Chapter 10
Meet the Williams Family
Most of this chapter I wrote a few months ago. I didn't know where to put it until now. I know Vega died in the show but in this story she is still alive and well and getting used to Jane. She may be out of character as I wrote this before the season started before I officially knew what she was like.
Disclaimer: Don't own the show. If I did I wouldn't have Vega die and she and Wylie could go on their date.
Jane, Lisbon, and Alex arrived at Lisbon's house that night after going out to eat. Jane still wondered where his dad had been all these years and how he ended up in Texas. He had revealed some but not all.
"Dad, where have you been all these years?" Jane asked seated at the couch at Lisbon's house. Alex was in the chair next to the couch.
"I told you." Alex protested.
"No, you didn't. Your answer was vague." Jane looked seriously at his father. He wanted to know and find out this mystery.
"Fine. I looked for you after you left. You and Angela never told me you were leaving. I was angry about that. I burned down the trailer and just left like that." Alex admitted.
"Angela and I went to L.A. We got married soon after. Though unfortunately she had to bail Danny out of jail then."
"I did find you and saw the wedding." Alex admitted. "I hid behind the tree."
"Why didn't you say anything?"Jane wondered.
"You looked happy without me. So, I didn't come to talk to you. I just left."
"I was happy and then all that happiness was taken away from me in the night because I was arrogant." Jane admitted remembering that night. He hadn't thought of that night in a long time since he came to Texas.
"But you're happy now with Teresa." Alex said.
"Yes, I am. She's my best friend. I love her. She's been with me through so much. It took me a long time to realize how much she meant to me."
"I'm glad." Alex admitted.
"Me too." Jane smiled.
"As I told you I was in Dallas, George bought drugs from a guy and He shared some with me. I never saw the guy but he came from a neighborhood over there. I believe it was one of those nice neighborhoods all the same. Maybe it's the same neighborhood the dead lawyer was involved with. I just thought of that." Alex explained.
"Really? So, do you remember the name?" Jane asked. His father was being more useful in this case than imagined.
"I never went there. George only did. I think it was called Sunny Oaks Community." Alex confessed.
At that second, Jane began to formulate the plan. He would need to go to Dallas to stake out the area and the neighborhood. "Thank you for the information. I need to tell Teresa." Jane left to go the bedroom. He turned his head. "I'm going to bed now. Do you need anything?"
"No. Good night, Patrick." Alex said. Then Jane went upstairs.
Lisbon came out of the shower dressed for bed. She knew Alex wanted to make up for lost times with Jane and wanted reconcile with his son. He had been very helpful with the case considering he witnessed it. She walked to the window of the bedroom and noticed the agents watching out in the distance. Soon she heard the footsteps coming up the stairs. She guessed it was Jane. Soon he came in the room. "The agents are out there." Lisbon turned around and spotted Jane. She went to the bed and went under the covers.
"So, I got some new information from Dad." Jane admitted.
"Really?" Lisbon questioned. "Why didn't he say it at the office?"
"I don't know. He said that George, the friend he stayed with bought drugs from someone from a neighborhood in Dallas. He thinks possibly it's the same drug ring Michael Wright was involved with."Jane explained.
"What neighborhood?" Lisbon questioned. Jane joined her in bed.
"Sunny Oaks. I need to go to Dallas tomorrow." Jane mentioned.
"Somebody should go with you. Why are you going?" Lisbon asked leerily.
"Nobody needs to go with me. I'm figuring out a plan and need to go." Jane stated. "I'm not doing anything dangerous."
"Whoever killed Michael is from Dallas." Jane admitted.
"Are you going to tell me your plan?" Lisbon asked.
"I haven't gotten everything worked out. I will tell you when it's complete." Jane explained.
"You probably should tell Abbott you're going to Dallas tomorrow. Are you using the deniability method again that you used on me at the CBI?"
"No. I will tell you as soon as I get back. Besides, it's a team effort. Trust me." Jane pleaded.
"Alright. Let's go asleep. I'll tell Abbott tomorrow." Lisbon stated.
The next day Jane left early in the Airstream to travel three hours to Dallas. Lisbon didn't know what Jane had in mind but they still had to talk to Jonathon Carter and possibly Sally Peppercorn again. She would continue giving guidance to Vega. She called Abbott right away that Jane had gone to Dallas. Abbott wasn't exactly happy Jane was leaving but he said he trusted his plan anyway. She explained to Abbott what Alex had said as well and so she brought him back to the office to talk to Abbott.
Meanwhile, Jane arrived in Dallas and looked over the Sunny Oaks neighborhood and noticed a house for sale. Somewhere in this community there was a man ahead of the drug ring involving the death of Michael Wright. He instantly thought of the idea he would bring to the team when he got back to Austin. First of all he had to do some arranging. Firstly, call Abbott about getting the house so the FBI could use it for his plan. For now, he had some shopping to do and to contact Wylie for information.
"I have a plan to catch the killer." Jane announced. He had returned from his trip to Dallas. Everyone prepared to listen to Jane's more than likely crazy plan. Alex was there listening as well. Lisbon herself was not aware of what the plan consisted, though she knew he had one. This was something she was used to with working with Jane. Vega would be surprised no matter what the idea.
"When did you have this idea, Jane?" Lisbon asked instantly.
"Yesterday." Jane admitted. "I mentioned it.
"My plan is an undercover operation. You know like the art con except a little longer. I already staked out the neighborhood and rented a house in Dallas for the operation."
"What is your plan, Jane?" Abbott asked. Everyone looked at each other wondering what the consultant had in mind.
"My idea is that Lisbon, Vega and I will play a family that just moved in. We already know that the drug ring is in a neighborhood in Dallas." Jane explained.
"What!" Vega exclaimed.
"You're going to play our teenage daughter. Obviously, Lisbon and I will be a married couple." Jane continued explaing. Lisbon rolled her eyes. What is he thinking?
"Are we going have roles?" Abbott asked.
"I have yet to decide that." Jane admitted. He looked at Abbott and Cho contemplating suitable roles. "I'll get back to you on that."
"Excuse me, Jane, how is this going to catch the killer?" Vega asked uncertain of his idea. How was she supposed to pretend to be Lisbon and Jane's daughter. It seemed absurd. She did not even look like them.
"We have to get to know the people around. Somebody was after Michael Wright. You do have casual clothes, right?" Jane asked Vega looking at her suit.
"Yes. There is no way I'm calling you Dad." Vega smartly said to Jane.
"You're already fitting the part." Jane grinned. "Excellent." He said referring to Vega's sassiness.
Later after Jane's announcement he had Lisbon and Vega meet with him. Jane took out three pieces of paper. He handed two papers to Vega and Lisbon in the bullpen
"What are these, Jane?" Lisbon looked at him confused. Vega looked confused as well.
"Our new identities. I had Wylie print these out. This has our backgrounds as well. I'll be known as Peter Williams."
"Really? Tiffany?" Vega looked at Jane with a questioned look. "What kind of name is that? Isn't that a jewelry store?"
"Well, yes, you're our lovely little jewel,right, Tasha?" Jane grinned at Vega and then Lisbon. Both women rolled their eyes.
"Am I going to be involved?" Alex asked also in the bullpen.
"You have to stay here in Austin. We don't want the killer to see you. They may recogonize you. When the time is right you and Wylie will come in the Airstream." Jane explained.
He came up to Wylie's desk. "Wylie, I can trust you with these keys, right?" Handing over the Airstream keys.
Wylie looked at Jane. "You're giving me the keys to your Airstream. I don't think I can drive that."
"Yes, you can. I believe in you. When I tell you, you'll need to drive to Dallas with my dad and set up the microphones. I'll call you."
A couple days later, Vega, Jane, and Lisbon arrived in the Dallas neighborhood. The houses presented a certain suburban charm to them. Most of them were white houses with the typical white picket fences, ones that were described in the movies. The houses formed rows of yuppiehood.
They arrived in the driveway of the house in their rented Dodge Caravan. They got of the van and noticed.
"You really could get lost if you weren't looking at the numbers." Lisbon admitted. "These houses look the same like boxes in a row."
"I definitely agree with that." Vega agreed.
"This will be home sweet home for a few days." Jane announced.
The moving truck followed behind them and stopped as well. The two agents and consultant had to appear like they were a new family moving in so the moving truck was necessary. It actually did contain their furniture and living supplies. The three were dressed in more causal clothes. Vega in jeans and t-shirt and Lisbon in a sundress. Jane in khakis and a blue polo shirt and khakis.
Soon a red headed woman came running towards them. She was wearing an argyle sweater and khakis and looked to be a typical soccer mom.
"Welcome, I heard about new neighbors. I'm Cheryl Gunners."
"Great to meet you. I'm Peter Williams and this is my lovely wife, Tasha" Jane put his arm around Lisbon and hugged her with a half hug. He let go. "And this is my lovely 16 year old daughter, Tiffany." He did a half hug to her too. She had a pout on her face. Then he broke the hug.
"How nice to meet you." She shook Lisbon's hand and then went to Vega. She reluctantly shook hers. "Oh, I have a daughter that age. She gets embarrassed when I hug when I introduce her too." She paused and then excitedly said. "You are in luck the neighborhood is having a block party tonight at 6:00. There'll be food and music. It'll be a perfect opportunity to meet everyone."
"That's perfect." Jane grinned.
"I better let you get to unpacking. I know that's a chore. We moved a couple of years ago." Cheryl said. Soon she left and entered back in the house next door.
They entered the house. They had taken some of their luggage out of the car and brought it in. The moving men started unloading some of the furniture they rented from the home store. The three went upstairs and looked at the rooms. "Our room is at the end of the hall" Jane said to Lisbon. "Yours is next door." He said to Vega.
"Don't tell me, I'll have to listen to you two going at it in the bedroom." Vega said sarcasically.
"Heaven forbid, you can't imagine your parents doing that." Jane quipped. Lisbon rolled her eyes. He was enjoying the undercover operation too much. Lisbon then decided to go in "their" room to unpack her things.
"This is your room." Jane pointed to a medium sized room obviously decorated for a 16 year old girl. There was a bright pink bedspread decorations and music posters.
"Seriously, this is not how I decorated my room as a teenager. I hate pink." Vega complained.
"Remember this is how Tiffany also dresses in more girly clothes." Jane pointed out. "Tonight you have to be in character."
"I'll remember." Vega answered with a small smile. She then went into the room with her bags and set them on the bed.
Jane went to join Lisbon in the bedroom they would share. He closed the door behind him. "Hi,Mrs. Williams." Jane walked up to Lisbon and put his hands around her waist. She grinned and then pulled him on the bed. They kissed passionately. He started to remove her dress. She moaned. She stopped kissing.
"What's wrong?" Jane asked looking at her concerned and disappointed.
"Did you forget Vega's in the next room?" Lisbon whispered. "We can't do this now."
"I heard you two!" Vega called out from next door.
"Crap. These walls really must be thin." Jane said.
"Maybe one us should stay in the guest room." Lisbon suggested . She pushed his chest. "Come on get off me."
"As I recall you pulled me on the bed, my dear." Jane reminded. "You know we're supposed to be married. We need to be in one room." Jane explained getting up from the bed. She pulled her dress back on that Jane pulled down revealing her bra.
"I know. We are also working. We need to talk about the plan for tonight. Lisbon reminded. "You really should've thought about that when you had the idea for going undercover."
They both excited the room and knocked on Vega's door. "We're going to discuss the game plan." Jane announced.
"I'll be down. I'm getting dressed." Vega called out.
"We'll be downstairs at the table." Lisbon said as they both continued down the stairs.
Jane and Lisbon went to the large dining room table in the center of the living room. Soon Vega came down in a pink sundress and joined them at the table and sat across from the couple. "This was in the closet already. Was this planned?" Vega stated grabbing the hem of the dress.
"I bought all of the clothes and put them in when I rented this house." Jane affirmed grinning.
"Did you call my mother for my size?" Vega asked confused.
"No. I just guessed." Jane revealed.
"Yes, he's very good. He always knows my size." Lisbon said.
"It's kind of creepy." Vega remarked. She then noticed Lisbon's concerned face. "I mean not in that way."
"I know what you mean. You're still surprised at my perceptiveness. I could dress everyone I meet if I wanted." Jane quipped.
"Yes. I used the wrong choice of word. Sorry." Vega apologized.
"Okay, let's talk about tonight and this week."Lisbon reminded.
"We need to make sure we get to know these people. Vega, you get to know the teenagers." Jane explained.
"I will." Vega stated.
"Lisbon, you talk to the women. I'll talk to some of the men. Remember to be in character." Jane continued explaining.
"Okay, I'm worried, Jane." Lisbon worried
"Why, Lisbon?"
"I'm afraid I won't be convincing. You have told me I'm not a good actor."
"You'll do fine. You just have be married to me."
"Well, I'm worried about Monday. I'm not look forward to going to hight school again." Vega worried.
"Look at it as a second chance. I never had the pleasure of attending high school." Jane spoke.
"Believe me it was no pleasure. It's just full of social cliques and awkwardness. For me it was even worse. I had to be the new kid nearly every year because my family moved around so much." Vega remembered.
"I attended Catholic school. I'm sorry. I understand about the awkwardness and the clique part. Lisbon admitted. "Oh, but Jane did have the pleasure of being sent to the principal's office one case we had at a high school." Lisbon smirked at Jane.
"Why?" Vega laughed.
"He vandilized the bathroom and I had to talk to the principal about him." Lisbon laughed.
"But Lisbon, remember that principal was a creep that kept secret camaras in the bathroom and had watched on TV's."
"Yes, I remember, Jane."
At around six all three of them prepared to walk out the door to head towards the block party which was in the middle of the street. People were gathering around and conversing. A long table of potluck dishes such as salads, vegetables, cassaroles were lined up. A man at grill was grilling hamburgers and hot dogs at the end of the buffet table. They eventually walked up to the party.
"I'm so happy you came!" Cheryl spied them walking and ran up to the trio. Walking behind her was a teenage girl that looked like her clone apparently her daughter.
"We were looking forward to this." Jane grinned.
"Yes. Of course. It's great you have this for the neighborhood." Lisbon said trying to be convincing. She was hoping she was pulling her acting off. It was easy to act married since she and Jane were a couple anyway but trying to be another person was a challenge. Jane pulled it off easier since he was an expert at putting on a show. She now realized she did the same thing, being someone else when she dated Marcus. She tried to convince herself and Marcus she was happy. In reality, she was dying inside hoping beyond hope Jane would tell her to stay and say exactly how he felt. She now realized the times she wanted him to say something was when Pike was around the corner at the hospital or behind the door at her house. Of course, he wouldn't say anything. How did she expect him to say something them? That personality refused to acknowledge the uncomfort of the situation for Jane.
"Oh, this is my daughter, Rachael." Cheryl announced introducing the girl. She then hugged her. The girl seemed embarrassed. They did their introductions as usual.
"Rachael, why don't you take Tiffany around to meet your friends." Cheryl suggested.
"Yes, mom. Are you ready, Tiffany?" Rachael told. Vega followed Rachael through the crowd. "So, where did you move from?"
"Sacramento." Vega stated using the details from their identity biography.
"What does your parents do? My dad is a judge and my mother is the secretary for the mayor." Rachael asked and described.
"Well, my dad is an accountant. My mom is wanting to find a job." Vega described continuing the details.
"Oh. By the way your dad is hot!" Rachael exclaimed.
"Um, that is kind of awkward to hear you say that." Vega admitted. She could not deny that Jane was a good looking man in a way weird sort of way. But she was never going to say that out loud especially when she was supposed to pretend he was her father. She knew he was clearly in love with Teresa Lisbon. She had noticed that when he bought the fruit for her and times when she walked by Lisbon's desk and saw how Jane looked at Lisbon.
"I'm sorry. I understand, it's weird hearing that. I certainly wouldn't want to hear that about my dad. Noboday probably would. He's balding and fat. It is true about your dad." Rachael ranted on.
"He's kind of annoying at times." Vega admitted telling the truth.
"I know what you mean. Parents have this unwritten rule to embarrass their kids in every possible way." Rachael sassed.
Vega was trying to figure out Rachael. She was definitely the typical preppy type girls she herself knew in high school. She never fit in with those types. She spent too much time studying and being serious. She never cared about clothes or frivilous things such as makeup and jewelry. She was practical in every way. She never really belonged in one group or another. She was in the middle crowd . This would be a challenge to act like she was miss prep. She knew she had to do it for this case.
I'm still working on Charlotte and I am writing an after White Orchids story or tag.
Feedback is really appreciated. I had really fun writing this chapter. I hope you enjoy it.