A Mixture of Madness
A Jane & Lisbon Story
Rated: T
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Author's Note:
This story was loosely inspired by 28 Days and Girl, Interrupted, two of my favorite films. You don't need to watch them to know what's going on though.
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Chapter 1
"You're the rookie and the youngest cop here," Samuel Bosco reminded her. "You have to do it."
"What does being the youngest cop have to do with anything?" Teresa Lisbon asked, arching one of her finely trimmed eyebrows.
"It'll be more believable if you go into rehab," Bosco answered, draining the last of his coffee from mug.
Lisbon was about to give one of the smart replies that she was becoming famous for around the SFPD when Bosco stood up and shook his head.
"Sorry kiddo, the paperwork has already gone through," Bosco told her.
He might as well have added on and there's nothing you can do about it. Lisbon sighed and ran her fingers through her dark pixie cut, thoroughly annoyed with her new boss and his thought process.
Because the tabloids were filled with reckless young female celebrities who abused substances on a daily basis and were carted to rehab in lieu of a jail sentence, it automatically made her believable for an undercover job at the local facility.
When the truth was, she didn't touch anything that could become addictive. Especially not after her father had crawled into a bottle and never came out after her mother had been killed by a drunk driver when she was a kid.
"Sir, with all due respect, I don't think I'm the person for the job!" Lisbon finally asserted. "I've never smoked or done drugs or drank before."
It was Bosco's turn to raise his eyebrow. "A good Catholic girl like you? Come on, there has to be some skeletons in your closet."
Lisbon shook her head. "Nope. I'm as clean as a whistle."
Except for the time she had slept with boyfriend Greg, but she had justified her actions by telling herself they were in love and going to get married one day. But that was hardly any of Bosco's business.
"Well, it's called acting," Bosco said.
"Yeah, I'm not a very good liar."
"Lying and acting are hardly the same thing."
Lisbon frowned. "Actually. . ."
"I don't want to hear one more word about it Lisbon!" Bosco snapped. "I'm sorry to tell you, your number is up. So, you're going to rehab whether you like it or not."
Lisbon pursed her lips together and breathed through her nose. "Yes sir," she answered, getting to her feet and leaving his office in a huff.
She unbuttoned her blazer and shoved her hands in the pockets of her new slacks and went in search of coffee. The pot was empty but her fiancé, Marcus Pike was getting off the elevator and coming towards her.
"Lunch?" He asked, giving her a quick kiss because there were people around watching them and she wasn't one for public displays of affection.
"Yes, please!" Lisbon answered.
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She told him about the new case after they had both ordered Cokes and sandwiches and found a place to sit in the park.
"I heard about that case on the news this morning," Marcus said. "Patients keep dying at the Idlewild Rehab Center. Do they think it's a patient or a nurse?"
"That's what I'm going to find out," Lisbon answered.
"You?" Marcus asked in disbelief as he munched on a chip. "Honey, do you think you're the right person for the job?"
"Yes," Lisbon lied. "I'm as good as any seasoned detective on the force."
"You're not a very good liar," Marcus reminded her.
"I know that!" Lisbon snapped in defense. "But solving this case could be good for my career! I don't want to spend the rest of my life working for the San Francisco Police Department!"
Which wasn't exactly true, she'd only worked with them for six months and hadn't thought much of what she would do next. She was still trying to get settled in and find footing here; she figured there would be time to figure out what to do next later.
"Okay! Okay! There's no need to get all defensive about it!" Marcus answered, spreading his hands out in truce. "So, Idlewild. . . you know Lorelei Martins just checked in there for 'exhaustion'?"
"Lorelei Martins?" Lisbon repeated. "Isn't she one of those Paris Hilton wannabes?"
"She runs with their crowd," Marcus answered. "Just did a stint on Days Of Our Lives. She was awful. Anyways, I saw an article this morning that she checked into rehab."
"For exhaustion, I know, you told me. Something tells me you don't believe it's really for exhaustion though," Lisbon said.
"I think it's just a cover for what's really going on," Marcus replied, pointing to his nose in indication.
Lisbon rolled her eyes. "Whatever. It isn't any of my business."
"Yes it is, you're going to be going to joint counseling sessions with her. Sharing your feelings, getting all warm and cozy. Braiding each other's hair."
"Yeah, if she mentions a cocaine addiction then I'll be and not let you know," Lisbon said. "And another thing, its rehab. Not sleepaway camp in Canada!"
"When do you check-in?" Marcus asked.
"Tomorrow," Lisbon answered.
Marcus patted her on the hand. "You'll do great. I'm sure you'll be back in a week with the perpetrator in handcuffs!"
Lisbon shrugged. "Maybe."
But she doubted it.
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The next day, dressed in black leggings and a sweatshirt her father had worn in college, smeared mascara and a cigarette hanging out of her mouth, Bosco checked her into Idlewild. He made a big show of bringing his youngest sister to rehab; he actually was crying while he told her (loudly) to get well and asked the nurse to look after her because she was the only family he had left.
The head administrator, Brooke Harper smiled, commenting on what a good brother he was and promised to take good care of her for him. She had been clued in on how to act earlier that morning, she was part of the elaborate charade and she played her part well.
He hugged her and was gone in a flash, pulling a Kleenex out and wiping away his tears as he left her alone on the job for the first time since she had started working with the SFPD.
"Let me just run you through the rules, Miss Bosco!" Dr. Harper said a little too loudly. "You can't have illegal substances on the property at any time that includes alcoholic beverages. There will be no male visitors in your bedroom. Visiting hours are from between two and four PM, you cannot leave the premises unless it is a field trip planned by someone on staff. Do you understand?"
"Yes ma'am," Lisbon answered, taking the cigarette out of her mouth and exhaling. She almost choked on the smoke, she had only taken a puff of a cigarette once and she had thrown up all over her Mary Jane's.
"You can only smoke outside," Dr. Harper added, pulling the cigarette away from her and dropping it on the floor. She crushed it with the heel of her shoe and gestured for Lisbon to follow her. "Come and meet everybody in your group now."
"Okay," Lisbon said, wrapping her arms around her waist and trying to look troubled.
"Everybody's having lunch right now," Dr. Harper told her as she led her to the cafeteria. "You don't have to eat if you don't want to; your records say an eating disorder is one of your problems."
"I know," Lisbon replied. "I was briefed on my assignment before coming."
Dr. Harper's lips twisted into a smile and she pushed the cafeteria door open. "Good. Now come along, the sooner you get settled in the better."
Dr. Harper brought her to a table at the far end of the cafeteria. It was overlooking a sparkling lake and there was a group of some of the most beautiful people that Lisbon had ever seen sitting together and eating what looked like cheeseburgers and fries. Her stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn't eaten anything since six AM that morning. She groaned it was going to be a long day.
"Hey Dr. H!"
"Walter," Dr. Harper said, adjusting her glasses. "How many times have I told you not to call me, Dr. H?"
"Sorry," Walter answered, not looking apologetic at all.
Dr. Harper sighed. "Teresa, this is Walter Mashburn. He's one of Forbes Fifty Richest Men."
Lisbon nodded sullenly. She knew who he was; she'd seen him on Forbes and Time magazine. She was slightly surprised to see him there; he had just funded a nationwide campaign to keep kids off drugs and in school. His face had popped up in several magazines with the slogan "just say no!" printed in bold letters across his designer suit.
Walter smirked. "I'm a sex addict."
"Walter! Please, I'm eating here!" Lorelei Martins said in disgust.
"Isn't today's assignment to share what's wrong with us?" Walter retorted, rolling his eyes at her.
"That's enough you two!" Dr. Harper interjected. "Teresa, I'm sure you know who Lorelei Martins is?"
"Yeah," Lisbon answered. "My mom watches Days Of Our Lives."
"Lorelei, why don't you share what you're in for?"
"Cocaine," Lorelei replied, looking down at her pile of French fries.
"Among other things," Walter added.
"Walter!" Dr. Harper chided like he was a little boy and she was his mother. "We talked about this; don't share other people's problems unless they say you can."
"Don't you mean addictions?"
Dr. Harper sighed. "Patrick, I thought I told you not to be so blunt."
"Wait!" Lisbon said. "Patrick? Like Patrick Jane, the world-renowned psychic who dropped off the face of the earth two years ago?"
"He's one of Idlewild's permanent residents," Walter shared.
"Walter! Come with me right now!" Dr. Harper said in exasperation. "Teresa, dear, make yourself at home. Okay?"
"I always knew you wanted me," Walter commented as he followed her back to her office.
"That is wildly inappropriate," Dr. Harper answered.
"When I'm not a patient anymore then?" Walter asked suggestively.
"Come and sit down beside me, Teresa," Lorelei said when patient and doctor was gone.
"Okay," Lisbon agreed, dragging her feet and sitting down.
"You're not famous, are you?" Lorelei asked.
Lisbon shook her head. "Nope."
"What's your problem?"
"Lorelei, really!" Patrick said. "You don't have to tell her if you don't want to."
"Isn't that what we're supposed to do though?" Lisbon asked sarcastically. "Share our problems?"
"Technically you're not part of that assignment," Patrick answered. "You weren't here when they told us to do that."
"Oh but I wanna know!" Lorelei said.
"Well, she doesn't have to tell you," Patrick reminded her gently. "She'll talk to us when she's ready to. You know how scary your first day is here. It's a little overwhelming."
"Yeah," Lorelei admitted. "It is. Sorry for being a busybody."
"Well. . . just make sure it doesn't happen again!" Lisbon replied, drumming her fingers on the Formica table and trying to seem angry.
She didn't notice the strange looks Patrick was giving her or that he suspected something was going on that didn't have to do with addictions.
TBC. . .
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Author's Note II:
Well, there's the first chapter in my second to last story. Somebody asked me if my last story is going to be Jane-centric and I can tell you that, yes, it will be. But for now, I hope you'll tell me what you thought about this story. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
Until Next Time!
Love,
Holly, 6/12/2015_