After thinking she had been about to die for the past couple of hours, Theresa Lisbon had to admit that she still had a good deal of adrenaline running through her system. And anger. Anger at her arrogant, pompous, know-it-all (she could go on...) colleague Patrick Jane! The son-of-a-! Teresa closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and stroked her gold cross necklace to calm down. As she leaned her head back against the driver's seat in the CBI suburban, she caught a glimpse of the monolithic glass building of Zitek Biosystems in her rear view mirror.
Two hours ago, Jane's convoluted ploy to find a killer had everyone in the three story building, scientists and police alike, convinced they had four to six hours to live due to the second release of a flask of another deadly virus. Zitek, who solicited and serviced government contracts in the development of biowarfare agents, utilized state of the art security and biological protocol. However, earlier that morning a very alive head scientist Dr. Alicia Seaborg had called Jane telling him she'd been murdered. At first confused, Jane quickly realized she was correct when Dr. Seaborg explained that her lab had been compromised. Cytohansen B, a virulent and disastrous virus, had been released to the air in her normally airtight and hermetically sealed laboratory, and NOT by Seaborg. She would die, and someone had murdered her.
After evaluating the situation and interviewing Seaborg's colleagues, Jane knew he had to "expose" the killer. Devising a brilliant yet private scheme, Jane set the killer up by hypothetically making it seem as though Cytohansen B had been released again. That is how the occupants of the office building found themselves "exposed" and "dying", Jane and Lisbon as well. Well, at least they thought they'd been exposed. Jane had tricked them all into believing their lives were in danger in an attempt to catch the killer. Theresa remember the serious and solemn call she had with Cho. Then her blood pressure rose again just thinking about Jane's deception. She grumbled under her breath. Where was that damnable man? It was time for CBI to vacate the property and get back to Sacramento. She personally never wanted to hear or see the name Zitek again. She sighed in exasperation. Just then, the passenger door opened and her golden-haired consultant slid into the front seat.
"Whew! What a day!," he chuckled and smoothed his unruly hair. His countenance was light and excited, but immediately dropped when he saw his grim-faced boss lady. Lisbon just glared at him gripping the steering wheel so tight her fingers were white.
"Hmmm, a little chilly in here." He shivered and grinned trying to win her over with his shining smile.
"I hate you, Jane!" Lisbon didn't hide the derision in her voice.
"Now, now Lisbon, you don't want to be bitter and angry and age prematurely. You'll give yourself all kinds of wrinkles for no reason." He smiled endearingly again.
"Oh, there's reason! If that happens, it'll be completely because of you, you Jackass!" She scowled and raised her hand as if to punch him again. "How could you? How could you let me believe, I-we were going to die? For God's sake Jane, I even called my family to make arrangements."
Jane raised his hands up and to the left to deflect Lisbon's next right hook bracing himself for the impact. When no punch came, he peeked through his fingers at his tough yet diminutive partner.
" Your just lucky I am making every effort to practice self control right now," said Lisbon glaring at him again. She was actually afraid that if she let go of the steering wheel, her fist would once again find his nose.
" Oh, believe me, I am grateful!"
He put his hands down slowly.
"You didn't just scare all those innocent people in there, Jane-you scared me!" She gripped the wheel but this time rested her head against it sighing deeply.
Jane swallowed and then spoke quietly and seriously. He hoped that somehow she did know he would never intentionally hurt her. Not his Lisbon, his partner.
"I'm sorry Lisbon. No, really I am. It had to appear real for the killer to want to be involved, so I couldn't risk telling anyone, not even you. And hey, we caught him." He paused trying to get her to look at him.
"Also, do you really think I would be that calm in a near death experience?"
" How the hell am I supposed to know, Jane?" She sighed deeply, obviously still mad and hurt. "Let's just go home. Right now I can't forgive you because what you did- what you did is unforgivable."
He nodded as she threw the car into gear and for once the presumptuous charlatan realized he should maybe hold his tongue.
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An hour and a half later, Lisbon parked the suburban in the CBI garage. The ride home had been a still and silent endeavor with both partners caught up in the experience of the past two hours. Lisbon had kept her eyes trained on the road in front of her while Jane had actually dozed off in the passenger seat. Forgiving him was still not an option. What he had done in Lisbon's eyes was something she couldn't even conceive of. Perhaps it was the Catholic school girl in her or maybe just her ethical background but she would never have tricked someone, especially her partner, with their potential death.
Jane stretched and awakened in the seat next to her.
"I think we should just not talk anymore Jane. The day is a wash and well... I just need some time to process."
He cleared his throat. "Lisbon, just say the word and I will make this up to you-"
She cut him off.
"I don't want you to make it up Jane."
"But, Lisbon -"
"No, Jane. This was a serious lack of judgement and lack of caring on your part. I'm done. Goodnight." And with that Lisbon left the vehicle, shouldered her bag and walked determinedly to her car. Usually when they fought, she'd smirk back over her shoulder and shake her finger at him. Not this night though.
Jane closed his car door and if anyone could really look "down in the chops", it was one Mr. Patrick Jane at that moment. He might as well have been a chastised puppy slinking off with his tail between his legs.
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Ten minutes later Jane lay on his not-so-comfortable cot in the CBI attic staring at the ceiling. Hands tucked under his head and vest removed, Jane ticked off the last minute of his conversation with Lisbon. She was really mad at him this time. He stroked his slightly bruised nose remembering her strong punch from earlier in the day, right after he'd told her they weren't actually dying. He winced and sighed. How could he get back into Teresa's good graces?
Teresa. He'd only just started referring to her in his head that way. Picturing her long dark tresses and enchanting green eyes atop her strong yet willowy body did nothing for his remorse of the day. Lately, he'd been thinking of her differently... more than just a partner or friend... Even he'd admit that he was seeing her as a...well...as a woman. He wasn't quite sure what to do with these new thoughts, but they weren't unpleasant, that was for sure. Rolling over, he punched the pillow beneath him and sighed heavily.
His insomnia always made night an enemy. Based on his mood, he could tell it was going to be one heck of a long night. Tea. Tea is what he needed. He rolled to a standing position, filled his kettle in the small sink and turned on the hotplate. If he was going to spend most of the night planning how to make up for today's travesty, then he'd need some tea. Yes, tea would do the trick.
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Across town Teresa Lisbon was still steaming. She'd made it home alright but now as she got ready for bed she still was shaking her head as to why Jane had deceived her. She understood what he'd been trying to do, but to leave her out of it? One thing she needed was trust in those she worked with. Especially in the work they did. Being a police officer was truly Teresa's life. It was a job she was loyal to, took pride in doing, and she couldn't imagine doing anything else. It sustained her and gave her a strong self-worth. She trusted herself, but she also needed to be able to trust her partner. The man in question frustrated and infuriated her on a daily basis, but when things got really tough, he was trustworthy. Wasn't he?
Teresa punched her pillow a couple of times to relieve her frustration. Patrick Jane. Thinking back on their 6 years of association, Lisbon almost couldn't remember what life had been like before Jane's arrival. The man filled the room with his exuberance, creativity, and pompous arrogance. Life with Jane could be very frustrating but life without him, Lisbon realized, would be empty and bleak. What was she going to do with him? Luckily for Lisbon, insomnia was not a problem and she was soon asleep