A/N: Ugh, so I wrote this earlier. It's up on the LJ copy of my story, but I didn't get to post here until today. Sorry guys!

In response to one of my reviewees, this will be slash eventually. If that dashes your hopes, I'm sorry... I believe I said that it would be in the summary? If not, I guess I say here: THIS WILL BE SLASH EVENTUALLY. But no porn. I cannot and will NOT write that.

Thank you all for you support though-I actually sat down and wrote this the day after I finished chapter one. Maybe I'll get more motivation eventually. :)

Lassiter is awakened by his cell phone buzzing angrily to the tune of Cops. He grunts, not even bothering to look. Eventually, as the melody starts screaming in his ear he cracks one eyelid open to glare at the display.

Spencer?

"'lo?"

To be honest, Carlton isn't expecting much from the younger man. A prank call, maybe. A bad joke. Something about pineapples. Or something else nonsensical. Not this broken, wrecked mess of a voice that he hears on the other line.

"Lassie."

It's enough to get Carlton to sit up and lean back against the backboard of his bed. The sudden chill of the open air has him hissing a bit.

"Spencer, what's wrong?"

There's a bit of breathing for a while on the other end before, "I cut up my foot," floats into the empty silence of the room. Lassiter rolls his eyes but tries to keep listening.

"And that's it? That's all you called me for?"

He winces internally as he hears a sharp inhale through the phone.

"Look, I didn't mean anything bad. But isn't there someone else who can help you?"

There's silence for a bit before Spencer's voice rumbles through the phone again, almost a whimper.

"I don't think so."

Carlton fights back yet another eye roll.

"Not even your girlfriend?"

And that's when he turns bright red, face flushing. He opens his mouth almost in an attempt to call the words back, but of course it's no use. Carlton opts for silence. She's treated him quite well before.

But of course, Lady Luck has taken Sweet Silence out for a night on the town, so Shawn continues to break down.

"I… I can't put all of this on Jules."

Wait—since when was Spencer Shawn to him? And when, dear sweet Justice, when did Sha—Spencer—become so damn chivalrous?

Lassiter chooses silence yet again, because he's not good in these situations. He's not a feelings person. That was probably the only truth he told Buzz while they were in the station after putting away Yang and that psycho blonde girl. He was a robot. Partially.

When it came to cases concerning a certain fake psychic, he was totally human. He was constantly stuck between shouting at the younger man and kissing him senseless—it was enough to drive him almost as crazy as that nutcase, Mr. Yin. But not that crazy. He had succeeded for the most part in quashing the sentiment via shouting and lots of rough physical contact. Yet none of his repression techniques had prepared him for the shock of discovering that Spencer was dating his partner. His partner, of all people. He felt his stomach drop at the thought of that again. He holds his eyes shut for a moment before returning his attention to the phone.

"And why can't you do that?"

He can hear his voice softening and shit it's not supposed to go like this.

"I can't because she's fragile too. And when you put two fragile people together, you end up with just more broken pieces. Of course, that'll end up with me just running and I can't do that to—"

"Spencer, please tell me when you picked up the chivalry act. It's really not your style."

Lassiter's face flushes again as he tries to swallow any more of his word vomit. But it just keeps coming.

"Between your shenanigans and your chivalry, it all amounts to nothing. Really. And with all the bullshit that you put out at the station, I'm surprised that Juliet even trusts you with half of this stuff."

Carlton hears a snuffle on the other line before realizing that yes, he did say all fucking that out loud.

"Shit, Shawn, I'm sorry, I…"

He catches himself on the younger man's first name. It tastes strange and foreign in his mouth now. He had always thought that it would roll right off the tongue.

"It's okay, Carlton. I understand. I'm sorry to have woken you up."

The dial tone hums contentedly in his ear after Shawn hangs up. Carlton just slumps over onto his pillow, throwing his cell phone against the wall.

W W W W W

Shawn should've known that it would have been a terrible idea to call Lassiter. But he was desperate. Things were getting shaky over here on Ground Zero. He knew that everything that Lassiter had said was 100% true—he hadn't been truthful with Juliet the entire time, about the psychic charade, the hyper-observance, just everything really. The only nugget of truth he had uttered to his girlfriend was his speech about how he would protect her. And he meant it with all his heart.

But who's gonna protect me? He thinks, hanging his head. Once Juliet finds out the truth, she'd never want anything to do with me.

A noise in the bedroom catches his attention. Juliet appears in the doorway, her feet cut-free.

"Shawn? Are you okay? I thought I heard voices."

Shawn nods slowly, carding one hand through his unruly hair.

"I… I think I'll be fine."

Juliet plops down next to him on the floor.

"D'ya wanna talk about it?"

He stares at his lacerated feet, pondering a bit.

"I… I'm tired."

She grins at him, all love and warmth.

"Mmkay. We'll talk about it later though, right?"

Shawn tries to nod, but he's getting to the point where the need for sleep has saturated his entire being. Things are shutting down. Juliet pats his hand.

"I'll clean up the glass, by the way. I don't want you getting cut up again."