Contubernio
Chapter 1- Ready
Lisbon groaned as she struggled to reach the open zip of her wedding dress. She was in her office and she couldn't resist trying it on once again; it was, after all, only 24 hours till the big day: her wedding day to Marcus. In all honesty, she was shaking in nerves- this was probably one of the reasons that she was finding it so hard to do up her dress.
'You alright in there?' called Jane from just outside. She had confided in him that she was getting dressed and had made him stand guard outside her office in order to ensure that no one walked in on her either all dressed up or not dressed at all.
'Yeah,' she grunted, her voice sort of muffled. She was trying so hard to reach the zip on her back that she was walking in unsteady circles. If anyone looked through the window at her she would look an idiot.
'Jane,' she mumbled.
'Mm?'
'Can you come in here and help me… help me with my zip?' She bit her lip, regretting admitting to him how stupid she was being. She was fully aware of how personally Jane was taking this big change. She was, after all, getting married and moving away in a matter of days, leaving him behind. In a way, she felt bad and very guilty however then she reminded herself of the numerous times that Jane had walked out on her in the past. Still- he'd been a big part of her life for six years now and she wasn't sure how she'd be able to cope without seeing him everyday, without laughing at his jokes, without puzzling over his confusing plots and plans.
Jane paused for a few seconds before finally replying, 'okay.' He walked in and looked at Lisbon who determinedly avoided his gaze, staring at a spot somewhat to the left of him.
'Wow,' he breathed, 'you look…'
'Just shut up and help me with this,' sighed Lisbon. Jane shrugged and made his way towards her, trying not to think about the limited time he had left to spend with her.
Slowly but steadily, he zipped her up wile placing his other hand on her shoulder. He didn't want to take his hand off- he felt like she was slowly slipping away from him and letting her go would make the process a lot harder and a lot more painful.
He gulped before letting both of his hands fall limply to his side, 'well, there you go,' he said, trying his best to maintain that casual laid-back voice that had for so long been his initial tone.
As he walked out, Lisbon turned around quickly, 'uh, Jane.'
'Yeah,' he said, stopping in his tracks yet not turning around to look at her.
'I was just wondering, because, you see… well Marcus' brothers flight was cancelled so her isn't going to be able to make it to the wedding.'
'What a shame,' muttered Jane. The subject of the wedding was very uncomfortable to talk about for him.
'He's the best man,' continued Lisbon, 'but he can't come. So I was wondering, I mean, we were wondering, Marcus and I, if perhaps you could…'
'What, you want me to be your best man,' Jane turned around, raising his eyebrows. How more painful could either of them make it for him. They were already rubbing the prospect of them moving away together in his face by conversing about it in low nevertheless carrying whispers everywhere they went.
'If you want,' said Lisbon, looking at her feet.
Jane shook his head, 'no, I don't think I'll be able to.'
'Why?' Lisbon looked up, her brow furrowed.
'I'm just busy. I don't think I can go to the wedding at all.'
Lisbon's face fell almost like she was a balloon deflating, 'What? You seriously can't come? But, what are you busy doing.'
'Oh you know,' said Jane, waving his hand dismissively, 'work, cracking cases. Things like that.'
'And you're going to miss me getting married because of it?' Asked Lisbon indignantly.
Jane didn't answer. Of course, he didn't actually have anything to do. He just couldn't face it. He couldn't face watching her get married to a guy like Marcus. He wasn't sure why he didn't like Marcus. Perhaps it was mainly because he was so unlike him; he hadn't ever imagined Lisbon ending up with a man like Marcus- a man so unlike Jane himself.
'Lisbon, I'm sorry,' Jane murmured. Seeing her disappointment made his stomach clench uncharacteristically. He wasn't used to it. He didn't like it.
'But its my wedding,' whispered Lisbon, her voice high and quiet.
'Lisbon, I don't know what to say.'
'Well then don't say anything,' she shook her head and walked out, making sure to bump into his hard on the way. He was left with a pain in his shoulder and a tight knot in his stomach.
He had only been trying to save himself from ruining Lisbon's big day either by making rude comments about Marcus or having a breakdown however, somehow, he had made everything worse.
Lisbon and Marcus were due to set off right after the wedding so, if he wasn't going to the wedding, tonight was perhaps the last night he would ever get to spend with Lisbon. Unfortunately for him, she was still furious about him not being able to go to the wedding, 'it's the least you could do for me after everything I've done for you,' she snapped at him just before it was time to go home.
He wanted to say something, to make up, to make her stay for a little longer however at that moment, Pike walked in. Obviously he was coming to 'pick Lisbon up' and Jane knew that he only had seconds left with her.
'Well,' she grunted, 'bye Jane.'
'What?' He leapt off his sofa, 'are you going now?'
'Yes,' Lisbon nodded, eying Jane coldly.
'Oh, well then bye.' He watched her leave, feeling his insides writhe. Sitting back on his sofa, Jane tried his best to ignore how every fibre of his being was screaming in protest, begging her to comeback, or at least glance back at him, giving him one last chance to look at her again.
