Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Psych belongs to Steve Franks, USA Network, and anyone else who owns it.

Author's Note: I just started a new job, so updates on this story may slow down a bit. But it will be finished. I've never posted a story I didn't finish.

*OoO*

Chapter 2

*OoO*

Carlton sat beside Juliet O'Hara's bedside and wondered if—no, when she woke up what she would have to say about his resignation. He'd surprised himself by not only resigning, but by being okay with it. He loved his job as a cop, but being able to find who did this meant more.

Nurse Simmons opened the door. "Detective, may I talk to you?"

He met her in the hall, quietly closing the door behind him. "I'm not a detective anymore, but what can I do for you?"

"I found this on the nurses' station when I came on shift just now. I don't know how long it's been there," she said, anticipating his next question. "The nurse I relieved does her shift-end paperwork in the breakroom." She held the envelope in a gloved hand. "I've seen enough TV shows," she answered his unspoken question with a sheepish smile.

Carlton took out gloves of his own from his pocket and opened the letter.

You both deserve to die for what you did and I intend to see you do.

He gritted his teeth. This proved what he thought. This hadn't been a random hit on a cop. Whoever this whack job was, O'Hara had been the target. "Thank you," he said to the nurse, "I'll take it from here." She returned to the station desk.

He turned to the uniform stationed at the door. "No one goes in or out unless they've been cleared." The officer nodded. Even without a badge, Carlton inspired respect and a healthy dose of fear.

*OoO*

"Chief?" Vick saw McNab standing at her door. "Detect—I mean Mr. Lassiter is here to see you."

Her eyebrows rose a notch in surprise. "By all means, show him in." A moment later Carlton was sitting down in front of her. "Carlton, I'm glad you're reconsidered your decision."

He shook his head. "I haven't reconsidered."

"Then why—"

"Another letter was delivered to O'Hara's room at the hospital. Well, to the nurses' station outside her room," he amended. "I've been careful with it. The nurse who found it was wearing gloves and I wore gloves too." He had placed the letter in a plastic bag and put it on her desk. "Sorry, but I didn't have an evidence bag."

She called a detective to collect the letter. He gave Carlton a questioning look as he left.

"Please sit down," she asked as Carlton stood to leave.

"Why?" he said. "Unless you've changed your mind." He really hoped she did. He stood by his decision, but it didn't mean he didn't miss his job.

"You know I can't." She sat back and gestured to the chair he'd just vacated. "Please. Sit."

He reluctantly did as she asked.

"How are you doing?"

He fidgeted. "I'm fine. I'm not the one who was blown up."

"No, you're just the one who watched your partner get blown up and then quit your job."

"It's not the same."

"No, it's not," she agreed. "But it's still traumatic." She straightened. "At any rate, that's not what I want to talk to you about. Since you no longer work for me, I want to know what you're planning to do."

"I plan to protect my partner. The note I brought in today makes it damn clear she was targeted."

"The notes make it clear you're both targets," Vick corrected.

"Yeah, but I'm not the one in a hospital bed!" he said angrily.

"Fair enough. But that still doesn't answer my question of what you plan to do next. I'd like details," she said before he could get started again.

"I don't think I have to tell you, now do I?" "True. You don't." She leaned forward. "So let me tell you what I plan to do, officially," she stressed. "I plan to find the bastard who did this and I anticipate doing it without interference from my ex-head detective. However," she said as she leaned back, "there's not much I can do if others decide to help him." She looked at him with a calm, relaxed gaze.

Carlton blinked. He was almost positive Vick had just given her blessing for him to get help from members of the SBPD. She was almost as by the book as he was, so this was a confusing turn of events, to say the least.

"However," she continued, "since the mayor made it crystal clear vigilante justice will not be tolerated, I'm sure neither you nor anyone else in this department plans to go that route, correct?"

God he wished he was better at reading her. "Of course not, Karen. But I'm still not coming back. I think I need to put my energy into helping O'Hara. It's going to be a long recovery for her."

Before she could respond, his phone rang. He recognized the hospital number and answered quickly. After he ended the call, he turned back to the chief. "I have to go; she just woke up."

He was out the door before Vick could say another word.

TO BE CONTINUED