A/N: Takes place after Red John has been caught (I have ideas on how that will be done). As much as I adore these two I can't really see a relationship going anywhere until after Red John is gone. Anyway, thanks for reading (reviews are also appreciated).
-P.S. This has a few POV switches.
Disclaimer: I own absolutely nothing (except some DVDs, but who doesn't?)
Solace
It was difficult for her to focus today. There were no leads on the current case, and everyone else had left. She was essentially left to her own devices. It was something to be happy about, instead she was lonely.
She has sent them all out into the field volunteering to stay behind and follow up. Her insufferable consultant/husband knew that something was different. She still wasn't able to hide much from him. Thankfully, he had not commented he only gave her his signature questioning look. She simply met his eyes giving him all the reassurance he needed. They were masters at the art of unspoken communication. He nodded as he followed Van Pelt to the elevators.
Now, she was left in her office, not ten minutes later, feeling inexplicably lonely. Disgusted with her reaction, she decided to go get some coffee. Out in the break room, she ran into a few other agents and they exchanged the usual pleasantries. Feeling a little better after human contact her office began to call to her. There was a stack of paperwork she needed to try to get through. Paperwork Jane had given her.
He sat beside Cho silently taking in the scenery. Cho would glance over at Jane every once in awhile debating whether or not to ask his question. Finally, he couldn't wait any longer (plus Jane's silence was very awkward). "What's up with Boss?" Cho asked.
"For once Cho, I have no idea," Jane replied honestly. To say that Cho was surprised by this would be an understatement. Jane prided himself in knowing what everyone was thinking. If the man didn't know something about his wife then there was definitely something up.
They arrived at the crime scene shortly after their brief conversation. The focus changed to the dead man in front of them. Cho and Rigsby went to work on the body leaving Van Pelt with Jane. One look in Jane's direction told her everything she needed to know.
Her office eventually became too much. The space that had once offered comfort to her had become what it was before. It was only a room. Sighing, she drifted to the empty bullpen. She sat down on Jane's couch lost in thought.
Her rational side kept telling her to talk to the man that had become distant as of late. He wasn't reading her well and had generally avoided her at work. He was still wonderful with the twins, in fact he took care of them more than she did half the time. They were sleeping through the night most of the time now, and that was a blessing. The only problem was he left at night. For two nights now he left just after the twins fell asleep. He would be back by the time they woke up, and she would find him in the living room or making breakfast or getting the twins ready for the day. By the time she came downstairs the car seats were already in her SUV.
Their morning routine hadn't changed. They would eat breakfast and he would leave for work. It was her responsibility to take them to the daycare in the morning, and Jane picked them up after work in the afternoon. He had the extra set of keys to her SUV (sadly, she had to sell her Mustang) so he could get the car seats after work. She still cringed every now and then thinking of those children in his deathtrap of a car.
She knew it was going to be difficult. Nothing she had ever done in her life was easy. Of course she blamed the twins solely on him; he was usually in complete control. After Red John, he had been lost, and she had been lost without him. Truthfully, she wouldn't trade that night for anything.
She sighed and leaned back into the cushions. Her work was calling her yet again. If she really wanted to get out of the office on time today she would have to get all of her Jane paperwork done. Finally realizing that nothing could be done until the team returned, she trudged back to her office to at least make a dent in her mountain of paperwork.
Cho had not allowed Jane to ride back to the CBI with the suspect. He knew better. At first, Jane had pouted a bit at being denied his fun, but quickly enough Jane got over it (only after Cho promised him he could be in the interrogation room). Gleefully, Jane sat in the passenger seat looking much like a toddler with a new toy. Cho could swear that man acted more like a child than his children did.
"You figure out what's up with Boss yet?" Cho asked. He was rewarded with the smile disappearing from Jane's face. Something was definitely not right if Cho could have this effect on him. Now slightly curious, Cho patiently waited for Jane's response.
"Haven't quite figured that one out," Jane said. Cho could tell Jane was lost in thought, his head no longer on the case. Cho was satisfied that the rest of their ride back to the CBI would be in silence.
Rigsby escorted the suspect up to interrogation and promptly started grilling the man. Jane watched from the corner of the room waiting for the man to slip-up. He knew the man was the killer, but they had to get a confession because all the other evidence was shoddy at best. Circumstantial evidence he could work with, but the few facts they had now would leave a judge laughing in their faces. Oh, Jane knew a few underhanded ways of getting a confession, yet he did not want to use them. Lisbon could use a break from all the paperwork he had been giving her lately.
For the first time in his life, Patrick Jane decided to get the confession legally. That thought alone astounded him. Gathering himself, he sat down beside the suspect. It took him an hour, but eventually the man crumbled and confessed. Rigsby looked at Jane like he had two heads. Jane just waved Rigsby off and said his good nights. If he left now he could make it to the daycare by 4:30. They closed at 5 today because of the safety inspections being done on the place.
A/N: What do you think? Review if you want more!