Authors Note: First of all, thank you to everyone who left reviews! I appreciate the feedback! And, while I may not answer you, I read each and every one. I am honored you all are enjoying my efforts :)
This is a story in progress, and I've already made some changes as the story has evolved and the timelines settle out. I will publish the final version when it finally gets done, and proof reading is being done on the fly by me so that will change too, as will corrections and clarifications. I had forgotten how much work this is, and how much fun :)
Traditional Disclaimer: This done for love of the show and characters! I make no money off this and own nothing but my own words.
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Chapter 1- Unexpected Friends
Birdsong greeted CBI Agents Lisbon, Rigsby and Cho as they exited their dark SUV. CBI consultant Patrick Jane woke from his nap, and smiled slightly has he stretched as he opened his door. Although they would never admit it, his colleagues and friends found the relative quiet of this country road a little bit eerie. City living was never "quiet", and he saw them unconsciously missing the sounds of traffic and people. Rigsby's slightly too tense back, Cho looking a little too quickly at the cry of a bird and Lisbon's slightly wary alert gaze all gave testament to his eyes.
"Guess we're early," Rigsby said. "You sure that Sheriff said meet him here, boss?"
Lisbon indicated the national park sign by the dirt road running off the highway. "Sheriff Hollins said he'd meet us by this sign just past mile marker 209. Let's give it a minute."
Jane wandered slightly away and peered at an evergreen bush, plucking at some berry or acorn. Lisbon found herself watching him, his blond curls contrasting to the green of the plant, absently noting the V shape of his waist accented by his slightly rumpled vest. When he turned, his blue eyes caught and held hers as they always did, just an instant too long.
The sound of a car pulling up let her pull her eyes away. A beige car with police lights and "sheriff" in curved script along the side pulled up. A medium sized man with a fresh buzz cut and small beard to hide his double chin stepped out.
"Agent Lisbon?" he asked, looking first at the imposingly tall Rigsby, who promptly looked toward his boss. Patrick always marveled at her smooth handling of this all too common scenario. She was small and petite, but somehow in his mind she always grew, and he forgot others didn't automatically follow her lead.
"Sheriff Hollins, I presume?" Lisbon asked, putting out her hand and giving a good, solid and well practiced handshake, not too firm or too loose. Patrick saw the sheriff relax a bit as he felt it, accepting her authority. "These are Agents Rigsby and Cho, and Patrick Jane, consultant."
Jane smiled widely at the inevitable "Consultant?" question from the sheriff, and ignored it as he usually did, letting Lisbon take the lead. Eventually the sheriff –"Call me Frank"-indicated they should follow his car up the dirt road. A few miles up he pulled off onto a widened shoulder, obviously intended for park visitors. A couple of official-looking police cars and three more civilian-looking cars were already there, as was blue double-cab truck covered in dust with a ragged bumper sticker too faded to read anymore, attached to a small horse trailer. Two bored looking forensic techs stood chatting near a picnic table, and a group of young men were gathered around a uniformed officer giving statements.
Hollins adjusted his belt slightly as he led the CBI agents down a hiking trail. "Body found little after 8 am by those boys back there, coming back from an overnight camping trip. There was horse found nearby, figured at first it was riding accident. Not supposed to go horseback riding on this trail. There's some horse trails 5 miles up, but people do occasionally get over here anyway."
"So why call us?" Cho asked, stepping over the rocky brush.
"Because then we realized it wasn't just an accident. We are here," Hollins said, "It's a state park, and I… we just don't get that much of this out here. I mean, usually we get car thefts or an assault, maybe vandalism, but not this." He motioned off to the left, and turned away slightly.
Lying in the brush just off the trail, a man lay on his back. His sightless brown eyes staring into the sky, mouth slightly agape, neck at too much of an odd angle. A slight trace of blood trailed from his lips, his limbs contorted slightly in rigor. He looks a little surprised, Patrick thought as he walked around the body. While Lisbon was quizzing the sheriff on the victim's identity so Rigsby and Cho could also examine the scene, Patrick noted something in the brush.
"His wallet says he's Doug Lehman, 38 from Seattle. There's a park permit dated about 3 days ago, had about $80 cash and a couple of credit cards still in the wallet," Hollins was saying.
"Blunt force trauma," Patrick declared. "Who moved the body? Those hikers who found him?"
Hollins looked a little startled. "How'd you know that?"
"Well, there is blood all over the back of his head, but the blood pool is off to his right and over a foot away, but not smeared or creating much a of a trail, indicating the body was moved but not while he was alive," Patrick stated, then squatted near what he was looking at. "A bloody tree branch hidden under the scrub here indicates the murder weapon."
Patrick walked back to the sheriff. "And when you find someone lying in the dirt, most people approach and turn the person over to see if they are alive, hence the movement. You said there was a horse nearby? Where is it?"
"Yeah, we got our local vet to take it back down the trail," the sheriff replied, running a hand over his shorn head. "Its bridle was tangled in some brush."
"Don't worry, Sheriff Hollins, you don't have lice anymore," Patrick said. "Interesting. Doug Lehman here must have been horseback when he was struck from behind with the branch, and the fall broke his neck. Not theft, because the money is left behind…."
Hollins gaped at Jane, while Rigsby and Lisbon tried to hide involuntary smiles. Cho maintained his usual deadpan expression, although someone observant might have seen a slight tug at the corner of his mouth.
"How do you hit a man on horseback on the back of the head?" Cho asked.
"That, my dear Cho, is an excellent question, "Patrick replied, his sudden charming smile appearing again.
"Wait a minute," Hollins broke in, "Lice? How'd you know I had lice?"
"It's not a big mystery. You keep rubbing your head because you are not used to the new haircut," Patrick replied. "There are healing scratches and welts where your head itched, and you smell faintly of an astringent medication used to treat head lice. You wear a wedding ring, and I saw a My Little Pony in your cruiser, so unless you collect My Little Pony's, you likely have a school age daughter. Girls get lice more than boys, so she likely caught them from someone at school, and infested you."
Lisbon decided to end this conversation. "Can we get back to the issue at hand? We done here?" She asked Jane.
Patrick shrugged, blue eyes twinkling, "Yeah, I guess."
She was already on her phone. "Cho, Rigsby, finish up here, then find out where he was staying and how he got here," They heard a tiny voice answer line," Van Pelt, its Lisbon. Our victim is Doug Lehman, out of Seattle. 38 years old. Find out everything you can."
She hung up, and motioned for Patrick to follow her. "Let's go talk to those hikers,"
Back down the hill, the hikers were milling around, one looking a little pale.
"Hello, gentlemen, my name is Teresa Lisbon, California Bureau of Investigations," she said, "This is Patrick Jane. We'd like a few words with you,"
"Look, we already told those other cops everything we know," a short kid with glasses and a nasal voice said.
"I understand that," Lisbon replied, "Just a few more questions,"
Patrick found his attention wandering. These hikers, likely college kids up here for a weekend of camping, wouldn't tell him much more than he already knew. As Lisbon deftly questioned them, Patrick saw the gentle wind tease a little lock of her dark hair across her eyes. He felt a brief urge to gently tuck it back behind her ear, before her small graceful fingers did it for him. Sunlight glinted off her small gold cross, and he absently rubbed his wedding band with his thumb. A soft curse made him turn and look at Hollins again.
He was talking with one of the uniformed officers, probably a deputy, who was obviously giving him some bad news judging by the dismayed expression on Hollin's face. Patrick wandered over. Rigsby and Cho had also come back and headed for the sheriff as well.
"Look, she's…." the deputy stopped as they approached. "Well, you know she's not the most reasonable of people," he finished lamely.
"Problem, Sheriff?" Cho asked.
"Aw, hell. Not again. It's the vet," Hollins sighed in irritation. "She wants to take the horse back to town, but the forensic people haven't finished processing. She won't even let them examine the horse,"
"Frank!" a clear female voice carried across the field. "Tell your jack booted thugs to move and let me get this horse down the trail! He needs medical attention. Those cuts on his legs need cleaning and I doubt he's had much food and water overnight up here, hobbled up like he was."
Cho turned, and blinked. Approaching the long suffering Hollins was one of the prettiest women he had ever seen. Not in the classic way like Van Pelt or even Lisbon, but in a slightly exotic way. Dark, almond shaped eyes flashed in irritation, skin a light bronze tone, wavy black hair with a single lock escaping the simple pony tail to curl under her left ear. Cho felt his world slow as she approached, and noticed she would be a little taller than he was. Her jeans hugged her hips and lithe legs in a way he particularly liked. Her brow was furrowed in irritation, but somehow it didn't really detract. He remembered to breathe.
Patrick had been looking at Cho when he saw the woman, and saw the blink. Most wouldn't know it, Rigsby certainly missed its significance, but Patrick saw Cho's reaction and smiled in wonderment. Wow, he thought, he's completely bowled over! Then he turned, and felt his own heart skip a beat.
Cho saw her shocked expression as she came to a dead stop, staring at something behind him. He looked behind to see the exact same expression of shock in Patrick Jane's face, and felt his stomach drop to his knees. By then, Rigsby and Lisbon had both turned to see Jane's patented charisma simply explode into a wide grin of pure happiness. Cho could only watch as his dream woman ran right into his friend's arms with a delighted laugh, to be hugged tightly as she was swung around. It felt like a kick in the stomach when she planted a sound kiss on the edge of Patrick's smiling lips, and got one in return.
Lisbon felt a quiver go through her as this strange woman kissed Jane, and almost missed it when he kissed her back soundly. Quickly suppressing the confused feeling it gave her, she approached. Lisbon couldn't remember ever seeing such unrestrained joy in her friend's face, the happiness in his full laughter as he held the woman tightly and swung her around twice. To be honest, she couldn't remember him really laughing like this at all. Hollis and his deputy seemed floored, and where staring at the woman like she had grown a second head or sprouted wings.
"Oh my god, Janey!" the woman laughed. "I can't believe it's you!"
Patrick could only laugh in surprise himself. "How have you been, Sparky? I didn't realize we were so close!"
He set her down, keeping his arm wrapped firmly around her waist and turned her to face his friends.
"Lisbon, Rigsby, Cho, meet Dr. Gemma Patrick," he crowed happily, "the best damn veterinarian in northern California!"
Gemma blushed slightly, and elbowed him. He winced but didn't let her go, both Lisbon and Cho noted. Rigsby gave a wide smile and stuck out his hand.
"Lisbon?" Gemma echoed, "you must his CBI team! Happy to meet all of you at last!"
Gemma took Rigsby's hand, then Lisbon's. Lisbon noted wanly it was a firm, solid handshake. Gemma turned to Cho, and Patrick noted they both hesitated an instant before they shook hands. He could only smile wider.
"Uh, sorry folks…"Hollis' baritone broke in.
"Don't you "sorry" me, Frank!" Gemma spun on the hapless sheriff. "You let me take that poor beast off this hill right now! Your goons can pick up the riding tack for evidence at my barn later, but I'm taking that horse! What, like the dirt in his leg wounds is key to the case?"
"The horse was hurt?" Jane asked quickly, "Can I take a look?"
"Of course, Janey, right this way," and arm in arm, led him toward the trailer, both grinning happily. Hollis just stared harder, and his deputy's mouth fell open.
"Whoa," Hollis breathed, "I have never seen that woman be, well, reasonable!"
"What do you mean?" Rigsby asked, finally seeing the uncharacteristically flummoxed Cho. Lisbon looked thoughtful.
"Gemma Patrick isn't really a people person," Hollis explained. "Usually she just snaps off orders and does what she wants anyway. She can be pretty damn unpleasant, to tell you the truth. To people anyway, she's a wonder with animals. And sometimes kids. But I've known her for almost 6 years now, and she has never done with anyone what she did with Mr. Jane. I didn't think she knew people as friends." He shook his head and headed for his car.
"Lisbon!" Jane called out, peeking from behind the horse trailer and waving to her.
Lisbon and the others trailed dutifully after. Once there, they saw Gemma talking softly and gently to the horse, holding up one of his rear legs so Jane could see the scratches and at least one nasty cut.
"Sparks, could these be from the attack?" Jane was asking.
"Indirectly, maybe," Gemma replied, patting the horses rump soothingly. "These cuts are all from the brush around here. It's why the horse trails are further up the mountain; rangers keep less underbrush to not hurt horse and rider. Usually horses can avoid it, but something made this poor boy run right into the brambles. I have to get these cleaned and fixed up. Horses don't take infections in the legs well."
"Do we have any idea where a guy from Seattle got a horse up here?" Lisbon asked.
"Renton," Gemma replied.
"Renton?" Cho asked, bringing out his notepad. "Where's that?"
Gemma smiled at him, "No, Jack Renton. He owns a stable about 15 miles down the mountain, just outside of Mina. He will rent out horses and take tourists up for tours. Renton's brand is on the horse's neck. I was going to call Renton once I got him fixed up."
"Mina," Rigsby muttered, "Well, boss, want me to find us someplace to say? It's 6 hours back to Sacramento and already 3 pm."
"Yeah, good idea, Rigsby," Lisbon replied. "Cho, you talk to Mr. Renton in the morning."
"You won't find much," Gemma said, letting the horse's leg down with a pat and an odd clucking sound. "Nearest town with a decent hotel is Ukiah, about 2 hours away. Mina is really just a gas station and a post office if Bob isn't off on a bender. Not even many vineyards out this way. Most people who stay here are campers."
She looked at Patrick, and something silent flew between them. "Come on, Sparks," Patrick said softly, and she nodded.
"Alright, you are Janey's friends, so I guess you can stay at my house. I got a spare bedroom for Agent Lisbon, the guys can split the floor in the den and couch." Gemma sighed, "I don't usually do this, but hey, why not?" She smiled at Jane, her almond eyes crinkling a little at the corners.
Lisbon took a breath, not sure she why she was uneasy with this. It wasn't because Jane would be spending the night close to this woman he felt he could hug and kiss easily…it wasn't. It couldn't. But there weren't a lot of options. She had noted the town of Mina as they drove up to the crime scene, and she had to agree Gemma was probably right.
"Alright," Lisbon agreed. "Thank you, Ms. Patrick."
Patrick laughed and Gemma grimaced. "Please, just call me Gemma. Friends of Janey's get that much, at least. Just follow me down the mountain. My office and barn are pretty much at my house anyway,"
"I'll catch a ride with Sparky," Jane told Lisbon and noted Cho's little startle from the corner of his eye. He really was affected by her, Jane thought; good old Cho is never this expressive!
"Fine," Lisbon said, trying not to sound huffy. But curiosity was starting to eat into the odd little ice cube in her chest. Who was this woman, this "Sparky" Patrick Jane seemed to know so very well? Well, the trip down the mountain offered time to make a phone call to a red-headed agent who was good at finding things like this out.
Gemma Patrick's dusty blue truck pulled into the yard near a barn. It was small but well kept. Lisbon wrinkled her nose slightly at the rich manure scent in the air, but overall it wasn't unpleasant. As she, Rigsby and Cho exited their SUV, she saw the dark haired vet bounce out of her truck.
"Come on, city boy, "Gemma was saying, "you can help with the horse."
"Uh, I'm not so sure…" Patrick looked a little alarmed.
"Don't worry," Gemma laughed, "just hold the trailer doors. I know better than you trust you with a horse! While I'm doing this, would you boys open the barn door?"
Rigsby and Cho looked at each other, shrugged and went to the wide doors. Lisbon smiled slightly at Jane's uncharacteristically ginger handling of the squeaky trailer doors, and snickered as he jumped behind them as the horse made its way out. Gemma's dark brown eyes met Lisbon's green for a second, and they shared a moment of mirth at the cowardice of men, before she led the horse away. Lisbon saw an orange tabby cat and a calico dart from the barn and vanish.
"Janey, I've got this. Go show your friends in," Gemma called over her shoulder and tossed him the keys, "Try the tea in the red box, too strong for me, but you might like it. And feed the big one, before he eats somebody!"
Rigsby blushed, "How'd she know…."
"Who doesn't?" Cho asked deadpan, eyes lingering slightly on the now empty doorway before bringing himself back to professional mode.
Jane waved them over to the small one-story ranch house, painted a light blue with cream trim. The lawn was a little ragged, but the flower bed lovingly tended, and they got a whiff of honeysuckle as they approached the vine covered porch. Jane let them in, and made sure to scrape his shoes on the sturdy mat with an orange cat on it. The others followed his example, and Jane tossed his coat onto the couch and made a beeline for what they presumed to be the kitchen. Lisbon turned to the side, taking out her phone and Rigsby followed the blond man to the kitchen, a puppy-dog hopeful look in his endless search for snacks.
Cho looked around. The room was dark with the shades pulled, hazy faint sunlight spilling in. A well used but still comfortable looking dark blue couch had a red throw blanket on it, and small black kitten stretched and fearlessly headed to investigate these new visitors, the little bell tinkling on its silver collar. Cho absently scratched his new friend's ears as his gaze travelled around.
Tasteful wall art, a few candles, but mostly he saw books everywhere; a few scattered on the floor, some on the coffee table but mostly on overflowing bookshelves. Big TV and a DVD player, an overflowing shelf of DVDs near, few knick knacks but more than a few plants spilled over shelf edges. Something bugged him, before he realized there weren't any pictures of people, no parents or friends anywhere.
A sound behind him startled him, and he turned to see Gemma walking in. Smiling at him, she took the coats lying over the couch back and opened the closet door to put them away.
"Squeak, leave the man alone," she said. The kitten mewed slightly, and jumped down to curl around her mistress's legs. "Sorry about that, Agent Cho. Squeak is more curious than normal, even for a cat. But she's sweet."
"It's ok," Cho said. Silence stretched, then he waved to the living room, "This is quite a library you have here,"
Gemma smiled. " Yeah, my one true weakness. Never met a book I didn't immediately need to have, except romances. Can't stand those."
They heard a clank, then a crash from the kitchen, the sound of something breaking. Gemma and Cho headed in, to see an unflappable Jane sipping from a chipped green cup, gazing at a shocked Rigsby who had a broken yellow plate and the remnants of a sandwich at his feet.
Rigsby paled as he saw his host. "Oh, god, I'm sorry, I…."
Gemma just arched one dark eyebrow as Rigsby trailed off.
"Nice," Cho stated. Jane's mouth twitched a little.
"What the hell is going on here?" Lisbon demanded as she entered. "Aw, hell, Rigsby! You and your stomach!"
"Boss, I'm so sorry!" Rigsby stammered as he quickly bent down to clean up the mess.
Gemma speared Jane with an arch look. "Your friend, your fault," she declared.
"Who, me?" Jane said, mock innocently, "What do you want me to do about it?"
"You're making dinner," Gemma replied and headed for the back door to outside. "Some of us work for a living. I'm going back to that work, be back in about 7. Dinner, table, ready."
Just as she was about to let the door close, she paused and looked back at the crowded kitchen, turning to face them.
"Just make yourself comfortable." she said a little stiffly but sincerely. "Other than not letting Squeak outside, don't worry about it. " Then she was gone.
"Who is Squeak?" Lisbon asked, confused.
"The cat," Cho replied.
"Oh."
"Well," Jane said with a smile, "guess I'd better get started on dinner."