Author's Note: Excuses, excuses.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Mentalist and would not be foolish enough to claim to.
Early morning lit up the sky a pale gray, casting twilight over every building, street, and figure that dared to walk the sidewalks. Traffic was sparse, barely a light rumbling in the background as a young man jogged across the street.
Jane looked around furtively before picking up the pay phone and dialing the number, his fingers moving mostly by route over the buttons now. He took the receiver in one hand and tapped anxiously on the top of the box casing of the telephone as the rings sounded over the line. When it was finally picked up, the still sleep-groggy voice on the other line sounded angry at being woken. For once, he really didn't care. "This is getting out of hand here."
"Paddy?" Confusion and surprise made the man's voice go up another octave. "Do you have any idea what time it is?"
"I don't care." He answered gruffly.
"What happened?"
"I just-" Looking around at the darkened street next to the convenience store, he felt as though eyes were peering at him from the shadows. "Look, I can't do this. She's just a harmless little old lady."
"Oh come on." It was scoffed at him and there was a scuffling sound. "Don't tell me you're chickening out now. You're in, just get the job done and we're set."
"Yeah, until the next time." Jane sneered back.
"You wanna go back to the way things were, huh? Want to get us both killed?"
Jane hesitated. "I'm not gonna hurt her."
"Look, kid, we're not. I mean, come on. So we're giving her someone to spend some time with, how is that hurting her? It's not like she's got anybody else."
"I don't think I can-"
"You don't have a choice." Was growled at him. "You think this is some kind of picnic? Some kind of vacation? Our asses are on the line here. You don't pull your weight, we both go down and I can tell you right now, I'll be damned if I'm gonna let your spoiled little conscience do that to me. Now quit whining, pull yourself together, and finish the con." A click followed and a dial tone came after that.
Jane grimaced and pulled the thing from his ear to glare at it, as though it would send the message along. Anger flashed through him hotly, but he clenched his teeth hard to keep from shouting out in frustration.
Damn him. Damn them both.
He made to slam the receiver down, but stopped himself again, knuckles turning white with the effort. If he wasn't careful, he was going to crack the thing in half. Hanging his head, he let out a slow breath to calm the fire burning in his chest like a branding iron. He managed to hang the phone up far more gently than he felt like doing and leaned against the box it was housed in, trying to get himself back under strict control. He couldn't afford to lose it now. Not with so much as stake.
"Hey- new guy!"
He started and turned.
Summer, hair now an almost fluorescent blue, was gazing at him curiously from where she stood in the middle of the abandoned street. "Jane, right?"
"Hey Summer." He croaked. Not impressive at all, but the best he could do right now.
"You alright?" She slowly moved up onto the sidewalk and crossed her arms in front of her, now seeming a little concerned.
Trying to push down his own emotions, Jane shrugged and nodded halfheartedly.
"It's okay if you're not, you know."
He looked up at her sharply, but she just gave him a slightly self-deprecating little smile.
"It happens."
"I-" His words stopped. He realized he didn't really know how to respond.
"Kimball likes to pretend it's not true, but- not everyone has to be okay all the time. Sometimes you have to be not alright for anything to change."
Kimball? Who was Kimball? He blinked at her. "That's fairly deep-"
"For a girl like me?" She grinned at him saucily.
His lips lifted involuntarily in return. "For anyone."
She blushed a little and shrugged. "I can be surprising as hell when I feel like it."
"I've no doubt." He laughed.
Abruptly, her eyes met his and there was a smug knowing there. Something about them practically sparked with mischief. "You can be too, apparently." She put her hands behind her back and sidled closer to him. "I've noticed you hanging out with Lis a lot. Talking, laughing- making googly eyes at each other."
"O-oh." Suddenly feeling embarrassed, he shoved his hands in his pockets and shuffled his feet. "Yeah? You noticed, huh?" He meant to sound as if her suspicions didn't phase him, that he held them in contempt. His attempt to be nonchalant and evasive didn't appear to be effective.
She just smirked. "Oh yes. I did warn you, you know, that she'd take your heart."
"As I recall, you said she'd break it." He chided.
She shrugged again. "Have to have it to break it."
That gave him pause, however, it was only a slight one before he whispered. "So be it." It was the closest he'd come to saying the true depth of his feelings aloud and it sent a buzz of fear through his chest. When he really thought about it though, he realized, he meant it. He'd die of a heart shattered if it meant he belonged to Lisbon. The whole thing made him have to swallow hard, trying to tuck his feelings back in their box.
Her smile turned up a notch, making him see clearly that she really was a pretty girl when she smiled. When she was happy. "Now that's what I like to hear."
Clearing his throat, he smirked. "Guess it's lucky that I'm not really one to heed warnings or rules."
Looking him up and down slowly, she nodded. "Yeah, it is. Lis needs someone like that. It'd be good for her. Honestly, I never would have thought it was possible to see her open up to anybody like she's been with you. Not after... everything." Summer looked down.
He briefly wondered what 'everything' was, but before he could ask, a red, low-riding car turned into the street and then pulled up to the curb near them.
Summer smiled and walked toward it.
Probably for the best. This girl didn't seem like the sort to blab or confide in people and for some odd reason, he still wanted more to hear it from Lisbon's lips than anyone elses. Probably because it would mean she trusted him.
Climbing out of the car and sticking his head up, Cho leaned toward them over the hood. "Hey." This was directed at Jane. "You ready, Summer?"
"Yeah-huh." She answered brightly, opening the door, but before getting in, she spun back to Jane. "You want a ride to school?"
Jane eyed Cho, uncertain about being invited along without the stone's say so.
Seeing this, Summer just grinned. "Oh Kimball doesn't mind, do you Kimball?" It was more a statement than a question.
Ah. Kimball Cho- of course. He'd forgotten he didn't really know Cho's first name. Come to think of it, he didn't know Summer's other either. That would have to be remedied sometime soon. Not right at the moment, but he couldn't have another debacle like James and Teresa being siblings without him realizing again.
Over the top of the car, Cho eyed Jane appraisingly. He tilted his head. "Lisbon's?"
"Yep." Summer answered immediately, giving Jane a pleased, smug smile.
He wasn't sure whether to be insulted or complimented. Or both.
"Yeah, alright." Cho slid back into the front seat without further comment.
Opening up the passenger door and leaning her seat forward so he could squeeze inside, Summer then looked back at his immobile form. "Coming?"
It only took a moment for Jane to nod. "Uh, sure." It was early, but better than walking the whole way anyway. He climbed in.
She righted her seat, sat, and they were off. They sped away from downtown, leaving the fumes of increased traffic behind them quickly and moving on into more residential areas.
Jane occupied himself by peering out the window up at the gloomy sky. Apparently it wasn't going to be a very bright day today, because the twilight seemed to be lingering with the pale grayish blue of the sky. At least it would match his mood.
Summer had been right, he wasn't okay. There was nothing that was going to get the sound of Mrs. Ruskin's sobs out of his ears. He doubted even Teresa's voice would be able to do that. Today at least.
It wasn't till after quite a while of silent travel that Summer turned in her seat to look at him. From somewhere- he hadn't seen where- she had gotten one of the suckers she customarily had in her mouth and pulled it out so she could talk to him. "So, Jane... you gonna ask Lis out on a date?"
"Summer." Cho deadpanned at her.
She stuck her tongue out at him briefly.
Jane licked his lips and tried to chuckle. It came out as something of a cough.
"Ooh, cat got your tongue?" She teased, eyes practically lighting up with his reaction.
"Summer. Don't." Cho warned.
"What?" She pouted right back.
The guy looked at Jane in his rear-view mirror briefly before returning his eyes back to the road. "You know what. Lisbon finds out you pressured him, she's not gonna be happy."
"Oh-" She blew a raspberry at him. "Let her be then. That stick in the mud can do whatever she likes. Just because you owe her your 'life and loyalty' or whatever, doesn't mean I have to do what she says. Sometimes people need a little pressure to move things along." Her eyes and grin turned back toward Jane. "So?"
It was a struggle to keep his blush to just his cheeks. "I-I don't know. I'm a little swamped right now, so..." He rubbed at the back of his neck under her stare, but brightened as he remembered- "I did ask her to a kind of party last night though. We were there past dark." Did that count? He hadn't thought so at the time, he'd just wanted to spend more time with Teresa.
It startled him out of his reflection when Summer suddenly made an odd squeal and laughed. "Oh my gosh, seriously? You got Lisbon to leave that dismal little house on a weekday?" She turned herself fully around so she was kneeling on her seat, wrapped her arms around the headrest and gave him a giddy look as she rested her chin on them. "How'd you manage that without her old man blowing a gasket?"
Slightly amused till now, Jane's blood suddenly went cold. It stole through his limbs and went deep into his heart, where it stopped his breathing and made him feel sick. Crap, he hadn't thought of that! He'd just assumed that Lisbon's father would be out most of the evening, probably drinking or something.
"Summer." Cho growled at his girlfriend.
"What?! I didn't say a thing."
"That thing you didn't say is gonna get your ass kicked." He warned. "And there's no way in hell I'm gonna step in if it does."
She pouted again, but turned herself back around in her seat. A harrumph left her as she settled back and put her foot up on the dash, popping her sucker back in her mouth, decidedly not talking to either of them anymore.
Jane barely noticed. He couldn't. In the back of Cho's car, he was almost having a panic attack. Why hadn't he thought of Teresa's father? How could he have been so stupid? What if the man hadn't been gone- but home- and getting angrier and angrier the later Teresa was out? Dammit! He shouldn't have let them stay so late!
"We're here." Cho said, parking the car in the lot at the back of the school.
Summer got out.
As he exited the vehicle from behind Summer's seat, Jane wobbled. His limbs felt like jello and yet strangely stiff at the same time, like he was a rubber tree.
"Hey." Cho, who had come around the car for Summer, steadied him. "What's wrong?"
"N-Nothing. Stood up too fast."
"Ha! He's weak in the knee's for her!" Summer teased, throwing her arm around Jane's neck and practically yanking him toward the school with her.
Because she was shorter than he was, it bent him over at an awkward angle. He managed to keep his feet under him, but just barely. Closing his eyes for a moment, Jane breathed slowly in through his nose and tried to smile. This was ridiculous. He needed to calm down. To concentrate.
This was a good thing. It meant Summer had accepted him and he knew, that was an important step.
Besides, there was nothing to panic about. He'd just double-check with Lisbon in class.
Summer didn't let him go till they'd gotten to their class, releasing him abruptly when they were about to pass the threshold.
Feeling just a little dizzy, he shook his head out and straightened his clothes.
"She likes you."
The voice startled him, bringing him around to look at Cho behind him.
"Summer likes everybody, but Lisbon doesn't." The guy peered at him.
Just the look made Jane feel menaced.
"Don't screw it up." He brushed past. "You hurt her, I'm gonna have to kill ya."
Watching Cho go inside, Jane believed him.