She sat in the waiting room in the far corner, away from the only other person who was in or near the same state as herself. Tired eyes looked at the blank walls around them and shoulders sulked as if they bore a heavy weight. The stillness hung thickly in the air, not a sound having been made.

Seven days had passed since someone inside the prison tipped the SBPD about Donny Mason's plans involving Shawn. Seven days since Mason was shot and killed on the spot when the police arrived to see the psychic on the floor. Seven days had gone by since Jules held a bleeding Shawn Spencer in her arms.

The detective rose quickly to her feet when Shawn's doctor walked towards her, informing her that she could see him now, before leaving to tend to other matters.

Juliet O'Hara knew the way Spencer's room by heart. Room 240. She hardly left his bedside, only leaving to eat or sleep restlessly when the Chief ordered her to or when Shawn's dad and Gus stopped by. Lassiter only came once and that was after everything at the prison was taken care of.

Officers at the station said he had buried himself in his work-no one was sure why, but some thought he was beating himself up about the whole thing.

Juliet only shook her head.

The beeping of multiple machines was what the detective heard as she walked into the large enough ICU room-then everything thing went silent when she saw the psychic. Shawn had made no to little improvement in a weeks time. The doctors said that he wasn't making much of an improvement, but said they should be glad that nothing had gotten worse.

She had never seen him this still and that scared her. The only indication of his being alive was the rise and fall of his chest-and even that was only because of the oxygen he was on. The tube was still in place down his throat, taped into position so it wouldn't move.

Juliet wiped the tear that was pooling in her eyes as she took a seat in the chair next to Shawn's bed. After seven days the detective still couldn't bring herself to make any physical contact with the man. It could have been because of the restraints that bound his arms and legs to the bed, despite his many injuries. Or maybe the armed guards that stood outside his door at all times-the ones Jules hardly noticed anymore. She never sat close to him, but she wasn't exactly far away either.

As far as anyone who read or watched the news, knew that Shawn Spencer was still considered a convicted criminal; a murderer. Chief Vick was working over time in an effort to clear the consultants name. Every contact she had while pulling, no, tugging every string in the book was being done. Karen shouldered the blame too, though many tried to convince her other wise.

Juliet O'Hara stayed in her seat for a while longer until a knock sounded on the door. She turned around and greeted Burton Guster with a sad smile. Giving one last glance to the psychic, the detective got up and left the room, not bothering to conceal the tears that flowed from her bloodshot eyes.

-x-x-x-

"I don't know what to say. I'm sorry, Shawn. I let you down." Gus said. If anyone else was in the room at the time, the words would've been muffled and jumbled at best but no one could have missed the sincere expression of guilt on the man's face as he overlooked his best friends unconscious body.

"I didn't want to believe you were guilty, I couldn't bring myself to. But the facts, the evidence; it was all there. I was losing my mind through it all and it seemed every move you made, proved what everyone thought." Gus took a deep breath and wiped his eyes. "some friend I am," he said as he stood up and walked over to the other side of the room. He couldn't do this, not anymore. Now now.

Burton Guster needed air, so he jogged out into the all to clean hallway, using the excuse of needing to find a vending machine when he really couldn't handle the weight of the guilt he shouldered when close to Shawn.

Eight minutes later with a Danish in hand, Gus made his way to the one place on earth he didn't want to be. The sight in front of pharmaceutical salesman caused him to drop his small meal, forgotten, and over to the swarm of doctors and nurses alike as they rushed into the very room his long time friend lay.

'CODE RED IN ROOM 240. CODE RED IN ROOM 240.'

"where's that crash cart?"

Breath in..

"BP is dropping-"

Breath out..

"we're losing him-"

Breath in..

"charging 250- Clear!" Shawn jerked up and down as the bolts of electricity coursed through his body.

Breath out..

"charging 300- clear!" again. Up and down.

Breath in..

"I'm calling it."

And just like that, everything went black.

-x-x-x-

Juliet couldn't believe what she'd just been told.

Shawn couldn't be dead. No. It just wasn't possible. She was just with him and he seemed, more or less, fine. He was surely recovering. Slowly, but recovering.

Her legs buckled unable to hold her up any longer. The news the doctor had told her not even a minute ago sinking in even though she didn't want it to. She didn't-couldn't believe that Shawn was gone.

Tears poured from her eyes faster when she saw Gus, with the aid of a nurse, walking over to where she sat.

The two embraced, neither able to stand on their own, and not wanting to be alone.

"Doctor Evans, we need you! Now!" a nurse called out. The doctor that informed Jules quickly left the grieving friends at the same time Detective Lassiter and Chief Vick ran into the waiting room, a nurse having already called them with the news.

The four stood in confusion for what felt like an eternity until Doctor Evans returned.

"Doctor, what's-"

"We don't know how, but Shawn's heart started beating ninety seconds after we called it." the doctor said quickly. "now I have to get back in there, but if your friend keeps fighting like this, he might just make it." and just like that he was gone.

Lassiter swore under his breath and the chief could only shake her head at the news given to them. Gus was now seated with his head in his hands muttering to himself while Jules excused herself for some fresh air.

The weather in Santa Barbra was dreary, having been raining for a few days but now as she stepped outside the sun shone though the fading clouds and she couldn't help but smile. Something she hadn't been able to do since this whole nightmare began.

Shawn was going to be alright. She could feel it. And whatever trials and conditions they had to face, they were going to make it through.

Together.

-x-x-x-

You know how people say that when your about to die, you'll see a white light? They lied. Shawn was sure of it.

Your life doesn't flash before your eyes like a cinematic movie in Hollywood, either. And there certainly wasn't any pineapple.

To say the least, Shawn Spencer was disappointed.

He thought he had heard Gus speaking to him at one time or another. Maybe even the Chief or Lassie, too come to think of it. But he was 100 percent sure that he heard Juliet's soft, sweet voice. Now, he'll admit he wasn't sure if it was Fake Jules or Real Jules, if you asked him, all he knew was that he missed her badly.

He wanted to make her laugh at his stupid jokes or tell he about that prank he pulled on Gus. But he couldn't.

He couldn't move; could hardly breath which confirmed one thing.

Getting ready to die sucked.

That was what was on his mind as the pain he was in slowly faded away. He could hear muffled voices followed by a shock filling his body.

'Why can't they let me go peacefully?' he thought.

Another shock.

'I'm sorry, Jules.' Shawn wanted the pain to end and wished the for it hard. Soon everything was quite and Shawn Spencer smiled to himself as he let go.

-x-x-x-

Gus paced back and forth in the silent waiting room, eyes never leaving the clock mounted high in the wall. If he focused on it hard enough, he could hear the gears grinding as each second passed.

It had been just over an hour since Doctor Evans told them that Shawn could be out of the woods, but to be on the safe side of things said to see what the next 24 to 36 hours beheld.

"Guster if you keep pacing in that straight line the hospital will make you pay for new tile." Detective Lassiter said breaking the thick silence.

"Its either this or punch a hole through each wall I pass." Gus said not looking the other man's way.

"Family of Shawn Spencer?" Doctor Evans called out. The four friends of the psychic all walked over to see what news the doctor had for them.

"You can see him now, but one at a time." he said with a genuine smile on his face. "We moved him to the ICU for now, and if he improves to my liking we will move him to a more comfortable room tomorrow evening."

There were hugs and soft cheers of joy when Chief Vick's phone rang. She excused herself as Doctor Evans showed Juliet to Shawn's room, Lassiter and Gus agreeing that she should go first.

The walk down the long hallway was quite. At least to Jules it was since she was lost in her own thoughts. Once at Shawn's ICU room, complete with the armed guards at the door, Juliet was led inside before being left alone.

When the door clicked shut, Detective O'Hara made her way to the bedside when Shawn opened his eyes and looked at her.

"Hey," he said weakly. The breathing tube had been replaced with a nasile tube to help be easier on his lungs.

"Shawn, I'm-"

"Don't." said Shawn. He moved his hand until he felt Jules' soft skin on his. "Don't say your sorry."

"But I am." she said through the tears that had broken free."

"I understand. I do." That's what he whispered over and over until a knock rapped on the door. Shawn had fallen asleep so Juliet answered with a low reply to come in.

"How is he?" Gus asked.

Juliet stood to her feet and wiped her face and smiled. "He's hanging on. Its taking a lot out of him though."

"Yeah," Gus said. "The Chief wanted to talk with you, so I'll stay with him until you get back."

The detective nodded and left the room to find the Chief and her partner.

"Good news, Detectives." Karen began. "I just spoke to a lawyer friend of mine who took over Shawn's case. All charges have been dropped."

Juliet smiled and pulled the chief into a hug before composing herself. "Sorry, Chief."

"Its quite alright, O'Hara." she smiled while fixing her clothes. "When Mr. Spencer wakes up next, I want you to be the one to tell him the good news."

Gus soon joined the group and was informed thereafter of the news. Juliet excused herself to Shawn's room when Doctor Evans stopped her.

"Detective, might I have a word with you real quick?" she was right in front of Shawn's room but nodded and waited for the man to continue. "I went over some of Mr. Spencer's charts and something caught my attention."

"But you said he was making enough improvement to be taken out of the ICU by tomorrow?" Jules said.

"Yes, that is our goal, really." Doctor Evans removed his glasses and rubbed his tired eyes. "What I mean is that while Shawn is taking great to recovering physically, I'm worried about his mental state."

"What are you saying, Doctor?" Juliet couldn't stop herself from asking, for she already feared she knew the answer.

"To put is simply, the Shawn Spencer you and your friends knew before, likely won't be the same Shawn Spencer you have back now."