A/N: Hey again guys. I was so looking forward to writing this chapter, and then it turned out to be one of the hardest stories I've done. I've been working on it for a while now, and I changed the ending and changed it back multiple times. It was just a mess. So, I'm still a little disapointed, it didn't really come out the way I wanted it to. I guess that's just because with the story line I chose, there were just so many different ways I could go with this. Anyway, please read and review... tell me if you liked it or didn't like it?
Just so you guys know, I do take requests. The list I got is pretty boring without many interesting words. There are a few I can always replace if you would like to request or suggest. Just tell me if there is a certain word you would like me to do. Otherwise, I'm just gonna stick to the list. Thanks so much! Don't know when the next chapter will be up, the story line I chose for this prompt burnt me out a little bit... but I will update A.S.A.P!!!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Mentalist or the show's characters.
Prompt: Handcuffs (special thanks to JollyRancher for the prompt!)
Next prompt: Breathe Again
Jane and Lisbon were attracted to each other. Everyone in the whole building knew it, and their three colleagues were no exception. The past week, Jane and Lisbon had been avoiding each other after a case where they were forced to pose as a married couple. Their chemistry while playing said role was undeniable. Afterwards it just made things extremely awkward between the two, and their three colleagues were getting tired of their behavior.
Finally one day, the three agents decided to take a stand.
Jane laughed quietly to himself and Lisbon shot him a glare. They were both sitting next to each other on his couch. Jane was to the right of Lisbon, who had been uttering a string of profanities under her breath for the past five minutes. Jane found her attitude towards the current situation particularly amusing.
"Why are you laughing Jane?" She asked incredulously. "This can't be fun for you."
"Actually, I'm enjoying myself." He responded, giving her his happiest grin. "Well, I should say I'm enjoying myself at your expense."
"Personally I think this sucks." She shot a glare over at her three colleagues who weren't paying any attention to the two.
"That's what makes it so fun! I'm enjoying your reaction."
"Bite me." She whispered angrily.
At that moment, Van Pelt, Rigsby, and Cho approached the two sitting on the couch.
"You guys ready for lunch?" Van Pelt asked.
"Sure." They both replied simultaneously as they stood up.
"We're going to go to that new Chinese restaurant." Rigsby stated, obviously happy.
"Wait." Lisbon stopped the group from leaving. "I am not going out anywhere with this," She motioned towards Jane on her right. "Attached to me." She raised her tiny right wrist up in the air.
Jane's left wrist also began to rise as the handcuffs that were attaching their hands clanked around.
"We're not unlocking you." Van Pelt shook her head. "You know what we want."
"I hate each and every one of you." Lisbon fiercely stated.
"So, are you two coming or not? I'm hungry." Rigsby asked.
"I'm not." Lisbon replied, rolling her eyes.
"I guess I can't. Bring me something back Cho?" Jane gave his a friend a smile.
"Sure Jane." Cho replied, turning to leave with the rest of the group.
Lisbon sighed and plopped back down on the couch, pulling Jane down with her. "They're all getting fired!" She shrieked as Jane chuckled at her. "And I'll fire you too if you don't stop laughing!"
"Calm yourself woman, we'll get out of this predicament eventually."
"Hopefully sometime before I chew my own arm off!" She smacked her left fist forcefully down on the couch.
Jane covered her right hand with his left and patted it gently. "I'm sorry Lisbon." He whispered.
"For what."
"I'm sorry that you're so frustrated over this. I know how uncomfortable you feel right now, and I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault Jane." She whispered back.
An easy silence fell between the pair, both lost in their own thoughts.
Lisbon knew that Jane was attracted to her. Heck, the whole office knew it. She too was attracted to Jane, but she refused to admit it, even to herself. There was always a nagging voice in the back of her head telling her that she shouldn't like him this much. A tragedy defined his past, a past she wasn't sure he was ready to move on from. Yes, she would normally act on the feelings she felt for this man, but not when she wasn't sure of what his response would be.
The two sat there in silence for a few minutes longer before Lisbon's stomach began to growl.
"Here." Jane stated as he pulled out a candy bar and handed it to her.
"Thanks Jane!" A smile brightened her face for the very first time that morning as she began to un-wrap the candy bar. Silently, she began munching on the chocolate.
"Lisbon?" Jane asked absentmindedly.
"Yeah?"
"How are we going to get out of this?" He looked solemnly at the handcuffs. Even to him, they were slowly becoming a burden.
"Apparently we have to confess our undying love for each other." She said sarcastically. "I don't see how we're going to get out it."
"Well, we just have to say it Lisbon. We are both obviously attracted to one another, and our coworkers see it. All they want is a little confession."
"And I hate them for it." She uttered as she averted her gaze to the ground beneath her. The conversation was beginning to get very awkward.
"Don't hate them Lisbon. They're just trying to help."
"I don't see how their plan they came up with can help." She muttered, hating her team even more.
Jane sighed and turned to face her. "Lisbon?"
"What Jane?"
"What happens when we have to use the restroom?" He asked innocently.
"You're kidding?" She hissed, standing and forcing Jane up too.
With one swift tug she pulled Jane along with her as she began to turn the entire bullpen upside down looking for that key.
The three agents returned to find the office in complete ruin. Papers were scattered here and there, drawers were left open, their contents thrown every which way. "See, this is why I took the key with us." Cho said, matter-of-factly.
Lisbon turned to glare at her three coworkers who were looking around the room in disbelief.
"Give me." She paused and took in a sharp breath. "The damn handcuff key! Now!"
She stalked up to the group and balled her hand into a fist.
Van Pelt just smiled at her angry boss. "No." She replied simply. "Not until you comply with the demands."
"Listen!" she shrieked. "Sure, you can handcuff me to Jane all morning and force me to miss my lunch, but there is no way in hell you can get me to follow that man into the restroom."
Rigsby and Van Pelt burst into laughter. Lisbon's comment even earned a smile from Cho.
Van Pelt finally calmed herself. "Alright, alright!" She exclaimed, still a tad bit tickled. "I'll unlock you. Cho?"
Cho handed her the handcuff key. Lisbon extended her arm and smiled, relieved to finally be out of this potentially awful situation.
"I'll unlock you…" Van Pelt said once again as she raised the key in the air to show Jane and Lisbon. "After you admit that you two like each other!"
"Come on Van Pelt!" Lisbon pleaded, shaking the cuffs angrily.
"No! We aren't backing down." Van Pelt continued to dangle the key above the pair standing in front of her.
"Fine!" Lisbon exclaimed. "I'll admit it! I've threatened to shoot you and fire you, there's not much else I can do."
Van Pelt smiled at the pair in front of her.
Lisbon stared straight into Van Pelt's eyes and kept a controlled expression. "I like Jane. More than he knows…"Lisbon sighed as a deep red blush began to color her cheeks.
The three agents in front of her smiled happily at this confession.
Lisbon continued as if Jane wasn't even there. "More than I should. I shouldn't feel this way when I know that he doesn't feel as strongly as I do." Her tone suddenly became extremely bitter. "I didn't want to tell him yet. I wanted to wait until I knew for sure that he reciprocated these feelings, wait until I knew he was ready to hear about them! But now, because of you guys, I can't. And I can never take these words back!" Lisbon looked down and to her left, refusing to look at Jane. "I wanted to wait because right now, I don't think I can bear to hear his response."
"Boss… I-I." Van Pelt stuttered.
"Just unlock me." Lisbon said as she raised her arm again, continuing to avoid Jane's gaze.
Van Pelt did as she wished.
"Excuse me." Lisbon whispered, retreating to her office and closing the door.
The group's eyes all settled on Jane.
"A moment please?" Jane asked, moving towards Lisbon's office.
Van Pelt nodded solemnly and Jane left the group standing there to worry about their boss.
"Lisbon?" Jane asked through the door. "Teresa, we need to talk. Open the door."
"No." was her muffled response.
"Please?" He pleaded, running his hands along the glass of the door.
The door finally squeaked open and Jane entered, closing it behind him.
Inside, the room was dark, making the mood feel even more depressing than it already was. Lisbon sat in her desk chair facing the wall, still too afraid to look Jane in the eye.
"I'm sorry." She breathed.
"No." Jane touched her shoulder gently. "Don't be sorry. I wanted to thank you."
"Thank me?" she asked.
Jane moved to the front of her chair, but she quickly spun around. Jane grabbed the back of the chair and spun her around again to face him. He held her securely in place. "Yes, I wanted to thank you for taking your time, thank you for putting me and my feelings before yours. It shows just how much you care about me. You didn't want to rush things if I wasn't ready."
"Yeah." She agreed.
He laughed quietly to himself.
"What?" She asked, curious.
"Oh, I didn't have to say my confession." He smiled.
"It's hardly fair."
"I know." He replied. "Do you want to hear what I would have said?"
She nodded, staring into his sparkly blue eyes.
"I would have said that you are my best friend." He stooped down to her eye level and winked. "I would have said that… five years ago I never would have expected to feel this way about any other woman other than my wife. I was always so hesitant to admit it. Even though I always thought I could read you so well, there was always one thing I was never sure about, and that was how strongly you felt about me." He smiled his special smile that could make your knees melt. "Teresa." He whispered as he caressed her cheek. "You don't need to worry about whether or not I reciprocate your feelings anymore, because I'm telling you personally that I do. I'm ready to move on." He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers ever so gently and pulled back. "I'm ready to move on with you.
"Jane, we don't need to rush things. I want you to be comfortable with this."
"I'm perfectly comfortable with this Lisbon, thank you." He murmured into her ear. "I've been waiting for this moment just as long as you have, and now that it's here you want me to slow down?"
She laughed while standing up to look into eyes. "I just want to be sure."
He rolled his eyes and pulled her into a hug. "I'm sure."
Lisbon pulled back and let out a sad sigh.
"What?" he questioned, cocking his head to the side.
"Nothing…" She mumbled, looking away. "That just wasn't much of a first kiss."
Jane chuckled to himself before leaning down and kissing her with a passion that made Lisbon's knees give out. Luckily, he was holding her up.
The two finally emerged from Lisbon's office with smiles on their faces. Their hands were still locked together, only this time, it didn't involve handcuffs.