Chapter Sixteen: Thank God for Partners
He stands awkwardly at her desk as the end of the work day comes closer, and she's hit by an intense feeling of deja vu.
"Yes, Carlton?" she asks.
Have we done this before?
"O'Hara, could you...?"
She waits and he doesn't continue, and that's when she remembers.
We have done this!
The last time was when Carlton needed help picking out Elizabeth's birthday gift. Juliet examines her partner's face contemplatively, wondering if something similar is going on now. His eyes are anxious and almost helpless. And she thinks about the past two weeks, about the wedding he went to with Elizabeth this past month, and the way he's been acting lately and something just clicks.
She knows what he's going to say before he has a chance to say it. She stands and hugs him without a word; she's smiling too much to say anything at all.
When she lets go, Lassiter looks mildly stunned. "What was that for?" he asks.
"You're going to propose to Elizabeth," she says matter-of-factly, still grinning from ear to ear.
The shock that registers on his face is completely comical, at least from Juliet's perspective. If he ever believes in psychics, Juliet muses, it won't be because of Shawn. It'll be because of this moment just now.
"How in the hell could you know that?" he demands.
She shrugs. "You just had that look on your face."
Lassiter scowls at her. "I do not have an I'm-going-to-propose look. I don't think anyone does, except maybe Ross Gellar."
Juliet raises an eyebrow. "Did you just make a Friends reference?"
"What, I can't watch television too?"
She could make a retort about how she'd never pegged him for a Friends fan, but she figures they've already gotten enough off-topic for one afternoon. She shakes her head and backtracks. "So you're proposing to Elizabeth. Congratulations," she says, and she smiles again.
"Yeah, about that..."
He hesitates.
"Carlton, just say whatever you're trying to say..."
He sighs and jams his hands into his pockets. He looks lanky and awkward and Juliet holds back a laugh. "I have no idea what I'm doing," he admits wearily.
It's one of those rare instances in which Juliet doesn't think before she speaks. "But haven't you done this before?" She regrets the words as soon as they're out of her mouth. "Sorry," she mumbles at the slightly hurt look on his face, and then she attempts to smooth it over. "But what are you having problems with? Picking a ring?"
He lets the slightly thoughtless question pass without comment (God knows he's had enough of those that it's only fair for her to be allowed a few slip-ups too) and grabs gratefully at the new topic. "It's not just the ring. It's everything. I mean, should I ask her father for permission? And if I do, can I do it over the phone or do I actually have to go see him? And if I'm going to Arizona, how do I do that without Elizabeth knowing? And where should I get the ring, and when and where should I propose, and what should I say?"
The ridiculous stream of questions makes Juliet laugh. Nervous-In-Love Lassiter is just priceless to behold.
This is going to be fun, she thinks.
But to Lassiter, she just smiles and says, "One thing at a time, Carlton."
"But you'll help me?" he questions, sounding unnaturally anxious.
"Of course, Partner. That's what I'm here for."
"Thank God."
A/N: The line where Lassiter asks if he can't watch television too is a call-back to his line in A Very Juliet Episode about watching Grease. I'm not sure why I gave Juliet a thoughtless moment, except it seemed like the most natural thing for her to say. But yay for proposals! ;)