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: This was going to be the whump at the tail end of Objects, but I decided I couldn't do that to Lassy after everything else I'd done to him, and then this morning (Saturday) I saw Pope Francis smile and say, "Pray for me," looking so damned cute, I knew I had to write about it. And thus this was born. Sorry for the whumpage, but there's something I have to have Lassiter do that my father did when he came out of his coma after the aneurysm, the way we knew he was going to be okay (more or less: he never did walk again). Honestly, that one tiny little thing is the sole reason I have to do this to the poor guy. Is that sad, or what? Again, sorry. I think this is a kind of preemptive sequel to Objects, so it is Lassiet. And oh, I don't know what time that particular moment would have been on TV on the West Coast, but I took my best guess judging from what I know of time zones, and based on the fact that I totally forgot what time I was watching TV here in Central Standard. I think it was live.

-…-…-…-

"I'm always up that early, O'Hara. I run. So do you, I would expect."

"I don't run that early. The Pope was on the East Coast! What were you doing watching TV at two o'clock in the morning?"

"Trying to catch some news, but apparently when the Pope is in the US of A, crime and other world events take a holiday."

She sighed. "Carlton. You're Catholic, right?"

"Lapsed."

"You go to Midnight Mass on Christmas. Don't try and pretend you don't."

"Yeah, but that's all I do. Organized religion is just one more way for people with power to put a chokehold on the little man. Anyway, they were reading some letter or something to the Pope, and when it was done, he looked up at the camera, smiled from ear to frickin' ear, and said, 'Pray for me.' He was absolutely adorable, O'Hara, and I don't use words like 'adorable.' You know that."

She giggled into her hand. "Yes, I do know that. But what's the problem? You don't like an adorable Pope?"

"O'Hara. My mother raised me on tales of witch trials and Inquisitions. I'm not equipped to cope with so much as the concept of an adorable Pope."

She sighed and shook her head. "I don't understand what you were doing up that early, Carlton, and I think it's up to me to make sure you get proper sleep at night," she said. "Professionalism and 'taking it slow' is all well and good, but I think I'll have to start spending the nights at your condo and making sure you're well-exercised before bedtime so you sleep through the night."

He cleared his throat and tugged at his tie. "Yes. Well. One can never have too much exercise."

They exited the Santa Barbara Police Department into the bright Santa Barbara sunshine, putting on their aviators almost in unison. On his way into the building, Buzz McNab smiled brightly and nodded to them as they passed. They headed for the blue Crown Victoria in Lassiter's reserved parking space, nodding to other officers as they passed on their way into the building or out to the parking lot, and then…it happened.

"Hey, Lassiter," someone called, quite loudly. Lassiter's head turned toward the sound immediately.

"Gun!" he shouted, and pushed his partner to the ground while he reached for his own sidearm. Three shots rang out, POP POP POP, flat and oddly cartoonish, indicating a small-caliber weapon. O'Hara was already on her way back to her feet, drawing her gun in the same motion, but Lassiter, to her surprise and horror, was on his way down. With blood on his shirt.

A great deal of blood.

She located the shooter, aimed and fired. She grabbed her radio and called in for assistance. In moments, every officer in the PD who wasn't out on call or patrol was outside in the parking lot surrounding them. Officers rushed to make sure the assailant was down. Others tried to give first aid. Chief Vick had to hustle them aside to let the ambulance through when it arrived minutes later.

Vick grabbed O'Hara's sleeve as the EMTs worked to stabilize Lassiter before moving him.

"What happened here, O'Hara?" she asked. She looked utterly shocked.

Juliet shrugged, stunned. "I don't know, Chief. We were headed to the car, this…guy…called out to Carlton, Carlton pushed me down, and…and…"

The Chief sighed gustily. "Well. He's always saying he's proud of the number of people who want to kill him. I take it this was one of them?"

"I…guess so…" Juliet's shoulders shook and tears began streaming down her face.

Chief Vick patted her on the shoulder. "O'Hara. I know you'll want to follow him to the hospital. I'll be along shortly myself and I'm sure as many officers as can escape their duties will be along as soon as they can. You've got the day: don't worry about anything else but your partner. Now go."

Juliet sniffled and tried to bring herself back under control, or at least some semblance thereof. "Thank you, Chief." She headed for her car and got gone.

-…-…-…-