A new WIP inspired by N'Sync's This I Promise You. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: Not mine!

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Their first night together was bliss.

After months of waiting, of hoping and dreaming, he finally was able to hold her in his arms. His imagination simply couldn't compare to the real thing. Afterward, he simply held her and watched her sleep for hours, completely content and so certain he had found the woman he was meant to spend the rest of his life with. He fell asleep happy for the first time in far too long.

When the morning came and he left sleep's sweet embrace, the first thing he did was reach out to pull her back into his arms. But the sheets were cold, and his hand just kept reaching…

"Lassiter!"

Lassiter jumped slightly and looked up, his expression perplexed and slightly annoyed. His partner and best friend, Juliet O'Hara, stood in front of him, waving a brown paper bag in his face. "What?" he bit out, his tone a little more harsh than he meant it to be.

Hurt briefly flashed in her blue-green eyes, but she seemed to recover quickly as she thrust the bag and a cup of coffee at him. "Breakfast." Without another word, she spun around on her heel and walked back to her desk.

Letting out a drained sigh, Lassiter opened the brown bag and found a banana nut muffin from his favorite bakery. Guilt seized his heart. Ever since Juliet had moved in with that asshat Spencer , and being forced to deal with yet another romantic failure on his part, he was taking things out on her he probably shouldn't have. She was his best friend and the only person willing to put up with him, no matter how stupid he was acting. He had been taking it for granted far too much lately.

"O'Hara." He stood up as Juliet turned at the sound of his voice. Setting the bag down, he walked around his desk and over to his partner. "I'm sorry. Thank you for breakfast."

One light eyebrow raised curiously. "You're welcome, Carlton."

Without conscious thought, his piercing eyes looked over her. As usual, she was a vision of beauty in her normal work attire. Her long blond tresses were pulled back in a casual ponytail, and just a touch of makeup completed the perfect look. Shoving his hands in his pockets, Lassiter rocked back slightly on his heels. "I've been an ass lately."

"Carlton…"

He held up a hand, gently cutting her off. "I know I've been, and I want to take you to dinner tonight. My treat."

A strange look crossed her face, and he prepared himself for rejection. Beyond the work place, she had no obligation to him and he knew it. Then she smiled, nearly flooring him.

"Of course, Carlton. What time?"

"Does six work for you?"

"Sounds wonderful." Then her hand brushed his arm lightly, and he was unable to breathe or think as she went back to her desk and opened a file.

Eventually he found his equilibrium again and went to his own desk, where he was unable to concentrate on anything at all for the rest of the morning.

Damn it.

Juliet caught herself smiling at the most random times through the day. Ever since she had started dating Shawn and Carlton found out before she could break the news to him herself, their partnership and friendship had suffered. She was mostly to blame; if she had just come clean to him before anyone else, maybe he wouldn't have taken it so hard. She knew he was a man who valued relationships, and she had betrayed him by not honoring the thing he held most dear: honesty. She loved Shawn deeply, but the relationship she shared with Carlton went far beyond that. Partners had to trust each other or lives could potentially end. They placed their lives in each other's hands every day, and they knew the best and worst things about each other. He knew her better than Shawn ever had, or possibly ever would. It was part of the job.

And yet…

Her eyes went to Carlton. He was poring over a file in front of him, his brow furrowed in concentration and the tip of his tongue pointing out ever so slightly. At the same moment, he looked up and met her eyes. Instead of looking away, they shared a brief smile. But the moment was broken when Juliet's phone began to buzz by her right hand. Out of habit, she grabbed it and checked the screen. A text from Shawn was waiting for her.

Hey, Jules. Mexican tonight?

The message was punctuated by a little smiley emoticon, Shawn's favorite way to end a message. Usually she would have lit up and begun planning the rest of her evening with her boyfriend, but today something stopped her. Her fingers lightly tapped across the screen, forming her polite refusal.

Sorry, Shawn. I already have dinner plans with a friend.

The reply was almost immediate.

Who? Gus was gonna come with us, and you didn't mention plans last night…

She huffed slightly. Of course he would bring Gus into this, even though Gus had a lovely girlfriend and her young son. He would probably be spending the evening with them, unless Shawn guilted him into making other plans.

It was last minute. I'll see you at home tonight.

With that, she set her phone down and ignored when it buzzed again. Across the room, Carlton gave her a questioning look. She sent him a reassuring smile and shook her head slightly. Always the gentleman, Carlton smiled and lowered his head, letting the question drop. It was just the kind of man he was. He would never press her to answer a question she didn't want to. A strange warmth swept through her, which she quickly tamped down. She had been focusing too much on her relationship with Carlton lately. She had a boyfriend, one whom she had just moved in with. They had spent five years dancing around each other, missing chances and sending longing glances while they each dated different people. She had wanted him for so long, and now that she had him, she wasn't going to give up on the relationship without a fight.

Even if the best reason for doing just that was sitting across from her.

Promptly at six o'clock, Juliet and Lassiter shut down their computers, put away their files, and clocked out for the night. Instead of taking separate cars to the restaurant, Lassiter invited Juliet to join him in his Fusion. He had made reservations at a nice but not too nice place where they wouldn't have to worry about changing from their work clothes. It also helped that he knew the owner, enabling him to snag a nice table with little notice. A small voice at the back of his mind whispered about the effort he was putting into this evening, but he ignored it. Julie deserved a nice night out with a friend, even if it was him.

When he pulled into the parking lot, Juliet gasped softly. "The Shamrock, Carlton?"

He couldn't help smiling as he turned off the engine. "It's a nice place."

"You're not kidding."

They got out of the Fusion, and ever the gentleman, Lassiter rested a hand on the small of Juliet's back as he guided her into the restaurant. As soon as they were inside, a sultry voice heavily laden with Irish brogue called out to him.

"Carlton, a thaisce. Conas atá tú anocht?"

Sarah Brennan glided gracefully across the floor. Ever the beauty, she was dressed in a long black dress which looked to be made of silk or some other fine material. It clung to her body, accenting her generous curves in all the right ways. Her fiery red hair, styled in curls and framing her face, offset the pallid tone of her ivory skin. As soon as she reached them, she reached out and framed his face with soft hands. Then she planted a kiss on his lips.

He could practically feel Juliet bristle beside him, catching him offguard. He grasped Sarah's arms and held her at a distance. "I'm fine, Sarah. Thanks for squeezing us in on such short notice." Once, years ago, he and Sarah had slept together. She was a fireball in bed and everywhere else in her life, but he had felt little more than a fond affection for her. Apparently she still carried a torch for him, though.

Sarah waved a perfectly manicured hand dismissively. "Anything for you, Carlton," she purred. She barely seemed to notice Juliet. "Your table is right over here. Just follow me."

Lassiter gave Juliet an apologetic look before they followed Sarah. Their table turned out to be the best one in the restaurant. Situated near a large window and away from other tables, it was perfectly…romantic. He swallowed hard and hoped like hell Juliet wouldn't think he was some kind of sex-crazed maniac.

If she was bothered, she gave no indication as they took their seats and began looking at the menus. Sarah fussed over him for another minute before she flounced away, no doubt to fawn over another gentleman.

"She seemed…nice," Juliet finally spoke, and Lassiter was surprised by the jealousy he heard in her tone. Or was he just imagining things? Juliet wasn't the type to be jealous, was she?

"She is." He looked over the menu in front of him.

"Old girlfriend?"

"Jesus, O'Hara." The words slipped out before he could stop them. "Why do you want to know?"

"It's just a question, Carlton," she defended.

"A very personal one."

"We talk about personal topics all the time."

She had him on that. "I had one date with her. One," he stressed. "Years ago."

A teasing smile formed on her pretty lips. "She seems pretty sweet on you."

"Is it so hard to believe?"

"No, not really," she confessed, taking him by surprise.

A server appeared before he could reply and took their drink orders. By the time the drinks arrived, their conversation had turned to easier topics. Work, her family, his mom and her girlfriend, McNab's impending baby announcement… All of the usual topics they covered while on a stakeout. The wine they consumed slowly loosened them up, and all too soon dessert was finished and they were ready to go. Juliet visited the ladies room while Lassiter took care of the check and said goodbye to Sarah. When Juliet reemerged, he placed his hand on her back again and led her outside, into the balmy California evening.

"This was wonderful, Carlton," Juliet murmured as they made their way to his Fusion. "I really enjoyed it."

His heart leapt slightly. "I'm glad, Juliet," he replied honestly, relishing the feel of her first name as it rolled off of his tongue so easily.

They suddenly stopped beside the passenger door, and Juliet looked up at him. Her stormy eyes were filled with an emotion he couldn't quite define, and panic welled up within him. What were they doing? They were partners, she had just moved in with that asshat Spencer, they were friends…

She leaned into him, resting her hand lightly over his pounding heart. But just as suddenly, she pulled away, as though she had realized what she was doing and decided it as a colossal mistake.

"I…I need some air," she stuttered, taking a step back from him.

His hand almost reached out to pull her back into him, but he commanded it to stay in place. "Let me drive you home."

"No, no… I think I'm going to get a cab." The watery smile she offered him, combined with her words, was enough to break his heart.

"Juliet…"

"Please, Carlton." Her feet moved another step back. "I'll call you later, okay?"

Deflated, all he could do was watch as she retreated back into the restaurant, no doubt to call a cab. He let loose a low growl. Stupid, idiot, moronic, gigantic of Spencer proportions, asshat!

What had he just done?

In the restaurant, Juliet called a cab and watched from the window as Carlton got into his Fusion and drove out of the parking lot. She wanted so desperately to chase him and beg his forgiveness for her own thoughtless behavior, but her feet remained rooted in place.

Once she knew the cab was coming, she dialed Shawn's number and waited patiently for him to answer. He picked up on the third ring, and Gus' voice could be heard as he greeted her brightly.

"Hey, Shawn. I'm coming home. Do you think you can send Gus home? No, I just need some time with you…"

To Be Continued...