All I have to say is thanks for the reviews...i always look forward to them...and i hope you enjoy reading this one as much as i enjoyed writing it. R&R Please.
By the time they arrived back to the Justice building, Rigsby decided that it was way past lunchtime, so Lisbon sent him off to get something to eat. She had unceremoniously dismissed Jane, telling him to go back to his shop and that she would call him if she needed him. She had a hard enough time solving her cases while keeping her secret without Jane putting everything she did under scrutiny. But even she had to admit to herself that Jane had a certain approach that may be beneficial.
As she entered the building and began weaving her way through the busy police officers toward the stairs, she knew that she was already in trouble.
"Lisbon!" Minelli's voice boomed over the already busy chatter of the police department, causing all other noise to cease. Lisbon felt the eyes of everyone in the room on her. "My office. NOW!"
She closed her eyes, counted to ten, and then squared her shoulders. She turned on her heel and quickly crossed the crowded room to his office. She stopped just in front of him, his eyes burning with anger. He glanced around to the officers who were still staring, always eager for gossip. "Back to work!" He bellowed.
Just a quickly as they had stopped their work, the chatter resumed and Lisbon and Minelli were effectively forgotten. He ushered her into his office, slamming the door behind them.
"You want to tell me why the hell I'm getting phone calls from the Govenor telling me that my agents are harassing his friends?"
Lisbon snorted. That didn't take long. "I wouldn't call it harassing…"
"Shut up." He waved her off, walking back to his desk; he sat down with a heavy movement. "Now, what the hell are you doing taking a civilian, not to mention a circus freak like Patrick Jane, on a murder investigation?"
"He was just help…"
"Shut up."
"How am I suppose to explain myself if you keep telling me to shut up?"
Minelli closed his eyes, rubbing his temples. "You know that if you weren't one of my best detectives, you'd be out on your ass."
"Yes, sir, I know that sir."
"As long as we're clear on that. Now, get back to work." She turned to leave. "And keep Jane away from your investigation."
Lisbon paused and turned around to face him. "With all do respect, sir, I would like your permission to have Jane advise during the investigation. As a consultant."
Minelli cocked his head as he stared at her. "I didn't think that you believed in psychics. You believe now?"
Lisbon chewed on her lip. "I believe that he has a unique insight into human behavior and could be an asset to this investigation."
Her boss sat back in his chair and templed his fingers, clearly thinking over her request. After a heavy sigh he said, "Alright. He can be your…consultant. But that's all, you got that? Any problems that he causes are all on you. And for Christ's sake, keep him away from Daniel Harmon!"
When Lisbon finally got back to her office, she closed the door and relished the silence and solitude, even if it was only temporary. Walking back to her desk, she glanced at the phone, and was tempted to call Jane and tell him that she wanted his help. She quickly changed her mind. She would call him in the morning; leave him thinking that she was still pissed off at him. She smirked at how incredibly bitchy she could be sometimes, and actually relished in it for a moment. Then she decided that it was time to get back to work.
Fifteen minutes later, Cho interrupted when he stuck his head in the door. "Boss, I just got back from talking to Langley."
Rather than reprimand him for not knocking, she waved him in. He took a seat across from her, his ever stoic expression watching her read over his notes. "He's got a solid alibi. He was playing poker with some buddies until well after you found the body. He seemed really upset when I told him about Sarah, though. Said once his divorce was final, he was going to take Sarah and they were going to run away together."
"He must have really loved her." Lisbon said more to herself than to Cho.
"I'm back." Rigsby's voice filtered through the open door.
"In here, Rigsby." Lisbon called.
A moment later, his tall frame filled the doorway. "What's up?"
Lisbon handed them both a piece of paper. "This is the list of at least most of the people who were at the bar last night. We'll split up the list and ask as many as we can what they might know about Sarah's death."
Rigsby groaned. "That'll take all day."
Lisbon narrowed her eyes at him. "I guess we better get moving then."
Cho jumped up from his chair. "Sure thing, boss." Lisbon smiled and nodded to him as he turned to leave. As he passed Rigsby he was sure that he heard the larger man whisper something like "teacher's pet," but decided to ignore him.
Rigsby followed Cho into the bullpen and perched on the edge of his desk. "Let me ask you something, Cho."
"Yeah?" Cho didn't look up at him, but focused on the list in front of him. Rigsby paused, deciding on how to broach the subject.
"Have you noticed something…weird going on between Lisbon and Jane?"
"How do you mean?"
Rigsby glanced at the boss' door before leaning closer, lowering his voice. "I mean, have you noticed how they, you know…look at each other."
Cho finally looked up at his friend. "What are you talking about?"
"I mean, I think they might be a little…funny for each other."
Sitting back in his chair, Cho just looked at him. "Are you crazy? That's the most absurd thing I've heard you say in a long time."
"All I'm saying is just watch them next time they're together and you'll see what I mean."
Cho shook his head giving a sarcastic smile before returning to the task at hand. "You're imagining things, Rigsby, now if you don't mind; I've got work to do."
Rigsby got up, knowing that he couldn't convince his fellow agent. Maybe Cho was right, maybe he was just seeing things that weren't really there. He sighed inwardly and returned to he own desk.
The sun was already setting when they finally finished talking to the last person from the bar. They had gotten nothing. No one had seen anything. Lisbon rubbed her temples to ward off the impending headache as she stood before her team. She suddenly felt very tired, and from the look of Rigsby and Cho, they were feeling it too.
"Okay, guys. Let's call it a day. Go home, get some sleep. We'll hit the ground running first thing in the morning."
Rigsby was already shrugging into his jacket. "Thanks boss. I'm starving." He stopped when he saw them staring at him. "What? I missed dinner."
Lisbon smiled and nodded for him to go. Not waiting for her to change her mind, Rigsby secured his hat and hurried out the door. Cho moved a little slower as he put on his jacket.
"Hey, boss. You okay?" He asked, never changing his expression.
"Yeah, I'm just…tired." She admitted.
He simply nodded and surprised her when he put his hand on her shoulder. "You need to get some sleep too. And, uh, maybe a change of clothes?"
Giving a small laugh, she realized that she was still wearing the same clothes that she had on yesterday. "Yeah, you're right."
He gave her a small, if uncharacteristic, smile. "I'll see you in the morning."
She nodded. "Good night, Cho."
Lisbon watched him leave and then returned to her office to get her things. She wished that she could be more adept at bonding with her team, but her situation left her in the position to keep them at arms reach. Maybe some day…
Patrick Jane locked the door to his shop and stepped out onto the dark sidewalk. It was well past eight o'clock, and he should have closed hours earlier. He had been quite busy from the time he had arrived back from the Justice building. Not that he was complaining about being busy, but his time spent at the shop was just not as diverting as helping Lisbon and her team with their investigation. He sighed, shoving his hands in his pockets, and started toward home. There probably wasn't much chance that Lisbon would ask for his help any time soon. He had a feeling that he had really pissed her off.
He was so engrossed his thoughts, that he didn't notice the two men following him until it was too late. He felt a sharp pain in the back of his leg right before it buckled sending him to his knees. He looked up and saw a tall man towering over him. The man had dark beady eyes and a long scar that traveled from his ear to his jaw. Before Jane could say anything, the man shot his foot out to connect with Jane's jaw. He saw stars and was afraid that he might pass out from the pain.
"Not here." A voice said.
The two men grabbed him roughly by the arms and dragged him into the nearby alley. When they were well off the street, they dropped him to the ground. Jane took a deep breath and started to stand up. As he straightened a pair of strong arms grabbed his elbows pulling them harshly behind him. The man with the scar reared back and punched him solidly in the stomach. He was fairly sure he was going to throw up. But he never got the chance. Scarface landed another blow, this time to Jane's face. He tasted the blood flowing from his lip. One more targeted hit split the skin just above his right eye, sending blood spilling into his eyes, half blinding him.
He would have hit the ground if the man behind him didn't have him secured with his hands behind his back. He simply hung limp, unable to even ask why they were beating the crap out of him. He never had to ask. Scarface grabbed a handful of his hair and yanked his head upward so that he could look at him with his remaining good eye.
"Consider this your one and only warning. You should be more careful where you stick you nose. It's likely to get snipped off."
Jane could barely register what the raspy voice was saying but he was pretty sure that the guy wasn't giving him financial advice. The man behind suddenly let go of his arms and allowed him to fall with a thud. Jane lay unmoving for several moments while he listened to their footsteps getting farther away. Gritting his teeth, he pushed himself up on his hands and knees. A wave of nausea swept over him and stayed that way for a moment until he was sure he wasn't going to throw up. He pulled himself to his feet, leaning against the alley wall for support. He could still taste the fresh blood from his swollen lip and could barely see out of his right eye.
He moved slowly along the alley wall, hoping to at least be able to make it back to his shop. When he finally made it back to the sidewalk, he realized that he was not going to make it and collapsed back to the pavement.
"Mr. Jane! Mr. Jane!" Somewhere far away, or so it seemed, Jane heard a familiar voice calling his name. Maybe he was dreaming. But he didn't remember ever going to sleep. He stayed on the cold pavement, feeling quite comfortable there at the moment. He did manage to turn his head just enough to identify the owner of the voice.
"Mouse." He finally croaked. Next to his friend was another boy not much older than Mouse himself.
"Mr. Jane, what happened? Should we take you to a hospital? Or call the police?"
"No!" Jane answered resolutely. "No doctors, no cops. Just help me get up."
Deciding it would be best to get up; Jane struggled to get to his feet. Mouse caught his arm and tried to help. "Christian, gimme a hand."
"I dunno, Mouse. Look at all that blood. We could get in trouble."
"Stop being a baby and help me."
The bigger boy finally grabbed Jane's other arm and the pair hauled him to his feet.
"Where to, Mr. Jane?" Mouse was relieved when Jane got his feet under him and supported himself a little bit.
Jane winced in pain. "Just take me home."
Teresa Lisbon fumbled for her keys and let herself into her apartment. She sighed loudly as she immediately collapsed on the sofa. From where she sat, she could see the kitchen where dirty dishes from breakfast the previous morning remained in her sink, and she realized that she hadn't been home in two days. She briefly contemplated cleaning the mess, but decided against it. They will still be there in the morning, she thought. Instead she got to her feet and went to the bathroom to run a bath. As much as she played a hard ass to the people around her, there was a part of her that just like being feminine, and she allowed that part to come out during the solitude she found in a hot bath. She added some bubbles and lavender oil and felt some of the stress of the last couple of days melt away into the steaming water.
After her bath, she padded into the kitchen in her oversized terrycloth robe and put of pot of tea on the stove. Her mind wandered as she stood at the kitchen window letting her tea steep. She was going to have to find a way to deal with Patrick Jane. She really felt that he could be a great help to her investigation, but he knew the truth about her and that could prove to be a liability. She had to be sure that he would keep her secret.
She was jerked from her thoughts at the sudden knock at the door. Who the hell was knocking at her door at this hour? She quickly brushed her hair back and put her glasses on. Wrapping her robe tightly around her, she cracked the door and peered out.
"Mouse?" She stared at the young boy standing outside her door, clearly frightened. She opened the door all the way. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"
He swallowed hard. "It's Mr. Jane. He's been hurt."
An unsettling feeling made it way into Lisbon's stomach. "Where is he?"
"He's at home. Will you come?"
There was no hesitation as she ushered the boy inside and closed the door. "Wait here." She left him standing in her living room as she hurried to the bedroom to change. Mouse was waiting impatiently, fidgeting with a loose string on his shirt. He smiled nervously when she reappeared. Liston watched him with concern; he was truly afraid. "Lead the way."
Lisbon was grateful to learn that Jane's brownstone was only a few blocks from her own apartment. She followed Mouse up the outside stairs and through the French doors that led to Jane's foyer. Lisbon took an impressed look around at the two story brownstone. It really hadn't been what she was expecting.
"He's in the living room," Mouse coaxed her. "I couldn't get him up the stairs."
She moved after him into the adjoining living room and stopped cold. Jane was sprawled on the couch, moaning in pain. His hair was matted and his face and clothes were covered in blood. He appeared to be asleep. Without thought to Mouse being in the room, she stripped out of her jacket and dropped her glasses on the coffee table as she knelt next to Jane.
"Jane." She said, pushing a piece of bloody hair out of his swollen eye. "Jane can you hear me?"
Jane moved his head slowly, wincing in pain before he opened his good eye. "Lisbon?" He tried to sit up but found the movement excruciating and fell back on the couch. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Your friend Mouse brought me."
"I told him no cops."
Lisbon shushed him. "I'm not here as a cop. I'm here as your friend." She paused, suddenly surprised at her own words. Up until that moment, she hadn't really thought of them as friends. Jane was watching her with curiosity and she averted her eyes. "Now, just be quiet and let me help you." He grimaced as she began to poke and prod, taking a survey of the damage to his face and then turned to Mouse.
"Go get me a couple of wet washcloths and some dry towels." Mouse said nothing, but hurried out of the room. She turned her attention back to Jane. "Now let me get a look at the rest of you."
Without thinking, she pulled him out of his jacket and vest and began unbuttoning his shirt. The sudden intimacy made her take notice of the burning in her cheeks. She let a breath out slowly, trying to control her rapid heartbeat. Thankfully, Jane didn't seem to notice uneasy demeanor. Her breath caught when she saw the large bruise forming on his rib cage as the shirt slipped to the floor. She touched it gingerly, feeling him jerk involuntarily and cry out.
"Sorry," She said quietly. To her relief, Mouse reappeared with her requested materials in his arms. She took a wet cloth and gently began cleaning the dried blood from Jane's forehead. "How in the world did you get him back here all by yourself?"
Mouse sat next to her, watching with concern. "My friend, Christian, help me. But he got scared and went home."
Lisbon suddenly realized how late it was. "You should probably go home, too."
Mouse seemed to consider arguing with her, but her expression told him that it would be useless. "Is he going to be okay?"
She nodded, smiling at his concern. "Yeah, he'll be sore for a couple of days, but I think that he'll live."
"I'll come by in the morning to see you, Mr. Jane." The boy stood and moved towards the door.
Jane nodded. "Alright. Thanks kid."
Mouse slipped out room and they heard the front door open and close and were left in an uncomfortable silence. Lisbon forced herself to ignore the awkwardness and resumed cleaning his wounds. "What the hell happened to you?"
Jane shook his head. "I'm not really sure to tell you the truth. I was on my way home and these two guys attacked me."
"What did they want?"
"I'm pretty sure that they were issuing some kind of warning." He winced again as she began dabbing his swollen lip with the wet cloth, when she was done, he continued. "I guess I really pissed someone off."
Lisbon sat back. "Harmon?"
"Could be."
Anger flashed in Lisbon's green eyes. "I'll send Rigsby to arrest him in the morning."
Even in his pain, Jane chuckled. "No you won't."
She raised an annoyed eyebrow. "And why not?"
"Because you don't have any evidence to arrest him, and I don't want you to arrest him for having me beat up. I want you to arrest him for having Sarah Jenkins murdered."
"You think he did it?" Lisbon's voice was unusually quiet.
"Not definitively, but he's definitely a good suspect." His voice growing softer and his eyes began to drift closed.
"It's late, you need to rest. Do you need help upstairs?"
He shook his head his eyes still closed. "No, sleep right here." The words came out in a low mumble.
Lisbon reached behind him, taking the blanket off the back of the couch, and covered him up. Then she reached behind his head to adjust his pillow. She realized too late the implications of her actions. Her face was so near to his that she could feel his soft breath on her cheek. He shifted suddenly making her start.
"Um, your hair smells good. Like lavender. Nice." It was barely a whisper, but she felt her whole body cringe. Relief washed over her when he began snoring softly.
Letting out the breath that she had been holding in, she reached for Jane's clothes that had been carelessly tossed on the floor. She draped the bloody jacket and shirt over her arm. As she picked up his vest, something shiny fell out of the pocket and onto the floor. She picked up the round object and held it in her hand for a moment. Standing up quickly she took her first good look around the room. Her heart sank as she noticed the pictures on the wall and the mantle above the fire place. Then she gave a half hearty laugh at the irony of the situation.
With one last glance at Jane snoring peacefully, she placed his wedding ring on the end table next to the sofa where he would be sure to find it in the morning.
"Good night, Jane." She whispered and quietly closed the door behind her.
