The Accidental Husband: Chapter 9

Thanks for the support, guys! I'm using the origami frog scene from the pilot – one of my favourite scenes ever – for inspiration for the apology scene. It's not exactly the same cause they're in their own bullpen.

Disclaimer: Nothing is mine


She was giving him the silent treatment.

Hightower, Lisbon's boss, had called her in to her office; when Lisbon returned, she looked mad. And now she was giving him the silent treatment.

Surprisingly, he felt guilty about it too. He didn't expect to feel guilty about it; he rarely did for his actions, especially when those actions did what they were supposed to do. They solved the case, didn't they?

But he didn't expect that a little hypnosis would get her into so much trouble.

The team was finishing up the last of the paperwork and he was lying on the couch, listening to the office sounds.

Letting out a sigh, he raised himself up from the couch and stood up. He casually strolled through the bullpen, grabbing a scrap of paper off Rigsby's desk, and headed towards Lisbon's office.

He entered without knocking and was greeted by a hell of a death glare.

"I'm still mad." Was all she said.

"I know." He nodded, still fumbling with the paper behind his back.

Moments later, he placed an object down on her desk.

She glanced up at it with a quirked eyebrow. It was a small paper origami frog.

"A frog?" She looked up at him. "Well, that makes everything better, doesn't it?"

He just smirked and slowly walked towards the red couch that stood in her office. It wasn't as plush and comfortable as the one in the bullpen, but it was the perfect viewpoint for...

Pop!

She jumped with start when the rigged frog jumped up. And she cracked a little, crooked smile.

A small smile spread over his face as well; he was off the hook.

X

"Oh, Jane." She called for his attention.

It's been a while since his (rather successful, if he had to say so himself) apology, and he'd been lounging on the couch since. Honestly, what else did he have to do?

"Yes, Lisbon?" He asked.

"I've been meaning to ask, but I guess I forgot..."

"You mean about the annulment papers that you so carelessly forgot at lunch the other day?"

"Yes." She blushed bright red, and he could tell without looking at her. "I don't know what's been going on with me. I've been so distractible, and forgetful... It's really unlike me."

"That's alright, Teresa. Even the best of women get bridal brain when their time comes."

"Excuse me? They get what?"

"Bridal brain." He said, cracking an eyelid and looking up at her in amusement. "You know, forgetful, easily distracted, constantly stressed, annoyed and irritable..."

"I do not have bridal brain."

"Alright, alright." He held up his hands defensively, and mumbled, "Though you sure do sound irritable."

He received another icy cold glare in reply.

"Whatever the case, I found the papers and took them with me. We can go get them after work if you like."

She sighed in relief. "Thank you, Jane. I really want to sort this thing out as soon as possible. It's really stressful and Drew is kind of freaking out about it, and... I just want this whole mess to be over."

He nodded understandingly. "Of course. You and me both, Teresa."

X

"Tonight?" Drew asked, running a weary hand through his hair. "Does it have to be tonight, Teresa? I've seen so little of you lately. I was hoping to make you a special dinner tonight. The wedding planner sent over all the different cake options..."

"It's to sign the papers, Drew."

"I thought you said you'd sign it today during lunch."

"We were working through lunch."

He sighed.

"I'll be back as soon as possible. He still has the papers at his place, so we'll just drive to Malibu, sign and I'll be right. We'll give the papers to your brother tomorrow and then this entire mess will be over. I promise."

"I don't like this, Teresa. Can't you sign the papers tomorrow? In daylight, in public?"

She chuckled over the phone. "C'mon, not this again. I thought you were over this silly jealousy thing. I don't even know the man!"

"But you're spending a lot of time with him. It's making me uncomfortable."

She shook her head. "You're being completely ridiculous. You have nothing to worry about. And I don't want to wait until tomorrow, I want to finish this as soon as I possibly can. Tell you what: I'll go and have him sign the papers, finish this entire thing off. You decide on the cake tonight – pick whatever you want, I don't really care that much about the cake. And then tomorrow night..." She drawled suggestively. "We can have a very special dinner. With no wedding planning, no cake samples, and no accidental husband dramas. Just you and me."

He drew a breath and pinched the bridge of his nose. She really wasn't getting it...

But on the other hand, he saw her point. He wanted this ugliness to end as soon as possible too, and he really didn't want to fight with her...

"Okay, fine. Drive careful, please."

"Great. Don't wait up, Malibu is a long drive."

"I love you."

"Love you too."

She hung up, pocketing her phone. She shook her head; Drew's jealousy, though she understood it up to a point, was getting annoying. She had told him over and over that there was nothing between her and Jane. The fact that he didn't trust her made her annoyed.

"You shouldn't blame him." A voice came from the doorway. She looked up and saw Jane standing there, a smirk on his face.

"What?"

"He's just a man. He can't help it."

"What are you talking about?" She frowned.

"You're getting annoyed with your fiancé because he's jealous. You shouldn't blame him. Any man would feel threatened if his girl is spending time with a handsome stranger. Especially if said handsome stranger is technically married to her."

"I'm not-..." She started, but he rose an eyebrow and she stopped. "Shut up. Are we gonna leave now or not?"

"Yep. I'll drive."

"No way."

"Why not?"

"I'm taking my own car. So I can drive back later tonight. And you don't want to leave your car here, do you?"

"No, but I want company. Malibu is a very long drive."

"Aw, you want company?"

Bantering, they walked out of the CBI together, into the dark and the cool evening air.


Tell me what you think! Next chap: the real turning point of the fic.

Much love, Zanny