PUMPKINS AND TRADITIONS

Chapter 1. A PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE AND A BEAR CLAW

Jane and Lisbon get early wake-up calls from Abbott, each pretending the other isn't lying next to them. They quickly shower and dress. As they are walking to the car, Jane laments, "Too bad we have to go in now – I was planning on making you a special breakfast."

As Jane opens the car door for her, she says, "Special, huh?" Jane smiles and nods his head with a my-plans-were-rudely-interrupted smile and replies, "Special." And closes her door.

Once they are both in the car, Lisbon continues, "I'm sorry. But you know Abbott wants us there right away because he wants us to interrogate Williams again this morning. We granted Oklahoma their extradition request so he will be out of our hands as of 8:00am this morning. You know I want to go in early so I can go over the files again."

Sighing, "Yeah, I know. Case going back to the local authorities then?"

"Not enough evidence to connect him to the drug cartel. So, yes. Unless we can get him to cough up something before they arrive to pick him up. So just drop me off at the door…"

Jane catches her meaning, "So, Cho's there already?"

"Yeah."

"Lisbon… really? Can't we walk in together at this ungodly hour?"

Lisbon looks out the window and changes the subject. "Mmmm, I can't wait for coffee. Drive faster…"

Jane responds with a hopeful "Really? "

"No, just kidding. But I had you going there!"

"No, you didn't. Remember, you're predictable." He winks at her. Hoping she didn't hear the "Mostly." he added under his breath.

"Whatever. Hey, what are you doing?"

"Uh, turning around," he says like it's the most obvious thing.

"Why?" Lisbon asks with an incredulous look.

"So I can get you some coffee," Jane explains as if she should know that.

"They have coffee at work."

"Not pumpkin spice latte."

"How…"

"Psychic."

"No such thing. I don't want to be late."

"You obviously want a pumpkin spice latte so I'm getting you one."

"No. I mean OK. But how…"

"You saw the sign at the coffee shop that said "it's pumpkin spice latte time" and you said "Mmm. I can't wait for coffee. Drive faster..."

"Oh. Well, you really don't have to get me one. We WILL be late."

"I'm driving."

"I shouldn't have let you."

"So, why are you letting me do more of the driving now anyway?"

"Well, because you rarely speed anymore – at least when I'm in the car."

"But you secretly like going fast – you just don't like breaking the law," Jane says raising his eyebrows and nodding his head, with that annoying know-it-all smile of his.

"Going fast scares me," Lisbon replies in her best matter-of-fact voice.

"No, it doesn't."

"Yes, it does," in a voice that is just a little higher that she would have liked.

He looks at her knowingly, "No, I vividly remember a road trip from Sacramento to Napa in a very fast, very expensive sports car. You loved every minute!" he says with glee.

With a small sigh and smile Lisbon concedes, "Not EVERY minute."

They pull into the coffee shop parking lot. "Here we are. Be back in a jif."

"Pumpkin spice latte, m' lady," Jane says as he hands her the coffee with a flourish of his hand.

"Thank you. I've really been wanting to try one. I love pumpkin. Mmmm, this is amazing..." She realizes he is staring at her like she is a puzzle he needs to figure out, "What?"

"Just wondering how I never knew you loved pumpkin. You've never eaten anything pumpkin since I've known you."

Silence

"Ahh. You USED to love pumpkin. But something happened. Something bad – no, something associated with your mother…"

Lisbon tenses and hesitates for a moment as Jane starts the engine. She lets out a deep breath, "Yeah, it's not really a big deal. But at Thanksgiving and Christmas my mom and I used to make the pumpkin pies. She had a secret recipe. Everyone said our pies were the best pumpkin pies they ever had – even people who didn't normally like pumpkin pie loved ours. We made pumpkin cookies and cakes and soups too. I loved when October rolled around… I just haven't had anything pumpkin since… since I left Chicago."

Softly, "Lisbon, I'm… I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up painful memories…."

"It's ok. They're not painful, they're really good ones, you know." Something dawns on her. "Wait. You really didn't know?"

"What? That you liked Pumpkin? No, I didn't," he says honestly. She contemplates that fact with satisfaction.

"Well, here we are. I'll see you upstairs."

Contritely, "Jane, you don't really have to let me out. We can walk in together."

"No. You go on, I just remembered something I need to do," Jane says airily.

"At 6:30 in the morning? What are you gonna do? Work out?" she snickers.

He tilts his head to her and says seductively, "Don't need to – I get all the exercise I need." He waggles his eyebrows, "With you." He playfully continues, "Now don't go blushing – you and Cho have an interrogation."

"WE" she gestures back and forth between them, "have an interrogation."

"Actually, the car needs gas. I'll be back soon. Now go on. Shoo!" he tells her, waving her out of the car before she notices the fuel gage reads three-quarters full.

"You'd better get back PDQ."

"Don't worry."

"Right."

20 minutes later:

Text: "I'm headed your way – bringing your breakfast!"

Lisbon turns to Cho, "Jane – he said he's on his way."

15 minutes later:

Text: "Meet me at your desk in 5 minutes!"

Text: "What's up?"

Text: "Nothing."

Text: "Then bring it to the fish bowl. I'm hungry."

Text: "No."

Text: "Why not?"

Text: "You'll see."

Text: "You didn't get anything for Cho?"

Text: "No, I didn't."

"Jane needs me. Be right back."

Cho nods his head and the corners of his lips turn up ever so slightly, "OK."

Jane is waiting at Lisbon's desk. "Hey. There you are. Here. Open it!", smiling and handing her the white bag.

She would recognize a bag from a pastry shop anywhere. She opens the bag with anticipation. "A bear claw!" she says with a smile.

"Not just ANY bear claw, my dear. One filled with pumpkin cream!" he proudly proclaims.

"Pumpkin cream? Oooooh, that's divine," she says through a mouthful of the delicious treat. "How did you..." She decides not to finish the question and instead merely says a heartfelt "Thank you."

"You're welcome." He smiles at her, enjoying seeing the delight on her face.

Through another mouthful, "Abbott is ready for you to take one last crack at Williams. But not until after he and I talk to him first."

"OK."

She finishes her breakfast and they head toward the interrogation room. After Lisbon and Abbott take their turn speaking with Wiliiams, they exit and let Jane talk to the man alone.

After less than a minute, Jane reappears in the hallway and tells Abbott and Lisbon that Williams isn't involved with the drug cartel. Abbott accepts Jane's opinion without question and heads for his office.

But as Jane and Lisbon walk back to her desk, she asks him, "How do you know he isn't involved?"

"Because he isn't. So not our problem anymore."

"But…"

Jane interrupts her, "But he's not, he's telling the truth. Trust me on this."

"OK." She looks at her desk. "Well, I've got paperwork to do."

Rolling his eyes, he says, "Some things never change. OK. See you later."

"Where are you going?"

"For a walk."

"Really?"

"Yeah, it's a gorgeous fall day! You could join me," Jane says hopefully.

"Wait and I'll join you."

"Nothing more I'd love. But if I wait for you, I'll fall asleep on the couch and then I won't want to go."

"Fine. Enjoy yourself."

Jane is smiling as he heads for the elevator.