Juliet wreaths beneath me, the heels of her feet digging into my ass as I pound into her with a speed I didn't know I had. Her fingers trace every one of the many scars on my back from lashes received in a cold cave in the middle of nowhere overseas.
The only words from her mouth are a mixture of my name and 'oh fuck's . She tightens her muscles around me and I know she's so close. Her mouth forms the beautiful O and she's about to cry out, I can see it on her face.
"Just a... little bit... more." I pant through gritted teeth. We're both about to blow when I fall and hit the mattress, my face buried in the pillow where Juliet's long golden hair had been so gorgeously tangled and down upon.
"Ooh, so close, weren't you Sarge?" Of course, leave it to Sphinx to ruin that. "Do think this could actually ever happen, Sarge? Yeah she thinks you're hot, smart and funny. Hell, she LOVES the mystery about you. But that... that'll never happen."
I see Sphinx next to me on the bed, laying on his side and his head resting on one arm. Thankfully I'm fully clothed again or this could be really weird. My bedroom still smells of me and Juliet's activity, my hand rubbing back and forth on the sheet where she belongs. Sphinx either doesn't notice or care. "Why do you feel the need to take everything from me?"
"This? This is all you, Sarge." Sphinx points to the doorway where Juliet appears again in hot, tight fitting jeans and a purple T shirt that hugs her perfect curves. Three men appear next to her and grab her.
"Jules! Juliet!" I scream and try to get off the bed, it's like I'm frozen.
"Shawn!" Juliet screams back over and over, flailing and kicking as they take her away.
"Can you save her Shawn? Can you save her when it really comes down to it? Or are you going to fuck up and drop the ball LIKE YOU DID TO ME!"
I wake up in a hot sweat, struggling to breath and my chest pounding heavily. I look around me and my bedroom is empty except for me. I lunge across my bed to my nightstand and grab my phone, dialing the familiar numbers.
"This better be good, Spencer. Do you know what time it is?" Oh thank God she answered.
"Jules! Jules, are you okay?" I ask quickly.
"Yeah Shawn, I'm fine. What's wrong?" There's evident worry in her voice. I don't want to scare her.
"Nothing Jules, sorry. I had a vision and I just needed to know you were okay." I don't give a fuck how that sounded, I had to know.
"I'm fine Shawn, I promise. Are you okay?" Why is she worried about me? "That must have had to be a Hell of a vision to wake you up and make you want to call me."
"Yeah, a Hell of a vision." I mumble, not sure what else to say to that.
"Shawn, meet me at the board walk in front of your place in half an hour. I could go for some air, and it sounds like you need someone to talk to."
"It's okay Jules, you don't have to..."
"No, I want to. I know you'd be there for me if I needed someone." How sweet is this girl!
"Okay Jules, see you then."
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Juliet walks towards me with a small smile on her face, she seems happy to see me, but maybe a little... hesitant? My mouth is slightly open, seeing her in the exact shirt and jeans she wore in my dream just half an hour ago.
"Hey, are you sure you're okay? You look a little shaken?" Juliet asks, rubbing my back soothingly. I'm a little worried she'll feel a... fuck!
"I was worried about you Juliet, not me." Her fingers are very gradually digging deeper into my back, more than likely hoping I won't notice her curious probing. "Find something interesting?" I ask, false bravado in my voice.
"Shawn, what's all over you're back?"
"Don't worry about it." I shrug away from her touch.
She changes the subject, getting closer to me yet. "Your vision, do you want to talk about it?" Jules asks softly, trying not to push.
"I... I think it was a vision. It could have been an AWESOME dream that turned out to be a nightmare." Real talks aren't something I enjoy, but sometimes they have to happen.
"What happened?" Juliet's full attention was on me, her breath shallow and her eyes wide.
"We were... well that part isn't important." It was to me. "You were standing in the doorway of somewhere I didn't recognize, a bedroom somewhere. A really nice one." I close my eyes, calling my dream back to me. "The walls were white, with cream colored edging and borders. There were five pillows on the bed, one of them a Pillow Pet dog. The sheets were white and there was a navy blue comforter. Three windows." I opened my eyes and she looked shocked.
"Shawn, when have you ever seen my apartment, let alone bedroom?"
"That was the first time." Maybe it was a real vision... "But Juliet, you were wearing in the vision, what you're wearing now. These three guys came out of nowhere and grabbed you. You fought and kicked, but Jules... they took you away and I couldn't do a damn thing to stop them." My voice trembled more than I wanted it to. Where did bad ass Sergeant Spencer go?
"This is really frightening you, isn't it?" Juliet asked softly, her hand on my back again.
"Juliet, I haven't known you a month yet. There is something about you... something that makes me want, need to protect you. You don't know me all that well, but I CAN protect you. And I swear to you I will."
This promise left her mouth open, unsure of what to say. "Shawn, I.. "
"You don't have to say anything, Jules." Holy fuck did I want to kiss her right now, those soft sweet lips just so slightly open... just enough room for my tongue to... "Something is going to happen. Something Santa Barbara has never seen before." I didn't notice till now how close our faces were. "I will keep you safe, Detective O'Hara." I could feel her gentle, hot breath on my lips. It would be so easy to press my lips to hers. Instead I took her head in my hands and kissed her forehead slowly, allowing my lips to linger there. The attraction and connection I felt for this girl in such a small amount of time was ridiculous.
"Shawn, what are you talking about?" She asked me breathless.
"I wish I could tell you more. All I know is that you may be in danger Juliet, but I won't let anything happen to you, or Gus."
"Gus is in trouble too?"
"I'm sure of it. I think we all are. I don't want to be overdramatic here Jules, but I think Santa Barbara is going to war."
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"Gus buddy, come over. Let's have a beer, watch some TV..."
"Workout?" Gus really was serious about whipping into shape and doing more than just police consults. If I was going to be honest, I was getting more behind the idea of it if that dream and the phone call really meant anything. It was just a matter of knowing when.
"We got time for a quick one." I lied, it wouldn't be quick. I think I'll start teaching him to fight at the beginning of next week.
My phone goes off in my pocket, but I'm with Gus now and left Juliet this morning. I think I know who it is.
I suggest you begin getting your pawns together soon, Sergeant. Just a text this time? They're getting bore-ring! I preferred the personalized phone calls myself.
"Gus buddy, I think we're going to be changing up our workout today. I hope you like punching bags.
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"Hey Rex, this is Sarge." I miss Rex. I haven't talked to this nut job since Afghanistan. He was a crazy little son of a bitch that outfitted the Heaven Hounds.
Rex owes me a couple favors because Sphinx and I saved his ass one day when he was on a supply run. Extremists set up road sides and when they thought Rex was out of the game, they tried to rush in and take prisoners along with any salvageable gear. They tried to swarm, but me and Sphinx downed all tangos. All twenty-five of them.
"Sarge! Holy shit, long time no see! What can I do for ya?" There's the Rex I knew.
"I can still cash in that favor from saving your ass, right?"
"You can cash that in after I'm dead for all I care. If that favor involves my ex-wife, more power to ya!" What the fuck is that supposed to mean?
"Rex, I need some gear. A lot of gear."
"You get into some kind of trouble, Sarge?" I think Rex is actually a little worried. I've never heard him worried.
"Yeah, I think so Rex. I can't handle it like a civi, you know? How much trouble would it be for you to get me a list of gear I need?"
"Well Sarge, it will be a lot of trouble and strings, but I'll get that shit to you as sure as I hate my mother!"
"I'm guessing that's a yes?"
"Sure is buckaroo! Send over that list and I'll see what I can do, Sarge."
"Perrrfect."
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A knock on my door. Why am I always woken up when I'm actually getting GOOD sleep?
I take my M9 from under my pillow and go to my door. Why the fuck doesn't it have a peep hole? And why the fuck is it called a peep hole? Can't it be a spy hole or a look hole? Why peep!?
I crack the door ever so slightly, my back to the wall and one arm strong against the door incase it's a hostile that wants to force in.
The door stays where it is, so I open it just a little more. "Um... Shawn, what are you doing?" Jules? Why does she keep finding a way to make it into my night life somehow?
"Jules, what are you doing here? Detectives should be in bed." I told her, tucking the M9 in my pajama pants waist band.
"I've been thinking, Shawn. If something bad, that you sense is going to happen, how can you protect me?" I expected anything but that. "Ever since you told me about your vision I've been looking over my shoulder at every sound and movement. But if you don't know what's going on, how are you going to help?"
"Juliet, I know you think I'm just some civilian, but I am telling you... I am more dangerous than anyone in this town knows. I have seen things no one ever should. I won't give you details, but Juliet, I am more than you think I am." I run a hand through my hair and step further back into my apartment.
"Shawn, what happened to your place?" Juliet's eyes widen at the state of my apartment.
I forgot about my little fight with Sphinx earlier tonight. It got pretty nasty and things got pretty fucked up. Mainly my furniture and anything glass. I rub the back of my neck awkwardly, unable to find an answer. I'm usually better at this. "Well things can get kind of hairy when you invite koalas..."
The look on her face shut me right up. "Shawn, what happened?" Her voice left no room for my preferred bullshit.
"I'm fucking smashed right now, okay?" I throw my arms up, not sure what to tell her. "I got fucked up and fucked up my place. No big deal." I sway back and forth now that my fight or flight worry is over.
"Right now Shawn, I think you're a danger to yourself more than anyone." Juliet narrowed her eyes at my state, not too happy.
Without even thinking, I walk to my kitchen and grab a steak knife. I turn around and whip it at my dart board on the wall, missing the bulls eye by just millimeters. "How's that for ya, Jules?" I ask, my arms spread wide in challenge.
"How can you do that? Drunk off your ass no less." Juliet asked me in what I hope was wonderment...
I walk back to her, causing her to step back into the wall, nowhere to go. My hands find her hips and my lips brush her ear as I whisper, "There's a lot of things I can do, Juliet." My vision goes black and I hear a terrible wringing. Am I falling? Yup, that's carpet on my face...
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Next chapter, we will see what Juliet thinks of Shawn in the morning. We will also see what nifty toys Shawn gets from Rex, and Gus begins his intense training under Shawn.