Chapter 7: Wonderwall

Thursday, 10:10 PM

Patrick Jane passed by the table, but stopped when he saw Sally and Cho making out. Yes, legitimately making out in full view of all Cho's superiors. They were sitting in their same seats, leaning into each other while kissing passionately. Jane stood paralyzed for a moment as he processed the scene in front of him. Then he grinned devilishly and quickly pulled out his phone to get the make-out session on video. He knew Van Pelt and Rigsby would want to see Cho kiss a supermodel. Lisbon would probably want to see it too, though she'd never admit it. It took a full minute for the couple to notice Jane filming them. "Jane!" Cho managed to get out. Jane gave them a sailor's salute paired with an innocent smile before turning around and hastily resuming his search for Lisbon. Cho was tempted to pursue him, but Sally held him back with another kiss that erased any anger he harbored towards the consultant.

Jane found Lisbon sitting on the same stool he had been sitting at earlier. He snuck up behind her and poked her in the side. She jumped, obviously ticklish, before abruptly turning around with the intention of giving the antagonist a piece of her mind. When she recognized Jane her anger quickly dissipated and was replaced with curiosity.

"I'm sorry." Jane admitted, moving so he could lean against the bar, seeing as all the seats were taken.

"For what?" Lisbon countered, raising her eyebrows slightly. Jane shrugged.

"I have a way of killing conversation." He explained, and then proceeded to order a glass of water from the bartender. Lisbon eyed him suspiciously. Jane turned back to her. "I'll make it up to you," he offered sincerely.

"Oh really?" Lisbon asked with a subtle grin, still suspicious of Jane's next move. The bartender returned and handed Jane his water.

"A slow dance." Jane answered, returning the smile. He took a sip of water before continuing. "You don't have to talk during a slow dance." He explained with an apologetic smile. Lisbon just kept smiling. "Do you have a song request?" He added. Lisbon pretended to think over the question, before giving him an answer.

"Wonderwall." She replied. Jane smiled and then left the bar. He took only a few steps before abruptly returning to Lisbon.

"Stay here." He added, before leaving again.

10:21 PM

Jane found it interesting that CBI rented an entire hotel for a fundraising dinner, yet they didn't spend any money on a band. Instead they had something of a D.J., except one had to remember that, of all the guests, Jane and Lisbon were actually among the younger ones, which made Rigsby and Van Pelt practically children. In other words, most of the music was before their time. Luckily, the "D.J." did have Wonderwall by Oasis.

Jane finally returned to the bar when the song started to play. To his surprise, Lisbon was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, someone poked him in the side, which immediately made him jump and spin around. When he had turned a full 180 degrees, Lisbon was standing there laughing at him. Jane couldn't help but smile back at her.

Today is gonna be the day that they're gonna throw it back to you,
By now you should've somehow realized what you gotta do,
I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do… about you now.

Jane offered his hand and they returned to the dance floor. This time Lisbon carefully wrapped his arms around Jane's neck, while Jane put his hands on her hips. A slow dance didn't require talent, only a basic swaying motion; however, the key to a slow dance was to know how close you could get to your partner without one of you feeling awkward. It was Lisbon who seemed to close the gap between them. She felt a lot more comfortable around Jane after an evening of being his date. She liked being his date because she liked being the center of his attention. Normally, having Jane's full attention lead to him discovering some flaw in her character or he would observe some secret she was hiding. Most of the time he did not actually reveal anything, but she somehow felt her soul was exposed when he looked at her. When he looked at anyone. But somehow, she did not seem to mind what he saw in her now. She wondered whether anything had really changed between them… if tomorrow morning at work, they'd act differently around each other.

She hoped they would.

I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now.

Jane didn't mind Lisbon being so close, even though the close proximity made him blush slightly. They were almost embracing each other, but it felt right. Lisbon rested her head on his chest and Jane, in turn, rested his head against hers.

There are many things that I would like to say to you,
But I don't know how…

Lisbon caught sight of Van Pelt's bright red dress on the other side of the dance floor. Rigsby and her were both the same height so they were face to face as they danced. Jane noticed how Lisbon had moved slightly, so he lifted his head and followed Lisbon's gaze. Rigsby and Van Pelt seemed to be talking when suddenly Van Pelt leaned in and caught Rigsby's lips with her own. It was a brief kiss that seemed to take both of them by surprise. Both Lisbon and Jane smiled because it was no secret that Rigsby and Van Pelt belonged together.

Because maybe,
You're gonna be the one who saves me,
And after all,
You're my wonderwall,

"I guess they forgot that the whole CBI agency is here." Jane commented. His voice was quiet, but Lisbon still heard his words over the song. Rigsby and Van Pelt were now enveloped in a second kiss; this one was less hesitant and more forceful.

"They'll never live it down come tomorrow." She added.

"I'm the one that hooked them up." Jane said softly, easily taking credit. Lisbon looked up at him.

"Yeah, you're a regular matchmaker." She mused, suddenly realizing the implication of that statement. Jane noticed it too, but didn't voice it.

Maybe they too belonged together.

You're gonna be the one that saves me.

As the song ended, Lisbon and Jane pulled apart, both sparing one last look at the happy couple on the dance floor. Then they returned to their table to find it vacant. Cho and Sally were nowhere to be seen.

"Do you want to leave?" Lisbon asked, noticing how many people had already left and that those who remained were mostly drunk or about to be. Jane nodded.

"Sure. Let's get your purse." He reminded her, as they left the table for the exit.

"Imagine how many people will be hung over at work in the morning." Lisbon commented, watching as some people staggered toward the exit… or the bar.

"We may be the only sober ones there." Jane added.

"We may be the only ones there, period." Lisbon remarked, feeling as if she were one of the few sober people at the party. She wondered how many people would call in sick tomorrow. They retrieved Lisbon's coat and purse before finally leaving the hotel.

10:55 PM

Jane found a parking spot right outside Lisbon's apartment. It felt like a lifetime since they'd left to go to the dinner, but now it was over and they were back.

"I actually had a great time." Lisbon broke the silence.

"Me too." Jane nodded, sensing an uncomfortable tension between them.

"Thanks for everything." She added, somewhat awkwardly. She didn't seem to know how to end the date. Should I just leave it at that? Should I voice my feelings? Should I kiss him?

The last thought made her pause. How'd that get in there? She tried to convince herself that wasn't secretly what she was waiting for, but to be honest, it was.

"We should go out again sometime." Jane said, also slightly uneasy. He turned to look at her so he could read her reaction to his comment. He knew it was only a date and that they were just friends, and that she was his boss and he was a consultant. He also sensed that Lisbon shared some feelings for him, but he couldn't act on them even if it was mutual.

"Yeah. We should." She replied candidly. She opened the car door and took a few steps before Jane's voice called from behind her.

"I probably should see you to the door." He stated, not sure why he felt obligated to do so. Lisbon turned around to find him standing on the pavement, his head peering over the top of his car. Lisbon did not have to reply as Jane closed the car door and walked around the car until he was standing on the sidewalk next to her. They started walking towards the building when Lisbon felt compelled to speak.

"This has been the best date I've had in a long time." She told him honestly. She had trouble remembering the last time she had been on a date. Being a CBI agent made it hard to find time for a social life, or maybe it was because she had never wanted a social life.

"I was aiming for best date ever, but in a long time will do." Jane joked, attempting to lighten the mood.

"Well… it's not over yet." Lisbon hinted as they reached the doorstep. As soon as she said it, she paused. She was not sure what part of her that had come from, because it did not sound like something she would say. After all, she was the by the book cop and he was the unpredictable consultant. What she had said came out as almost an invitation.

Jane picked up on it immediately. He paused next to Lisbon, leaning forward slightly so he could read her expression. He wasn't sure if she actually meant what he thought she did. Lisbon turned to him slightly, so she could read his reaction. Jane glanced at the street before taking a step towards Lisbon. He then placed his hand on her cheek and gave her a long tender kiss. Though Lisbon had wanted it to happen, she was still surprised when it did. She barely remembered to kiss back when suddenly Jane pulled away. His warmth left her so abruptly that she could feel herself shiver. She watched, dumbstruck, as Jane slowly brushed his hand over his lips, as if processing what he did, before quickly turning and heading down the steps.

"Jane…?" Lisbon managed to ask, somewhat hurt, but more so curious as to why Jane broke off the kiss. Jane stopped in his tracks and turned around slowly so he could face her. He seemed nervous, but Lisbon also saw that his eyes revealed an overwhelming sense of guilt. What she did not understand was why he would feel guilty. Her look begged for an explanation and Jane was reluctant to give her one.

"I can't." He said quietly, as if his hands were tied on the matter.

"You kissed me." Lisbon pointed out, proving that in fact he could. Jane shuffled his stance as he thought about how to explain.

"I like you." He announced, making eye contact with Lisbon.

"I like you too." Lisbon responded nonchalantly. Her heart was pounding faster now that he knew how she felt and she knew how he felt. The only thing that kept her from moving was that guilty look that Jane had.

"I haven't been on a date since my wife and daughter died." He confessed, his gaze alternating between Lisbon and the ground. Lisbon did not know what to say, so she remained silent. "I haven't kissed someone besides my wife since I got married." He added. "I can't…" He finally concluded. Lisbon nodded as if she understood, but her eyes revealed hurt. Jane felt another pang of guilt at Lisbon's disappointment, but he still felt bound to his wife in some way. She felt like he was betraying her.

She was dead. He knew that. But he was hers. No matter how much he liked Teresa Lisbon.

That's what he kept telling himself as he got in his car and drove away.

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