Disclaimer: I own nothing of Psych and its related characters. This is just for my own enjoyment and the potential enjoyment of other Psych-Os like me, and no monetary gain was expected or received.

Rating: T+

Spoilers: Few, but possible at any point through entire series

A/N: Yes, I am splitting this thing up into teensy little chapters, at least for the moment. I don't know why. Just feels right.

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Shawn burst through the door down by the triage center, looked around, spotted Juliet, and ran toward her with his feet hitting him in the ass as he went.

"Jules! How is he? What happened?"

"You made it here before his mother," Juliet said, dropping her Kleenex into her lap. "Good work, Shawn."

"Jules, I'm serious. Is he gonna be okay?"

"Where's Gus?" she asked.

"At his 'other job,'" Shawn said. "I was in too big a hurry to get here to call him, so I doubt he knows. Guess I could call him now. Jules. How's Lassy?"

"I don't know," she said, very quietly. "No one will tell me anything. Not yet."

"Are you the only one here so far?"

"I haven't called anyone yet. I don't know who to call, but they gave me Carlton's phone, so I could go through his contacts. Chief Vick will have called his mother already, thank God - she's the last person I want to…say this to. I just don't know what to say to people. I don't know yet…whether he's…"

She started to cry again. Shawn put one hand on her shoulder and patted her back with the other. "Jules. Jules. It's okay. It's all gonna be okay, you know? Lassy's gonna be fine, you know that. He's too tough to…to…"

He trailed off, looking stricken. He lowered himself into the chair next to her and looked off into some middle distance, apparently contemplating his own words while he continued to pat her on the back. He was still patting her on the back, while she wept, five minutes later when two women walked into the waiting room. Both were short, both were rather heavy-set. That's where their similarities ended. Juliet knew them at once. Hurriedly, she pulled herself together as best she could.

"Mrs. Lassiter. I'm…I'm so sorry," she said, standing up slowly.

"You. You. You're the Affirmative Action, quota-filling bitch they hooked my boy up with. You got him shot, didn't you! You got him shot!"

"Myrna. Myrna, calm down. It's gonna be okay, sweetie," Althea said, patting the white-haired Mrs. Lassiter on the back.

Juliet stood, stunned, but not at all surprised, and wondered for a moment exactly what she should - what she could say. Finally, she went with, "I'm sorry, Mrs. Lassiter. I know you're hurting. I can't imagine how much. I…need to go make some calls." And she walked away.

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