Here we have the next instalment. Paring and rating both remain the same. I'm not 100% happy with this one but I really wanted to have it posted before I went away.
Jane POV
It's not often in life when reality tops fantasy. We crave something so much, build it up so highly in our minds that when we finally get it, we feel a kind of disappointment that it wasn't everything we hoped it would be.
Spending that first night with Teresa Lisbon did not fall into that category. It turned out to be better then I ever could have imagined. And it wasn't just the sex (not that that part wasn't fantastic of course) it was everything. Like afterwards, when she fell asleep and the moonlight gave her skin a kind of iridescence that made her look more like a goddess then ever before. It dawned on me then how goddamn lucky I was that she was mine, even if just for the night.
But my favourite part was the bit when she murmured my name in her sleep and snuggled herself into me as close as she could get.
I haven't slept so well in years.
I think about how disappointed she looked when I told her I had to go. If it had been up to me, we'd have both called in sick and spent the whole day in bed. But that would've looked suspicious and anyway, we're in the middle of a case. Lisbon's far too professional to allow herself to get distracted from her work.
I get into my car and turn the key in the ignition. My wedding ring makes a faint clicking noise as it makes contact with the steering wheel.
It's been six years since I lost everything I held dear. Now, little pieces of the man I once was are starting to come back and I owe all that to Lisbon. I don't think my wife would be angry. She'd want me to move on and start living again instead of just going through the motions of every day, waiting for the one when I run across Red John once again.
I can't abandon my need for revenge. But in the meantime, I can try and get some semblance of a life back.
And this, whatever it is I have with Lisbon now, makes for a decent start.
Lisbon POV
As I close the door behind him, I feel an immediate sense of loss. The warm, fuzzy afterglow starts to wear off and the anxiety is setting in.
I don't regret what happened last night. That's the big surprise. Sure, the 'hard-ass Special Agent' part of me is up in arms, but the 'human woman in love' part is feeling pretty happy right now.
If anybody at work finds out what happened, I don't know what I'll do.
Work. Where I'm supposed to be in an hour.
Back in my bedroom, I grab the first acceptable outfit I lay my hands on and make a beeline for the shower, sidestepping my rumpled clothes from last night, which are strewn all over the floor.
Good God, how did my jeans get all the way over there?
Oh yes, I threw them didn't I? Just before I got on top of him and…well, there's no need to go into that.
Thirty minutes later, my makeup is applied and my hair done and my mind is on the case as I reach for my car keys.
As I pass through the living room, something green catches my attention. I move to pick it up.
It's my top.
Even though there's nobody else around, I can still feel myself blushing furiously as I think about how it came to be there. Hastily, I scoop it up and throw it into the laundry basket.
Fortunately, Jane's shirt, which also ended up on the floor during our passionate little session, is not here. He must have taken it with him.
That's a relief. Otherwise I would've had to find some way to give it back at him at work, and I'm not ready to take on that minefield just yet. Or ever.
Van Pelt POV
As always, I'm the first of our team to get into work. Of course, Wayne is not far behind me as we both just came from his place, but we agreed he should drive around the block a couple of times before he comes inside. Otherwise we might as well walk into the building screaming, "We're sleeping together!" at the top of our lungs.
I sit down at my computer and begin finishing up the background checks I was doing on Mackenzie and Mitch yesterday.
Soon enough, the elevator pings and both Wayne and Jane step out of it.
"Morning Van Pelt," says Wayne, a little too formally to be believable, and winks at me when he thinks Jane isn't looking.
"I saw that," Jane informs him in an undertone and turns to me, "Good morning Grace," he greets me cheerily. "Isn't a wonderful day to be alive?" He hits me full-force with one of his patented grins.
I can only guess that this good mood means that he and Lisbon have made up. Thank God. It's way too quiet around here without hearing them sniping at each other from inside her office. Lisbon swears blind that she only calls him in there to tell him off, but the amount of times they've both emerged with mile-wide smiles on their faces makes me think that a considerable amount of flirting goes on in there as well.
And God only knows what else.
"Morning guys," I say, smiling at them.
The elevator pings again, this time carrying Cho who has his nose in a book. He grunts a response to our greetings and raises an acknowledging hand in our general direction as he sits down.
Jane heads into the kitchenette and starts preparing his cup of tea along with a cup of coffee presumably for Lisbon, who should be arriving within the next two minutes if she keeps to her normal schedule.
Sure enough, the elevator pings once more and the doors open to reveal our fearless leader with her cell phone pressed to her ear, rolling her eyes at whatever the other person is saying.
"That's really not necessary, Detective McKay," she's saying. "I can assure you we are well-equipped to handle this-"
Her irritation is evident as McKay cuts her off. She listens for a moment, and then sighs resignedly.
"Of course, that's your right. This is a joint investigation after all. What time am I to expect you?"
Another brief silence.
"All right, we'll see you then…Brandon." She snaps the phone shut, scowling.
Wayne catches my eye. "Brandon?" he mouths.
"What did he want?" Cho asks her, closing his book.
"He thinks we're moving too slowly so he's coming by to help us out," she says irritably. "Right now, we're at square one and if we don't come up with something soon we're going to be the laughingstock of the CBI and Sausalito P.D."
I can't help but wonder if McKay is the only thing that's bothering her, but I'm not about to ask her. Been there, done that. Let Jane coax it out of her, he's got the best chance of finding out without getting his head ripped off.
She looks at her watch. "He's going to be here in four hours, and I want to see some serious progress by the time he gets here. Van Pelt how are those background checks coming?"
"Almost done."
"Good. Let me know if you find something."
She walks into her office, leaving the door slightly ajar.
Just then, Jane emerges from the kitchenette with the two cups.
"Lisbon here? I thought I heard her dulcet tones."
"In her office," says Wayne. He lowers his voice. "Watch out man, she's a bit touchy this morning."
"Meh. Don't worry, I'll straighten her out."
Confidently, he strides to her door and without waiting for invitation, lets himself in.
Honestly, I think the man has a death wish.
Jane POV
"Coffee time!" I announce, pushing open the door to Lisbon's office.
"It better be a strong one," she grumbles as I hand over the cup.
"Why? Busy night?"
She glares at me but doesn't rise to the bait. No worries, I'm just getting warmed up. I perch myself on the edge of her desk.
"Most people would think you're angry but I can see you've got a bit of sparkle in your eyes this morning my dear. Someone special in your life perhaps?"
The glare intensifies.
"Let me guess. He's exceptionally handsome, roguishly charming, impossibly intelligent, with a rapier-sharp wit."
"What makes you say that?" Every word is dripping with sarcasm.
"Well, a woman as clever as you I'm sure has impeccable taste in men."
"I don't know about that. I made some pretty major oversights with this guy. For one, he didn't seem to get the memo that three-piece suits went out of style with shoulder pads and fluoro tights."
"Oh?"
"Yes and he also has an extremely exaggerated sense of his own importance. To tell you the truth, he's kind of a jerk." She glares at me some more.
Oh I love it when she gets all fired up like this.
"That's a shame," I say airily. "Personally, I spent the night with a very special young woman. Brilliant. Stunning. Lots of spunk." I reach for her hand. "And I would very much like to see her again, if she's interested."
She snatches her hand away, looking around frantically as if someone is about to leap out and fire us both on the spot.
"I thought we agreed it never happened!" she whispers, angrily.
"I don't understand Lisbon. To what are you referring?"
"You know exactly what I mean Jane. Don't try my patience."
"You shouldn't let yourself get so stressed, it's not good for your health. Makes you look haggard."
"It does not," she retorts, but I can tell she's itching to get her hands on a mirror so she can see for herself.
"I'm kidding," I reassure her. "You look the same as always."
"And what's that?"
"Beautiful."
Before she can stop me, I lean forward and steal a quick kiss.
"Are you insane?" she asks incredulously. "Do you want us to get caught?""
"Caught doing what? According to you, nothing happened."
With that, I pick up my tea and leave her office. That should give her some food for thought.
Lisbon POV
I really need to stop letting Jane corner me like that. If someone had walked in and seen that kiss, one of us would be out of a job.
I feel slightly ashamed that the fear of being caught was the only thing stopping me from pulling him down onto my desk and getting back to where we were last night. The man is too irresistible for his own damn good. And certainly for mine.
There's a napkin under my coffee cup that I didn't notice before. There's a drawing of a heart on it, with our initials inside it. I snort in disbelief; it's just so high school. I thought we were adults here.
My cynical brain roars it approval at this analysis. But I've never felt my heart flutter this way before, and I just have to look at it again. In spite of myself, I can feel a smile crossing my face.
Oh no. The last thing I need right now is more warm and fuzzy feelings for Jane. Have to throw it out.
I pick it up and my hand hovers over the trashcan.
Just throw it out Teresa.
Just open your hand and release it.
But I can't resist looking at it one more time. A flock of butterflies seems to have taken up residence in my stomach and even though I'm sitting down, there's a certain kind of giddiness.
I guess it wouldn't hurt if I kept it. Nobody would know.
Decision made, I fold it up and slip it into my pocket.
Jane POV
I wonder if she's found my little message yet. Childish, I know, but I'll bet it put a smile on her face, even if just for a moment. Mission accomplished.
"What's up with the boss?" asks Cho off-handedly, as if he couldn't care less about the answer, but I know better. Beneath that frosty exterior is the kind of loyalty you don't often find. He's never said, and she's never asked, but it's clear to me that he'd go to hell and back for her. They've got each other's backs to the bitter end. They've always been that way, as long as I've known them.
It's a good thing. Sometime in the future, I will inevitably do her irreparable emotional damage. Whether it be Red John related, or by my own stupidity something will happen that she simply can't forgive. I take small comfort in the fact that when that day comes, Cho will be there for her, in his own strange way.
But for now, back to our conversation.
"Nothing a good dose of caffeine won't fix," I answer him, casually.
He nods once. "Fair enough." He returns to his work.
"The last thing she needs right now is coffee," Van Pelt says in a concerned kind of tone. "She's wired enough as it is and McKay's been on her case. He's even coming by today to check up on us."
"Hey I'd have made her a camomile tea, but I can't afford to keep replacing all the cups she keeps 'accidentally' smashing in a caffeine-deprived frenzy. The bill's reached triple digits."
Rigsby laughs. "It's lucky the cleaning crew are all so terrified of her or else they probably would've killed her by now."
"So, our old pal McKay is dropping by today, huh?"
Van Pelt nods. "Does anyone else think it's weird that he and Lisbon are on first-name terms?"
"It wasn't her idea," I point out. "He seems to be a little taken with our Lisbon. It'd be kind of sweet if it wasn't so pathetic."
"Yeah because it's not like anyone else we know has a puppy-dog crush on Lisbon or anything," says Cho, not lifting his eyes from his computer screen. "Bringing her coffee all the time, following her around, pestering her day and night."
I take offence to that. I do not have a 'crush.' What I feel for Lisbon is far beyond such petty emotions.
"Oh Cho, you're finally learning to talk about your feelings. That's a big step in the right direction my friend." OK, I know that was a low blow but I need to get this conversation out of these dangerous waters. If Lisbon overheard, she'd freak out and then I'd never even have a chance to be with her.
Rigsby and Van Pelt both snort with laughter and Cho turns the steely glare on me that makes suspects squirm. He opens his mouth.
"What's going on?"
I've been saved by the reappearance of the woman in question who has just emerged from her office.
Van Pelt and Rigsby exchange panicked looks and Cho immediately goes back to his work. I guess it's up to me to get us all out of this one. If she finds out we were talking about her behind her back…
"Cho was just telling me that Detective McKay will be gracing us with his presence today," I tell her. She makes a face at the mention of the name.
"Yes he will. And I'd really like to be able to give him a solid lead when he gets here." She looks to the others. "Tell me you guys have got something."
Cho shakes his head. "Sorry boss."
Rigsby shrugs. "Nada."
She groans in annoyance. I can see the tension in her expression and I wish we could be alone somewhere so I could kiss it away for her.
Van Pelt is grinning. "Eureka," she says quietly.
Lisbon's mood seems to lift slightly. "Eureka?" she repeats. "Eureka is good. What did you find?"
"I dug a little deeper into Mackenzie's past and I found out that her name wasn't always Watson."
"She's married?" Lisbon asks.
"No, but she was once. Husband's name was Joel Campbell. They were only married half a year before they got divorced. So I ran a search for the name Mackenzie Campbell and I discovered some interesting stuff."
"What'd you find out?"
"Turns out our victim wasn't the first to take out a restraining order against her. I found a record of an AVO requested by a Regina Wilson for stalking and intimidation. Apparently Mackenzie has a bit of a history for fixating on other people's men."
"Has she ever spent time in a mental facility?" I ask.
"Not that I saw, but I found several referral letters from psychiatrists suggesting that it would be a good idea. And I did find a link between her and Mitch Parsons, boss," she says to Lisbon. "Apparently they co-own a real estate development company. They build office blocks, condos, that kind of thing."
I look to Lisbon. "Mitch isn't involved in this. He's slimy yes, but he isn't a killer. Besides he was in love with Justine."
"So? A lot of people we arrest claim that they were in love with their victims."
"Yeah. Right up to the part where they shoot them, or poison them, or bash their heads in with a baseball bat," says Rigsby. "So much for happily ever after."
"Speaking of baseball bats, cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. We found her body near one of their construction sites. Could a plank have done it?" asks Lisbon.
"Autopsy report says it's possible."
"OK so she had motive, means and opportunity. I like her for this, but how do we prove it? We don't have any evidence and she'll just lawyer up again like last time if we pull her in for questioning."
"She's not stupid. She won't say a word to us. We need to trick her into confessing," I say.
"How?"
"I noticed you talking to her at the party. Did she say anything interesting?"
"She said that Justine had broken up her relationship, and she told me to watch my back."
"Why?'
She pauses, as though she really doesn't want to say the next part. "I sort of had to tell her you were my boyfriend," she admits quietly.
Rigsby and Van Pelt both chuckle and even Cho cracks a smile.
"She put me on the spot!" she says, defensively. "Jane was the only guy there that she didn't know!"
This does nothing to dispel the others' amusement. I very badly want to join in, but the withering 'don't you dare' glare she's sending my way is enough to stop me.
"Are you two finished?" she asks Rigsby and Van Pelt and they both clam up instantly.
"We might be able to use that," I say, reassuringly. "Leave it with me for a while. I'll come up with something."
"Well don't take too long. I'd love it if McKay got here and found that we'd already made an arrest." She turns to Van Pelt. "You did well to find all this information. Good work."
Van Pelt beams at the praise. "Thanks, boss."
I wonder if Lisbon knows just how much that comment means to Van Pelt.
Conversation over, I retreat back to my couch, to think it over.
Ten minutes pass, and I have made no headway. I keep getting sidetracked with thoughts of just how adorable Lisbon looks when she's embarrassed. Whether she's aware of it or not, her face is very expressive. A quick glance can tell a good observer, such as myself, exactly how she's feeling.
Oh my God. That's it. That's our in.
I leap off the couch and charge into her office. She jumps, and subsequently punches a hole in the form she's trying to fill out.
"Jane, what the hell?"
"I've got it! I know how we can get Mackenzie to confess!"
"That was quick," she says, suspiciously.
"I know. The speed of my own brilliance amazes me too sometimes."
She scoffs, but doesn't speak.
"Don't look at me like that," I reprimand her. "I just have one question. How good an actress are you?"
Lisbon POV
I can't believe I agreed to this. This is no the way to go about getting a confession, but I have to grudgingly admit that Jane is probably right. We're not going to get it any other way.
Today's 'brilliant' plan finds me sitting at a table in a small café near where Mackenzie works. The premise of this idea is actually rather simple. Jane thinks that since Mackenzie and I had already made something of a rapport, that she might let it slip if we offer the right circumstances. He says if she won't talk to a cop, then she might just talk to a regular woman. I have my doubts. Honestly, like she's going to confess murder to a complete stranger. But Jane is adamant, and in the absence of any better ideas, I suppose it's worth a try.
The little bell on the door tinkles and she enters the café wearing a black power suit that looks like it cost about as much as my car. Her hair is piled on top of her head and there are tiny diamond studs in her ears.
She approaches the counter and orders a strong black coffee. She turns around and spots me.
"I know you. From the party the other night…Teresa right?"
I nod.
"Would you like some company?" she asks and when I answer in the affirmative, takes the seat opposite me.
I take a sip of my coffee and hers arrives at the same time. She stirs sugar into it.
"So how are things going with you?" she asks me presently. "How's that scrumptious boyfriend of yours?"
I try and make myself look sad. "Actually, it looks like you were right about women in this town. He dumped me."
"Oh no!" says Mackenzie, sympathetically. "What happened?"
I've never been much of an actress, but Jane is certain that if I can sell this, she'll fall right into our little trap. He says that she is the type of woman who can't handle rejection in any form, even if it's happening to someone she barely even knows.
I wipe a non-existent tear from my eye. "There's not that much to tell. At the party he met someone else. She got her claws into him and all of a sudden I'm single again."
"I'm so sorry," she says, patting my hand. "You can't trust anyone around here. Take it from someone who knows. Who is she?"
"I don't know," I say, morosely. "But I've seen her. Tall, thin, beautiful. You know the type. "
The bell tinkles again. "Oh God," I whisper conspiratorially as the door opens. "That's her."
Jane POV
When I enter the café, arm in arm with my new 'girlfriend' played by Van Pelt, I immediately spot Lisbon and Mackenzie ensconced at a small table in the corner. As we enter, Lisbon looks miserably in my direction and Mackenzie eats it up, sending me a withering glare. When she looks away, I quickly wink at Lisbon, who grins back.
I knew she could pull this off. She's getting better at lying, Not good enough to fool me of course, but good enough for a job like this. With any luck, we'll be making an arrest in the next few minutes and this case will finally be over.
Lisbon POV
"I've never seen her before," Mackenzie says, studying Van Pelt. "She must be new as well."
"Oh, who cares what her name is?" I ask, a little hysterically. "She stole him from me!"
I don't care if it is just pretend, it feels strange to be so upset about the loss of Jane. As his boss, it would probably have me doing cartwheels around the office if he got moved to another department. No more lawsuits, way less paperwork, no more having to arrest people for punching him in the face. Of course, work would be a lot less fun as well and given recent events I'd probably miss him terribly.
Half my luck. Even if I did manage to get rid of him, I'd want him back. I guess I'm stuck with him now.
The two of them settle themselves at a table near to ours.
"Well why don't you do something about it?" asks Mackenzie quietly. "Go up to her and tell her to keep her hands off him."
"Like that's going to work. Look at her, she could pass for a supermodel and look at me, average as they come."
"There is one other thing you could do. Remember the bitch who took my boyfriend from me? I just took her out of the picture."
"How?"
"I followed her from work one day, there was no-one around. I just wanted to talk to her, to tell her to stay away from Mark. But she didn't listen to me, she just said I was crazy and that she loved him. And I got so mad."
This is it. I can't believe she's confessing to a complete stranger.
"I just picked up a plank and I hit her with it and she went down. Problem solved. Don't need to worry about her anymore."
"I guess not. But I know something you probably should start worrying about."
"What?"
I open my wallet to reveal my badge. "Agent Teresa Lisbon, CBI. You're under arrest for the murder of Justine Lyons."
"What?" she leaps up from her seat. "You tricked me!"
Jane stands up. "Actually it was my idea. She just carried it out." He turns to me. "And I think you chose the wrong profession my dear, you acted that beautifully."
"I'm sure the phone will be ringing off the hook with movie offers when we get back to Sacramento. But in the meantime, I need cuffs."
Van Pelt tosses me hers and after Mackenzie is secured I march her back to the Suburban.
"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you do say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one will be provided for you by the state of California-"
"This is coercion. There's no way this will stand up in court."
I shrug. "I've made arrests in far more questionable ways than this and they all were convicted. But you've got a pretty good shot at the insanity plea, so I guess we'll see how we go."
"Just one question. Are you and the hot blonde guy actually together or not?"
"No."
"Have you told him that? Because the way he's looking at you right now, I'm not convinced."
I can't help but flick a glance back at Jane and indeed, he is staring at me with pride and some other emotions I can't quite place.
"Just get in the car," I order her brusquely. I'll deal with Jane later.
Jane POV
All in all, it has been a very good day. The case is closed, and Lisbon took great pleasure in telling McKay he wasn't needed the second he stepped through the door.
I watch her as she ushers him back to the elevator and can tell she's trying to keep a satisfied smile off of her face.
"Congratulations Agent Lisbon," says McKay grudgingly. "A very good result."
"We do the best we can," she says modestly.
He seems to brighten slightly. "My invitation to dinner still stands. The case is closed, and I know a little place up the road that makes the best Indian food in town."
I chuckle to myself at the distaste on her face as he makes this offer. "That's nice of you Brandon, but I'll pass. Paperwork to do, you know."
Like the fool that he is, McKay swallows this story without question even though all her body language is screaming that she's lying. And that is why he doesn't deserve her. He doesn't know her at all.
"Maybe another time, then. Goodbye for now." They shake hands and as he disappears into the elevator she blows out a sigh of relief.
I follow her back into her office.
"You never know. He could've been your perfect match."
She sits back down at her desk.
"He thought I was incapable of doing my job. Not exactly the criteria I look for in a life partner."
I smile. "For what it's worth, I think you're better at your job then anyone I've ever met."
"Are you here for a reason or just to annoy me, because I've got work to do?"
"The case is closed."
"Oh, well spotted. They weren't lying when they said how observant you are."
"I seem to remember the two of us coming to an agreement this morning regarding the closing of this case and me taking you on a date. Are you following me?"
She glares at me. "Not here! People could hear."
"Don't be silly. It's after six. The only ones left here are you and me."
"We didn't come to an agreement. You left before I could answer you."
"But I knew you were going to say yes anyway, so I didn't have to wait around."
"Well what if I say no?"
"Then you'd be lying. Come on, it's one date. If it doesn't go well, then it'll never happen again. And unlike certain other people, I know exactly what you like so I promise you'll have a good time."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
She pauses for a minute. "You know what?" she says eventually. "You're on. One date, and you have to be on your best behaviour. If it goes badly I reserve the right to leave at any time."
"Done. And if it goes well?"
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Jane. That's a pretty big if."
And this is why I love her. Lisbon even managed to find a way to turn asking her out into some kind of contest.
"I'll pick you up at 7:30 tomorrow night. Wear something nice, but not too formal."
"Where are we going?"
"Not telling. It's a surprise."
"Fine. I thought I'd save you time by telling you if I didn't like it, but if you're going to be like that, I won't bother."
She reaches for the first sheet in a huge pile of paperwork.
"Lisbon? You don't actually think that you're average do you?"
"What?"
"That's what you said to Mackenzie today. You don't believe that, right?"
"Well, I'm not about to be named in any magazine's 25 Most Beautiful People list, but I'm not unhappy with my appearance."
"Because of the all words that come to mind when I think of you, 'average' isn't one of them. Nothing about you could be considered average."
We share a smile before I nip out of her office, leaving her in peace.
"Jane!" she calls through the door. "I hope it goes well. Because if you thought last night was good, you haven't seen anything yet."
It turns out that we aren't the only ones left here after all. I literally run into Mia as I exit the bullpen.
"Patrick!" she gushes. 'What a pleasant surprise!"
"Hello Mia," I greet her. "What are you doing here so late? I'm sure such a pretty young woman has a whole host of things she'd rather be doing then working back late."
She lets out a high-pitched giggle, so different to Lisbon's low chuckle. I know which one I prefer.
"Well I heard you solved another case today and I just wanted to say congratulations."
"It was all Agent Lisbon's doing," I say, self-deprecatingly. "She was the one who got the killer to confess."
She frowns at the mention of Lisbon.
"But you were the one that figured out who did it, right?"
"We all did."
She giggles again. "You're so modest. How about we go and have drinks to celebrate your success?"
"No thank you, Mia."
Her face falls. "Why not? I like you, you like me, we'd make a great couple."
I look over her head to where I can see Lisbon, dark hair illuminated in the lamplight, totally engrossed in her file.
"I'm sorry Mia, but I'm afraid I can't give you my heart, if that's what you want. It already belongs to someone else."
I know the end of the case was kind of abrupt. I just like writing the relationship stuff better.
Next up, the date!!