The first couple of days Lisbon felt a little uneasy but it was definitely mixed with excitement. Jane had always added a unique dimension to her working days but now it had a different twist.
Jane himself couldn't sleep. Not for the reasons he had suffered for in the past but because he was so excited about his present and future.
Lisbon arrived at her desk to see flowers for the fourth day running, her desk was filling up. It wasn't suffocating but it was a little overwhelming. "Jane you know you don't need to do these things to show me you care right?" She addressed him quietly in their corner of the office as he approached the desk with a freshly made tea.
"I know but the thing is so many times I've thought if I had another chance I would make every second count." He hesitated. "I do have to say that the red bouquet over there is not from me. Do I need to guess who it's from?"
"Teresa." A familiar voice sounded behind him. "Jane."
"Agent Pike. Always a pleasure." Jane continued to sip at his tea.
"Teresa. Can I have a moment?" He indicated for her to move to the side for some privacy.
"Marcus I'm not sure that now is the time." She tried to discourage him as Jane stayed conspicuously close just to make the encounter even more awkward.
"Lunch then?" Pike asked hopefully.
"Err…sure" She tried not to look at Jane whose eyebrows she could practically hear rising as he took another sip of his tea.
He waited until their visitor was out of ear shot. "So what exactly did you tell Agent Pike when you broke up with him?"
"Erm…it's not you it's me." She cringed inwardly at the memory.
"Poor guy. You know honesty is the best policy especially since he's bound to find out eventually." Despite the humour in his voice he did have some sympathy for any man losing Lisbon.
"I do not need advice from you on this. Let's go." She snapped back, grabbing her jacket.
There was a familiar skip in Jane's step. He couldn't stop smiling. The sun was shining and she looked radiant walking along side him.
"Stop it!" She spoke aggressively under her breath.
"Stop what? I'm not doing anything!" He felt this attack was unprovoked.
"I told you we need to keep acting professional at work otherwise this won't work! You're being all…..happy and googly-eyed!" She was still trying to maintain a calm exterior.
"I'm always happy and occasionally googly-eyed. Sorry Lisbon, it's a beautiful day. We're making progress with the case, and I have a beautiful woman working alongside me, what's not to smile about." She did try her hardest to shoot him down with an evil look but he could tell she was forcing herself not to grin back at him.
Once they arrived at the crime scene one of the guys they were interviewing was obviously trying to flirt with Lisbon. She was completely oblivious and although Jane felt the urge to step in he knew that wouldn't go down well with her so he held his tongue. He found it amusing more than anything that this guy would think he had a shot with her. When Lisbon was out of earshot he moved over to the guy and said "I wouldn't waste your time with that one if I were you. Your brother's girlfriend was just telling me how she's always secretly had a thing for you." The guy beat a hasty retreat.
"Wow it doesn't rain it pours for you. Pike, me, that guy in there. You are irresistible at the moment" he teased her.
"You're crazy!" He did exasperate her.
"You're just figuring this out now? I'm just calling it as I see it. You know what it is don't you?" He asked cryptically.
"No I don't know what you're talking about?!" She really didn't.
"A woman in love has radiance about her that no one can resist." He said as a matter of fact.
"The arrogance of the man is unbelievable." She addressed a bemused Cho as they passed him leaving the crime scene.
"Well, case solved I'd say it's time for a leisurely lunch wouldn't you? I found a great place round the corner." Jane opened the car door for Lisbon as he spoke.
"It's solved?" Lisbon said as she started to drive them away.
"Quite obviously the butler did it. The butler in the dining room with the candlestick" She turned up the radio to drown him out. "OK the ex-boyfriend did it." He said with raised voice to get himself heard over the music. "So as I was saying I'm starving…."
"In case you're forgetting I have to meet someone else for lunch." Jane look crestfallen. "Plus there is a ton of paperwork to write up which you always seem to conveniently forget."
Later Lisbon returned from an hour-long lunch with Pike and after a long silence said "Well I know you're dying to ask so go on."
"What did you have?" Jane asked petulantly.
"A salad – it was great thanks." Lisbon responded in kind. "Are you really just going to lie on the couch there all afternoon whilst everyone else is working?"
"If it ain't broke!" Jane held his hands up eyes still closed, but after a minute's silence continued. "So how do you feel this week's gone?"
"It pains me to admit it but I've gotta say, it's been good." She said in unnecessarily hushed tones.
"But…" Jane thought this was too good to be true.
"No buts. You haven't been any more annoying than usual." A tame response from Lisbon who seemed genuinely happy and glowing.
"So I'll call you later?" Again Lisbon was unsure if this was a question or a statement.
"Sure." She blushed without looking up from her desk.
Jane went to leave and entered an elevator with just one occupant who broke the silence once the doors closed. "You know you know you don't deserve her right?" Pike didn't beat around the bush.
"Of course." Jane didn't see any reason to quarrel with the man.
"Just so we're clear." Pike continued.
"Don't worry Agent Pike; I'll take good care of her." He believed it too.
"Good." No handshake or smile from Pike understandably, but hopefully some closure.
Jane pulled out his phone as soon as he got outside and called her. "Dinner tonight?"
"Sure, I'll pick you up at 8pm?" She saw no need to fight it anymore.
"Sounds good. Can I drive?" He thought it was worth a shot.
"No." There were some things she was not prepared to be moved on.
"Worth a try." He hesitated. "Love you Teresa." He hung up before she had a chance to say anything but long enough for him to hear her smile. He wasn't expecting her to say it back yet but he needed her to know it for sure this time.
Authors note:
I think that's it for this story! I hadn't originally thought it would even be this long, just needed to get it out of my system, and I'm sure you can tell I struggled a bit with the last two chapters. Thank you for reading it all the way through and thank you so much for all the kind reviews though, they definitely spurred me on! xx
