A/N: So this is the end of another story. I had so much fun writing this, and especially reading all of your reviews. Some very comical when I decided to be mean and leave you with giant cliffhangers. So thank you to everyone who reviewed, especially the ones that reviewed every chapter. I appreciate each and every one of you! Keep your eyes peeled for my next adventure, it'll be starting soon!

Shawn walked out of the rehabilitation facility. A smile on his face as he practically skipped toward the green Volkswagen waiting for him. Opening the car door and slipping inside, he turned his attention to the beautiful blond beside him.

"Gus could have picked me up, Jules." Shawn stifled a laugh as she tried to readjust the sling her arm was stuck in for another week. Grumbling for a moment, she gave up and turned toward her boyfriend.

"I wanted to pick you up, Shawn. We haven't had any alone time since we both got out of the hospital." Her voice wavered slightly on the last word, as Shawn looked away. Neither of them had spoken of Shawn's long hospital stay and how it had ended up causing her a three day stay.

Sighing, Shawn peered up at Juliet from the corner of his eyes. "I'm sorry." His words were barely a whisper, and he had closed his eyes fighting against the tears that threatened to fall. He was Shawn Spencer dammit. He didn't cry!

"Why are you sorry?" Juliet's tone caused Shawn to open his eyes and look at her.

"Because this-" he paused and motioned toward her immobile arm. "Is my fault-"

"How do you figure that, Shawn?" Juliet's eyebrow cocked slightly.

"If I hadn't-" Shawn sighed, as he ran a hand through his hair. God, he hated talking about his feelings. Torture would be better than this. "If I had just stayed put-"

Juliet grumbled, and Shawn fought against a chuckle as she went to hold up her immobilized arm to stop him. "Listen, Shawn. If you hadn't gone to Paulo, chances are he would have found you. Police detail or not. So chances are that he would have attempted to harm anyone watching you, which more than likely would have still been me. So, getting shot is not your fault. If anyting, it's mine. I had the shot, and I should have taken it. I knew that he would shoot me, but I guess I was afraid that he would shoot you if I shot him—I don't know. I just—I hesiated. That is why I got shot, Shawn."

Sighing, Shawn shook his head. "You can put the blame on Paulo and yourself, but I know that it's me. I know that I'll beat this addiction thing again, because I'm stubborn and refuse to do that to my body. Though, I can't help but think that if I had refused it to begin with—none of us would have been in this position to begin with-" Shawn paused when his stomach grumbled. Happy for a chance to change the subject. "Jules, I am starving. Here soon I'll be like that Marvin person."

Juliet chuckled, as she reached her left arm over her body and threw her car into gear. "Let's go get you some food before you perish."

Shawn smiled brightly. "Jerk chicken?"

"Like I thought we'd get anything else." A smile perched itself on Juliet's lips as she steered them toward Shawn's favorite restaurant of choice.

Juliet pulled the car in front of the station, before opening her door. "Jules—I thought you were still on medical leave-" Shawn's voice whined.

"I am, Shawn. I just have to fill out my statement on what happened—in the hospital—you know-" Juliet sighed, as she started to pull herself from the car. "You can come in if you'd like. I'm sure everyone would love to see you."

Shawn sighed, unsure if he was still welcome into the station. At least in the same way that he had been. Know that everyone knew the truth about his past. How he had been on the other side of the law for a while. Would they truly welcome him back? Deep down he knew that Juliet only fully welcomed him back because he had come so close to dying. Shawn knew that he should feel upset by the fact that his girlfriend only wanted him around due to pity—and possibly guilt, but mostly pity.

"Yeah, sure." Shawn attempted to fake his way through his usually cheerfulness, but he knew that it had fallen flat.

Pulling himself from the car, Shawn sighed, as he grabbed Juliet's free hand and started up the stairs. Opening the door for his still injured girlfriend, Shawn trailed in behind her. A few gasps could be heard from those that could see them, but slowly smiles broke out on their faces. Everyone started to clap, and Shawn immediately knew it was for Juliet. She had risked her life to save his.

"Way to go, Detective O'Hara." One officer said, as he patted her shoulder. Quickly, the same officer turned toward Shawn, and he waited for the look of distaste to appear on the man's face. "Glad to see you up and around, Shawn! We missed you around here." Shawn couldn't stop the grin that slowly overtook his face. "Thanks-" Shawn looked at the man for the first time. "Good to see you again, Officer Morales!"

They went further in, as Juliet made a beeline for Lassiter's desk. "Where are the Markson files? I need to finish up my report and get it into the chief."

Lassiter spun around to look at Juliet. "Which she said could wait until you were back on your feet and off of medical—Sweet lady of justice! You brought the moron with you? Oh God, you're on babysitting duty?" Lassiter wrinkled his nose.

Juliet smacked Lassiter with her free hand. "Shush!"

"Lassifrass! My main man. What is happening? You see, I don't need a babysitter, though if I did I don't think I could think of anyone I would rather have than Jules." Shawn smiled at Juliet before turning his full attention on Lassiter.

"Go away, Spencer."

"Fine." Shawn started to walk away, before turning back toward Lassiter. "I can read between the lines you know. I know that means you care, Lassie. It warms my heart, it really does." Lassiter growled. "Definitely sounds like my cue to leave. Great seeing you again, Lassie. I'll be back on my feet and at a hundred percent before you know it." Shawn blew a kiss in Lassiter's general direction before practically skipping into the chief's office.

Chief Karen Vick looked over the statement that Shawn, Henry, and Detective O'Hara had given on the arrest of Paulo Markson. So when her door swung open, she found herself jumping slightly. Glaring at whoever dared to interrupt her, her facial expression softened slightly as Shawn entered her office. She could barely see the lingering smile on his face as his expression changed so quickly.

"Mr. Spencer, how are you feeling?" Shawn sighed as he turned and shut the door behind him. Walking slowly, he took a seat in front of Vick's desk. This was all wrong, not that she didn't relish in the fact that Shawn wasn't bouncing off the walls, but it just felt wrong. She could see the self-deprecating look on his face, and it made her heart swell.

"Can we just skip the pleasantries? I know that your only keeping up appearances because of my dad and Juliet. There just really isn't any need for it when we're alone. I know that you can't keep me on as a consultant any longer, and I don't blame you. It's all my fault. So if I could just grab my last check, I'll be on my way. I've accumulated quite a large medical bill, and I'd like to make a dent into it before I start looking for another job." The frown that seemed permanently itched into Shawn's face made Vick feel uncomfortable.

Shifting slightly, Karen sighed audibly. "Look, Mr—Shawn. I'm not going to lie to you. Yes, your past activities will cause some issues, especially with defense attorneys. However, you have built up quite a bit of credibility for yourself. You have a success rate higher than any detective I have, by yourself. You also single-handedly located a known drug dealer that even the entire NYPD couldn't locate, and with the help of Detective O'Hara, you were able to help us arrest him. All of that will definitely help your case, and Shawn if it was up to me, I'd hand you a case right now. However, it is not my decision, and I'm still awaiting word from the mayor and the assistant district attorney. I have a high belief that you will be solving cases for this city again before long. Please keep your head up, Shawn."

Shawn couldn't help but smile softly at Karen. "Thank you, chief."

"You're quite welcome, Mr. Spencer. Now, as a friend of your father's, I have to ask what in the hell were you thinking getting involved with people like Paulo Markson and Antonio Salvato?"

Shawn hung his head. He had already had this conversation more than once with his father. Who still wasn't happy with any of the answers, or excuses as his father called them, yet. "To be honest? I was in a bad place, chief. I know that it's not a good answer or excuse, but it is the truth. The short answer is, I needed money. The drugs were an accident, and I would give anything to take it all back-" Shawn sighed. "I will live the rest of my life regretting that one decision. It's something that I'll have to live with. Just like, I have to live with the fact that my father was injured by the psychopath, and that Juliet was shot by him. All of that is my fault, and I realize that. I am not stupid, I know the effect that one decision has had on every single person in my life. I do promise you, I will never do anything that stupid ever again."

Karen nodded. "That's all I needed to hear." Yanking an envelope from her desk, Karen handed it over to Shawn. "You're excused, Mr. Spencer." Karen smiled softly at him, as he rose to his feet and walked out of her office.

"Hey Jules, do you think we can stop by the office for a bit? I know that Gus is gonna be there doing some paperwork, and I want to say hi." Shawn didn't bother to look over at his girlfriend.

Juliet smiled softly. "Of course. If you don't mind, I'll just go ahead and look over this statement and take it back to the station."

Shawn turned his head away from the passenger side window, to peer at Juliet. "Nope, don't mind. Actually, if you have to make a run back to the station, I'll just stay and hang out with Gus. I think my dad wanted me to come over for lunch anyway." Shawn wrinkled his nose, and Juliet chuckled.

"Still not getting along?"

Shawn sighed. "Oh, we'd get along great if he would accept one of the hundred different answers I gave him for what happened in New York." Shawn shook his head. "I just, I don't know what answer he is looking for. I already apologized for the whole getting him kidnapped by a psychotic drug dealer. What else does he want me to say?"

Shawn let his eye drift close for a moment, as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Shawn, I'm sorry."

Shawn jerked his head up, and forced a cheerful smile on his face. "Nothing for you to be sorry for, Jules."

Shawn let his eyes drift out of the windshield, and sighed in relief as the psych office came into view. He had most definitely had enough of spilling his feelings all over everyone, even if his therapist thinks it'll help him. Though, Jody did seem pretty certain that Shawn wouldn't touch the stuff again.

As Juliet guided her car into a parking spot, Shawn practically leapt from the car. Walking into the psych office was like a fresh breath of air. Something he definitely needed. He never really said it, not often at least, but he had never ever cared about a job like he has this one. Shawn hadn't lied when he was younger, he did want to be a cop. He had always wanted to be just like his dad, that of course changed once his dad started to drill things into his head. Shawn had always regretted getting himself arrested, even if at the time he had made up his mind on being a cop. He really would have loved to have had a chance to be a cop, a good one, but on his own terms. That's exactly what he had accomplished with psych, was being able to help put away the bad guys, but on his own terms.

"Gussy, my boy!" Shawn sing-songed his voice as he watched Gus from the hallway.

"Hey, Shawn. I thought you and Juliet were spending the day together?"

"We are, but Jules has some last minute police business to take care of. So I thought I'd hang out with you, and we could go have lunch with my dad."

Gus groaned. He was not on Henry's list of favorite people. Gus was fairly certain it was a mixture of forcing him to be seen by a doctor, and staying overnight when all he wanted was to see his son, to the fact that Gus constantly made him go home when they were waiting for Shawn to wake up. Oh, and the fact that Gus had stood up for Shawn after he answered Henry's New York based question for the sixth time.

"Your dad hates me."

Shawn laughed, as he dropped into his desk chair, and plopped his feet on top of his desk. "He doesn't hate you. Henry doesn't hate anyone, his words not mine. He just—think fond things about you. But, hey! We're in the same boat, seeing as he hardly ever thinks fond things about me. We'll be disliked together, how about that? You know, more power in numbers and all that jazz."

Gus rolled his eyes. "Fine. He just better not try to poision my food."

"We're talking about Henry Spencer, decorated cop, he isn't going to try to kill you. At least not with anything that can be traced back to him. I'd be more on the look out for a falling anvil, perhaps a falling piano."

"Shawn! We do not live in a Looney Tunes cartoon."

"Yeah, sure, right. I know, Gus. I'm just saying, if you're waiting for my dad to kill you, you better keep an eye out for something like that."

Gus rolled his eyes once more. "I'm finished here, ready to go?"

"Ready? Not in the least bit, but let's just get this over with. I just—wonder what creative way he's going to think of to ask me about New York again. Suppose I should already think of my new excuse of the day."

Sighing, Shawn shoved himself to his feet and followed Gus out of the office. So much for a breath of fresh air.

Henry was busy sitting the table, so when there was a knock at the door, he barely looked up. "Come on in." He shouted, as he sat forks down on the table, before turning to grab the food he had prepared.

"Hey dad." Shawn spoke as the door squeaked open.

"Shawn." Henry spoke, as he looked up. He had assumed his son would bring a tag along with him. "Gus."

"Mr. Spencer." Gus said, as he practically bowed.

"Seriously? That is not the way to win my father over. You of all people should know that." Shawn whispered softly.

"Why would Gus have to win me over?" Henry eyed both boys carefully.

Gus coughed, as Shawn looked from Gus to Henry. "Dude, not cool! You're the one that said my dad had a problem with you!" Sighing, Shawn looked back at his dad. "He thinks you're mad because of all the stuff that went down at the hospital."

Henry laughed lightly. "I'm not upset with you, Gus. You did the right thing. Now, let's sit down and eat boys."

Both of them nodded, as they each took a seat. Henry laid the plates of food down in front of them, as Shawn grabbed his fork and started to shovel in the food.

"Dad, great steak!"

"You say that as if you doubt my cooking abilities."

Shawn mumbled something unintelligible through his food, and smiled before wolfing down his entire glass of water.

"Not doubting them—just wondering why they're there!"

Henry shook his head, as he sat down with his plate. "Real men can cook, Shawn, and before you ask it. No, take-out is not the same thing. How you ever plan to hold on to Juliet without being able to cook a decent meal is beyond me."

Henry and Gus laughed, as Shawn gaped at them before feigning a hurt expression. "Oh, I see. My dad and best friend teaming up against me. Not cool, dude. Not cool at all!"

Gus just eyed Shawn for a moment before shoveling in more food.