A/N You know, I was a little bit depressed because no one seems to like this story.. yet. So I just started writing with no real idea what was going to happen. And guess what? This weird chapter actually made my mad mood lift. Really.

:D Tell me what you think about it!

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. Maybe the experiences. Sort of.

Chapter 2: Tea party

It was ridiculous. Ludicrous, even.

She had friends. Not many, but still. She had brothers. She had colleagues who cared about her. She was healthy and wasn't anywhere near poor. She ought to be content with that.

She should be happy with that.

Except that she wasn't happy.
She was nowhere near happy.
Not that she would ever admit it, of course.

Teresa Lisbon was sitting on the couch in her living room, covered in a green blanket. It was stupid, really, since she had looked forward to this moment all day. The entire morning she had done paperwork and hid in her office. She had worked her ass off all afternoon, too, even survived Hightower screaming at her. So the only thing she kept thinking about was how she was going to snuggle up on the couch with a lot of ice cream and with new episodes of her favorite show. It was supposed to be perfect. Lisbon looked at the strawberry flavored ice-cream and pushed the bowl away. Instead of feeling great and relaxed, she felt horrible. Restless.

She felt like she was stuck in a cobweb. Stuck between what everyone expected her to be, how she was supposed to be and who she really was. It made her feel so damn confused. Sometimes, Teresa didn't know how she was supposed to behave around people anymore.

Dealing with all the dead bodies used to fill her with of feeling of justice, contentment even, but now she felt merely empty. Lisbon didn't understand what was wrong with her. For some reason, something huge was missing in her life, but she couldn't understand what it was. After all, she had always been fine before.

Another something: Jane was annoying the hell out of her. After today, she was sure that dating would never work out. He was just so… oblivious and such a pain in the ass.. and too charming for his own good… and totally handsome-

Stop. Where did that word come from?
See? Teresa told herself. It was all his fault she couldn't really concentrate on anything anymore. When he only so much as looked at her she was about to get a heart attack or something. At night she lay awake, thinking about that kiss… But he kept screwing up, making everybody mad at him. Didn't he understand that she had responsibilities? As much as she hated to yell at him, most of the time he really deserved it.

No. dating was not going to work. They were nothing alike. She knew that cancelling the date really upset him, but it wasn't like she knew how to change herself back anymore.

Not until she found out why she was so incredibly lonely.

She turned the TV off, getting tired of all the happy faces on the screen and let the blanket slide to the floor when she got up. Maybe some music would help. In the kitchen she had this radio that she usually only turned on when she was going to shower. The CBI agent pushed some of the buttons and turned the sound up. She jumped a little when a loud song suddenly came out of the small device.

If you're down take it down tonight
Cause it's always a good time
Woah oh-oh-oh
It's always a good time

Well, not always, obviously.
She listened to the cheerful song filling up her very empty room and slowly she managed a smile on a face. Not one of the many strained smiles that she forced on herself all day, but a genuine happy smile. As by a miracle, she immediately felt better.

The song was really easy and catchy, so in no time, Teresa found herself singing along. Yes, she was still lonely and miserable, but maybe she just had to forget that for a while.

Maybe if she believed hard enough, she would actually become happy again.
Lisbon turned the volume up and started to dance, smiling. Imagining how her life would look like if she could indeed just hop in a cap and go anywhere. Be free. No obligations whatsoever.

She was really disappointed when the song ended. As long as the song lasted, she could pretend and actually really, really feel better. So she grabbed her laptop and downloaded it in no time. After the third time she listened to it, though, there was a soft knock on the door. Teresa almost didn't hear it, but since she was a trained CBI agent, it was almost impossible not to notice.

She quickly turned the volume down and glanced through the peep hole. Her eyebrows flew up when she saw who it was. She swung open the door.
"What the hell are you doing here?"

(A/N Guess who it is? XD I wanted to stop here, but decided to continue! :D)

"I brought you some tea!" Jane said with a big grin. "Your favorite, too!"

She couldn't believe this. After disappearing all day and refusing to apologize, he dared to come to her house? To bring tea?

"Go away, Jane. I don't need any more of your… annoyingness outside of work." She ran a hand through her hair. It was a bit messy because of the dancing and she quickly tried to smoothen it down. Her consultant didn't answer. He just raised both of his eyebrows. "What?"
"I thought you were angry, or sad, or lonely, but you seem… happy somehow."
"That surprises you?" Teresa placed her hands in her side. "Can't I be happy outside of work? I'm perfectly fine." She was. Okay, so she wasn't, but he didn't have to know that.
"So I see…" He managed to slip past her and entered her apartment. Oh great, now she was stuck with him. "What a lovely new painting!"
"You should go."
"Oh, and did you repaint that wall?" He purposely ignored her, continuing his inspection of her living room.
"Jane, listen to me!"
"Why did you use that color? Green would suit you much better, my dear."
"Don't call me that! Jane, I want you to go!" Finally he looked up, a little disappointed.
"But Lisbon…" Oh no, not the puppy dog eyes… Shoot. "I got you some tea!" He dramatically held up the box to emphasize his words. "Look! And that's not all…" He waited, trying to increasing the suspense. "I organized a tea party for you!" For a moment she was just too appalled to respond.

"A what?"

A/N Don't forget: reviews brighten my entire day! Thank you House, for reviewing just now!