A/N: Re-watched His Red Right Hand and as you can see, I'm still very much missing Bosco. Plus it doesn't help that we continue to get all this talk about revenge. Enjoy!
Spoilers: 2x08 His Red Right Hand.
Disclaimer: Bosco will never be back. So no need to explain why this disclaimer is here then.
If It Kills Me
"Jane?"
He barely looks up at the soft sound of her voice, hearing her hovering by the door for a minute before she decides to finally join him inside. He can feel her light breath on his cheek as she glances over his shoulder to take in the familiar crime scene photographs laying scattered across the table. The images are permanently imprinted into his memory. Every graphic scene, every gory detail.
"Choir practice over?" he quips, breaking the fragile silence.
She nods and leans against the edge of the table.
"It was nice," she admits. "And a lot awkward."
"Rigsby has quite the set of pipes on him though."
"That he does."
Gazing up at her, he immediately notices her red-rimmed eyes and the evident exhaustion on her face.
"You okay?"
The question slips out of his mouth by sheer reflex. He knows well enough that of course she isn't.
"I'm fine," she pauses before adding quietly. "It's just been a long week."
"I know. I'm sorry."
"Apologizing twice in one day? That's got to be a record for you."
He admires her resolve to keep things light.
"I mean it, Lisbon."
Her gaze drops to the floor. He can see she is barely keeping it together.
"I wanted to thank you earlier," she pauses before explaining further, "for the tequila. I know Sam would have approved."
He offers her a small shrug.
"I prefer not to have an angry ghost haunting me."
He gets his desired reaction. She laughs, though a stubborn tear still manages to escape.
"Sorry," she whispers with a light chuckle.
"Don't be."
She wipes her cheek with the back of her hand.
"He loved you."
Immediately, he feels as though he crossed the line and said too much.
"I know."
Her reply is so casual, he is somewhat startled by her honesty. They stare at each other for a long time before Lisbon pats him on the shoulder. She straightens and just when he thinks she is about to head out, she pulls over an empty chair from the corner of the room. Sitting down, she takes one of the files and begins reading. He carefully notes the way she frowns when she's concentrating. How she sweeps back her bangs with one deft motion of her fingertips. And in that moment, he vows to find Red John. Vows to exact his revenge. Vows to protect her. Somehow, when the day comes, he will find a way. Even if it kills him.
Fin for now, Jello forever