Facing The Truth
A/N: Thank you for all the reviews. Hope you enjoy this chapter. Once again this chapter contains spoilers for upcoming episodes you have been warned.
Disclaimer: No rights to the show.
Jane was just staring up at the FBI ceiling trying to make patterns out of the moonlight reflecting off of it when he heard the elevator ding, he shifted his eyes towards the elevator wondering who would be coming to work this late at night. His eyes lit up when he saw Lisbon coming towards him, he swung his legs over the side of the couch and stood up.
"You are here late," he told her as she stopped right in front of him.
"Yes," she said simply as their eyes met.
"What is wrong? Did something happen at dinner?" He was concerned now, if Pike had indeed proposed then wouldn't she be with him?
"Nothing is wrong but something happened at dinner," she replied as she tossed her clutch onto her desk. "You knew, didn't you?"
He nodded his head "Yes."
They both remained silent, his eyes left hers and moved down to her left hand and he felt his heart drop out of his chest, there on her left hand ring finger was the ring that Pike had shown him earlier, which could only mean one thing.
"You said yes," he lowered his head in defeat.
"Why wouldn't I say yes?" Lisbon questioned him. "I am dating him, moving with him to D.C., so why wouldn't I say yes when he proposed?"
"I just thought-," but he felt his mouth go dry with trying to come up with a reason to why she shouldn't marry Pike. Other than the obvious that he felt something for her.
"Well, you thought wrong."
"So why are you here and not celebrating with Pike?" He asked feeling his temper rising, if she had to be engaged to another man then why come here and flaunt his defeat in his face?
"You tell me why I am here," she countered him. He just laughed and shook his head.
"So you are just here to shove it in my face?"
"No," she shook her head.
"Then why are you-" he never finished his sentence as she grabbed the lapels of his jacket and pulled him into a searing kiss. He stood motionless as her lips molded to his, her tongue tracing his bottom lip, she was actually kissing him. Her hands left his lapels and moved into his hair curling around his blonde curls, he moaned and wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her closer as he opened his mouth seeking out her tongue with his own. He placed his head against her head as he tried to catch his breath from the breathtaking kiss.
"That is why," she panted as she captured his mouth again with hers, she forced him to walked backwards until the back of his knees came into contact with the couch and he fell back onto it. She straddled his hips as she kissed down his jaw.
"Teresa," he whispered as he felt her hands go to his shirt and start unbuttoning it.
"What?" She muttered as she softly bit down on the pulse in his neck, then soothe it with her tongue.
"Shouldn't we take this somewhere else?" He asked as he felt himself losing control.
"No," she moved back a little to look at him, their eyes met and he saw the desire in hers. "I have always wanted to take you on this couch." She told him before she captured his lips again; he smiled as he slipped his hands under her dress.
"Get up," someone kicked his couch causing him to jump.
"What?" Jane asked as he looked around the busy FBI bullpen.
"We have a case," Fischer told him.
"A case?"
"Yes, a cold case." Fischer threw the file onto his chest and walked away.
"Everything okay Jane?" Lisbon asked him from her desk. He sat up and looked over at her.
"What?"
"You seemed like you were having a nightmare, you were moaning in your sleep," she pointed out to him.
"I guess, I don't remember," he said still shaken from the dream he had just had, he hadn't even noticed that she had moved from her desk and was standing right in front of him. She bent a little and looked at him.
"You want a cup of tea?"
"Yea, that would be good," he agreed and looked quickly at her left hand, it was bare. A faint smile played on his lips. Lisbon nodded and headed towards the kitchen, he had to know what she said it was important, getting to his feet he made a beeline to the kitchen.
"How was dinner?"
"Short, Marcus called to D.C, to finalize some last minute paperwork," she told him as she filled the kettle.
"So he didn't?"
"Didn't what?" Lisbon asked curious as she grabbed his teacup from the cupboard.
"Nothing," Jane shook his head and walked over to her. "I will take care of it."
"Okay," she shrugged her shoulder and grabbed a mug for herself and reached for the coffee maker.
"How is the packing coming along?" He asked as he leaned against the counter.
"Slowly," she told him as she poured herself a cup. "Truth be told I should never have unpacked after I left Washington."
"Want help?" He offered quickly.
"Are you sure you are okay?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Because you are never one to offer help unless there is something in it for you," she pointed out. He was annoyed by her characterization of him, he was always willing to help her out no matter what good it did him.
"That isn't true."
"Maybe, but it is packing, Jane, not a lot of fun."
"Nonsense, it could be a lot of fun. 6:30pm I will bring dinner, unless you have plans with Agent Pike?"
"No, he won't be back for a few days."
"Then it is settled," he smiled as the kettle started to whistle.
He knocked on the door to her apartment; she opened it and smiled at him. "You are early," she told him as she moved aside and allowed him. "What did you bring?" She closed the door and led him to the kitchen.
"Chinese," he told her as he followed her, he placed the bag on the countered as she reached over and pulled out some paper plates.
"I already packed the actual plates," she told him as she handed him a paper plate.
"This will be fine," he smiled as he place the plate down and started pulling out the boxes of food with his good arm.
"You want a glass of wine?" She asked as she opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle.
"That would be lovely," he smiled as he watched her grabbed to plastic cups and open the bottle of wine.
"Not fancy but it will do," she handed him the cup. They piled their plates with food and each took a pair of chopsticks out of the bag before heading into the living room. Jane placed his plate on the living room table then went back to the kitchen for his cup, having his arm in a sling was starting to become annoying to say the least. They both sat down at she reached for the remote and turned on the stereo, the soft lull of jazz music filled the room.
"So how far did you get into dinner last night?" Jane asked as he started to eat his food.
"Not far, we had just ordered," she told him.
"And then?"
"What?"
"What happened after Pike got the call?"
She eyed him with a bit of curiosity and suspicion. "What is your obsession with my dinner with Pike?"
"Nothing, I am just being nosy."
"We left and I took him to the airport, that is it, then came back here and packed a little," she told him.
"Okay," he nodded. At least that meant Pike hadn't proposed if he had then she would have told him or at least he hope she would have.
"How is the case coming," she asked changing subjects before taking a bit of her food.
Jane waved it of. "Meh, it is a cold case."
"Meaning?" She asked with her mouth somewhat full.
"There are no real leads just new ones that won't lead anywhere," he told her as he took a bit of his food.
"Where is the case at?"
"Florida," he told her with a slight smirk. "Fischer wants to go there tomorrow to check out the crime scene and interview some witness."
"And you disagree?"
He shook as head and placed his chopsticks down "I just don't see why they need me to go."
"Because you are good at what you do," she told him as she use a napkin to wipe some sauce off her face. He stopped and looked at her.
"What?" She asked felling a little scrutinized all the sudden.
"You have a little sauce still on your face," he pointed with finger.
"Where?" She asked as she used the napkin to try and get it.
"Stop," he held up a hand to stop her then reached over and grabbed the napkin from her hand. "Allow me."
She nodded, he licked his thumb then lifted it to the corner of her mouth, her eyes remained focused on his as he wiped the sauce off the corner of her mouth, he swiped again slowly this time allowing her thumb to skim over her bottom lip, her breath hitched and he removed his hand.
"All gone," he told her before clearing his throat and returning to his food.
"Thank you," she whispered.
The rest of the dinner they remained in silence, listening to the music playing softly. She got to her feet and grabbed both empty plates, she headed to the kitchen where he hear the distinct sound of a trash can opening and closing then the fridge opening and closing, without a doubt she had put the leftover food in the fridge for later. She walked back out to him and he stood.
"Where do you want me to start?" He asked with a grin. "The bedroom?"
"No," she shook her head. "You can just stay down here."
"Got it." He nodded and looked around the room.
"Are you sure you are up to his?" She asked concerned.
"I will be fine, I will stay away from anything that needs to be wrapped," he told her as he walked over to and empty box, grabbed it with his hand that wasn't in a sling then headed over to the book shelf. He dropped the box and started pulling the books down and placing them in the box.
"If you need me, just holler," she told him as she walked up the stairs. "And Jane?"
"Yes," he looked up at her.
"Don't do anything stupid."
"Yes, ma'am," he smirked and went back to work.
At least helping Lisbon pack allowed him to be nosy without the repercussions. He knew from past visits that she had several books on leadership but now she also seemed to have books on psychology and a couple on dealing with lost which struck him as odd since it had been a long time since she lost anyone. He closed the box and went for another empty one before continuing his job; he was nearly done with the bookshelf, only leaving those items that were fragile and required to be wrapped in paper. He took a stepped back to see if he was missing anything when his eyes caught a box on the top most shelf placed towards the back. He wouldn't be able to get it, even if he was on his toes, so he headed into the kitchen grabbed one of the chairs and came back out. He placed it in front of the book shelf and then slowly he stepped up, at this height he was able to use his good arm to get the box and pull it down. Curiosity got the better of him as he stepped down and sat down in the chair he had been using as a step stool. He placed the box in his lap and removed the lid, he gasped as he looked inside, his letters, all of them were nestle inside.
He couldn't believe she had kept the letters; she even kept the shell he had sent. His fingers skimmed the letters as a smiled played on his lips.
"Jane?" Her voiced drifted down to him as she came down the stairs. "Taking a break already are we-" she stopped on the last stepped when she saw what he was looking at.
"You kept them," he whispered, he looked over to her. "You kept all of it."
"Did you honestly think I wouldn't?" She asked as she finally made her way to him. "It was my only connection to you during those years." She grabbed the box and closed the lid, "I never meant for you to see them," she told him as she placed them inside the moving box. She seemed embarrassed…and afraid.
"Why didn't you tell me you kept them?" He asked as he got to his feet.
"Didn't seem important and it hasn't come up in conversations," she explained before taking a deep breath. "We actually have never talked about what happened in those two years."
"No, we haven't," he agreed, he took a step closer to her then looked down. "Maybe we should talk about it before you leave."
"No," she shook her head and nibbled on her bottom lip, "It is over now." There seemed to be some wistfulness there, he wasn't imagining it.
"Teresa," he lifted a hand to cup her cheek, she unintentionally leaned into it. He leaned down to and was mere inches away from touching her lips with his own when there was a knock on the door; they jumped back from each other. Jane was ready to kill whoever was on the other side of that door.
"Who the hell would be here this late," she asked out loud before walking over to door and looking out the peephole. She quickly moved and unlocked the door.
"Teresa," Pike said as he dropped his bag and pulled her into his arms, kissing her.
"Marcus, you're back early," she told him after he broke the kiss.
"Couldn't stay away," Pike told her as he released her from his grip then his eyes settled on Jane. "Jane?"
"Uh, he just here helping me pack," she stumbled over her words.
"That is great," Pike smiled as he closed the front door. "This way we can get every packed before we need to leave."
"You know it is late and I got a case tomorrow," Jane told him as he walked over to them. "I am going to call it a night, if that is okay?"
"Of course, night Jane," Lisbon told him as he opened the door and closed it behind him. Shaking his head he headed away from her apartment and into the darkness.
Jane had taken a taxi back to the FBI, he wasn't in the mood to sleep in his airstream so he made his way to his couch and slept there until light stream in, then he forced himself to head back to his airstream for a shower. By the time he returned Lisbon was standing by her desk talking to Fischer.
"Jane you almost ready?" Fischer asked as he walked by.
"For?"
"We are leaving for the case, remember," Fischer told him.
"Do you really need me?"
"Yes," Fischer told him. "Do I need to have Abbott order you to go?"
"Meh," Jane shrugged his shoulder. He really was in no kind of mood to do anything, he was still frustrated with the events that had almost happened the night before. He'd been so damn close!
"Agent Fischer why hasn't your team left for the airport?" Abbott picked the perfect time to show up in Jane's personal opinion.
"Jane refuses to go," Fischer outed him out.
"Is that true Jane?"
"Yes," Jane nodded his head.
Abbott studied him for a few silent moments. "What do you want?"
"What?" Fischer asked shocked at what Abbott just asked.
"We need Jane on this case and there must be something he wants, so what is it Jane?"
Well this was surprising, usually it took more than just a simple refusal before they turned to bribery. Abbott must be desperate, that would be interesting. Jane looked at each of them his eyes falling on Lisbon last, slowly smiled crept onto his face. "I want Lisbon to go with me."
"What?" Lisbon was taken back. "No, I have packing to do, Jane, I am not part of this team anymore."
"If you don't go I don't go," he told her. "So what is it. Abbott?"
"Agent Lisbon you are still a part of this team until I sign off on the paperwork so you will go with Jane while Fischer stays here."
"Sir, you can't be serious," Lisbon told Abbott.
"You have a flight to catch, agent," he told her before walking away.
"I will get the file for you Lisbon," Fischer told her before walking away from them.
"So Lisbon how does a trip to Florida sound?" He asked behind her.
"Jackass," she muttered before walking away from him, mostly likely she would be calling Pike to tell him the good news; well it was good news to Jane.
To Be Continued.