Chapter 3
Jane was frozen to the spot. He couldn't move, couldn't breath.
"Please, no. No, no, please." was the only thought controlling his mind. The bag of food had fallen from his hand. He suddenly became aware of his racing heart, and the fact that he was hyperventilating.
Adrenaline kicked in, and Jane slammed the door open. He raced into the house, searching first the living room, than the kitchen. He couldn't't't't find her. The thought ran through his mind, that if Red John had gotten her, she'd be in the bedroom.
He raced to her door, and tried the handle. It was locked. Visions of Grace laying dead were flying before his eyes. He hesitated a moment, than using strength he didn't't't know he had, he flew back and kicked the door out.
The door flew into the room, landing with a crash on the floor. Jane ran into the room, and something hard hit the back of his head. The force sent him sprawling on the floor. Snapping his head around (and wishing he had'nt) he saw his attacker.
A very stunned, horrified, Grace Van Pelt holding a baseball bat. Relief flooded through him, making him feel almost giddy. He stood up, ignoring the throbbing pain in the back of his head, and had the urge to go and hold Grace in his arms in relief.
"Jane, what are you doing?" She asked, he could tell that she was coming down off adrenaline the same as him.
He sagged against the wall and put his hand on the back of his neck.
"I had to make sure you were ok." He said. Grace looked confused. "Your front door." He said, and Grace left, Jane following behind her. She looked at her door, and color drained from her face. Terror was written all over her face, and Jane felt such hopelessness because he couldn't't't make it go away.
"He was here." Was all she could get out. "He was right here."
"Ma'am!" someone shouted, and Jane saw Officer Moore come running up the path to the door, his weapon drawn.
"Are you alright Ma'am?" he asked when he reached the door. Before Grace could answer, Jane cut in.
"Red John was right here Officer!" he nearly shouted, "And where were you?"
"Sorry sir, we where making are rounds, checking the neighborhood." Moore said.
"From now on, you never stop watching this house. You always have at least two men watching, the rest can do the patrol." Jane saw the bag of food he had dropped, and grabbed it. "And I want you to get a cleaning team out here as soon as possible, and clean this door off."
"Yes sir." Jane slammed the door, wincing slightly cause the loud noise jarred his head a little. He gently guided Grace into the living room, where she sat on the couch. He took the food into the kitchen.
The lids of the smoothies had burst off when he dropped it, so he threw the whole bag away. He made two fresh cups of tea, and took them out to Grace. He gave one cup to her, which seemed to break her out of her spell.
"Your head," She asked, "are you alright?"
"I'll be fine. You waked me pretty good though." He said, joking a little. Grace looked miserable.
"I'm so sorry. There's some Tylenol in the cupboard above the sink. I'll go grab some for you." She moved to stand, but Jane put his hand on her arm, stopping her.
"I got it." He said. He went and grabbed a couple, swallowing them with a drink of his tea. He sat back down on the couch next to Grace.
"It is my fault though, I did break down your bedroom door." This got a small smile out of Grace, which was exactly what Jane wanted. He needed to get her mind off of what just happened.
"To be honest, I didn't't think you where that strong." She said, a little sheepishly.
"Neither did I." Jane said with a laugh. Grace smiled at him, she could tell what he was doing, and she appreciated it. Jane smiled back, drawn in by her smile.
Jane brought his attention back to reality, and turned his head to the side, and he noticed the pictures again.
"Those two are really great," he said pointing to the pictures, "it's weird, but it feels like they have this calming effect."
"Yeah, those are two of my favorites. And they do to have a calming effect. Sometimes, after a hard day at work, I'll just sit her and look at them. I was lucky to get such great shots." She finished almost as an after thought.
"Ah, I had thought you took them. The mountains being in," he paused a moments, as if to think, "Canada somewhere, west coast. And the beach would be our own sunny California, but not a very popular beach." He said.
"You know, it's almost scary how good at that you are." Grace said, laughing slightly. "The mountains are in this little town in British Columbia, right on the main highway. It was a family vacation when I was 16. The beach is from the same trip. We stopped at this little pull out to stretch, and here this little beach was. It was really amazing." Her eyes had become lost in memory, and she sat starring off into space.
Jane looked at her, trying to figure her out. True, there where some things he had guessed at that had hit close to the mark, but he didn't't really know much about her. He noticed that she almost looked sad, and that twisted something inside him.
He broke himself out of his musing and glanced at a clock.
"We should be getting to work." He said. Grace nodded.
They both rode in Grace's jeep, with Jane driving.
"It won't take much time for everyone else here to notice that I'm always with her, if we start car pooling." He ruefully thought to himself. "It's not going to be a secret very much longer, I am staying at her house." This thought almost stopped him. He hopped nobody (especially Rigsby) took that information the wrong way.
The two of them where almost run over by their co-workers as soon as they got off the elevator.
"Are you alright?" Rigsby asked Grace anxiously. She nodded.
"On of the officers reported what happened." Lisbon said, "Grace, I want you to take the next couple of days off."
"Boss.." Grace started to say.
"This isn't an option Van Pelt. A lot of crap has happened to you the last couple of days, you need time off, or your going to explode." Lisbon added in her 'no nonsense' tone. Grace nodded, but she looked quite put off.
Jane looked questionably at Lisbon, and an unspoken agreement was reached between them. Which basically said, "how are you going to work me going as well?" and "I'll tell Rigsby and Cho the reason why" then "thank you", followed by "just don't make a butt out of yourself, she needs to relax".
Jane and Grace left the building they had just entered, Grace not even raising an eyebrow when Jane was with walking with her.
"I don't think I can stand going back to my home right now." Grace said once they where in the car. Jane looked over at her, and saw a fraction of the emotional storm that was raging inside her. What was brought out the most was fear.
"We don't have to." He said, hurting because of her fear. "Anything you want to do, we can do." She turned to him.
"Really?" she asked quietly. He nodded. "Can we go to a park? I feel like being outside."
"OK." He said, as he started the engine and drove them to the nearest park.
They walked in silence for a few minutes, before finding a bench to sit on. Both let each other remain in their own thoughts for a while.
"When was the last time you took a day off?" Grace asked, breaking the silence. Jane thought for a moment.
"I can't even remember. I don't like not having anything to do." He said.
"You didn't need to come," Grace said, "and you don't have to stay. I don't want you to… I don't want you to start feeling awful while trying to prevent it in me."
"I want to be here, Grace. I need to make sure you stay ok. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you." Grace turned her head and looked at him quizzically. "Besides, it's not like I'm not doing anything. Keeping you preoccupied is s a full time job." He added the joke hurriedly. Grace shook her head, smiling. "So, what do you want to do?"
Grace rested her head in her hands, and 'hmm'd. She looked at Jane.
"I honesty don't know. I guess I haven't taken a day off in a while as well."
Jane grinned, an idea forming in his head.
"Lets just walk around. We'll do whatever we want to do when we see it. Just be completely relaxed." Grace smiled.
"That sounds great." She said.
And so they spent the day, just wandering around Sacramento, doing whatever. They talked about insignificant things, like past pets, cases or growing up. They played Frisbee, got ice cream, ate pizza. Nothing really great was accomplished, but to both of them, it was one of the best days they'd had in a while.
It was dark when they finally got back to Grace's house. Both were silently relived that a crew had gotten in and cleaned the smiley face off, but the memory was still there.
Jane went and put the few things that they had bought away, while Grace went to the guest room to get it set up for him. Jane had taken of his jacket, and rolled up his sleeves.
When he was putting away some of the things, the thought came to him that this sort of thing was familiar to him. But more than that, it was comfortable. It felt…
His thoughts where interrupted by the door bell. He wondered who it could be at this time of day.
"Uh, Jane can you get that, please?" Grace's voice called from the other room.
"Sure." He called back, walking to the front door. He opened the door to see Rigsby standing on the front step.
"Hi." Rigsby said, perhaps a little awkwardly, "I just stopped by to see if Grace was alright."
"Who is it?" Jane heard Grace say, coming up behind him. She stopped when she saw Rigsby. Her eyes flicked briefly to Jane, and there was possibly a small blush on her cheeks. Rigsby smiled warmly when he saw her. Jane felt a small uncomfortable twinge in his stomach.
"Hey. Just wanted to check that your ok." He said.
"I'm fine. Thank you for checking." She replied.
"I'll be going now. I, uh, I just want to talk to Jane for a minute first." Grace looked between the two men.
"Ok. See you in a couple days." She said, and walked back into the house. Jane set out onto the step, and closed the door. Rigsby cleared his throat awkwardly.
"So, Lisbon explained what your doing." He started, trying not to feel awkward.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to let anything happen to her. This is just for her safety." Jane said to him.
"Ok, just… look after her, for me." Rigsby asked. Jane nodded and watched as Rigsby got back into his car and drove off.
He walked back into the house, locking the door behind him. Grace was leaning against the wall near the kitchen.
"What did he want?" she asked.
"Just wanted to talk." He said. Grace rolled her eyes, slightly irritated with his lack of information, but that was normal.
"Well, I'll show you your room." She said, as she walked to the guest room, Jane following her.
"It's not really a bedroom. It's the TV room." She explained when they came in. "The futon does pull out, in a hide-a-bed." Jane sat down, trying out the couch.
"It feels great." He said. Grace nodded, happy that he was going to be ok. She stayed standing in the door way for a minute. Jane could tell that she didn't want to sleep, for fear that her dream would be pleasant. He knew the feeling very well. He almost said something, but Grace beat him to it.
"I think I'll turn in." she said.
"Goodnight Grace." He said, as she was leaving the room.
"Goodnight Jane." She replied, before going into her room, which was right beside his.
Jane stayed awake for a while, thinking about the day. He smiled as an idea came into his head, of how to make tomorrow an even better day.
Jane woke early the next morning, trying to make his mind forget his nightmares. He grinned when he remembered his plan. He went into the kitchen to prepare a good breakfast, he was going to make this day flawless.
He mixed some pancake batter up, and set it cooking. He also got some bacon frying. To top it off, he mixed up some orange juice and whipped cream.
Grace came stumbling into the room right when the first batch of pancakes where done. Jane flashed her a brilliant smile.
"Perfect timing." He said as he directed her to sit down, and sat a loaded plate in front of her. He filled her glass, then sat down with his own plate.
"Thank you." Grace said.
"Gee, no need to sound so suspicious, it's not like it's poison or anything." He said, feigning hurt feelings.
"Sorry, it's just, I never would have expected this from you." She said. Jane grinned broadly at her.
"Well, today is going to be awesome. I've got it all planned, so you don't need to worry. Just follow my lead."
"Why does that sentence not fill me with confidence?" Grace replied, smiling.
They had a pleasant conversation during breakfast, and when they were done, Jane took care of all the dishes.
"Ok, go get changed into some sun clothes, and get your camera. Where taking a bit of a road trip." Jane said when they were done. Grace narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"Fine, but this better not be anything I'll make you regret." She threatened.
"Where's the faith?!" Jane called after her as she left for her bedroom.
A few minutes later, she came out, wearing tan shorts and a dark pink tank top. Her camera bag was slung over her shoulder. She went into the living room to find Jane, and she stopped when she saw him.
He was wearing dark blue shorts (which could be mistaken for swimming trunks) that had a deep red line down the sides. He also had on a light blue t-shirt. Combined with his blond curls, it made him look like a surfer.
"Come now, I can't look that good." Jane mocked.
"I'm just not used to seeing you in anything but your suit. I was beginning to think you had been born in one." She replied, blushing slightly.
"Lets go." He said, grabbing her by the shoulder and leading her out. He was really exited, and it was contagious. They got into his car, and drove.
And drove, and drove. By the time they had actually gotten to the destination, Grace had fallen asleep. Jane gently shook he shoulder.
"Grace, we're here." He said, as she woke up. She stretched her arms out.
"Where are we?" she asked, confused.
"Get out and see." He said, grinning. She got out of the car and looked around. They were at the beach. Grace turned and grinned at Jane, looking more exited than Jane had seen her in a while.
"I thought this would be a good place to come to. We can relax, sit in the sun, take pictures." Jane said, pulling a blanket, umbrella, bucket set and picnic basket out of the car.
They walked out onto the sand, the beachcombers already there staring at them. Grace couldn't really blame the stares, seeing as they had five police officers following them. Jane chuckled at them.
He set up the stuff not very far from the as Grace began to take some pictures around the area. When she looked back at him, she say that he had begun to build a sandcastle.
An hour later, Grace was still taking pictures. She had to admit, this was a great idea, photography always did help her calm down. She walked back tot where Jane was, and looked at his sand master piece.
It was amazing. It was huge, a full blown castle with several towers, battlements, even a draw bridge and moat. Jane had finished a while ago, and was now laying on the blanket. She snapped a few pictures of the castle, and a couple of it's creator.
"Now for some fun!" Jane called, making Grace jump. She thought he had been asleep. He lifted himself up on an elbow, looking at Grace.
"You do swim, right?" he asked teasingly.
"Yes, I do." Grace replied slowly, as if to a child, "But I'm not going to right now." Jane sat all the way up, and pouted.
"Aww, why not? It'll be fun." He whined. Grace shook her head, and put down her camera.
"Fine, fine. I'll just have to make you the way your brothers used to.." Grace looked at him quizzically, and he sprung. Before she could even begin to think what he was doing, he was over to her, tickling her.
Grace began laughing like crazy, trying to fight him off and run at the same time. Her laughing got Jane laughing, as they fought each other, and moved around their little spot of beach.
Suddenly, they both fell over, into the water. They both jumped up from the shock. They looked at each other and started laughing again. Grace got an evil smile, than, scooping her hands, splashed Jane.
He stood there, water dripping down his face, in mock horror. Then he proceeded to throw water on Grace. Soon, both where splashing each other, running through water, and soaking wet.
Deciding to end the water fight, Grace tackled Jane, knocking him to the ground with her on top of him. His head hit the wet sand, their lower halves still in the water.
"Alright, I give up!" Jane said, out of breath from laughing and running.
"And that is why you don't get in any kind of fight with Grace Van Pelt." Grace said, gloating. Jane briefly noticed that her hand was on his chest before she rolled off of him.
The trudged back up to their spot, soaking, exhausted and completely happy. They both fell onto the sand, eyes closed and enjoying the feeling of the sun on their wet skin. One of the officers carefully put down the camera he had been using.
They got home late again. Both where still flushed with happiness and the fun they had shared.
"I don't want this day to end." Grace said as they entered the house.
"We can put in a movie." Jane suggested, not at all eager for the day to be done either. Grace agreed to that, and they went into the TV/Jane's room and looked at the selection of movies.
Jane noticed a theme among her movies.
"X-Men 1-3, Kate and Leopold, Australia, Van Helsing. I'm guessing you're a Hugh Jackman fan." He teased. Grace shrugged, already sitting on the couch.
"Hey all I can say is, thank you Captain Cook for discovering Australia."
They settled on a movie, and set in to watch it. When it was over, Jane say Grace stifle a yawn.
"We can quit now if you want." He suggested. Grace shook her head.
"No, I'm good for another." She replied too cheerfully. Jane looked at her.
"Fine." She said, relenting. "I don't want to go to sleep. I don't want to have nightmares and be remained of everything I've been trying to forget."
"I know the feeling." Jane sympathized, and put in another movie.
About half way through it, Grace was completely asleep, and Jane was almost all gone. Without realizing it, Grace slipped down the couch and ended cuddled up against Jane. He was tired enough that he didn't even notice when he put his arms around her, drawing her closer to him, resting his head on top of hers.
