Chapter Text
Henry hadn’t meant to overhear. Honest. He hadn’t been trying to snoop or pry, but while most of his attention was focussed on making hot chocolate in the kitchen, at least a part of him was listening in on the living room.
It was Shawn’s fault, really, for talking too loud. But then again, he didn’t really want to blame his son who, over the last 48 hours, had been shot, kidnapped, escaped, kidnapped again, and had to jump from one moving vehicle to another before finally being rescued.
The poor kid had been through enough, and was now back in the family home where Henry could keep an eye on him overnight. So he wouldn’t blame Shawn. He would just say that it was no one’s fault.
He busied himself in the kitchen when the doorbell rang and Shawn shouted “I’ll get it”. He figured it was Gus, checking in on his best friend once more. When he didn’t hear Gus’s voice, he thought might be Juliet, the pretty detective Shawn sometimes worked with. He smiled at the thought. Shawn needed someone nice in his life who wouldn’t take his crap.
“My dad’s in the kitchen so we can’t be long.” Shawn said.
Henry paused. Whose Shawn trying to hide? He tried to think of a good reason, but his detective instincts kicked in and all he could think was ‘something bad is going on’.
He turned down the heat on the stove and slowly made his way over to the wall that blocked off the kitchen from the living. I’ll just take a quick peek, he thought. Just a quick look, see who it is, then go back to making my drinks.
He peered around the corner and smiled in relief. Head Detective Carlton Lassiter stood in the doorway, hands in his pockets and looking down at the ground. Henry opened his mouth to greet the detective, when something strange happened.
Shawn, who had been standing in front of Carlton just moments ago, reached out and pulled the detective into a bone shattering hug. And in a move that absolutely stunned Henry, Lassiter returned the hug.
“I’m sorry.” He heard the detective say into Shawn’s neck.
“You have nothing to be sorry for.” Shawn said.
Carlton pulled back from the hug, but only slightly. The older man kept his arms tight around Shawn as he lowered his head so their foreheads were touching.
“I should have been there for you.” Carlton practically whispered. Henry found himself leaning closer to hear what they were saying.
“You were.” Shawn said.
“I—”
“The thought of you kept me strong. Kept me going.” Shawn said.
Oh. Henry thought. Well this is…
He didn’t know what it was. He didn’t know what to think of the scene that was playing out in front of him, except that he probably shouldn’t be watching it.
Shawn reached up one hand and cupped Carlton’s cheek. “You have nothing to be sorry for.”
They looked into each others eyes for a moment, then Carlton lowered his head and placed a soft kiss to Shawn’s lips.
Henry quickly turned back into the kitchen. It wasn’t the kiss that shook him- he knew Shawn was bisexual despite his son never officially coming out- it was the type of kiss.
Soft, sweet, tentative. So full of love. It was the type of kiss two people shared when they knew words were not enough.
Without meaning to, Henry reached up and touched his own lips. He’d shared many kisses like that with his own ex-wife throughout the years.
Henry walked back to the stove and tried to focus on the hot chocolates. As he did, a plan formed.
A few moments later he emerged from the kitchen with two steaming mugs. Shawn and Lassiter were standing apart, but if Shawn’s hair was out of place and Carlton’s tie was crumped, well, it wasn’t Henry’s place to say anything.
“Detective!” Henry greeted.
“Mr Spencer.” Carlton nodded. “I was just—”
“Staying for some hot chocolate.” Henry interrupted.
He handed one mug off to his son and the other to the gaping detective.
“Oh…” Carlton started, looking back and forth between Henry and Shawn. “I really couldn’t.”
“I insist.” Henry said. “I’m pretty beat. I’m gonna go upstairs and hit the hay. You two can relax down here and… um… just take it easy.”
Henry hoped he wasn’t blushing as he stepped away.
“You alright pops?” Shawn asked.
“Yep.” Henry nodded. “Just tired. Hell of a day huh?”
Shawn scoffed. “I’ll say.” He moved his arm and winced at the motion.
Carlton glanced at Shawn, like he wanted to say something but was stopping himself.
“Well.” Henry clapped his hands. “I’ll be off. To bed. Ah… good night.”
He chose against hugging Shawn, not wanting to cause him any more pain. Instead, he clapped his son on the shoulder.
“Good night son.”
“Night dad.” Shawn said.
Henry looked to Carlton and smiled. “Good night, detective.”
Carlton smiled slightly in return. “Good night Henry.”
With that, Henry turned and walked up the stairs. He paused at the top of the stairs and listened.
“I… um…” Carlton started.
“Come on.” Shawn said.
Henry couldn’t see, but he could tell that Shawn was pouting.
“Come sit with me. I got shot, remember? You wouldn’t deny a shot man his request for cuddles now, would you?”
Carlton chuckled. “How long are you going to use this excuse?”
Henry could hear them moving towards the couch.
“As long as I can, Lassie. As long as I can.”