Jack pulled Beth out of her seat and carried her into Jane's house. She woke up on her own will and was put down.
"I'm not exactly sure where it is," Jane admitted, "so just give me a couple of minutes." He went into his kitchen and started looking through things. Lisbon joined him in the kitchen and began going through things as well with his permission.
Beth started playing hide and seek with Jack. She refused to let the round end when he found her and would run until he tagged her.
Jane exhaled and looked around his kitchen. He'd failed to find the basket. "I know I have one, I remember it," he closed his eyes and retreated into his own mind, trying to remember where it was. His eyes popped open and he smiled. "The basement! She put it in the basement!" He started off towards the basement door.
Lisbon felt a bit awkward. He'd referred to his wife. He never did that. Why would he now? None the less, she followed him down the carpeted steps into the nicely done basement and over to a wall made of well organized shelves.
Jane started looking at the shelves. Lisbon noticed that they were covered with dust. "No… winter clothes… summer clothes… sewing… Ah!" he exclaimed, pulling a picnic basket off a shelf, "Here it is!"
Thumps sounded above them and Jane stiffened as he looked at his ceiling. The thumps got a little quieter each time they sounded. Jane handed the basket to Lisbon and took off, back up the steps and out of the basement. Lisbon again followed him and discovered what induced his sudden change of behavior. The stairs leading upstairs were over the basement stairs. Beth and Jack weren't in the front room. They'd gone up the staircase.
Jane flew up the stairs, Lisbon right behind him, and looked straight down the hall. Beth was standing in an open doorway looking at a red smiley face, and Jack was behind her.
Jane walked up in front of them and shut the door with more force than needed. "The upstairs is off limits," he said, attempting a smile.
Beth was about to ask what the smiley was, but Jack turned her around and headed downstairs.
Jane rubbed a hand over his face and started back down the hall.
"Jane, I'm sorry," Lisbon said with emotion.
"Don't be. It's not your fault, and it isn't theirs either. They didn't know. It was a mistake," he didn't stop to respond, but instead went back down the stairs.
Lisbon leaned against the wall for a minute, thoroughly embarrassed. Then she went back down the stairs as well.
Jane ushered everyone out of his house and back to the car. The ride back to CBI passed in silence and seemed much longer than it actually was.
James had cleared off the kitchen table and was playing Slapjack with Van Pelt and Cho when Lisbon, Jack, Beth, and Jane walked in.
"Food!" James exclaimed.
"Yes, food," Lisbon replied, "Help put it together. Play time is over."
"As you wish, Queen Resa!" James said with finesse and gathered up the cards to make room for the bags of groceries.
The Lisbons, Van Pelt, and Beth stayed in the kitchen to make sandwiches. Cho and Jane retreated to the bull pen.
"Ha ha!" Rigsby suddenly exclaimed, "I finished!" He closed the Boris file on his desk and leaned back.
"I thought you finished last night before you fell asleep?" Cho said.
"I planned on it… but that didn't work out," Rigsby admitted. "Jane, did you put the idea in the children's minds to go on a picnic?"
"There's only one child here, and yes, I might have." Jane smiled.
"No, there are three. Beth, Jim, and Jack," Rigsby smiled as well. "And why?"
"Picnics are fun! When was the last time you went on one?"
"Not long enough ago."
"Come on, Rigsby, it'll be fun!" Jane sounded convincing, but Rigsby only shook his head and picked the file off his desk to drop it off on Lisbon's.
"Jane," Cho sighed as he sat down, "has anyone ever told you that you're annoying?"
"Oh, just a couple of times," Jane replied and sat at Van Pelt's desk.
A few minutes later, Van Pelt came into the bull pen and announced that it was time to go. Jane popped right up. Cho and Rigsby were a bit slower. Everyone made their way out to the parking lot.
"I can take four in my car," Jane offered.
"I'll come! I'll come!" Beth volunteered and stood by Jane.
"Teresa's car can take the rest," James said, holding up keys.
Lisbon recognized the keys as hers. "James!"
"Yes, my dear?"
"Give me my keys!"
"No can do. I'm driving!"
"If my car so much as gets a scratch, you're cleaning my entire apartment without Jack's help."
"So be it!" James declared and hopped into Lisbon's car. Jack got into the passenger's seat.
Cho and Rigsby looked at each other, then at Lisbon, and then headed to the car that was sure to almost crash 15 times.
Lisbon rubbed her forehead. "I knew I shouldn't have agreed to let them get licenses."
Jane led the way to his car. Van Pelt and Beth climbed into the back, and Lisbon got into the front. Then it was off to the park.
I know! I'm sorry! This chapter was really short, and semi-uneventful! ...And I updated later than I told most of you reviewers... I make up for it next chapter, though, promise! Don't send the ninjas after me! ...although... I could take them. Ninja assassins totally pwn plain ninjas. :D
Anywho.... reviews make me cry with joy! I like having new messages in my inbox! Push the green button. Come on, it's fun!