A/N: I'm baaaack! Got this idea in my head, so I'm writing it down as it comes. let's see what happens :) Enjoy!
She didn't know what to think. She didn't know what to feel as she stared down at the stick in her hands, and the tiny little words that said "positive" on the digital screen. Sliding down the bathroom wall, she dropped the stick and rested her head in her hands. "How did this happen?" she murmured. Knowing exactly how it happened, but not wanting to believe it. One night, one stupid, drunken night-she blamed Rigsby. It was his idea to go out for drinks after wrapping up a HUGE case, saying "Pizza was big enough," so that's exactly what they did...
FLASHBACK...
"Pizza isn't a big enough deal for this case, I'm feeling drinks," Rigsby said at the end of the work day, pulling on his coat. "Who's in?"
"Oh me," Grace yipped, getting up from her chair.
Cho nodded in acceptance as Lisbon entered the bullpen and all eyes went to Jane.
"I won't say no to a few. Jane, you coming?"
"Meh," Jane waved them off from his reclined position on touch. His head resting on his suit jacket balled up underneath him, hands clasped together over his torso.
"Oh, come on Jane," Rigsby whined as Lisbon rolled her eyes.
"Just leave him, he can't hold his liquor anyway,"
Jane shot up at that comment, his eyes twinkling slightly. "Oh really, who was it who downed 8 shots of whiskey for the sake of the sting?"
"Oh yeah and I remember THAT ride back to your house. And I remember sending you the bill to have my car cleaned after you puked in it," Lisbon shot back.
Jane stood, unraveling his coat and slipping into it. "Uh-huh, well I can't have that blemish on my name,"
They all shook their heads as Lisbon and Jane took the lead to the elevators.
Twenty minutes later Lisbon found that Jane had taken it upon himself to ride with her, implying that she could just drop him back at CBI when they were done. Once alone in the car, he angled himself towards her and stared.
"What?" Lisbon said, after about 2 minutes of the staring.
"I'm intrigued that you tried to use reverse psychology to get me to join you guys. Ulterior motives Lisbon?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Lisbon rolled her eyes. "Maybe I just genuinely wanted to take a shot at you,"
"Hmm..maybe, you do have that quality in you,"
Lisbon flashed him a satisfied grin.
"Nonetheless, i think you like seeing my drunk,"
"What?" Lisbon exclaimed, her eyes widening in surprise.
"You get a kick out of me not being in control and you actually being in control for once,"
"Oh really, cause i'm never in control?"
"I let you think you are, but most times..not really, no," he stated, almost thoughtfully.
Lisbon shook her head.
"You know this too and it drives you crazy, but I end up being right most of times, so you let me-"
"I let you!"
"Yes,"
Lisbon tightened her hands on the steering wheel, almost getting annoyed with him. "You are an arrogant bastard, you know that?"
"Ohh, language Lisbon," Jane feigned offense and covered his ears.
"It's true," Lisbon grumbled, slouching a little in her drivers seat.
Jane noted that he might of truly offended her and bit his bottom lip, lowering his gaze, he turned his neck to look out his window.
"Why do you always have to push my buttons and make me feel small?" Lisbon asked for a moment.
Jane looked back at her. "That's never my intention," he said sincerely, almost apologetically.
Lisbon rolled her eyes. "It seems like its your goal, every day,"
Jane let out a frustrated groan and looked down at his hands. "I have to have control of something," he mumbled and Lisbon caught the underlying meaning. He had no control of what happened to his wife and daughter and he has no control over Red John nor where they any close to finding him. The man needed something to ground him. Lisbon looked over at him and saw it all on his face. Reaching over she poked his arm with two fingers and smiled softly. "We'll just keep letting each other think the other is in charge and let it go,"
Jane let out a small chuckle, then looked over at Lisbon, flashing her his boyish smile.
PRESENT...
That damn boyish, impish, smile of his. That's where the blame should lay. Lisbon slowly pulled herself up off the floor and managed to make it to her bed before dizziness overcame her. Flopping down on the bed, she threw a hand over her forehead and let the other rest on her stomach, gently tapping it, as the memories from that night came rushing back..
FLASHBACK...
Downing another shot of tequila, Lisbon felt the liquid warm her entire body and shivered in response to it. No matter how many times she drank it, she still would never be immune to the effect it had on her. Van Pelt knocked down another Jager shot next to her, as the boys yelled in unison as she spit a little of it back out.
"It's okay, it's okay," Rigsby said, patting Van Pelt's back softly.
"No coddling," Jane yelled, how had just finished his 5th shot of Jack and was feeling the effects. His face was flushed and his eyes were sparkling, Lisbon knew it was the alcohol, but still was happy because he looked happy.
They all had crammed into the last booth at a local bar, Lisbon Van Pelt and Rigsby on one side, with Jane and Cho on the other. They had been there a good hour, everyone knocking back shots while Cho was working on his second beer. Swapping old police stories, while Jane gave his insight into the why's of everyone's motives in the story. It was all going well and Lisbon was enjoying letting loose a little bit after such a stressful, high profile case. Enough so that when a catchy song started playing on the bar, she felt her foot tapping to the beat under the table.
"This is a catchy song," Lisbon stated.
"It is," Rigsby agreed. "Come on Grace," he tugged on her arm until she gave up, following him a few feet from the table where they melded into each other's arms, letting the alcohol lead.
Lisbon smiled at them and shook her head, turning back to Cho and Jane and who were still staring at them. Her eyes then locked with Jane and she wanted to ask him, but she knew it would be a little too dangerous in her intoxicated state. And Cho was Cho, that would just be weird.
Lisbon was about to open her mouth to say something when a tall, dark-haired blue eyed gentlemen came leaning up against their booth. In jeans, nice shoes and a black v neck sweater, he flashed Lisbon a brillant smile and extended his hand. "Hi, I'm James, I couldn't help but notice you..."
Lisbon, taken aback by someone actually coming up to her, smiled warily. "Umm..Lisbon..Teresa Lisbon, sorry. This is Patrick and Cho...Kimball, I mean," Lisbon corrected with a "i'm sorry" face towards Cho.
"Nice to meet you fellas," James said leaning closer to Lisbon, as Jane's eyes brows peaked. "Would you care to dance?"
Any other day, Lisbon would of politely refused, but with alcohol and the need to be around another male besides Jane, made Lisbon beam a flirtatious smile and take his offered hand.
Any other day, Jane would of just leaned back with a smile and let it happen, just like he did with Mashburn. But today, he had 5, going on 6, shots of Jack in him, so his judgement and decision making skills were a little off. He felt his face take on a serious expression as a he felt his skin prickle as James slipped his arm around Lisbon's back and pull her close. He watched her tense at first, than relax immediately as he whispered something in her ear, making her laugh and lean against his shoulder.
All in good fun, he tried to tell himself, as he felt his hand gripping his shot glass a tighter than need be. The feeling of jealousy coming over him like a tidal wave, as the man's hand rested dangerously close to her lower back.
"You could just cut in," Cho stated.
Jane made himself looked down at his shot glass, then back up when he heard Lisbon laugh again. His heart seemed to seize up and he didn't know what his feet were doing when he stood up and headed in their direction.