Disclaimer- See previous chapters.
[Chapter 14]
He wanted to go to his motel room, home away from home, which now shared more similarities.
Jane wandered listlessly down the street. He'd signed himself out AMA and gave Lisbon the slip. His last days of freedom were dwindling, Jane didn't want to be cooped up inside.
His mind raced and Jane couldn't focus his thoughts. A long drive always helped him think, but his car was impounded after the incident in the mall. He would have settled for a nap, but his current housing was an active crime scene. His comfy brown leather couch was also out of the question. Jane was pretty sure he was unemployed.
He stuck his thumb out towards the passing cars. His Malibu house was the only option. The house that ceased to be home was over four hundred miles away, but provided scenic open spaces. Sitting on the bluff, overlooking the ocean as the waves crashed onto shore would help clear his mind. It had always done so in the past.
"What are you doing?" Cho pulled up in his sedan.
"Trying to hitch a ride back to Malibu," Jane answered.
"Hitchhiking is illegal in the state of California. I can arrest you."
"That wouldn't be good a few hours after making bail."
"No."
"Jane!" Lisbon hurried down the street. "Where are you going? Stop wandering off."
"I just needed some air. I need to clear my head. I've spent too much time in small spaces. I was looking for an wide open space, no walls."
"You look like you're about to collapse. You need to rest. You can crash on my couch. You can sit in the park or whatever in the morning."
"I've got your stuff from the motel room," Cho added. "You didn't have a lot of stuff there. I packed your clothes and your journal. It was sitting on the nightstand. Get in, I'll drive you there."
"The bathroom is there," Lisbon pointed. "The towels are in the closet on the left."
Lisbon was being a gracious host. He nodded his head and let her continued, even though he knew where everything was from the last time he was here.
"Help yourself to anything in the fridge, which isn't much. I haven't had time to shop yet," Lisbon continued.
"It's fine, I'll manage. Is there-"
"Second cabinet on the right. Mugs in the next cabinet, milk in the fridge. It should still be good."
Jane bee lined for the kitchen, journal in hand. Lisbon shook her head and could not help but laugh.
"Want?"
"No thanks."
"You don't have to fuss over me," he added grabbing a cup from the cupboard. "You've done enough. There is one thing though."
"Yes?"
"Can I bother you for a pen? I want to write a few things down."
"There's a pack of pen in the drawer underneath the microwave."
"I'll get you a blanket and a pillow. Do you need anything else?"
After making himself a cup if tea, Jane sat down and began writing in his journal.
"Jane?"
Still no response he sat in his seat jotting his thoughts down in his journal.
"Jane."
"Hmm? Sorry Lisbon, did you say something?"
"Good night Jane."
"Good night, Lisbon."
"Good morning, Lisbon," Jane grinned. He sat in the same spot she left him, scribbling away, a cup of tea in front of him. "I hope you don't mind, but I've invited the boys over for brunch. We didn't want to wake you, but if you don't hurry up Rigsby might not leave any for you."
Jane snapped the journal shut as Lisbon approached and motioned to the food that sat on the stove.
"Hey, I wouldn't do that," Rigsby waved. "But this is really good..."
Cho nodded hello. "He's on his third plate."
"How's your knee?" Lisbon asked.
"Fine. Good. I'll be as good as new in a couple of days," Rigsby said.
"Good. You cooked?" Lisbon asked glancing over towards Jane.
"The hash browns Jane made are great," Rigsby beamed. "Everything is good."
"The eggs were good," Cho added from his spot on the couch.
"I had eggs? And hash browns."
"And bacon..." Rigsby added.
"Now, I know I didn't have bacon."
"You were asleep. I borrowed your car and went to the store to restocked your fridge."
"Jane are you okay?" Lisbon asked after making herself a plate and some coffee. She took a seat across from Jane. The man still looked exhausted. "Did you get any sleep?"
"Some. I'm fine, just a little tired. I'll take a nap later. I made a mess there," he motioned towards the sink full of dishes. "I'll clean that up in a bit. Why do you ask?"
"First you go from writing in that book furiously non-stop like a madman, you've made breakfast. Now, you are just sitting there grinning. I'm beginning to wonder about you."
"Isn't it a little late for that?" Cho quipped.
"What were you writing anyway?" Rigsby asked between mouthfuls of hash browns.
"Plotting my revenge," Jane nonchalantly answered as he sipped his tea.
Lisbon slammed her utensils down on to the table, her coffee slosh and spilled onto the marble table.
"What! You've got to be kidding me..." Lisbon started.
Rigsby stopped eating and nervously glanced between the two.
"You really are an idiot! You took someone's life at the mall and went into a near catatonic state. And here you are, ready to do it all over again. You're a stupid, selfish bastard you know that..." Lisbon continued.
"I'm a selfish bastard?" Jane asked.
"Yes you are. You don't think of the consequences to your actions and how they affect others around you. Your friends, your colleagues, the bystanders at the mall..."
"They are inconsequential. It's all inconsequential. I've never hid my intentions. I told you from the start what I was going to do. If that makes me a selfish bastard then fine. I am a selfish bastard," Jane raised his voice.
"Inconsequential? We're all inconsequential? There are always consequences. Just like on that talk show when you taunted Red John..." Lisbon yelled back.
Jane was stricken. He stood up and began to pace in the living room.
"Jane, I'm sorry I didn't mean that. To compare the two..." Lisbon backpedaled.
"No, you meant it. Yes, each action resulted in someone losing a life."
"Guys! Why don't we just calm down we can talk about this as rational..." Rigsby interjected.
"I'm rational. She's being irrational. I will kill Red John," Jane affirmed.
"You know what? I don't care what you do." Lisbon stormed into the living room, picked up his bag and threw it at him. "Just go. I'm done."
"Fine." He grabbed his bag and slammed the front door as he left.
After a few moments, Rigsby quietly spoke, "Boss..."
"I'm sorry, but I just want to be alone," she told her two agents.
"Sure. Come on Rigs," Cho put a hand on the taller man's shoulder.
"Yeah."
It was suppose to be be a gesture of thanks, but brunch did not go well.
Jane slung the overnight bag over his shoulder and walked along the curb with his thumb out. He need to find his car, and get his affairs in order before Tuesday's court date. The thought of standing on line and dealing with bureaucrats did not appeal to him especially on a Saturday afternoon. That was if they were open.
"Hello." Jane smiled as a car stopped next to him. "I'm trying to get downtown and I've lost my wallet. Can you give me a ride?"
"Sure hop in." The man smiled.
Cho pulled up next to the sedan and honked his horn until the driver turned towards him.
"Hey!" Cho flashed his badge, giving the driver a menacing look.
"I wasn't picking up a hitchhiker, Officer. I was just going to, uh, ask, for um, for some directions," the man stammered. "Yeah that's it..."
"Get out of here," Cho told him.
The man complied and quickly sped off.
"Get in," Cho flung the passenger door open. "What are you going to do now?"
"I was trying to get downtown to find my car."
"It's in police impound, you won't be able to get it until Monday."
"Well, that saved me the trip."
"You can stay in my guest room for now."
"Thanks Cho."
TBC