Scarlet Fever: Lisbon and Van Pelt share a moment in the hospital, post Strawberries and Cream.
The harsh smell of illness and ammonia greeted Teresa Lisbon as she groggily sat up in her white-clad hospital bed. Immediately she groaned as a stabbing pain shot through her left thigh, and she jerked back onto the pillow, a wave a nausea flooding her body. Blinking her eyes rapidly, she felt the crust of yesterday's mascara and frantically tried to push through the fog of sleep that clouded her head, to remember why she was lying alone in a hospital.
Before she could collect her thoughts, her door banged open and a familiar redhead stormed into the cramped room. The lack of puffy red blotches around the girl's eyes confused Lisbon. Why hasn't she cried, she thought, considering she had just been forced to shoot her traitor of a fiancé, but the beauty's words tumbled out in a sweet medley of selfless concern, "Oh my gosh Boss, how are you? Are you alright? What did the doctors say? They weren't going to let me see you but I came anyway, I was so worried." Lisbon's mouth hung open as she tried to process the several questions the pretty young agent had just asked. She spoke slowly and deliberately when she answered, trying to calm the haughty atmosphere the room had suddenly taken on. "I'll live." She said simply, before continuing "I haven't spoken to anyone yet. Van Pelt…"
The flame-haired girl held up a hand. "I'm sorry. I'm just so…tense." She took a deep breath and exhaled shakily. "I want to apologise Boss." Lisbon's brow wrinkled in confusion, and she sat up, more gently this time, to look the younger woman in the eye. "Grace? Listen to me very carefully. You have nothing to apologise for."
"But…" protested Van Pelt. This time it was Lisbon's turn to hold up a hand.
"No buts." she stated firmly, but her expression softened when she saw the tears threatening to spill over in Van Pelt's eyes. "Oh, Grace..." Lisbon stammered, lost for words. What could she say that would comfort the poor young girl? Helplessly, Lisbon gestured instead to the chair next to her bed, in which Van Pelt flopped gratefully, looking suddenly exhausted as the tears finally overwhelmed her, spilling silently down her porcelain skin.
Lisbon froze. She did not do well in situations like this with her own family, never mind a young girl whom, she suddenly realised; she didn't know that well despite spending every working day with her. So she did the only thing she could thing of to fill the uncomfortable silence. She leaned over and awkwardly patted the young girl's shoulder, rubbing soothing circles into the bone, like her mother had done for her when she was a little girl. The loud cloud on the wall counted the many minutes the two woman stayed like that, sobs wracking a young redhead's frame while a petite brunette comforted her. The room was utterly silent, save the tiny whimpers occasionally emitting from Van Pelt.
Finally, Grace seemed to remember herself, and sat bolt upright, frantically wiped the tears from her mascara-stained face. She laughed nervously, trying to rearrange her face into the brave mask she had been wearing when she came in, but her boss saw right through her act of bravado. After all, it was Lisbon's trademark expression. "It's ok." She assured the young girl, who looked at her thankfully. "I just-" Van Pelt began, then hesitated. Lisbon's piercing green eyes probed her questioningly. The brunette nodded at Van pelt to continue. The redhead took a breath and pointed her eyes to the ceiling before continuing. "I just can't believe I fell for it. I…I loved him Boss. And he used me. Ugh!" she shuddered, leaning heavily back into the chair. Lisbon smiled. She wanted to say that the only reason the girl in front of her had fallen for the wrong man was because she was young, inexperienced, and naïve. But thinking of a certain incorrigible consultant, Lisbon knew that was a lie. She sighed. "Grace, sometimes, you just can't help who you fall in love with." She said wistfully.
Grace looked at Lisbon thoughtfully and murmured a vague, "Yeah, I guess." Then the rookie looked at Lisbon with a worryingly sly glint in her watery hazel eyes. "So," she began with renewed gusto, "What are you gonna do about Jane?" she asked pointedly, emphasising the word Jane in a way that Lisbon didn't like.
"What about him?" Lisbon choked, attempting to be coy, but she could feel the blush creeping up from her neck already. Van pelt looked at her with a deadpan expression that could've given Cho a run for his money (which he would've betted, thought Lisbon).
"I'll probably talk to the Sac P.D, see if there's any way we can find out what happened, and what his sentence'll be." Lisbon avoided eye contact with the younger agent's scrutinising gaze as she spoke nervously.
"Teresa," Van Pelt's disbelieving tone and use of her boss' first name shook Lisbon. "You know as well as I do that isn't what I meant." Van Pelt gazed straight into her boss' emerald-green eyes, all hint of humour or cheer gone from her voice. She was deadly serious.
Lisbon started. Of course she knew what Van Pelt meant, but she didn't think she had been so obvious. For God's sakes, could no-one have a private thought in that damn CBI? She fiddled anxiously with the cross pendant around her neck and chewed her lip as she tried to think of a way to deny that she was in love with Patrick Jane. But she knew she was beaten. However, that didn't mean she would willingly lose this battle of wits. "Hey Grace, I'm kinda tired, and I'll bet Rigby and Cho are looking for you." She stated, her implication clear. "No problem!" chirped Grace, once again cheerful, and she quickly got up and headed for the door. Lisbon panicked slightly as the young agent reached for the handle. What if she told? "Hey, Van Pelt?" she called, her voice rising.
The beautiful rookie swung round and said simply, "I won't. And Boss, thanks."
Lisbon nodded, and smiled in disbelief as the door clicked shut.
