Disclaimer: I do not own Psych or any of the characters mentioned below. That honor goes to Universal Studios, Tagline Television, and Pacific Mountain Productions. This is for entertainment purposes only.

He had a feeling he knew where this was going. Every fiber in his being screamed at him not to do it, but he didn't see any other way for him to get out alive. He would have to say it.

"Tell her you love her"

As he searched for any way out of this situation, his eyes focused on the gun. There was no other way out. He'd have to do it. Granted, they were just words. Just a few little words. Words that he'd wanted to say to her for so long now. But not now, not like this. Not when he was with somebody else. Not when he was being held at gunpoint and commanded to say them. He knew the words he was being forced to say would crush her…crush her in a way he'd never done to anyone before.

"I need you to know that, I love you"

Her heart thudded in her chest. Had he really just said that? The entire phone call didn't make any sense. She was completely clueless as to what he was trying to tell her, until he said those words. The tone of his voice though, that she understood. He was scared. She'd never heard him sound so scared before, not even at Camp Tikihama. That fear transferred itself into her own heart… feeling her with dread the moment he spoke. And he was in pain. A lot of pain. It killed her to hear him in such a state. But she still never thought she'd be lucky enough to hear those words. Words that she'd longed for. Words that she'd almost convinced herself she'd never hear from him…especially after searching his apartment/dry cleaner. She didn't care to think what she would have done had her chair not been right where it was. She felt hot and cold at the same time. Time seemed to freeze. He'd actually said he loved her.

"Shawn, I think that I—"

This hurt worse than the bullet wound in his shoulder. He absolutely hated himself for putting her through this, but there was no way around it. It had been his one chance to call for help, and there was no way he could have actually called Abigail. He'd considered calling Gus, or Lassiter, even his Dad, but he couldn't risk the kidnapper hearing a male voice coming out of the phone. It had to be a girl. Juliet was his only hope. And just how messed up was it that in order to save himself he'd have to destroy her?

He knew what she was about to say. He'd seen the way she'd been looking at him lately. As much as he wanted to hear her say it, he couldn't let her do it. If she went through with it and put it out there, there'd be no going back. She wouldn't be able to take it back no matter how hard she back-peddled. And he'd never be able to forget it. He was going to hurt her enough already…he refused to make it any worse than necessary.

"Goodbye Abigail"

Her blood ran cold. Her heart froze in her chest. She'd never felt so small in her entire life. He'd said Abigail. Abigail. Not Jules. Not Juliet. Abigail. The named echoed in her ears. He hadn't meant it. It had all been a lie to trick the kidnapper. He was pretending…pretending to talk to Abigail. When he'd said those words, he hadn't really been talking to her. He didn't love her. Her breath hitched, and she felt her eyes fill with tears. He loved Abigail. Abigail. There was that stupid name again. The world suddenly came rushing back and time began again. She was suddenly very aware that Gus was standing next to her. She took a shaky breath, refusing to fall apart in front of her colleagues. In front of Shawn's best friend. She could focus on her broken heart later. Right now she had work to do…she had to save Shawn.