The Mentalist: Say Something (Chapter 2)

By Alasse Fefalas

"Sorry guys, I can't join you all for dinner tonight," Lisbon said apologetically to the team.

"You sure, Lisbon?" Abbott asked. "You're the main reason Jane isn't dead after all that. Plus, we did just close a big case."

"Just doing my job, sir," Lisbon said, glancing at Jane, who simply shrugged. "Sad to say, Jane is more useful alive than dead."

"Alright then, see you Monday."

Liabon nodded to the rest, who followed Abbott out.

"Ah, I'll catch up," Jane called out to the rest. Turning to Lisbon, he crossed his arms and smirked at her. "Another date, Lisbon? It's starting to look serious."

"Jane, I -" Lisbon started but she was cut off.

"Teresa!" Pike called out from the front office door. Walking in, he unbuttoned his neatly pressed jacket, revealing a purple dotted blue tie, pinned to his white shirt. "Hey, you're still here."

"Marcus! Hi!" Lisbon greeted, surprised at his presence.

Pike walked up to them with a grin on his face. He pulled her into a tight hug before releasing her and turning to face Jane. "Jane," Pike greeted, sticking his hand out.

"Pike," Jane smiled stiffly, shaking Pike's outstretched hand.

"Marcus, what are you doing here? We weren't supposed to meet for another hour," Lisbon said, checking her watch.

"Had some business in the area, so I decided to pick you up," Pike smiled. "You're alright with that, right?"

"Oh. Yeah. I just have something to do first. Do you mind giving Jane and I a few minutes?"

"Sure, no problem. Take your time," Pike said, giving Lisbon a peck on her cheek.

Smiling at Pike, Lisbon grabbed Jane's arm and pulled him to the pantry, out of Pike's sight. "I'm so sorry you had to see that."

"Which, the hug or the kiss?"

Lisbon looked at Jane squarely. "Both."

Despite his casual stance, she could the a fire in his eyes, an apparent outright dislike for the Agent standing by her desk. She wasn't sure it was because she knew him well, or that Pike simply ignored it.

"Well, he is your boyfriend," shrugged Jane.

"Jane..."

"What do you want me to say, Lisbon?" Jane said angrily, taking care not to raise his voice to keep the conversation between them. "This has nothing to do with me. What you do with him... has nothing to do with me."

Lisbon shook her head and turned away, taking a deep breath. Slowly, she released it and turned back to him. "I waited for you, Jane. I waited for you, for your letters, for two years, to come back to me." Lisbon said softly, her anger seeping into her words. "And when you came back, you didn't say anything. Nothing. You could have said something before I went for that dinner a few weeks back, but you didn't."

Jane was taken aback by Lisbon's words. It wasn't what he had expected at all. "I didn't want to hold you back," Jane whispered.

"And now?"

"It's just... I didn't think you'd be with someone who wears a tie pin."

Lisbon shot him a dirty look. "I might be particular, but it's been a while since someone has gone through all this trouble for me, Jane. Tie pin or not, I really like him."

"You like him," Jane said, staring at her. His eyes pierced into hers, an unsaid statement flowing between them: but you love me.

"I'm not going to wait for you forever, Jane," Lisbon said finally. "Make up your mind."

Without a second look, she turned and walked away, letting her words sink in.

And I will swallow my pride.

You're the one that I love

And I'm saying goodbye.

A/N: A little OOC, but this is where I'm hoping (praying to the tv gods) that their relationship is closer by this time, so I'm writing based on that. I would really appreciate you telling me how you feel about it though. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this installment! Thanks for reading!