A six chapter story that I'm sure everyone has done once before. Now it's my turn! This is five times that Juliet O'Hara died, and one time she didn't. The ships will be mixed (some Lassiet, some Shules) so read the pairing before reading the story! Enjoy, and please review!
Title: Gleam
Summary: He never saw it coming.
Pairing: Juliet/Carlton (if you squint)
Word Count: 801
Disclaimer: Not mine!
PsychPsychPsychPsychPsych
Carlton Lassiter had never seen the knife coming.
It was supposed to be a routine questioning. Go to the person's place, ask a few things, then leave and return to the precinct. He never counted on the guy being high, or finding drugs lying all over the apartment.
He didn't count on the guy screaming at them, accusing them of being spies and there to kill him. He also didn't think the guy would launch himself at them. But Lassiter had managed to get the guy under control while Juliet called the incident in.
When Lassiter searched Evans, he found several guns, needles, bags of coke, and blood on his shirt. He had jerked Evans to his feet and started to Mirandize him when everything went wrong.
Juliet saw the knife before Lassiter, and by the time he had seen it, she had launched herself forward.
"Carlton, move!"
He felt himself being shoved away, and for the briefest of moments, he wondered at the strength his tiny partner had.
Then he heard a pained cry, and the world fell out from beneath his feet.
Juliet grabbed at her chest, where the handle of the knife protruded.
Lassiter heard himself scream, felt himself pull the gun. But his vision went red, and by the time it returned, Evans was sprawled out on the floor. There were bullet holes in his chest, and a single bullet hole in the middle of his forehead.
He started to holster his gun, but another groan from Juliet jolted him back to his surroundings. As fast as he could, he radioed for help before dropping to his knees beside his partner.
The amount of blood pooling on the floor beneath her terrified Lassiter. He was never easily shaken, but the blood...
Juliet groaned. "Carlton..."
Hesitating for a moment, he finally yanked his jacket off and held it against the wound. The knife was embedded in her chest, and he knew better than to try and remove it.
He slid his free hand under her head, lifting it gently. "Hold on, O'Hara. Help is coming."
She groaned, her features filled with pain and some confusion. "Trying..."
He growled. "What were you thinking, Juliet?"
She managed a half smile. "Had to... save my partner..."
"I didn't need to be saved!"
"Carlton..."
She started to cough, and Lassiter was alarmed when a trickle of blood ran down from the corner of her mouth. Moving fast, he gently lifted her off of the floor. Then he settled her against his chest and watched her face.
Managing a weak smile for him, she whispered, "Gonna be fine..." But darkness was creeping in on the edge of her vision, and her breathing was growing ragged.
Lassiter looked around, straining to hear the wail of an ambulance. But he heard nothing.
Juliet forced her eyes open, and she looked up at her partner. He looked so afraid, so lost... She desperately wanted to comfort him, but she couldn't find the words. The taste of copper in her mouth made her cough again.
Lassiter held her closer. Normally he never touched his partner. The lines that defined their relationship were drawn painfully clear and he refused to overstep those boundaries. He refused to lose another partner that way. Now he could be losing her for good, and it scared the hell out of him.
Another surge of pain made her nearly frantic, and she struggled to sit up. "Carlton..."
He held her tighter to his chest and shushed her. "Shh, Juliet... just relax and hang on. Help is coming."
She grasped the front of his shirt in her fingers. Her vision was fading, and her blood drenched his clothes as well as her own. "Carlton..."
"What is it, Juliet?"
"I..." She coughed again, and pain wracked her body.
He gently smoothed her hair back, a gesture that was tender and intimate. A gesture that he never would have made in another situation.
Her eyes fluttered shut. "I love you..."
His heart jumped. "Juliet..."
Her head lolled against his shoulder. Her breathing slowed immensely.
Lassiter panicked. "Juliet, open your eyes!" he commanded, his voice firm. But there was an underlying tremor.
She didn't open her eyes or respond to his command.
He gently shook her, suddenly desperate. "Come on, O'Hara," he pleaded. "Please, look at me." His voice dropped.
"I love you, too..."
By the time the paramedics reached the apartment, they were greeted by a heartbreaking sight.
Lassiter was still sitting on the floor, cradling his partner's lifeless body as he rocked back and forth with her. There was a smear of blood on his lips, and a matching stain smeared Juliet's cool lips. He was a broken man.
Lassiter looked up at the approaching paramedics, his heart shattered and his voice hollow.
"She's gone."
The End.
A/N: I know, I know. I'm so evil! But what the muse wants... LOL. Thanks for reading, and I hope everyone will enjoy this evil little... whatever it is. LOL. :)