Life as We Know It
The Accident
A/N - Okay first proper chapter!
DISCLAIMER: None of it is mine!
Enjoy! =)
"Hey guys, where's the Boss?" Van Pelt asked Cho and Rigsby from her perch by her desk, she was holding the phone in her hand and was wearing a frown.
"She's interviewing the victims brother with Jane, why?" Rigsby asked, looking away from his computer screen.
Van Pelt didn't answer him however, instead she spoke into the phone, "I'm sorry she's not actually here at the moment, she's out conducting interviews, have you tried her cell?"
"She broke her cell last week." Cho piped up, and Van Pelt almost cursed, of course she had, "In fact her cell is broken, but I can give you the number of the consultant she's with, if you call his cell you'll reach her." Van Pelt grabbed her own cell and told the person on the phone Jane's number, she then said goodbye and put the phone down.
"That was SFPD." Van Pelt informed the boys, who immediately looked confused, and interested, "They wanted to talk to her about her brother Tommy."
"Do you think he's done something illegal?" Rigsby asked, nosey as ever.
Van Pelt glared at the man, "If he has its none of our business, it's the bosses." She said strictly, "And we should probably finish these reports before Lisbon gets back." She added, causing Rigsby to groan and reluctantly turn back at his computer.
"I'm sorry Mr. Wilkinson, I know this must be a difficult time, but we need to ask you a few questions about your sister." Lisbon said gently to the victims brother, he was clearly in a lot of pain right now.
"Of course Agent, I understand." Mr. Richard Wilkinson said as he sat down on his sofa, "Please, sit down."
Jane and Lisbon did so, and looked to Mr. Wilkinson who sighed, "You're just trying to find out who did this to her."
Lisbon nodded, "Did your sister have any enemies?"
"Not that I can think of, she was one of those people who everyone got on with, it was just who she was." He looked down, and then a look passed across his face, "But she did mention briefly about Lauren starting to creep her out."
A lead, this immediately made Lisbon alert, "Lauren?" She asked.
"Uh yes, the victims ex-girlfriend." Jane answered, Mr. Wilkinson looked at him in surprise, "Yes, how did you know?"
Jane just smiled, too smug to explain himself of course, Lisbon had to stop herself from rolling her eyes, "And Lauren, what exactly was she doing?"
"Oh she was just hanging around Rochelle's place, turning up in coffee shops when she was there, Rochelle said it felt like Lauren was following her sometimes, it weirded her out a little."
"Did their relationship end on bad terms?" Lisbon asked as she scribbled notes into her notepad.
"Not at all." Richard answered, "In fact Lauren ended it, she had to move to Atlanta for work, but she ended up moving back to be with Rochelle, by this point Rochelle was over it and she and Lauren talked things out."
"Alright, thanks very much for your time Mr. Wilkinson." Lisbon said with a smile as she shook the mans hand and left with Jane trailing behind her.
"It wasn't him." Jane said casually when they'd gotten into the SUV.
Lisbon rolled her eyes, smiling slightly, "Oh and did your 'magic powers' tell you this?"
Jane smirked, "No, I just know he didn't do it."
Before Lisbon could come up with a snide remark Jane's phone rang, "Jane." He answered, his smile disappearing almost immediately and a frown appearing.
"Yes, she's here, of course." Jane said, handing the phone to Lisbon, "It's SFPD."
Lisbon frowned, as confused as Jane now, "This is Teresa Lisbon speaking." She said into the phone.
A male voice spoke back, "Hello there Miss Lisbon. We've been trying to reach you for about an hour, you're going to need to come down to the station."
"The station, why?" Lisbon asked, hoping she hadn't done something illegal.
"Around 2 hours ago there was an accident involving a Thomas Lisbon and his wife Rebecca Lisbon, we found you're number in your brothers wallet, you are listed as the emergency contact for situations like this." The man explained calmly.
"Situations like this? What's happened?" Lisbon asked, worry growing in her gut, she felt sick.
"I think I'd better explain at the station Ma'am." The man said, but it was clear to Lisbon that it wasn't a question.
Lisbon bit her lip, "I'll be there as soon as possible." She said, ending the call and handing the phone back to Jane.
Before he could even ask what had happened Lisbon had put her seatbelt on and started the car, Jane opened his mouth to ask what was going on but Lisbon was faster than him, "My brother was in an accident, I need to get to the station."
Jane didn't ask anymore questions and 10 minutes later when they pulled up at the station it seemed like a silent decision was made that Jane would come in with her. She made her way to the desk, trying to keep calm, "I'm Teresa Lisbon, I was asked to come down here on behalf of my brother Thomas Lisbon."
The woman at the desk got a grave look on her face and made a phonecall, less than a minute later a tall, thin man with mousy hair and rickety glasses took them into a small room.
"Miss Lisbon, your brother and his wife were on their way to work when they were involved in a fatal car crash." The man began, Lisbon had feared the worst but when she heard the words fatal her heart dropped.
"An oncoming car slid on a patch of oil that had spilled from a truck the night before and uncontrollably crashed into the car that your brother was driving. The car was flipped, and both your brother and his wife broke their necks with the force and speed of the incident." The man said nervously, as if he expected Lisbon to hit him, "I'm so sorry for your loss."
Lisbon was lost for words, she couldn't believe it, her little brother Tommy was dead, he was the youngest, he had only been 23, and his lovely new wife Rebecca was only 22, they'd been married a year and a half, and they had just had a baby.
That thought made Lisbon's head reel, their baby girl, little Lily Nancy Lisbon, she must only be…what month was it? February…6 months old…"
"They have a baby!" Lisbon said suddenly, breaking the silence, "They have a little baby, was she in the car when-" Her voice broke and eventually the tears fell.
Jane wrapped his arm around her, and she appreciated the gesture. The nervous looking man replied, "No, she was in the care of a babysitter when the accident happened."
"Oh my gosh, thank god." Lisbon said quietly, unaware of the tears that were still streaming down her face, "So what's going to happen to her now? Will she be alright?"
The nervous man seemed even more nervous at this question, "She's been taken to CPS, she's safe."
"CPS?" Jane asked.
"Child protective services." Lisbon replied, turning to the man again, "What will happen to her now?"
Mr. Nervous replied, "Well, she will stay with a foster family briefly until arrangements can be made."
"Arrangements?" Lisbon asked in confusion.
"For adoption." The man said, and Lisbon could only nod as he said he was sorry again and left them alone in the room.
Lisbon stood, and Jane stood with her, "There isn't any point in sitting around here." She said, always so strong, something he admired about her.
They made their way back to the SUV and Lisbon took her phone out, "Who are you calling?" He asked.
Lisbon replied, "My families lawyer."
"Hi there Mr. Peters, this is Teresa Lisbon." She said into the phone, not looking at Jane, "Yes, my brother Tommy was killed in a car accident, I wanted to discuss the arrangements for his daughter Lily." There was a pause, "No, I wasn't aware that he had written a will, yes, of course, half an hour, I'll see you soon." She hung up the phone, "He's coming by my apartment in half an hour." She informed Jane, starting the SUV, "I'll just drop you off at headquarters then head home." She pulled out of the parking space and it was only then that Jane spoke, "I'd like to stay with you Lisbon." He admitted.
And it was something about the way he said it, and the way Lisbon felt, and how she just needed someone right now that made her agree.
"Okay." She said simply, and without another word she drove to her apartment.
TBC.