Thank you for the messages and reviews on my last chapter. I am really sorry I am not updating as regularly as I would hope too but I am trying to make each chapter longer to make up for that. Hope you enjoy this chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own the mentalist sadly.
Lisbon tugged at the heavy archive file, pulling it down from the high shelving rack in front of her. The weight of the case file made her stumble back as it fell into her arms. Cho had ordered her and Pullman to go to the secure FBI archive unit across town and fretrive some files from an older case that they now believed was possibly connected to the Harrison murder.
"Here, let me take that for you." Lily quickly grabbed the heavy item out of Lisbon's arms. Lisbon smiled half-heartedly at the woman feeling like she was becoming a burden to others, unable to do anything in her current condition these days. The two agents moved to the observation table, piling up the collected files they needed. "You shouldn't be lugging heavy objects in your condition," Lily told her concerned.
"It's only a few files, Lily." Pullman eyed Lisbon disapprovingly seeing the pregnant woman was still pushing herself too much.
"So, Jane said you have got your brother staying with you. That must be nice," Pullman commented, making small talk between them as they continued to search the files.
"Hmmmm, not sure nice is a word I would use," Lisbon mumbled under her breath. Whilst having her brother Jimmy back in her life was great, his recent moody drunken behaviour was starting to wear very thin and he had only been staying a few days. Thankfully, there hadn't been any more drunken half naked strippers brought home to the cabin. Jimmy had mainly moped, sleeping off hangovers, before heading off late at night to play poker or to a bar, always returning home intoxicated and passing out on the couch.
"Lisbon, can I ask you something?" Pullman asked, changing the conversation.
"Sure." Lisbon leaned over the gathered case files cataloguing the archive numbers, assuming the younger agent would want to discuss the new Harrison case.
"How do you know when you're in love?"
It had been four weeks since Lily and Wylie gone on their first date and they had been growing closer ever since. She couldn't believe how giddy and happy she felt. Thankfully it seemed the feeling was mutual, but never having been in a real relationship before, she wasn't sure if it was it just over excitement for them both.
Lisbon did a double take at the younger agent, who was now staring all gooey eyed into the space. Lisbon guessed this question was because Pullman had found herself a new man. She had noticed how Lily had been dressing more feminine of late and doing her hair and make-up slightly differently. Lisbon frowned, not sure she was the best person to answer that question. She, herself, hadn't really known her own feelings on love until it smacked her harshly in the face.
"Uh, well, it depends on the situation," Lisbon said dismissively, not overly comfortable with discussing personal matters within the team. Having been the boss for fourteen years she was trained to keep a professional distance when dealing with personal lives. She returned to filling in the forms hoping that was the end of the matter.
"Yeah, I guess, but, how did you know when you fell in love with Jane? What made you realise it was love?" Pullman pushed, not taking the hint that Lisbon didn't want to engage in girl talk. Lisbon puffed her cheeks, suddenly feeling a little hot under the collar. She put it down to her pregnancy and being stuck in a humid storage unit on a very sticky hot summer afternoon.
"Well… I don't really remember," Lisbon answered unconvincingly, hoping that would quell the young woman's intrigue on the matter. She knew exactly the moment she had fallen in love with Jane or at least the exact moment she realised she was in love in with her consultant. It had been the time he had walked out of CBI building disappearing for six months with no contact.
"Oh, come on, Lisbon, you must do." Pullman probed more, wanting to know romantic tales from her colleague. She had heard the rumours of Jane's romantic dash to the airport in Miami before she joined the team but she guessed that their romantic relationship went back much further than that. They had worked together for nearly a decade before the FBI.
Lisbon sighed, realising when Lily Pullman got the bit between her teeth she wasn't about to let it go. "Fine," she sighed. "I think it may have been when Jane left the CBI and disappeared for six months to Vegas," she confessed honestly.
"Oh." Pullman's heart went out to the woman, knowing that not seeing Wylie for four days whilst he and Cho had flown up to Oregon the week before had been a struggle, let alone six months. "That must have been hard."
"It was at the time," Lisbon answered sadly, "but he came back." A small smile graced Lisbon's lips as she remembered the memory of Jane popping up in the church and scaring the life out of her. Pullman watched as Lisbon went all glassy eyed remembering her memory. That was the kind of love she wanted - to have that same feeling and look when she thought of the man in her life. "Aww, was it a romantic?" Lily added, totally unaware of the past events of that difficult time in their lives.
"What?"
"When Jane finally returned from Vegas. Was it romantic?"
"Well," Lisbon's warm smile quickly disappeared as tougher memories flooded here mind. "If you class Jane becoming an obsessive jackass fixated on finding a murdering mistress of a serial killer, and sleeping with her in a ruse to catch the killer of his family, then, yeah, it was a right love fest," Lisbon replied more coldly than intended letting those memories affect her mood.
Pulling the heavy case files off the table Lisbon quickly marched out of the warm storage unit, leaving a stunned Pullman alone with her parting words. Pullman copied her colleague's actions grabbing the remaining files up and quickly following. "Well, at least it worked out alright in the end," Pullman called out, realising her nosiness had clearly hit a nerve with the pregnant woman.
"Hey, it's my favourite FBI agent," Jane greeted, opening one eye at hearing Lisbon's footsteps approach his couch. "How was the FBI storage units?" he added sleepily.
"Hot!"
Lisbon dropped the heavy files down on to her desk making a loud echo across the bullpen. Jane instantly rose up on his elbows, watching his wife seeing her disgruntled expression. "What's wrong?" Jane quickly moved off his couch and made his way to stand by her. He placed one hand on her back in comfort, seeing she was upset.
"It's nothing, I just need a drink." She shrugged herself out of Jane's touch. He knew something had happened since going to the archive unit as she had been fine when she left. He had seen that look she wore a few times over the years, normally when he had messed up somehow. Watching as Lisbon entered the break room Jane swiftly made his way across the bullpen towards Pullman's desk. He saw the young agent quickly duck her head downwards pretending to be reading. "Everything okay down at the unit?" Jane asked with real seriousness in his voice.
"Uh, yeah, of course, Sir."
At seeing the outright lie written on Lily's face Jane raised a sceptical eyebrow. "Lily?" he probed, drawing out her name and urging her to confess. Lily swallowed nervously under the consultant's intense gaze. "I think I may have upset her. I didn't mean to pry, I swear," she replied guiltily. Jane sighed knowing there could a be a range of topics that could have upset Lisbon right now, her mood swings being ruled by her current condition more than to what Pullman had actually said or done.
"It's okay," Jane told her softly seeing Lily was really worried she had upset Lisbon. "She's not quite herself at the moment. Hormones," he explained, giving the young woman a reassuring wink, knowing that any one of them could say the wrong thing at this moment in time.
"Oh right, got it." Lily immediately perked up, understanding Lisbon's moods a little better. "My sister was terrible during her pregnancies. Mood swings, angry outbursts and then bursting into tears over the silliest of things," Lily added. "She cried once because her husband brought the wrong pasta sauce. I mean, it was only pasta sauce!"
Jane chuckled. "Well, we're not quite at the stage of crying over pasta sauce but just be aware from now on and go easy with her. She will be back to her Lisbon self before we know it."
"Yes sir… I mean, Jane."
Jane entered the break room to find Lisbon leaning against the island table sipping on her herbal green tea. Deciding to ignore and skip over her mood he came up pulling her in for a hug. "So I thought we could go grab some lunch," he told her, kissing her cheek lightly. "It's a lovely day, we could have a picnic in the park." Jane moved his lips down to hers pecking her lips and happy to see she wasn't stopping him. Whatever had upset her earlier it wasn't anything too bad and he could see she was already getting over it. "We can enjoy some alone time," he added, wiggling his eyebrows in a suggestive manner.
Unfortunately, Lisbon wasn't in the mood for his playfulness. "Private time? In a public park?" she replied rolling her eyes.
"Well, I didn't mean we…"
"It's like 102' degrees outside, Jane, and I have no sunscreen on. Besides, it would take me at least ten minutes to get up off the ground in this condition or a crane," she told him sharply. Jane sighed, hurt by her coldness. Seeing she had taken her bad mood out on him she quickly felt guilty for it. "I'm sorry, just ignore me, I am just tired," she added, softening her tone when she saw the look of hurt on his face.
She knew she was being grumpy due to her over tiredness, trying to sleep in her condition was becoming harder and harder and in the last few days she hadn't been feeling herself. Every little thing seemed to upset her at the moment. She knew it was her pregnancy hormones. She had started reading the pregnancy books Jane had brought and they confirmed her body was going through a massive change and that her hormones would be all over the place. The books had also claimed she may end up tearful for a lot of the time too but thankfully she hadn't experienced any tears. YET. Crying wasn't a thing she did very much so she doubted a few pregnancy hormones would change that.
"I am just tired and I've got all these archives files to go through, so I will probably just end up eating at my desk today," she told Jane, kissing him softly on the lips as a way of an apology for being so snappy. At that same moment Wylie entered the break room. Lisbon stepped out Jane's arms, still a little uncomfortable being romantic in front of her team mates at work, even though they were married. "Hi guys, everything okay?" Wylie asked, unaware that there was an issue.
"Best get back to the grindstone," Lisbon told them. She smiled at Wylie and left the two men alone. Sensing the tension in the room and realising he had possibly interrupted something important, Wylie watched the small pregnant agent leave. "Something I said?"
Jane's eyes followed his wife across the bullpen wishing he could do more for her but knowing they would just have to ride the pregnancy storm for a little while longer. "No. Just a very hot pregnant and tired Lisbon. Nothing for you to worry about," Jane told him warmly.
"Have you eaten lunch?" Wylie said with a hopeful look in his eye. "My shout!" he added, hoping that would seal the deal with the consultant. Jane narrowed his eyes, turning to look at the IT Agent becoming suspicious of Wylie's generous offer. He happily accepted, never one to turn down a free lunch. "Okay, sounds good… but I choose where," Jane informed him grinning widely.
Forty-five minutes later Jane and Wylie were sitting in Jane's favourite Italian restaurant, eating on fine cuisine and sipping on a nice cold beer each. The restaurant was thankfully air conditioned and so they were out of the scorching heat outside. Jane swallowed his mouthful of pasta before taking a long sip of his beer, studying the IT tech from across the table.
"So, why don't you just tell me the real reason you're buying me lunch, Wylie" Jane remarked directly.
"Huh? What?" Wylie tried desperately to sound shocked at Jane calling him out on his real motive for lunch. Seeing Jane eye him over the rim of his beer bottle Wylie finally gave up the pretence. "Okay, yes, you're right, I did invite you for lunch for a reason." Wylie wiped his mouth on the fancy cloth napkin preparing himself. "I need… I need your advice. On a private matter," he whispered so the people on the other table next to them couldn't over hear.
"Okay." Jane nodded that he understood it was a delicate topic.
Wylie glanced around making sure no one from the FBI was nearby or dining in the same location. "You see I've started dating this woman. And I really like her," Wylie told him quietly, trying his best to keep his relationship with Pullman on the down low.
A small grin appeared on Jane's face having known this piece of information already. "Well, that's always a good start," Jane replied, smiling playfully at the younger man.
"But, you see, we have been spending more and more time together lately and things are getting a bit more, you know, serious." Wylie glanced around the busy restaurant again making sure no one was listening to his personal dilemma.
Jane raised an eyebrow, wondering if he was going to have to teach his young friend and colleague about the bird and bees. "Well, I am assuming this territory isn't something new to you, Jason?" Jane asked awkwardly, sipping on his beer again.
Wylie focused, taking in Jane's words and realising the consultant thought him to be a virgin. "What? Oh no. I was in a relationship at college. With a girl!" he clarified, just in case Jane thought otherwise. Jane grinned, "Okay, so what's the problem?" not quite sure what Wylie needed advice on exactly.
"It's… it's… just that me and this woman are friends," Wylie explained, "and every time I am with her things get more heated between us, but …"
"…you're worried if you cross that line there will be no going back," Jane finished for him, finally getting to the real matter at hand.
"Yeah, exactly, I am worried. What if it all goes wrong? I mean, seeing her every day and having to work with her? It could ruin everything," Wylie slipped out without realising.
"Wylie, you're over thinking this." Jane interrupted. "If you and this 'friend' feel it's time to move to the next level then things will all be okay. I am sure of it," Jane told him reassuringly.
"You think? How did you and Lisbon do it?"
Jane's eyes widened, wondering exactly what the young IT tech was asking him to share. "Excuse me?"
"No, I mean, you and Lisbon were friends and colleagues first, so how did you suddenly go from being colleagues and friends to something so much more."
"Well… wasn't easy but we both just confronted our desire for each other and promising to always be open and honest with one another."
"Right! Honesty." Wylie stared off into the distance pondering Jane's words.
"Just don't over think it, Jason. If the opportunity presents itself and it feels right, just go with the flow. Don't put too much pressure on yourself." Seeing Wylie's expression remained pensive and worried Jane guessed there was something else worrying the poor lad. "What is it, Wylie?"
Wylie glanced around him again lowering his voice to a hushed whisper. "It's just… I… I caught her watching that film! Fifty Shades? What if she wants something more, something I can't give … or even do."
Instantly choking on the beer he was sipping Jane spluttered most of the liquid over the table, not having seen that one coming. "Sorry… I am sorry…" Jane apologised, using his napkin to clean up and trying not to burst out laughing at the poor kid. Having got a grip of himself, Jane continued, "Look, just because Pul… this friend of yours watched a film, doesn't mean she is some sexual fetish fiend, Wylie. And I am sure she isn't expecting any sort of performance… or …aides," Jane told him. "Most women just want normal romantic relations," Jane advised, unable to hide amusement any longer.
"Yeah, normal, you're probably right. Don't over think it." Wylie repeated, happy to have Jane help calm his nerves. "Thanks, Jane. Appreciate your advice."
Jane smiled warmly at his young friend. "You're welcome. Anytime, Wylie."
"I will just go use the little boys room before we head back to the office."
Jane watched as Wylie snaked his way through the busy restaurant over to the restrooms. When out of earshot Jane let out a chuckle, still trying to wipe the drips of beer off his shirt. He empathised with Wylie's fears and worries, he had the same feelings when he and Lisbon had first got together but with the added concern of Wylie becoming the next Mr Gray, well, that was just hilarious. Never a dull moment in the FBI serious crimes team, Jane thought chuckling away to himself.
Lisbon pulled the black SUV up outside their cabin. Jane was fast asleep in the passenger seat beside her. The team had stayed late working on the new Harrison case. Cho was now back in favour with the powers to be so unfortunately it meant the team was pushed to its full work load with every big high profile case.
"Jane." Lisbon spoke softly, gently shaking her sleepy husband lightly. "Patrick, we are home."
"What time is it?" he croaked, rubbing his eyes open.
"It's just gone eleven."
Jane glanced over at the cabin seeing there were lights on inside and letting him know Jimmy was home. So far, his brother in law had spent every night out drowning his sorrows in a bar somewhere.
"Do you think Jimmy made us dinner?" Jane joked, stepping out of the SUV and stretching, preparing for the mess Jimmy had no doubt left whilst they had been at work all day. Unfortunately, Jimmy Lisbon wasn't the most house proud of people and seem to leave his mess and belonging anywhere he could find but he was family and Jane knew how much it meant to Lisbon to have her family around her again.
"If ordering a pizza is classed as making dinner," Lisbon chuckled in reply, pulling her bag up on her shoulder. Jane stood for a few moments taking in the starry night sky sparkling over the lake. "Have you ever read the book Fifty Shades?" Jane asked his wife with Wylie's amusing predicament still firmly on his mind. Lisbon stilled her walking, doing a double take at Jane's bizarre and unexpected question. "Why would you ask me that?
"Just curious."
"No. No I haven't read it…" Lisbon replied, baffled by his random question before a small knowing smile crept on her face. "But I know someone who has."
Jane paused working out who she was referring to. "Uh, Grace," he answered smugly, knowing Lisbon only had handful of women friends in her life and it wasn't hard to work out who would confide that secret piece of information.
"Yep. Apparently it did wonders for her and Rigsby's sex life." Lisbon winked at Jane as he took her hand in his and they made their way over to the cabin.
"Hmmm, well maybe we should buy a… " Before Jane could finish that thought the sound of glass smashing inside their home caused Jane and Lisbon to freeze in their tracks. "What was that?" Lisbon asked, highly concerned.
"Jimmy!"
They both quickly moved up the steps of the veranda of the cabin. Opening the front door Jane and Lisbon was faced with a very slim angry faced blonde woman currently throwing Jane's pregnancy books across their home at a half-naked Jimmy who was cowering from the flying objects.
"Lucy, baby, let me explain," Jimmy pleaded when the angry blonde had run out of books to throw.
"Was this your plan? Get me to come here and have me catch you with… that… that tramp?!" Lucy screamed, picking up a nearby pen and aiming it straight at Jimmy's head, only missing the target by centimetres. "There I am, back in Oklahoma crying my eyes out because it feels like my life has fallen apart and you are here… with her!" Lucy fumed, throwing another pen before turning on her heels and marching over to the doorway of the cabin to leave.
"She means nothing, I swear," Jimmy called, running across Jane's leather couch in an attempt to stop Lucy from leaving the home. He was very much aware his sister and brother in law had arrived home and was watching the show but he couldn't worry about them right now.
"What are you even doing here?" Jimmy questioned, blocking his girlfriend's exit and hoping he was in some sort of a bad dream and at any minute he was about to wake up.
"You left me a message and asked me to come!" Lucy shouted, hitting him on the chest and making Jimmy stumble backwards into his sister and brother in law. Lisbon pulled her brother back from Lucy's weak attack.
"I did?" Jimmy stood utterly confused by this piece of news. He must have left her the message when he had gotten drunk one night then totally forgot about it. "Okay, look, listen to me. I am only with her because your flatmate Lorraine said you were out having dinner with some guy called Terry," Jimmy said, feeling like he had the higher ground and full justification for his actions. "Jesus, Lucy! You're already off dating some other guy! For fuck's sakes," he spat back angrily.
"Terri… is a work colleague! Who took me out for a dinner to try and cheer me up… And SHE'S a god damn woman! You idiot!" Lucy shouted back.
Jimmy instantly groaned having realised his mistake. "Ohhhh, shit," he grumbled, running his hands down his face, knowing he had totally jumped to the wrong conclusions. He had put two and two together and come up with five. Knowing he needed to quickly try to repair the damage Jimmy got down on his knees in desperation. "Please baby, forgive me, I swear nothing happened, we hardly even got started. You know what I am like, it takes me a while to get going when I've have a few to drink," he told her honestly.
Lucy's mouth gaped open in horror at Jimmy's explanation. Even Jane groaned inwardly, shaking his head at Jimmy's lack of tact, knowing full well that honesty was not the best policy in this particular scenario.
"You insensitive bastard!" Lucy automatically picked up a nearby ceramic bowl and threw it at him. Jimmy quickly scrambled to his feet, avoiding the flying weapon coming at him. "I catch you with that… that whore… and you think I am going to just going forgive you cos you couldn't get it up."
"She's not a whore, she's an erotic pole dancer," Jimmy corrected, just making the whole situation a hundred times worse. It was Lisbon's turn to groan at her brother. "Oh sweet lord," she mumbled, stunned by the man's stupidity.
"Ahhhhhhhhh. I hate you!" Lucy screamed grabbing the next thing she could find, which happened to be Jane's glued ceramic blue tea cup left on the table from earlier that morning.
"Whoa, whoa, missy. Not my cup!" Jane swiftly moved, grabbing his cup from her hands before it could be smashed that into pieces, again. Immediately, as if on cue, Candi, the blonde busty pole dancer from three nights ago appeared in the entrance to the living area, wearing a see through red lacy bra and matching thong, and, to add insult to injury, Jimmy's favorite blue shirt.
"Uh, excuse me! Who are you calling a whore? I am an exotic pole dancer," the stripper stated, aiming her words towards Lucy, having heard the blazing row from the spare room. The busty blonde placed her hands on hips and glared at the hysterical woman throwing things around the cabin.
"You..." Lucy hissed. "If you put your skanky hands on my man again I swear to god…" With that Lucy attempted to move towards the stripper but Jane was quick to pull her back, foreseeing a violent altercation could kick off between the two angry women.
Candi's eyes narrowed at being insulted. "Who the hell are you calling skanky? Bitch!"
"OKAY ENOUGH!" Lisbon yelled loudly, stopping and shocking everyone in their tracks. "This is my house and enough is enough. Do I make myself clear?" she ordered. "Anymore and I will arrest the lot of you for damage to property and disturbing the peace," Lisbon added convincingly.
They were flimsy charges at best but she made it sound convincing in her best FBI agent tone. She may be pregnant but she was still a FBI agent and would use it to her advantage if she needed to. It was like a scene out of a bad rom com movie, just without any of the sappy fluffy romance, or the comedy.
"You!" Lisbon aimed her words at the half naked stripper. "Get dressed and leave." With a sulky eye roll the busty blonde stropped her way back towards the guest bedroom, grabbing her scattered clothing all over the hall as she went.
"You. Go get dressed. Now," she barked at Jimmy, who was dressed in only his denim jeans and looking like a rabbit caught in the head lights. Jimmy immediately did as he was told for once with no arguments, knowing the shit had hit truly the fan this time.
"And you," Lisbon said to a wriggling Lucy fighting feebly to get out of Jane's tight grip, "go outside and cool down before you smash every ornament in my home."
Lucy finally relented her tugging and nodded that she understood Lisbon's order. Lucy wasn't a violent person in nature but her anger had been pushed to the limit tonight by Jimmy's stupid actions. The heavy tears started to flow as the reality of what she had just witnessed hit her hard. Jane slowly let go of the crying woman who immediately ran from the cabin sobbing, totally devastated.
"I will go take Lucy to a hotel for the night," Lisbon sighed. No way she could have the warring couple under the same roof. She was absolutely livid at her stupid brother for causing all this upset and that she was having to clear his mess up. Again. She pecked Jane on the cheek as she headed out of the cabin. Lisbon paused for a few seconds in the doorway seeing the younger woman stood weeping outside by the dark lake. "You just make sure my idiot brother knows the shit he is in."
As Lisbon exited the cabin she held onto the door frame for some support as a pain in her back intensified all of sudden. All she wanted to do was grab something to eat and have a long hot soak in the bath and go to bed, instead she was now driving her brother's heartbroken girlfriend back into Austin to find a room for the night.
"You okay?" Jane said, quickly moving to her side on seeing her in pain.
"Yeah, I am fine, just back ache from leaning over my desk all day. The joys of pregnancy," she told him grumpily. He reluctantly let Lisbon go and watched as she gently approached a sobbing Lucy standing by the lake. Lisbon guided the poor woman over to the black SUV before driving them up the dusty driveway up to the main road.
In the next second Jimmy flew down the steps of the cabin barefooted, having put his shirt back on. He pushed roughly past Jane who was still standing in the doorway watching the moving vehicle.
"Lucy! Lucy! Wait! Lucy!" Jimmy shouted, running up the dirt track after the SUV but finally coming to a stop when he saw it was pointless and the speeding vehicle couldn't be caught. Jimmy stood trying to catch his breath watching the vehicle drive away into the darkness.
"Best give Lucy some space. For now," Jane advised as he slowly approached Jimmy watching the cloud of dust of the SUV in the distance.
"I've really fucked up," Jimmy admitted, his words breaking with emotion as tears filled his eyes and not caring if Jane saw him so vulnerable. The sound of heavy footsteps leaving the cabin behind them made Jane turn around. "Jackass!" the stripper yelled at the two men before storming up the dusty road with one stiletto on and carrying the other. Jimmy didn't even respond, just keeping his eyes firmly on the car carrying the woman he really loved.
"I've really fucked up," Jimmy repeated.
"Yeah, you have," Jane answered sadly. "Come on, I could do with a whiskey, so could you." Jane slowly guided Jimmy back to the cabin. There was no point in giving the man a hard time. Jimmy knew he had messed up and nothing Jane could say was going to make him feel any worse than he already did. Jane knew Jimmy hadn't set out to hurt Lucy in that way, and that he loved her. Unfortunately he had been thinking with his penis and not his brain, ending up with devastating consequences for both of them.
Lisbon swiftly pulled the key card from the slot of the hotel door. She walked into the small hotel room looking around at the bad décor. "Well, it's not the penthouse but at least it's clean," Lisbon said, placing Lucy's overnight bag down on the king size bed. A very despondent weepy Lucy followed her inside, slowly sitting down on the edge of the bed and sniffing into a wet tissue.
Lisbon paused, looking down at the crying woman and not quite sure how to comfort her. Crying women always made her feel out of her comfort zone. Suddenly Lucy spoke for the first time since leaving the SUV. "All I ever done is love him and this is how he treats me. By sleeping off with some… some… whore."
"He wasn't thinking, Lucy. He was really devastated when you ended things," Lisbon replied honestly, trying to justify her brother's stupid actions.
"Oh yeah!" Lucy snapped. "It really looks like it! He was so devastated he had to stick his head between her breasts!" Lucy wiped her nose on the worn out piece of tissue again and sobbed, remembering the sight of catching the busty blonde and Jimmy together in a very compromising position.
Lucy had arrived at the cabin and knocked on the front door of the lakeside cabin a few times before she tried the handle and it willingly opened. The lights were on in the beautiful new home and she had called out but got no answer. She heard muffled laughter coming from the back room. Calling out for Jimmy, Lucy had headed towards voices. Knocking and opening the door to the spare room it was then she had found a topless stripper straddling her half-dressed boyfriend on the guest bed.
Lisbon sighed, knowing no excuses could excuse her idiot brother's behaviour. "I am not excusing what Jimmy has done," Lisbon answered softly, "but I do know that he loves you Lucy and in the thirty- eight years since that jackass has walked this planet, you are the first woman he has ever really been in love with."
Lucy lifted her head to Lisbon's words, her eyes glistening with hope. "I am? He does?"
Lisbon nodded, seeing that it was clear her brother was worse than Jane was when it came to expressing words on how he really felt. This poor woman had no idea how her little brother felt for her.
"Yeah, you are." Lisbon smiled warmly, squeezing the younger woman's hand. "Look, try and get some rest and I will come by in the morning. I am sure you will feel better after a good night's sleep." Lisbon headed to the exit of the room but was stopped by Lucy's next question.
"How is it?" Lucy asked. Seeing the confusion appear on Teresa's face she motioned her head to her large baby bump. "Being pregnant, I mean, how is it?"
Slightly flummoxed by her unrelated question Lisbon turned back. "Oh, well, okay, I guess." Lisbon stood thinking about the question. "It's…very uncomfortable right now," she added honestly. The first six months had been fine but in the last few weeks her bump seemed to have grown so much she was less able to do what she normally would be able to do.
"Some women say it's the best experience they ever had," Lucy added, looking sadly down at her hands and playing with the worn out tissue.
"Well, then some women are lucky," Lisbon remarked, returning to the bed and sitting down next to the woman and running her hand over her bump. "It's great, most of the time, but it's not all fun and games, trust me," Lisbon confirmed, thinking more about the past few weeks. Her mood swings, the lack of bladder control, her sore ankles which were swollen twice in size in the hot weather, the extremely painful trapped wind that popped up when she least expected it and the fact she couldn't even bend down to pick up a pen, and had to begrudgingly ask Tork only earlier that day to help her pick one up from under her desk.
It suddenly occurred to Lisbon why Lucy would be asking such an odd question. Looking down she noticed Lucy's hand was unconsciously touching her stomach as she stared aimlessly to the ground in sadness.
"Lucy, are you… are you pregnant? Lisbon enquired. The young woman lifted her head up, fresh tears falling from her eyes indicating the truth. "This explains a few things," Lisbon mumbled, putting a gentle arm around the upset girl." It's why you wanted you and Jimmy to move in together. Isn't it?" she concluded. "Why didn't you just tell him?"
Lucy stood up for the first time, pacing the hotel room floor, "I didn't tell him because I want him to be with me, for me, not just because he knocked me up and feels he has to be. I will forever be wondering if he is with me for me or because of the baby."
Lisbon nodded, understanding Lucy reasons for holding back, she probably would have been the same way if it had been her.
"How far gone are you?"
"Ten weeks. I found out three weeks ago but Jimmy made it all so hard. In the end I thought if we had a break up he would miss me so much he'd come begging back and I would know how he really felt." Lucy slumped back down on the bed dejectedly. "That blew up in my face didn't it?" she said, shaking her head at how badly her life was right now.
"You need to tell him. About the baby," Lisbon told her. Whilst her brother was a prize idiot he still deserved to know about his own child.
"Why?" Lucy snapped. "I mean, I don't even know if I will keep it, especially not after all this." Lucy stated bitterly, but Lisbon knew full well she was speaking out of anger. Jimmy had told her how much Lucy loved working with children and being a mother was clearly something Lucy dreamed of in her future. Her judgement right now was being clouded by the horrible memory of Jimmy being caught with another woman.
"Lucy, I know you're upset but please don't make any decisions right now. You're angry and I get why, but promise me you will think about this some more, and at least talk to Jimmy first."
Lucy nodded knowing Lisbon was right. "Okay."
Lisbon gently squeezed Lucy's shoulder before heading back to the door of the room to leave. Having more time to reflect on her question, Lisbon paused, turning back round again.
"What I said about being pregnant is true. It has been a struggle at times but it also the most amazing experience too," she told her. "Every kick and movement I feel this little one make is incredible, every foot or hand I see poking out my belly makes we realise how lucky I am. Some people never get to have that experience. We are the lucky ones," Lisbon told Lucy sincerely, hoping her parting words would help the younger woman see things more clearly.
It suddenly dawned on Lisbon that she hadn't really savoured every minute of carrying her own baby so far, having been caught up with all the difficulties instead. It could possibly be the only opportunity she got in her lifetime so she needed to saviour it.
"I don't want to talk him. You won't tell Jimmy where I am, will you? Promise?" Lucy pleaded with Lisbon, too upset and angry with Jimmy right now. Understanding Lucy's upset Lisbon smiled warmly. "No, I won't tell him. Promise."
"Thank you, Teresa, you are the best sister in law I've ever had." Lucy told her sweetly. Touched by her kind and heartfelt words Lisbon made a silent promise to herself to try and get to know the sweet girl in Jimmy's life more, if she ever got the chance. "You too. I will see you tomorrow. Try get some rest."
It was a little after midnight when Lisbon re-entered the cabin. She found both Jane and Jimmy both sitting quietly waiting for her in the living area. The minute Jimmy saw his sister enter through the front door he moved towards her. "Reece, where is Lucy? is she okay?"
Lisbon purposely ignored her brother, removing her bag and placing her keys down on the dining table. Knowing he was receiving the cold silent treatment Jimmy raised his voice higher. "Reece? I am begging you. Tell me!" Having had enough for one day Lisbon spun round to confront her brother. "No! I won't. She needs some time to calm down. She doesn't want to speak to you right now. You have completely devastated her."
Jimmy dipped his head in shame feeling like the biggest jerk ever born. "I never meant for this to happen," he said truthfully running his hands over his face.
"What were you even doing, Jimmy!" Lisbon snapped angrily. Jane approached her from behind seeing that her blood pressure was quickly rising. It wasn't good for her or the baby and he needed her to remain calm. He placed a calming hand on her back which seemed to work a little.
"We weren't having sex, we were just… fooling around," Jimmy pleaded awkwardly, hoping that would somehow help with his defence. Jimmy glanced down to his crutch to explain. "Jimmy junior wasn't co-operating too well. Too much alcohol."
"Urrr."Lisbon growled in disgust at the mental image her brother had just created in her head. "You're an idiot, Jimmy. Do you know that! A complete and utter idiot."
"I thought she was out on a date with another guy! I would have never called Candi over otherwise," Jimmy yelled, trying to justify his massive fuck up. Lisbon shook her head in disgust at her younger brother. She turned on her heels heading into the kitchen, having had enough of him for one night. Jane sighed, foreseeing a big row coming when Jimmy quickly followed in her footsteps. Jane quickly grabbed his arm. "Go easy," he told him firmly, not wanting his wife any more stressed than she already was. Jimmy nodded, taking a moment to calm himself. He entered the kitchen, his tone becoming softer. "Please, Reece, tell me where she is. I need to see her. I need to go talk to her."
Lisbon sighed, exhausted. Pouring herself a glass of water from the fridge she finally turned to her little brother. "Just go to bed, Jimmy. You have caused enough trouble for one night," she told him harshly before walking out and into her bedroom leaving a distraught Jimmy alone.
An hour later, once Lisbon had retired to bed and finally fallen asleep, Jane decided to check up on Jimmy. He found the spare room was empty and found his brother in law sat quietly outside on the steps of the cabin veranda watching the night sky.
"Give her time to calm down. She'll come around," Jane said, walking out on the dark veranda the hot humid air hitting him hard. Jane passed Jimmy a large glass of whiskey, taking a seat down next to him on the steps. It was a very warm sticky night in Austin, so the coolness of the ice against his lips felt refreshing.
"Who? Lucy? Or my sister?" Jimmy replied, taking the tumbler glass gratefully from Jane's hand quickly knocking back the shot in one go hoping it would help ease his pain.
"Both."
"You reckon," Jimmy scoffed. "My own sister hates me. Lucy will never ever speak to me again. I've fucked it all up," Jimmy said, his voice breaking with emotion.
"Trust me, Teresa doesn't hate you, she could never hate you, "Jane told him. "She will come around, give her a night to sleep on it. She will be calm in the morning. I am the prime example of her caring and forgiving nature and I have been a bigger idiot than you in the past."
"Have you ever brought a stripper back and had your girlfriend and your sister catch you at it?"
"No, never that…" Jane said, grimacing at that particular image. "But I did sleep with the mistress of a psychopath and then let her inform the woman I love about it."
Jimmy did a double take at Jane's words, not quite understanding. There was so much about his and his sister's relationship Jimmy had no idea on but, hey, who was he to judge? He had just made the biggest mistake in his life and paying heavily for it.
"See? Forgiving," Jane added, sipping on his own whiskey, reliving the memories of his own past mistakes. "Try get some sleep." Jane slowly stood, placing a comforting hand on Jimmy's shoulder.
He knew his brother in law felt like he had just lost the two most important people in his world at the moment and he had genuine sympathy for the guy. He too was a man that had made many a mistake with the people he loved in his life time, so he understood that feeling of loss. Whilst stupid with his recent choices, James Lisbon loved his big sister, and his girlfriend, and deep down he was a good man. Stupid at times but still good. Jane made his way back in to the cabin knowing he would have to try help fix his new family somehow.
"I am sorry," Jimmy said looking back at Jane as he entered the cabin.
"I know you are... but it's not me you need to apologise to," Jane told him softly, slowly shutting the cabin door behind him.
The next morning Lisbon walked into the kitchen to find that breakfast had already been made and the table was laid. She knew it wasn't Jane who had prepared it as he was still in the bedroom getting ready. "Hey, you're up," Jimmy said chirpily, entering the kitchen. Lisbon eyed her brother suspiciously as he placed a plate full of pancakes down at the table. It was only just gone seven am and she was surprised to see her brother up at this time in the morning. He normally didn't wake until gone midday.
"What's this?"
"It's my way of apologising for all the mess I caused you last night. You're right, I was a complete idiot and I am really sorry," Jimmy told her sincerely, hoping she would hear the truth in his apology. Lisbon exhaled a deep breath knowing her brother was trying to make an effort and apologise for his mistakes. Never being able to be too mad at her youngest sibling for too long she smiled warmly at him. "Apology accepted... but it's not me you need to apologise to, Jimmy."
"I know, it's Lucy and I will. Well, if she will ever let me."
"I said I would go see her later on today but she doesn't want to see you right now, Jimmy," Lisbon said softly seeing the clear upset and disappointment in her brother eyes. Jimmy nodded, looking like he had just been kicked in the gut. His eyes glazed over for a second but he put on a brave face. "Just tell Lucy I am sorry. Okay, just tell her I…tell her…" Jimmy paused but was unable to find the words he wanted to say, "…it doesn't matter."
Lisbon squeezed Jimmy's hand, seeing how hard he found it to say how he really felt, just like she did. Whilst she knew he had been a complete moron the night before he was still her little brother and there was still the matter of his baby to think about. She promised herself she would have a good chat with Lucy when she went to see her later that day, see if she could help calm the waters somehow for her brother.
Jane entered the kitchen and made his way over to breakfast filled table. "Well, this looks impressive." He said kissing the top of Lisbon's head and giving jimmy a nod hello.
"Jimmy did it," Lisbon said cheerfully but her attention turned back towards the bedroom as her cell shrilled into life. "That's my phone." Quickly Lisbon left the kitchen table, leaving her husband and brother alone together.
"My way of apologising," Jimmy said, picking up his orange juice explaining he reasons for the breakfast delights he had prepared for them all.
"Well, it looks lovely and it seems to have worked on Teresa." Jane nodded, pouring himself a cup of his favourite tea and happy to see the two siblings had made the peace once more.
"Just Lucy left now. But I don't think anything I can say will help with that situation." Jimmy sighed, deflated, pushing back in his chair knowing there was no amount of pancakes that was going to make up for what he had had done to his girlfriend.
Jane stared over his turquoise mug staring out of the window to the lake for a few minutes. Slowly a big grin appeared on his face. "I am sure we can think of something to win her back," Jane told Jimmy, grinning widely as a plan began forming in his brilliant complex mind.