Author's note: I figured it's about time I write a Bull fan fiction, since it's my current favorite show. I know people have mixed feelings about pairing main characters with original characters. But this is the story I want to tell, and I hope you come to love the relationship that develops between Jason and Juliana as much as I do. :)

Also, for those of you following Silent Treatment, I will be posting chapter 41 next week!

Dr. Jason Bull observed the customers at the bustling coffee shop. His interest in human behavior, and tendency to analyze it, was something he couldn't seem to turn off; a skill that proved a sanity saver as he was made to wait for his much needed caffeine boost.

Tired and caffeine deprived was not a good place to be. And really, there was no reason for Jason to be in the office at 9:30 on a Saturday morning. But it was always good to be a step ahead of the other side while working a case, he reasoned. At the same time, he didn't dare to to admit that he was distracting himself from the fact that he was a man well into his 40s with no meaningful human connections outside of work, and no life outside of the job. And at this point in his life, he was...not so much happy with this. It was more that he was resigned to it.

That was the irony, wasn't it? An expert in human behavior who, outside of the context of the job, rejected human companionship. Well, at least his knack for reading others provided a sort of entertainment. A welcome distraction from the loneliness he'd never admit to.

Jason didn't necessarily like leaving the comfort of an empty building to interact with cranky coffee addicts waiting for their fix. But it would do him some good to get out for a few minutes, stretch his legs, and get some air. Besides, people watching served as a good mental exercise. A way to keep his skills sharp.

When he heard his name called, Jason approached the counter and gratefully took his large Americano and blueberry muffin from the young man behind the counter.

Turning around, Jason was nearly knocked off his feet by a young boy running into him. As it was, the impact caused Jason to spill a tiny amount of coffee onto his coat.

"Daniel!" a woman called frantically, running to the boy and gripping him gently by the arms as she looked him in the eyes. "You have to watch where you're going. You could have hurt that man."

As this exchange between mother and son was taking place, Jason grabbed napkins out of the dispenser, wiping up the spilled coffee as best he could; thankful that his coat was black.

"I am so sorry!" the woman apologized as she approached Jason, hand in hand with the boy. "Are you all right? Can I get you another coffee?"

"It's fine, really," Jason insisted, throwing one final napkin away as he looked up at the woman. "I -"

And that's when, for the first time in the chaos, he truly saw her. Standing about a foot shorter than Jason, with chin length red hair that hung in ringlets, soulful blue eyes, and full, rose like lips that were a natural deep red. It all stood out in beautiful contrast against her pale skin, which was dotted with faint freckles. She was slender, with breasts that, while big in comparison to the rest of her body, appeared to be real.

To put it simply, she was a petite beauty who left Jason momentarily breathless.

Ignoring the flutter in his heart, Jason shook off his stupor and smiled at the woman.

"Still plenty of coffee left," he said, holding up his cup.

Giving Jason a smile that was both appreciative and embarrassed, the woman then scanned the busy cafe, eyes settling on the only empty table left in the place.

"Would you like to join us?" she offered, tilting her head in the direction of said table.

"You sure?" Jason asked, certain the woman was just being polite.

"Positive," the woman assured him, as the trio walked to the table. "I could use some adult conversation."

"Ah." Jason smiled, the woman's story finally coming together in his head. "Yes, I imagine it can get pretty lonely, being a single mom."

The woman gave Jason a bewildered look as she set her cold brew down on the table and took a seat beside her son. "Wait. How did you...?"

"Alone in a busy coffee shop with a young boy, clearly frazzled and sleep deprived," Jason noted, not daring to comment on the dark circles beneath the woman's eyes - which were beautiful nonetheless. "But it was your comment about 'adult conversation' that was the real giveaway."

"Wow." the woman laughed nervously. "You already know so much about me, and I don't even know your name."

"Jason." he told her with a smile, unwrapping his muffin. "Jason Bull."

"Juliana Hudson," the woman introduced herself, returning Jason's smile with her own disarmingly beautiful smile. "And this is my son, Daniel," she said, putting her hand on the boy's shoulder. "Daniel, can you say hello to Jason?"

Daniel was a sweet faced boy, with dark brown hair, brown eyes that shone brightly, and a naturally tan complexion. Judging by his small frame, Jason guessed him to be around 5 years old.

"Hello, Mr. Jason," Daniel greeted, looking up bashfullly. "Sorry I bumped into you and made you spill your coffee."

"It's all right. Really," Jason insisted, giving Daniel a reassuring pat on the arm. "It was just a little spill. No harm done. Besides," Jason cast a flirtatious glance Juliana's way. "If you hadn't bumped into me, I wouldn't have had pleasure of meeting you and your mother. And you both seem pretty great!"

Daniel gasped, eyes widening as he looked between the two adults at the table. "Mom! He likes you!"

"Daniel!" Juliana rested her forehead in the palm of her hand, looking mortified.

"No. It's okay," Jason reassured Juliana, a light touch to her cheek coaxing her to look up at him."I do like you. And I hope I'm not being too forward...but I'd like the chance to get to know you better."

Juliana laughed nervously, but her eyes met Jason's with a bright affection. She was clearly open to the exchange.

"Well, as you already know, I have a son. I left Daniel's dad when he was 6. And the less that's said about him the better. I..." Juliana stirred her cold brew nervously with her straw, clearly upset at the thought of Daniel's father and trying her best to recover.

"I..uh...I work from home reviewing TV shows for a blog. Not all that impressive a job, I know. But I like the flexibility it gives me. If there's a meeting at Daniel's school, or a doctor's appointment, or whatever, I can be there at pretty much a moments' notice, without having to rearrange my day. "

"You make your son a priority. I'd say that's plenty impressive!" Jason commented, placing his large hand over Juliana's significantly smaller hand.

"Thanks." Juliana blushed. "Are you a parent, Jason?"

"No." Jason shook his head. "And at this point in my life, I think it's a little too late for that."

"You could be my new dad," Daniel chimed in, taking a bite from his breakfast sandwich.

"Daniel, we just met him," Juliana reminded her son with an embarrassed laugh.

"So? He likes you!" Daniel pointed out, grinning.

"A man who knows what he wants. I like that," Jason chuckled. "How old are you, Daniel?"

"I'm 10," Daniel answered, taking a swig of milk. "I know I'm small, but I will eat all your bacon!"

Both Jason and Juliana couldn't help but to laugh at this. Jason had to admit, he liked this kid. And he truly hoped for the opportunity to get to know both him and his beautiful mother a lot better.

"So, what about you, Jason?" Juliana asked, leaning forward. "You know my story, but I know next to nothing about you."

"Fair enough,"Jason chuckled, leaning back and scratching the back of his head. "Like I said, my name is Dr. Jason Bull. I'm -"

"You didn't mention you're a doctor!" Juliana interrupted, clearly impressed.

"Yeah, but not like you think. I'm a trial scientist," Jason clarified.

"Okay...What does that mean?" Juliana asked, intrigued.

"I'm an expert in human behavior," Jason explained. "I study juries. Read their reactions so that I can sway them to vote in favor of my clients."

"Wow...that's really interesting!" Juliana exclaimed. "A field of expertise I never knew existed!"

"Why don't you swing by my office on Monday? Say around lunch time? I can show you around and tell you all about it!" Jason offered, handing Juliana a business card.

"It's a date!" Juliana said agreeably, taking the card from Jason. "Wait...Is it? A date, that is?"

Jason nodded, unable to stop himself from smiling. "It's a date."