Hi, I'm back again with a second chapter. It describes the same events from Lassie's point of view. I hope you'll enjoy it. :)
A big thank you to cosette141, who did an amazing job betaing this chapter! :)
And also thanks to those who already reviewed!
Chapter 2: Lassie's POV:
Lassiter was tired and had a pounding headache when he finally decided to stop working and go home. Other than him, only Chief Vick and a few other officers—whose names he still didn't even know—were at the station. He laid the files from their just-closed drug ring case aside and stood up to finally call it a night, when he heard the crackle from his radio.
A fire, on 134 Shoreline Drive. The fire department was already on their way. The SBPD was requested; evidentially, the fire didn't look accidental. Witnesses claim that there was something sprayed onto the wall of the house, before it went up in flames.
"Do the criminals of Santa Barbara ever need sleep at some point?" Lassiter wondered. He certainly does need his sleep now. But of course he was a dedicated cop and duty calls again. Accepting that his night was about to get longer, he pulled on his jacket and sighed.
134 Shoreline Drive.
Why is this address sounding so familiar? Lassiter suddenly froze. His jaw slackened and he could hear his heart pounding in his ears.
He knew that address.
He recently went there to a house warming party for… Oh god no.
Lassiter grabbed his radio. "Copy! I'm on my way." He snatched up the keys to his Fusion and started toward the front doors. Not breaking his pace, he jabbed a finger at a group of officers, ordering, "Hey you, come with me!" No one questioned him. At that moment, Chief Vick stormed out of her office. "Did you..."
"I did. Are you coming?" he asked.
"You bet. And I'll drive." Vick declared, joining his run out of the building. "Have you already tried to reach Spencer or O'Hara?"
"Not yet." They ran, the other officers following in suit and started their cars with lights and siren. Lassiter tossed his keys to Vick and they flung themselves into the car. She tore out of the parking space and onto the street. Lassiter fished for his cellphone with fumbling fingers and dialed his partner's number. And he waited. "Come on!" he growled, but she didn't pick up.
"This was no accident." Vick muttered, while she swiftly running a red light. "Spencer exposed that drug ring—he cost them everything. This has to be some twisted act of revenge."
Lassiter didn't respond. He knew that himself. But why did it have to be Spencer again, who solved the case? Why did his partner have to be dating him, putting her in the line of danger? Lassiter could only hope that Shawn was looking out for her. Lassiter suddenly froze; Spencer, Guster and Juliet went to celebrate their victory in a bar. Maybe they were lucky. Maybe nothing happened to them. But if that were true…
Why isn't O'Hara answering after his third try?
"I'll try to reach Spencer!" he said. The car shuddered as Vick increased her speed. Spencer picked up after the fourth ring.
"Hey, Lassie, have you changed your mind?"
"Spencer, listen to me closely and don't freak out!" he ordered harshly. To his surprise, he didn't get some snarky return. Karen grabbed her radio, demanding an update.
"Lassie what—"
He cut him off. "Please say that Juliet is still with you!"
A short pause. Lassiter heard Shawn breathe in shakily.
"N-No... she went home about an hour ago."
"Shit!" he cursed loudly before Spencer ended his sentence. O'Hara was at home. Lassiter's heart pounded.
His partner was in danger.
"They want to take revenge. Especially on you." Lassiter explained. He knew that Shawn would immediately catch on to whom he was referring. "Shawn..." Using the psychic's first name was uncomfortable; Lassiter only used it in the rare cases of life and death situations. "…We've got a dispatch that a house on 134 Shoreline Drive is on fire, we're on our way."
Again silence. Hitched breathing. Then a choked answer.
"T-that's our house."
"Shawn, stay calm!" Lassiter urged him, but he realized that he didn't get through to him. He didn't get any response. Only further, quicker breaths.
"Spencer! You hear me?! We're on our way, don't panic! Spencer!" he called even though Shawn had already hung up. "Dammit!" he cursed again and turned to Vick. "Spencer said Juliet is home alone. He's on his way. We should be the first ones to arrive, before he does something stupid." His boss didn't answer, but took the next turn with screeching wheels without braking.
Lassiter has never been so nervous. She had to be okay. She had to. Juliet was his partner and one time he didn't look out for her, something bad happens. Since O'Hara started dating Spencer, Lassiter knew it was Shawn's duty to protect her, when he himself wasn't around, But, strangely, he couldn't blame Spencer for this one. On the phone, Carlton couldn't see his face, but he heard the fear... the bare panic in his voice. Even if Lassiter wouldn't admit it, even if he didn't understand it in the least, he knew that his partner loved that nut case. And that nut case loved her. And he knew that Shawn would blame himself now more than enough and would do anything possible to save Juliet. Even if he endangered his own life in the process. It wouldn't be the first time.
His car was at its speed limit, but he spurred Vick on nonetheless. She turned onto Shoreline Drive. Lassiter braced himself.
It was far worse than he thought.
Even from the street you could feel the heat. Sirens were blaring, orders were yelled and over all of that was the inexorable sizzling, booming sound of the burning fire. Vick and Lassiter jumped right into the chaos. He let Vick ask the questions and he scanned the scene. Was she already out? Was she hurt? Had Spencer already arrived?
"There's still one person in the house, she's one of my detectives! Were you able to reach her already?" Karen asked the Chief of the fire department.
"It's too dangerous to step closer. We'll try to get to her through a window, but we don't know in which room the woman is located." the Fire Chief answered.
"The woman's name is Juliet O'Hara and she is my partner!" Lassiter barked angrily. "And what are you saying about 'it's too dangerous to step closer'? What are you here for then!?" His rant was interrupted by a harsh hiss of his first name, but he held that he was right. This was the fire department! It was their duty to save people from burning buildings!
"Detective, we're doing our best! The fire's too strong; we opened the door and a fireball injured three of my men! We can't go in, it's too dangerous! Therefore, we're trying to reach your partner from the outside." The Chief explained patient but very determined.
"Try to explain this to—" Spencer, he wanted to say, but he was interrupted by loud yell.
"Hey! Stay where you are!"
The yell came from one of their officers, who was currently blocking the scene at a wider range. A little blue car had parked directly on the sidewalk. A dark-skinned, somewhat pale-looking man, stood in front of it and stared after the other man who'd run past Lassiter's still-yelling officer.
"Oh, hell no!" Lassiter cursed quietly.
Shawn had arrived.
And, as usual, his entrance was loud and unmistakeable. But this time, he wasn't doing it to get on Lassiter's nerves. Lassiter watched Spencer storm towards the burning house, forcing himself past several strong officers who couldn't stop him. Spencer didn't hesitate to lash out with his fists against them when they tried to restrain him. He was already far too close.
Lassiter jumped forward to cut his way before Shawn could also cross the fire line. Lassiter didn't even manage to hold him for one second. Shawn's arm tore out of his tight grip. Lassiter got a look at his face for a split second. He never saw him so determined. So serious.
So terrified.
"Spencer! Dammit, Come back!" he yelled after him, but he didn't even turn around. With surprising speed, Shawn maneuvered himself through all barricades in his way and disappeared into the black hole that had once been a door before anyone could clearly understand what just happened.
"Shawn!"
More officers shouted behind him. Lassiter watched Guster also trying to break through the barricades. "It's alright. Let him pass!" called Lassiter and Gus hurried over to him in hysteria.
"Couldn't you stop him!?" Gus wailed.
"I tried!" Lassiter defended himself. "What about you? Why didn't you stop him?!" Vick rushed over to them and looked twice as nervous as before. Now she had to worry about two members of her team.
"Stop pointing fingers at each other! You heard the Chief, it's too dangerous to send someone after him." she said and Gus voiced a panicked 'Oh, God'. "Unfortunately… Mr Spencer is on his own."
Lassiter appreciated that his boss could keep her composure despite of the trouble and tried to encourage her troop. They all stood still behind the fire line and stared into the black hole. It wasn't important anymore what happened all around them. The firefighting operations went at full speed. All that mattered now was that Spencer was successful. He had to get his partner out. His partner. Shawn's girlfriend. Carlton tried not to think about what would happen if Spencer couldn't. Lassiter briefly thought on Marlowe, who was still in jail and waiting for him. He would be devastated if something bad were to happen to her. He shook himself. No, he told himself. She'll be okay.
She has to be.
Lassiter lost track of time. It had probably only been a few minutes, but for Lassiter, Chief Vick and Gus it felt like eternity. "Can you see him?" he asked Guster, who strained his eyes and had teared up a bit. Lassiter doubted it was just the smoke.
Gus only shook his head and said in a small voice: „No."
Lassiter wasn't exactly a very patient man. He paced nervously. „Why can't that hothead just think for once before he does something stupid! What good is it if they're both trapped now!"
„What would you have done, if it was your girlfriend!?" Gus sniffled.
„I would have made sure this didn't happen in the first place!" Lassiter made a wild gesture towards the house.
„What is that supposed to mean!?" Now Gus was angry.
„Stop it! Both of you!" Vick exclaimed. „We can't undo what's done. We all know why Shawn did what he thought he had to do. Everyone here is trying their best! We can only hope that it's enough."
Both men grumbled their agreement. Yes, Lassiter knew why Shawn had done it. If somebody you love is in danger, your mind shuts off. Who could blame Shawn for what he did? The first thing Carlton had wanted to do when he he'd seen the house was storm into the building. Suddenly, a gasp overcame the crowd.
The three whipped around. Firemen hurried over to a shadow in the doorway. One shadow. Two people. Shawn carried her in his arms, tightly pressed to him. They were both black from soot, but his clothes were also ripped at a few spots, where he burnt himself. There was blood dripping from his temple. He fell to his knees and shouted, „JULIET!"
An ice-cold chill ran down Lassiter's whole body. He had never heard somebody yell with that much despair. That much hurt. Oh no, he begged. O'Hara.
Her body was limp, lifeless. Lassiter watched in shock as tears left trails on Shawn's sooty face. Shawn cradled her, begging her to wake up. He kissed her face; something that normally bugged Lassiter to see. But not this time. Desperate, Shawn fought when someone tried to separate him from his love. He threw his fists at anyone who tried to touch her. They gave him a few seconds, but then one fireman tried again to get through to him. Spencer's response was a wild, dangerous growl. Lassiter watched, stunned. Not even when the Yin/Yang killer kidnapped his mother, was Shawn this furious.
„We have to do something. O'Hara needs medical aid immediately." Vick spoke clearly, but was still paralyzed.
Lassiter nodded. Juliet's chances declined the longer Spencer denied the medical aid. But the poor man just couldn't understand, that they wanted to help. In his head he needed to protect Juliet from everyone and everything.
The three stood next to him, but Spencer still hadn't recognized them. Now they were able to hear his broken sobs, his pleads. Lassiter expected Spencer's best friend to say something to calm him down, but when he looked to his right he only saw a crying picture of misery, who tried—and failed— not to lose it completely. Chief Vick opened her mouth and closed it again. She seemed at a loss on how to approach the man. Lassiter sighed. Apparently he had to do it.
Because the soft and careful way was to no avail, Lassiter decided to use the harsh way to get his attention. That shouldn't be a problem for him. But in that moment he felt the slightest thread of guilt when he barked a rude „Spencer!". Shawn looked up seeming so hurt and broken as if Lassiter had just kicked a wounded puppy.
„Lassie..."
Shawn's sad, wet eyes looked back to the motionless body in his arms. Lassiter could barely endure seeing his partner so still. He swallowed and forced his concentration on Spencer.
„I... I can't... she won't..."
Shawn's scratchy coughs interrupted him more than once, but Carlton understood. „I know." He knelt down and suddenly felt something, which was almost overall new to him: compassion. „Let them help her. They can help." He pointed towards the paramedics, who stood expectantly around them.
Shawn considered for an agonizingly long time, looked at him, looked at Juliet and gripped her even tighter. Then he riveted his eyes on Guster and Chief Vick, who stood behind Lassiter and nodded their heads. Finally, Shawn loosened his grip and said, his voice trembling, "O-okay."
Perfectly calm and straight-faced, what astounded him in hindsight, Lassiter watched as Shawn laid his partner down in the grass. He caressed her face and kissed her head, before he whispered very quietly those three words that Lassier had never heard out of the psychic's mouth and particularly he never expected with so much sincerity, "I love you."
It was only meant for her to hear, but Lassiter caught it nonetheless. For a second his mouth hung open, but he tried to hide his surprise and took Shawn by his shoulders. Guster helped him to pull Shawn shakily to his feet and they pushed him a few steps back. Something he tried to fight against, but they could only tell that by the agonized look on his face. His body was too weak to keep on struggling. Relieved, Lassiter watched as the paramedics immediately started to save Juliet's life. He prayed that she would make it. He wouldn't know what he would do if she didn't. His gaze drifted back to his other temporary charge, who currently resisted against his own treatment. He only had eyes for Juliet.
„No!" Shawn protested, when a paramedic tried to take a look at the still bleeding wound on his temple. "Jules! Take care of her!"
Lassiter assumed that Shawn hadn't realized yet that he also was injured. But Spencer still wasn't in his right senses. Lassiter sent the doctor away. „Give him a minute."
The paramedic looked a bit reluctant when he retreated, watching Spencer cough violently and choke up heavy soot from his lungs. He might have been hurt worse than he had thought at first glance. Lassiter paused; he couldn't believe that he was actually worried about him. Shawn Spencer. The constant thorn in his side. But Lassiter knew that Shawn wouldn't be able to bear it if Juliet didn't wake up. And neither would he.
Spencer knelt coughing on the ground and pulled his best friend towards him, who tried everything to calm him down. He failed. Lassiter couldn't understand everything Spencer murmured quietly and labored, but seemingly he told him how he had found Juliet. But he suddenly stopped. Shawn jerked Guster down on his collar and stared right into his eyes. This time, Lassiter was able to hear his panicked words, and realized the extent of the catastrophe only now.
„She didn't even wake up!"
A shiver ran down Lassiter's spine at those words. It was full, brutal reality.
She might not wake up.
Lassiter only saw a glimpse of Spencer's face when he jerked around towards his girlfriend. But he could imagine what his face must look like. Fear. Desperation. Panic. Suddenly, Shawn started to choke again and this time not only soot was brought up.
Lassiter heard Karen sniff quietly and she sullenly pressed her lips together so she wouldn't let tears fall. Lassiter himself was frozen. He wasn't even sickened by the sight of Shawn vomiting right in front of him. He could feel Shawn's pain. This... It simply couldn't be.
This petite, happy, open-hearted woman brought so much life, so much joy into the Department. She made him a better person, heck she even made him a better detective. Juliet O'Hara showed him what true loyalty was. They saved each other's lives so often that he couldn't even count it. She can't just leave like this. What will become of him? Of the Department? And what will become of Spencer? Juliet was the only person who tolerated him. Who could moderate his mischief and see through to his idiotic theories. Who understood him. And she also made him a better person, who could show responsibility and sincerity, especially when it comes to her. He loved her. Lassiter knew that even before he heard his confession with his own ears. They both loved Juliet far too much to let her go.
Carlton Lassiter shivered. Tears brimmed his eyes. But then…
He heard her cough.
It sounded so strained and hurt, but at the same time it was her first sign of life since Spencer carried her out of that inferno.
Shawn's head shot up and he crawled towards her, gathered her in his arms and pressed her to him. Weight melted from his shoulders. She was alive. Oh, thank god, she's alive.
Overcome with relief, Lassiter didn't notice that a tear had slipped out of the corner of his eye. Only when Guster looked at him with his own teary eyes, Lassiter realized it. Embarrassed, he quickly turned around to wipe away that evidence of weakness. Carlton Lassiter never cried. He would say that it was the smoke, which still burned in his eyes, if anyone dared to ask. But Guster, the only one who saw it, just nodded in understanding and looked back at the reunited couple.
Spencer kissed her, whispered something to her and stroked her hair. Juliet was lucky to have him. Lassiter suddenly didn't know anymore why he couldn't see it in the first place. Shawn cared for her, he made her happy. And because Lassiter too will always take care of his partner's happiness, he walked away from their private moment and gazed disdainfully at the remains of the house.
In a few spots you could still see the red-letters, smeared message on the charred wall. Lassiter's jaw tightened and he breathed harshly through his nose. His fists clenched.
Almost silently, Guster had crept to his side. He also looked at the wall of the house. „They'll pay for this." He growled. Without waiting for Guster's response, he turned and left. Lassiter didn't need a break anymore. He needed to hunt the bastards who were responsible with any means necessary.
Thanks for reading and please please please leave a review! :)
