A/N: Hope you enjoy my first foray into the world of fanfiction. Reviews are appreciated greatly.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Mentalist, the wonderful Bruno Heller does.
New Beginnings
Chapter 1 – The Truth
Their lips parted and Jane whispered to her, 'I love you Teresa Lisbon', staring into her eyes, seeing right through her.
He leaned in to kiss her again but Lisbon gently pushed him back, motioning to the glaring TSA agent behind him. 'I think you're in enough trouble at the moment, you better not push your luck.'
'When do I ever push my luck?' he replied with faux indignation and a smile on his face.
But he sat down again obediently. Damn, makes a change for you to do as you told, she said to herself. Instead he took her hand in his across the table. They sat there for a moment, looking into each other's eyes, both of their minds filled with hopes and worries of what was going to happen between them from now on.
Jane cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure and said brightly, 'So, are you going to break me out of here?'
Lisbon looked away for a second to break the spell his eyes seemed to have caused on her. 'No, afraid not, Abbott's outside, he's going to take care of that. He said I could talk to you first though.'
'Good' was all he replied with his trademark dazzling smile.
She saw that the old Jane was back in control again, full of front and charm. She didn't mind for now and if she was being honest, it was easier talking to him when he was like this. The few occasions she saw the vulnerable side of Jane always made her feel tongue tied and she needed to talk to him clearly now.
'Jane, I'm still going to D.C. today.'
His jaw dropped, confusion raining over him. 'But you said-'
'Let me finish. First I need to talk to Marcus in person, he deserves that at least.'
Jane nodded sympathetically knowing that this was the correct response to give although what he wanted to reply was 'To hell with Marcus, he almost took you away from me.'
Instead he said, 'And second?'
'Hmm?'
'You said first you had to talk to Pike?' He hoped she hadn't picked up the note of disdain in his voice when he said 'Pike'.
'Oh right, yes.' She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. 'Well the thing is I need to go work in D.C. for a couple of weeks, just until they find someone to replace me.'
Jane got ready to object before Lisbon cut him off again.
'Jane, I think it will be a good thing, a couple of weeks to make sure we're ready for what we're getting ourselves into here, to make sure we're ready for that big a change.'
Jane replied evenly, 'I don't need another second Teresa, never mind two weeks.'
He paused, looking her fully in the eyes and added softly, 'I think we've wasted enough time.'
She saw the hurt in his eyes and wanted to take it away from him but resolved to remain strong. Even though he might think she was what he wanted and loved at this minute, he had acted hastily the previous night (not that it wasn't the most romantic gesture she had ever been shown) and perhaps he would change his mind again once given more time to think about it. Even after kissing him she still had doubts as to whether he truly meant what he said or if he had said it to just make her stay with him. She felt guilty as he had seemed so sincere, even telling her it was okay if she still wanted to go if it really was too late for him. But after a decade of him lying to her and everyone around her, she found it hard to believe this truth from him even still. So, she felt she had to do what was best for both of them, give them both time to breathe before embarking on something she knew once started she would never be able to walk away from.
Jane tilted his head, reading her thoughts and face as usual and said simply and quietly, 'You don't need to worry, I won't change my mind, Teresa.'
After a moment he added, 'But I understand if you need time, I'm definitely out of practice at this kind of thing and I'm certainly not going to be the easiest relationship you've ever had.'
He saw her blush slightly at the word 'relationship' which made him smile.
She smiled back, one eyebrow raised. 'Really? I'm surprised, I've always thought of you as a pretty straight forward honest person, not causing any trouble at all.'
They both laughed and the tension dissipated, their easy going banter established once again.
At that moment, Abbott walked into the room. Lisbon pulled her hand away quickly which made Jane smile even more.
'I think that cat's already out of the bag, Lisbon.'
She blushed again, wanting to simultaneously kiss and punch Jane at the same time, not for the first time and she was sure not for the last.
Apart from a tiny smirk at the corner of his mouth Abbott ignored Jane's comment and Lisbon's obvious embarrassment and asked Lisbon 'You all done here?'
'Yes, thanks for letting me talk to him first', she replied with her head towards the table.
'You explained about D.C.?'
She finally looked up at him and said 'Yes, he understands fully and is fine with it.' She shot Jane a 'don't start and make trouble' glance which, for once, he didn't.
'Okay then, you better get to D.C., Agent Lisbon.'
'Okay, thanks, and thanks for getting him out of trouble, I know what a pain he can be.' She shot another glare at Jane who was sitting smiling through the entire exchange.
Lisbon got up and Abbott took her seat. He opened up his briefcase, pretending to look for something to give them a moment.
'I'll see you in a couple of weeks' she said, smiling at Jane. 'Please stay out of trouble until I come back.'
'I'll do my very best Lisbon but I may be bored when you're not around and you know what happens then.' She shook her head and gathered her bags.
Just as she was about to go he took her hand again suddenly. She made to pull it away again as Abbott was sitting there but he wouldn't let go this time and pulled her down towards him, whispering in her ear again softly but sternly, 'I won't change my mind Teresa, I'll be waiting, I love you.' She gulped and pulled away, blushing profusely and almost tripping over her bags leaving the room.
Once outside, she breathed out deeply and knew in that instant that he truly loved her.