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: I swear, there will be meatier chapters when we get past the initial ouchie-stuff. Right now, things feel short and choppy for a reason. What that reason is, I'm not sure, but again, it feels right.

-…-…-…-

There were reporters outside the hospital, waiting. She probably should've seen that coming. Mrs. Lassiter and Althea would've snuck past them by virtue of looking like ordinary hospital-going citizens but Juliet's badge, clipped at her waist and visible beneath her black suit jacket, marked her instantly as someone in the know on the case they were interested in, and microphones were thrust into her face immediately.

"Detective - Detective - do you have any information on Detective Lassiter's condition?"

"There's…been…no word on Detective Lassiter's condition thus far," she said, not looking into the cameras pointed at her. "Excuse me, I have calls to make."

"Oh, but, Detective - Detective - "

She hurried away from the reporters and locked herself inside her car. She sat there and let herself shudder for a moment, with her face in her hand and her elbow on her steering wheel. Then she took a deep breath and fished Lassiter's cell phone out of her purse.

She opened up his Contacts list. First on his speed dial: O'Hara. Despite herself, she smiled. Granted, she'd probably been his first contact for years now, but still: O'Hara, even though they'd been discretely dating for months. She'd had him down as "Carlton" in her cell almost from the beginning of the partnership.

His second contact: Karen. Not unexpected, though the fact that he used her first name instead of calling her "Chief" or just "Vick" was, a little. Third contact was Clark, which she assumed was D.A. Clark, who didn't need to know anything he couldn't get off the news. Fourth was Woody. Woody might have already heard, and it wasn't like they were actual friends. Then again, it wasn't like they weren't. On Woody's part, at least. A moment's hesitation, and she made the call.

"Lassy, what have you got for me?" Woody said, answering the call with his usual ebullience.

"Oh, so you haven't heard," Juliet said.

"Detective…O'Hara?" Woody said. "Why are you calling me from Detective Lassiter's number?"

"Woody, I…know you're…kind of fond of Detective Lassiter, so I thought I'd better let you know what happened. Carlton…was shot. He's in the hospital. I don't know yet what condition he's in."

"Oh God. That's…that's terrible. What hospital is he at?"

"Mercy."

"Oh, that's good. They've got a great trauma team at Mercy. Um, I know you're gonna be tied up, calling lots of people, being all worried and stuff, but…maybe you could, um…keep me posted? When you know what's what? And I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Yeah, Woody. I'll let you know what I know."

Lassiter didn't have many other contacts. Fifth on the list was "Ma." Sixth was "Lulu." Seventh was "Spencer." Eighth was "Hank." Ninth in line was "John," and Juliet had no idea who that might be. In the final position was "Lincoln," the recently-returned brother, with no speed dial number. The sister in New Jersey wasn't listed: evidently he didn't call her from his cell. That meant she'd probably have to make a run by his condo and hope to God her number was listed somewhere; otherwise she'd probably have to try and get it from Mrs. Lassiter, and that would be just about impossible. Of course, she could let Mrs. Lassiter herself call her daughter about the incident…but that, Juliet knew she could not do. She didn't know the New Jersey sister, other than that her first name was Geena, but she couldn't picture letting anyone get such news from Myrna Lassiter.

Maybe baby sister Lauren - otherwise known as "Lulu" - would give her Geena's number. Or Lincoln. Juliet got along well with Lincoln, and he liked to share information. She doubted Myrna Lassiter would many any calls to her other children of her own volition. She barely seemed to realize they existed.

It was time to get down to business. She had to get his family notified before they saw anything on the news, if possible. That was no way to hear about it.

-…-…-…-