When Lisbon woke up she was sure something must be terribly wrong. First of all the bed in which she slept was not her bed...her bed usually did not move so much. She kept her eyes closed hoping that this is just a dream. Soft jazz music was playing somewhere in front of her mixed with the sound of an old engine. She sighed as the anger slowly grown inside her and opened her eyes revealing that she was still in the Airstream.
She got up shaking with anger and went to the one and only man that could do this to her. Jane was surely aware of her being awake because as soon as she sat down on the passenger seat he was grinning at her.
„ Well, hello there Lisbon - "
„ Shut up Jane! Just what the hell you think you´re doing? Where are we? "
"I´m driving and we are on the road, my dear Lisbon. "
Lisbon covered her face with both of her hands suppressing sudden urge to beat Jane up. Once again, he tricked her and once again she fell for it. He would drive her home. Yeah, right.
„ I´m going to ask you again nicely Jane, where are we, and what the hell is going on? "
„ That is not asking very nicely... "
Lisbon stood up from the passenger seat and stormed back to the bed. Her purse was still there and she went to reach for her phone, that was not there.
„ Where is my phone?" she shouted from the bed.
Jane slowed down a bit, and pulled over. Maybe it was time to explain himself and his actions to raging Lisbon. He got up from his seat and headed to her. The air in the Airstream was hot, and heavy, just as the atmosphere. Lisbon was sitting at the bed with the content of her bag all around her. Jane sat down too and handed her the phone she was trying to find. She took it angrily out of his hands.
„ Before you call the FBI and accuse me of kidnapping, just hear me out, will you? "
„ I don´t know if I want to hear you out Jane. " Lisbon looked at her phone just to see how long she was sleeping. It was nearly lunch time. She groaned while Jane waited patiently beside her.
„ Okay, " she said slowly, „ I am listening. "
„ Can you put the phone down? "
"No. "
„ Fine.," Jane said. „ I must admit this was not the greatest idea that I could come up with, uh, but I meant what I said yesterday...I missed you. Very much. Maybe, if you give this little adventure a try, we might have fun. Like the good ol´ days, hm?"
„ Adventure? Can you just once in your life think about someone else beyond yourself Jane? "
„ Yes, in fact, that is why I´m doing this, Lisbon. I mean look at you. You are working too hard, too hard even for you. You need a break. I want to give you one."
Lisbon stared at the wall in front of her contemplating her own feelings. Maybe the man is right. Maybe she needs to have a break, but like this? Everything is settled up even before she knows anything? No choice there whatsoever. Besides, this is still crazy. Jane - crazy.
„ You wouldn´t go if I asked you in advance, admit it Lisbon, " Jane said smiling at her and it was the sincere smile again she was not used to.
„ No, I wouldn´t. And I am not sure about this, too. I mean, what about work? "
„ Only Abbott knows my plan. I gave the rest of the them invalid information, don´t worry. "
„ Don´t worry, hm? So what´s your plan anyway? Just ride along in this damn bucket for, uh, how long?"
Jane smiled at her again and nodded. "Yeah, that´s pretty much my plan. Or the essence of it. We have whole weekend ahead of us. As I told you before this particular car has everything I need, and now, everything you need."
He stood up and took Lisbon by hand. She stood up too following him rather then speaking to him. „ See?", he said showing her two packed bags, „ one for me and one for you. "
Lisbon eyed both of the fully packed bags with a weird feeling. She looked right at Jane who returned the look and she was sure he was blushing just a little.
„ Where did you get my stuff? The truth, Jane. Did you pick my lock? "
Jane shook his head.
„ No, I bought everything for you on my way back from the case. And I think I did a pretty good job, you´ll see."
"You did what?" she asked looking at him, starting to feel a new wave of anger on the way.
"I went shopping. Those are essentials only. Feel free to look at it."
„ You are crazy, Jane", she said kneeling down to her bag.
„ Maybe I am, who knows?...now let me make you a cup of coffee. We are going to have fun, trust me Lisbon."
„ Right... "
He bought her a lot of stuff, she knew it just as soon as she pulled the zipper on it. There were T-shirts, some of them quite nice and enjoyable. A few shorts, too short to her liking, some jeans...pajamas even. She had to facepalm again when she found green bikini. That wasn´t all. Jane his everything else under clothes. He bought her a shampoo, shower cream, even a toothbrush. And when she found the towel with her name on it, Lisbon kind of lost it.
He left almost two years ago and came back now to swipe her off her feet again. It was not custom for her to show any kind of emotions, hiding them under the cold professionalism was much more like her. But right now, kneeling down at the Airstream floor, looking at the stuff Jane bought for her, made her a little more emotional then she was used to. The sun was shinning outside, and even it if was still too hot, the breeze gently blow on her from the window. The smell of nature mixed with coffee hit her senses. She felt the first tear run down her cheek. And with the first tear the numbness she felt for months finally started to leave. By the time Jane got to her with the cup she was already tearful.
„ Hey, " he said quietly and knelt down to her, "What is it? I mean, we don´t have to do this... "
When she looked up to him he knew that he misread the situation. She didn´t want to go back home. She was crying for a different reason. Jane put an arm around her feeling happy that she let him.
„ I´m sorry for being such a mess right now, " she said wiping tears away.
„ Well then, I´m sorry for kidnapping you. "
They both chuckled and Jane helped her got up. Somehow there was a handkerchief in his hand and Lisbon gladly took it.
„ So, are we on the way?" Jane asked her looking at her with those big puppy eyes of his.
"Yeah, I guess. "
„ Great, want to be my co-pilot? " he asked her with his dazzling smile.
„ Sure, why not," said Lisbon as she took her cup of coffee and followed Jane to be his co-pilot.
They talked a lot while Jane drove the big silver bucket down the empty roads. She told him all about the boredom that being a small town sheriff is. Jane listened to her patiently, wanting to hear more about it. When he came back, she was like a closed book to him. She knew all about his time on the island thanks to his letters in which he shared all the important things that happened to him. Even if it was just a spectacular sunset. There were times when he would give anything to have her there, by his side so they could watch the sunset together.
Lisbon, on the other hand, gave little or no information about her. He didn´t know what exactly happened right after when he left. Based on her talking, she wasn´t ready to share that information with him yet. So he listened to what she had to say now. Yeah, she must have hated her previous job.
They drove further, not really caring where. They stopped to have a lunch in the Airstream that turned out to be much more comfortable then Lisbon initially thought. After the lunch Jane sat down at the stairs of his silver bucket and Lisbon joined him. The view was breathtaking.
„ This is what I needed, a break from all the work," said Jane with a yawn. Lisbon couldn´t help but chuckle at him.
„ You´ve been on a vacation for almost 18 months Jane, and been working like what, two months? "
Jane turned to her faking serious look.
„ That´s correct. Therefore I find it hard to accustom myself to any work, after being work-free for such a period of time. It´s hard, you know."
„ I see. Well, get used to it. Abbott wouldn´t let you go so easy. "
„ Nah...he doesn´t know what he signed up for, " Jane said grinning.
Lisbon grinned too, thinking the same.
„ I think he will find out eventually. "
"Yeah, well, I´ll try my best. So, Lisbon where would you like to spend this night? "
Lisbon looked at Jane and grinned.
„ On the bed, Jane. I´m just wondering where you´ll be sleeping tonight? "
„ Uh, I was thinking we could share the bed... "
Lisbon still smiling just shook her head.
„ Not going to happen, Jane. You better find a motel for tonight. "
„ Ah, he said standing up, no need for motels Lisbon. I will figure this out to both of our liking. For now, let´s continue our journey."
As the night came by, Jane parked the silver bucket in the forrest, near a small stream. He prepared a dinner while Lisbon took a shower after which she was not happy at all. All in all the shower is too small, with water you could call warm, if you are a polar bear. On the other hand, Jane made a nice dinner and afterwards Lisbon was quite happy again. Few beers and one glass of wine later Jane suggested a walk. They took a walk in the forrest, as the moon and Jane´s flashlight shone on their way.
When they got back Lisbon changed into her new pajamas that Jane bought. She was almost asleep when he came out of the shower, dressed in his own pajamas. Lisbon opened one eye and took a look at him. He was dressed in blue, two pieces pajamas which were probably made for somebody at least 40 years older than him. She started laughing against her own will.
„ What?" he asked sheepishly.
„ Nothing, um, nice pajamas. ..."
„ What´s wrong with them? " he asked turning around trying to find what so funny.
„ Nothing Jane, they are just fine... "
„ Well, maybe there are a little bit old-fashioned - "
„ 1960´s called, they want them back. "
„ Ha, ha, very funny Lisbon, now would you be so nice and move over so I could lie down too? "
„ No! You are not sleeping here with me. "
„ Oh c´mon, I´ve been driving all day, I need to lie down a little. "
Lisbon changed her position and lied on her back with both hands stretched, just like when making snow angels.
„ That´s your problem. I didn´t ask to come with you on this little trip of yours, you should have sleeping arrangements settled before kidnapping me."
Jane smiled at her and sat down on the bed. It´s a small bed, but Lisbon couldn´t cover it with her figure even if she tried.
„ Get off!"
"Make me. "
Before Jane could even think about what he just asked her to do, he was lying on the floor thanks to Lisbon´s strong kick.
„ Ouch. Okay. I get your point. I will just grab my sleeping-bag and sleep on the floor, shall I? "
„ Great idea, old man. "
It took him few sighs, few groans and a lot of turning on the floor before Lisbon finally gave up and told him to climb out of that stupid bag and join her on the bed. He grinned to himself when he got up there, said his good nights and closed his eyes looking forward to the next day.
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I´m sorry it took me so long to continue my story, I was away from my beloved PC, still, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and thank you for nice reviews :)