A/N – Wow, thanks for the encouraging reviews everyone! I decided to get started on this chapter right after I posted the first chapter. I just had to post this tonight, even though I haven't even started on the next chapter yet. The main parts of the story are circulating in my head; I just need to sort it all. All grammar and spelling mistakes are mine, even though I try my best to spot them.
Disclaimer – I do not own any part of The Mentalist. No matter how many times I wish I did. ;)
Chapter 2
5:47 A.M.
Jane straightened up in Lisbon's chair, hands resting on his lap, his eyes scanning her face tentatively. Lisbon was seated across from Jane, hands gripping the arms of her chair as if holding on for life. Jane noticed Lisbon's edginess but couldn't help thinking how beautiful she looked in her green blouse, despite the fact that she also looked exhausted.
"My dear Lisbon, you needn't be so worried." Jane said, giving Lisbon a small smile, trying to set her mind at ease.
"I'm not worried, just anxious" replied Lisbon, lifting her chin a little higher to meet his gaze.
Jane waved off her excuse, "Meh, I don't see a difference."
"Fine then. What did you need to tell me so urgently that you slept in my office?" Lisbon arched an eyebrow and looked at Jane questioningly.
"Well…I just wanted you to know that…" Jane's voice trailed off as he rubbed his hands together, almost like he was wishing the words would turn up magically.
"Look I – I just wanted to thank you for what you did. You saved my life. You saved my life when you could have let Hardy just shoot me. I know what he meant to you and I will be forever grateful for it." Lisbon's voice shook when she thought of what else she could say, but she bit back her tongue. Telling him more than he needed to know right now would not be in anyone's best interest.
Lisbon stared at Jane, but his face was unreadable. An impish grin appeared at the corners of his mouth and Jane cocked his head to one side.
"So does this mean you owe me?"
"What? No – I've saved your ass plenty of times, do I really need to remind you?" chided Lisbon, slightly taken aback by his jovial comment. Jane's lack of maturity made her wonder why he was so uncomfortable about the issue when he brought it up himself.
"Well I am the one with a semi-death wish now aren't I?" said Jane, a dark glint in his eye.
"Seriously, Jane? Just spit out whatever it is you have to say already so I can get to work."
"We both know there are unresolved issues at hand that require fixing, Lisbon," Jane said quietly.
"But you know, some things you just can't fix. It's just the way of the world, isn't it?" Lisbon snapped at Jane, bracing herself for his reaction.
Instead of a quick reply, Jane just sat there, mulling over what he wanted to say to Lisbon. Hearing his words thrown back at him was like having ice water dumped on him. Although he was afraid to admit it out loud, Jane cared deeply for his green-eyed, raven-haired boss. The thought of almost losing the only woman that meant something to him, and in a non-platonic way, made his head spin. He needed Lisbon to hear him out, to try and understand how things had changed since their last conversation.
"Lisbon, you don't realize how much you mean to me," whispered Jane, his voice unsteady.
Jane's comment threw Lisbon completely off. Whatever she was expecting him to say, it definitely was not that. The confusion she felt must have been apparent on her face, because Jane spoke again.
"You are the one person I have complete faith in, Lisbon, and I hope you know by now you can trust me too. I have your back. Always."
An awkward silence filled the room, as Jane gazed at Lisbon's beautiful green eyes like he was trying to read her mind. Lisbon was lost in her thoughts, pondering over what she wanted to say to Jane, when someone knocked on the door.
Minelli poked a head in, spotting Lisbon sitting on the other side of her desk. He glanced around and then noticed Jane seated in Lisbon's chair.
"Lisbon, I need to speak with you in my office, unless I'm interrupting something?" A frown crept at the corners of Minelli's mouth; his forehead wrinkled as confusion swept over his face.
"Not at all, Lisbon and I were just finishing up. She'll be there in just minute." Jane gave a small wink and a nod before Minelli rolled his eyes in response.
"One minute Lisbon." Minelli held up a single finger as if to emphasize his point.
"Yes sir, I'll be right there." Lisbon had finally managed to find her voice. Minelli shut the door and Lisbon spun around to face Jane, finding him studying her expression.
"We can discuss this further if you want, or I can just drop the whole matter. It's your call Teresa." Jane said lightly.
Jane's use of her first name did not go unnoticed. It did not sound unpleasant coming from Patrick's mouth, it was actually something she could get accustomed to hearing. But right now she was Lisbon, not Teresa. And right now she needed to go talk to her boss before he really got ticked off.
"Jane, I need to go speak to Minelli. He's waiting." Lisbon stood up and starting moving towards the door.
"Go to your little meeting and when you get back, I'll be on my couch. If you want to talk you can come talk to me and if you don't, well…I won't bring it up again," said Jane, giving Lisbon an encouraging smile.
Lisbon nodded in agreement and strode out of her office without another word. Honestly, Lisbon wasn't sure what she wanted to do. Part of her wanted to never speak of the matter again. Yet the other part of her desperately wanted to tell Jane how much she cared for him and that she did trust him. From what Jane had told her, she couldn't tell if he was being facetious to get back on her good side or if he was being honest. Then again, perhaps she had already said too much in their previous conversation, she didn't know if Jane had read between the lines or not.
Knocking on Minelli's door, Lisbon shoved her thoughts aside. The matter would have to wait until her boss was done chewing her out anyways. No point in worrying until then.
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6:23 A.M.
"You should've waited. We agreed on that." Jane had stared at Lisbon with utter contempt seething through him..
"What if Hardy had killed you right here?"
"And then he would've led you straight to Red John."
"You'd be dead," Lisbon tried again, pleadingly.
"But you would have Red John."
"I don't think you mean what you say. I think you'd choose life."
"Well you think wrong."
"No. No, you think wrong. Can't you see there's people who care about you, who need you? You're being selfish and childish, and I want you to stop it."
"I wish that I could, but, you know, some things you just can't fix. You needn't be angry, it's just the way of the world."
"We still have Hardy. He's gonna talk. He's gonna give us Red John."
"Right, we have Hardy. Yes."
The scene played out in Jane's mind over and over, cruelly reminding him of the irony of the situation. Lisbon had mentioned Hardy, as if he was the consolation prize for not catching Red John. And then Jane had shot and killed Hardy, to save Lisbon's life.
Despite everything, Jane knew he would make the same decision again. Despite Lisbon betraying their agreement, Jane knew he would choose to save her and kill Hardy. Despite it all, Jane knew that he would do anything to keep Lisbon safe. Jane had never been happier to be wrong, and for Lisbon to be right, even if she was only bluffing initially. He had chosen life; he chose life with Teresa. Now if only she could understand that. If she could just see how her words had changed him.
Jane got up, out of Lisbon's chair, and walked out of her office, his mind busy with all the thoughts flooding his head.
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6:42 A.M.
Lisbon emerged from Minelli's office, walked into the bullpen, preparing herself to say what needed to be said. She paused, looking around and then realized something was amiss.
Jane was nowhere to be found.
TBC!
A/N – Sorry to leave you all with another cliff hanger. It's just so much fun. ^_-
P.S. – I'm intentionally making each chapter at least over 1,000 words. Unless people prefer shorter ones? Let me know, with more of your lovely reviews!