I FORGOT MY DISCLAIMER, SORRY. I DON'T OWN THE MENTALIST OR ITS CHARACTERS, LALALA.
Lisbon was still crying in the cab, though less heavily now. She just didn't understand Jane, she thought for a moment he was finally going to explain his actions, but yet again he had just ended up hurting her. Lisbon was not a confident woman, she was in her work but in her private life, mainly because she didn't have much time for one, she was less certain. Jane had wanted to say something, she was sure. She might have figured out what it was herself if she was less shy, but Lisbon needed to hear it. That's why James was so refreshing he was blunt. He had asked her out in a normal way and they had a good time. Thinking about James suddenly made her realise how late she was. Taking a few deep breaths she asked the driver to hurry, and started to fix her makeup.
Lisbon walked into the restaurant quickly hoping that James hadn't left. Although she now felt even less up for this dinner than before she didn't want to hurt him. She spotted him over the far side of the restaurant, immaculately turned out as ever. She gave him a quick wave and walked over. James, who normally stood when Lisbon arrived at the table remained seated. Lisbon pretended not to notice.
"Hi James, I'm so sorry I'm late – I had a work thing." James looked at her with disbelief.
"No you didn't, you left work over two hours ago, I saw your car leaving from my window."
Lisbon couldn't believe this was happening. Wasn't it enough that she'd already had a fight with Jane? She didn't want to fight with James too. Lisbon knew she should be polite, but it was all getting to be too much for her. James had a right to be upset but Lisbon didn't deserve this.
"Look James, you know as well as I do that work doesn't necessarily stop when you get home. Someone came over and we had to talk about some things. I came as soon as I could, sorry." It wasn't completely a lie, Lisbon told herself – Jane did work for her after all.
"Who was it?"
"Jane" Lisbon responded absently while she picked through the menu.
"Patrick Jane?"
Lisbon looked up when she heard James's tone, he sounded angry, tense, he was talking between his teeth.
"Yeah, Patrick Jane – you know he's on my team."
"Sure, I just didn't realise he made house calls."
Lisbon looked at James incredulously, "Please don't tell me your jealous of Jane, he's a colleague."
James was staring at Lisbon, mirroring her look. "Oh come on Teresa don't play dumb with me. I've seen the way he looks at you. Half the building think you guys have something going on. The only reason I didn't was because I didn't think you would have such a low opinion of yourself to go out with someone who used to be a fraud and now 'pretends' to do real police work."
Lisbon couldn't believe this. Despite her anger at Jane she couldn't help but defend him. No matter how he had acted over the last few hours.
"Don't say that James, Jane is a good guy. He's been really useful to the team." She wanted to add that he was the reason why her team had the highest case closing rate in the department, but stopped herself. Riling up James's professional jealously at this point would not be a wise idea.
"He's a joke and you know it. Are you going to see him again?"
"Of course I am, we work together."
"I mean out of work – if we continue to see each other would you still think it was ok to have Patrick Jane come round to your house at night?"
"If?"
James just nodded. Lisbon took a deep breath.
"Well yes, he's my friend. I don't see why that should be a problem James, we're all adults." Lisbon couldn't quite understand why she was saying this; James had effectively asked her to choose between him and Jane. Jane had hurt her, but the idea of being told by James that she couldn't see him made that wash away. One thing Lisbon knew for certain was that she couldn't live without Jane, even if nothing ever happened between them. She realised that this also meant she could live without James quite happily.
James stood up. "Well then I'm sorry Tersea, but this....whatever we had going on here is done. I won't be made a fool of. I don't want people talking behind my back about how my girlfriend is spending more time with another man than with me. I have a reputation to think about, and unfortunately, you're obviously not the person I thought you were." With that, James put down some money, removed his jacket from behind his chair and walked out.
Lisbon was speechless. The night had not gone at all as planned. Only this morning she had been happy. She had dinner plans with an attractive man, she had stopped thinking about Jane, and she had the genuine excitement of someone who is enjoying the first flush of romance. Now, she had been left at a restaurant, all happy romance excitement had left her completely and all she could think about was Jane. She thought back to something James had said; half the department thought she and Jane were an item? She couldn't believe it. She was embarrassed that people thought she was so transparent, so unprofessional. Lisbon stood. She wanted to go home. She wanted to get into her pyjamas' and crack open a bottle of wine. James had disappointed her, she thought he was more mature than that, but then perhaps Jane was right. James obviously couldn't have liked her that much if he was so easily intimidated by another man.
"Damn it, Jane." Lisbon muttered to herself, as she stood to leave the restaurant. She hated that he was always right.
The taxi drive home was much less eventful than the one leaving. Lisbon felt surprisingly, well...nothing at having been dumped by James.
***
Jane had settled in for the long haul. He had made himself comfortable on Lisbon's couch, helped himself to a glass of wine, and was flicking through the channels on tv. Sooner or later Lisbon would come home, and he was determined to tell her how he really felt. The slight lingering thought that Lisbon might not come home at all if she went back with James, or worse still, that they might come back here together, did worry him slightly, but he had to tell her - he had waited long enough. Lisbon had not been gone for more than forty minutes when he heard keys jangling in the lock. This was not good, maybe they had decided to skip dinner and just come straight back here. Jane stood up, still holding his wine glass and turned to face the front door. He let out a sigh of relief when he saw that Lisbon was alone. Lisbon herself only stopped for a moment when she saw Jane, completely at home in her apartment, she didn't seem surprised. It looked right somehow. She closed the door behind her and put down her keys and shawl. Jane was finding the silence un-nerving.
"You're home early" he said, flippantly. Lisbon said nothing, but walked towards him. Jane was confused. What was she doing? She came closer and Jane swallowed, she was going to kiss him, he was sure...
But Lisbon didn't kiss him. Without a word she took the wine glass from his hand and drank the red liquid until the glass was empty. She then left the room and headed for her bedroom. Jane was stunned, he hadn't been expecting Lisbon to be silent. He was just wondering what he should do, when Lisbon returned. She had changed into boxers and an old t-shirt. She walked straight through the living room without even looking at Jane and went into the kitchen bringing back the bottle Jane had opened and another wine glass. Sitting down on the sofa she poured out two glasses of wine. Jane was still standing. Lisbon was the first to speak.
"Well, sit down then."
Jane sat down next to Lisbon. He was confused, why wasn't she mad at him, why wasn't she shouting? But first beyond all these questions he had was why was she home so early. He needed to know, and he didn't want to wait any longer. Taking a sip of wine for courage, Jane looked over at Lisbon. She was clutching her wine glass to her chest and had her eyes fixed on the tv. Jane took a breath,
"Ah, Lisbon"
"mm?" Lisbon responded, without looking up. Jane continued cautiously...
"Why are you back so early? Where's James?"
Jane's question was met with silence. He wondered if Lisbon had heard him. Lisbon had heard him, but she was thinking. She was back early because she had basically told James that she liked Jane more than him. She could tell Jane that, or she could lie. Lisbon decided to just tell the truth. What did it matter now anyway? Whatever James and her had had was over, she was going to give Jane one last opening. She had nothing to lose, her life would just go back to normal. Work and work, and she was fine with that. Just as Jane was about to ask her again Lisbon spoke without looking at Jane.
"He made me choose." She said simply, shrugging her shoulders.
Jane was confused. He was an observant man but when it came to Lisbon he sometime struggled.
"Choose? Choose what?"
"Between you" Lisbon said. She looked over at Jane, he looked non-plussed. Lisbon sighed, for a smart man he could sometimes be incredibly dense.
"James made me choose" she said again "between you...and him."
Jane hadn't been expecting that at all. A small smile began to play across his lips as he realised which choice she must have made. There was hope. He had another chance to get Lisbon, and this time he wasn't going to screw it up.
