How many ways can I thank CRR for beta reading? Well... dunno, but here's another way. Thanks for your help with this chapter!
I never have, currently don't and never will own The Mentalist characters. I'm not making nuthin' off these writings I'm posting.
"You look nervous, Jane."
Patrick looked at Cho, briefly wishing to punch that smug non-expression off his face. Of course, Patrick didn't punch people. Least of all someone who could and would break his arm in three seconds. Instead he flexed his right hand with the passing thought that it had been 394 days since the cast had been removed. Strange thoughts to have, actually. He recognized avoidance in himself when he saw it.
"I've never looked nervous in my life, Kimball, and I resent you stating that something could possibly be bothering me."
And yet it did bother him. What if she wasn't there?
"This shouldn't be a big deal to you. I mean, it's already done. This is just a formality."
Patrick turned towards the window and squared his shoulders.
"I'm thinking of Teresa, mostly."
"You're nervous for Lisbon? Why? Are you going to say something to upset her?"
Rigsby chuckled. "I can just imagine what's going through her head right now."
Patrick felt something on his shoulder; Cho was running a lint roller over the tuxedo jacket.
"Avoid any philosophical discussions," Cho advised, moving it across his back. "Just say 'I do' when the priest gives you the cue and kiss Lisbon when he says to."
"I've been to a couple of weddings," Patrick said smartly. "Including two of my own. I think I recall how it goes."
"Neither of those were in a church, were they? Are you afraid of lightning strikes?"
Rigsby laughed and Patrick gave a half-smile.
"Hardly, although I would like this to go off perfectly for her."
"Showing up is the important part."
"There was never any doubt that I'd be here."
Patrick turned back in time to see Cho give a significant glance at Rigsby.
"And what did that mean?" he asked
"What did what mean?" Cho asked without inflection in his voice.
Patrick crossed to the small mirror on the wall of the monsignor's vestry and checked that his green silk ascot was tucked properly into the monochromatic ivory paisley vest. Again he adjusted the dark walnut colored cutaway jacket on his shoulders. Lisbon had surprised him with the choice of a Victorian theme. In some ways his conservative wife was very old-fashioned as well.
"Patrick, we know you're leaving CBI," Cho said. "We don't know when but it's obvious it will be soon since you're not happy."
"And why shouldn't I leave?" he asked, turning on Cho. "Teresa doesn't investigate crime anymore and I'm not wild about creating the position 'Special Consultant to Special Agent in Charge'."
"You're helping us," Rigsby said. "Major Crimes Unit and Serious Crimes Unit. Even Grace's unit."
A feeling of self-satisfaction flooded through Patrick. In some ways, working with Cyber Crimes was the best part of his continued relationship with CBI. It was new and different, a nice challenge. Especially tracking down identity thieves.
But he still chafed. The Bureau was getting too familiar to him and they were too familiar with him. 'Pulling stunts', as Teresa called it, had immediate consequences close to home, specifically the small Craftsman-style bungalow they recently bought together in Davis, California. The cost of rebellion was too high to consider anymore. The prices of constraint and restraint were being demanded instead.
"Ae Cha is nearly ready to fly solo. Red John's been dead for fifteen months. Besides, the CBI doesn't need a full-time mentalist anymore. It's now perfect for a potential part-time employee expecting her second child."
Cho couldn't stop the slight smirk that came to his lips, but he wiped it away quickly. "So what would you do instead?"
Patrick reached towards Cho's ear and pulled out a coin. "Kids' birthday parties, bar and bat mitzvahs, local weather reporting on the morning news. Any manner of light entertainment."
"Until you run out of quarters." Cho took the coin and tucked it into his tuxedo pocket. He glanced at the clock. "Let's go. The bride is allowed to be late but not the groom."
As he and Cho followed the priest Father Gabruda to the altar, Patrick once again absorbed the beauty of a church decorated extravagantly with dozens of flower arrangements and miles of sparkling tulle in their wedding colors of pastel green, soft peach and white. Although not completely filled, the pews contained many friends and family: half of the Sacramento CBI office, Hightower, LaRoche, Mashburn, Pete, Sam and other carnie friends, even his former brother-in-law Daniel Ruskin. It was exactly as he envisioned for his lovely bride, a romantic fairyland setting to fit the perfection of the day.
The strangest part – although it followed, based on their relationship – was that he had planned pretty much the whole thing except the wedding attire. He'd promised himself that he'd provide her with a royal wedding, an elaborate production to honor his queen.
Too bad it took her twelve months to come 'round to his way of thinking.
Processional music started, cueing Grace and Wayne to enter as bridesmaid and groomsman. Hightower's kids followed as flower girl and ring bearer. Annabeth came next as Teresa's maid of honor. The priest bid the guests to stand and the Bridal March music began. In the narthex, Virgil Minelli stepped to the opening with Teresa on his arm.
Patrick gasped softly. He had peeked online at the dress she'd chosen despite tradition prohibiting it, but a digital photo hadn't done it justice. Or maybe it was just the sweetness of his wife's appearance. Regardless, he consciously had to lock his knees to keep them from buckling.
Beside him, Cho softly said, "Whoa… Boss…"
She was gorgeous. Her rich dark hair was in a bun with loose ringlets hanging at her temples, accented with seafoam colored ribbons instead of a veil. The green in her eyes glowed like the emeralds in her necklace, visible to him even across the church. The satin and lace gown hugged her delightful curves to the waist and then flowed into ruffles reaching to the floor. His angry little princess was most definitely his lovely queen today.
"She walks in beauty…"
"…Like the night," Cho added the rest of Lord Byron's line of poetry.
He looked at him and was greeted with a slight smile. There was something on Cho's mind. Patrick leaned toward him slightly.
"Confess."
"Okay, I admit it. I've had a mild crush on her since our days together in San Francisco."
Patrick chuckled. "That would be easy to develop. Although Grace was mine when she first joined the team. Completely innocently, of course."
"This isn't exactly the most appropriate time to discuss this." Cho looked up at the choir loft and shifted uncomfortably.
"No, it should have happened at last night's bachelor party but neither of us got drunk, unlike everyone else there so…"
"Shut up, Jane."
Patrick chuckled again and returned his full attention to his bride who was now a dozen feet away. Her makeup was light and natural, just as he liked it, although her lipstick was a bit darker than usual but twice as kissable. Her eyes were shining with happiness and just a little self-satisfaction. The emerald-dotted combs holding up her hair glittered and matched her earrings and necklace.
The lace of the gown floated from high up her neck to down her chest in what would have been a very sexy décolletage were the lace more transparent. But he understood her choice for modesty; the scars on her skin (and elsewhere) were still fading.
As Virgil was about to present her to Patrick, he gave a small tight smile and a curt nod. "You'd better take good care of her."
"Always," Patrick promised.
She gave her foster father a kiss on his cheek, causing him to blush. Then she allowed Patrick to lead her to the priest.
"I love you, my beautiful lady," he said softly.
She actually blushed and looked at Father Gabruda who nodded with permission.
"I love you too, Patrick."
The priest grinned at both of them and then at the congregation.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…"
To be continued...unless you don't like a completed character arc. Jane is changed in the next chapter because his mighty brain needs continual challenge. If you didn't like Chapter 34, please don't read the Epilogue. Just consider this chapter to be the "Happily Ever After" and mentally tag "The End" to the last sentence in this chapter. You'll be happier. Trust me. :-)