She sat on the plane in seat 12B overwhelmed while dabbing her tears and feeling a bit shell-shocked. She had always dreamt of hearing those words out of Patrick Jane's mouth, but was not expecting it at this time and she had safely given up hope that it would ever happen. This was the biggest shock from Patrick Jane that she had ever experienced, and that was saying a lot. This made everything else look like child's play. Yes, she had her fair share of Jane's antics and surprises for years and years and one would think that nothing at this point should come as a surprise to her. Just when she thought she had been put through every scenario possible with this man and having been a first-hand witness to his shenanigans, THIS was by far his most scandalous of all. This could not be topped and after all of her years with him, she was at a loss on how to handle it.
The plane was significantly delayed from the commotion stirred up by Jane. In those moments that Lisbon had on the plane, she sat still in her seat without any noticeable budge to move. Her initial tears had stopped, but her heart was still racing. She quickly played out the next scenario in her head. The plane would take off and she would land in DC. Her thoughts stopped there. She couldn't imagine herself physically being able to get herself off the plane once arriving in DC. Where would she be going? Walking into Pike's open arms? Then what? He driving her to his apartment? She unpacking?...Showering?... Going out to dinner? Then the rest of her journey at adjusting to her new life in DC would begin. The very thought of it made her nauseous. That could not happen. Until now she had enough resolve in her to do her best at building a new life for herself there, as difficult as it may be. However, with the latest developments that would now be virtually impossible for her to play out.
She was now left with one option. To get off this plane. She did not know where her next steps would take her, but she knew she needed to get off this plane. She was going to take it step by step and let her heart lead for once in her life.
She quietly gathered her belongings and made her way to the front of the plane. The door was still open as the TSA agents and flight attendants were just about finishing up settling the matter. Lisbon flashed her badge at the TSA guard and muttered some quick FBI-related jargon that gave her the allowance to get off the plane.
The relief Lisbon felt was immediate. The decision to get off the plane was not a simple one, but she knew without a doubt that it was the only thing to do. Going to DC was the farthest thing from her mind right now, and so was Jane actually. Her mind was blank and she did not make any effort to fill it with any thoughts of any kind.
Right now, all she needed was to sit down and regroup without any distractions. She settled herself into a seat in the terminal and just watched as the flurry of people whizzed about. She wasn't watching anyone in particular, but just watching the bustle moving around her seemed to calm her mind. She felt surprisingly relaxed. It was almost trance-like. She sat there for what must have been an hour until her thoughts started to become coherent.
She was still in the same city as Jane. He was most likely still somewhere in this airport. She was not about to go looking for him though. She still hadn't figured out what it was that she was going to do, but she knew that she would be seeing Patrick Jane once again. All of those hurtful words that were exchanged between them at The Blue Bird Hotel were slowly evaporating as if they had never been said. She could not find it in her heart to carry resentment towards that man. It was second nature for her. The question now was, what to make of his spectacle on the plane? He did say some powerful words and they had opened up her heart again that she had tried so hard to keep closed from him. Besides for knowing she would see Jane again later that night or the next day, she also knew that things would be different. She had come to admit to herself the reality that she actually did feel the same way, and that it was not "too late" as she had told him on the plane. It was just in time. After some quick thinking, she realized she had no choice but to text Abbott. She had gotten off the plane and was now stranded in the middle of an airport in the Conch Republic. She stayed for a reason and still needed to keep tabs on the situation. When she eventually did decide to make her next move, she would not know where to find anyone. So, to be on the safe side she texted him: "I am still in Miami. Where are you?"
It was around 3AM, but Abbott immediately answered back. "Fischer and I are still at the hotel. I will be going to the airport to bail Jane out at 7AM. He is being detained by TSA." Wisely, he did not comment on Lisbon's change of plans.
Lisbon felt at ease knowing that she still had time to sit with herself. The mere thought of knowing that Jane was in the same building as she was sent a tingly chill coursing through her body. She texted Abbott back, "Ok, can you keep me posted?" To which he replied, "Of course!"
Since the initial adrenaline had worn off, Lisbon's eyelids were beginning to grow heavy. She tried to fight her exhaustion and if she was hungry she didn't feel it either, but the fact was, she both hungry and exhausted. She finally let her body take over. She let her eyes close while promising herself she would get a cup of coffee afterwards. She dozed off reclining in a chair in a corner of the quiet airport lounge. When she woke, she felt surprisingly refreshed. She bought herself a cup of coffee and a muffin, then sat back down and relished in the comfort of the savory aroma of the brewed coffee. That was all she needed right now to fuel her energy. There were still no thoughts running through her mind and she felt very much at peace with that. She just let herself be and did not focus on any decisions that needed to be made. She was just going to let things happen. Let plant seeds grow. She looked at her phone and it was a little after 6 o'clock. A shower would have been nice, as well as a bed to have slept in the night before, but whatever point she was at now was where she needed to be. If the lack of bed and shower was what was needed to put her in this frame of mind then it served its purpose!
She was filled with clarity now, and she did not have an ounce of hesitation when she stood up and set out to find the TSA holding cell. She just let the truth surface on its own. Her actions followed her heart's direction. There was no angst or heaviness weighing her down. It had all just slipped away. The mask was uncovered and now it all made sense. Making her way through the terminal, she couldn't help but murmur prayers of thanks to G-d for letting this finally happen. She knew she wasn't dreaming. This was real. All that was left to do was affirm her position on the matter with the other member involved in this newly forming union.
She was in no rush to find the cell, and she took her time even though she felt the anticipation building up at the thought of seeing Jane's face. She truly swore off ever seeing him again when she boarded that plane headed for DC. She was filled with so much anger when she saw him then, but those feelings had vanished so quickly that she even surprised herself.
Seeing him now would mean a fresh new start. There was nothing to think about. The night that had just passed Lisbon by, had set her mind free. There was absolutely nothing she needed to decide, nothing to mull over, nothing to stress about. It was just a night that needed to pass before the new day began.