Author's Notes: Takes place during s4e13, "Death Is In the Air"
Juliet took a deep breath of the salty sea air, praying it would calm her churning stomach. Without realizing, her steps reached a standstill. She just stood there, watching people pass her by. Eventually she got her feet moving again towards her destination, albeit at a slow pace. And blessedly, a distraction from her nerve-wracking mission appeared a few moments later.
She made her way towards Shawn and Gus, who were hanging by the railing on the boardwalk. As she approached, Shawn quickly shoved a bag of snacks into his sweatshirt pocket.
"Hey guys," she called out.
"Hey, Jules. What are you up to?" Shawn asked.
"I'm actually meeting this guy for coffee". She was about to say she was meeting Carlton, but wasn't sure if that would be too suspicious. How often did she really make plans to meet Carlton for coffee? Would Shawn somehow use his psychic senses to figure out that she had kissed Carlton?
Shawn's face scrunched up a bit. "You mean, like a-like a date?"
Juliet's heart pumped a little faster. "Oh! No, no. I'm meeting Carlton".
"Then why'd you say it like that?" He pressed.
"Like what," she said with a nervous laugh.
Shawn crossed his arms over his chest. "Like it was some novel experience with a guy we don't know".
"I think you're reading into things a little, Shawn," she said. Despite her urge to let her eyes wander, she kept eye contact so that he wasn't made more suspicious by nervous behavior.
"Well that's what I do best," he told her.
She made a show of anxiously glancing over Gus and Shawn's shoulders. "I'm so sorry to run, but I don't want to be late. I'll see you guys later?"
"Yeah, go, go". Shawn waved her off.
Once Juliet was out of earshot, Gus said, "Are you jealous?"
"Of who? Lassie? No. But I am mature, and I will admit I was jealous before I knew who she was meeting with".
"Maybe it was a date," Gus replied.
Shawn gave him a dismissive wave. "Don't be Frank Drebin from The Naked Gun. There's no way she'd go on a date with Lassie".
Maybe "no way" was a bit of a stretch though, all things considered. But Shawn had no idea of what had passed between Juliet and Carlton.
Carlton was pacing outside the coffee shop, one minute away from sprinting off. Maybe he could catch a bus out of town, cross the border into Mexico and never be heard from again. Better that than face the repercussions of kissing O'Hara a few days ago.
They had not yet had a chance to talk yet about it-rather, they had adamantly avoided a conversation about it. Without any open cases, Carlton and Juliet had minimal need for interaction aside from a minor question here and there. They just sat with their paperwork and cold cases, playing a new game they created called the anti-staring quiet game.
Or at least that was what they had been playing, until Juliet suddenly sent Carlton the dreaded "we need to talk about it" text late last night. And as much as Carlton wished they could keep going on ignoring it, deep down he understood it was time to talk.
After what felt like an interminable wait, Juliet appeared around the corner of the coffee shop. The two headed inside and soon had steaming cups of coffee in front of them. Carlton attempted a few sips despite the scalding hot temperature in order to stall.
Juliet fiddled with the handle of her cup. "We can't keep going on not talking to each other".
"Absolutely," he said with a nod.
They both went quiet. Juliet took a sip of her coffee and forced herself to swallow the hot liquid.
Carlton took a few bills from his pocket and slapped them down on the table. "Ok, good talk. I'm going to get going now". He slid out of the seat and was soon standing.
She looked up at him with pleading eyes. "Carlton, please".
Getting the message, he hesitantly sat back down in the booth.
Juliet took a deep breath and said, "I think you were right".
Carlton had been staring at the table, but glanced up at her at her words. Woah woah woah. He was right? In practically every dissident conservation with a romantic partner (not that O'Hara was his romantic partner, but still), he had been in the wrong. And often rightly so, as much as it pained him to admit it.
"The whole situation with Scott had me on an emotional rollercoaster ride from start to finish. I think I was projecting my feelings for Scott onto you, and I'm sorry about that". Why she had enjoyed his kiss was an issue she was not prepared to face yet. For now, for the sake of their partnership and friendship, she was pretending that on a subconscious level she was imagining kissing Scott at the time.
"What do you have to be sorry about? I'm the one who crossed a professional boundary by kissing you," he replied while scanning the room to double check that no one they knew was around.
"You only kissed me at my encouragement," she pointed out.
He had a retort ready. "Encouragement made in a vulnerable state".
"I still had my wits about me".
He nodded at that. "That's true. You did the reasonable thing by trying to leave, and therefore by that point no longer wanted to kiss me. So encouragement withdrawn, and therefore I accosted you"
"I'm a trained police officer, Carlton. I don't think I would've let you kiss me if I didn't want you to". And I only wanted you to kiss me because I was still hung up on Scott, she reminded herself, even though that statement didn't seem to be fully true to her.
"But-" Carlton began.
She interrupted him. "Carlton, we could go back and forth all day about this. Let's just agree that we both played a role in this".
"Fine". He leaned his elbows on the table. "No one can know about this".
"Of course not. It'll be our little secret" She reached her hand out and he gave it a quick, firm shake. He appreciated the gesture. It made it feel more like a professional interaction, rather than an intimate conversation.
And blessedly, a few minutes later a call came in about a dead body. Never had the two been so grateful to hear that someone was dead. Wait. That didn't come out right. But you get the point.
Juliet and Carlton stood just inside the entrance of the convenience store, awaiting the inevitable arrival of the Psych crew. In one of the aisles, a woman was sprawled out on the ground. Dried blood rimmed her eyes, but otherwise the woman appeared perfectly fine. It was almost as if she had laid on the dirty floor of the store to take a nap-as one is wont to do.
Carlton spotted Gus's blue work car pulling up. "Stand a little closer to me," he whispered to O'Hara.
She looked up from the notebook she was holding. "Excuse me?"
"Usually you stand a little closer. Spencer's gonna sniff out that something's wrong if you stand too far away". Carlton's eyes were glued to the Blueberry's passenger door as it slowly swung open. Soon enough Shawn slid out, eagerly scanning the crime scene. From the opposite side of the car Gus was emerging as well.
"Do you really think Shawn's going to think it's strange if you're a foot farther from me than usual?" Juliet asked him. Surely they didn't stand the same exact distance from each other every time they were together. Worst comes to worst, if Shawn asked she could say something curious caught her eye in the convenience store, and she was inspecting it.
"Aw hell, never mind". He scooted a step closer to her.
"I think it's sweet that you notice how close we stand to each other," she told him.
He leaned down a little and whispered, "Or maybe I'm just bothered by you invading my personal space all the time"
She laughed at that, a smile lighting up her face.
Shawn and Gus were now halfway across the parking lot to the convenience store. Shawn's gaze was clearly directed at Juliet as he took in her current light-hearted state.
"Shit, he definitely noticed that," Carlton said to his partner.
"What, me laughing?" Juliet asked, her giggles beginning to subside.
"When was the last time you saw me make someone laugh?" He said this in a quieter tone, as Shawn and Gus were rapidly approaching them.
Juliet's smile faded and her face grew serious. "Fair point".
Shawn had psychically divined a new lead on the Thornburg case. It led the team to a coffee shop-nothing out of the ordinary about it, just your average cafe. And Carlton was certainly none too pleased by this seemingly unpromising lead. "This is a waste of time," he said to O'Hara. "We're rushing to check out this coffee place that some mysterious person who may or may not be carrying a deadly virus may or may not have visited". It sounded even more ridiculous out loud than it did in his head. All of these what-ifs based on some silly vision from Spencer.
"Well, I for one, trust Mr. Spencer's instincts on this," Donny replied, falling into step with Carlton.
Carlton glanced over at this strange man, and then immediately whipped his head around to O'Hara for an explanation. "Who the hell is this?" he asked while pointing at Donny.
She just ignored his question about Donny. Particularly because she had no idea who he was either. "Carlton, we need to look into every possible lead at this point. Besides, you were already wrong once today," she told him with a shrug.
Carlton clammed up at that. As much as it pained him to admit it, there was some truth to that. He had immediately dismissed the potential for Thornburg virus at the convenience store. But O'Hara had been less impulsive than him and left the possibility open. And thank goodness for that, or else people could have been infected at the convenience store.
Gus leaned towards Shawn and said, "I've never seen Lassie put in his place like that".
"It's hot. I'd like her to put me in my place," Shawn told him. He then put a little extra swagger into his step as he walked.
Gus' forehead crinkled and he jerked his head back in confusion. "That makes no sense."
"Makes total sense to me," Shawn replied.
"Shawn, you're the "psychic"". Gus made an air quotes gesture when he said psychic.
Shawn slapped Gus's hand down. "Would you-don't do that". He glanced back at Juliet and Carlton to make sure they hadn't noticed what Gus had done.
"Can't you see something's off with them?" Gus asked.
Shawn didn't respond, although his mouth was agape. His eyes were fixed on a spot on the floor inside the coffee shop. A second later, he moved forward, barring the door to the coffee shop with a broom conveniently placed by the door. A blue vial was by the leg of a chair, unnoticed by the customers walking about inside.
Shawn, Gus, Carlton, Juliet, and Donny (a.k.a the guy who screwed all this up), were forced to step into pop-up showers in the parking lot. A small, curious crowd had developed and were peering over the police tape for a glance at the strange events. After all, it wasn't every day that guys in Hazmat suits hosed down nude members of the police force in public.
McNab came over to provide an update about the citizens exposed to Thornburg. To get away from the smug look on his face, Carlton turned around, only to spot Shawn with his hair all sudsed up. "Spencer, are you shampooing your hair?"
Shawn ran a hand through his hair. "Yes I am. I always travel with a small packet of Johnson & Johnson's baby shampoo in my wallet".
"Baby shampoo?" Juliet asked.
"No more tears, Jules, no more tears," Shawn explained.
"Hmm". She seemed to be considering the validity of his statement.
Shawn held up another packet of baby shampoo. "Lassie, you want in on this? Studies show that babies' hair grows after using baby shampoo. You look like you could use it".
"We are all naked-" Lassie began.
"Good observation, detective". Shawn gave Carlton a thumbs-up.
"And you're busy making an advertisement for baby shampoo".
"Fine, maybe Gus wants some shampoo," Shawn said with a grin.
Gus glared at Shawn. "I can't believe this Shawn. First we're looking for a prostitute, now I'm naked in a parking lot".
"Gus, relax. It's not so bad. Just look at the way all the lady onlookers and Jules are admiring our nude physiques". He smiled and jerked his head towards the crowd peering over the police barrier.
Juliet grimaced. "Ew".
Gus pointed between Juliet and Carlton. "She's not even looking at us Shawn! She's ogling Lassiter!"
Carlton's eyes went wide and locked with O'Hara's. She ducked her head, staring down at her feet. Somehow feeling more awkward than he already was in this situation, he looked away from her and caught sight of the growing crowd. Why the hell were people curious about this? Perverts, the whole lot of them. One particular person in this crowd of perverts caught his eye though. "Y'know, Spencer's right," he said with a smug smile.
"Thank you, Lassie". Shawn smirked at Gus.
Carlton jerked his head towards the crowd. "It looks like that balding overweight fellow over there really wants to get your number".
Shawn looked over at the on-lookers. "Very funny Lassie. Okay you made me looook…" He slowly trailed off as he took in a heavyset man checking him out. The man caught Shawn's eye and shot him a wink.
At that moment, the hazmat guy pushed his brush a tad too close to Carlton's privates. Carlton jumped a little. "Whoa there, slugger. What are we dating?"
Juliet looked over at him again.
"Ahem. O'Hara!" He crouched down a little in the shower. He even went so far to cover his privates with his hands, but Juliet obviously couldn't see them. That was more to shield himself from the wretched hazmat guy who had nearly mutilated his genitals.
Juliet clamored for something to say. "Oh sorry, it's just you were saying something and I- never mind".
- - -
Carlton walked over to Juliet's desk and sat down on the edge. "You know, you've never actually led a manhunt before, so maybe I should be the one to instruct the troops on finding Mallon"
She picked up her head from some photos of Mallon she had been studying. "No, I ordered the coroner to diagnose the first victim. I called in the CDC. I should do the briefing"
Maybe now was a good time to prove they were fully back to a professional relationship. He could give her some good advice, just as any mentor would. "Okay. Just remember to exude confidence and strength but also warmth and heart. All of which you have, by the way". And…rapidly the conversation changed to personal. Damn it.
Ok, time to get back on track. "You want to get behind the troops. Try to project intelligence without sounding too…
"Pompous?" She asked.
He didn't pick up on her tone nor its meaning. "Exactly. You might just get this".
With her chin held high, Juliet said, "Might? Carlton, I am going to crush this".
"Ok, ok," he replied.
She started walking towards the tv set up in the bullpen, near where department personnel were beginning to gather.
As he trailed after her, he added. "But, y'know if you change your mind I'm always ready to lead a manhunt". It wasn't really that he doubted her ability. He knew she could do it. It was more that he desperately wanted to lead a manhunt himself.
"All right, everybody listen up," Juliet announced in a loud and commanding voice.
"Give us your attention please," Carlton unnecessarily called out.
He whispered to her, "They like it when you say please"
"I have said please far more times than you ever have," she retorted. His little input here and there was really starting to get on her nerves.
"You don't know that. You're not with me 24/7," he said in a petulant tone.
Interrupting their little spat, Shawn said, "Hey-uh. Imminent threat? Potential epidemic? Clock ticking?" He tapped an imaginary watch on his wrist.
Juliet stopped glaring at Carlton to look over at the crowd."Huh-oh sorry. Eyes on the screen everyone". She clicked a button on the remote and a profile photo of Mallon appeared on the screen. "Please," she added with a pointed look at Carlton.
He leaned down to whisper, "You're gonna do great". Their faces were suddenly very close together, forcing Carlton to bat down an unexpected urge to kiss her in the middle of the station. But he didn't fret too much over that, because it was a natural urge when two faces are close together, of course.
While Shawn, Gus, and Juliet were following a lead on Mallon, Carlton hung back at the train station to work on the crime scene. Well, actually, that sounded like he willingly stayed back. Instead, his partner and the two dummies had followed a lead without his knowledge. Thankfully, Juliet had later called him to catch him up to speed. But still, he would've rather been chasing down new leads (even if it was a foolish lead generated by Spencer) than stuck here in the station by himself.
Carlton felt a buzz in his pocket and pulled his phone out. "Detective Lassiter," he answered.
"Lassie!" Shawn's voice called out over the line.
Just about the last person I wanted to receive a call from. "Did you get the vial?" Carlton inquired while shooing a curious person away from the crime scene tape.
"Yes but-" Shawn started.
"Good, good, let's get it to the CDC rep," Carlton interrupted.
"Lassie listen to me," Shawn begged.
But Carlon was too concentrated on his line of thought. "Did you find any antidote? All those people in the hospital will need that asap.
"Lassie! These are all great ideas, and I'll aptly listen to them all later, but right now, you need to get over to Santa Barbara General. Jules has been admitted to the hospital".
"What? Is she alright? Spencer, what the hell did you do?"
"She's been exposed to Thornburg".
Carlton's heart dropped into his stomach and he nearly dropped his phone. "Oh my god. How is she feeling?"
"Fine for now, but you have to get here asap"
Without bothering to say goodbye, Carlton hung up the phone and rushed to his car. His heart was pounding faster than it should, even at the fast pace he set.
Carlton, Shawn, Gus, and Dr. Reidman stood outside Juliet's room. She lay in a bed dressed in a hospital gown, staring at nothing and clearly lost in thought.
"Based on my observations of the other patients, I've concluded that just a mask and gloves will be sufficient if you decide to enter the Dragon," Dr. Reidman, the CDC specialist on Thornburg, informed them.
Carlton grabbed a mask and gloves from a table set up outside Juliet's room. "I'm going in," he said as he pulled the door open.
"Why does he sound like he's breaching some drug den?" Shawn mimed holding a walkie talkie up to his mouth and said in a low voice , "Ksssh. I'm going in."
"Hey, Juliet," he said while shutting the door behind him. He walked over and sat in a chair by her bed. He was relieved to see that she wasn't showing any symptoms of the virus at the moment, but knew that could rapidly change. She was trying to put on a brave face, but the fear in her eyes betrayed her.
She shook her head at him. "Don't call me that. It makes me feel like you're pitying me and something bad is going to happen to me. Although I guess that's probably true. Ha". She let out a fake laugh.
"O'Hara," he corrected himself and took her hand, "I'm going to get you an antidote, okay?"
She stared down at their intertwined hands. "Carlton, there is no antidote left…"
He gripped her hand a little tighter. "I'm going to get you the antidote. I'll be back in a little while"
She looked up into his eyes. "Ok", she said quietly. A warm look passed between them. Against his better judgment, Carlton leaned in and gave her a kiss on the forehead. Then he released her hand and headed for the door. With his back turned, he didn't catch Juliet gently touching her forehead, a tiny smile on her face. Once outside, he immediately came face to face with Guster and Spencer.
"Lassie! We've got a lead! Mallon's got a cabin by Lake Victoria. We think he's stowed some of the antidote there," Shawn said.
A little of the weight lifted off of Carlton's shoulders. "Good. Let's go, Spencer. You started this and now you're helping to fix it".
Shawn threw his hands up in the air."What-it's not like I stabbed Jules with a hypodermic needle full of the virus".
"Well it's certainly not my fault. I wasn't even present in the room," Carlton replied before walking off towards the elevator.
"He's got a point there," Gus noted.
"Gus, whose side are you on?" Shawn asked his friend before going to follow Carlton. The detective was already halfway down the hallway, forcing Shawn to run to catch up to him. "Why was this man given such long legs," Shawn panted as he struggled to keep up.
Shawn had gone into Juliet's room to finally admit that he really cared for her. But he had chickened out, and didn't have a chance to build his courage back up before Gus entered the room to announce that Juliet was virus-free. And soon after Gus left, Cartoon was there, swinging the door wide open.
"Hey, I heard the good news," Carlton excitedly said.
Shawn did a double take when Lassie stepped into the room. Lassie-strict, grumpy, stickler-for-the-rules Lassie-had a gigantic smile on his face. A smile that actually reached his eyes (on the rare occasions he did smile, this hardly ever seemed the case). And the way he was looking at Jules-with something more than just relief that she was okay… He stopped this train of thought and quietly laughed to himself. Lassie and Jules? What a preposterous thought. Nothing would ever happen between the two of them. There was a better chance of Patrick Dempsey shaving off his luscious locks and passing the "best hair" crown on to Shawn. Gus was just getting in his head with his silly little comments about Jules and Lassie.
"Hi!" Juliet immediately reciprocated her partner's excitement. He went straight in for the hug, and at first she ducked out of it. But when it seemed he was still gunning for a hug after a few seconds, she let him wrap his arms around her.
"Sorry. Too much?" He stood up to his full height and straightened his tie.
"Little bit". Normally she appreciated physical contact with her partner, because he was such a guarded person. It meant he was showing his emotional side a little more to her. But now that they had kissed, she was hyper aware of every interaction between them, particularly those that required physical contact. What if she acted unnaturally? What if she hugged him too long or too awkwardly? And worse, what if other people noticed and somehow caught onto what had happened between the two of them? Not to mention she was fearful a hug would make her want a repeat of the kiss. Well, maybe she shouldn't mention that at all, because it was an unfounded thought. She didn't want to kiss Carlton. Not at all.
Regardless, she gave in and hugged him again with a smile on her face. It had been one hell of an ordeal after all, and she deserved a hug.
Shawn had slipped out of the room a minute ago, and now was standing with Gus watching the two detectives interact through the window.
"Please don't say anything," Shawn said. Lately it felt like him and Juliet had been getting very close. Was it possible he would lose his chance with her? Because of Lassie, of all people?
Gus patted his friend's shoulder. "I wasn't going to".
End Notes: Weird little tidbit-finished writing this chapter while re-watching Mamma Mia.