Hello again! Welcome to my next story. Again thanks to my super awesome beta-reader cosette141.
This takes place near the end of the series. After Juliet found out Shawn's secret, but before they move to San Francisco.
Enjoy reading and please let me know what you think...
Jealousy
Chapter 1:
When Declan Rand found out about the engagement, he didn't know how he should feel. Should he feel cheated? Jealous? Angry? Or should he pretend he was happy about it? It wasn't fair from the beginning. He could have given her anything she wanted. He destroyed his good-doing, profiling business by telling her the truth about him because Spencer advised him to do so. And what thanks does he get?
She runs back into Spencer's arms. After all he did for her. Declan really couldn't choose which one of them he should hate the most. No, he hated Spencer more. After all, Declan once loved that girl. Spencer just blinds her. The idiot didn't deserve her.
When Spencer inexplicably decided to take the ultimate step, Declan had to do something. It was an instinct reaction. When Declan first showed up in Santa Barbara, he could hoax the department into thinking that he was a real profiler. And if he could get away with that, he could also get away with playing the villain. He didn't know just yet how far he would take this fraud. That depended on how much he wanted her back and what he would do to make it happen.
But there was one thing he knew for sure: Shawn Spencer, of all people, wasn't allowed to have his Juliet.
Juliet O'Hara (soon to be Spencer) was in a superior mood today. Well, actually she's been sporting that grin for a week now. Ever since the moment Shawn asked her to marry him. She was so surprised that he actually dared to ask her; that she meant so much to him, that he – being the commitment phobe that he was – could picture his whole life with her. Since that moment she's been surrounded by a pink cloud of happiness. Lassiter could hardly stand it anymore. But Juliet was sure that secretly he was happy for her too.
The Department was busy today. Officers, detectives, suspects and witnesses all mingled with each other. Everyone looked stressed and occupied, but soon Juliet would have her well deserved lunch break. Shawn was going to pick her up. He had just sent her a sweet text message letting her know that he was on his way and couldn't wait to see her. She typed a reply when suddenly someone touched her arm.
"Hey, Juliet."
She turned around, knitted her brows together and her mouth gaped open like a fish. "Declan?"
"In the flesh. I'm glad to finally see you again!" he said and presented her a charming, dazzling smile.
Juliet was slightly puzzled at his joy and the fact that he was still touching her arm. She stepped back and the first words that came to her mind were: "What are you doing here?"
He laughed, seeming like he wasn't offended whatsoever. "I'd like to work for the Department again. I just came from Chief Vick's office to ask if she needed my help at the moment. I want to be useful again after my long... ehm, hiatus." He dropped his voice and looked vulnerable and lost in thoughts. "I had a lot to process."
She instantly felt guilty; what he had to process was her breaking up with him. It must have seemed very abrupt and confusing for him, she thought. "Listen Declan, I'm sorry how it ended with us. It wasn't your fault, it was mine." Oh god, that sounded so cliché. "I know you cared a lot about me, but I just knew that I couldn't fly to the Amalfi Coast with you, because... I already belonged to someone else." She didn't look him in the eyes, absently playing with her engagement ring.
Just for a second, Juliet thought that Declan stiffened; as if he had a hard time keeping calm and collected. But then he just smiled again. "It's Shawn, isn't it? You're engaged to him now."
"Yes." Juliet answered and couldn't help but smile just thinking about that fact. "Just recently."
"Well, you seem to be happy. Back then I always suspected that there was something going on between the two of you." She smiled sheepishly and wanted to add something, when suddenly a huge, tattooed man with handcuffs was led past them. "Can we go for a walk? So we can talk privately?" he asked.
Juliet tensed. Not because she didn't feel comfortable to be alone with him, but because she knew what Shawn would think if he saw them together. Declan had unsettled him before. But, at this point, Shawn didn't need to feel insecure anymore. Even so, she would rather they didn't meet again. "Well, actually I'm meeting with Shawn for my lunch break..." She paused when she saw his face fall and changed her mind. It's just a walk. Declan is allowed to talk to her at least, right? "But we can go outside and wait for him."
He eagerly agreed and she and Declan made their way through the building and sat down on a bench outside of the station. "So, tell me," Declan said, "what did I do wrong? What does he have that I don't?"
"I already said that it's not your fault. You were always sweet and knew just what to say…" Juliet assured him and laid a hand on his arm.
"But that's the thing I don't understand—I have a mansion, my own helicopter, a personal chef, who could make you whatever you wanted whenever you wanted it. I took you on trips, that he surely can't even afford."
She smiled, thinking of Shawn. "That's true. But a relationship is not about material things... Shawn offers me something… more." She didn't say it out loud, but knew he could read from her face what she meant.
"Oh," he said, a strange grin appearing on his face. "I'm sure he does."
Shawn Spencer was in a superior mood today. He's been in that mood ever since he dared to ask Jules to marry him. Ever since she said yes. Gus could hardly stand being around him anymore, stating that Shawn was even annoying than usual. Shawn was sure that he was just jealous.
So, Shawn was on his own, heading to the Department to pick up his new fiancée for lunch. Walking with her was even better than driving in the Blueberry together; he could hold her hand that way. The pink good-mood-bubble surrounded him until he saw her in front of the SBPD on a bench with another man, who ruthlessly drove a long, thick needle into his bubble and burst it effectively.
Declan.
Out of all of Juliet's former boyfriends, of which there weren't many in the first place, why did it have to be him?! They were facing each other and Declan said something that made her laugh. Shawn didn't notice that he balled his hands into tight fists. Only an inch closer and Declan would be sitting in her lap! Shawn quickly strode towards them. "What a lovely surprise!" He exclaimed loudly and Jules looked like she was caught with her hand in the cookie box.
"Shawn." Juliet stood up quickly. Shawn felt her slip her hand into his balled fist, as if assuring him that she was on his side. "Couldn't you be a bit nicer?" She asked softly and squeezed his hand.
Shawn knew that she was trying to pour oil on troubled water and he suddenly felt more comfortable with her hand in his, but that didn't mean that he liked Declan any bit more. "For all I care. Hello Declan." Shawn spat his name with disgust and didn't look him in the face. He didn't deserve more.
Declan grinned back and Shawn could definitely hear a phony charm in his voice as his opponent replied. "Hello Shawn."
"You know," Juliet said, looking between the two men, seeming as if she thought making a false movement could set of a bomb. "Declan is considering working for the Department again and has to sort out some things with Chief Vick. That's why he's here."
"Oh really." Shawn said and put on a false smile. "I think we'll get along fine without you, but thanks anyway." Juliet jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow.
"Yeah, it seems you've got everything under control, I guess." Declan sighed and nodded towards Juliet's left ring finger. "Luck was on your side again."
"Oh, so you heard about us." Shawn grinned smugly. "Jules and I are engaged now." He hugged her closer to his side and kissed her temple. He looked down at her, seeing guilt flit across her face. She cleared her throat.
"The wedding is going to be in a few months." she told Declan. "Why don't you come?"
"WHAT!?" Shawn looked at her in horror. Was she serious!? Shawn felt triumph practically radiate from Declan when the man said: "Oh, I would love to." Eyes fixing on Shawn's.
"You're cordially invited" Juliet told him, "After all we're all adults, here, right?" Juliet threw a sideway glance at Shawn.
"Being an adult was never your strong suit, was it?" Declan grinned confidently. Shawn pierced Declan with a death glare and chose to ignore him from now on. A little desperate, he took both of Jules' hands in his and explained subdued, "I thought we would write the guest list together?"
Declan stood "Well, I guess I leave you two alone now. Juliet, maybe I'll see you again in the station." She nodded then he left, disappearing into the mass of cars in the parking lot.
As soon as Declan was out of view, Shawn removed his hands from Juliet's, to sift them through his hair in frustration. "Jules, why did you have to invite him? You don't invite the ex to the wedding, it never ends well!"
"And who says that? Your movies, in which women threw themselves at every man who walk their way? You forget that I'm not one of them." Jules reminded him sternly.
"Yeah, I know, but maybe he's one of them! Why else should he be here? I'm not buying his 'looking for a job' crap for one second and plus he's a fraud!"
"So are you!" She countered immediately, which silenced him. Juliet sighed. "Shawn, calm down. Inviting Declan to our wedding was the least I could do. I left him without any explanation. Nobody deserves that, right?"
Shawn crossed his arms in front of his chest and pouted, maybe she was right. "Well," he said stubbornly. "It isn't my fault that you thought that I was more attractive, handsome and charming than him."
She smiled, stepped closer to him and loosened his arms. "It wasn't only because of all that." She said, and he looked up. "Back then, I heard you with Gus, when you said you couldn't be happy without me. And because you wanted me to be happy, you put my happiness in front of yours." Shawn stared at her, stunned; he didn't know she knew that. Juliet closed the gap between them and Shawn felt her wrap her arms around his waist. "And then it became clear to me that you are the only one I love."
Shawn relaxed and the comforting feeling of luck began to spread again. Mischievously he grinned at her. "And because of my hair, right? You have to admit that it played a prominent role in your decision."
She laughed. "If that is what you must hear to calm your jealousy, then yes. Your hair is awesome."
"I'm not jealous!" Shawn protested.
Juliet held one finger in front of his face and poked him in the chest. "Don't you dare! You practically tried to kill Declan with your eyes."
"Well, I have something to fight for." He admitted and kissed her passionately. She responded to his kiss, wrapped her arms around him tighter and he wrapped his around her. Everything seemed to be in the right place. There it was again, the unbelievable, pleasant feeling to have everything you've ever wanted.
When they finally separated, she said: "But you don't have to fight anymore Shawn. You've already won. I belong to you. I will marry only you and nobody else." She kissed him reassuringly again and he grinned.
"You're damn right. Now let's eat. I'm starving." She laughed and intertwined her fingers with his as they walked on.
Declan seethed internally, having listened to the rest of Shawn and Juliet's conversation from behind one of the cars in the lot. He was sure that he had done enough. Juliet even knew about Shawn's secret and stayed with Spencer anyway. So why couldn't she stay with him then?! It was Shawn's fault, he was to blame! Declan had to concentrate on him, if he wanted to trigger a reaction. Shawn was much easier to unsettle and he make sure that everybody witnessed how easy it was to throw him off. Everyone he tricked with his charade.
Review! :)
I think updates will happen rather quick, because my beta-reader is the fastest ever. ;)