Here's the long awaited sequel to Through the Looking Glass, a Mentalist/Stargate SG1 crossover I completed this summer. This one will most likely be centered around Lisbon/Jane and Div/Cayt although it will be a team fic with the original SG1 team. I'm staying with the same timeline I created in that story, and this one starts six months after the end of Looking Glass. That being said, it's AU. There shouldn't be any spoilers for SG1 passed Season 6 and only Season 1 spoilers for The Mentalist.
I think I'm finally ready to start this one, although I probably shouldn't since I haven't edited Looking Glass, yet. My goal is to re-edit all my stories in December during Christmas break. Editing reminds me too much of school, and I'm bogged down in too many papers to attempt it now! That being said, this story will probably be updated slowly, but most likely at least once a week (hopefully more). I don't have it completely planned out yet, so forgive me if I take more time. I have the basic idea, and I'm really excited!
It took me forever to think of a fitting title (Tromana can testify to this. Yay twin!) And I grappled with using something else from Lewis Carroll. There will be several references to his work, because I like how it relates to both words and it's similarities with aspects of both shows. This title is from the magician's term used for clever deceptions which is extremely relevant to the secrets of all involved.
I'll be posting this as a Mentalist fic for the first few chapters before moving it to the crossover section. Stories tend to get lost over there!
Pairings include: Jello(Jane/Lisbon), Jack/Sam, Rigsby/VanPelt, and Div/Cayt
This story's dedicated to all my faithful readers and reviewers from Looking Glass, and especially Celina, Innoxia23, and Tromana. Thank you all once again!
Disclaimer: I neither own The Mentalist nor Stargate:SG1. I just enjoy playing in their sandboxes. I do own the vampires and any original world or character you do not recognize.
***READ THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS BEFORE ATTEMPTING THIS FIC UNLESS YOU WANT TO BE THOROUGHLY CONFUSED!***
Smoke and Mirrors
By: Divinia Serit
Chapter One
Teresa Lisbon pinched the bridge of her nose while a frustrated sigh escaped her lips. Nibbling on her lower lip, she rolled the cool metal of the ballpoint pen between her fingers as she blankly stared across her office. Back and forth. Back and forth. She wasn't sure what exactly was nagging at her mind, refusing to let go. In fact, for once her life was going perfectly and she really had nothing to complain about. Maybe that was it. Maybe she was getting complacent.
To be honest, she was bored. Six months had passes since their whirlwind adventures in wonderland, as Jane so aptly called it. It was still classified information after all. Might as well make it sound like they had spent a week in a drug induced stupor considering any mentions had to be disguised with code words. Luckily, she had been able to renew her friendship with Sam. The two women tried to call each other at least once a week, and Lisbon found that she was really enjoying getting the chance to learn more about her childhood friend. It was nice to have someone outside of the CBI to talk to.
Her favorite days were those when she received a message from Divinia. The vampiress tried to leave a message every other week with the castle to be sent back to Jane and Lisbon. Of course, with the fact that time passed twice as fast on the other planet, it was more like monthly messages from the vampiress. Someone, most likely Colonel Jack O'Neill, had the idea to rewrite the messages on postcards featuring pictures of constellations. It had turned into a big inside joke amongst her team-postcards from Outer Space.
Flipping through the messages that she kept on her desk, she paused. It had been over a month since she had last heard from the vampiress and a wave of uneasiness swept through her body. She debated whether she should e-mail Sam about her concern, when her door opened and a familiar head of blond curls peered into her office. Her lips quirked into a faint smile when she caught his sheepish expression. She schooled her expression back into a more slightly annoyed look.
"What did you do now?" she asked as she turned back to her computer. She heard Jane close the door with a huff and slide into her office.
"Who says I did anything?" he responded with a teasing tone. She knew if she turned around, she'd catch a glimpse of his trademark smirk. She ignored him and listened to the clicking of the keyboard as she started a new message.
Typing in silence, she lost herself in thought. Since their return, Jane had been more easily manageable. He still went off on his half-cracked ideas, but he was more likely to run them by her or actually have a back up plan. He was opening up to her more, and their relationship was flourishing. The team turned a blind eye, although Rigsby and Cho would often exchange a sly grin at the expense of the blond man. Once Minelli had noticed the lack of disciplinary charges and lawsuits, he ordered Lisbon to keep doing whatever she was doing to rein in her consultant.
She hadn't exactly been entirely truthful with her boss about the nature of their relationship. And hey, he had practically endorsed it himself with his order. She smirked at the thought, and wondered what would happen if they just happened to show up at the office suddenly married. She just hoped that the track record over the last few months would supplement the case that they could work together even with their personal feelings. She had a feeling Minelli wasn't blind, and as long as all major catastrophes were averted he would probably ignore the shift in the team dynamic.
She managed to avoid jumping when she felt a cool stream of air on the back of her neck. Jane positively gloated whenever he was able to catch her off guard, and as a result she had become much more aware of her surroundings. She felt her pulse rise as his lips brushed across her ear, and she stilled her body's reaction to him. To anyone else it would look like he was reading over her shoulder, but she knew he was determined to make her lose control and she refused to let that happen. Jane chuckled softly and moved away. She could hear the rustle of his clothing as he sank onto the small loveseat she kept in her office and she wondered what he was playing at.
Her thoughts were disrupted by a firm knock at her door. Turning slightly, she could see the outline of Kimball Cho complete with file in hand outside the door. Calling for him to enter, she minimized her computer screen and gave him her full attention. Cho's eyes flickered from her to Jane before returning once more to the manila file in his hand. With a grimace, he handed it over.
"That bad?" she asked with a quizzical expression. Cho stuck his hands in his pockets and leaned against her desk. Her pursed his lips as if rethinking what he was about to say. Lisbon waited for his answer. She trusted his opinion and he always provided a good first insight to a new case.
"It could get messy," he finally answered as she flipped open the file. Perusing the contents, both men observed her forehead crinkle in annoyance. Jane made a mental note to restock the chocolate.
"Messy as in 'blow up in our faces' messy?" Jane called from the couch. Cho smirked.
"Yup," he replied as he continued to watch his boss.
"My favorite kind," Lisbon sarcastically muttered under her breath as she pressed a hand to her forehead. With a resigned sigh, her gaze flickered back to the man in front of her.
"Get Rigsby and Van Pelt," she stated with authority. "Jane and I will meet you at the scene."
"Sure thing, boss," he replied as he exited her office. Lisbon took a moment to gather her thoughts before collecting her things. Jane was already waiting at the door. His hand lightly brushed against hers as she pulled the door closed with a thud.
A few hours later, Lisbon was finding it rather hard to keep her temper in check. She was tired of being flirted with and if the smarmy lawyer couldn't keep his hands to himself, she wasn't liable to react in the best possible manner. Her finger twitched towards her gun. She could see the complaint charge already. Grinding her teeth, she sighed in relief when her phone rang and gave her an excuse to walk away.
"Lisbon… M'kay. We're on our way back. Thanks, boss." She closed her phone and Van Pelt shot her a look of relief. "We're out of here," she called and signaled for her team to load up, leaving the lawyer spluttering behind her. Climbing into the driver's seat, she took a moment to breath, while Jane wordlessly handed her two painkillers. Dry swallowing them, she murmured her thanks as she put the car in drive.
The other agents were spilling out of the SUV when Lisbon pulled into her parking space. She strode towards the door with her team closely behind her. The group watched her closely wondering why they had been ordered back- not that anyone was complaining. She just shrugged at their questioning looks, and pushed through the double doors. Minelli hadn't mentioned a thing, only that they were needed urgently back at the office.
Walking into the center room on the first floor, they were greeted with stares from the other agents. One glare from Lisbon sent them all scurrying about their business. Jane debated why the other agents were acting oddly and quickly wracked his brain to determine if he was the cause. He didn't think he had done anything recently, but one never knew. Minelli's door burst open and Jane felt himself beam at the man who exited.
"Colonel O'Neill," Lisbon exclaimed with genuine happiness. The stares were back, but this time the team paid no heed as a tall blond woman followed closely behind the Colonel. "Sam!" she added as she held out her hand. Jack grinned back.
"Agent Lisbon, Jane," he replied as he shook the brunette's hand. The rest of the team stood back, not as comfortable as Lisbon and Jane were with the two Air Force officers. The rest of the office looked on with a mixture of awe and confusion at Lisbon and her team's level of comfort with the military duo. Lisbon was not known for playing nice with others, and what else could the military presence mean?
Virgil Minelli strode out of his office at that moment with a dark look aimed at Colonel O'Neill. He was not pleased with the sudden turn of events. The last time he had heard from Cheyenne Mountain, his best team had disappeared for a week and the only thing they said upon their return was 'classified'. Oh, he knew the importance of that word, but he wasn't thrilled with the fact that he now had a team under him with a higher security clearance than he had ever seen. It didn't add up and it nagged at him.
Turning to the senior agent, he was a bit surprised at her attitude. He didn't know what had transpired when the Serious Crimes Unit was in Colorado, but apparently they had left on a positive note. The group was practically beaming like they were long lost friends. He paused and tried to clear his head, uncertain of the orders he was about to announce. Who knew how long they were going to be gone this time. Once again, the only word he had heard was 'classified'.
"Lisbon-the Air Force wants your team once again. Hand your current case over to Major Crimes," Minelli ordered with a sigh. "You leave immediately."
"Yes, sir," she replied and nodded for Cho to pass Agent Barnes the file. Barnes didn't look to thrilled with the new assignment as Cho handed him the file.
"Have fun," the Asian man whispered as Barnes grimaced. Some teams had all the luck, he thought as he rifled through the case papers. This one was not going to be fun. Watching Lisbon's team walk away with the Air Force officers, he turned to the director.
"What was that all about?" Barnes asked with a baffled look.
"It's classified," Minelli responded as he stalked back towards his office. He was really beginning to hate that word.
