Three reviews. I'm beginning to see a pattern here. Think we can shoot for four this time?
Jules, though excited that she could finally go home after weeks of treatment, was reluctant to leave. She wanted to go home, but at the same time she didn't want to leave Jenna. She'd become a surrogate mother to the girl over the past weeks, and it made her nervous that she would be leaving her surrogate child behind.
Jenna crossed the room in a flash and wrapper her arms around Juliet's waist. "Promise you'll visit everyday?"
"Of course," Jules replied, hugging her back. "Of course I will." They stood like that for a few seconds until Jenna pulled back and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. Jules bent down to Jenna's height and wiped away a tear cascading down her cheek.
"Hey, she soothed, pulling the smaller girl close again. "C'mon, you're making me feel guilty now." Suddenly an idea popped into her head. Pulling back, she rested her hands on Jenna's shoulders. "I'll be right back." After giving Jenna a soft squeeze, she tore out of the room, down towards the nurses desk. They looked up at her approach, ready to jump up if they were needed. Juliet proposed her idea to them, begging and pleading until they agreed.
.:X:.
"Here you go, ma'am," the vendor said dully, handing over the ice cream cones. Jenna's face lit up as one was handed to her, and Jules rested a hand on her back, gently guiding her away from the small stand.
"It's so good!" Jenna squealed. "Nothing like that icky hospital food." As they walked, Jenna slid her hand into Juliet's larger one, and held on tight. She didn't have too many memories of her parents; just fleeting, unfocused little-kid memories. A wave of sadness washed over her as she thought of all the people she'd lost, including the friends she'd lost to cancer. As much as she already loved Juliet as her surrogate mother, she didn't want to lose her too.
"So, what do you want to do? Today, you don't have to be the girl with cancer who lives at the hospital. You can be anyone you want." Swallowing her sorrow, she smiled slightly up at Jules, knowing exactly what she wanted to do.
"I want to be a detective."
.:X:.
Lassiter growled under his breath as he sat at his computer. He hated doing paperwork; he absolutely despised it with every fibre of his being, and wished it could just go die in some hole somewhere. Unfortunately that wasn't possible, and he just had to suck it up and get it overwith, he supposed.
"Lassieface!" Carlton froze. No. No way. There was no way that was who he thought it was. Spencer wouldn't leave the hospital unless...
"Shawn, leave him alone," Juliet chastised. Lassiter looked up, and had to do a double take as three people slowly made their way towards him. Spencer and Juliet he recognized easily enough, but he had no idea who the kid was- or why she was with them. He also noted that Juliet took slow, halting steps, like she was an old woman. He couldn't help but wonder if it was due to the surgery, or if it was because of the tumor cells the doctors hadn't been able to get rid of.
"Who's the kid?" he asked gruffly, too irritated to come up with a better greeting.
"Carlton, this is Jenna. She's my roommate at the hospital, and she wants to be a detective when she grows up." He caught the meaningful look she was giving him, and he forced himself to calm down.
"Hi, I'm Detective Carlton Lassiter," he said, sticking his hand out to the girl. Jenna grinned and barely supressed a squeal.
"I know!" she smiled. "Juliet told me all about you!"
He stood up, suddenly towering over her. "O'Hara, did you clear this with the chief? Is she seriously okay with this?"
"Am I okay with what?" Jenna could practically taste the tension the Lassiter and Jules felt at the presence of a new voice. She turned and found a woman with medium honey-brown hair standing there, hands on hips, staring down her two detectives. They began trying to explain it, stumbling over words and interrupting each other, until Shawn cut it.
"Chief, this is Jenna. Jenna, this is Chief Vick. Alright, now that everyone's properly introduced: Chief, Jenna wants to go into law enforcement when she grows up. Think we can let her see what it's like a little early?"