Disclaimer: I don't own the Mentalist.
Here you go, Timeless updated the very next day! Didn't I say I would have it up fast! Without any future ado, the kiss! Enjoy.
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Jane hadn't planned to do it.
He had taken Lisbon in his arms for reassurance of reality. He needed to know she was really there, not just an illusion. As soon as she was safe, he planned to tell her everything. The devil face and Lorelei were top of his list, but Jane was unable to say what he needed.
On the drive over, Jane was engulfed in Lisbon's wellbeing. He couldn't help thinking that something bad had happened to her. If he was to arrive at the apartment and find her cut open, Jane would have ended his life then and there. Instead, a miracle happened. Lisbon was okay.
He could sense her confusion as he pulled her in, but Jane did not let that stop him. If Lisbon was uncomfortable, she would have pushed him away. Instead, she let him cradle her. He tucked his face into her hair, breathing in the sweet scent of honey shampoo. She was weak in his arms, probably still half asleep. Jane held her up.
That's when he remembered he had something to tell her. He lowered his mouth to the top of her right ear, brushing it slightly with his lips as he did so. He tried to explain, but all that came out were soft mumbles. When Lisbon had started asking questions, the only thing Jane could think to do was answer them. She had asked him what he was trying to say, so Jane told her just that. He gave her the truth, but without the full story, it was worthless. They met eyes, and his impulse began. Somehow, he had decided to show her.
Her lips were only inches away; it would not have been hard to take advantage of their proximity. He did not give Lisbon a moment's notice, instead, he thrust his lips against hers. The kiss was not gentle, it was violent and lusty. He worked his way around her lips, and for one dreadful moment Jane thought she would push him away. But then, her lips responded. It took a moment, but they eagerly caught up to pace with Jane's intensity and ferocity. While her arms made their way up to grasp at his hair, Jane sifted positions. Lisbon was awake and ready to hold herself up on her own. Jane let her.
A deep groan came from the back of his throat. Jane was enjoying himself immensely, but panic began to set in. They were moving too fast, he needed to savor the moment. Jane didn't know if this would be the last time he got to do this, so he decided a change of pace was in order.
His lips went from thrusting to a gentle caress. Lisbon seemed surprised by the change, but not disappointed. Once again, she matched his tempo. Jane cut his hands from their previous position so he could let them venture up the cloth that covered vertebrae of her spine. When she groaned, he felt her smile against his lips. It felt good; he wanted her to do it again.
A few moments of deep connection left Jane craving more, but he forced himself to take a break. Lisbon must be completely bewildered, she deserved answers. With a gentle swoop, Jane took his last taste. He slowly pulled his face away from hers, awaiting the reappearance of her eyes. His prediction had been spot on. When their eyes met, Jane could see that hers were full of questions. It was Lisbon who spoke first.
"Jane." She whispered. "What just happened?"
The question was so innocent and childlike; Jane could not prevent himself from chuckling.
"Well." He responded. "I'm not sure what you were doing, but I was confessing to my boss how I feel about her."
She paused to think.
"Okay. I guess a better question would be, why?"
"Why do I have feelings for you, or why did I kiss you?"
"The second." She responded. "Definitely the second."
Jane sighed, he was expecting her to choose that one.
"How about I start with the first, and then I will explain the second."
She shook her head.
"No." Lisbon said stubbornly. "Does it have to do with what you said before the–erm—you know? About Red John and Lorelei?"
"Yes," Jane complied. "Lorelei and Red John visited me tonight."
For a moment, Lisbon was in shock. She seemed as if she had something to say, just no way to say it.
"They came to me right after you left. It was only Lorelei really; Red John was there electronically."
Lisbon's mouth hung open. Jane was beginning to regret his decision, how he wished he could forget explanations and join together once more.
"What did they say?" Lisbon asked at last.
"It wasn't a long conversation. Red John mostly just wanted to talk about—"
Jane froze. This was it, did he really need to tell her?
"About what?"
Yes, he did.
"About you." He breathed heavily. "He wanted to talk about you."
Lisbon's expression vanished. Her face sunk from confusion to worry.
"He—he was after me?" Lisbon's voice shook.
"Not exactly."
"Then what? Why would Red John care about me?"
"Because," Jane bellowed. "he wanted to play with my mind. He wanted to cause me pain."
Lisbon's eyes glazed over. She began to quote him.
"He told me I couldn't, but he is wrong. We can" She copied. "Jane what does that mean? What did he say to you?"
Jane was becoming frustrated. He hadn't expected this confession to be so hard.
"He told me I couldn't be happy—that I couldn't find happiness."
Lisbon posture changed from offensive to defensive. Something was obviously worrying her, but she covered it up with petty relief.
"I see." She muttered. "That's why you kissed me, you wanted to prove him wrong."
Jane's head began to spin. She was completely missing the point; couldn't she see he was crazy for her? Didn't she know how much he cared? No, he reminded himself, she didn't. He needed to explain to her why her statement was so painfully wrong.
"Teresa—" He started slowly.
"Don't Teresa me, Jane. It's okay, you don't need to explain. I understand now."
He couldn't take this.
"Teresa just listen to me for one moment!" Jane screamed. "The entire way over here I was scared to death. I was afraid I had lost you forever, but when you opened that door and I saw you were okay—"
He choked.
"I can't even explain how relieved I was. Purpose return back to me in ways I had never felt before. I kissed you because that's what I wanted to do. And to have you say that I did what I did because of Red John—Well, I can't tell you how terrible that feels."
Lisbon wasn't giving him any sympathy.
"Excuse me Jane for not believing you." She screamed sarcastically. "This coming from the man that uprooted his whole life and spent six months in Vegas, just because it was what Red John wanted him to do. A man who slept with one of Red John's minions for the sole purpose of tricking him."
"Is this about Lorelei?" Jane asked. "I already told you, she means nothing to me."
Lisbon scoffed.
"I don't care about how you feel for Lorelei, you just made my point. You will do anything to defy him. You're so obsessed Jane that you can't see that this—"
She waved her hands around.
"—only happened because Red John said it couldn't."
Lisbon's frustrated disguise dropped, and he could see tears beginning to form in her eyes. Jane was bewildered. Lisbon was doing everything in her power to justify the kiss as anything other than Jane's feelings for her. He needed a way to prove to her that this wasn't about Red John, that this was real.
"Teresa." Jane said confidently. "I love you."
Lisbon gave him a disbelieving look.
"No Jane." She hiccupped "Just don't."
"But you already know that, don't you? I've told you before."
"Yes, but you said you didn't remember—"
She said it more to herself than to Jane.
"About that—" He smiled. "I lied."
Her head turned rapidly in his direction. She looked as though she was going to punch him.
"That was months ago." He continued. "But I knew long before that. I knew that I was in love with you Teresa. I tried not to be, but I am. I need you to believe me."
Lisbon shook her head for the second time.
"Jane I can't deal with this right now." She sighed. "I think it would be better for both of us if you went home."
Jane couldn't leave now. He couldn't leave on terms like this. He needed to stay, and the only way to make that happen was to get fierce.
"Don't be a coward Lisbon!" Jane mocked. "You're pushing me away because you're afraid. You're afraid you might feel the same way. I was there when we kissed, you kissed me back. If this was just a friendship, you would have pushed me away. But we're more than that. We both know it's true. You don't need to be afraid. Don't be a coward"
Lisbon's face was red. A small vein was racing on her forehead; this told Jane she had reached her limit.
"Get out." Lisbon barked. "Get out of my house."
"Lisbon I—"
She made a dive for the couch and picked up the nearest cushion. With her right hand, she hurdled it at Jane's head. It went whizzing by him and bounced off the wall, knocking down a vase as it did so. Scattered pieces of glass littered the floor.
Jane was done with this. If she so badly wanted to believe his love was false, then he would let her; at least for now. Jane could see there was nothing he could to change the infuriating brunet's mind. He gave her one last searching look before he complied with her request.
He turned his back and exited the door. This would not be the end.
Jane was going to come back.
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Alright people, so what do you think? I know there were no page breaks or POV switches in this chapter, but that was intentional. I hoped you enjoyed the kiss and the aftermath, I know I enjoyed writing it! You're going to have to hang on tight, but don't worry, Jane won't give up that easily.
Up Next: Lisbon can't hide from Jane forever; they eventually will have to face each other. If Jane was in control, it would be sooner rather than later.
