Chapter 1

Juliet O'Hara slammed her hand down on her stapler, effectively making her partner jump and at the same time attaching the report she'd been viciously working on for the last hour to the table beneath it. She growled lowly, her shoulder's tensing when her curious friend sent her a wary glance when he thought she wasn't looking.

Lassiter quickly looked away and pretended, quite poorly, to be engrossed in his computer screen. Juliet wasn't even sure the computer was on, but she didn't say anything. She didn't want to cause yet another argument.

The thought of arguments effectively brought her back to why she was in such a foul mood in the first place. That irritating ass, ex-friend of a psychic that she was never, ever going to speak to again. Not after the scene he'd caused today. She could have died of embarrassment when she realized the whole station had heard their spat. How could he? He had never made a move on her. He didn't own her!

So how dare Shawn Spencer dictate to her whom she should and shouldn't date!

Juliet inhaled sharply, gripping her pen in her hand and ignoring her newly stapled desk, she flashed back to the whole reason and cause of today. Two days ago when she'd been out for coffee in her favorite shop, she'd run into an old friend. A very old friend, considering how long ago they'd last spoken. One who had been doing quite well for himself since high school it seemed.

His flashy black car, parked in front of the shop and his insistent payment for her coffee told her that.

Richard had been as charming as ever as they'd chatted through the afternoon, laughing about old times and about what they'd been doing since school. He'd arrived from Miami four months previously, wanting a change of scene and purchasing himself a large house on the outskirts of Santa Barbara, complete with pool. He'd explained that he had grown tired of living so wildly back in Miami and felt the need to settle down, become more responsible.

That had been the deal clincher for her when he'd asked her out on a date. Handsome, responsible and charming, he seemed like the perfect choice for a way to spend one of her two days off. He'd called that morning to tell her he was picking her up from her apartment at six that night. Her mood had been cheerful, bouncy.

Enter Spencer.

"Hey Jules, could you lend me some money for gas? Gus has cut me off and I spent the last of my paycheck on one of those old arcade machines. You know the Pac man one? I found it on eBay for $300 and I thought 'Bargain'!" God, just thinking about him at the moment was making her blood boil. How childish could a grown man be? Arcade machines? No money? Mooching off of your best friend? She felt the pen bend under her grip and she quickly released it.

She'd given him ten dollars and he'd thanked her, before hoping onto her desk and giving her 'that' grin. "So Jules, what are you doing tonight? I hear there's a Pac man machine and a pizza with your name on it sitting in the Psych Office. Wanna come over? Gus is ditching me for his date and I thought we could hang out. We haven't done that for a while."

"Sorry Shawn. As appealing as sitting in the Psych Office and having to pay for your pizza sounds, I have a date myself tonight."

His face had fallen almost instantly and it had started. She had no idea how the argument had gotten so out of control, but eventually they had been having a full blown slanging match in the middle of the station. She'd finally delivered the damaging blow that had made him leave, telling him exactly why she would choose Richard over him any day. Telling him that he was charming and kind, that he was dependable and responsible.

That he acted like a man and not a boy, unlike someone she knew. She had tried her best to ignore the flash of pain that had run through his eyes at that point, but it hadn't gone unnoticed by her.

She'd pushed past her guilt though to get back to her anger, telling him to get out of her sight. He'd done as she'd wanted for once and had left without another word, leaving her alone with her guilt, her anger and her confusion over just why he wanted to be with her in the first place. Why did he have to be so hot and cold all of the damn time? Why, back when something could have happened, had he not just come clean about his feelings?

All of this highlighted the fact that Shawn just wasn't a commitment type person. He didn't want a long term relationship. All he wanted from her, as much as it pained her to say it, was sex. Or possibly something that lasted a little longer than a fling.

Although, she even had her doubts about that sometimes.

Closing her eyes, Juliet tried to rub away the pounding headache that she could feel building in the back of her head. She could have cried. She wanted to cry. Her mind was spinning and she was sure that it she looked up from her desk, the room would be spinning too. Her body felt exhausted and her mind was equally so. She had a date in less than an hour. The thrum of blood in her ears was deafening and she stole another quick breath and tried to hold back the tears that were burning the back of her eyes.

Stupid headache.

Stupid Shawn.

Stupid-

The sound of a box landing on her desk made her jump and her head snapped up to find the culprit of the noise, hoping it would be someone she could chew out. Sadly, she didn't recognize the perpetrator and so she was forced into pleasant niceties.

The woman in front of her held up a hand before Juliet even had a chance to open her mouth. "Don't bother. They're only headache tablets. Here, take this," she motioned to the spot next the blond Detective.

Juliet was surprised to say the least when a glass of water appeared as if by magic beside her. She hadn't heard anyone put it there. Maybe the headache was worse than she'd thought. "Oh... thank you..."

Juliet warily popped two capsules from their case, before throwing them back and gulping down the water as though she'd never tasted anything like it before. She polished off the entire glass, setting it down and casting another glance towards her 'headache' savior. The woman was still standing there, hands in the pockets of her neatly pressed jeans and her head cocked to the side.

Shifting uneasily in her seat, Juliet tore her gaze away from the strange woman. She picked up some paperwork and she swore... she really could have sworn that she could feel the woman begin to smile. Looking up, a shiver wandered along her spine when she found that the woman was indeed smiling, wide and gentle.

Noticing the lack of any official badge, and then the absence of a visitor's badge, Juliet cleared her throat and spoke. "Can I help you ma'am? Do you need a visitor's badge? You can get one at the front desk..."

"Oh no, I don't need one. I'm here on business."

How could Juliet not have noticed the melodic quality of her voice beforehand? It was unmistakable. Had the woman kept talking, in her current state Juliet could have slept? With the exception of her voice the woman gave no notion of being extraordinary. Short brown hair, hazel eyes and nice yet plain clothes, she was the epitome of blending in. Unless she spoke, Juliet assumed she would blend in with a crowd very easily.

Realizing the woman was waiting for her to speak, Juliet snapped out of her character analysis. Going to push herself out of her chair, she apologized. "Oh, sorry! Of course, let me get the Chief. Can I get your name? Would you like anything? A coffee maybe?"

Another gentle and calming smile.

The stressed woman felt the sudden need she'd had to get out of her chair, wane. She knew she should get the Chief, and yet she really didn't want to get up. It was only then that she noticed that her headache had almost completely subsided. Those must have been some fast acting tablets she mused, looking down at the table for the box. She should start buying them. She was surprised to say the least when she discovered that, not only had the box gone, but so had the empty glass.

"My name is Arianna. I'm fine for coffee thank you. Please, don't trouble yourself. How are you feeling now Juliet?"

Her brow furrowed in confusion. Had she told this woman her name at one point? Her name plate was currently blocked by a pile of paperwork. How on earth did she know? Maybe Lassiter had mentioned it... This lady was clearly important, so he had to have talked to her at some point. Looking around for her partner, Juliet's heart skipped a beat.

Nothing in the entire vicinity was moving an inch.

It didn't just stop at objects either. People too.

Buzz had seemingly frozen mid-stride across the bullpen. Lassiter was frozen with his coffee mug half way to his lips and a frown adorning his face. As Juliet stood and stumbled around the side of her desk, things just seemed to get stranger.

A paper cup was held mid tumble, the water that should have been spilling out of it just hanging in the air as though gravity didn't even exist. People who should have been talking, laughing and working were frozen with cell phones to their ears or twirling pens in their hands; some had been carrying paperwork and even the Chief was frozen in time in her office, having been about to get out of her seat.

Juliet whipped around to face the odd woman who seemed to be the only moving person besides herself. When their gazes met, Juliet gaped at the calm smile on her face. Could she not see what was going on? Was Juliet going mad? Dreaming? She couldn't stop the clique question before it spilled from her mouth. "What- what in the hell is going on!"

"Please, Juliet, have a seat. You look a little pale dear."

Juliet didn't move a muscle. "A-A little pale? What's happening here?" her hands went to her hair, fingers curling in the blond locks as she twisted and turned in every direction, looking, searching and hoping for some tiny movement. Something. Anything!

"You won't find anything. I know it's a little shocking, but you'll get used to it after a few minutes," Arianna leaned her hip against Juliet's desk, watching the panicked woman as her breathing began to quicken. She was quick to turn on the person telling her to calm down. Before Juliet could say something she regretted Arianna held up her hand for the second time that evening. "Sit."

Once, again, as if by magic a chair appeared behind Juliet and she felt an overwhelming urge to do as she had asked. Feeling her legs shake a little, Juliet followed her advice. "I'm dreaming... I have to be dreaming. Things like this don't just happen..."

"You'd be surprised how often I get 'I must be dreaming,'..." Arianna gave a quaint little sigh before continuing. "Don't worry; it's nothing sinister, I promise. I was just aware that tonight, you may need a little bit of guidance. After all, this is a big choice that you have to make." She settled into a chair of her own, pulling it seemingly effortlessly to face Juliet. The Detectives face said it all. Arianna gave another gentle smile, leaning forward and patting Juliet's knee reassuringly. "Tonight is going to be the most important decision of your life Juliet. I'm just here to help you decide what is right and best for you."

Shaking her head, Juliet closed her eyes. Letting her head fall into her hands, she finally picked a question out of the many that were bombarding her mind. "What choice are you talking about exactly?"

"This is something that's going to affect the outcome of your life drastically. It's something that you need to think about. And right now, you're going down the wrong path. Richard is not the way to go. He is the path that leads to misery, hurt and unhappiness," Arianna explained softly.

Juliet's brow furrowed, momentarily forgetting the situation. "Richard?" Juliet scoffed loudly at the very idea of it. "I think you're confusing him with Shawn. Richard is dependable and sweet. Shawn would probably be the one who would dump me and break my heart in the blink of an eye..." she finished softly, sighing heavily when the thought crossed her mind, before realizing that she was letting a little more of her feelings towards the psychic out than she'd intended.

But she was still so angry. So hurt by him...

"Would he?" Arianna asked, interrupting her self-pity and cocking her head to the side as though she didn't quite understand. "I was hoping that it would be a little easier to convince you, but I can see that just talking isn't going to cut it with someone so strong willed. So, Juliet, I have a proposition for you. Would you trust me enough, to let me show you what your life would be like? To show you flashes of what your future would be if you chose either man?"

She was about to object when Arianna took her hand. "I know you know I can do it. I think the time for questions has passed though, don't you?"

Juliet shivered a little, but she couldn't stop her curiosity. When would she ever get another chance like this? With a curt nod she gave her blessing. Arianna nodded back and moved herself closer.

"I do have one warning though. Some of these images that I'm going to show you, Juliet, are going to be painful. They will hurt you and may shock you. But they are necessary. We will be shadows in these worlds that I'm going to take you to. We cannot help ourselves, cannot speak to them. We are only observers..."

"Do you understand?"

Juliet nodded and Arianna reached a hand forward tentatively, as though she felt Juliet's reservations about the entire situation. Millimeters before the warm skin of her fingers touched the side of Juliet's head, the blond spoke. "Just one more question..." Arianna, who already knew what question Juliet wanted to ask, didn't even give her time to ask it.

"You want to know who I am."

Having seen enough already that evening, that the blatant mind reading did little to shock her, Juliet could only nod blankly. Arianna's eyes softened even more than Juliet thought possible. As her fingers went to the Detectives temple, Juliet felt a spark of electricity fly through her body. It was as though Arianna was sending a white light spiraling through Juliet's vision. It wasn't an unpleasant feeling. Not in the least. In fact, Juliet felt a breezing calmness wash over her.

Just as she felt herself being jerked forwards, leaving her seat far behind, she heard Arianna's answer.

"I'm just a friend."

A/N: The horror! I know, it's terrible, but I haven't written anything in such a long time. This is going to be in four parts, which are all written so no delays this time. I'll release one every two days for the next week =3 The next chapter contains some sensitive issues that may be upsetting to some people. It is a little bit vital to the plot though, so if it upsets you- sorry D=! I know it hasn't been very Shulesy so far, but I promise, the third and fourth chapters will more than make up for it.