A/N: This could be a one shot, or it could continue. That sort of depends on reviews. If you want more, say so.
Patrick's Dilemma
(Chapter 1)
Patrick took a deep breath and looked around. Good. Just Cho, the person he hoped could help him solve his dilemma. Cho turned as he heard him approach and Jane could notice the twitch of one eyebrow slightly rising, a sign of curiosity. As impassive as Cho could be, sometimes he could be read. He felt his stomach churn. "This is stupid," he thought. "I'm only going to ask a friend for some help." He nodded, convinced that he'd convinced himself.
Approaching Cho, he smiled and began almost instantly. "Look, Cho, I sort of have this problem and I'm hoping that you can help me out." Cho looked surprised, but characteristically, remained silent. Jane continued, "I seem to have put on a few pounds and..."
Cho took a step back and eyed Jane up and down, like he was preparing him for slaughter. He nodded. "I'd say about thirty two pounds, most of it in your gut and ass." If you didn't know Cho, you never realize he was actually smiling. "What can I do for you?"
Jane hesitated. "I went to the gym the other day..." Cho's grin would be obvious even to a casual observer. "...and after I had," he paused, "some unfortunate experiences. I realized that Lisbon was there and had been watching the entire time."
Cho ducked his head and put his hand over his mouth. He rubbed under his nose as if he was scratching an itch and when he straightened up, his face was as impassive as ever. Jane hesitated but continued as if nothing has happened. "Cho, she'd been on some sort of running contraption that had her sweating and breathing hard. What the sweat did to the clothing she was wearing and they way it made her look, hair stringy, face flushed, – that look should be illegal."
Cho grunted. "And you want me to do what? So far I'll admit that I feel for you, but sit up every now and then and stop eating every doughnut in sight, and you might feel and look a little better."
"Yea, yea, yea. I hear you and I want you to train me."
"Join a gym."
"I did join a gym. Cho." Jane looked embarrassed. "I hurt myself and made a fool of myself."
Cho managed to remain impassive. He poked Jane with a stiff forefinger in the arm, chest and stomach. "You grew up carney, right?"
Jane nodded. "Yea, why?"
"You still have some muscle under all that padding. It's slack, but in shape, you'd not exactly be a light weight." He paused and stared at Jane like a specimen under a microscope. "One condition."
Jane quickly shot back, "Anything." He hesitated, got a thoughtful look on his face, then added, "What condition?"
"Think twice speak once," Cho muttered. "The condition is that you do exactly what I tell you. Any deviation and you're on your own, and I give you hell for the rest of your life."
Jane's look of concern spoke volumes. "You're not going to hurt me, are you?"
"Yes, I'll hurt you, but I won't injure you and the hurt will make you better and be necessary. You have heard of no pain, no gain?"
Jane briefly bit his lower lip, clearly indicating how unsure he was of this situation. "Yea, I guess I have."
"There's a lot of truth to it. Honestly, the first couple of weeks will be hell on earth, but then it gets easy and is fun. You game?" When he didn't answer right away, Cho poked him in the solar plexus with one stiff finger, causing the breath to rush out of him and pain radiate through his body. "I could take you out with one finger." He nodded. "So could Lisbon. Is that how you want to live your life?"
Jane finally managed to get a nice deep breath and croaked out, "No, Cho. It's not. I agree."
Cho nodded. "Good. Your ass is mine for four weeks. At the end of four weeks, you are free to decide if you want to continue or drop it, but for four weeks, you're mine, OK?"
Jane firmly nodded. "OK, Boss. Four weeks it is!" He smiled the Jane smile, looking far more confident than the felt. "And we'll keep this between just us, okay?"
Cho smiled. "That works for me."
THE END OF WEEK ONE
Jane groaned, knowing the incessant pounding on his door would not stop. His intentions had been good. The clock had been set and had gone off a half an hour ago. Getting up just hadn't happened. "Okay, okay, Cho, I'm getting up. I over slept." As the pounding ceased, he got out of bed, stepped into jogging shorts and staggered over to the door and opened it.
Cho stepped in, looking like a promo poster for a physical fitness competition. "Tea for you," he said handing Jane a large Styrofoam cup, "and coffee for me." He lifted an equally large cup of his own.
"Thanks," Jane croaked. "I'm really trying, you know."
Cho took a sip of his coffee. "You're doing okay. You haven't wimped out, once, this week and the first week is the toughest. I'll be honest. I didn't think you'd last. Cheers!" Cho saluted him with his coffee.
Jane returned the salute and groaned. He struggled into his brand new, well one week old, running shoes. "I guess today is a running day."
Cho nodded. "Yes, I like the alternating gym and running routine. That allows a good six day workout, with a rest day between each type of routine. Today, though, instead of LSD, long, slow, distanced, we'll work on wind sprints.
"Wind sprints. Already, they sound painful. I'm not going to like these, am I?"
"It's not bad. Today is Saturday, you've have five good work outs so I'm not going to push to hard. The idea is to get better, not cripple yourself."
"Thursday morning, I'd have sworn that you'd crippled me. Though, I gotta admit that I did feel better after the run. I hurt in places that I didn't know existed." Jane rubbed his arms, remembering the pain that the first two workouts, Monday and Wednesday, had caused. Tuesday's run was only a blur in his memory. "I swear, after Friday's workout, it was like magic. I felt so much better. I'm stiff and a little sore, today, but at least I can move."
Cho crumpled his empty coffee cup. "That's good, Jane. Moving is on the list of things we're doing to do. Follow me."
Jane groaned and followed Cho out of the door, making sure it was locked before jogging down the stairs, after the ever energetic Cho.
THE END OF WEEK TWO
Jane was sipping his own personal brew of tea when Cho knocked on his door. "Come on in, Cho. It's open."
Cho stepped in and focused on Jane. Taking a sip of his coffee, he joined him at the table. "I can see a difference in you already, Jane. Here and at work. You seem to have more energy and confidence. How do you think it's going?"
Jane nodded. "A long time ago, I learned to project confidence. Now, for the first time, I'm actually beginning to be confident, and I'm not sure what's doing it. My muscles are no longer a constant source of pain for me, now, and you're actually having me do more every workout. That eternally damned High Intensity Interval Training thing we did Tuesday and Thursday was an absolute killer, but oddly enough I survived. I'm actually feeling pretty good."
"How would you feel about a nice slow jog around the lake, today. Just keep it low key and easy. You've done well this week." Cho almost smiled. "Rest in a very important part of any fitness routine."
The early morning was crisp with no hint of the coming humidity. Cho set the pace, but today, Jane was actually enjoying the activity. The lake was one of Cho's favorite jogging tracks. Even on Saturday, Cho had insisted they maintain their early start. The cooler air of the morning and the drop in the air pollution made it far more pleasant than later. Cho set a "talking" pace today. He'd explained that a talking pace allowed you to talk, but elevated the heart rate to the target zone. It was more of a pleasure, now, than work.
"I don't know if you realize it, but people are starting to notice a difference in you. Yesterday, Rigsby asked me if I noticed anything different about you. I denied it, and he went away muttering and shaking his head. It's only been two weeks and already changes are starting to happen."
Jane smiled. "I've dropped eight pounds and I seem to have a lot more energy. I can't say that I'm real thrilled with the diet you have me on, but I'm not hungry. This ketogenic diet isn't any miracle cure, but the pounds are melting off and I'm feeling so much better. So far, this is something I can live with."
Cho's stride faltered and he hopped on one leg for a few steps. "Hold up, Jane. I stepped on something back there and twisted my ankle. That'll teach me to not look where I'm putting my feet."
Jane's look of concern was very real. "You going to be okay? Should I do anything?"
"No, I'll be fine in a few minutes. It's a little tender, but I'm sure I can walk it out. You keep on pace and I'll meet you at the end point. It'll only delay me five minutes or so." Before Jane could speak, Cho stared at him. "Yes, I'm sure. Now, go!"
Jane had never stopped jogging in place. He smiled, "Yes, Boss. Meet you there." He turned and continued their morning jog. He'd been going at an easy pace when the sound of a feminine scream split the air. It was on the trail ahead of him so he accelerated his pace as if he was doing a wind sprint. He closed the distance quickly and saw a rangy male struggling with a young woman. Slowing to a jog, he yelled to attract attention away from the young woman and to himself.
It worked. The man released the woman and turned to face him. Without thinking, Jane put his head down and accelerated to full speed, catching the assailant in the solar plexus with his shoulder. His feet literally left the ground and he fell backwards. He started to sit up but Patrick calmly kicked him in the head, knocking him unconscious.
Patrick fumbled in his waist band, extracted his badge, turned to the rather shaken lady, showed his badge and said, "CBI, Ma'am. Are you okay?"
"Good work, Jane," Patrick heard Cho say. "I'm calling the locals. They'll appreciate an easy collar, this morning." Cho grinned. "That was not the old Jane, I saw there." The wail of a cruiser siren announced the arrival of the local police. Cho winked. "The new Jane is looking pretty good!"
The local police were gentle and understanding with the lady jogger. She was more shaken than injured. Jane had intervened just in time. Cho gave them his CBI business card so they could contact them when necessary and in a few short moments Cho and Jane were alone with the silence of the morning.
Jane looked at Cho and grinned. "Up for another lap? That one got interrupted."