Chapter Text
An advertisement for a Nanny caught somebody’s attention. Looking For Nanny: Pays $180 per week. Eight Year Old need of babysitter or Nanny.
Shawn stared down at the newspaper ad, smilingly brightly. “Gus! I found a possible job!”
The shorter African-American man grabbed the paper, reading promptly. “Let me see.” His eyes peered, skimming the article. “There’s a problem, Shawn. It says fully-CPR certification.”
“No problem. I’ve been certified by the Red Cross.”
Burton gaped. “Since when?”
“When I moved to Allendale, Michigan. I took CPR courses before I dropped it. I got my verification and everything.”
Gus shook his head in disbelief. “It also says that you have to have no criminal record.”
“I doubt they will do any background checks, don’t be a worrywort.”
Shawn watched as Gus left. “Don’t come crying when I find you in jail.”
……
“Carlton!”
The Head Detective’s head shot up, pulling away from the computer screen. He looked around to see his junior partner, Juliet O’Hara strolling over, holding something in her hand. “Your Nanny Interview is here.”
“Alright, I’ll be right there.”
He entered the room, finding a younger male—early thirties, green polo shirt, blue jeans and a child’s toy bouncing in his left hand. The man’s eyes jolted forwards, excitedly smiling at him.
“I’m Shawn Spencer, I saw your ad in the paper.”
Carlton grunted, looking over the man with skepticism. “I see.” He sat down in front. “How old are you?”
Mr. Spencer propped his legs on the desk, leaning his head back. “27.”
“Get your feet off my desk.” He growled, irritated by the foolish behavior. “There’s no way, you still act like a child.”
Shawn teased. “That would make me old enough to be your grandson.”
Lassiter clicked his tongue, leaning forward, glaring at Spencer. “I’m only 37! And for the love of mike, you might want to drop the act. I did a background check on you Shawn Spencer, son of Henry Spencer… I knew I heard of you before. It says on this report that you stole a car. I already know that I won’t be picking you.”
Shawn scoffed. “I was 18 years old!”
“So I see, Eighteen years old, huh? I guess that makes it okay. I’ll just check this off your record.”
“You could drop the sarcasm. I’m here to be your manny, not to be interrogated. When it said to meet at the station I didn’t know I was going to be alienated by some old man.”
He stood up from the desk, slamming his hands down, barely getting a reaction out of the interviewer. “That’s it! Get out of my station!”
“Gladly.” Shawn sneered, “I don’t need this job that badly.”
The annoyance slammed the door behind him. Carlton dropped into the chair, hands dragging through his brown hair, groaning lowly. There was a knock a couple seconds later, “What?!”
“D-Detective Lassiter?”
Carlton lifted his head, seeing the nervous officer standing by the doorway. “Yes, what do you want, McNab?”
“The Chief needs to see you.” McNab stuttered, trying not to step on his boss’ shoes. “Tell her I’ll be there momentarily.”
“Yes, Sir!”
……
“Can you believe that asshole? He called me a child, I’m not a child. I’m twenty-seven years old.”
Burton Guster listened to his best friend rant about his interview. He looked up from his work computer. “Shawn. I’m at work. You know, like grown-ups have to do to make money.” He gently reminded.
Shawn huffed, sitting legs crossed on the plastic chair. “You’re not listening to me, Gus. I tried to get a job like you said. I went down to the Santa Barbara Police Station–“
“Wait, a minute did you say the SBPD? I thought you couldn’t work for them?”
“No, no. Mr. Asshole wanted to have my interview at his workplace.” He shoved three fries into his mouth, sloppily, making Gus cringed.
“Don’t make a mess, Linda, our custodian cleaner warned me saying that if you left any more mess…she would report me to my boss! My boss, Shawn!”
“Relax, Lindsey said it was okay.”
“It’s Linda, Shawn.” Gus corrected.
“I’ve heard it both ways.”
……
Carlton came home from a long day at the station, his daughter Lily rushed into his arms.
“Daddy!” He turned to see Lily sprinting toward him. “Hi, baby girl! How was school?”
“Good, dad. We made timelines about during the civil war. I told all my teachers that my daddy’s great-great-great; Muscum T Lassiter fought in the war.” Carlton grinned proudly at his daughter, squeezing her into a tight embrace.” Daddy, I can’t breathe!”
He let her go, still smiling. “Sorry, Lilies. What did they say?”
“They said it was badass!”
Carlton dropped his grin, turning stern. “Lily Ella Lassiter, we don’t talk like that.”
Lily outed. “You do it all the time, for the love of mike!”
“Lily.” Carlton lowered down onto his knee, gently putting his hands on her tensed shoulders. “Sometimes, grownups speak with foul language that doesn’t mean you're allowed to.”
She pouted her lips. “Understood?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
Then there was a rumble in the air, Carlton chuckled. “I see someone is hungry.”
“I want pizza!”
Carlton sighed. “Okay, we can get pizza. I’m too tired to cook anyways. I’m trying to find you a full-time nanny.”
Lily took out a coloring book and began coloring. “Really? I thought you said I could watch myself..”
“I never said that. I said maybe when you are older, baby.”
“I miss mommy..” Lily cried.
Carlton immediately put down his phone, wrapping his arms around her. “I miss her too, Lily-bug. Mommy isn’t here right now.”
The truth was Carlton’s wife left. She got up one night, packed a bag left without a single thought. Victoria hated the gossip from around town, when your husband is the most hated head detective in Santa Barbara, having to deal with apparently was too much for her. He hasn’t heard from his wife in two years… Lily was six when Tori walked out. His mother begged him to find another wife to help raise his little angel. But nobody wanted to be with a detective, too much too bare if he gets shot. His old partner, Lucinda didn’t want to deal with kids which is a big problem for Carlton.
Lily Ella Lassiter wasn’t someone you could get rid of. She also didn’t like her father dating either. Karen tried to convince him that Lily would finally get over it, but Carlton wasn’t so sure. He knew what it was like to be left-behind. His father walked out on his mother, Mona Lassiter years ago, leaving his mother to raise three kids on her own; Carlton, Ryan and the youngest, Lauren; Lulu. So knowing this, Carlton knew Lily would feel like this for a while.
The next day Carlton walked into the station to his day when his eyes fell upon that idiot again. “What are you doing here? I already told you the answer is no.”
Shawn held his hand up. “I’m here to apologize. My best friend, Gus, I was being an asshole. I really need this job, my landlord is going to kick me out… and look.” He sighed.” I can help you out while you help me out. You need somebody to watch your kid, I need a place to say, it’s a pineapple win!”
Carlton felt reluctant but he wasn’t finding anybody to meet his demands. “Alright, Fine! We will give this a three-day trial period.”
Spencer held out his fist. He frowned,” You're supposed to bump my fist back.”
“I don’t do fist-bumps, Spencer. Meet me here at 3 PM for the meeting. Lily gets off school, so I have to pick her up.”
“I can do that for you. Isn’t that part of my job?”
He shook his head, suppressing a chuckle. “No. My daughter will kick your ass if you come to her school without her knowing who you are. Besides, if you walk into schools, they will arrest you.”
“So that’s a no?”
He refrained from smacking the idiot in the face. “No, Spencer. Meet me here at 3 or you’ll have to get a new job.”
Shawn grinned, yelling out,” You got it, Lassie!” As Carlton stormed away, leaving Shawn bubbling with excitement.