So, new chapter, after so much time. Sorry for the delay, but this story is very special to me, and I just didn't feel in the right mood. Thanks to anyone putting it in the favs and to any new reader.

For the chap, it's basically about Lassie and Jules: about believing in things and people. I think their bond will never cease to amaze and touch me, because they're loyal, and human, and caring. And that's why against my rules I've actually quoted a song for this one.

X - Credis, credis

(You believe, you believe)

I'm there in the water,

Still looking for ya

I'm there in the water,

Can't you see, can't you see?

Dead in the Water, Ellie Goulding

Juliet pushed open the door and took a look around. The Interrogation Room felt curiously crowded. Gus and the chief were sitting on the right side of the table, looking grimly at the wall; on the other side was a girl, early twenties, scrawny look, fidgeting with her hair. Against the nearest wall was sitting Shawn. She had the strange sensation there was someone else in the room she should note, but it passed. The Chief nodded to her.

–O'Hara, you're here. Good."

"Yes." Jules said. "I've gathered you want to show me something."

"Yes. It is, actually a very peculiar situation."

"So I've heard."

From his chair, Gus shyly waved at her. He looked somewhere between very angry and very alarmed. She waved back and turned to the man sitting by the wall.

"Shawn."

"Jules."

He smiled, and he was so good at it it actually seemed real. The left temple was a bit swollen. He looked almost uneasy. She found it perfectly fair.

"Take a seat, O'Hara."

"I would like to know what's going on first, Chief."

"You're going to. Take a seat."

Vick turned towards the girl. "Miss Ermete, this is Detective Juliet O'Hara. She is-she is Detective Lassiter's partner."

Juliet slipped on the last free chair, not liking it one bit. The gun was in the pocket under the rain jacket. She felt it brushing her breast.

"Has Miss Ermete something to do with the latest happenings, Chief?"

"That's what we're trying to determine. Please, miss, tell us your story again."

At that the girl seemed taken aback. She looked to her left, muttering something. She was tormenting her hands.

"Listen, I don't want any problems. I'm, I'm a good girl."

"You've already said it miss."

"But you don't believe"

"No I don't. But maybe my detective here could help."

Juliet had followed the exchange with a frown.

"Chief, I fear I do not understand."

The chief leaned back on her chair and crossed her legs, slowly. –You see, O'Hara. This is Miss Francesca Ermete. She's Italian, twenty-two, and she had been caught trying to break in Detective Lassiter's house early this morning."

It was like turning a switch on. The anger was so sudden Juliet was shaking. How she dared, how she dared. She practically felt Shawn's eyes burning all the way through her chair. "Sorry?"

The girl should have caught something, because she shrank further on the chair.

"Yes. Guster was at Detective Lassiter's house for your commission and saw miss Ermete trying to squeeze in from the basement window. Moreover, her fingerprints matched the ones found on the gas meter of the warehouse."

Juliet's head was fluctuating. She barely heard Shawn's chair screeched on the floor over her pulse. Her nails dig in the chair's arms before realizing it. Juliet knew what the Chief was doing, feeding their angers to further intimidate the suspect. She totally approved.

"No, no, wait. It's not like it seems." The scrawny girl squeaked. "I, please. Let me explain."

"You better have a damn good story, pal" Shawn hissed.

"I, I just."

She sighed. "Okay. It's kind of awkward, but. Let's say I'm collaborating with Detective Lassiter."

"Detective Lassiter is in a coma, miss."

"Yeah. Well, that's the awkward part. I'm collaborating with Detective Lassiter because I have, certain skills in talking with souls."

Silence fell. Gus clenched his jaw, peeking at them. Juliet swallowed.

"What?"

"You know, people without bodies and stuff. Detective Lassiter has come to me after the accident to, seek help."

"Chief."

"Don't ask me, guys."Vick said grimly. "She gave us the same version. She said she can see Detective Lassiter, and that she's helping him. She said it has been him bringing her to his house."

"You're kidding."

"Absolutely no."

"So you're what? A sort of medium?"

"No." Francesca said. –I mean, yes. I see things, that's true, but in a totally normal way."

That didn't help. The girl turned and looked to the left wall. Here it was again. She looked at that point again. Empty but precise. She had been doing it all through the interrogation and in coincidence with difficult moments . Was it some sort of tic?

The Chief sighed, leaning across the table. Her face looked softer and warier, but Jules couldn't say if it was an act.

"Look kid, I know how it goes. And I want to help you. You're young, in a new city, a new country. You don't have to tell things to be scared. You don't have to play to get some attention."

"What? Oh, it's not like this, I "Or, or better, yes. Yes, it's exactly like thi-"

She suddenly jerked on the side, like something had shoved her . She furiously glared to the left. "What? What's wrong? Don't get all grumpy on me, Jebediah."

Jebediah. The name rang all the way through Juliet like a thunderbolt. Blood rushed off her face.

Jebediah.

She had to try twice before sputtering a word.

"What did you say, miss?"

"Ah, nothing. Just mumbling."

No, she wasn't just mumbling. Jebediah. Jules pushed the chair forward and felt her heart racing. Oh, Jules, you foolish girl.

"Okay, let's say I believe you. Why did he choose you? Where did you meet?"

The girl scowled. "Is it a trick?"

The Chief stirred in her chair. "O'Hara"

"No. Answer the question."

"Jules"

"Shut up. Miss, answer the question."

"Okay." The girl licked her lips. "Okay. We met, met at the warehouse."

"That is where?"

Look to the left.

" On the docks, Elder street. No, not Elder street, the other by the Pizza Hut."

"What did he say?"

"That he wanted my help."

"Why?"

"Because he wanted to help you."

"And then?"

"We were going to check his archive. First we stopped at his house."

She was pointing at Shawn. Her friend jumped visibly.

Juliet breathed very slowly.

"Did he want to investigate?"

"Yes."

"Is he here?"

The girl stared at her. She wasn't lying.

"Yes."

Shawn got up so suddenly it made them start. "Oh, c'mon, Jules." He shouted. "You can't possibly believe her can you?"

"That's not the point, Spencer."

"That's exactly the point Chief."He replied. "Jules, shake it off. You're smarter than that. It's obvious she's a wacko trying to get some attention. How can't you see that?"

Juliet didn't know what to say. No one of them knew. Shawn turned with a growl. "Oh, Hell. I'm gone."

"Shawn. Shawn."

She shot on her feet and was out of the room. Shawn was clipping along to the doors.

"Shawn, what are you doing?"

"What I'm doing? What you are doing." He stopped. "I don't know if it is some kind of cop thing, but it's stupid."

"You can't leave now. Not here too."

It stang and Shawn hissed, looking away. "Listen, I, I'm working on that, okay?" He said. "But you need to get that fuck out of here."

"I'm not sure it's so simple, Shawn."

That caught his attention. He looked up at his old friend. "Oh my God. You believe her." He whispered. "You believe her, Jules."

"I'm just saying that we couldn't rule out any option."

"Jules."

"She knew his middle name, Shawn. No one, no one but me knows his middle name."

She bit her lip. He felt like throwing up. Smart Jules, trusting Jules, believing in things, giving lots of chances. You know it, don't you, Shawn?

He staggered back. "Oh God. I'm so sorry."

"Shawn. Shawn, listen"

She reached out. He slipped away. "No. I'm sorry Jules. Really."

In the room they all heard the corridor doors snapping open and closing again, and then the clang of a metal drawer as someone kicked it. No one said a word.

In the end they dismissed her. No one really believed she was compromised with Serbian gangs, and there were better trails to follow. She was legal, so they couldn't call her parents without authorization. Just stay in town all through the investigation, be available for further clarifications etc etc. Francesca said yes to everything, casting worried glances at Lassiter. He didn't look well. He hadn't said a word since the young scrubby man and the blonde cop ran away and argued in the corridor. He looked diaphanous, unreal for the first time since they met.

He quietly followed her out of the Chief's office.

"Hey. Are you okay?"

"In your opinion?"

Francesca grunted. "I was just trying to be gentle. You're a complicated person to care for, detective."

"Yes. Sorry."

He didn't sound sorry at all. She followed his gaze, and on the other side of the precinct the blonde detective was rummaging around one of the desks.

She sighed. "You want for me to go talking with her again, right?"

"Yes."

"Oh, fuck me. Let's go."

"Detective. Detective O'Hara."

When she saw who she was Juliet's eyes frosted. "Oh, no." She grunted. "Can't you just leave me alone, can you?"

"Believe me, I'd gladly do."

"So do it."

"I can't. Detective O'Hara, I really need to talk to you."

"Why?"

Fran had no real answer.

Juliet picks up her papers. "Miss Ermete, I'm still not sure if I have something against you, but it'd be better for everyone if you go away now. I'm very busy."

"Please, it'll take a moment."

"Don't try me further."

She walked away. Francesca gave Lassiter a helpless shrug.

"Go after her. Go after her."

"Oh, cavolo." He was giving her the wide-blue-eyed look, and she felt as if she'd just kicked a seal pup. She grunted and flashed behind the detective. He tagged along.

"Detective O'Hara. It's. I think we could help you."

"We?"

"I and Detective Lassiter."

A pause. "You should stop with this right now, girl."

"But it's the truth. Listen, I know that if someone can believe us, it's you"

"You know nothing about me, Miss Ermete."

"But he does." Francesca replied. She stopped. –He, he told me a lot of things about you."

"I don't believe you."

"He said, that there wouldn't be anyone else brave enough to believe it."

Detective O'Hara fixed her for a long moment. She grinned, shaking her head.

"He wouldn't ever say something like that. Now I ask you to step back and leave me alone before your position gets even more compromising."

Then Juliet turned and left them behind, head up and slippers tapping. Francesca opened her mouth, but she was already out of reach.

Juliet.

Carlton had watched it all from the corridor wall, silently. He watched his partner's pale hard face as she passed him without looking.

He clutched his fists.

"Let me talk with her."

Fran flinched. "Detective"

"Let me talk with her. Say exactly what I'm going to say. The exact words, okay?"

"I, oh, okay."

He nodded, and they began. Lassiter was talking fast, like a tight"compressed prayer and it was not easy to keep up, but she managed. It became a single speech. She didn't miss a word.

"He knows you, O'Hara." They cried across the corridor. Juliet froze.

"He knows you buy hay-protein bars but always ends up eating half of his muffin. It's not he doesn't want the other half, it's that he leaves it to you. He knows you learnt to shoot with your uncle's rifle and still think they're better. That you punched your escort to the prom. He knows that on your first crime scene you cried in the hallway and no one knows but him.

He knows that you're the first person that believed in him after so much time."

Detective Lassiter fell silent, and Fran too. Detective O'Hara was still turned. Her shoulders were shaking, slightly, oh so slightly. Then she swirled around and walked back to them and Francesca was sure she was about to get the crap beaten out of herself.

Detective O'Hara stared at her with red-rimmed eyes.

"Fine. Fine, girl."

"Fine what?"

"I'll help you. Whatever it is, I. I'm in."

Fran let out a sigh.

"Oh, thanks. I know it's strange but-"

She found herself shoved against the metal drawer before blinking. Her back hit the rowers with a loud clung. Detective O'Hara's arm pressed against her throat, a step before painful.

"Listen to me girl, and listen well. I'm believing you. I believe people, and I give them my trust, but remember it is not granted. If you betray it, if this is all some sort of sick joke, you will pay. You will pay and I'll see to it, for Carlton and for me. Is it clear?"

Francesca breathed hard. She licked her lips. –Crystal clear."

"Good."

Juliet stepped back, releasing her. She rearranged her ugly rain jacket.

"I'll present you as a witness to the case to provide you some kind of authorization. We meet at my car in five minutes. If you are real, you'll know where to look."

She gave a curt nod and paced back along the corridor. Her gaze swayed Carlton's way for the briefest moment.

Francesca gulped loudly as the double doors closed behind Juliet.

"And here I thought you were the badass one, detective."

Carlton's smile was the brightest thing in the room.

– I taught her well."

"Ehy, Jules."

Juliet glared up and bit back a curse. Gus. Oh no Gus no. Gus was too gentle. Gus was too difficult to get angry at.

"What's up?"

"Gus. Please, it's not the moment."

He grabbed her elbow. "Jules. Where are you going?"

"I think this is my business, Gus."

She wasn't sure if he felt her shivering. "Well, sure. I just, saw what happened, you know. In the corridor. Thought you could need something."

"I know. I'm sorry. Sometimes I forgot you're the sweet one."

"Yeah."

They were already out in the PD parking, and it seemed only natural Gus was walking by her side

"I don't know why he got so upset, however. I mean, he's a, a psychic, he should at least give her benefit of the doubt, no?"

"I, suppose so."

"You shouldn't be with him by the way?"

Gus shrugged. –I, don't think it'll be any good actually. It'd just make him put up some more show. And he's healthy and not-unconscious, so I'm available."

She did a thin smile and looked down at her slippers.

"Jules. You have a trail, don't you?"

–How do you know?"

"Experience. So?"

"I'm not sure it's a trail. I." Jules sighed. "I'm waiting for her Gus. The girl, the Italian."

"The medium"-hing psycho?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I'm working on the "Why" part." She ran a hand through her hair and stared back at him. –Gus, she knew things. Things that only, only Carlton could know."

"It's madness, Jules."

"Maybe it is. Maybe not. I, I know it's stupid, but then I think about Carlton and the hospital and her, and I. I just know that I can't let it go."

"It could get nasty."

"I know, but I can't care."

Juliet got closer. "What would you do if it were Shawn, Gus?" She asked. "If he was like this and you have the strangest chance to help. Where would you stop?"

Gus didn't answer. Then he muttered a curse and rested his head against the wall.

"Oh, damn." He moaned. –So, I guess I should come with you?"

No.

–Yes, please."

Someone appeared behind the glass doors. It was the girl. Juliet put a hand on Gus's arm before he could wave and watched, holding her breath. That was the test. If she found her car, it meant, it meant something. The girl gave a long look around, turned to her left, nodded and headed in their direction. She was going to her car. Juliet's heart dropped.

"Holy shit, Carlton." She started across the parking. "Holy shit."

When they got to her car the girl was leaning against the backdoor, drumming fingers on the car side. She looked paler than before, and seeing them she visibly jerked back. Maybe she'd been a bit hard back in. Juliet's girly soul ached for a comb for those absurd hair.

She stopped in front of the girl and put on her Ray-bans, smoothly slipping in Cop mode.

"Good. You came. This is"

"Burton Guster, yes. I know him."

She didn't comment. –He'll come with us. Is it clear?"

"Perfectly."

"Good. Get on the car."

The girl slipped on the back seat without a word. Juliet reached for her door and nodded to Gus. He brushed her arm over the roof.

"What's the plan now, Jules?"

"I have no idea, Gus."

"Mh. That sounds familiar."