A/N: I had THE hardest time writing this chapter. I thought this song would be easy. Wrong! Hope you enjoy!
She's all laid up in bed with a broken heart
Juliet curled up on her bed. Her knees drawn up to her chest as tears slipped down her cheeks. How did it get to this point? She didn't understand how she had allowed it to make it to this point. Where it was either Shawn or her job. For most people it was a simple choice. Either you were career driven or you were motivated by love. For Juliet the choice was hard and horrible and she found herself second guessing herself numerous times.
She had backed Shawn up. Had helped him investigate a senator, when Chief Vick had clearly told her to back off. Shawn had been so sure that Senator Morgan had embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars. There was no physical proof and it wasn't technically their jurisdiction, but Shawn had known that no one would listen to him without proof. Shawn had never been wrong before, not when he was that sure about something.
Juliet blindly followed Shawn deep into the investigation, only to have it come out that the senator's assistant had actually been stealing the money. It came out that an unknown SBPD detective had been investigating the senator for the crime and upon the mention of the station's only psychic, Chief Vick had known which detective had been doing the investigating.
That day was still living brightly in the forefront of Juliet's mind. Sitting in the chief's office being scolded like a child. Juliet's head had hung sadly as she sat there and took everything the chief had thrown at her. The reaming had ended abruptly when the chief paused slightly and cleared her throat. At which Chief Vick told Juliet the only reason she hadn't been reprimanded for having a relationship with a co-worker, even if that co-worker was a consultant, was because the chief believed that Juliet could keep her work and private relationship separate. Suddenly she gave Juliet a choice, end things with Shawn, or turn in her badge.
Juliet had been given two days to think it over, which brought her to the present day. Today was her last day to think it over, tomorrow meant that she'd have to give the chief an answer. It always came back to the same thing. Every since that case had ended, Shawn had become distant. When she needed him the most, he wasn't there. It felt like he had abandoned her. Which was why she was staring at her badge with the feeling that either choice would break her heart. If she gave up her career for Shawn and he left her—A sob brought through her mouth at the thought. However, if she chose her career over Shawn for fear of the unknown—She sighed. It was an impossible choice. One she really wanted to talk over with Shawn.
While I'm drinking jack all alone in my local bar
Shawn downed the beer in front of him before motioning for another one. The past three days had been horrible in the absolute lowest sense. The chief wasn't supposed to find out that they had been secretly investigating the senator. Juliet and himself had been very careful to tread lightly where the senator was concerned. What bothered him the most, wasn't so much that the chief had found out, but how she had found out. An anonymous tip called into the local news station? That just didn't sit right with him. Then again, every ounce of evidence they had found, which wasn't much, pointed it's ugly, dirty finger right at the senator. Nothing even provoked his senses to look elsewhere, like the senator's assistant.
How exactly did no one think to figure out how the assistant had the ability to put his grubby little hands on money that didn't belong to either of them? Was it just him, or were these obvious questions that needed to be asked?
A sigh sounded from his mouth, as he nursed a sip from his knew beer. As of right then, his head was still clear enough to think, though he did have a nice little buzz. He planned on keeping it that way. Small sips on his new beer would keep him buzzed enough to dull the pain of never working another case, while keeping his mind relatively sharp. At least enough to think through this ridiculous case.
Bringing his free hand to his temple, he started to massage the now aching part of his head for a moment. He was missing something, that much he knew. Closing his eyes he let the images from the case come into view and examined them all thoroughly, but nothing stood out.
He eyed the clock and let his head fall forward. Juliet would be going to bed soon. Which meant he could go home, slip into bed beside her and fall asleep. For a few hours anyway. Part of him wondered why he was even still living with her, he knew she hated him. She hadn't spoken to him since the chief had more or less yanked Juliet into her office. Then of course there was the guilt. He had practically begged Juliet to help him, even after the chief had told them to back off. She could have very well have lost her job because of him and he was too chicken to face her. He sighed, placed some money on the counter, finished off his beer and walked easily to the door. He eyed his bike for a moment, and shook his head. He pocketed his keys for a moment and thought for a minute. If he called Gus, his best buddy would poke and prod until Shawn spilled his guts, and that was the opposite of what he needed right now. Then there was Juliet, but that was a far too scary to think about. Juliet had quite the temper, and driving with her while she was yelling. He'd be safer to drive himself home. He could call his dad, but that was a lecture just waiting to happen. Which he most definitely not in the mood for. Especially since he was certain that Henry had heard of the disbanding of Psych.
One more sigh, brought his phone to his ear. "Yeah. I need a cab to Tom Blair's Pub, please." Turning around, Shawn sat on the window ledge and peered out into the street.
I've got a new job now on the unemployment line
Shawn groaned as he placed a hand to his head. Why didn't he stop himself from diving head first into a oblivion? Why was he such an idiot? Why? Sighing, he rolled over and smacked his hand against his alarm clock. He knew that he needed to get up, he had an important appointment that he couldn't miss, and yet he couldn't harder muster the energy to toss the blankets off his legs.
"Why do I torture myself?" Shawn called out to no one other than himself. His eyes peered holes into the ceiling. "I hate my life." He groaned.
Shawn pulled the blankets off his body and yanked himself into a sitting position. A groan escaped his lips, as the world that he knew tilted and his stomach sloshed around uncomfortably as last night's Jack Daniels started to make a burning return to the back of his throat. Shawn knew it was lost battle as he breathed carefully threw his nose, as he stood up and walked slowly toward the bathroom. However the rumble going on within his body sped up, and Shawn's slow pace turned into a full fledged run as he slid in behind the toilet and heaved the minimal contents of his stomach.
When he was able to catch his breath, Shawn glared at the wall in front of him. "I am never drinking again."
He knew it was a lie from the moment it slipped from his mouth. Waiting a few minutes, Shawn finally climbed to his feet and turned on the shower. He felt disgusting and probably didn't smell much better. His appointment today was far too important to make them queasy from smelling him. Ripping the clothes from his body, Shawn slipped under the spray and let his mind wonder. After a few moments of mechanical movements, Shawn was nearly finished, as he turned the facet off. Grabbing a hold of his towel, he ran it against his head before slinging it around his waist.
His feet padded against the floor as he walked back toward his bedroom. Digging through his drawers, Shawn finally yanked out a pair of boxers, and yanked them up, letting the towel drop to the floor. He then proceeded to dig around for the rest of his wardrobe before making a decision and pulling them on. Shawn shoved his feet into shoes, stopped off the at the bathroom to actually comb his hair. Making a face at the unnatural state of his hair, Shawn left before he could change his mind.
Straddling his bike, Shawn pulled his helmet on and quickly took off down the road. Veering in and out of traffic, Shawn found himself parking in front of the large, menacing building. Pulling his helmet off, Shawn carried it in his hand as he walked toward the building. Walking up to the window, Shawn smiled brightly. "Hello, there. Shawn Spencer. I have a meeting planned with Mr. Michelson."
The blond on the other side of the window returned his smile. "Hello, Mr. Spencer. Welcome to the unemployment office. Mr. Michelson will be with you shortly, please have a seat."
She's in line at the dole
With her head held high
Juliet sighed, her badge and gun where sitting atop the chief's desk. It had started as a simple question, and now it felt like her world might tumble to an end if she actually had to make the decision. With her eyes closed, Juliet breathed slowly through her nose. Tears were forming in the corner of her eyes as the thoughts of the previous few days washed over her. Had she lost Shawn? He hadn't even came to see her since everything had happened—but what if he was just trying to work through things in his own way? If she chose the job over him, then she would surely lose him. Yet, she couldn't force herself to say the words out loud.
She had known her decision when she walked into the station, but she couldn't force herself to speak the words. Saying them aloud would make them all too real. She would be jobless and broke. Sighing, Juliet opened her eyes and stared at Chief Vick. "I can't keep doing this job, not with what you did to Shawn."
Juliet waited for the chief to start yelling, she had expected it. Juliet had chosen her words wisely, attempting to keep Karen from getting angry. The words she wanted to say, to scream at her, were still tucked safely inside her mind. Chief Vick simply nodded, the only proof of her anger was her cheeks flushing red.
"I do caution you, Miss O'Hara. Once you've made this decision, there is no undoing it."
Juliet sighed. "You fired, Shawn."
Chief Vick's eyes darkened. "Because he disobeyed my orders, which is obviously nothing new. However, this time, Mr. Spencer crossed a line that even I couldn't pull him back from. He was being threatened with jail time, Miss O'Hara. I did what had to be done to keep him out of prison—unless you would have rather that happen?" The chief's eyebrow quirked slightly.
"No." It was merely a whisper, but it was there. "But I can't lose him, either. So if I have to chose, I chose him." With that Juliet stood up, with more confidence she had, and walked out of the chief's office.
While I just lost my job but
Didn't lose my pride
"You're an idiot!" Shawn glared at the back of his boss' head. One damn day, that was how long he had been working in this sweatshop known as a factory. The things that happen in this place should be illegal.
"Am not!" Shawn shouted at his boss.
He turned on his heel, a frown etched firmly on his lips and the crease in his forehead growing. "What did you say?"
"I am not an idiot." Shawn crossed his arms over his chest. "I won't just stand here and take that, Harry."
Harry's face turned an odd shade of purple. Definitely a color his father's face has turned on more than one occasion. Shawn thought he only had the ability to do this to his father, it gave him a certain amount of pride knowing that he could case others to turn heart attack purple.
"Are you back-talking me, boy?" Harry's eyebrow cocked. "I gave you this job because I know your father. I won't stand here and let you back-sass me though."
Shawn laughed, loudly. "Back-sass? Do people still use that term outside of the Midwest? That's hilarious. You're a pretty funny dude, Harry. Who knew?"
The vein in Harry's neck throbbed in time with his breathing. "You go on and leave now. Don't come back tomorrow. I'm gonna be having a talk with your father too."
Shawn guffawed loudly. "Oh no, don't tell my daddy!" Shawn smirked. "Thanks for the hellhole of a job, Harry, but factory work just isn't what I was cut out to do."
Shawn started to march out of the warehouse he was working in. As he straddled his bike, he laughed, really laughed. He knew he should be a little put off that he had been fired after just one day on the job, but he couldn't bring himself to be upset. He was starting to feel like his old self again. With a smile on his lips, Shawn knew exactly where he was going, just as soon as he showered off the grime of working in that sweatshop.
we're gonna start by
Drinking old cheap bottles of wine,
Sit talking up all night,
Saying things we haven't for a while
We're smiling but we're close to tears,
Even after all these years,
We just now got the feeling that we're meeting for the first time
Juliet sat on her couch, her legs drawn up underneath her. A glass full of wine in one hand, and the remote control in the other. She mindlessly flipped through the channels as she thought of what she was going to do for an income. She sighed as she stopped at one of her favorite movies, and tried to turn off her mind. After ten minutes of successfully turning off her mind, Juliet heard someone knock on her door.
"Just a sec." She called out, as she sat her wine glass on the end table, before muting the television. After one more peek at the television, Juliet padded quickly over to the door before opening it. She almost fell backward. "Shawn?" Shock filtered into her voice.
"Hey, Jules. Mind if I come in?" His eyebrow quirked.
Juliet fought the urge to smiled at him, but moved just enough to the right to allow him entrance into her apartment. He walked in and sat down in the chair that he generally accompanied, as Juliet sat back down on the couch, drawling her feet back underneath of her.
"So..." Juliet trailed off, hoping he'd explain his sudden appearance back into her life.
He smiled weakly at her. "First. I'm sorry." His face sobered up quickly. "I am so sorry, Jules. I know that you've been having as hard a time as I have, and I couldn't even be there for you."
Juliet gasped lightly. That had not been what she was expecting. "This works both ways, Shawn. It's not like I reached out to you either."
Shawn nodded. "Not that I blame you. I got you in trouble—the chief wasn't too hard on you was she?"
Juliet laughed mirthlessly. "She gave me an ultimatum, Shawn."
His eyebrows shot up immediately. "What kind?" He croaked out.
"Either I end our relationship or I'm jobless."
"Oh." His mouth hung open for a moment, before he slammed it shut. "I should-" He coughed awkwardly. "I should go." He stood up.
"Shawn, wait." Juliet's hand lunged forward, grabbing his wrist.
He looked down at her. "Why? I just know that Lassie-face is out there playing detective as we speak."
Juliet couldn't help the laugh that bubbled up at that. "First." Juliet held up a finger. "Carlton doesn't play detective, since he is one." Shawn merely nodded. "Second." Juliet added a finger. "I'm no longer employed at the Santa Barbara police department."
Shawn's eyes widen slightly. "You—you quit?" Juliet nodded her head. "For me?" He asked, pointing at himself. Juliet nodded more vigorously. "Well, don't I feel like a jackass."
Juliet laughed at that. "Would you like a glass of wine?"
Shawn smiled brightly. "I'd love some." He said, as he followed Juliet into the kitchen. "While I wait, would you like to hear how I got fired from my new job in one day?"
Juliet looked back at him, her eyebrow quirked. "Do share."
"Well, see. The first mistake was allowing my dad to find me a job. I might as well have asked for the worst job on the planet. Second mistake was not knowing that factory work is like working in a sweatshop. I mean, my God. Jules, I thought I was literally going to sweat to death. Then Harry, one of my dad's poker buddies, thought he could call me an idiot and I'd just stand there and take it. Needless to say, I made him turn the color purple that I was fairly certain was only reserved for my father. That was definitely entertaining."
Juliet shook her head. "Is this going to be a problem?"
Shawn smiled. "It's a possibility. I just, I want you to be fully aware of what you could be getting into here."
Juliet smiled. "Shawn, I knew what I was getting into that first time I kissed you." She stalked forward and stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against his. "I've never regretted a moment."
Shawn smiled at her, before pressing his lips against hers again. "Good, because once you've gone Jules … you just can't go back to regular girls."