simply.

His dad’s eyebrows raised, “Say what?  Shawn, if they were to do that…”

“I know, Dad.  They’ll expose me.  Jules is worried about that, too.  But I’ll get them before they try that,” Shawn said.

“Don’t be over confident, Shawn,” Henry warned.

Shawn nodded, then turned to walk out.  Henry placed his hand on his son’s shoulder, stopping him. 

“Be careful.  Agents or not, they’re obviously after something.  Keep your wits about you,” he said.

“My wits?  Dad, really?”

“Whatever, Shawn!  Just don’t get into trouble.  I’d say protect yourself, but I’m sure you’d twist it around,” Henry said, then walked out in a huff.

Shawn stood, open-mouthed with a comment on his lips, but watched in silence as his dad walked away. 

Gus walked in, watching Henry walk away.  He turned to Shawn in question.

“What was that about?” he asked.

“Dad told me to watch my back.  He’s actually worried about me,” Shawn said, looking at Gus.

“I don’t blame him, Shawn.  Juliet’s worried and so am I.  Come on, we need to get back to the Psych office.  Lassiter said there’s not much that can be done until tomorrow, anyway,” he replied.

Shawn followed, but still had that shiver down his spine.  Almost as if he knew things wouldn’t turn out, well, good.  He could hear his dad’s voice in his head, “Be careful.”

Out the door he went, behind his best friend.  Juliet stayed behind to help Lassiter with the case from the day before. 

Outside, the air felt different to Shawn.  It felt, ominous; as if there were something brewing on the horizon.  He looked around, halfway expecting those two people to appear and grab him. 

‘Great, now I’m paranoid,’ he thought as he climbed into Gus’ car. 

“You all right?” Gus asked as they pulled out of the SBPD drive.

“Yeah.  Drop me off at home, okay?  I’ll meet up with you tomorrow at Psych,” Shawn answered, looking out the window.

Gus shrugged, but did as Shawn asked.  When he did drop him off, Gus watched as his friend walked into the house and shut the door.  He’d been quiet the entire way.

‘I hope he’s all right,’ Gus thought as he made his way back to his apartment.

Shawn sat inside, looking at old photos that were taken when he was a kid.  Some with Gus, some with his parents, then more with Gus.  He then saw one with Gus and Dennis, and his mind replayed the case of the oil guru who faked alien abduction to buy property. 

“Why would I remember that now?” he asked himself.  He put the picture back and closed the album, yawning in the process. 

Instead of going into the bedroom, Shawn turned off the light and drifted off to sleep on the couch, with a million things on his mind.