Author's Note: Awww... socks. :)
Disclaimer: I do not own the Mentalist and would not be foolish enough to claim to.
The stadium downtown wasn't hard to find and, to Jane's relief, wasn't that crowded as he slipped through the dark, tunnel-like entrance unnoticed. He passed out into the chilly winter air and paused, not being entirely sure what to expect.
It was old. The seats rose in tiers from the ground, the benches a little dilapidated, but sturdy looking enough. He took several steps up the littered stairs near him, looking for something familiar in the sea of confusion to latch onto; some focal point he'd been missing all day.
Down on the track, where several people were milling, he finally saw a swath of dark hair, swept up into a bun. Lisbon was stretching out her legs, up on one leg like a flamingo. Beside her, Van Pelt was talking to her excitedly, gesticulating as she tried stretch too and failed in her fervor. He could tell by the tilt of Lisbon's head though, that she wasn't really listening. She was looking for something too.
Maybe even someone?
Taking a chance, he raised his hand, coming further down the aisle.
She saw him.
He couldn't help but grin at the sight of her eyes getting a little wider.
Her face then split into an unmistakable smile and she reached a hand into the air in greeting.
The move was attempted nonchalance, merely acknowledging his presence, but so obviously happy to see him. It sent a thrill up his stomach into his heart- a feeling like coming home.
He might have minded if it didn't feel so... lightening. Like his cares were swept up in her, dissipating into ether.
Teresa got his attention and pointed to his left.
Turning his head, he spotted Tommy, Drew, and James all sitting on a single bench in the crowd of other people he assumed were supporting their school. At the sight of them, he felt a tightening in his chest that was suspiciously similar to shyness. Maybe trepidation.
Which was absurd, of course.
Whatever their reaction to him, he was here now. It wasn't as though he could leave, not without crushing that happy smile off of Lisbon's face. After a moment's hesitation, he tumbled his way down the rest of the steps to them, pausing near the foot of the bench to see what kind of reception he would receive and face it head on.
Teresa was worth it.
Sensing his presence, one set of bluish-green eyes turned to look upon him. "Patrick!" An excited Tommy smiled and beckoned him to sit down next to him.
Attention finally diverted from the field, Drew smiled when he saw who it was. His eyes crinkled on the sides, conveying exactly what Jane hoped to see. The kid was still looking somewhat haggard, but a lot better than he had the other day even. He was draped in a heavy blanket in addition to his coat and was leaning slightly into James's leather covered shoulder.
James, who was the one Jane was really worried about, just grunted without looking up from the track below.
Good enough.
Sidling along past a older couples knees, Jane sat down beside Tommy and gave the kid a smile for the warm reception. "Hey, Tommy."
"Reese said you were coming." The kid grinned, practically vibrating out of his seat. "She said you'd sit with us."
"If that's okay." Jane tried to catch James' eyes, but his friend was stubbornly not looking at him. He didn't quite know the motivation and couldn't tell if he was angry with him, or just embarrassed. Or even if he hadn't been at lunch because of either.
"Better you than Walter."
Jane looked over at the youngest Lisbon in surprise at the mentioned name.
"He gave me a cool toy, but he didn't like to play." Tommy wrinkled his nose. "I like you lots better."
He shook his head. The logic of a nine-year-old.
"I'm glad you're here." Drew spoke timidly, pulling his blanket tighter about his person.
Tommy nodded. "Yeah, Reese was super excited you agreed to come."
"Tommy, shut up and hold still." James griped.
Drew eyed him for a moment, before turning back and asking bluntly- "Are you her boyfriend now?"
Choking on his inhale, Jane half-coughed, half-laughed into his hand.
"Will you losers leave him alone?" James finally turned to look at them, annoyed by his little brothers, and showcased a brilliant bruise across his left cheekbone.
It made Jane's stomach bottom out, and he wanted to wince, but just managed to suppress it. He didn't want to alienate his friend any more than he already had.
The two younger Lisbon's went instantly quiet at their older brothers peeved look, but it only lasted for a moment. Tommy couldn't seem to help himself. He leaned over and whispered in Jane's ear. "She's is totally gonna win."
Looking down at the track, Jane smiled gently. "Yeah." He saw Teresa watching them. For a moment their eyes met, but she was called away as the team set up for the first run and had to turn away.
For the first time, Jane really looked at the crowd in the stands and almost whistled. There were enough people there, it wasn't hard to tell there had to be at least four schools represented. This was more than just a track meet, this was a race. A big one judging by the number of kids stretching on the grounds below. Perhaps a qualifying race? He straightened a little, clearing his throat, pushing away the sudden feeling of intimidation. It was fine. Teresa had invited him. He wasn't going to walk away from an opportunity to see her run. To be there for her in some small way.
At the white starting line in the bowl below, Lisbon hopped up and down on the red gravel, shaking out her limbs in preparation before setting up. A man on the sideline said something loudly. The line of runners rolled like a wave as each bent slightly to take up positions, with Teresa's dark hair standing out in the middle. A beat passed and a shot rang out.
Jane's heart jumped into his throat.
They were off, jetting across the track. Teresa was only third or fourth back from the front as they rounded the first bend.
On the bench, Tommy was jumping up and down, yelling loudly and cheering. Drew was clapping and whistling shrilly. Even James was watching with bated breath, hands in tense fists, lips mouthing words that looked suspiciously like 'come on'.
As for him, Jane could barely take the time to glance their way. He was too engrossed and loved watching Lisbon run too much. Loved to see her abandon everything that weighed on her for a few moments and fly over the ground like a high wind freed from a cage. Open. Visible. She was escaping. She was light.
She was so fast. More than half way done and she was already up in first place.
The runners rounded the second curve, where there was a bit of jostling for position and all the competitors put on a last burst of speed for the final furlough. Teresa ended up in second place, but she kept the position as they burst across the finish line.
Jane cheered with the rest of them.
Lisbon pattered to a halt, bending over with her hands clutching her knees to catch her breath. Unexpectedly, she touched her left hand to her head, as though it ached.
Without thinking, he half-stood, seeing her fathers hand threaded through her hair. The blood visible on her scalp.
However she straightened, shaking it off and looking up into the stands. Tommy and Drew waved, so he did as well, and she waved back, smiling. It was too far to really see her expression. Too distant to tell if she was in pain.
Either way, she followed the other racers back to the groups warming up, already stretching again.
While the other races went on in his blurry periphery, Jane didn't take his eyes off of Teresa, not even when he felt more than saw James' gaze turn on him.
Lisbon ran two more races, getting second and first respectively.
Tommy about howled when she pulled out in front on the last.
He watched her carefully the whole time, but she didn't show any more sign of hurt and he couldn't read her body language from up in the stands. It was a relief when James stood and told the boys they could go down to see her now.
The youngest Lisbon took off like a shot, jumping the steps and bounding toward the entrance into the field. Drew stood with James' hauling on his arm and followed a little more sedately. Still quickly though, obviously excited.
Jane was about to join them when he felt a hand clamp down on his shoulder and pull him back a little. A rough cheek brushed again his hair. James' breath rasped into his ear, heavy and strained, but also lowered so no one else would hear even if anyone had been close.
"Look, you're a friend, so I'll give you this warning and only this one. You listening? Hurt my sister, man, and I'll tear you apart." He seemed wholly serious. "Got it?"
Only able to nod at first because his throat had closed up with sudden, white-hot panic, Jane took a few steps away once the pressure on his shoulder was released. He looked back at the oldest Lisbon boy and caught sight of the fear in his friends eyes before they became hooded again.
James shoulders hunched up, shaking off the moment.
He tried to laugh it off a little in return. "I get it." Jane flushed a little in embarrassment while he shoved his hands in his pockets. "Hey, it's not like we're-"
"I'm not blind dude. I could tell that first day I saw you two together that you liked her." James shrugged, raising a hand in a placating manner. "You're cool, alright? I mean, she likes you too, so... I just needed you to know."
"I get it, really." Jane assured.
"She's important."
The abrupt intensity and agony in James' voice took Jane off guard and he looked his friend over more sharply, suddenly alert and on edge. There were few people about, most having already filtered away like Tommy and Drew, so he felt free to stare a bit.
The bruising on James' face was standing out on his cheek vividly with his face turned away and expression crumpled up defensively. He looked like he'd rather be punching a wall than having this conversation, but also that he had no choice in the matter. "She's... just like, everything, you know?"
Not knowing how to respond, or even if he should, Jane remained silent.
James shook his head back and forth, as though he could shake away what he was saying. "Since Mom died, she's all that's held us up. All that's been holding us together. Pop would be dead if she didn't wait on him hand and foot. Though sometimes, I really wish she wouldn't." He looked up at the sky. "Sometimes, I really wish she'd just leave him out there when he disappears for a days on end. Serve him right to die in a gutter."
Bitterness wreathed every word, but somehow, Jane would believe it more if there wasn't a undertone of that same hurt still shadowed there.
"And if she didn't have the patience to help Drew with his homework, going over it again and again with him, the dork would still be in the first grade. With his ADD and shit, he can't get through it without someone watching over him or guiding him or whatever. While Tommy-" He scoffed. "Kid only behaves when she's around. She's the only one that manages to calm him the hell down. Or get him to think before he speaks. They depend on her. They need her."
Jane wondered if they were the only ones.
"So just- just- don't screw with her. Okay?" James looked over at him questioningly, almost pleadingly.
Nodding, Jane turned his eyes on the floor, not wanting to seem too interested or too involved. He didn't want to seem eager to know this or connected to Teresa any more than James already suspected. Especially since it hurt his heart somehow with every word.
"'Kay. Uh, we should get down there. They'll come looking if we don't hurry up."
They went together, not speaking, but there was a resolve there. A contentment. As strange as it sounded, they understood one another on some level and it was enough.
When Jane saw Teresa merging with the crowd leaving the stadium, she was dressed in long athletic pants and her jean jacket. One of her arms was draped over Drew's shoulders and Tommy had a hold of her opposite hand.
Van Pelt was nearby, still talking.
Emerald eyes finally spotted him through the throng of people and a crooked smile tilted her lips to one side. "You came. Hey."
"Hey." He breathed, grinning back.
"See you tomorrow, Lis. And don't forget." Grace waved at them all and headed in the direction on the stands.
"So." Lisbon cuffed her brother on the shoulder. "Gonna congratulate me, or what?"
"Yeah, yeah. Good job." James huffed, dodging to avoid her and taking the lead into the parking lot.
"You were wonderful." Jane said sincerely.
She blushed, ducking her head to try and hide it. At the same time, her smile slipped a little and she winced.
He immediately frowned. "You okay?"
Her brief smile did nothing to assuage his worry. "Fine."
"Headache?" Jane reached out and touched her elbow.
She shrugged noncommittally. "Tommy, Drew, go on ahead and get in the car. I don't want either of you on the motorcycle today."
Both boys groaned, but did as she told them, shoving at each other a little when they got to the vehicle to see who got to sit up front.
"In the back!" Teresa called after them, watching with a half-grin as they did just as much vying for getting in the back seat first. She tilted her head, switched her eyes to him and raising one eyebrow. "Want a ride?"
Since he had no way of getting home besides the city bus, Jane nodded slowly. He was tired of walking everywhere.
"Hop it front." When he didn't immediately, she looked back at him and sighed. "Really, Jane. I'm fine."
He wanted to protest. Wanted to point out that there was nothing fine about this. However, his steep observational skills worked in his favor and he got the distinct impression that Lisbon wasn't ready to hear what he really thought. If he pushed this right now, he'd push her away too and that would help no one. So he bit his tongue and just went around to get in the old vehicle's front passenger seat.
Teresa climbed in the other side and shut the door, turning on the car and calling for seatbelts over her shoulder.
Though it wasn't directed at him really, Jane obeyed.
"So, Jane-" She asked. "Where is it that you live?"