After The Stakeout
Jane and Cho worked a stakeout, but only Cho wore a disguise. Then they...
a/n: All Mentalist stuff is owned by others. I just write about it.
So Lisbon had called off the stakeout. Actually, he was a bit relieved. While he respected his coworker very much, being in close proximity, let's face it, cramped quarters, for several hours could be trying on the nerves.
Cho tossed his baseball cap in the back seat and started the car. No sooner had he pulled away than his companion started talking – again. "Interested in a cup of tea?" Jane asked.
"Late."
"C'mon, Cho, "wheedled Jane, "You've got some great teas at your place."
The driver afforded him a quick glance. "This late?" Jane smiled.
Cho sighed.
While his host was making the tea, Jane looked around. "Your place seems much emptier. What happened to-"
"Gone."
For the first time in a long time, Jane was caught by surprise. "I'm sorry. May I ask-"
Cho glared at him.
Jane closed his mouth and sat down. He knew that Kim Cho was a very private person, and respected that. Despite the pain in Cho's eyes, Jane decided not to push. When the tea was ready, Cho motioned toward the balcony, and Jane opened the door.
Autumn in Sacramento was pleasant. That is, if one ignored the air pollution, noise pollution, and several other annoyances that came with living in an apartment near downtown. The two sat at the small table enjoying their tea.
"Sorry."
Jane looked across the table. "What?"
"I shouldn't have shut you down," Cho said, looking up at the stars.
"No problem," replied Jane. "You'll tell me when you're ready." He smiled at the dark-haired man.
Cho met the smile with a serious look. "You know, you're one of the few people I feel I can talk to, can trust."
"I'm honored." Jane said softly.
Cho's eyes continued to bore into the consultant. "So you've probably already figured it out." his voice was flat.
"If I may," started Jane. Cho nodded. Jane continued. "The age difference got to you, him being a younger generation, and all that goes with it." Jane paused, and Cho nodded again. "So you found a way to convince him to move on, without hurting his feelings."
While Cho's face showed no emotion, his eyes spoke volumes. "Yeah."
"But once again you feel terribly alone." concluded Jane.
"Yeah."
Jane reached across and took Cho's hand into his. "You know, you don't have to be alone." he whispered.
"We've been through this before, Patrick." Cho looked at the stars again.
"Tell me again, Kim, why it won't work." Jane's voice was light.
Still gazing upward, Cho sighed. "Office romances never work." Jane squeezed his hand. "You saw what happened to Rigsby and van Pelt."
"You're not Rigsby, and you're definitely not van Pelt!" Jane's eyes swept down Cho's body. The baseball shirt showed off the cop's pecs and washboard abs quite nicely.
"And I don't want to be, either."
"Yet-"
"Don't."
"Oh, I think I will," said Jane, tugging on Cho's arm. "It's not a romance if both acknowledge that it's nothing more than friends with benefits." Jane got up, went around the table, and planted his lips on Cho's.
Cho sighed.