Title: Bonus 3
Author: tarotgal
Fandom: Psych
Rating: G
Pairing: None
Disclaimer: Not my characters, not my 'verse. I don't get paid a cent to play. Please don't sue and make things worse.
Summary: Gus isn't stubborn so much as sick.
Note: Part of the 12 Ficlets in 12 Days project 2009-2010. Written as a bonus for symphonyflute

Day 1

Bouncing with excitement, Shawn grabbed his phone and hit the speed dial.

Gus: Hello?
Shawn: Hey, Buddy. Grab your stuff. We've got a case. Some jet-setting businessman was murdered. Gotta go.
Gus: Shawn, I told you this morning, I'm sick.
Shawn: You weren't sick yesterday.
Gus: This cold comes on… fast. huhChoo!
Shawn: Bless you. Sounds fake to me.
Gus: Then why did you say 'Bless you'?
Shawn: Blessing a person after he sneezes is what separates us from the animals.
Gus: Animals can't speak, Shawn.
Shawn: Exactly. So, you coming?
Gus: No.
Shawn: But no one can do this with me the way you can.
Gus: You can do it without me.
Shawn: Maybe… but it won't be as much fun.

Day 2

The evidence from the crime scene was spread out across the desk in the otherwise empty office. He was sure he had missed something important, but he just couldn't see it. He looked over the photos of the bedroom, then the mini-bar. Then he grabbed the photo of the medicine cabinet and dialed his phone.

Gus: Hello?”
Shawn: It's me.
Gus: What do you… hahChoo! What do you want, Shawn?
Shawn: Bless you. I need help with a couple cases.
Gus: You have more than one now?
Shawn: Yep. There's the murder… and the other case. It's about three feet by five feet by two feet.

There was a long pause.

Shawn: It's a case of pineapples.
Gus: Why do you… wait, don't answer. I can't take this right now. I need to sleep, Shawn.
Shawn: It's just a cold.
Gus: People have died from colds!
Shawn: What people?
Gus: I don't know… people.
Shawn: In the Middle Ages, maybe.
Gus: I'm a medical professional, Shawn. I know what I'm talking about.
Shawn: You sell pharmaceuticals. Speaking of which, can I read a few names of medications to you?

There was another pause, and then a deep sigh.

Gus: Hurry up before I have to sneeze again.

Day 3

“That's it!” Shawn exclaimed. He thought briefly about pulling the car over and giving the photos another look, but he knew his memory was perfect. Now all he needed to do was to figure out how to trick the murderer into confessing. And for that, he knew he needed Gus. He pulled out his cell phone.

Gus: Hello, Shawd.
Shawn: Now who's the psychic?
Gus: I have caller ID.
Shawn: And you have to come to the station. I need your help to interpret.
Gus: I'b sig. Get Juliet. I… hahhhhChoo! HahShoo!
Shawn: Bless you.
Gus: I'b all stuffy. They wod't udderstad be.
Shawn: I can understand you.
Gus: Won't it defeat the burbose if I idterbret for you add you idterbret for be?
Shawn: Maybe, but—
Gus: hahShoo! Huh… huhShoo! I gotta go, Shawd. Good luck.

Day 4

Shawn ripped open the cardboard and pulled off the plastic wrappings and Styrofoam. He had his phone trapped between his ear and shoulder and he listened to the ringing. It rang a dozen times before Gus answered.

Gus: Hello?
Shawn: You sound tired.
Gus: I was sleeping.
Shawn: You sound better.
Gus: I was sleeping.
Shawn: Guess what I bought? I got some of those cups that look like coconuts. And I got one of those knives that cuts through a an aluminum can.
Gus: Ginsu.
Shawn: Bless you.
Gus: I didn't sneeze.
Shawn: Great, then come on over.
Gus: I'm still sick, Shawn.
Shawn: But I want to celebrate. I never would have cracked the case without your help.
Gus: I didn't do anything.
Shawn: That's where you're wrong.
Gus: I'm still not going anywhere but back to sleep.

 
Day 5

Shawn dialed and the phone rang. And rang. And rang. This time, it went to Gus' voice mail.

Gus: You've reached Burton Guster. I'm not in right now, so don't expect me to pick up. But if you leave a message, I'll return your call in a timely fashion.
Answering Machine: Beep!
Shawn: Pick up? Gus? Are you there?

“I'm here.” Shawn looked up to see Gus grinning at him from the door. “Is it too late to celebrate?”

Shawn got out the rum and the coconut cups. “Mai Tai?”

Gus chuckled and joked, “Bless you.” He sat down on the edge of the desk and watched Shawn make the mixed drinks. He took his from Shawn when it was done and inspected it. “Looks nice.”

“Wish I had a couple little drink umbrellas.”

“You mean these?” Gus pulled two small, colorful paper umbrellas out of his pocket. “Party store on the way over.”

Shawn held his cup out and Gus slipped the end of an umbrella in. “Definitely not as much fun without you. Don't get sick again.”