Part Two

Jane smiled as he stroked the soft cheek of the sleeping newborn. He still couldn't quite believe that five months ago, he had been sitting at work with his wife when she had broken the news that they were expecting. Lisbon had looked so terrified, like he would react badly or something. Like he would blame her for the pregnancy, when quite obviously it always took two to tango. Besides, a baby was something special, not to be frowned upon. And he already treasured his new daughter as much as he treasured his first. She couldn't replace that little girl, but she was her half-sister, but she had already carved her own special niche into his heart.

Lisbon was sleeping too, obviously exhausted. She had never took well to the pregnancy and he had a sneaking suspicion that she was glad it was all over. He knew it had been hard for her; she was a woman so focussed on her career she had nearly excluded everything else out. Jane had almost found it funny just how frustrated she had become at not being able to do absolutely everything her job usually entailed. Her desperation for coffee had almost been endearing, too. And she had loathed the way people expected that just because she was pregnant, she wouldn't mind them touching her bloated belly.

There was a knock at the door. Jane beamed and ushered in Van Pelt, Rigsby and Minelli, urging them to be quiet. He didn't want his two girls to be disturbed, despite the fact he wanted to play the proud father. They crammed into the small room, all beaming with gifts of flowers, cuddly toys and other paraphernalia. Rigsby explained in a hushed breath that Cho was holding fort back at the office, but they all couldn't wait that long to meet the new arrival.

"She's so beautiful," Van Pelt sighed, "what's her name."

"Caitlyn," Jane murmured in response, "Caitlyn Elisabeth Jane."

"Congratulations, mate," Rigsby announced.

Lisbon stirred slightly and all eyes trained on her. As she came around fully, she was only mildly surprised to see a room full of CBI Agents, all beaming excitedly at her. She let out a breath, slowly and carefully. This was absolutely not what she wanted right now. She was still tired and sore. And ever so slightly freaked out at the idea of being a mother; that the little person in the crib at the end of her bed was entirely reliant on her and Jane.

"Hey," she muttered, whilst scrambling to a sitting position. She suddenly became very conscious of just what a mess she looked. "Thanks for coming."

"We just couldn't wait." Van Pelt was practically exploding with excitement. "She's gorgeous, boss. Absolutely gorgeous."

After more rushed congratulations, baby Caitlyn began to wail a little. Jane gently picked her up and handed her to a petrified looking Lisbon. He whispered to her comfortingly, ensuring that she would be alright alone for a few moments and that she wouldn't hurt Caitlyn. The others took this as the sign to leave and Jane bid them farewell in the hallway. He did, however stop Minelli for a few extra words whilst Van Pelt and Rigsby disappeared around the corner.

"Boss? Teresa and I, we were wondering if you could be a surrogate grandfather of sorts to Caitlyn?" Jane queried, "after all, our parents are dead and I wouldn't want her to miss out."

"Jane, I'd be honoured," Minelli replied, an uncharacteristic beam traced across his features. "I think you'd better get back to that wife of yours, though. And my, well, grandaughter."

"Yes, sir."

Once he had replied, Jane didn't bother to watch Minelli leave. Instead, he walked straight back to his wife and child. His new little family. He grinned, but stopped as soon as he saw Lisbon in tears and their daughter still screaming. Jane rushed to her side and gently stroked her cheek, cutting through the tears and pushed a loose strand of dark hair behind her ear.

"I don't know what she wants," Lisbon replied, shakily, "she's refusing to eat and she won't settle and…"

"Hey, hey, calm down." Jane took the baby from her arms, cradling her gently. "We'll work things out, I promise."

"People say it's meant to come naturally."

It turned out that Caitlyn had simply been disturbed by the noise of so many visitors in such a short space of time. Jane quickly, almost expertly, settled her down before returning his attentions to his sobbing wife. Lisbon could handle being in the middle of a shoot out, facing hardened criminals and managed to take down men twice her size, yet she was terrified of a baby. Her baby. Jane placed a chaste kiss on her forehead and allowed her to snuggle into the crook of his arm.

"Don't worry, it will come. We'll learn, it's just a matter of time."

Lisbon and Caitlyn were discharged by the end of the week and Jane couldn't be happier to get them home. There wasn't the white picket fence, not yet anyway, but it was only a matter of time. And at least Lisbon seemed less shaky around Caitlyn, and more willing to be around her on her own. The rest of the team dropped by several times, and each and every time they were more reluctant to leave. At only a five days old, Caitlyn Jane already had five people wrapped around her little finger. That had to be some kind of a record. Jane was slightly concerned, however, that one of those was not her mother.

It was night, their first night home alone, and they were stealing a couple of hours sleep until Caitlyn woke up for her night-time feed. Jane relished in the feeling of having his arm wrapped around a wife and the knowledge that he had a baby sleeping beside them. Five years ago, he would have laughed in the face of anyone if they tried to tell him that he would actually feel this contented again. A now-familiar cry echoed around their bedroom, quickly followed by a groan from Lisbon.

"I'll deal with her," she muttered.

Jane nodded slightly as she evacuated the bed, scooped up the child and left the room. He tried to sleep, really he did, but he always seemed to struggle without her by his side. Lisbon had become reassuringly constant, and Jane had latched onto that. It was only when she had been missing for what felt like an age, though was only realistically about two hours that he grew concerned enough to get up. He stumbled through to their living room, where Caitlyn was snoozing in her carrier. He tore through the house, frantic yet she was nowhere to be found.

Lisbon was already heading out of the state. She just couldn't do this anymore.

A/N: Is this when I start the evil laughing? x tromana