A/N: So here we are at the end of another one. I'm a little sad leaving this story as I've really enjoyed writing it (but I have left it open ended in case I decide to add a tag or two in the future based on this course of events).
It grew from an episode tag into something so much more and that's largely due to the support I received throughout. I hope you like how I've finished it. It is somewhat corny in places but I make no apologies, I love a happy ending but do hope that it's still (pretty much) in character.
And I know a few of you were looking for an M rated scene so I have included one but the chapter is lengthy enough for those who didn't want one to skip it. It's steamy hopefully but not too graphic.
Chapter 11 - Epilogue
10 days later
Lisbon stared at the walls around her and shook her head. 'What the hell was I thinking?' she muttered to herself, paintbrush in hand. Garish purple stared back at her. She heard her doorbell sound and put the brush on top of the tin of paint, rubbing her hands on her washed out denim shorts. Barefoot she made her way from her bedroom downstairs to her front door, picking up her Glock as she did so. She peered through the peephole and grinned, her heart beating faster at the sight of Jane outside.
Quickly she undid the locks and opened the door. 'Hey!' she grinned.
'Hey yourself,' he smiled before he frowned as he took in her appearance. She was dressed in tiny shorts and sported a paint stained large T shirt that hung off one shoulder, her hair tied up in a messy bun. 'Doing a little redecorating I see,' he added. He gestured to the gun in her hand. 'Although I doubt you'll get a smooth finish using that.'
She laughed and nodded for him to come in, locking the door behind him and setting the gun down. 'You're back,' she said simply.
He nodded and came a step closer, his smile brightening. He leaned down and kissed her gently. 'I am.'
They kissed again, his arms encircling her waist and pulling her closer, deepening it slowly. She kept her hands off to the side, afraid of getting paint on his suit but responded hungrily with her mouth. 'I missed you,' he whispered, eventually pulling back.
'I missed you too.' She looked at her hands. 'Let me wash this off.' She moved to the sink in the kitchen and he followed her, his eyes trained on the back of her shorts. She turned quickly and raised an eyebrow. 'Were you just checking out my ass?'
He came behind her and kissed her neck softly. 'Yep,' he smiled against it eliciting a chortle back.
He drew back and watched as she rinsed the paint off. 'So how are you?' she asked, serious again.
'Better,' he nodded. He glanced at her arms, thin bandages placed on them now in place of the heavier wrappings. 'Your arms?'
'Healing well. Stitches come out in a couple of days. They only expect a half inch scar on the right one now.' She dried her hands with a tea towel and he took it off her to study her left arm. 'And the left?'
'Looks like it'll heal perfectly.'
He nodded, relieved that he hadn't done any permanent damage but still troubled by the pain he'd caused her. She kissed him gently to take his attention away from her arm. 'So, you're feeling better?'
'Yeah,' he smiled. 'So, where are you painting?'
She rolled her eyes. 'Bedroom. It's a disaster. Four colours I've tried now and I can't get one I like. You want to have a look, see if you can come up with any inspired ideas?'
She must have seen the hesitation in his eyes as she added, 'Sorry. Um...you probably don't want to go up there.'
'Nonsense,' he said brightly. 'It's just a room. Lead the way.'
As they arrived there he stood at the door and was silent for a long moment. Then he frowned. 'Isn't there a dinosaur this colour?' he eventually said.
'I don't know what I was thinking. I've tried blue, yellow, green-'
'And now Barney' Jane finished for her, beginning to laugh. 'If this is the theme you're going with how about grey like Bugs Bunny? Or orange like Garfield-'
'A lot of help you are,' she said, gesturing for him to exit the room.
As they returned to the kitchen she automatically started to make tea as he stood beside her. 'Actually I've been doing a little painting myself,' he said at her side.
'Oh?'
'Well, nothing on your scale, just one wall really.'
She stood with the milk in her hand and closed the fridge door. Wide eyed she replied quietly, 'Your house in Malibu, you've painted over-?'
'Yeah,' he nodded, getting a couple of mugs from the cupboard. 'Hardly likely to sell it the way it was. It was hardly what you would call a design feature.'
'You're selling your house?'
'Have it priced for a quick sale. It's a beautiful property but hardly suitable for me presently. And...well I could never imagine living there again.' He sighed for a moment. 'It's time it was enjoyed by another family.'
She put her hand on his to comfort him and then blinked twice rapidly. He no longer wore his wedding ring. She looked up at his face and then back to his hand as if it were an optical illusion.
'It was time,' he said, kissing her hair.
'Are you sure?' she asked. 'I mean, that's a lot of change, Jane. With the house as well-'
'Figure the only way I get through this is to face things head on.' He took her by her waist. 'And I've lived a half life for too long. Time I got back to leading a full one.'
'So...you're back. Permanently in Sacramento?'
He shrugged, swaying her a little in his arms. 'I don't know.'
She stopped his gentle moments and frowned.
He picked up the rhythm again and kissed her frown. 'That depends on you.'
'What?'
'Well,' he kissed her quickly. 'If you ever move from Sacramento then I suppose I'll have to move elsewhere too.'
She placed her hands on his chest and kissed him. 'I suppose that would be okay.'
Releasing her to finish making the tea he asked, 'So how's work?'
'I'm on suspension.'
He tilted his head. 'Like you haven't been in contact with the team. How are things?'
Nervously, 'You sure you want to hear about that?'
'Sure, why not?' he said, handing her a mug.
She took a deep breath. 'Well it seems McAllister's influence is spread a little wider than we imagined. We knew he knew people in Law Enforcement but well it seems from what we've found out so far he was the head of secret organisation called The Blake Association-'
'Tyger Tyger' Jane supplied, 'William Blake.'
She nodded. 'Yeah, from the people apprehended so far it seems that's a greeting of sorts between members or a call for help. Jane, it appears like it's made up of people from all divisions of Law Enforcement. CBI, FBI, local cops. Who knows who else? FBI has been brought in to take charge. Apparently a fed called Abbott from Austin is in control according to Cho. Straight shooter but a stickler. I'm due to meet him Monday when I go back. Wainwright reports to him for now. But who knows what's going to happen with the CBI once they dig a little more?'
'Bertram?'
'That's where we're getting a lot of information. Found out he was Blake and is trying to make a deal.'
'Hmm. I told you I never liked that guy. Always knew there was something off about him right from the start.'
'Well you were right,' she sighed, taking a sip of tea.
'Aren't I always?' he smiled.
'You seem to be taking this in your stride. Team say it's pretty tense back there.' She sighed, exasperated. 'And here I am painting when all hell's breaking loose.'
'You'll be back in the fray soon enough, Lisbon. Enjoy the rest while you can.'
'Suppose,' she pouted.
He smiled devilishly at her. 'How about I keep you occupied until you go back to work?'
She smiled back with fire in her eyes. 'You think you're up to that?'
'I can only but try.'
They kissed again just as the kettle whistled, Jane having refilled it after he'd poured out their tea.
He shrugged, pulling away to take it off the stove and turning the knob to its off position. 'Well, actually I've already talked to Abbott. He called me the other day. I met with him and Wainwright Monday.'
Her mouth parted in surprise. 'So you know about all this Blake stuff already?'
'Yes but you provided a very apt summation.'
'Hang on, you've been back in Sacramento and didn't come to see me sooner?!'
He made a disgruntled noise. 'I had a few things to do first. I'll explain later.'
Putting her annoyance that he'd been back almost a week without her knowledge she asked, 'So, what's he like, this Abbott?'
'Interesting,' he smiled.
'Interesting good or interesting bad?'
'Is there such a thing as either one of those?' he asked, enjoying seeing her get annoyed.
'Jane!'
He laughed. 'He seems to be on the level. Doesn't like my 'shenanigans' as Hightower used to call them. He made that perfectly clear but he'll come round. Think he's a pussycat underneath that gruff exterior.'
'What does that mean?' she frowned.
'He likes results and needs people he can trust who aren't Blake to get them. And since I...well was involved in removing a rather large piece of that he offered me a job.'
'And you're taking it?' she smiled.
He nodded. 'I want to catch them all. Abbott and I agree on that if not much else at the moment. They were McAllister's people. Ergo, I want to put an end to his organisation.'
Worried, 'When you say put an end-'
'I don't mean killing them, Lisbon. We'll do it your way. Arrest them, whatever, but I won't lose any sleep if they don't clog up the judicial system.'
She let out a breath, relieved.
He continued, 'It'll work itself out I'm sure. That's why you have the protection detail outside I assume?' he asked.
'You saw them? Yeah, whole team have them since we took out the linchpin. So would you if we had known where you were.'
'And why you greeted me with a Glock.'
She hesitated a second and then nodded, 'Yeah, no harm taking precautions.'
'What about us?' she asked suddenly. 'If you're coming back to work then-'
'I've already cleared that-'
Her eyes widened. 'You told this Abbott...someone I haven't yet met...about us!'
'I didn't name you but it would hardly take a rocket scientist to figure out when I told him I was seeing someone I might potentially be working with and asked him if that would cause any problems.'
'And?'
He shrugged. 'It's fine. Couldn't care less as long as we do our jobs.' He kissed her lightly. 'You'll just need to restrain yourself at work, my dear.'
She smiled and rolled her eyes. 'I'll do my best.'
A pause followed as Jane drank his tea. 'Okay,' he said suddenly, putting his mug in the sink. 'Put your jacket on. I want to show you something. What I've been up to since I've been back in town.'
'What? I can't go out like this!'
'You're fine for where I'm taking you.'
'And where is that exactly?'
'You'll see,' he grinned.
As they arrived at a swanky apartment complex in midtown Lisbon pulled her shorts as far down her legs as they could go although they barely made it mid thigh. Jane placed a hand on the bare skin and squeezed it gently, expunging her nerves slightly at her state of dress but implanting another altogether more baser suggestion into her head. Picking up on the change in her body language Jane grinned salaciously as he pulled his car into a parking space, allowing his fingers to linger over her skin, his hand creeping a little further up. He unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned over, planting a firm kiss to her lips. His fingers poised at the hem of her shorts he smiled against her mouth as he heard her moan slightly before he unbuckled her seatbelt and moved back to his seat before he opened the door and got out. 'Come on,' he grinned.
She waited a second for the colour to drain slightly from her cheeks and exited the vehicle, looking around her. 'What are we doing here? What is this?'
'My new place,' he smiled.
As they stood at his front door he produced a key and handed it to her. 'Here you go.'
She looked at it like it was a foreign object.
'It's a key, Lisbon. You people who don't have lock picking skills use them to enter places.'
She rolled her eyes and answered, 'Yes but why are you giving it to me?'
'Because I want you to have it.'
'You're giving me a key to your place?'
'Open the door,' he nodded.
Grinning, she placed the key in the lock and let herself in. Jane followed, scrutinising every microexpression of her first glance of his new home. A battered leather couch sat in front of a cast iron fireplace, TV on one side and book shelves on the other. Oak flooring filled out the space that flowed into a kitchen area adorned with a six seated heavy oak dining table at one end, just off a counter unit so conversation could still take place between chef and guests.
'You like it?' he said, half a question and half a statement if the happiness he saw in her eyes was anything to go by.
She turned to face him and nodded, 'It's beautiful, Jane.' She strolled over to the kitchen area and smiled as she saw a bowl of red delicious apples placed in a bowl there. She took one out and took a large bite, smiling at Jane as she did so. 'You planning on entertaining?' she asked, swallowing a piece, gesturing with her head to the large table.
Jane couldn't remember the last time he was so turned on when she took that bite. And the look on her face when she did so told him she knew exactly the effect she was having on him. 'I thought I might,' he said after a second when he was capable of completing a sentence. 'I owe the team a few dinners at least.'
He walked a few steps closer.
'Rigsby will eat you out of house and home,' she said, propping herself up on the edge of the table with her legs hanging over it, swinging loosely as she took another bite of the fruit.
'I'll make double,' he said as he made his way to stand in front of her.
He could feel the heat radiate off her and he removed his suit jacket, flinging it onto a chair, his temperature soaring. 'I planned on making you dinner,' he said, his tone low and seductive.
'Seducing me over a meal like you said you never would?'
He laughed softly, taking the apple off her and biting into it. She shoved off her jacket onto the table behind her and placed her fingers on his top vest button, playing with it.
'I suppose I was right,' he replied softly, swallowing the chunk he'd taken. 'That would be sophomoric.'
Heat sizzled between them for a moment as they continued to stare at each other.
Suddenly he fired the apple behind him and immediately their lips found each other, intense and passionate instantly. They moaned against each other as Lisbon worked quickly on his vest and shirt buttons. Jane's lips found the bare skin of her shoulder and nuzzled it, his hands grasping her behind as he pulled her towards his groin. He stopped for a second and breathed heavily. 'I...I don't want you to think I'm rushing you again,' he said, suddenly unsure.
She rolled her eyes and kissed him fiercely. 'Rush me, Jane. Rush me.'
M scene start
He grinned and hoisted her T shirt off her and buried his face in the cleavage of her bra. She smelled of paint and perspiration and he would never smell paint again without thinking of this moment. He had her bra off in an instant and groaned as he kissed her breasts as she divested him of his vest and shirt. She dug her nails into his hair, tilting her head back as he devoured her throat. 'I love you,' he whispered between kisses. 'So much I'm terrified.'
'Me too,' she panted, pulling his face back to hers for a long kiss. As they continued kissing he weaved his hands to the back of her shorts and underneath them, his fingers gripping the soft cheeks covered in cotton. She moaned and undid her shorts at the front to give him more space before she began to unbuckle his belt. He moved his fingers underneath her panties, caressing the rounded skin beneath with both hands. She kissed his neck as he angled it backwards to catch a breath, raining kisses on his chest as he moved his head forward again to place open mouthed kisses on her neck, face and head.
Patience thinning he pulled away so he could remove her shorts and panties in one swift motion, moving her legs that were wrapped around his waist as he did so. He bent down and kissed each of them in turn, taking off her sandals and kissing her toes. She laid her head back on the table and panted for a moment before she propped herself up on her elbows, watching him as he moved his lips swiftly up her legs to her inner thighs. He opened his eyes and they looked at each other, the lick of her plumped lips the silent accord to his intentions. He smiled before he dipped his head and tasted her. She moaned on the table as his tongue gently entered her, his eyes watching her avidly, increasingly aroused by the vision of her writhing in front of him and the feel and flavour of her on his lips. He pulled her derriere towards him further, increasing the sensation for her, his movements slow then fast, dangling her over the edge but not allowing her to fall over it too quickly. Lisbon closed her eyes, shutting off one sense to feel another one more. She felt his hands on her breasts, teasing her gently. It was almost reverent how he was treating her body now. The initial mad rush of desire had lapsed into something more slow and sensuous and she almost felt lifeless when he slowed his movements and more alive than ever when he quickened them. But being a passive recipient was not in her nature. Somehow he knew she was getting impatient and he worked his magic on her again, stepping up his pace suddenly and allowing her no respite until she saw stars in front of her.
She lay on the table for a few moments, recovering from her orgasm and she heard the sound of Jane stepping out of his pants and removing his socks and shoes. Then his arms were around her waist and he pulled her towards him for a languid kiss. She responded eagerly when she felt his desire pressing against her. 'Do you want to take this to the bedroom?' he asked, kissing her neck. 'That table looks uncomfortable.'
Answering him she took a firm hold of him and heard him take a sharp intake of breath. She fondled him, increasing the pace until she heard his breath hitch. 'Lisbon,' he barely breathed against her shoulder.
She grinned at him using her surname, the only man ever to have done so in quite such an intimate position and kissed his face with adoration. 'Make love to me, Jane,' she whispered in his ear, letting go of him to plant her hands on his face and kiss him intensely.
He centred himself at her entrance and smiled as he moved the hair back that was now plastered to her face so he could see her face properly, sweat covering his own entire body with a layer of sheen. 'With pleasure, my love,' he replied as he entered her.
Joining his body with hers seemed so natural although they had only done it a handful of times. It was like a dance partnership that had matured over years instead of days as they fell into a natural rhythm together. Jane held her around her back as Lisbon wrapped her legs around his waist, steadily building up the excitement as they continued to kiss each other, only breaking off to shift positions slightly or for Jane to move his lips to a breast. Soon they were taking off together, speeding up their movements, thrusting harder against each other, the table creaking under the strain. Jane's head fell to Lisbon's shoulder as he pressed harder, kissing her there, and whispering words of adulation as he did so. Nearing the edge he abruptly drew his face back to hers, judging her body and face at just the right instant where they both reached climax together.
After they rode it out his head fell towards her stomach as she lay back on the table to recuperate. He panted heavily, a few droplets of sweat from his brow falling into her belly button. He kissed it like he was kissing away tears and with a loud puff of breath he dragged his body back to stand upright, his legs shaky under the strain. 'So' he said, breathing still ragged, 'You want to see the rest of the place?'
Lisbon, still lying prone on the table merely nodded.
M scene end
Dressed only in his pants he led Lisbon, who had just thrown on her long T shirt, to check out the rest of his apartment. They reached the bathroom first where a shower enclosure with an abundance of showerheads, spray units and buttons greeted them inside the door. Jane remarked, 'Yes, I think you're correct. Should be big enough for two.'
She stared at him for a second. 'Are you sure you're not psychic?' she laughed as he had read her mind. She approached a roll top bath that sat at the other end of the room. 'This is gorgeous. Can't wait to take a soak in this.'
'Can't wait to watch you.'
'Or join me,' she said seductively.
He blushed, still so unused to this new exciting side of her. 'That sounds like an enormously good idea too.'
She frowned suddenly, studying the shampoos and shower gels that sat on a small table beside the sink. 'This is my shampoo,' she stated, picking a bottle up.
'Oh, is it?' Jane said. 'How fortuitous.'
She turned to face him, open mouthed. 'You've stocked my shampoo?'
'Would you believe it if I told you it was a convenience?'
'No.'
He shrugged. 'So? When you come here no point in dragging half your stuff with you.'
'You know if you were any other guy I'd think that was more than a little bit creepy. Never mind the fact how you know what my regular shampoo is.'
Jane smiled. 'And because it's me?' he ventured.
She put the bottle down and pressed a kiss to his lips. 'Still creepy but...expected.'
He laughed and then looked a little shamefaced. 'Then I don't suppose you should look in the shelf underneath.'
She was there in a flash, picking up different containers. 'These are all the same brand as my moisturiser. But-'
'There's no cinnamon.' He became more serious. 'I figured you might want to take a break from that one for a while.'
She nodded, the memory of Red John sniffing her scent still vivid. 'I threw my one out. Almost threw up when I opened up the bottle,' she admitted.
He took her in his arms and embraced her, needing the reassurance that she was standing in front of him and not dead under a smiley face.
She held him tightly. He was so much better even in the span of the days they'd been apart but she knew his demons wouldn't disappear overnight. He pulled back, stroking a tear away. 'Sorry.'
'For what?' she smiled. 'Being human?' she smirked.
He smiled through the raw emotion he was feeling. 'Well it's a new experience for me, Lisbon. Give me a break.'
He released her from his arms and took her hand, leading her to the next room, a smaller one stacked with boxes currently. 'Thought this could be an office.' He added, 'Or something,' using that word in place of the one he hoped it would be one day – a nursery.
'You're still unpacking?'
'Well you're hardly one to talk. You had boxes in the corner of your place years after you moved in.'
'I'm a little surprised you have this much stuff,' she said as she ran her eyes over the stacked boxes. 'All you lived in was a dingy motel room until now.'
Hesitating for a second he moved from the door to open one. 'They're from my house in Malibu. Some...personal items.'
She knew instantly that they must be filled with photographs and sentimental reminders of his family. Items he more than likely hadn't looked at in years. As he began to undo the cardboard and breathed heavily she put her hands on his that were shaking. 'You don't need to do everything right away.' She kissed his cheek. 'They'll be here when you're more ready to cope with what you see. I don't think you're there yet,' she said softly.
He nodded, taking his hands off the box. He kissed her softly. 'Are you sure you really want to sign up for this?' he asked. 'I'm a little better but I'm not...well I still have some issues to face.'
She wound her arms around his bare torso. 'We'll face them together.' She paused for a moment. 'If you'll let me that is. Not push me away or run away.'
He nodded seriously. 'I'll try. Just might need a kick up the ass every now and then.'
Her hands moved to his butt cheeks and squeezed them gently. 'Okay but it's a shame as it's such a nice ass.'
He laughed, kissing her gently.
'Okay, where next?' she asked, heading to the door.
'Just the bedroom,' he stated.
She waggled her eyebrows suggestively. 'Saving the best to last, huh?'
After their earlier exertions he shook his head. He feared he might have to take up going to the gym to keep up with her. 'What are you trying to do, kill me? Give me an hour, woman.'
He heard her laugh as she made her way down the corridor. 'I'll give you thirty minutes.'
After admiring the beautiful and expansive bed they made their way back the bathroom and showered together. It had only been fifteen minutes but the sight of her dripping wet and naked proved too much for any self control he might have had and they made love again against the cold tiled wall. As they dressed in matching fluffy robes (Lisbon's raised eyebrows and shake of her head when he'd brought it out of his closet to give to her told him everything he needed without words. Creepy once again, obviously) they ordered take out and lounged on the couch together eating it, Jane complaining his legs would give out if he had to stand any longer to make dinner. Soft jazz played on a CD as darkness dimmed the apartment as they cuddled together in silence; take out cartons lying on the floor beside them. Lisbon lit the gas fire as per Jane's instructions and she padded back to his arms, her hand playing with the tuft of hair in the middle of his chest.
'Happy?' he asked, although he had no need. She was practically purring.
'Hmm. I love your place.'
'Me too,' he said, glancing around. 'First time I've ever decorated somewhere myself.'
'Really?'
'Yeah, Angela was always in charge of that stuff. It was nice to put my own stamp on it.' He paused then added, 'Although it could still do with a few womanly touches.' A beat later, 'You know, like a gun safe, something like that.'
She stopped her stroking and looked up at him. Sternly, 'Jane-'
'Hear me out before you say no. You can't be happy living in that place of yours. Not after what happened there.'
She shrugged. 'It's fine. It's just still a little raw. I'll get used to it.'
'Lisbon, you've painted those walls four colours you told me. Believe me, from experience I'm telling you you'll never feel at home in that bedroom again.'
'I saw the mattress in your place in Malibu. You slept there.'
'I didn't sleep there. I wallowed there until I was too exhausted to keep my eyes open. There's a marked difference. And even if you somehow redecorated your bedroom so it wouldn't give you nightmares it's not just that. You answered the door with a gun.'
She went to speak but he continued, 'And don't tell me it was because of Blake. I'm betting you were doing that before you ever heard of this Blake Association.'
She couldn't refute his words. She had barely slept since that night and kept a gun on the table beside the couch she slept on. 'That's still no reason to move in here. I'll look for another place.'
'But why when you can stay with me?'
She kissed him softly on the lips. 'Maybe one day but you're rushing again.'
'I wasted enough years of my life. I don't want to waste another night without you beside me.'
She was deeply moved by his words but she had to retain some reason for both of them. 'Then we'll do it night about or something like that. Leave some stuff at each other's places. Well, once I find a new one. You were right about that. I can't settle back there.'
'And until you find a place?' he asked hopefully.
She rolled her eyes. 'Okay, until then I guess I could move in here.'
He kissed her.
'Temporarily,' she clarified.
He kissed her again. 'Of course,' he said, kissing her once more, knowing she had no hope of following through once she'd tasted his cooking.
'How about pancakes for breakfast?' he asked.
'Sounds good,' she smiled, snuggling into him further.
He grinned and kissed her head. He would razzle dazzle her come morning.
- THE END -
A/N: So I suppose this is a version of how season 4 could have ended. More time could have been spent with Jane coming to terms with Red John's demise on screen and catching Blake the following seasons. And of course Jane and Lisbon's relationship moving forward during all that.
Thanks again for sticking with this story and for all your lovely supportive comments.
