Author's Note: I tweaked the last chapter a little bit, but nothing too significant, so if you don't want to reread it, it's not necessary. Just thought I'd mention it. Thanks to all those that are still reading and especially everyone who takes the time to leave a review. I read them all and they light up my day. I apologize if the last chapter was confusing for some, I just wanted to show that Lisbon probably envies other peoples happiness at this point quite a bit, longing for it herself and that Jane isn't immune either. It's something they have in common.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Mentalist and would not be foolish enough to claim to.
Two and a half hours later, Lisbon was laughing.
The sun had gone down early, advancing autumn pulling it below the horizon before dinner time. They were surrounded by noise and people, far different from the school or even the carnival that had graced this very field only yesterday. Now the downtrodden grass was surrounded by open trailers and trucks, boxes and bags shoved into every visible nook and cranny. Gone and packed away were the bright lights and intense noisemakers. Instead, there was a fire and two dimming flood lights on the sides of different trailers to light up the festivities and chase away the night. On the air floated the sounds of a guitar and harmonica, songs of old and new repute adding a background beat that kept conversation going in the separate groups spread out in what remained of the carnival's sights.
Leaning near the fire, Benny was beating a rhythm against the ground that reverberated all the way through Jane's feet several feet away. The old man's fingers flew over the guitar strings so fast, they almost blurred and his aging smile creased the whole right side of his face in wrinkles. Moses, so named for the straight-edge part down the middle of his red hair, was patting his thigh in time as his bass voice rattled nearby eardrums and a woman named Lesley who normally handled the ring toss was adding her harmonica to add a counterpoint to the whole tune. It wasn't Mozart, wasn't pure thought and imagination, but it was like a heartbeat. Like life.
Like Lisbon.
It was the first time he had seen her so openly happy and carefree since he had met her. Her dainty feet had slipped out of her shoes at some point and were folded half up underneath her. She and Sam, Annie and an overweight kid named Pete who usually looked after the rides as a mechanic, sat around a circular table playing cards.
Her smile made her eyes sparkle in a way the made his heart stop. She shifted and his eyes flew down to her outstretched arm and back up, never leaving her.
He was staring again and realizing this, he fought off a blush. Glancing around surreptitiously to be sure no one noticed and letting his face cool, he noticed a figure making his way through the far edge of the group. It was Kale, the face of the carnival, the "ringmaster" so to speak- at least when Annie was feeling generous- and he was passing around beer and soda. This little impromptu shindig was starting to get rowdy. Everyone was enjoying the celebration of another profitable weekend in a new town. They'd worked hard and deserved it, but perhaps it was time to take Teresa home.
Looking back at Lisbon, Jane spluttered a snort, covering his mouth with a hand and trying to hide his reaction into his chest so he didn't make a scene. His chuckles melted into the background noise though, so he was free to stare.
His friend had a card stuck to her forehead. He'd never seen anything cuter in his entire life. She was casually flipping coins into the center of the checkerboard clothe of the table. Pennies, yes, but enough of them to amount to almost five dollars in all. Otto, the fire breather, had been kind enough to supply the change. Jane didn't pay it any attention though. It had been his main goal to see that she enjoyed herself while she was here and he was confident he had succeeded thus far. He wasn't a fool and neither was Teresa. She knew the carnies were taking her for all she was worth, but pennies were all that she had to her name anyway and it was all in good fun. Her going away with five dollars less than when she had arrived wasn't going to do any harm.
Sam caught his eye next to her and grinned cheekily at him, slipping a card down below the table and pulling another from her shirt. Little sneak.
Jane had been playing with them, but he'd had to quit when his staring at Lisbon and her shy smiles that sent shivers up his arms almost landed him on the wrong side of Sam's dealing. So now he watched and made sure the little girl didn't run off with the clothes of Teresa's back.
Serge, whose real name was Daffodil and whose knife throwing act had truly fascinated his Lisbon, was watching carefully from the sidelines too across the way. He had taught the small young woman some of his moves free of charge and smiled at her, something no one else had been entirely certain the man was capable of doing. When Jane had confronted him and asked why in a low voice, wondering what the man's angle was, he'd clearly and unapologetically stated in his gravelly voice that he liked her fire.
Pure and simple, he liked her. That in and of itself was an impressive feat. Serge didn't usually like anybody.
Watching Teresa smirk and flip another card down though, he wasn't at all surprised. What was there not to love?
Like, he meant like.
Shaking his head ruthlessly, Jane pushed off the wall. Slowly, he came up behind Lisbon and bent to whisper near her ear pleased with the way her own breath left her when he was so close. "We should get going. I'm sure the boys are wasting away without you."
She grinned up at him and nodded, turning a slight pout toward the others as she bade them all goodbye.
He helped her stand and slip her jacket and bag back on her shoulders, waving and speaking farewells as they went.
"Hold up, doll." Annie smiled, heaving herself up out of her chair. "I'll give you a ride home."
Jane narrowed his eyes at the woman, but she just gave him a wink and an almost imperceptible nod.
Was that approval he saw? Tut tut, even Annie wasn't immune to his friend's innocent charm.
Looking back at him questioningly, Teresa awaited his response. He was a little startled at that, then felt a surge of pride that she trusted him to look after her here. He nodded encouragingly for her to follow the older woman, guiding her forward with a hand at the small of her back.
:)
When Kale's truck pulled up to the front of her house, Jane jumped down and helped Lisbon from the back.
Her small hands settled on his shoulders, spreading her warmth through him so that he shivered. When his larger hands grasped her trim waist, he was more than glad of the dark night, because it hid his furious blush for him. He'd never colored so much in his life. She jumped down as he lifted her out and set her on the ground, unable to think beyond noting how tiny and compact she was. All slim muscle under his fingertips.
Teresa cleared her throat and it was only then that he noticed he was still holding onto her.
Hurriedly, he released her.
She smiled sheepishly at him, slung her bag over her shoulder and then met his eyes. Her own were sparkling. "Thanks Jane. I... I had a nice time."
"Anytime, Lisbon."
They both went quiet, a little awkwardly so, before Jane remembered something and quickly pulled a rumpled brown paper bag from the back of his jeans. The same one that Sam had handed him. Now embarrassed and feeling an unusual shyness burning up his throat, he held it out between them. "Uh, I got this for you."
She blinked, but took the bag from him and curiously looked inside. A gasped laugh left her lips and she reached in and pulled out the CD's inside, peering over the covers in amazement. "How..." Her eyes raised to meet his questioningly, like before, but this time with a heart-breaking edge of vulnerability to the green.
The first she'd ever intentionally showed him.
His breath caught in his chest, making his next words strangled. "Jazz. It's your favorite, right?"
She stared up at him in shock. "Y-You got these for me."
A crash from inside the house drew their attention suddenly, breaking the breathless moment into tiny little pieces.
"I better go." Teresa said worriedly.
"Yeah." He agreed, watching the houses windows curiously, wondering what Teresa would face when she went inside. After all, how much damage could three boys on their own do?
Suddenly, he felt lips against his cheek.
Lisbon was kissing his cheek.
He felt himself turn red, all the blood rushing away from his face and then just as quickly back. Somewhere in the back of his hearing Jane heard Annie snort and then whistle teasingly but beyond that, all thought escaped him.
Teresa pulled back, smirking at him while blushing gently and ran down the path. She waved then pushed open the door and disappeared inside.
Mind completely muddled now, he staggered back to the truck and climbed back onto the back.
Annie just laughed at him.
:)
It was such a relief to fall into bed that night. He literally just fell backwards onto his bed, fully clothed and utterly exhausted. He barely had the energy to lift his hand to run his fingers through his blonde curls and sighed deeply as the fatigued muscles brought his arm almost immediately back down to the soft covers beneath him. For a long minute, he couldn't find any energy to move in order to get ready to go sleep, he just lay concentrating on his breathing.
He was tired. He'd been tired for a while, but... but Teresa kissed him. On the cheek, yes, but he had had actual contact with her lips. It still had his limbs turning to butter.
It was late, Annie having taken him back to the party before bringing him home. The moon was providing the only light illuminating his bedroom.
At least, so he'd thought at first.
He squinted one eye open wearily when he realized there was another light shining on his face, coming through his window. Just barely, he rolled over and peeked out the panes to the grounds of the manor house.
The wing his bedroom was in ran perpendicular to another, both residential, so that he could see a wall of windows to the left, one such glowing faintly.
He sat up.
Mrs. Ruskin shouldn't still be awake. It was late. She had left him a note saying that she'd had dinner early and gone to bed.
A small thrill of fear raced its way up his spine, pulling him out of bed, which he hadn't even known was possible at this point. As quietly as possible, he slipped through the door and down the hall, turning a dark corner to head to the band of light shining beneath one door.
Presently, he realized he was hearing an unusual sound, and crept forward to press his ear to the wood.
Crying. Quiet but harsh, torn from elderly lips.
Carefully, he turned the doorknob and opened it a crack.
She was laying in bed, oblivious to him. A hand was clutched around something.
Unsure of what to do, Jane backed up a step. He wasn't... this hadn't been part of the bargain. Not this. His steps got him to the wall across the hall and he slid down it to the floor. He stayed there long into the night, silent and troubled. Just listening to the kind old woman sob.