Disclaimer: I do not own the Mentalist and would not be foolish enough to claim to.
Watching surreptitiously from the doorway in acute fascination, Jane felt a spike of apprehension flood his system. He'd only outlined the basic plan, the target goal, and shoved Lisbon headlong into their first period classroom. Of all the teachers to try and fool, he hoped Mr. Wainwright would be the most susceptible to Lisbon's charm and distress. He was a new teacher, less likely to know most of the tricks some of the students like her might used.
Despite Lisbon's slightly inexperienced performance, Wainwright seemed to be buying it. He was writing out a note, at any rate.
Jane stepped back discreetly out of sight as his cohort slowly backed out of the classroom.
"Really sir, I can't thank you enough." Lisbon finally closed the door with a soft click and then stood unmoving.
"You got it?" Jane reached out and plucked the note from her inert hand.
"I- cannot believe I just did that." She breathed, aghast.
"Meh, he'll never know. You did great. A little over-the-top, maybe, but great." Jane told her, unconcerned and looking over the note she had been given to work with. It had all the necessary elements, the curve to the tail of the t, the sweeping arch of the A, and the twisted lines of the s. "Perfect. Come on." He grabbed Lisbon's hand, just as he had earlier, and pulled her down the hallway to slip into an empty classroom.
"I don't get it, Jane. That note won't work. Hightower will know immediately." She said lamely, letting herself be pulled along across the classroom.
"Which is why, we aren't going to use Wainwright's note. We're going to make one of our own." He pulled out paper and a pen from the counter-top and placed it over the note they already had.
She blinked at him and spoke warily. "What do you mean?"
"Just this- watch." He leaned over, held the note to the window, and began to copy letters, only this time into a note that would get Lisbon out of trouble in a heart-beat.
"You're forging a note- from a teacher." She asked in disbelief. Her hands lifted to run through her hair and she began to pace in agitation. "Oh god, what have I gotten myself into? Do you realize how much trouble we could could get in for that?"
"They'll never find out, Lisbon, will you relax? Do you really want a month's worth of detention? I mean, who would pick up Tommy if you did?"
She stopped and looked at him in confusion.
He kept an eye on her out of the corner of his eye and continued working.
"How did you-" She paused.
"James told me." He lied seamlessly. "He drops off and picks up Drew, you drop off and pick up Tommy, yes?"
She frowned but didn't say anything more. Instead, she took up her pacing again, restless for something to distract her.
Jane just tried to concentrate on what he was doing. They didn't have much time left. Sure enough, not long after, another bell rang, signaling the fact that all students not in practice or detention should have left the school by now.
"Done." He handed the note over with a hurried flourish and scrambled to get her out the door. "Go, go, go."
"What if it doesn't work?" Lisbon asked desperately as he pushed her from behind toward the exit.
"You have to sell it, Lisbon." He grunted. "Don't worry so much. Hightower likes you, why else would she sometimes let you babysit her kids?"
"How did you-"
"If it doesn't work, I'll pick up Tommy for you. Alright? Will you just go?" Jane asked, exasperated.
Giving him one last look that he couldn't quite interpret, Lisbon did. She bolted from the room so fast, he stumbled with her sudden lack of resistance.
He huffed and straightened his clothes fussily. Then he followed her at a more sedate pace, knowing the outcome was no longer under his control and unwilling to dwell on the problem. Instead, he thought of Lisbon and her abrupt departure. Something he said must have convinced her. But what? His assurance that Hightower liked her? The fact that he knew she watched the teacher's kids sometimes? That hadn't been hard to figure out. Hightower was divorced, rather recently too by the tan line on her left ring finger. It was clear she was a mother, and her reaction to Lisbon bespoke a deeper bond than just teacher and student.
Jane shook his head. That wasn't it. He stopped. Was it his offer to go get Tommy? He frowned in thought and things suddenly started clicking into place. Lisbon clearly cared for her family deeply. She was willing to sacrifice herself to make sure her brother's didn't miss out on special opportunities, that had been made clear by her earlier run to Drew's school. He wondered how often she got any help with that though. How often did anyone else offer to help her brothers- to help her bear the load?
How often did anyone else care?
Slowly he drew up outside Hightower's classroom. Lisbon's muffled voice came from within, so he leaned back against the wall in an eerily similar pose to yesterday, but this time he didn't try to eavesdrop. And when Lisbon came out the door, she didn't rush past him leaking tears this time.
Instead, the door slowly closed behind her.
He stood up straight to receive the verdict and staggered back when Lisbon threw her arms around his neck.
She was hugging him.
For a moment, he just stood there with her body pressed to his, too shocked to move. Then he slowly snaked a hand around her tiny ribcage and hugged her back.
He wasn't used to hugs. He wasn't really used to touch in general. Not anymore. But Lisbon's chest pressed against his, her warmth surrounding him, a shaky laugh slipping past her lips- he never wanted to let go. He had officially found his favorite place in the world and it was right there, in her arms. Surrounded by her.
It wasn't to last, of course. Such joy never was in his experience.
Lisbon drew back out of his arms, putting her hair behind her ear and her other hand in her pocket a little self consciously. She had a smile on her lips though.
The same one that never ceased to make his heart stutter a bit.
"Thanks- Jane. She bought it, just like you said she would."
He smiled back.
"Uh, I better- you know, get going." She gestured helplessly down the hall. "I'm already late getting Tommy, so-"
"No, go. I get it." He shoved his hands in his pockets and sidled back to get on her other side as she started to leave. "Um- I'm glad things worked out."
She paused briefly, emerald eyes meeting his and telling him far more than her words. "Thanks again."
"My pleasure." Jane answered sincerely, still smiling.
They turned away from each other simultaneously, but Jane hoped he didn't imagine that she seemed just as reluctant to part as he did. He hadn't realized how thrilling it had all been till he got outside and breathed the crisp air in deeply.
His chest was full to bursting. He hadn't had that much fun or felt that much joy in so long it was almost painful to bear. His smile wouldn't leaving his face. As he started down the street, his feet felt lighter than the air around him and he couldn't help but begin to whistle an upbeat tune as he walked.