So, here's the final chap! I hope you enjoyed this small journey :) Please, if you feel like, leave a review, I'll love to hear your thoughts, comments or anything else that crosses your mind!
Thank you for reading and I look forward to see you in my next stories :)

Unwind

20 seconds passed in slow motion, each movement delayed. Shawn turned his head to find the source of the voice. Lassiter, his gun in hands, his eyes ready to kill. He saw the bullet fly through the air, the perfect aim leading it to the desired place. Bert didn't have the time to turn and in all his elaborate and meticulous plan he didn't count on one thing - that Shawn was never alone.

The bullet hit him right in his skull, lodging itself in his brain. He didn't even have the time to react before he was dead, his lifeless body hitting the ground.

The only thing was that Lassiter was moved by his instincts and miscalculated the distance between Bert and Juliet. The impact pushed her down the bell tower, towards the open garden several feet above.

Shawn stopped for a millisecond, all emotions at once exploding in his chest, all the adrenaline in his body killing the effect of the poison. He ran faster than he could, than he ever imagined he was able to.

It was his last chance.

Juliet couldn't die, she just couldn't.

He stretched his arm out, all his strength there.

When he realized time was passing normally again. He was laid down on the tower's floor, at his side, the body of Bert rested motionless but not less frightening. Lassiter was shouting something to him but his ears were muffled by his heartbeat. Shawn could see a suited figure behind him. The sirens down them were screaming as more and more cars were arriving but the only thing that mattered was her.

Her lightweight on top of him, his arms possessively around her body, as if he let her go she would disappear and he would find her bleeding at the garden. Her rapid breathing and accelerated heart could be felt through his shirt, her head resting in his chest.

He had saved her.

Juliet was alive.

He saw a paramedic coming his way and panic raised the surface, if he was trembling before, now he was shaking, the shock overcoming his body.

"Sir? I need you to let her go so we can check on her."

"No. You're not taking her away from me. No."

As childish as it might sound, the slightest idea of Jules away from him terrified Shawn to his very core. Juliet tightened her grip on him, her fingernails clutching his side, not wishing to let go either. He saw Lassiter come close and so did other familiar faces. A little behind he could hear his father's voice.

"Hey, let me through! It's my son in there."

"Sir, I believe he's in shock. We need him to let go of the lady so we can check on them."

He watched his father crouched down beside him, his look usually so harsh was now staring at him like he was trying to soothe Shawn after a nightmare.

"Son, hey, this man wants to help. Come on, let Juliet go."

"NO!"

This time both responded and Henry sighed, that would be hard. He gestured to someone on the back and in seconds Gus was there, his eyes so spooked. He was spiraling inside, and Shawn knew it, but was trying to play it cool for his friend

"Hey, buddy! Hey Juliet! Come on, you two are safe. They only want to help. Please."

Slowly Shawn put himself in a sitting position, dragging Juliet with him. With a reassuring hand on his shoulder, Gus slowly made his best friend lose his grip on the Detective while Karen, who appeared there without the couple noticing, rested her hand on Juliet's shoulder, trying to calm her down.

Finally, they managed to separate them and the paramedics rushed in. One going in Juliet's direction while the other focused on Shawn.

"I'm fine! I'm fine!" - the young detective brushed off the stethoscope from her chest while some other professional was checking her vitals.

"O'Hara, let the men do their job."

Lassiter stood beside his partner, his always professional position maintained but his eyes softer than the usual. Relief was stamped in his face, and if he wasn't so preoccupied with her well-being he would go thank Spencer for saving her life.

"I'm fine! Shawn needs assistance! He was poisoned! He's going to di…"

She couldn't finish the words before the realization came and she broke. Lassiter sat down beside her, his arms already around her as Juliet sobbed deeply in his chest, wettening his always so well fixed suit. But he didn't care, it was O'Hara. She could cry as much as she wanted.

While the forensics team made their way up to start analyzing the crime scene, Shawn was dragged downstairs to the ambulance, so they could inject him with some fluids and try to identify the poison. Chief Vick had found the syringe back in the garden. Henry followed them and so Gus, leaving the partners upstairs.

Gladly, after some quick check-ups Shawn was clear. His body produced so much adrenaline due to the stress that part of the poison's strength was cut off, leaving him with no more than a bothering nausea and a good headache.

His father kept pacing in front of the ambulance Shawn was sitting inside, like a mama lion protecting her babies. It was kind of comical seeing him so overprotective but the psychic couldn't forget that the man was kidnapped just like him and was under as much stress and he was.

"Dad!"

Henry stopped and looked at his son, picturing his 9 years old form rather than his 30's. He approached the vehicle, coming closer to his boy.

Shawn stared at him, his look undefined, but surely very emotional.

"Thank you, for saving me and...and for earlier. I'm so sorry that…"

"Hey! Son, stop it! We're in this together. I've got your back kiddo."

He smiled at his father, seeing the fishman do the same. Even being retired for so many years now, Henry never left his cop posture, much like Lassiter. He didn't do hugs but his face could tell more than met the eye.

"Where's Gus?"

"He's with the Chief. He was the one who identified the poison in you. He's helping the forensics, giving his statement."

"I have to apologize to him."

"Shawn! Look at me." - His father rested one hand at his shoulder, the grip firm but comforting - "This was not your fault. None of this."

"But…"

"That guy was just a mental person. He's gone."

"How, how did you find us?"

"Later I'll explain. For now, just, rest."

Shawn nodded, trying to believe in what his father was saying to him but not being able to shake the guilt out of his shoulder.

At the distance, he saw Juliet walking beside Carlton. Before he could even scream her name, she was already running in his direction. With no warning she threw herself at him, her arms already around his neck, her face buried in his chest.

"I'll.. huh… I'll give you guys some privacy."

Henry excused himself but being there or not he wouldn't be noticed. For now, the love birds only had eyes for each other.

After a long moment, they broke apart, Juliet inspecting Shawn carefully, to make sure he was fine. He suddenly felt timid under her gaze and all those unspoken words, all the feelings climbed their way up to the surface, rekindling the suppressed flame.

Shawn wanted to say so much, to tell her for real and without the panic in his voice how much he loved her. To kiss her lips over and over. To reassure her he would never let that happen again and that, yes, he would die for her how many times was necessary to keep her safe.

But now all he could focus on was the awkwardness between them. Juliet kept staring at him with those very blue eyes, so expectant, dragging him to that pool of emotions hidden inside. She cleaned her throat as if she would start saying something but Shawn beat her, otherwise, he would never say anything.

"Jules, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for putting you in this situation, for endangering your life. If only I knew I…"

"Shawn, are you crazy? I would never blame you for any of this. This man was … This is not your fault, okay? I'm fine. I'm here."

His eyes glistened under the sunlight and the glowing sirens.

"But you almost weren't."

"Hey…"

Scooting him over with her hand, Juliet sat beside Shawn at the edge of the ambulance, intertwining her fingers in his just like he did back at the car.

"Look, I know this was as horrible as it could be, for both of us. Don't you think I wasn't scared to death in those dark rooms, while I waited to deliver you some next note? But you know what kept me going? It was you, Shawn. I was so sure you would save me, that if I had to fight you would be right next to me and, guess what… you saved me, Shawn. I'm here"

He smiled shyly at her, the clouds in his eyes a little less thick. It would be a long road before he forgave himself for all the danger and panic he caused but at least that was a beginning. Just as he did earlier, Shawn planted a soft kiss at Juliet's hand, caressing it after with his thumb.

They fell in an uncertain silence, some unsolved questions still hanging above their heads, but one, in particular, bothering Shawn.

"Jules? Where's Declan, I mean… wasn't he…?"

"He's in Italy."

"What?" - the surprise in his eyes was so genuine and pure, Juliet would've probably laughed if she wasn't so nervous with the path that conversation was going to take.

"Remember that hotel he bought three weeks ago?"

"Yes." - He had to shake the memory of their kiss out of his head.

"Well, he's there dealing with the paperwork."

"But...He didn't come back when all this… you know… and… that's so…" - anger and a slight indignation started to appear at his face, melting Juliet's heart.

"I broke up with him, Shawn."

"You...You did?" - His already widened eyes almost popped out of its sockets and an instant grin formed on his lips, uncertain feelings battling inside his chest - "I mean...that's….that's great" - he scratched the back of his neck in an attempt to calm down his nerves.

"I couldn't stay in an unbalanced relationship, I didn't love him."

"Oh...I…"

She smiled at him, so hopeful, for a moment all the hell they had been through the last 15 hours was forgotten, was only he and her in their little bubble.

Shawn wanted to scream his lungs out, to kiss her until the world ended but before he took any moves, his mind remembered a very important fact. The happiness in his eyes dissolved into a bittersweet pain, his expression deflated, scaring Juliet a little. She couldn't be wrong about his feelings for her, not after that day, so what could possibly be happening?

He grabbed both of her hands in his, longing his look on them, as if he's trying to organize his thoughts, before clearing his throat, finally letting the words spill out.

"Jules, you know how much I care about you and...how much you mean to me. But...the thing is...there's something you don't know about me and I know that, once I tell you this, everything might be different and I just want you to know that, no matter what, I never, never lied about my feelings for you."

"Shawn you're scaring me."

He took a deep breath, that was it.

"I'm not a psychic."

"What?"

"I'm not a psychic Jules. I don't have supernatural powers, I can't read people's minds or talk to spirits…"

"But...so… so this entire time you were lying?"

She took her hands out of his, not aware of how much that hurt him, but Shawn was ready, whatever it takes.

"Yes, Jules. It all started as an innocent lie, to keep my ass out of jail and then everything evolved, and then Gus tagged along…"

"I… I don't know what to say. Why? And why are you telling me this now?"

She crossed her arms over her chest and Shawn could tell she was trying to suppress the anger inside, but there were other feelings there he couldn't decipher, still, he decided to carry on.

"I called in an anonymous tip on a robbery, but I gave information so precise nobody believed I wasn't involved in the crime. I was brought in and Lassiter was leading the case. He questioned me and I...I may have insulted him and exposed his secret relationship… Anyways, he was one step away from arresting me and I came up with the psychic façade, to clear my name. They bought it and things escalated from there. Then I met you and, falling for you was never the plan but, the more time we spent together the more I fell. Trust me, Jules, I thought about telling you this so many times, but I knew that if I did, I would lose you and what hurts me the most is that you were the only one who believed in me from the start. You never doubted. That day at the station, when Declan told you the truth, I was about to do the same but he beat me at it and I just left like that. I'm telling you this now because I don't think it is fair for you to give up on anyone for me without knowing the truth. I don't regret it though, this lie allowed me to save more lives than I would ever be able to as a cop, the only regret I have is not telling you sooner."

Shawn looked expectantly at Juliet's eyes waiting for her angry speech, but she remained silent.

"Please, say something…"

"Shawn...I… it's a lot to take in."

"I know, and I know how much you hate lying. I just…"

She was about to speak when Chief Vick approached them, checking on both before asking them to get inside the police vehicle. Everyone was going to return to the station. The body was processed and she wanted a meeting.

Although she sensed some tension, Karen didn't put any efforts in trying to dig it. They were all stressed enough, tired enough.

Juliet got up, her eyes facing the uncertain while Shawn fiddled his fingers nervously. He wanted to get up and reach her, try to explain once more everything, to justify all his actions from the last 4 years but, if he knew her the much he claimed to know, Jules would need and want her space, so he just stayed there, facing her back, watching her change her weight between her feet, uncertain of the next step.

In the distance, he saw his father, Lassiter, and Gus coming their way. Without any more words, Juliet walked in their direction, leaving Shawn behind with a newly arrived paramedic who came to take the IV out of his arm.

He put himself up, still feeling his stomach a little sick and his head hammering with the last conversation, but nothing he couldn't handle. Thanking the professional, Shawn headed to the spot where all his friends were at. As he came closer, he heard Chief Vick asking them to pair up and enter one of the police cars, as they would be escorted back, avoiding any more "surprises".

Shawn looked at Gus, just like when they were teenagers and the teacher asked them to join a partner for the next assignment. But, going against all the bets, Juliet turned to Gus, asking him to join her. He glanced at his best friend and Shawn shrugged his shoulders in reply. A little shy but mostly scared of her insistent look, Gus caved and followed her firm steps towards the nearest car.

Lassiter joined Chief Vick, already talking about the case and his unbelievable aim. Shawn saw the Chief roll her eyes discreetly and duck inside another vehicle, followed by the long figure of the Head Detective, rambling about himself. For a second Shawn pitted her. Poor woman, it would be a long ride.

Finding himself alone now, Shawn quickly glanced at his father, not wishing to enlarge it, knowing the man would guess everything before he could even say a word. Henry half smiled at him, and in silence entered the last car waiting for them. Still a little uncertain, Shawn followed his father and closed the door behind him, the car leaving immediately, leading them to an almost two hours commute back to Santa Barbara.

The men remained silent for a while, Henry glancing the outside while Shawn struggled with his own mind. It was too much. Too much stress, panic, adrenaline, pain. He just wanted to disappear. Moved by his emotion rather than his logic, Shawn spilled the most painful of all battles in his heart.

"Dad, I told her."

Henry quickly turned his attention at his son, strangely small, curled at the corner of the seat, the tired and confused eyes asking not for any answers or solutions. He knew what his son was talking about without having to ask, and as much as he always loved to admit how he was right, Henry hated to see his boy like that. Shawn was broken, lost, and didn't need his piece of advice so, not being logical too, he passed an arm around his son's shoulder and hugged him like he should have done ages ago.

In other moments Shawn would claim how awkward that was and demand for that to never repeat, bringing up a joke to light up the sentimental moment he couldn't deal with, but now, as all the emotions came together at the surface, there was nothing more he wished for, so he let his father hug him, for as long as it lasted.

"Shawn, everything is going to be okay. Just, try to get some sleep, okay?"

"But, I'm not tir…"

A yawn cut the rest of the sentence, and before he could think more, Shawn was sound asleep. Henry smiled with himself and couldn't help but contemplate that, after all these years, his boy was still the same stubborn, hilarious kid.

Henry returned his look outside, the trees passing as big green blurs. If he was right and after so many times observing them, Juliet had already forgiven Shawn. In all relationships his son was, Henry saw the dedication and sacrifices he would make for the woman, but with Juliet was different.

It was love.

Pure and simple.

And though everyone believed Shawn was too immature to a lot of things when it came to Juliet, he changed. It was the same love that made Henry fall for Madeline and the one that still makes him love her until this day.

They would find their way back.

On the other side of that story, Juliet was sitting beside a nervous Gus, who for sure was panicking inside but still quiet. His quizzical look at her when they first entered the vehicle was gone now but he remained confused with her choice, even so, he chose not to ask anything.

Juliet stayed in silence until all the questions in her head burned too much. The trauma and fear were pushed back, giving space to all the doubts related to the last revelations from Shawn.

"Gus?"

The man turned his unfocused look at her, watching her face shift in multiple expressions before she blurted out everything.

"Shawn told me about the…" - she tried to leave it in the air but Gus didn't catch the idea, so Juliet brought her fingers to her temple and all doubts disappeared from the man's widened eyes.

"Oh...so he did."

"Yes."

"Well…"

"Why did he lie? All this time...He could have told me and I don't understand why, or how does he…"

"Juliet, huh... With all respect, there are things I believe Shawn should be the one to give you an explanation about, but, for what I can say…" - Gus changed his position in the seat, turning so he could face her better, still unsure of what to say but knowing, somehow, he had to clear up some truths he knew Shawn wouldn't do right away, or even admit to himself - "Look, the thing is… Shawn is brilliant. He always had this amazing talent to find clues and creativity enough to come up with the craziest ideas. But, even though I like Mr. Spencer very much, the guy transformed Shawn into a version of what he believed it could become the best cop the police department has ever had."

"What do you mean?"

"For all the time I've known Shawn, it was always like this, we were playing or even he was hanging out with his father, and suddenly, it was cop training time. Mr. Spencer would interrupt our movie sessions to ask Shawn how many hats were in the room, lock him inside a trunk to teach him how to escape a possible kidnapping, leave him in the middle of the forest to teach him survival skills. I mean, I know he had the best intentions, but imagine growing up like that."

Juliet's gaze dropped, as all the information was hitting her, destroying the concepts she formed of Shawn based strictly on his lie and not on all the incredible other things he's capable of doing and ignoring this part of his life he never shares with anyone.

"I was there Juliet, through it all. I've seen Shawn lie about a lot of things, and he mainly does that to escape either from situations he creates or the ones he can't handle. I've seen the worst of him and the best. All this happened before you and I've seen him struggle more than once with the possibility of telling you the truth. But one thing I can guarantee you, he never lied to you about how he feels, and if you need any proof I guess this whole situation is enough to tell you about his character."

She felt ashamed. Sure she had the right to be mad at him but there was so much more to care about than that. Shawn was more than his fake psychic act and his stupid shenanigans. He had shown, more times than she could count, he would be there for her no matter what. He willed to give his life for her. And there, Juliet knew she had already forgiven him.

"Thank you, Gus."

"No problem. Just...Hear him out, be patient."

"I will."

"And please, don't break his heart. I can't handle a whining Shawn sleeping on my couch and stealing my cereal."

Gus smiled at her and she knew that the joke tone of that sentence didn't take the truth out from it.

"I won't, don't worry."

They made the rest of the trip back into silence, Juliet reflecting about Gus' words and he lost in whatever thought he was. The car parked in front of the station and they were escorted inside. To the side she could see offices restraining a curious crowd of journalists, trying to get at the bottom of that story while one of the supervisors of the department was giving a brief statement in an attempt to distract and get them out of there.

Gus and the Detective made their way inside, meeting with the rest of the team. Chief signed them to follow her to her office and closed the door behind her. Lassiter was nervously playing with his tie, ready to blurt out all the conclusions he had taken from the case but he kept shut under the authoritative gaze of Karen. All of them there had something to say, but the clueless pair, Juliet and Shawn, were the ones needing an explanation the most.

Thinking about her next words, the Chief walked around her table, resting her weight against it, concentrating in her speech.

"Well, as you all know, the criminal behind all this, Bert Hill, is dead. Thanks to detective Lassiter, he was taken down before anything worse happened. Sadly, him being one of our own, all of you, including consultants, will be submitted to evaluation and we'll try to avoid this from ever happening again. Your houses have been searched and all is cleared and secured. We took the liberty of installing a distress system to provide faster assistance in case anything similar to this situation occurs. I will need a statement from all of you as soon as possible but, for today I want you all back at home and please try to get some rest. Tomorrow we can deal with the paperwork. And I'm assigning you a therapist and all of you, no exceptions, will be consulting with her, myself included."

Her empathetic eyes were trying to give reassurance to a group of people who, on different levels, were experiencing the same panic as her, and even being safe and out of danger, for now, a near-death experience wasn't that easy, and fast to move from.

Henry and Lassiter were about to protest, but her sharp glare silenced them. She observed her team for a few seconds when she caught Shawn, hiding in the very back, with his hand raised.

"Yes, Mr. Spencer."

"How did you… you know….?"

"Well… Detective Lassiter was the first one to escape. He had the idea of ducking into a trap door under the piano. When Mr. Guster's apartment got on fire, it gave him time to run away. He went down to see the extension of the fire when he saw Mr. Guster had escaped. They took advantage of the smoke and ran away, trying to find our team but Bert had already moved us to a van. I can't affirm how much we interfered with his plan but I'm sure he didn't count with the two surviving. They came back to the police station and started to retrace the steps and Mr. Guster remembered seeing the green car parked outside the scenario. He concluded it was the same car used in the movie Psycho and from there they both traced a plan to come to rescue us. When you, Mr. Spencer, saved me and your father back at the house, you fell from the stairs and it was enough time for a trap door to open under us. We fell on a tunnel leading to what was supposed to be the same vehicle we were in previously, but Lassiter intercepted it, taking down the driver, who was Bert Hill's partner and brother, Ethan Hill, and saved us. From there we called reinforcement and prepared an ambush for him."

"And you conclude the last movie based on the note I dropped on the floor, back at the house, right?"

"Yes. From there we had all we needed to make the arrest. Taking a shortcut we kept out of his tracking and arrived in time for all the disclosure."

Shawn nodded, absorbing the story, his mind vividly retracing the steps of a situation he wasn't in. Sure a lot of details and explanations were missing but he didn't have the energy to bring that conversation any minute further. Juliet quickly glanced at him, observing his troubled mind drift away from there.

"If there are no more questions, you're all dismissed."

They started to move, ready to leave but Shawn's words stopped them.

"I...I just wanted to apologize for this. I know it…"

"Mr. Spencer!" - Karen's firm voice cut him - "There's no reason for you to blame yourself. This was not your fault. That man was ….insane not to say the worst. Go home, get some rest. Tomorrow we will sort this out."

Shawn nodded, mimicking the small smile on Karen's face. He headed out along with the rest of them. Lassiter stopped him and with a sincere tone thanked Shawn for saving his partner's life. The psychic answered the man politely and watched him disappear inside the bullpen.

Gus, a few steps away, looked at his friend, and Shawn hadn't to say anything. They hugged, all those years of friendship teaching them that unverbalized communication.

Shawn had almost lost Gus that night.

It wouldn't happen again.

They moved apart, and both knew everything would be okay.

Henry approached the duo, ready to offer a place in his car when he saw Juliet coming and sensed he wouldn't be needed.

"Come on Gus, let me give you a ride home."

"But…my car is just outside..." - for a second, like always, Gus didn't get the lead, but the sight of Juliet gave him some clarity - "Oh, no, sure. Let's, let's go. Bye Shawn."

"HEY! I don't even get a ride? After all this?"

Outraged, he watched the men go away, leaving him behind. He ruffed, rolling his eyes before he realized Juliet at his side.

He opened his mouth, wishing to say so much, but found himself muted, frozen in his step. He observed her watch him curiously, something else in her gaze before she spoke.

"Do you need a ride?"

Shawn shoved his hands on the pocket of the suit he still had on, shrugging his shoulders lightly.

"I guess so. Thank you."

He followed her to the green beetle, taking the passenger seat like he did so many times in the past. She pulled out of there, and in silence, they drove. At each second the air was thinner and Shawn wondered how much longer he would be able to stay there without suffocating.

Usually, being in her presence was one of the most enjoyable moments of his day but now, as all those unspoken matters were rising to the surface, begging to be discussed, it was getting harder and harder to enjoy the ride.

The glorious blue sky was now covered with some fluffy clouds here and there, the sun of 4 P.M. already walking to its final destination a few hours from now, downing at the ocean creating that enormous orange glow, reflecting its last rays in the water, dividing sky from sea.

Shawn observed as Juliet passed by the left turn to his street and drove straight away, taking the path that he knew would lead to her own place. Instead of asking, he remained silent, fearing that any word would burst that uncertain bubble leaving them with unsolved issues.

A few minutes later she parked her car in front of a small but very elegant house that Shawn had visited inside only two times. Once to accompany her after a department dinner a few blocks from there and she offered him a cup of tea to warm him up after the chilly walk they took until there, and the other when she needed some help with assembling a coffee table.

Juliet turned off the car, her hands still on the wheel. Shawn watched her close and open her eyes, pondering her words, to which he respected until she was ready.

"How do you do it?"

"What?"

He was genuinely confused, expecting a thousand questions but that one. Her usual transparent blue eyes were intense now, darker.

"How do you do it? How do you solve the crimes?"

"Oh." - His heart accelerated a bit as he searched the best way to explain to her how his confused brain worked. - "I have an Eidetic memory."

Her quizzical expression signed him to explain further.

"How can I… Do you know what photograph memory is, right?"

"Yes."

"Well, it's basically that but it doesn't work only with images. I can remember pretty much everything I hear, see, or touch."

"So...you remember everything?"

"Yeah. Every detail. As time passes the images are tossed in my subconscious but, whatever object, smell, or sound related to it triggers back the memory, a lot of times more than one."

"Oh… that's… so all the cases…"

"When I say I had a psychic vision or feeling it is because either I and Gus snooped around for clues or I noticed something at the crime scene or anywhere else that made me connect the puzzle."

Juliet looked astonished, to say the least, her mind burning with questions, trying to recall all the cases they did together, all the times he gave credit to his "psychic" abilities when in fact it was just his incredible brain all the time.

"Shawn… this is amazing. You're a genius. How come you never told anyone...you could..."

"Listen" - He signed frustrated, passing a hand through his thick hair, trying to verbalize truths no one knew and he was often too scared to admit. - "Most of my abilities were increased, developed, because of my dad's insane cop training. Most people with Eidetic memory lose part of this ability when they grow up but my dad made sure to take the best advantage of this. I guess that's why I always hated the idea of being a cop, although I kind of became one in the end. I...I was ashamed. I am ashamed of this and attribute it to something else, some supernatural power... It's a strange… my strange way to be normal."

Carefully, Juliet reached for his hand, putting it between hers, caressing them with her thumb while she absorbed it all. Shawn kept staring at her, unsure of where he was standing now if that would conclude with her still shutting him out of her life or just pushing him back to where they were when she still didn't know about his lie.

"Why would you want to be normal when your true self is incredible?"

The sincerity in her words sent a small shiver down his spine and he never saw her look at him that way before.

"Because it's too much. I know it sounds incredible remembering everything but that also means the bad memories. The happy ones are easy to deal with, but while everyone can forget or ignore a bad one, a painful one, I simply can't, having it coming back at me once in a while."

Juliet felt her eyes tearing up, taking consciousness of how deep that was and how hard his life must be. All great gifts come with a price and the one Shawn paid wasn't cheap. She could imagine how many nights those hurtful moments kept him awake, haunted him. His vulnerability, all walls tearing down in front of her, revealing a Shawn Juliet had never met before.

"Can you show it to me?"

"Show what?"

"How does your memory work?"

"Sure. What do you wanna know?"

"The first time we met…"

"You were wearing an orange sweater with white laces at the end of the sleeves, your hair was down, a little longer than now and wavy. You had golden hoop earrings and a watch on your left wrist, a black skirt, and a kind of beige-colored high heels."

"Woah, Shawn. That's ...impressive. I don't remember half of those things."

"Also, there were six tables, two against the front window one with a lady wearing a checkered shirt and the other with a guy in a white button shirt, and four against the counter, one with two friends talking and drinking coffee, other with a guy reading the newspaper, one with a middle-aged lady in a blue shirt eating pancakes and probably her daughter with her and the last one was a corner booth with a young couple. Two waitresses in pink dresses."

"Shawn, I…"

"Oh, and there was a sign outside, announcing the special that day. Eggs Benny 8.50, pancakes or classic breakfast 7.80"

Juliet stared at him speechless. She was a great cop and was very proud of herself for all the job she had done so far and how her perception skills only improved since her academy days. Still, that was far more accurate and precise than anything she would ever be able to do.

She was astonished, to say the least, and all her face could express was the most sincere admiration at the man sitting in front of her.

"Woah, that's … you're amazing Shawn. Truly."

He gave her a small smile, but there was still sadness in his eyes, and the lack of his so often jokes or movie references throughout that entire time gave their whole conversation a seriousness she didn't expect.

"Look, Jules, I'm really sorry for everything. I don't blame you for being angry and I don't expect your forgiveness… but I can't promise you I'll stop lying about this to others. The psychic thing is the way I found of helping people and, eventually, they will find out the truth, but until then, I'll keep doing what I have to do to save the ones I can."

She longed her eyes on him, silent. Taking her hands out of his, she grabbed the car keys and opened her door.

"Come on, get inside. I'll find something for us to eat."

He remained seated, not sure if he understood well but when she signed him to follow her, Shawn got out of the car and did.

Juliet unlocked her front door, opening the way for him to enter too. She tossed the key at a side table and headed to her kitchen, taking two beers out of the fridge. Handing one to Shawn, she sat beside him on her couch, taking a sip of the beverage before resting it at the coffee table he had assembled for her so many months before.

She watched him do the same, sensing there was more on that conversation to be discussed.

"Shawn… I just realized I never thanked you for saving my life."

"Jules… you know I…"

"Let me finish, please."

"Okay."

"Back there, when all was happening and I was sure that was the end, I heard you say you would give your life for me and...I realized I would do the same for you."

His eyes widened, a small grin forming on his lips as all the doubts and fears were slowly melting away, like snow under the sun.

"I didn't want to say this back then because we're so caught up by emotion and fear, and I know we still are … but I wanted to mean it when I say, and now, after all, after everything you told me I have no doubts. I love you, Shawn Spencer."

The small grin became a wide one, his heart racing like a wild horse. He closed the space between them, his face inches away from her, almost like the "close talking" he so much enjoyed having with her.

"I love you too Jules, since the first time you rolled your eyes at me."

She smiled and he crashed his lips on hers, in a tender kiss. All the pain and doubt dismantled as their lips moved. Juliet passed her arms around his neck, feeling his own around her waist. They stayed there until breathing was necessary and they had to part. Shawn planted a soft kiss on her forehead, feeling like for the first time in forever he had done something right.

Juliet rested her head between his shoulder and neck, her hand above his heart, feeling the raced pounding under her palm, ensuring herself for the hundredth time they were safe and he was alive.

They stayed there until their beers were warm until the sunset invaded the room with its orange rays painting the opposite wall with their embraced shadow.

Not wanting to separate from him but finding it necessary, Juliet put herself up and headed to her room, dying for a shower and to change from the clothes she was in, the last physical trace of that horrible nightmare their night was. Sensing Shawn was feeling the same way she returned to the living room a few moments later in her pajamas, half-dried hair, and handed him a towel, a pair of sweatpants, and an old t-shirt her brother had left there when he first helped her move.

Shawn gladly accepted it, finding his way to her bathroom, allowing the hot water to wash away the last unpleasant events of his life. Changing to that simpler clothing, much more comfortable than anything else, he picked his beaten up suit, along with Jules' one, and tossed them on the trash, just outside the front door.

Now all was left was the memories.

He returned inside, finding her curled up in a ball, at the corner of her couch. She automatically embraced Shawn when he sat beside her, his wet hair leaving little drops of water at her shirt, and they watched a random cartoon, their attention split between the TV and that bell tower.

They ordered some food but their lack of hunger didn't allow them to finish the meal. Instead, they stayed there, tangled in each other's embrace until Juliet fell asleep. Her soft snores comforted Shawn's heart. He caressed her hair, detangling the strands with delicacy, attempting to brush off all the threatening images he knew were in her head.

After a while he decided to put Jules in her bed, where she could rest properly. He passed one of his arms under her knees while the other went to her back, her head never leaving his shoulder. Shawn easily made the short way to her bedroom, carefully setting her on the mattress, as not to wake her up. He then turned to search for a blanket for her and one for him as well. The couch would do because there was no way he would let her stay there unguarded even knowing she slept with a gun under her pillow.

He found a pink blanket perfectly folded at the corner, on top of a red one he picked for himself. Shawn turned to cover her up and leave when her soft grip stopped him.

"Hey, I'm sorry Jules. I didn't mean to wake you up."

Her sleepy eyes gave her an adorable expression.

"Stay."

"Oh, I'll. Already picked my blanket and was heading to the cou…"

"No. Stay here, with me."

He was caught by surprise, his cheeks going a little flustered, but he knew she was afraid of being alone and he couldn't say he wasn't too.

Standing up, Shawn put the red blanket back where it belonged and went around to the other side of the bed. He climbed up, laying beside Juliet. As if they were back at the couch, she tangled her arms around his torso, her head resting on his chest, the sweet perfume of her hair invading his nose.

Shawn smiled contently, knowing that no matter what nightmares they had, or how hard would be to move on from those 17 hours, having Jules by his side made him sure he could overcome anything.

He lowered his head down, to kiss the top of her head but Juliet raised it, meeting his lips instead, earning a wide smile and the most admirable look from him.

"I love you Jules."

She smiled at him, her eyes already closed, and snuggled even further in his embrace. He tightened his grip just a little, just to be sure she was safe.

Right after, he heard her snores return and she was out like a light.

Contently he breathed relieved.

They found their way back.

They would be okay.

With one last kiss on her head, Shawn allowed himself to relax, feeling the sleep coming to take him to dreamland.

And slowly he drifted away, humming La Vie en Rose as his vision was invaded by Juliet dressed in a pink dress dancing along with him.

Hold me close and hold me fast

The magic spell you cast

This is la vie en rose

When you kiss me, heaven sighs

And though I close my eyes

I see la vie en rose