He didn’t know why he was here. Well, he did...but he didn’t. Nothing made sense to him at this moment, when he was waiting for Juliet to come back and for her to leave on a (shudder) romantic getaway with her boyfriend Declan. What kind of name was Declan, anyway? Now Shawn...that’s a sexy name. A Sexy-Female-Cops-Want-Me kind of name. Well, kind of, because there’s a certain female cop who still has to come to term with her feelings...
Random thoughts bounced around Shawn Spencer’s head as he anxiously, nervously, and awkwardly waited in Declan’s foyer, which actually was quite nice and spacious. Of course, Shawn’s future foyer when he decides to settle down will be twice as spacious as this. It will also have a giant telescope and a jumpy. Priorities, right?
Shawn paced back and forth, hands jammed in his pockets, trying desperately to keep the indifferent look on his face from sliding off. What should I do? What should I say? Juliet is dating this guy and seems to love him. He is pretty cool, I’ll give him that, but why can’t I just say something that’ll get her close to me...
At that moment, Juliet entered the room, her flowery blouse and simple black pants further increasing Shawn’s nervous energy. He felt his mask fall off for a split second, replacing his indifference with an expression of emotional pain. What is wrong with me? I’m never emotional.
“Shawn!” the surprise in Juliet’s voice was palpable. Although, Shawn detected a slight hint of happiness...very slight.
“Hey,” Shawn said, his voicing mysteriously growing husky at that single syllable. Maybe he was coming down with a cold. Or not, his subconscious told him. Why must Juliet stun him like this? What was it about her that made him feel this way? At the risk of sounding cliché, Shawn was head over freaking heels in love with this woman. The only unknown factor is her feelings for him. And that is the only thing in life that Shawn feared.
“Hi!” Juliet said, bright and perky and slightly confused. “Why are you standing in Declan’s foyer all by yourself?”
Shawn swallowed and nodded a few times, carefully arranging his thoughts into a neat pile of coherency that even Gus would’ve been proud of. “Creepy?” he offered to Jules, who shrugged in reply.
“Sort of.” Jules eyed him. “Shawn...”
Here it comes, Shawn thought, clenching his fists for a brief second, the only outward sign of nervousness he would show.
Unnoticing of Shawn, Juliet continued. “You have worked a lot of cases for the SBPD, but this one was particularly impressive...”
Okay, maybe not. Shawn mentally cut off Jules, then hurried back to recall what she had just said.
“I mean, Bolivian Embassies and international espionage! How did you and Gus do it all by yourself?” Juliet gazed at him intently, and the knot in Shawn’s stomach did a flip flop.
Calming himself, Shawn put on the most charming attitude he had. “Well, I’m not going to lie to you Jules. It was difficult, but now that’s it’s over I’m going to put ‘freelance spy’ on my list of special skills—”
“Well, here’s a mystery you can solve for me,” Jules cut him off, sarcasm and playfulness underscoring her tone. “Yesterday, I came here after work, and I found three crème brule dishes by Declan’s computer. Any idea who could have eaten all of those?”
To himself, Shawn grinned. Yeah. Me. And they were delicious. I just wish I could have shared them with you.
“Hmm...I would say that Declan has an enormous sweet tooth. And that shouldn’t be ignored Jules. Sugar is a gateway drug.” Shawn nodded sagely as he got another dig on Declan. Two can play the sarcasm game.
Juliet, to her credit, kept a straight face. “Huh. Then I guess it will remain an open case.” She stopped suddenly, and stared at Shawn, swallowing hard. Was it just him or was there longing in her face?
Shawn couldn’t think. He opened and closed his mouth a few times like a giant fish. “Guess so,” he managed to say, making it seem a lot more profound than the original intent.
A beat passed, and the two looked at each with curious gazes. Juliet broke the stare first, tilting her head to the side. “Well, I was just about to head out and do some...shopping for the trip.” She ran her hand through her hair nervously. That was her nervous tic. The hair thing. Shawn always noticed it.
The trip. That damn trip. A romantic getaway with Declan. Wonderful. Shawn nodded at her words, keeping his jealousy inside him.
“Right the tr-trip.” Why did I just stutter? What is the matter with me? “Of course, uh, yeah. Have a- have a great fours days off Jules.” Again, with the stutter. Shawn’s voice grew softer, and his nervousness increased. Now he was gesturing a lot more, crossing his arms and waving his hands for no reason.
“Two weeks, Shawn,” Juliet said softly, correcting him.
What? Two weeks? Two full weeks without Jules? Two full weeks with Declan? How cruel could life be?
Shawn didn’t even try to hide his astonishment. “Wow. That’s lengthy. That’s significant. That’s...a real amount of vacation time.” On the words vacation time, his voice cracked. Of course Jules noticed. She was a cop. It was her job to notice things. He just didn’t know what she made of it.
But still...fourteen days on vacation. Shawn had always thought that nothing could hurt him emotionally. He was a strong person, he knew how to cope. But this...this hurt. It stabbed him in the heart with a vicious strength. Was it jealousy? Or was it anger? Or both?
Jules nodded, blinking heavily as if tears were on the way. She avoided Shawn’s tortured gaze.
That very fact that Juliet was on the verge of tears broke down Shawn’s emotional barrier. The huskiness to his voice came back. Words became harder to come by. For once in his life, Shawn Spencer was struck silent.
“Have an amazing...trip.” At this, Jules face became more and more pained. It was clear to Shawn that she was struggling with something. And at the moment, he could guess exactly what it was.
“Okay?” He finished, barely croaking out the word. “Promise me.” Juliet nodded, her emotions raging on her face. The tears seemed close.
Shawn didn’t know what happened at the moment. Perhaps it was the fact that he had nothing to lose, perhaps it was the fact that he felt more at ease around Jules, but the words kept flowing out of him like an out of control geyser.
“Because you know, they- they say that, um, these- these kind of trips are a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and that they’re even better when you have someone you care about to share them with and...” Shawn took a moment to catch his breath and regain control of himself.
“...You do.”
Juliet looked down, pressing her lips together tightly.
Undaunted and on a roll, Shawn continued. “Take lots of pictures. Not of sights. Don’t take pictures of buildings. Take pictures of moments. That’s what matters. Capture them here,” Shawn put his hand to his head in his trademark psychic pose. A symbolic pose, for a special person. He knew Jules understood what he meant. Maybe subtlety really was the best way to go.
“And hold on to them here.” Shawn held his position for a few seconds, his internal turmoil rendering him immobile, unable to stare at anything but Juliet’s face. Dropping his hand down, Shawn let a small smile creep on his lips. “At least, that’s what I would do.” He gave a nervous laugh.
“I don’t know, you might take blurry photos of your- your espresso at a random café...” Shawn rambled on, not really knowing nor caring what he was saying anymore. His eyes were still on Juliet’s shell-shocked face when she thrust herself forward, grabbed his shoulders, and pressed her lips to his.
An emotion that can’t ever be described occupied Shawn’s thoughts at that very moment. The world spun. Declan’s foyer shrank until his awareness was limited to him and Juliet. A little piece of heaven was finally within his grasp, and he decided he would never let it go. Five years. Five years of longing, dreaming, close talking...Jules was his world. He could never forget that.
“Sometimes, the best things, the richest things, aren’t supposed to come so easily”
But what happens when they do? What can he do then? It was simple, really, and it only took a few moments to figure it out. He was going to take it, hold it close to his heart, and enjoy every bit of it.
And enjoy it he did. All he remembered was Juliet being impossibly close to him, her scent in his face, her lips on his, and he wanted to never let her go...
The moment dragged on for what seemed a long time, but after a few seconds Juliet pulled away and held Shawn at arms’ length. They looked at each other, astonished at what just happened. Shawn didn’t know what to think. He didn’t know how to react.
Juliet let him go and stared at him, shocked. Opening his mouth, Shawn wanted to say something. Anything. But words failed him. Twice in one night, by the same person, he was at a loss for words.
“Hey, honey? Honey!” A different voice rang out through the hall. Footsteps echoed, and Declan and Gus strode into view. Declan spotted Juliet and went over to her. “Uh, you’re not going to be able to worry about that hotel in Almalfi being overbooked.”
He’s too close to her. Way to close. Why is she letting him?
Gus seemed to sense something happened and threw a concerned glance Shawn’s way. Juliet tore her gaze away from Shawn and gave Declan a fake smile. “Oh? Why’s that?” She asked, her voice unnaturally high pitched and cheery.
Declan didn’t seem to know the difference, though. “Because I just bought it!” He drew closer to Juliet. Behind him, Shawn was still in shock, gazing at Declan as if he had seen him in a new light. Confusing pierced his senses.
Declan leaned forward and kissed Juliet on her cheek, eliciting a small annoyed laugh from her. When they hugged, Juliet’s eyes were on Shawn. And only Shawn. They locked gazes, with Gus curiously looking on. Shawn made a mental note to tell him everything later. It would be only fair.
“Well, good luck with that, man,” Shawn’s silence didn’t last forever. “If we ever make it out that way, we’ll look forward to stealing some towels.”
Shawn’s joking face was back on. It was easier for him, better to deal with emotions. He needed a while to think this over. He gave a short laugh then ducked out of the room as fast as he could. Gus faithfully followed. “I’ll have them monogrammed!” Declan called out after them.
Reaching the door, Shawn crossed the threshold and looked back at Juliet and Declan. Declan was hugging Juliet, who half-heartedly returned it. Once Declan left, Shawn gave Jules a final, meaningful look and quickly turned around, closing the heavy, ornate door behind him.
Now what? What happens next? One door closes, another opens, and Shawn knew that things would never be the same between them. As he drew further and further away from Juliet, he realized that no matter how far the distance, no matter what the circumstances, they would always be together, joined by the single, meaningful moment. The moment with the only complication in his relatively simple life.
Jules.
Author's Chapter Notes:
So after the epic Shules last night, I was left wondering "What was Shawn thinking during all that?" And so I answered my own question and wrote this. Major, major, major spoilers for OMTWO. And I mean major.
Disclaimer: I don't own Psych or any of its characters.
Disclaimer: I don't own Psych or any of its characters.
Chapter End Notes:
Okay, I have a question for you all. Do you want me to write something like this for Juliet? To see her point of view? If so, let me know! Also, please take the time to review. They really make my day. :D
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