Shawn sat on the warm brick retaining wall outside the Santa Barbara's oldest church. His suite coat laid next to him and his tie hung loosely around his neck.

Shawn waived good bye as the Hearse turned the corner and on to the cemetery. This was Shawn's first real loss, and he had not been prepared for this amount of pain. He'd had others die, but never so close.

His mind played flashbacks that only added to the burning in the pit of his gut.

"Why man? Why you?" Shawn's voice was already cracking, tears threatening to stream. "I never should have brought you and Gus into it." Shawn's head dropped, his hands not caring to catch it. "I'm sorry, Trav."

Shawn felt alone in that moment, like he had killed his only friend. He knew he wasn't alone in the world, but he couldn't kick that feeling.

"It's not your fault." The soft voice of his fiancé was close. She snuck up on him without his knowing. "You didn't know."

Shawn turned and weakly smiled, taking her hand in his, brushing it softly with his lips. "Hey."

"Hi." Juliet sadly smiled, Shawn's emotions laid bare by his eyes.

Shawn faced forward and watched the traffic roll forward. They had no idea a good man and a good friend was being put in the ground as they went along their business.

"I'm sorry Shawn, I, I don't know what to say." Juliet's voice was so soft.

"Don't. You don't have to." They wrapped each other in a strong hug, Shawn trying not to let go.

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Shawn slowly opened the door to their house and trudged upstairs. His jacket went air born and a sleeve was caught by a hook. Forget going around to the front of the couch, falling over the arm face first and staying that way worked too.

Juliet hated seeing her upbeat and happy man so far into the dark. It happened more than she liked, but it wasn't common. Some times she could cheat and do some tricks to get him back, but not this time.

She sat lightly on the couch next to his head and started playing with his hair, something she knew he liked. For a guy that used to be homeless, the guy had great hair.

Shawn mumbled something inaudible in appreciation of the attention, but made no attempt to move.

"Get up here." She ordered and rolled her eyes. Shawn did as told, laying his head on her lap, looking up at her with a calm sea in his eyes. It had been raging moments ago, so this was an improvement.

She had to smile brightly at him, his eyes closed and his lips lightly curled into a smile with his legs twitching ever so slightly. Otter belly rubs were the key to Shawn's heart.

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Shawn woke up the next morning, unable to move his head. He wasn't tired, there was a definite weight on it. What the Hell. Instead of lifting his head, he pulled backwards and freed his head.

Shawn couldn't help but laugh aloud at the source. Juliet was slumped over in her sleep, her chin nearly touching her knees.

The sound of laughter woke her from her deep slumber, rubbing sleep from her eyes. "You're so damn cute right now." Shawn chuckled, causing Juliet to look at him questioningly.

"What's so funny?" She looked around the room, not seeing what he was talking about or found so comical.

"Don't worry about it Jules, I'll keep it to myself." Shawn stood up and went to the kitchen, his stomach grumbling fiercely. He had no appetite at all the day before, and ate sparingly even before that. He felt like he had just woke up from hibernation.

"Shawn, are you okay?" Juliet was worried about his state, physical, emotional and mental.

Shawn tilted his head side to side, trying to weigh a good answer as he analyzed the fridge contents.

Juliet picked herself up off the couch and walked over to Shawn, who still didn't answer. "You can talk to me Shawn, it's okay." Juliet trailed his neck with light, slow kisses.

"I don't know Jules, I'm... I'm trying not to feel anything, really." Shawn admitted, extracting weapons of choice.

"Shawn, it's okay to feel, it's okay to show emotion." Juliet rested her head on his shoulder.

"I think I'll just go to work today, take some things off my mind, you know?" Shawn nodded his head in decision.

"Are you sure? Maybe you shouldn't work like this." Juliet suggested, a hand softly rubbing his back.

"Crime doesn't take a break Jules, we both know that." Shawn cracked some eggs into a pan, hardly paying attention to what he was really doing.

"You aren't crime Shawn, you're a human going through a hard loss right now. You lost a partner and a good friend. Please, I need you to take a break, okay?" Juliet pleaded with him, taking his hand in hers.

Shawn rolled his eyes and his head around his shoulders. "What do you want me to do today then, Jules?" Shawn asked quietly yet challenging.

Her arms gently rested on the back of his neck, her lips so close to his. "Spend the day with me at work? Pester Lassiter a bit, maybe?" She smiled at him, knowing his favorite pastimes on the slow days.

"I think I can manage that." Shawn was able to find a smile, planting a kiss on her clearly waiting lips.

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After a very satisfying breakfast, the couple headed for the station together. Right on time as far as Juliet was concerned. Just enough time to get situated before Lassiter could ruin her morning.

Shawn and Juliet sat down at her desk with a cup of coffee each. "Maybe Carlton will be out sick today and he won't give me half of his work load."

"He'll only give you a quarter." Shawn rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb.

"What makes you say that?" Juliet tilted her head to the side, waiting for his answer.

"I'll take a quarter." Shawn said with a small smile. Even when in the dumps, he could make her heart sing with a single loving look.

No slamming door was heard, or thundering footsteps down the floor of the bullpen. Just Lassiter slowly making his way to the pot, not a word or snarl to anyone.

Juliet watched her partner with concern, his jaw stiff and more hard set than usual.

Shawn kissed her forehead and got up with his own mug. He made his way to Carlton, who stood there and looked into the bottom of the mug helplessly like a lost child. Without asking, deposited three cream and four sugars into the cup.

Carlton's eyes came back to live and he filled his cup, nodding to Spencer in morning acknowledgement. Both men turned and leaned on the counter next to each other, toasting then drinking deeply.

The two looked at each other, neither saying a word. They didn't know what to say. They both had lost a friend, Shawn a partner and Carlton, his best friend. There would be no bickering back and forth, no jokes or death threats. Today was to be solemn and respectful of the lost they shared.

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Lunch rolled around, and the station seemed quiet. There wasn't a Hell of a lot going on that April afternoon.

Carlton was offered to go home given his state and the lack of things to do. He had even taken Dobson's paperwork and split it with Shawn after Shawn had asked for it.

"Do you guys want anything, or from any place special?" Juliet asked softly, not disturbing the boys' work.

"Not hungry." the two men said in unison, never looking up from their folders.

"Carlton, when was the last time you ate? And Shawn, you're going to get sick if you don't eat more." Juliet still held kindness, but was a little more firm.

"Thanks, but we're okay Jules." Shawn took her hand and squeezed it before going back to the pen.

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The three of them left two hours early, completely unproductive.

Gus and Shawn had a small dinner, Gus falling under the same food shyness Shawn and Lassiter had. They watched a movie, Juliet invited. Gus went home around 9:00 PM, and Juliet witnessed one of the rare moments when the two hugged.

Shawn closed the door behind Gus and slugged his way to the couch, falling down with a plop. He turned to see his Jules standing by the doorway, signaling for him to come to bed.

Shawn did as was told and dragged himself to recline on the bed in a half seated position, supported by a wall of fluffy pillows.

Juliet laid down, her head resting on his shoulder, her belly facing the ceiling.

Shawn looked down at the angelic girl laying next to him, her perfect features and her beautiful long blonde hair. He stroked her hair gently, causing her to turn her head and smile up at him softly.

He slowly lowered his head and captured her pink lips. Juliet reciprocated immediately, reaching up for a handful of Shawn's thick hair. His hand gently rubbed up and down her belly before he plucked at the bottom button of ger shirt, then the second and third.

Juliet hummed appreciatively when she felt Shawn's rough hand graze across her soft skin on her belly. "Are you sure you want to do this Shawn? You're haven't been yourself lately." she asked, kissing his lips again.

"I can't sleep, I can't eat, but I do need you." Shawn kissed her deep and passionately and rolled on top of her, covering her body with his.

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Okay, so yes this is what you think. The sequel to the Rebuild. It picks off where the Rebuild left us last time. And sorry for so much Shawn wump, but I tried to make up for it with Shules. How'd I do?

Secondly: Sorry for the short chapter, but hey, it's the first chapter. We're still good, right?