Author's notes: Thank you to everyone for their reviews and follows. It is really appreciated. I hope you enjoy this second chapter.
The drive back to Sacramento with an untalkative Jane is almost too quiet. Since he can't engage in conversation Jane goes to sleep. Their drives together is usually when they did their best chats as friends and Lisbon was missing it. As they near the address Van Pelt calls with the information that it is the family home owned by her parents: Mr Terrence Banks and Mrs Josephine Banks. They were wealthy, the husband is a surgeon and the wife a CEO of a publishing firm. She turns into the winding drive and Jane starts to rouse. Lisbon shakes her head
'How does he do that!'
She relays the information to Jane as she pulls up in front of the house. It is impressive in size, and looks recently built, Jane takes a 360 degree turn, looking all around him and sniffing the air with a puzzled look. Lisbon finds herself sniffing as well. Jane catches her eye and pulls a face, Lisbon shrugs, she doesn't smell anything unusual. Jane starts wafting the air in front of his nose.
"What? I can't smell anything"
Jane takes a deep breath in through his nose, Lisbon follows. Jane starts gagging, but Lisbon still can't smell anything, she hears the door being opened behind her and turns to face whoever is at the door, she doesn't see Jane's smile behind her.
Lisbon can feel Jane's discomfort coming off him like waves. He is never good with the 'breaking bad news' thing. The parents are being stoic but it is obvious they are only just keeping themselves together. Jane gets up off the couch and starts looking around the room. They were invited into the living room which is decorated in the minimalist style that is popular today in modern houses. Lisbon was surprised to find the parents home but they were in the middle of getting ready to go to the airport for a few days in Italy. A holiday now forgotten. Suddenly a loud crash assaults Lisbon's ears and they all jump up and run towards the sound.
Jane wanders out of the living room, where there isn't much to see, in search for something more interesting. A couple of doors revealed equally bare uninteresting room, one for dining and one for, who knows, one of those extra rooms rich people like to have. Bingo the third one is a gem, library/study. Judging by this room with its traditional dark wood and heavy brown leather, the rest of the house is decorated in the woman's style while the husband was given reign over his own space. He suspects the husband spends a lot of time in this room. As Jane looks over the books filling one wall of the room, he is impressed with the man's reading choices. He moves to the imposing desk set just inside the back half of the room. Every drawer's locked, heightening Jane's curiosity, why would a doctor need to lock every drawer. He checks and there isn't a central locking mechanism, every drawer is locked individually and the key must be on the good doctor. With only a moments consideration he takes out his pick and sets to work on the bottom drawer where the good stuff is usually kept. The drawer is opened in a few seconds and Jane is rummaging through the files found within when a voice halts him.
"Who are you and what are you doing?"
Jane looks up to find himself facing a young man of about 17 yrs of age, dressed in shorts and t-shirt trying hard to achieve a threatening look on his face but it is successfully backed up by the gun he is holding in his hand.
"Let me see your hands and don't think that I am afraid to use this."
He shakes the gun in case Jane doesn't know what he is talking about. Jane puts his hands up and stands slowly, closing the drawer with his knee on way.
"Answer the question. Who are you?"
Jane moves to reach his CBI badge to be rewarded with the boy moving closer, Jane takes a step back.
"Keep your hands up."
Jane quickly returns his hands to the familiar surrender position. Jane mouths that he can't speak, in the hope the boy can read lips. He just becomes more irritated. Another step forward and another back.
"Are you trying to be funny?"
Jane vigorously shakes his head and attempts to point to his throat while his hands are still in the air.
"I'm not finding you funny mister"
The boy moves swiftly towards him and Jane retreats pain explodes in the back of his head, he hears a crash against the wall behind him, before he recovers he is hit in the back again and goes down with the offending object following him and pinning him to the ground. Through his haze he hears:
"CBI Put the gun down."
"Jack what are you doing?"
"I caught this man going through Dad's desk?"
"Jane?"
Jane recognizes the tone of voice and wonders if his chances were better with the boy. He feels the object on top of him being lifted off. He sits up slowly and gingerly touches the back of his head looking up at Lisbon wincing. Lisbon is glaring at him.
"You're perfectly fine Jane. it's just a lamp. Get up now."
Jane takes his time.
"Today Jane"
When he gets to his feet he finds four sets of eyes looking at him. Lisbon and Jack are glaring at him, the Banks look confused. He tries his best sheepish look. Lisbon is not impressed. She turns to the Banks.
"I'm truly sorry Mr. and Mrs Banks for my colleagues behaviour. He is a consultant and gets carried away sometimes thinking he is a detective. His behaviour today in no way represents the standards of the CBI. Jane has lost his voice and is unable to express his apologies but he will be writing you a letter and paying for the damage to your lamp."
She fixes Jane with another glare that Jane read perfectly: best behaviour required, humble, apologetic, no more trouble. He shakes Mrs Banks hand and mouths his apologies, moves on to Mr. Banks, and adds his second hand giving him a long look before letting go. Jack keeps his hand resolutely by his side. Jane salutes him. He looks at Lisbon raising a questioning eye of approval which she ignores.
"Thank you Mr and Mrs Banks, that's all for now. There may be more questions and we will need access to your daughter's room and computer."
Lisbon scurries Jane out as quickly as possible. Over the hood of the SUV Lisbon smiles at Jane as he expresses his affront at the things she said.
"It was nothing less than you deserved."
Lisbon straps herself in to her seat thinking there are definite advantages to a silent consultant.