The hard part about being in the same team as Patrick Jane was that he was, well, Patrick Jane. Jane, who never listened to Lisbon's orders and instead went off by himself in the middle of investigations, often exposing the culprit at the same time, but still annoying Lisbon. Van Pelt could tell that Lisbon was fond of Jane, whether or not she would admit it, and the same applied to Cho and Rigsby. Jane was a part of their team, he had been for a long time now.
Van Pelt had found it hard at first to adjust to Jane. She was the newbie, not used to dealing with him, so his actions often came as a surprise to her. But now that she had been in the team for a while, she was accustomed to his shenanigans, just as the other members of the team were. And then, one day, she realized her feelings for him had changed. She was starting to fall in love.
Van Pelt knew Jane well enough to know that he didn't do love. Not right now, not while Red John was still out there. He had tried once, with Kristina, but that had severe consequences. So Van Pelt never tried to pursue a relationship with Jane. She tried dating once, with Rigsby, but the two of them had broken up after Hightower found out about their relationship. So she tried a second time, with O'Laughlin, but he ended up being a traitor working for Red John. Essentially, Van Pelt's love life was a mess. That was definitely another reason why she never asked Jane out.
When Lisbon sent Jane and Van Pelt out to investigate a suspect, Jane tried to pull his usual bullshit, interrogating the suspect with nonsense in order to shove said suspect over their breaking point. Van Pelt, as patient as she was, allowed Jane to do his thing, but after they were shoved out of the house, she turned to talk to him. "Was that really necessary?"
Jane grinned. "Oh, it definitely was. I now know more about the suspect and his relationship with the victim than we did before we came here?"
Van Pelt raised her eyebrows. "Oh, really? Care to enlighten me?"
Jane pretended to think about it, then he smiled wider and said, "Nope!" He ran towards the car. "I'm driving!"
It was events like these that made Van Pelt feel some of the annoyance Lisbon did, but really, she was just trying her best to be patient.
Rigsby was the first one to realize she had feelings for Jane. She supposed he would realize eventually, given how much time the two had spent together, but she had always hoped he wouldn't realize. They used to date, after all, and Van Pelt suspected that perhaps he still had some feelings for her.
Rigsby had pulled her aside one day into one of the spare rooms and asked, "Do you like Jane?"
Van Pelt spluttered. "Huh? How did you- I mean-"
Rigsby sighed. "So you do like him," he murmured.
"I'm sorry," Van Pelt offered, trying to think of her next words. "I know you're still in love with me" doesn't seem like the appropriate response…
"It's fine," Rigsby said with another sigh. "If he makes you happy…" Rigsby seemed to be struggling with the words.
"I'm not going to date him," Van Pelt said. "He wouldn't let himself date anyone, and besides, have you seen my love life?" She laughed.
Rigsby quirked a small smile. "Ah yes, that one guy who used you to gain access to the CBI building and almost killed you and Jane… And, of course, O'Laughlin."
"You feel bad being mixed up with a bunch of murderers?" Van Pelt asked.
"Kinda," Rigsby shrugged. "I like to think I'm the best boyfriend you've ever had, though."
Van Pelt let out a laugh at that. Maybe Rigsby finding out wasn't too bad after all. Besides, he was her friend, and now, the pressure on her chest that came from being in love with Jane had loosened, just a little.
She hoped that one day, she'd be able to get over Jane.
(She should have wondered where he currently was, though.)
Turns out Jane figured out who the culprit was on his own once again, and he confronted the culprit. It clearly didn't end up too well, based on the blood pouring out of his arm when Van Pelt and Rigsby finally arrived on the scene, Lisbon and Cho pulling up in the former's car soon after.
"Hey guys," Jane said with a smile. "Sac PD got the culprit already."
"What happened to you?" Van Pelt asked, concern flowing through her as she rushed up to Jane, inspecting his arm.
"Eh, just a little fight," Jane shrugged. "I mean, it was terrifying at the time, when he first drew the gun out, but I'm fine now."
"His gun?! That's a bullet wound?!"
"Jane, we need to get you to the hospital," Lisbon said commandingly, stepping up to them.
Jane made a face. "The hospital," he muttered in disgust.
Lisbon sighed and called back to Cho and Rigsby, "One of you call an ambulance!"
Van Pelt mutely watched as more blood came out of Jane's arm.
To Van Pelt's relief, the doctors said that Jane would be fine, though one of them looked annoyed as she announced the news. Van Pelt could only guess what Jane had said to her to make her look that way.
Entering Jane's room alone, Van Pelt sat next to the bed, smiled, and said, "Hi."
Jane grinned. "Hey, Grace."
It was strange, Van Pelt had to admit. Most of the team just called her Van Pelt, with the exception of Rigsby, who had gotten so used to calling her Grace that he just couldn't stop. But Jane mainly called her Grace. Sometimes he called her Van Pelt, but she mainly remembered him speaking her first name, over and over again. Maybe it was the fact that she was in love with him that made her think he used that name for her so much. Maybe he mainly called her Van Pelt, instead.
"I tried to be patient," Van Pelt admitted softly. "But maybe if I had let my temper slip, then this wouldn't have happened."
"Oh, it would have," Jane said nonchalantly. "You know it would have. This happens all the time."
Van Pelt swallowed. It's usually Lisbon, or Cho, or Rigsby who tells you not to do these things. Usually not me. I was hoping…
"Were you hoping that if you, specifically, lost your temper, then it would have made a difference?" Jane asked.
Van Pelt, shocked at how easily he had guessed, sat there in shock.
"It wouldn't have," Jane said. "At least, I don't think so," he then added on, more quietly.
"I see," Van Pelt whispered.
Van Pelt soon left the room, and Jane stayed on her mind for the rest of the day.
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Upcoming Works
-Eyes on Me
Date: 11/8/2022
Fandoms: The Mortal Instruments
Series: 70 Tuesdays of ABO
Pairings: Alec/Jace
Summary: Alec is jealous of how much attention Jace gives Clary. Why couldn't he receive that attention instead?
-To Rely on Him
Date: 11/11/2022
Fandoms: Detective Conan
Series: N/A
Pairings: Shinichi/Heiji
Summary: After Shinichi is injured, he has to rely on Heiji until he recovers.
-Choices as Fragile as Glass
Date: 11/14/2022
Fandoms: The Mortal Instruments
Series: Nico's Polyam Shipping Days
Pairings: Clary/Simon/Jace
Summary: Valentine is dead and the war is over. Yet Clary finds she still has hard decisions to make, such as figuring out which of the two boys she loves she should give her heart to. It's not until she sees the two of them interacting together that she realizes the correct choice.
-Flirting at Heists
Date: 11/15/2022
Fandoms: Detective Conan, Magic Kaito
Series: 70 Tuesdays of ABO
Pairings: Saguru/Kaito
Summary: Saguru and Kaito meet up during a heist. Even though the taskforce could be right at their heels, the two can't resist flirting with each other.
-Ken Appreciation Day
Date: 11/18/2022
Fandoms: Digimon Adventure Series
Series: N/A
Pairings: Daisuke/Ken
Summary: After Ken has a bad day, Daisuke makes sure to let his friend know that he is appreciated.
