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Chapter 19:

Angels Among Us

2 Weeks Later...

It was currently two weeks after the big showdown from the asylum. And a lot had happened since then for the SBPD team and their friends. Currently, they were all back in the SBPD. Chief Vick has given the teams a day off and they'll rotate with the others on staff so that everyone has a chance to recover from this harrowing ordeal.

Juliet has just finished some paper work she wanted to complete before she leaves for her lunch date with Lassiter. As she neatly put the files away, Juliet saw Shawn coming toward her desk.

"Hey Shawn. What's new?" Juliet asked.

"Well Jules. I have some terrifical news. Me and Gus have girlfriends! And I'm pretty sure they're the ones."

"Really! Oh Shawn I'm so happy for you two."

"Thanks Jules. I'm dating the new crime scene sketch artist Ava Charmoli. Gus is dating a hospital pharmacist named Selene Greene. She's right over there actually." Shawn said as they walked toward Selene telling off a rookie trying to hit on her as Gus was in the department bathroom.

"Look alright. Get out of here with your crusty lips and your nonexistent swag." Selene said to the rookie.

"The lady obviously doesn't want to talk to you. So I suggest you get back to work." Juliet commanded intimidatingly. Which worked very well because the rookie ran off with an embarrassed expression plastered on his face.

"Hi I'm Juliet O'Hara. Shawn just told me about you're dating Gus."

"Nice to meet you Juliet! And yes Gus is my hunky black panther." Gus overheard this as he approached them and started blushing involuntarily.

"Hey Boo." Gus said. Selene just responded by kissing him on his full lips the sniffed him.

Juliet just turned to Shawn and muttered quietly to him, "Did Gus just get Gused?"

Shawn nodded with a smirk.

"Hey guys come on we're going to be late for the Psycho movie downtown." Shawn said as Ava came on the side of him.

"Hey Juliet," Ava greeted and asked, "Do you want to come to the movies with us?"

"Thanks but no. Since the Chief has given us the day off, Carlton and I are going to lunch."

"Oh, so that's why he's coming toward us with the look that screams 'heart-attack in progress'," Shawn said as Lassiter approached the group.

"Are you ready O'Hara?"

"Carlton we've eaten together tons of times. So there's no need to go all black ops on me."

Lassiter simply just grumbled an indistinguishable sentence as he nodded a wordless acknowledgment to the group. Then Lassiter and Juliet made their leave for a semi fancy lunch.

The restaurant the partnered detectives were seated at once they arrived was called Loafer's Imperial Kitchen.

Juliet couldn't think of a better place than this restaurant to open up about her feelings for her partner.

Once they had ordered their respective meals and was served complementary bread, Juliet opened the conversation by asking, "So Carlton how're you doing since the big fight?"

"Meh. It's tough to swallow. Skirth and Gilroy are both dead. The FBI took our case after we went through literal blood, sweat, and tears to solve it."

"Yeah, the FBI answered our call pretty quickly since Henry rigged that old radio to call for help." Juliet said as she thought of how the FBI agents within hours swarmed their compound. The FBI also did cleanup the dead bodies. In addition to this, the FBI had taken over their case, taken their evidence, and had taken their statements.

Lassiter nodded and finished saying, "Yeah but worse, now that the case is over CPS and the Chief is forcing me to give up Mia."

On the latter part, Juliet chocked on her water and asked, "You can't adopt her?"

Shaking his head before answering Lassiter said sadly, "They laid it all on the line. I've got a horrible temper, I'm divorced, I'm the world's poster boy for a workaholic, and the list goes on."

"Oh Carlton. I'm so so sorry."

"Yeah me too."

"Have you broken the news to Mia?"

"No I haven't told her. But I do have a plan. I mean I would never leave her to gamble with the crapshoot of the system. And because the system has beaten us, I've asked a huge favor of my friends the Nobles to adopt her. Which they've accepted and they're filling out the paper work. And even though Ray-Ray is about to graduate he's excited to have a baby sister," Lassiter said as he propped his head in one hand.

"Well she'll always be your little girl Carlton," Juliet reassured.

"You too? Why does everyone keep saying that?" Lassiter snipped quite grumpily.

Juliet smiled and explained gently, "Because she is Carlton. She's been attached to you since day one. You're protective of her in a loving parental way. You just want what's best for her. Even if that means having her live with someone else. Regardless of those people being great friends of yours."

Lassiter just shrugged and let it rest.

Juliet then changed the subject, "So are you ready to talk about that kiss?"

Lassiter's eyes got very big and he started to turn red then nodded slowly.

"Why?" Lassiter asked shakily.

"Because Carlton. I've been doing a lot and lot of thinking since my breakup with Shawn. And before you say it, no you're not the rebound guy." Juliet said as she saw Lassiter open his mouth and was just about to refute her previous statement.

Juliet then continued saying, "Carlton. You're the most important person in my life. I can't live without you. And several months ago, I almost lost you for good. If it wasn't for your…parasite I would've lost you. And what worse...because of this case I realized that in the past year I did lose your heart and almost your friendship. For that I'm truly sorry Carlton."

"O'Ha…Juliet. I admit that the past year has been tough but the fault falls on both of our heads. I more than likely pushed you away as well. It takes two to tango as they say."

"But still Carlton. It wasn't right. I should've trusted you and more importantly I should've handled the entire situation differently. And that's why I was so hurt when you didn't tell me what was going on with you. I mean yeah, I know now that you didn't know how to tell me or anyone about your parasite. But at the time seeing you suffer in silence made me think you just didn't trust me and that our friendship looked more in ruins to me."

"Juliet. Our friendship means everything to me. That's why I reacted so badly when I had to find out the hard way about your relationship with Spencer. But none of that had anything to do with my not telling you about…this." Lassiter said as he motioned slightly to himself.

They paused their conversation as their food came out. But once the waitress left, Juliet said, "Again. I know that now. But I can't help that's how I felt at the time. And that's why I want to restart and rebuild our relationship. I want to spend more time with you and get to know you again Carlton."

"That's something I'm willing to do. But my only thing is…my past is my past. There's nothing good about it. My best memories are the past couple of years with small highlights of my younger years."

"Still Carlton. And I know you. You're not going to spill your guts about things you don't want to which is fine. But then again, that's another reason why I like you. You're a treasure. And I'm going to look forward to digging up more of your treasures through the years."

Lassiter's fork was dangling from his fingers at this last statement and forced himself to place the utensil on the plate and asked, "You like me?"

"Very much so. It's one of the selfish reasons why unapologetically kissed you. And I must say, if that's how you kiss off guard. Then I can't wait to uncover what Ursula Gibbs found out."

Lassiter stared open mouthed at her before she reached across the table and closed his mouth for him.

As she retracted her hand, Juliet asked, "So did you like her?"

"Her who?" Lassiter squeaked.

"Ursula Gibbs."

"NO! Where did you even meet her?"

"At a departmental picnic before this case."

"Juliet she's more looney than a looney tune. She needs help."

"Oh but Carlton it sounds like you were her doctor of love. She told me that you were a quote, 'god among lovers'. And went on to tell me way more than I could've ever imagined."

"Woman I beg you to change the subject."

Juliet started to evilly chuckle then asked, "Alright Carlton. I'd like to now ask you if we could go out next Friday night."

"You're asking me out on a date. A date that will be on what is known as date night?"

Juliet let out an exasperated breath then said, "Yes Carlton. I'm asking you out on a date. Is that a problem?"

"No! No that's not a problem. I mean honestly this is almost too good to be true I just want to know why?"

"Because I like you." Juliet answered simply.

"O-Okay. Well yeah sure."

"I'm not trying to scare you off Carlton. I just want us to be friends again and…maybe honestly more."

After a few moments of contemplating, Lassiter answered "I'd like that."

As their meal came to a close and they were in the parking lot, the two given each other a gentle chaste kiss and drove to their other destinations. Both now agreeing that Loafer's Imperial Kitchen was their new favorite restaurant.

Later…

However, for Lassiter his day wasn't over. He picked up Mia from school and fed her an early dinner and tried to mentally prepare himself for this horrible conversation. Lassiter kept going over different ways on how to approach this topic and different ways to say it without hurting the child too much if at all. Abruptly standing from his chair, Lassiter started to roughly run his right hand anxiously through his hair.

However, the Head Detective decided to bite the bullet and called Mia into his living room. As she came in Lassiter said gesturing to the couch, "Hey Mia. Umm. Sit down."

As they both sat side by side on the couch, Lassiter said, "Mia…there's this organization that says…you can't live here anymore and that someone else has to take care of you."

Mia's big brown eyes got very big and upset as she says, "Why?"

"Because that's the rules we have to follow."

"Did I do something bad Mr. Car?"

"You didn't do anything sweetie. Again, you just have to live with a real family. And I know this family, they want to take care of you."

"But doncha wan me Mr. Car?"

"Of course I do! Mia...it's a complicated grown up thing."

Mia just looked at him with a broken hearted expression. To which Lassiter gathered her into his arms and cuddled her into his strong embrace.

"Mia. I know you're sad. So am I. The family you're going to live with from now on are great friends of mine. They're David and Okoye Noble and they don't live far from here. You'll still go to your school and have the same friends. Also, you're going to love their son Ray-Ray. And I'll come and visit you all the time. So it's not like you'll never see me again."

"Really?"

"Yeah. And I've already talked it over with them, I'm going to be your Godfather. So if you ever need me or just want to come over or anything, I'll be here for you."

"My friend Stacie has a godfather and she calls him Papa. Can I call you Papa Car?"

Lassiter's heart did somersaults in his chest at her request.

"I would love to be your Papa Car."

TBC

A/N: Okay guys there's only the epilogue left. And okay I kinda lied here's the last cast member for the story: Ava Charmoli played by Stana Katic.

Also, here's a major shout out to my favorite Fanfiction writer Loafer! She's my queen of Lassiet stories. If you haven't checked Loafer's stories please, please do! It's amazing!