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Chapter 4:

Shawn asked the driver to let him out at the end of the Juliet's street so he could walk the rest of the way without drawing attention to himself. Again, Shawn had to wait and watch, crouching low in the shrubbery of the neighbor's front yard. He could make out a familiar face on the driver's seat of a cruiser, parked in front of Juliet's house. It was an officer from the station. He must be one of her guards. But, wait, Chief Vick said there were two guards. Where is the other?

Shawn waited impatiently. He could see a light on inside the house. She was so close. Shawn flinched when there was a sudden cracking noise from a radio right in front of him. He clamped a hand over his mouth, stopping himself from making a sound and ducked lower. Through the branches of the bush, he could see the other officer's boots as he was radioing to his colleague: "I completed my route. Nothing to report around the house. I'm coming back now. Over."

"Copy that." came the other officer's voice through the radio. "No suspicious activity on the streets, either. Over."

Ha, no suspicious activity, my ass. Shawn mocked them in his head. Somehow he hates that he was able to get so close to the house without being seen. I knew Jules wouldn't be safe with them. I have to get to her.

Step three: Get inside of Jules' house without being seen… or startling her.

When the officer returned to his partner in the car, Shawn hid behind Juliet's neighbor's fence, creeping along and climbed over it in the backyard of the house. Looking around alertly, Shawn came up to the glass backdoor and skillfully opened it with the help of his Swiss army knife.

He pushed the curtain to the side. I'm in. Now I have to find—

"Freeze! SB—" Juliet stopped, weapon drawn in front of her and eyes widening in surprise. "Shawn?"

He was still standing like a deer in headlights by the window, pocket knife in hand. "Hi, Jules."

In one swift moment, she holstered the weapon and rushed over to him. Juliet wrapped her arms tightly around his shoulders just as Shawn did hers, and he lifted her up, pressing her slender body against his.

"Oh, Shawn, I missed you so much." she whispered against his neck, unsuccessfully trying to suppress tears.

"I missed you too, sweetheart." Shawn said, setting her down and immediately covering her lips with a deep, desperate kiss. Finally. He cupped her face, fingertips brushing against her soft skin and her hair as he pulled her in closer. She fisted the front of his shirt tightly, standing on her tiptoes to get as near to his face as possible.

Juliet let herself be swept into the kiss for as long as her lungs would let her. Their lips eagerly moving in unison until she absolutely had to break away with a start, catching her breath. Shawn came back again, kissing her with just as much force as tenderness, something only he could do. "Shawn," she gasped, parting reluctantly and gazing into his warm green eyes. "What are you doing here? How did you even—"

"I had to see you, Jules." Shawn simply stated, wiping the tears from her cheek and resting his head against her forehead.

"But how?" Juliet stressed, stepping back so she could talk to him without being overwhelmed by the urge to kiss him senseless.

"It may have involved some sleeping pills and a lot of hiding in bushes, but I'm here now." Shawn said, moving in again.

Juliet stopped him by his arms. "Shawn. Why do you keep doing these things?! They could've seen you!" She struggled between happiness and worry, but the latter eventually dominated.

"They haven't. Both officers are in the cruiser right now."

"I meant Northcutt and his gang. They could've captured you or shot you on the spot!" Juliet pointed out fiercely. "Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?"

"I had to get out, Jules! I was worried about you. Those guards can't even…" Shawn stopped himself when he noticed that his voice was getting louder. He breathed deeply, getting himself under control again. "The Chief told me about Gus. I couldn't just sit around any longer. No one should get hurt because of me."

Juliet squeezed Shawn's hands, looking compassionately at him. "I know how you feel, I really do. It's horrible and terrifying not being able or allowed to do anything, but everyone is on high alert. Gus is fine, he doesn't blame you. He's safe in the hospital. Northcutt isn't getting past that security system or the guards. And I'm okay too, Shawn. I'm armed and I'm trained." She stroked over his rough cheek, trying to soften the fiery fear still burning in his eyes and stepped closer. "But as much as I miss you, you're not safe out here. You have to go back."

Shawn took her in his arms once again, hugging her tightly. "You're not safe here either. And I'm here to protect you, sweetie."

"Shawn—"

"No, Jules." he interrupted her firmly. "I won't go anywhere without you, okay? It's either I'm staying here or you coming to the safehouse with me. But I won't leave you again. Period." Shawn eased his arms around her to look into her face with seriousness and sincerity. "I love you."

Juliet swallowed, lips trembling. "I love you, too."

Shawn brought his face down to her, their noses touching but still a tiny bit of space left between their lips. "Come with me, Jules."

His breath ghosted over her, but their lips still haven't touched when she started to answer, "Shawn, I—"

A sudden, sharp, explosive sound. The shattering of broken glass. And Shawn, sucking in an abrupt breath, shaking as he struggled to keep himself on his feet.

And failed.

"Shawn!" Juliet exclaimed, terrified, ducking herself down as another bullet cut through the air, missing her only by an inch. "Shawn!" she screamed again, hovering over his face. She could hear the shouts of her guards outside. More shooting. Shawn groaned, squeezing his eyes shut. "Shawn, look at me." she demanded, horrified, cupping his cheek.

He squinted, looking at her with a pained expression. "I'm fine," he forced out.

Juliet looked down at him, only now realizing that the side of his shirt was already drenched in blood. "Oh, god." She ripped the shirt open, pulling her own long-sleeved shirt over her head and pressing it to the deep cut that had graced Shawn's side.

"Don't. I'll ruin your shirt." Shawn winced as Juliet pressed down on his side.

"Shh. Hold still."

The front door burst open and one of Juliet's guards stormed in. "Detective O'Hara, are you—" He paused at the sight of them. "Mr. Spencer!? How—"

"He'll be okay! What's going on outside?" Juliet demanded, still pressing down on Shawn's side and clutching his hand with hers.

"The shooter must've approached the house from the back. He took off toward the street. My partner is chasing after him and I came in to check on you." he said.

Oh, no, they're getting away again, Juliet thought. I can't let that happen! She looked back at Shawn. "How are you holding up?"

"I'm fine." Shawn winced, trying his best not to get light-headed at the sight of his own blood and the copper smell penetrating his nose. "It's just a flesh wound, but, Jules, please don't—"

Juliet cut him off. "I'll stop them. They're not getting away with this!" Juliet jabbed a finger at her guard. "You! Put pressure on this wound and request back up. Don't let this get worse. That's an order!" Juliet commanded.

"Yes, Detective." The officer hurried over to the man on the ground, replacing Juliet at her task.

Juliet took one last longing glance back at Shawn. I'm putting an end to this. Then she grabbed her gun and went out the front door.

"No, Jules! Don't go outside!" Shawn struggled on the floor, fighting against the officer who pinned him down. He was punished by a burning pain that coursed from his side throughout his whole body and black spots danced in front of his eyes. When his vision cleared again, Juliet was gone.

Her bare feet were touching the cold ground. Juliet shivered, still only dressed in her pajama bottoms and her thin top. With her gun at the ready, she walked down the pathway leading to the street.

She looked up and down the street and decided to go right first and then back on the opposite side of the street. Come on, where are you? I know you're here somewhere, you scumbags.

Juliet's foot snagged on something and she almost tripped. She looked down and gasped. The prone body of her second guard was lying on the ground. She bent down immediately and put her fingers to his neck. He's breathing and he's got a pulse, she tells herself. He's just been knocked out. She stood up, eyes scanning the darkness.

The silence of the night only intensified the fear that slid down her spine and she gripped her gun tighter. Her heart was pumping wildly in her chest every time Juliet looked into another parked car, fully expecting someone to sit there in the dark. However, she couldn't understand for the life of her why she was so surprised when it actually happened.

It was Northcutt himself, sitting on the driver's seat and grinning at her like he had no fear in the world. Juliet was about to demand him to freeze, when, at the same time, the back door opened and someone jumped out. The person slammed something hard over her head before she could even turn around. The short moment of dizziness was enough for her attacker to knock the firearm out of her hand. A shot loosened, but it didn't hit anything. Juliet was grabbed and pushed towards the open back door. She screamed, her terror disturbing the nightly silence, fighting desperately to free herself. And she probably would have if her attacker didn't strike her again in the temple, making her lose consciousness instantly.

-.-.-

When the shot rang out from the street, Shawn felt a sudden coldness overtake him. Fear gripped his heart as he intently listened for more sounds. The officer who was still pinning him down looked towards the door, hand on his gun. A sudden scream pierced the silence. Shawn's pain was forgotten. That was Juliet's scream.

With a vicious, forceful swing of his arm, Shawn pushed the officer out of his way and rolled over to stand up. Shawn cried out as his body rebelled against the movement, but he ignored it. The officer yelled at him to stop, but he didn't care. Clutching his side, he bolted out the door, spotting Juliet's unconscious form, held up in the arms of Daniel Wayne. She was being shoved into the back door of the car.

"Juliet!" he shouted, banishing all reasonable thoughts and sprinting down the street just as the engine revved up. No, I can't lose her. I can't lose her. I can't—

Suddenly, Northcutt's head emerged from the driver's seat, grinning viciously. Shawn all but growled with fury, running faster towards him. He can't take her! Not her! Shawn couldn't stop himself. Even as Northcutt held his gun out of the window, Shawn still pressed on.

"I figured taking her hurts more than taking you, right?" Northcutt called over the roaring engine. "See you soon." he added. He raised the gun and fired a single bullet as he accelerated the car.

Shawn inhaled sharply when the bullet bored into the flesh of his left arm, throwing him off balance. Once again, he fell to the ground, hitting his wounded side. He thought that he had cried out, but he couldn't be sure. All of a sudden everything was blurry. Shawn couldn't move anymore. The adrenaline left his body and all he felt was numbness. The ground vibrated beneath him when the car speeded away. In the distance someone called his name. Or was it close to him? He looked at the sky above him. Beautiful stars. I wish Jules could see them, he mused. Then the stars faded and his night became pitch black.

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