*comes out from under rock* New update! I've been plugging away at this, along with another story I'm trying not to post until I finish this one. Those darn plotbunnies are wicked! Enjoy, and please review!

Disclaimer: Not mine!

PsychPsychPsychPsychPsych

Almost an hour later, Lassiter's door opened, and Gus poked his head into the room.

Juliet looked up when the door opened. She had been watching Lassiter sleep while awaiting her chance to see Shawn.

Gus smiled weakly at her. "It's your turn, Juliet." He and Henry had both taken longer than the limited fifteen minutes, but it had been hard watching his best friend lie lifelessly in that bed. He was alive, but he was so still... "Ready to see him?"

Juliet nodded, getting to her feet. "Yeah." She looked at Lassiter, who was still sleeping.

She was certainly ready to see Shawn. Reaching down, she squeezed Lassiter's arm. Then she joined Gus at the door.

When they reached Shawn's ICU room, Henry was pacing around the door. He looked up at Gus and Juliet's approach. "Hey..."

Juliet exchanged a meaningful glance with Henry before slipping into Shawn's room.

The first thing that registered in her mind was the sounds of the machinery surrounding Shawn's bed. For a moment, she couldn't move. She just stood there, taking in Shawn's pale appearance.

A thin blanket had been pulled up to his chin, and for a brief moment, Juliet was selfishly thankful that she couldn't see the worst of his injuries. But there were bruises and cuts on his faces, ones that she hadn't noticed before.

Finally she inched closer to the bed. The sounds of her sneakers squeaking against the linoleum startled her for a moment, but she quickly recovered. "Shawn..."

Reaching the bed, she laid a light hand on Shawn's forehead. He didn't seem to be in any pain, and she was grateful for that. She did not want him in any kind of pain.

After a moment, Shawn stirred.

Startled, Juliet stared at Shawn's face. "Shawn..." She leaned closer to him.

He groaned softly, shifting his hips.

"Take it easy, Shawn..." Her thumb stroked his forehead. "Everything is okay."

His eyelids fluttered briefly, but before she could say anything else, he was gone again.

Slightly disappointed, Juliet sat down on the edge of the bed and took his hand into hers.

Before she knew it, twenty minutes had passed. A nurse slipped into the room, an apologetic expression on her face. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but your time is up."

Juliet turned her head, her eyes pleading. "Please... Do you mind if I stay a little while longer?"

The nurse caught sight of the badge on Juliet's hip, and she smiled sadly. "You're the cop who found him, aren't you?"

"One of them, yes. I'm his medical proxy, and..." She hesitated. "His girlfriend. I really don't want him to be alone." The girlfriend part was a lie, but the truth was, Juliet just did not care. If it meant she could stay with Shawn, and that he would not be alone, she would tell the medical staff that she was his wife. She had to be with him.

The nurse sighed. Whenever it was possible, the hospital staff always tried to extend special leeway to the SBPD, for all the good they did. "Okay. Just try to keep out of the way."

"I will," Juliet promised. "Thank you so much."

"You're welcome, Detective." The nurse checked Shawn's vitals, then left the room.

The door closed, and Juliet was alone with Shawn once more. She allowed herself to relax a little as she kept watch over her injured friend.

PsychPsychPsychPsychPsych

The next three days were some of the worst of Juliet's life as they waited for Shawn to regain consciousness. After the first twenty-four hours, Henry convinced her to leave long enough to shower, eat and take a nap. It was only when he threatened to have her visitation revoked that she finally complied. She supposed she understood. He really was looking out for her. So she went home long enough to shower, eat, and take a short nap. Then she was right back at the hospital.

After that, they fell into a routine of sorts that was punctuated by visits to Lassiter. He was supposed to be home already, but he had developed an infection in one of his hands that troubled his doctors. So his stay was extended.

On the fourth day, Juliet walked into Lassiter's room after breakfast. "Carlton?"

He was in the bed, eyes closed and mouth drawn. He had always hated hospitals, and this time was no different. He wanted to go home and recover in his own bed, in his own way.

She made her way to his side.

Finally he opened his eyes and looked at her.

She smiled softly. "Hey..."

Briefly he returned her smile. He managed to upset the nurses and annoy the doctors, but his partner always calmed him down. She had always had that affect on him. It was one of the reasons they worked so well together.

Before she could speak, the door opened. Gus stuck his head into the room. "Juliet?"

She glanced over her shoulder. "Gus? What's wrong?"

"It's Shawn."

Her stomach dropped instantly, and she was on her feet. "What about Shawn? Is he okay?"

"They think he's waking up."

Juliet looked at Lassiter again. "I'll be back, Carlton," she promised.

He frowned and looked away.

Juliet followed Gus out of the room and to the ICU. Henry was already standing at the door, shifting impatiently. When he saw Juliet and Gus approach, he waved a hand.

"They had me leave the room."

Juliet hurried past Henry, into the room.

Gus and Henry exchanged glances.

There was a nurse beside Shawn's bed, and as Juliet came closer, she could hear her speaking to Shawn.

At Juliet's approach, the nurse looked up. "I'm sorry, but no one should be in here right now."

Juliet shook her head. "Is he waking up?"

"Ma'am-"

There was a deep groan from Shawn, and Juliet glared at the nurse as she hurried to Shawn's side. "Shawn..."

"Excuse me-"

"Be quiet!" Juliet snapped. Normally she was a very respectful, very kind person, but Shawn needed her and she had no patience for a nurse who was trying to force her to leave Shawn's side.

Shawn groaned again, shifting his hips.

Her expression softened. "Shawn, it's okay," she whispered. "Everything is okay. You're safe." She rested a gentle hand on his chest.

Suddenly he shot up in the bed, his chest heaving and his eyes wild with fear.

"Shawn?" She laid a hand on his shoulder.

He jerked, crying out in pain and fear.

Terrified that he might worsen his injuries, Juliet sat on the edge of the bed with him. Then she wrapped her arms around him, gently holding his arms to his sides. It might not have been the best idea, but she had to calm him down.

He struggled against her, but there was no strength behind the movements, and Juliet easily held him still.

"Shh... Shawn," she soothed, rubbing his back. "Breathe. You're okay. I promise, you're okay."

The nurse produced a syringe, but Juliet glared at her. "Don't sedate him."

"He needs to calm down before he hurts himself-"

"Just give me a minute! I'll calm him down."

The nurse sighed. "Five minutes." She left the room.

Once they were alone, Juliet rested her head against Shawn's. "Shawn, I need you to calm down," she murmured. "Please, calm down." She kept her voice soft and calm. "I don't want you to hurt yourself. Calm down."

He emitted a soft noise that tore at Juliet's heart. Finally he relaxed against her, but he continued to tremble.

Relieved, she gently rubbed his back. "It's okay, Shawn. Everything is going to be okay." Without thinking, she kissed his head. "I've got you."

The door opened again, and Juliet frowned when Shawn tensed against her. "Shh..." She turned her head and saw Henry ease into the room. "Hey..."

Henry took in the sight of his only child, cuddled in the arms of the woman Shawn himself had admitted he wanted. Instead of being amused, his heart broke. His boy was afraid and in pain, and Henry didn't know how to go about fixing this.

Shawn didn't seem to register his father's entrance. Instead he burrowed deeper into Juliet's embrace.

Juliet watched as Henry eased around the bed, until they were face to face. She summoned a weak smile, her hand coming up to cradle Shawn's head against her shoulder.

"How is he?" Henry whispered.

"He freaked out," she replied quietly. "But he's calming down. I wouldn't let the nurse sedate him."

"Are you sure that was a good idea?"

Juliet bristled. "I know him better than the nurses."

"I'm not arguing with that." Henry sighed and sat down by the bed, rubbing the back of his neck.

Juliet pressed her head against Shawn's. He had calmed immensely, and she wondered if he had fallen asleep. But then he shuddered, letting her know he was still awake.

Henry watched as Juliet held and comforted his son.

By the time the nurse returned, Shawn was completely silent as Juliet cradled him to her. She nodded approvingly.

Juliet didn't seem to pay attention. Her entire focus was on Shawn. One hand cradled his head, while the other rubbed his back slowly and affectionately.

The nurse looked at Henry. "Sir, I'm afraid you'll have to leave..."

Henry looked at Juliet, then his son. "I don't think so."

Juliet quickly intervened. "He's Shawn's father, nurse. He can stay."

The nurse sighed. "Okay. You both can stay. But no more right now. Mr. Spencer needs to rest."

"I'll make sure he does," Juliet assured her.

Henry watched the nurse leave the room, and he sighed.

Suddenly exhausted, Juliet eased back against the pillows, gently bringing Shawn with her. The bed was small and it was a tight squeeze, but she shifted them onto their sides. Then she pulled Shawn against her chest.

Shawn briefly panicked, but when she pulled him against herself again, he finally relaxed.

Henry watched Shawn's reaction with curiosity. For most of his life, Shawn had been a slacker, a playboy who never looked a day into the future. He was always about living in the moment. But in this particular moment, he was clinging to Juliet as though he could never let her go. Was it just a result of being buried alive and nearly killed? Or was that how he truly felt about her?

Juliet sighed quietly, resting her head against Shawn's. Her eyes were growing harder to keep open, and with Shawn safe in her arms, she was more relaxed than she had been in days. In her arms, nothing bad could happen to him. She wouldn't allow it.

Henry stood, hesitating before he placed a gentle hand on Juliet's head. "Get some rest, Jules."

She smiled at the fatherly gesture. "I'll try."

He grinned, and Juliet could see Shawn in his father's face. He moved his hand to Shawn's head, his expression growing more tender.

Sleep claimed her quickly, but not before she heard Henry Spencer whisper to his son.

"I love you, Shawn."

TBC...

A/N: Awww... Shules and Shawn and Henry! Okay, time to shamelessly plug. LOL. My newest Psych oneshot was posted the other day. It's called Never Really Wanted, and it has Shules and Shuliet angst from Lassiter's POV! Give it a shot! The other story in the works will be...well... there will be angst. Bwhahaha. Thanks for reading, and please review!