A Jane & Lisbon Story
By Brown Eyes Parker
Summary:
At a funeral, Jane & Lisbon find healing in each other's arms.
.
"Lisbon?" Van Pelt said.
"Yes?"
"It's time."
"Okay." Lisbon adjusted the large black hat that she had purchased for the occasion. She took a look at herself in the mirror and sighed heavily. "Has anybody heard from Jane?"
"No," Van Pelt answered.
"Of course not." Lisbon looked at her fingernails and noted the black nail polish was chipping.
"You haven't heard from him?"
"No. . . not in seven days." She squared her shoulders. "But who needs him? I certainly don't."
Van Pelt looked like she wanted to argue the fact, but thankfully she kept quiet and followed Lisbon out of CBI Headquarters.
"I'll drive," she offered.
"It's okay," Lisbon said. "I have no problem, I know my way to the cemetery."
"Do you think Jane will show up?"
"Honestly? No," Lisbon answered, her hand on the radio dial as she searched for the perfect radio station, and an opportunity to drown out any chance of conversation.
After a few more minutes, Van Pelt sensed Lisbon's need for quiet. So, she stopped asking questions and listened to the Lady Antebellum song that Lisbon had landed on. A song about being chased and saying something along the lines of being meant for each other.
She threw a quick glance at her boss and saw that tears had gathered in her eyes. But she didn't make a move to change the station or turn down the song. If Lisbon needed to cry, she should cry. Keeping emotions bottled up could be hazardous to one's health.
Finally, the were at the cemetery and the quiet drive – save for Lisbon's occasional sniffing – was over.
Van Pelt fished through her purse and surfaced with a handful of Kleenex, which she handed over to Lisbon, and gave her an encouraging smile."
"Thank you," Lisbon said, wiping her face and managing a watery grin.
"He cares about you."
She looked at the people gathering around the cemetery plot. "But not enough."
.
The funeral had already started when he finally showed up and took the empty space next to Lisbon. He was wearing a crisp suit, and new black shoes. . . .he looked impeccably handsome. It took everything in her not to swoon. . . for her to remember where they were.
She avoided eye-contact with him, and she was surprised when his hand slid through her's and he gripped it tightly. But she didn't pull away, she squeezed back. . . figuring that he needed the touch more than she did.
.
"You came," Lisbon said stoically.
The service was over, and Van Pelt sensing that Lisbon needed to talk had caught a ride to the reception with Rigsby.
"I thought it was the only right thing to do," Jane replied, leaning against his car with his arms crossed. "Listen, I can sense that you're in the mood for an argument. But I don't want to fight. At least, not today."
Some of the ire left Lisbon and her stance relaxed. "Okay then. . . we won't fight."
"She would have liked it," Jane said. "Everybody turning out because of her. . . for her. Once again, she was the life of the party."
"You loved her." It was a statement, not a question.
"No," Jane replied. "I think I wanted to like her. . . and everybody else at HQ wanted it too, because it meant I was finally healing and ready to move on."
"We don't have to talk about it," Lisbon pursed her lips together. "I know how much it bothers you."
"Oh," Jane said, remembering the way he had distanced himself from the year before, and the way it had hurt her. . . almost killing their relationship in the process. He had finally woken up to the fact that he could lose her when she accepted a date with Walter Mashburn.
"Never mind, let's just get out of here."
"Wait a second," Jane said, stopping her. "You're jealous."
"Not jealous. . . just sad," Lisbon replied.
"Sad? About what?"
"Everything."
Jane shook his head. "Don't be sad. I can't bear for you to be sad."
"It's easy to say 'don't be sad', it's another thing not to be really sad," Lisbon said, fighting off another bout of tears.
Jane glanced at the tombstone that read Kristina Susan Frye, and then he pulled Lisbon into his arms. "Cry all you want."
"No."
"Listen, I'm tired of being alone. And I'm tired of fighting my feelings for you. Red John has been arrested and dead for months now. So, nothing's standing in our way."
"Fighting your feelings for me?"
Jane kind of smiled. "I've been doing it since the day that I met you."
"Me too," Lisbon admitted, leaning up to kiss him. Then she stopped. "Is this wrong? I mean, given today's circumstances?"
"I don't think so," Jane answered. "The people in our lives. . . the one's who are gone, wouldn't want us to mourn forever."
And then, he kissed her. Finally finding healing in the process.
_The End_
Author's Note:
I wrote this story between October 10th and the 14th. . . I think that was the week where they found Kristina Frye, and she was a little crazy. I wrote this before Mashburn, and after they found Kristina Frye.
Sorry that the ending is so weak. . . I hate it when that happens. Such a strong story, then you get to the point where you write anymore, you're afraid it will be wrecked. So you just stop it abruptly, and it's absolute yuckiness. I hope you enjoyed the good parts of the story though. Please read and review.
Holly, October 20, 2010