Minelli was in his chair wearing his permanent superior frown as he stared down at the report.
Lisbon had started a secret tally in her head to find whether Minelli or Cho held the CBI record for least smiles per year.
"Hmmm," he frowned examining it further as if checking for bomb residue.
"Is that a good hmm or a bad hmm?" Lisbon pressed, twisting her fingers.
Minelli put up his hand to silence her as he read further. After what felt like hours, he finally glanced up at her.
"Well, I have to say, I'm surprised, Lisbon. Why the sudden interest in protection detail?"
Lisbon had the answer well prepared in her head.
"You are always saying that I need to take time off and I think a break from all the action would be beneficial. Being on protection detail would be less stressful but still uses all my skills and knowledge in the area."
"Well, that was a well memorised little speech," Minelli said. "I suppose it is nice to have you listen to something I'm saying for once. When did this sudden realisation come to you?"
"I'm not sure, but it kept me up all night," she replied, hoping Minelli wouldn't pick up on her bitter tone and get suspicious.
"I suppose I can see how you would be an asset in protection detail but why are you so interested in the Jane family specifically?"
"I know the case. My connections at the DOJ allow me to have access to all the information and I am better informed about Red John than the other agents on the protection detail," Lisbon said.
Another well rehearsed answer she had prepared earlier. Her experience with Minelli's predictable questions gave her an edge.
"Hmmm," Minelli frowned.
Lisbon made an impatient, frustrated noise. "Is that a good hmm or a bad hmm?"
"Alright, alright," he said. "I'll give you couple of months but you should know that I doubt the protection detail assigned to the Janes will be thrilled about having to share. It isn't exactly a high priority case so they were told it no other agents would be butting in."
"I understand but I assure you, boss, that I will cooperate with them to the best of my ability."
"Yes, you will or I'll have your ass back at your desk faster than you can sneeze. Are we clear?"
"Perfectly, sir."
"Good," he said. "I can try and earn you some brownie points by having you do the night shift for the first few weeks."
"That's settled then," Lisbon said standing up.
"Mmhmm," Minelli frowned again going back to his stack of paperwork and Lisbon took this as her dismissal.
Lisbon left his office and stopped in her tracks when she saw her blonde demon bouncing towards her excitedly and anxiously, unnoticed by the agents wandering the corridor.
"Did you do it? Did it work? Are you…"
"Yes," Lisbon snapped bitterly, under her breath and stalked past him.
He caught up with her. "Don't be annoyed, Lizzy."
"I'm sorry but did you just call me….Lizzy?"
"Yeah, it's like a nickname. A sign of companionship. You know, since we'll be working together kind of."
"Call me Lizzy again and I will search every corner of the known earth until I find a method of abolishing you."
"Bon-Bon, then? Or what about Lizzy Bon-Bon?"
Jane could nearly feel the waves of fury rolling off of Lisbon.
"Fine, no nicknames," he said. "But seriously though, you shouldn't be too annoyed about this."
"You think?"
"Nope," Jane shook his head. "It's a chance to expand your horizons. Carpe Diem!"
"Please don't get all bilingual with me, I can barely tolerate your English form."
"I'm not that bad."
Lisbon looked at him exasperated.
"You break into my house, refuse to let me sleep, stalk me and now you've forced me into changing my job on an indefinate basis," she hissed so the other agents wouldn't hear her rambling into thin air.
"Well actually," Jane said. "I did not break into your house, I went through the door. I didn't refuse to let you sleep, I just didn't help you sleep. Technically, I'm haunting you rather than stalking you. And I would never force you to do anything. I gave you a proposition and allowed you to make the final decision."
"Only you could make blackmail sound ethical!" Lisbon snapped glaring at him while her mind flashed back to that morning.
After three glorious silent hours of sleep, she had kept her word and tried to contact Jane's family. However, there was restricted access to the telephone number, email address and any other method of contact.
"You have to go there," Jane said after Lisbon listened to the disconnected tone of the number Jane had given her which had clearly been changed.
Lisbon looked at him imploringly. "Jane, if your assumptions about your family's safety are correct that I can ensure you that the DOJ have considered it as well which means that they have assigned protection detail to your family."
"Yes, I saw the 'protection detail' when they moved. Thank god, Riley works with an ex-agent so she doesn't have to fully rely on that useless tosser your beloved DOJ employed."
"Your opinion aside, there are already precautions put in place. Clearly, this isn't a high profile case and we cant waste valuable resources on…"
"Cant waste valuable resources," he mimicked in a poor imitation of her authorative voice.
"Do you realise the trouble I would be in if I interfered in this investigation? Hell, I could lose my job simply by knocking on the front door!"
"Then think of a way to not lose your job," Jane shrugged as if it were obvious.
"Okay, Jane. Say I did manage to defy the impossible and side step the law. What do you want me to say? Hey, Mrs Jane! I was just chatting away to your moron ghost of a dead husband who wanted me to tell you that his killer wants to come and chop up you and your daughter?"
"Pretty much, but she'd probably let you call her by her first name."
Lisbon shook her head. "No, no. I did what I could. I tried. There is no way I can interfere with this and keep my badge. I'm sorry but it's not happening, you'll just have to trust that the DOJ has it under control."
Jane looked at her mischievously and began singing again. "Smiles and her laughter. It's the only thing that I've been waiting…"
And that is how Teresa Lisbon ended up in the CBI corridor and put on protection detail for the Jane family.
"I'm proud of you," Jane continued. "I just assumed that you would rather get fired than sleep deprived but then - BAM – Agent Lisbon comes up with a plan to keep everyone happy and everything legal."
"Everyone meaning you."
"Maybe now but you'll be glad you did this in the long run. Trust me."
"And why are you so convinced that your wife is going to believe me?"
"Oh, I'm know she won't believe you and probably will think your crazy. She's a scientist so she doesn't believe in that supernatural crap," Jane said as if he were skeptical about his own existence also.
"Say's the spirit," Lisbon muttered.
"All I need you to do is catch Red John, kill him if possible," he said and added quickly when he saw the look on Lisbon's face. "Self defense of course. And when that's done I'll will leave you free to continue the rest of your life Patrick Jane-less."
Lisbon's eyes nearly rolled in the back of her head at the prospect of her life being 'Patrick Jane-less'.
"And what do you propose I do until I catch Red John?" she asked. "Take up origami?"
"Well, Riley's not coping well, you could always help her with your incredible people skills in the mean time."
"Is Riley your wife?" Lisbon asked.
"Yes."
"She's beyond helping then," Lisbon scoffed. "She chose you didn't she?"
"I think I'm starting to get it now, this whole self-loathing thing you got going on," Jane said thoughtfully.
"Oh please, it's you that I loathe."
"No, no," Jane clarified. "You're a lonely, miserable introvert."
"And you're an annoying arrogant corpse."
"Hey, I was self confident not arrogant. There's a difference.
"My mistake," Lisbon said. "You must've been a real catch. She's a lucky girl."
They both glared at each other and then Lisbon sighed knowing that he wasn't going anywhere until she met his demands.
"Lets go and research your murder then, shall we?" Lisbon said walking to where the files were kept.
"Finally, something your saying makes sense!"
It was certainly weird looking at the crime scene photos. Lisbon felt her stomach squirming at the sight of Jane lying on black pavement in a puddle of shocking red blood, two blossoming patches of red staining his shirt, one on his stomach, the other right where his heart was.
"Gunshots, was it?" Lisbon asked. "I expected something more impressive from such a refined jackass as yourself."
Jane chuckled as he stood behind her. "I guess I deserve that."
"No you deserve much more. What Red John did was kindly compared to the murderous fantasies, I've been brewing up in my head," Lisbon said flicking through other files.
"Who's Ben Cassidy?" she asked as she looked at the picture of a ginormous bear like man.
"He works with my wife," Jane explained. "His family have been really good to my wife and daughter. He's an ex-agent turned forensic scientist."
"Okay, and the other agent on protection detail is…Daniel Foster."
"Miserable little git isn't he?" Jane sneered looking at the photo.
"I don't blame him," Lisbon said. "There's next to no action involved in low profile protection cases. Something I have to look forward to," she glared at him menacingly.
"I can't believe I got roped into this. I thought I was more assertive than that."
"Don't feel bad," Jane reassured. "I'm good at talking people into things, its what I do."
"Did," Lisbon corrected harshly.
Lisbon picked up the last photo clipped in the file.
It was of a child wrapped lovingly in the arms of her mother.
The little girl had had golden ringlets that were bunched up in pigtails on side of her head. She was smiling ecstatically with a dimple denting each of her cherubic cheeks. She was so cute, she looked Photoshopped.
The woman holding her was smiling too and Lisbon couldn't help but noticed the contrast between her and her daughter. Her long hair, so dark it was bordering on black fell across her daughters golden hair in loose wavy curls. Her skin was paler than her daughters but they both had the most amazing deep pure blue eyes.
"Cute family," Lisbon commented.
"Thanks."
"I'm not complimenting you," Lisbon said irritably, her temper firing up again. God, she hated this man.
"Someone's rather snarky,"
"Leave me alone!" she yelled banging her fist on the table.
"Um…Lisbon?" Minelli said slowly by the doorway, clearly concerned.
"Hi, boss," Lisbon said trying to hide her mortification. "Flies. Pesky little things, aren't they?"
"Sure," he said, eyeing her warily. "I'm driving you personally to the Janes so I can explain the situation. I assumed you've briefed yourself on the details of the case?"
"Yep," she said holding up the file.
"Good, lets go then," he said in his usual grumpy fashion.
"See you later," Jane whispered in her ear before disappearing.
000
"What am I doing?" Lisbon said quietly shifting from foot to foot on the porch with her fist hovered in front of the door, unable to make a knocking motion.
There was the doorbell but Lisbon had an irrational prejudge against doorbells. She was always worried about them not working or maybe waking up a sleeping baby. They were an unreliable not to mention an unnecessary invention. She much preferred a good old fashioned knock.
Minelli was making a call by the car and told her to go on. She felt embarrassed and nervous, her palms sweaty as she managed to get out two quiet taps on the door.
It seemed enough though because she heard footsteps approach and someone rattle the doorknob.
When the person answered, Lisbon had her mouth open ready to ask for Mrs Jane when she realised with an unpleasant jolt, a moment too late, that this unrecognisable person in front of her was Riley Jane.
The woman who stood before her though was so different from the beautiful woman in the picture she had seen not more than twenty minutes ago.
Riley's dark hair was limp and lifeless against her skin that looked closer to pallid than pale. The amazing blue colour of her eyes looked weak and washed out like that beautiful cerulean sweater Lisbon owned that was now faded from constant wash and wear.
Lisbon felt like an idiot standing on this woman's porch, unable to form any words that seemed fitting.
"Dr Jane. Riley," Minelli said coming up the stairs. "It's a pleasure to see you again."
He extended his hand to her warmly and Lisbon noticed for the first time the way Riley had her arms around herself, like she was holding herself together and even the tiniest vibration could shatter her.
Riley looked at Minelli's hand knowing that it was polite to shake his hand but seemed unable to take it but Minelli closed his fist and swung it back and forth like he didn't notice anything.
"Hi," Riley said smiling although it looked so obviously pained and unnatural on her face.
"Hi, Agent Lisbon," she said shyly to Lisbon who was taken aback.
"Ah, of course you already know each other," Minelli said tapping his forehead. "I know the Serious Crimes Unit have a good relationship with the Forensics team."
Lisbon felt guilty that she had actually met this woman, probably talked to her too and didn't even commit her to memory.
When Lisbon did venture into the DOJ laboratories her main focus was to get what she needed and get out, not wanting to feel dumb next to the super nerdy scientists in their intimidating white coats and extensive vocabulary. She made a mental note to pay more attention in future.
"Come in," Riley said quickly, just realising everyone was backed up in the doorway like a traffic jam.
Lisbon stepped inside awkwardly and Riley scooped up some dolls scattered along the floor and placed them on the table.
"Sorry about the mess," Riley apologised brushing a limp curl that was dangling by her eye behind her ear and gestured to the toys that were scattered around the room.
Lisbon never understood why people apologised when their house was messy. It was their house for goodness sake.
"It's fine," Lisbon assured her. Lisbon quite liked the mess. It wasn't a dirty mess, it was a good mess. The mess was proof of a real home.
"What can I do for you, Agent Minelli?" Riley asked folding her arms around herself again and leaning against the back of a chair.
"I just assigned Agent Lisbon here to work with Agent Foster."
"Is there a problem?" Riley asked tipping her head to one side slightly.
"No," Minelli said quickly. "Not at all. Agent Lisbon, here, just needed a break from her fast paced job and has agreed to do the night shift and I thought it would be beneficial for Agent Foster to work with an experienced senior agent."
A low throaty noise like a scoff came from behind Lisbon and at first she thought it was Jane, back to annoy her but when she glanced over her shoulder, she noticed a man in a dark navy blue sweater and black pants leaning against the doorway to the living room, glaring at Lisbon with obvious distaste.
"Ah, Agent Foster," Minelli said noticing him as well. "I suppose you heard then too."
"Yes," he said in a smooth, evened out voice. "However, I have some reservations about your decision, Minelli."
"Oh?" Minelli said, feigning surprise, knowing full well what these 'reservations' would be.
"I was told that this was a one-man operation and I have all the experienced assistance I require from retired agent Ben Cassidy. The Janes' don't seem to be in any immediate danger from Red John and I am sure if that incident escalates, I am perfectly capable with dealing with him," he said as if daring someone to tell him that he was no match for Red John.
Lisbon had to admire the young agents confidence although it would probably get him killed one day. Just ask Patrick Jane, she wanted to say to him.
"I think if Red John was going to do anything, he would have done it by now," Riley said quietly from the corner. She was really sick of having Cassidy and Foster hovering around all the time ready to dive in front of a bullet for her. It was annoying not to mention unnerving.
"Its assumptions like that, that will get you murdered, Riley," Foster said to Riley with an air of ownership, like she was some shiny object he had to protect who was obliged to listen to him.
Lisbon silently agreed with what he said but thought that Foster was a tad tactless. Did he really have to be so blunt with her?
"And I thank you, Minelli for your concern," he added. "But I am fairly certain you can put Agent Lisbon to better use. Cassidy and I have the situation here under control."
He made a face when he said her name which riled Lisbon right up.
"You needn't worry, Agent Foster. I just plan on supervising and making sure that your lack of experience doesn't get in the way of performing the task at hand," she answered in the same tone he used with her.
"Play nice, kids," Minelli said putting his hands up. "There's plenty of room in the sandbox. And on that note, I'm going back to the office. Agent Foster, I am leaving it up to you to bring Agent Lisbon up to speed with the investigation and Agent Lisbon, I am leaving it up to you to adapt yourself to Agent Foster's way of working. Clear?"
"Clear," they both said at the same time, glaring at each other.
Riley looked reproachfully at Minelli as if to say 'You're seriously not going to leave me alone with them!',
She looked from one to the other awkwardly wondering how on earth this situation was going to work out. Maybe she could just hang out upstairs with Ben and Emily for the next few months, venturing down into the war zone only when it was absolutely necessary.
Minelli left leaving an uncomfortable silence behind him.
Riley was the first to break the ice.
"Do you need some pajamas for tonight, Agent Lisbon?" she asked. "I think I'm about your size."
"Oh no, thank you," Lisbon said. "My boyf…Dean is dropping a bag off for me for tonight until I can go home and pack properly tomorrow."
Lisbon heard tiny footsteps thumping clumsily across the floorboards. Riley heard the (familiar) noise as well and turned around.
At that moment a little girl, a four year old bundle of beauty came running into the room wearing only a T-shirt and underpants dotted with pictures of strawberries.
"Mummy, where are my shorts?" she said in her tinkling voice. "I mean the denim ones. And don't say, have I looked in the drawer, because yes, I have looked, for ages and ages, and yes, actually, I did use my eyes."
She pirouetted on the spot with her arms held gracefully above her head.
"You've gotten very good at that, Emily," Riley said smiling at her.
"Yes, I am pretty good," she sighed as if it were quite the responsibility. She stuck on her leg and admired her pointed toe.
Then her eyes fell on Lisbon and she exclaimed with surprised happiness, bouncing over to her welcomingly but accidentally tumbled clumsily into her, her head colliding softly with her stomach. Lisbon's hands automatically held the tiny girl up to keep her from face planting it into the carpet.
The little girl smiled up at her with curiosity.
Lisbon thought that Emily was impossibly beautiful: smooth skin with a light cinnamon dusting of freckles across her nose, and enormous dark-lashed blue eyes. Lisbon couldn't help but reach down and lightly touch her beautiful golden hair, the soft wisps of silk intertwining with her fingers.
"Well, you've met Emily then," Riley said with a delicate sigh.
"My name is Emily Olivia Jane," Emily said in her tiny voice, the words sounding rehearsed like she had practiced them. "What's your name?"
"Teresa," Lisbon said, realising she was still holding the girl and gently removed her arms, making sure that Emily had her footing.
Emily wrinkled her nose slight and tipped her head to the side.
"I think I sawed you at the hos-ber-tabel."
Lisbon gasped quietly when she recognised Emily as that crying little girl in the butterfly costume. It seemed obvious why she was crying now.
"Why were you in the hos-ber-tabel, Teaser?" she asked. "Were you sick?"
"I just bumped my head," Lisbon said, unable to keep herself from smiling. Emily just seemed to have that effect on people.
"Is it still sore?"
"A little bit," Lisbon said rubbing the spot on her skull that was still an uneven lump.
"Oh, poor darling Teaser," Emily said frowning then her face brightened. "I know! I'll listen to your heart and be your nurse. Yes!"
Emily skidded off quickly, nearly falling over sideways in her socks on the floorboards and then ran upstairs to her room leaving the three adults again in an uncomfortable silence.
"I'm sorry about Emily," Riley said to Lisbon.
"Its fine," Lisbon said quickly. "She's cute. Not exactly shy.."
"Actually, she has been," Riley said looking straight at Lisbon with her faded blue eyes for the first time. "I think she really likes you. Emily has a scarily good judgment of character."
Lisbon realised after a minute that this was a compliment but before she could thank Riley, Emily came skidding back in with a red cape tied around her shoulders, a toy stethoscope around her neck and a plastic pink first aid kit.
Red lipstick was smeared clumsily across her lips and she had on humongous glasses that magnified her bright eyes. Apparently the search for the denim shorts had been abandoned.
"Okay, Teaser, I'm ready to be your nurse," she said. "Sit down and I'll take your temperature."
Emily walked over to and slipped her tiny hand inside of hers. Charmed by the feel of her small, warm palm, Lisbon let herself be led to the couch in the lounge room.
"Lie down, there's a dear," Emily said kneeling beside her as Lisbon laid down.
"Say arrrr."
Lisbon complied and Emily stuck the toy thermometer in her mouth.
Emily stroked back the hair from Lisbon's forehead and said: "Now I will listen to your heartbeat, patient."
She plugged the stethoscope into her ears and pressed the other end to Lisbon's chest.
She frowned professionally.
Lisbon bit back a laugh. This kid was adorable.
"Ok, patient, your heart is beating," she informed her taking the stethoscope out of her ears.
"Phew," Lisbon played along theatrically wiping her hand across her forehead in relief.
Emily removed the plastic thermometer and looked at it. Her mouth dropped comically.
"You have a terrible fever, patient. You're burning up!"
"Oh no," Lisbon said. "What should I do?"
"You should watch me do a cartwheel," Emily said brightly. "That will cure you!"
Lisbon watched as her little face furrowed in concentration as she attempted a lopsided cartwheel that resulted in her tumbling into the table that Riley had placed her dolls on just before. They toppled off along with Emily's glasses.
"Oops!" Emily exclaimed putting both her hands over her mouth and looking at Lisbon with wide eyes.
Lisbon couldn't help it but laugh now at the sheer impossibility of the extent of Emily's adorability. Lisbon wasn't even sure that was a word (like Patrick Jane-less) but it just seemed fitting to her.
Lisbon then felt a rush of warmth towards her annoying ghost.
At first she had hated the man for putting her through hell but now…now when she looked at Emily she could understand why Jane would go as far as he would to protect this sweet, innocent little bundle of life and Lisbon decided, then and there that she would help Jane catch Red John before he could lay a finger on what was left of this tiny family.
Reviews are very much appreciated.
XOXOXOX
