Night came and went quicker than Shawn had expected or would have wanted. So it was that he found himself, before he felt like he had even fully woken up standing at the entrance to a place he had not seen the inside of for almost a year: The Santa Barbara Police Department. Nothing had changed; nothing was out of place, a stark contrast to many of the people working there.

Counting the steps as he went in a feeble attempt to keep his mind occupied he made his way to his destination: the Chief's office. He did not burst into her office impatiently when he noticed she was on the phone like he would have done the year before, but rather sat down on the waiting metal chair outside her office. While he waited he contemplated exactly how this might turn out. Knowing the Chief, it was likely that it was going to turn into a slightly bi-polar-like rant which would end in his being re-hired all over again.

A few tense minutes later, she silently stepped out of her office, and motioned him inside. Once they had both sat down, she handed him the manila folder that she had had tucked under her arm. Enclosed were the details of his reinstatement, and a rather curious mention of a not too hefty raise in pay.

"I'm not going to mince words with you Mr. Spencer, I know this is awkward. But for the sake of efficiency, shall we forget the past in favor of the present?"

Shawn nodded vigorously, agreeing only because the situation in the room had brought back that now all too familiar uncomfortable feeling.

"Well, with that being said, being a private consultant is not that much different from what you were already doing. In fact, it may just be a little less uncomfortable for all involved. As of this moment it's just a trial, and make no mistake, if I get the slightest idea that it's not working out, I'll pull the plug on you so fast you won't have time to write your name on your will."

"Understood," Shawn replied, faster than he possibly could have had he actually thought about what the Chief had said, pursing his lips in his usual Shawn-like manner.

"You will be held to the same standards as any other detective in this precinct."

"I think I am up for the challenge."

"Yes, well, here is a copy of your new case file, we will be meeting again tomorrow at noon to discuss it," the Chief stated bluntly before shoeing him out the door with a simple wave of her hand.

When he walked out of her office, his business-like façade fell and his face contorted into a confused stare. He was already used to the Chief being so curt with him, but she had simply danced over the past year like it was nothing, like nothing had ever happened. Normally, he would have pondered this thought longer, but he had more important things to attend to. Things such as the pretty blonde sitting behind the same desk she had occupied for the past seven years, completely oblivious to his presence. He did not say a word for the two seconds that it took for her to notice him, only opening his mouth when she looked up at him from her stack of paper work, staring at him with a look of utter shock on her face.

"Shawn? What are you doing here?"

"Did you forget? I had a meeting with the Chief today."

"Oh! How'd it go?"

"Why don't we talk about it over lunch," Shawn asked, smiling mischievously.

"Shawn, don't you know what that's going to look like? What that's risking? Besides, what am I going to tell Carlton?"

"Tell him that we are discussing the case that the Chief just brought me in on."

Juliet smiled before grabbing her coat and following him out the door, or rather she would have followed had the shrill voice of her partner not stopped her right where she stood.

"O'Hara, where are you going," he asked accusingly, staring at Shawn with a look of disgust.

"Well, Carlton, We have new case I need to bring Shawn up to speed on, we're going back to the Psych office," she told him, the lie rolling almost too easily off her tongue.

"Carry on then," Carlton finished, his eyes never once leaving the once pseudo-psychic's as he sat back down at his desk.

Shawn stared after him a second longer before he led Juliet outside to his waiting car.

"So, what are you in the mood for," Shawn asked finally as they waited at their first stop light.

"I don't know really, surprise me."

"Alright then, but just remember, you asked for it."