Welcome to Season 7. This is the sequel to After The Storm (Season 6), but can be read pretty well on its own, as I'll recap any important details as we go.
After rekindling their working relationship and friendship, and working through various issues and unrequitements, Jane and Lisbon are finally together. There was no Pike arc, no Haibach-deaths arc, no human trafficking arc, (yet, they'll all get addressed in due course). There seems to be more to Visualize than meets the eye, but Jane's main focus is his new relationship with Lisbon.
Each chapter will read like an episode. But essentially, this is a Jisbon fic. So whilst there will be plenty of case semantics, the focus will be on their interactions and their evolving relationship, as well as straightening canon frustrations and filling plot holes.
Comments always inspire me to keep writing and are always appreciated, please let me know what you think.
This chapter: A fluffy case in more than one way. Inspired by the many references to Jane's Golden Retriever energy vs Lisbon's Black Cat energy on the socials.
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It had been nice.
They'd been together for a couple weeks. Finally. After all this time. She was still insistent on keeping it a secret at work, not only out of fear that they'd get treated differently and to preserve her professional reputation, but wanting to wrap her head around it first. However, it would seem that people were far more cluey than she realised. Sometimes she forgot that she worked with a room of detectives, those of which the country's national security hinged on their powers of observation and intuition.
And it was wonderful. Sure, they were far from the world's most well-adjusted people and both had their fair share of past demons to slay. But they had such a deep mutual respect for each other and such history that seemed to make empathetic understanding a cinch.
Blood splatter upon a retaining wall in a meticulously manicured garden was the first thing to meet their sight in the backyard of this suburban Austin home. Behind it, the body of its sole resident Neil Luscombe, bludgeoned to the head, lying in a pool of blood.
But they weren't alone in the yard. A cautious distance from the body upon the green lawn lay a somber golden retriever. Well-groomed, fur all fluffed and golden, big black eyes and a big, black wet nose, and a distinct red collar around his neck. He lay ever so loyally, head upon his paws, watching and waiting. Until anyone took a step too close to the body. The ME trying to do simply their job would cause Kujo to appear, the seemingly friendly and cuddly fluffy animal turning into a fear-inducing, canine-bearing aggressor with a bark and a snarl that could induce nightmares.
He'd left the crime scene in a stalemate. Lots of people standing around, unable to do their jobs. Lookie-loos peering in from the front fence a distance away, trying to gain any surmountable gossip from what they could see from behind the yellow tape.
Lisbon stood with Cho, her tidy linen blouse tucked into her jet-black pencil skirt that sat knee-length, hands tucked into her blazer pockets. She wasn't normally one to trade her slacks for a business skirt, but it seemed to be the norm of the movers and shakers within FBI headquarters. There were far more women in the FBI than there ever were back in California in the CBI. She never thought much of an advancement in her career was ever going to be possible after the CBI and Blake Association debacle, but here she was, a Federal Agent. An opportunity she was going to make sure she made the most of, so she thought she'd try and look the part.
Plus, there was something about discretely dating Jane that opened up her self-confidence and the courage to try something new. She just hoped there'd be no perp chasing today.
The familiar mop of blonde curls ambled into their backyard crime scene, seemingly without a care in the world. She'd only just said goodbye to him last this morning, but she could feel her heart try to leap at his presence. She scolded the corners of her mouth for curling and tried her best to put on her professional face.
"You're late," Lisbon chastising a little harder than necessary to mask her happiness to see him.
"Or you're early," Jane retorted.
"Death waits for no-one," Lisbon mused as she crossed her arms.
"That's deep," said Cho.
"Oh, looks like we have a very good boy here," Jane exclaimed, noticing the Golden Retriever laying on the grass.
"Jane, I wouldn't do that if I were you," Lisbon warned. "He's not exactly friendly."
"The victim's dog," stated Cho. "We're waiting on animal control. He won't let anyone near the body."
"Oh nonsense, that face?" Jane pointed at the dog incredulously while looking back to his peers.
Lisbon gave a 'Don't say I didn't tell you so' shrug.
Jane approached the dog, eyes ablaze, picking up on any and all the dog was giving off. He sat next to him on the grass. The dog sat up too. Jane smiled, allowing the dog to give him a bit of a sniff, before delving in for generous pats behind the ears. The dog leaned into it enthusiastically.
"See? Perfectly friendly!" Jane bragged. He ran his finger around his red collar, finding the small silver disc hanging off the middle. 'Maverick' the tag read, with a phone number underneath.
"My new friend, Maverick," Jane proclaimed proudly, tousling the fur around his collar.
"He seems to be happy with Jane," Cho said cautiously, "maybe we should see if we can get the ME in any closer." He nodded in their direction and the pair of them edged toward the body.
Maverick sprung to all fours, snarling and gnashing his teeth with a low, rumbling warning growl, transforming into something quite fearful. His growling crescendoed as he bore his teeth, looking ready to attack. Even Jane shuffled away a touch, as the ME and Cho slowly backed away from the body.
When they reached a safe distance, Maverick flopped back onto the floor again, as timid as can be, a sad, forlorn look upon his face.
"Not so friendly now," Lisbon pointed out.
"Yeah, we're waiting on animal control," Cho stated, turning to a tech, "Can you call them again, see what the hold-up is?"
Jane resumed his position on the grass next to Maverick, stroking his fur calmly.
"Don't be silly. You don't need animal control. And he doesn't deserve that. What has he done?"
"Try to attack us any time we get near the body," Cho stated the obvious.
"'The body…' you say it so coldly. This was his owner, his family, likely his whole life," Jane countered.
Jane whistled for the dog to sit up, scratched him gently by the ears, looking at his face thoughtfully, talking to him quietly, so only he could hear.
"What are you, dog whisperer now?" Lisbon asked, amused.
"You guys have been treating him like an animal—"
"Because he is," Cho interjected.
"—instead of a grieving family member. Which he is. Would you be snapping at a widow to get away from her dead husband?" Jane questioned. Cho and Lisbon exchanged glances.
"Give me a minute," Jane said, hopping up off the grass, and striding with purpose into the house. He emerged shortly after wearing an overcoat, a packet of treats in one and, a leash in the other.
"Now you're stealing clothes from the victim?" Cho asked.
"This?" Jane held open a side of the jacket. "No, not really my speed. Just thought the comforting smell of familiarity would help."
He knelt by Maverick and offered him a treat from the bag. He lapped it up eagerly and wagged his tail.
"Bribing him with treats. Smart," Lisbon said proudly.
"No, gaining his trust," Jane smiled, looping the leash around his collar. "It's amazing where a bit of trust can get you."
"Speaking from experience?" Cho quipped.
Jane led Maverick gently around the group by the leash, allowing him to sniff everyone up and down, encouraging everyone to give him a treat and pet his head. The dog seemed excited to be on a leash, thinking a walk was due, and was more than happy to have all the scratches, pets, and treats from everyone. With a nod and Jane firmly holding the lead, the ME team attempted to approach the body again. Maverick looked on with intent curiosity but remained calm. Cho looked impressed.
"What will happen to him?" Jane asked, rubbing Maverick behind the ear.
"Animal control is severely backed up, and no matter how we spin it, a golden retriever in his own backyard isn't moving too high up on their priority list."
"Not even with the murder investigation and our shiny badges?" Lisbon asked.
"No. PD will hang onto him until we can contact next of kin," Cho explained.
"I don't think he's going to stay so agreeable if you take the body-," she caught Jane's line of sight and faltered "—his owner away from him."
"This is true," Jane agreed.
"Then what do we do?"
"Then take him with you," Jane shrugged. "He's calmer now. He has a leash, treats."
They exchanged glances and mild nods around the group.
"Out-of-the-box problems require out-of-the-box solutions," Jane tapped his nose knowingly, passing the leash and treats to a uniformed officer, shrugging off the overcoat and looping it around his shoulder.
"We'll let forensics do their thing. We'll head back to the office for the AM briefing and go from there," Cho instructed his team, heading off to speak with their forensics team.
Jane leaned in over Lisbon's shoulder.
"You think they suspect anything?" she asked, a slight nervous warble in her voice.
"About what?"
"About, you know," she looked around cautiously, "about us."
"Naturally. Everyone knows," Jane replied nonchalantly.
She shot him a glance of admonishment, thinking he was teasingly mocking her, but not realising the degree of truth to his statement. Especially when it came to Cho.
"Maybe if you weren't so cheerful…"
"Heh," he replied nonchalantly. "I'm not the one wearing a skirt to work for the first time in a decade. Picked a great time to mix things up."
She furrowed her brow and gave him a shady look.
"What I'm wearing is hardly relevant."
He smiled and relented. "Well, to be frank, I think it's all going very well."
She exhaled through her nose. "I think so too," she said with a soft smile.
"Meet you back at the office?"
"Yeah"
He spun on his heel and walked back toward his Citroen.
"What's that in your pocket?" he called over his shoulder.
With a crinkled brow, she dug her hands into her pockets, not aware that he had placed anything in them. Sure enough, she pulled out a piece of origami, and an intricate swan. Her face softened at the memory of the origami frog on her desk as a peace offering that surprised her and made her smile all those years ago.
She looked back at him with the most soulful of smiles, and was happy to find him already looking back and mirroring her amour. She looked back at the delicately crafted swan in her grasp. She looked around to make sure no-one saw and safely tucked it back into her pocket.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The morning briefing was a whole bunch of the usual yahoo and served mostly as merely background noise as Jane enjoyed his second cup of tea for the day.
Their latest victim, Neil Luscombe, accountant and chess enthusiast, seemed to be as quiet and socially awkward as they come. Nothing, not even a speeding fine on his record. No family apart from a sister and nephews interstate. Vice president of Austin's premier chess club.
Jane was mildly impressed Wylie was able to dig up so much on him in such little time, but wasn't surprised all the same. Besides nothing that they had outlined in the briefing went beyond what Jane had already put together from a quick poke around the house. Everything was neat, ordered, by the book. He assumed he was the type of person that always followed the directions on the bottle, and always adhered to the suggested serving sizes. Meticulous, compliant, and precise, the only source of mayhem and love in his life coming from the combination of golden fur and slobber that was Maverick.
A second cup of tea later, they were able to get to work. Jane and Lisbon tasked with the 45 minute drive out of Austin to the accounting firm where the victim worked a town over. Cho and Vega to the Austin chess club. Wylie obligingly stuck behind his desk, reviewing and filing evidence from the crime scene and the canvassing from the uniformed officers.
Lisbon sat behind the wheel of the bureau issued non-descript SUV. Naturally, she was the one driving, Jane was quite reckless and drove too fast, although he'd argue that point. They cruised down the I-35, Jane deep in thought, his eyes glued on Lisbon.
She rambled some points about the case. Anomalies, suspicions, things she didn't quite understand. Jane murmured along in agreement, not really taking in anything she was saying, eyes fixated, mind somewhere else.
"Jane, are you even listening?" she finally snapped.
"Huh, what. Yes, of course," he said, his reverie interrupted.
"Yeah, of course you are," she said with sarcastic derision. "What's the matter?"
Jane paused a beat. "It's very distracting, you know," he hummed.
"What is?" she asked, surprised.
He ran a circle over her bare knee with his index finger playfully.
She yanked down her skirt with one hand in rebuttal, giving him a smirking, dirty look.
"It's a business suit," she flustered. "Business. A lot of the women wear them around the office."
"I actually don't ever think I've seen you in a skirt before," he said, finger crooked on the edge of his lip as he tilted his head in thought, his eyes still boring into her knee.
"Nonsense, you've seen me in a dress many times."
"But not at work"
"I'm pretty sure undercover still counts as work"
"Mmmm," he mumbled in approving thought, not thoroughly convinced.
"And you've seen me in far, far less than this on more than one occasion," she bluntly pointed out the obvious.
"This is also true," he lazily agreed, his mind still seemingly miles away as he remained fixated on her knee. He reached out and traced it with his index finger once more. She didn't bat him away.
The circles turned into strokes as his palm took over. He edged his hand a little further up her leg torturously slowly, stopping marginally under hemline. He circled the new found flesh before softly pressing his fingernail in and drawing it back to her knee. Her breath hitched raggedly.
He moved his hand up again, just as slowly, just as torturously, but edging further than he had stopped before. Further and further up her inner thigh his wandering hand ventured. Slowly. Tracing soft circles with the pads of his fingers as Lisbon desperately tried to keep focused on the road.
Dangerously further his hand slid until he reached the point where Lisbon knew she wouldn't be able to control herself if he went any further.
She took a deep breath to steady her ragged breathing and gulped, realising how dry her mouth had become.
"Jane, we're working," she said breathily.
"Yes, we are," he purred.
"We'll crash the car."
"You're the one driving. I suggest you focus better."
She growled into her throat. "Jane, we've got work to do. We're on our way to conducting interviews…"
"Which is still all going to be there when we get there, even if we get a little distracted," he reasoned, his fingers still circling lazily.
"That is not appropriate or professional"
"I won't tell if you won't"
"Jane! We are working. We have a murder to solve," she flustered. "Stop it," she said a little more firmly.
"Fine, have it your way," he relented withdrawing his hands back to his lap and staring out the window. "I understand."
He stared out the window for a beat. "Didn't realise you were so boring."
"I am not boring. Just a responsible adult," she said with a telling finger. "God knows one of us has to be."
"Eh, you got admit... you are a little bit. All by the book, and no fun."
"I can be fun"
"Of course you can darling," he said condescendingly.
"Why do you say it like that? I am fun."
"Fun like doing your taxes"
"Excuse me?"
"You don't need to get so worked up about it. It's one of the reasons why I love you. Steadfast. Reliable. Predictable."
"Really? You always know what I'm going to do, huh?"
"Mostly"
"One of these days, I might surprise you"
"Sure you will," the condescending tone continuing. "And I look forward to it."
She shot him a dirty look. The annoyance and frustration oozing from her glare fuelling his amusement.
She veered off the road aggressively, causing Jane to cry out to a deity he didn't believe in. She brought the car to an abrupt halt behind a cluster of trees and bushes just off the highway.
"What on earth are you doing?" Jane asked with amused curiosity.
"What? You don't know?" she asked, voice thick with sarcasm. "Thought I was predictable?"
He gave her a coy look.
"Not so predictable now, am I?" she sneered determinedly.
He raised his eyebrows. She bit her bottom lip, a glint of mischievousness in her eye.
She hitched her skirt up to mid-thigh to allow her legs more dexterity and hoisted herself over the center console, straddling Jane's lap in one swift motion. Her swift nimbleness surprising herself as much as it impressed Jane.
"Well, this is different," Jane said with a grin.
With a diffident smirk, her strong fingers took command of the curls at the base of his neck, toying with them gently before pulling him eagerly towards her. Her mouth met his forcefully, thirsting for the reckless forbidden, plunging her tongue without a second thought into his mouth full of passion and fury.
He fumbled down the side of his seat, quickly finding the adjustment lever. With a crank, the seat jerked backward a foot suddenly. She squealed as she fell onto his chest unexpectedly. They both cackled together as she steadied herself. Button by button she undid his shirt, her mouth hungry for more and more of him. Her black skirt hiked up so high, it was more akin to a belt. He tugged at her shirt to untuck it, creeping his hands onto the bare flesh under her shirt while he returned her needy kiss.
The spontaneity, the illicit forbidden of the work car and their public, although secluded surroundings, the atypical nature of her actions, lit her body completely ablaze and heightened her senses beyond anything she'd ever experienced. It was new territory for her, Jane reliable for bringing out a rarely seen, rule-bending, borderline rebellious side of her. Jane was reliable for making her feel alive. Her heart felt like it was about to explode, her core on fire.
She trailed her kisses to his neck, hitting that spot at the crook that always got the reaction she wanted, as he exhaled raggedly with a grumble. The helpless layers of fabric between them unable to disguise how hard he was beneath her. His shirt completely unbuttoned, she slid her hand to his belt buckle and …
Tap Tap Tap
The rapping at the passenger window diverted their attention from each other, freaking them out completely. The sight of a highway patrolman in his broad beige hat made Lisbon jump out of her skin. She squealed, whacking her head on the ceiling of the car, as she flew off of Jane and sat back on her own seat, without her previous grace and suavity, matching the deftness of a baby elephant.
The officer motioned for Jane to wind the window down, to which he complied.
"Morning officer," Jane asserted innocently, returning his seat to the upright position, trying to angle his legs in such a manner that the awkwardness in his pants wasn't so obvious.
"Good morning indeed," the officer drawled back, peering over his glasses at the pair of them, surveying the scene.
There was a highly strung, awkward silence.
The way he ogled her up and down was enough to make her stomach churn and the taste of bile blister the back of her throat as she furiously pulled her skirt back down to her knees.
"Aren't you a little old to be necking?" he asked.
"There's an age limit on that?" Jane questioned.
"Official federal business," Jane said with a curt nod. "So if you don't mind…'
"What kind of federal business?"
"Uh, I can't tell you that. It's classified."
"Sure doesn't look like official business."
"All classified. All part of the mission. Top secret, very complex."
"Yeah. You're Donnie Brasco, must make me John McClane."
"Nice!" Jane agreed. "So what does that make her?" he asked with a cheeky smile, pointing at Lisbon, who didn't share in an iota of his amusement.
"You don't exactly look like Feds"
Lisbon flashed her badge and begrudgingly announced herself. "Agent Teresa Lisbon, FBI. This is Patrick Jane, consultant."
"Consulting, hey?"
"Precisely," Jane said with a wink. "So, if you don't mind. We have work to do."
"If that's how the FBI goes about its business, I'm working for the wrong agency."
Lisbon wished the seat would open up and swallow her whole.
"So what kind of official federal business involves… that?"
"Uh, I told you. We can't share that. It's classified. Way above your clearance."
"Would you rather I rang the bureau to verify your story?"
"That won't be necessary," Lisbon interrupted frantically.
"Like they'd tell a state trooper anything," Jane looked at Lisbon, incredulously that she'd be daft enough to entertain his bluff.
"If you don't mind officer, we'll just be on our way. Then we both can get on with our day," she said ignoring Jane, a hint of desperation in her voice as she wanted to get out of the situation before Jane could be Jane and escalate it into something uglier.
"Right. And your official federal business," he emphasised with air quotes.
Lisbon started the engine.
"Just a friendly suggestion," the officer leaned on the edge of the window cavity. "Maybe next time you could look into somewhere more private, not on state land. Maybe get a room? There are a few cheap motels around here. Surely the Feds pay well enough for y'all to afford one of those."
"Thanks. Have a good day officer," Lisbon said in a voice higher than Jane had ever heard before. The officer stepped back and gave them a pithy wave. She madly put the car into drive, resisting the urge to spin the wheels as they sped off. The last thing she needed was for the officer to follow and track them down for a traffic violation.
"Just when I thought I'd seen all the shades your cheeks could go, there's a shade darker," Jane chortled.
"You think this is funny, don't you?"
"A little," he admitted.
"I could kill you with my bare hands"
"Wouldn't be the first time"
Her eyes narrowed as she looked deep in thought. "You…" she began with a light growl beneath her breath.
"Here we go," Jane whispered to himself.
"You tricked me into doing that, didn't you?"
"I didn't do anything of the sort. You told me to stop, and I stopped. You're the one who jumped me!"
She shook her head. "I don't know why I continue to allow myself to be manipulated by you. You know exactly which buttons to push"
"I seem to remember you not minding me knowing exactly which buttons to push last night"
A new wave of flush hit her cheeks.
"Never. Never ever in my life, have ever been so embarrassed…"
"Really? Never? Huh"
Lisbon cringed hard, her whole body leaning into it.
"Oh relax Lisbon. Put it this way. We certainly brought some excitement to his mundane day. Brought a smirk to his face, gave him a story to tell. He's not going to remember who you are."
"Always know how to find that silver lining, don't you?"
"God knows one of us has to, right?"
She rolled her eyes.
They pulled into the parking lot of Account Solutions, Lisbon taking the extra time to straighten out her outfit in the reflection of the car window before heading in. Jane ogled her shamelessly.
"Don't look at me like that," she scolded.
"Like what!?"
"Don't act so innocent. I know exactly what you're thinking."
"Oh are you the mind reader now?"
"In this instance. Yes."
He chuckled. "Well after your little performance in the car, can you blame me? How am I supposed to focus for the rest of the day?"
"I could just drop you back at the office and do this without you"
"And where's the fun in that?"
"If you keep poking about fun, I might have to shoot you"
"Now we wouldn't want that, would we?"
"No, but not a court in the land would convict me."
"Agent Lisbon, FBI. This is Patrick Jane," she introduced themselves to the receptionist as they walked in the front door of the dingy accounting firm. "We need to talk to whoever's in charge around here."
And smack bang they were back into work mode. Lisbon tried her very hardest to repress the memories of moments earlier. Not just the sheer embarrassment, but the erotic high. She felt jittery from the endorphin and adrenalin rollercoaster.
And an accountant's office was the perfect place for that. She sat across the table from a man in a brown and beige suit asking her normal questions about what their victim did exactly for the company, Jane pacing the room observing the accolades on the walls, the books, and pictures upon the shelves, making smart-ass remarks when he saw fit. Lisbon took her notes conscientiously.
They examined the victim's workstation, a picture of Maverick being in a place of prominence on a desk absent from any other evidence of family. Files and files a-plenty, but nothing arousing suspicion or suggesting motive. Lisbon organised for client details to be emailed to Wylie, and took down information about all his appointments on the day of his demise.
As they left the building, Lisbon spoke on the phone to Cho, Jane trailing her at her elbow, hands stuffed in his pockets.
"Cho wants us to drop into the ME on our way back," she said to him after she hung up the phone. "They're having trouble with the dog and animal control is still nowhere to be heard of. They want your dog whisperer skills."
"Ah. Okay. Well good to know my in-demand skill set is expanding."
"Psychic, Dog-Whisperer, Village Idiot," Lisbon teased.
Jane shrugged it off. "Every village needs one. And if I'm the Village Idiot, that honestly says a lot about you and your life choices," he rebuked flicking his finger between the two of them, his nose scrunched up like he'd smelt something bad.
She rolled her eyes and they swapped a smile. "Just get in the car," she ordered with a chortle.
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"Hey there buddy boy!" Jane exclaimed as they entered the morgue, hop-stepping across the room to pat his new friend.
"What seems to be the problem," business-mode Lisbon asked.
"The damn dog won't let me do my damn job, that's the problem. And your mob want answers already," the ME answered, hands on hips.
"He's on a leash, why don't you just take him into another room?"
"You don't think we've tried that?" the uniform holding Maverick's leash asked irately.
"Try to take him out the room, he snarls. He was fine with my prelims, but come at him with my saw, he snarls."
"And I don't exactly want to get bitten today," the uniform chimed in.
"A muzzle or something like that won't work?" Lisbon asked.
The ME and the uniform exchanged looks. "We didn't think of that," he mumbled.
"Thought it might just be easier to get Dog Whisperer in here," the ME nodded at Jane.
"Oh he doesn't need a muzzle, this ole goofball," Jane said as he played with Maverick.
"Lord help me, this is supposed to be a medical examination room," the ME looked at the dog and Jane in contempt.
"Don't worry," Jane said with a charming grin. "He's not going to complain." He nodded at the body on the slab.
"Maybe I can try and take him for a walk? Walks are good for depression," Jane shrugged knowingly.
"The dog's depressed now?"
"Wouldn't you be if your closest and only family member was killed in front of you?"
"Well when you put it that way."
"Hmph, good luck taking him anywhere away from this body," the uniform said indignantly.
Jane held out his hand with a 'Can I?' glance.
The uniform handed him the lead. Jane crouched down to the dog's eye-level, lavishing him with scratches and pets, whispering things only the pair of them could hear.
"That's some consultant you have there," the ME uttered at Lisbon with a clack of her tongue.
"He's a pistol," Lisbon said, looking at Jane with admiration, as he made his way down the hallway, dog happily in tow.
"What have you found out so far?" Lisbon asked the ME.
"From first inspection, we have the classic signs of defensive marks. He fought with his assailant. I was able to retrieve DNA from under his fingernails, but there's been no match on CODIS. Cause of death seems to be blunt force trauma to the right parietal here on the side, but the weapon doesn't seem to be your run-of-the-mill bat or tool, something narrow with hard edges."
"Great, thanks," Lisbon replied. "We'll try and take the dog with us. Allow you to finish your work."
"Thanks," the ME replied, starting up her saw, as Lisbon went to hunt down her consultant and his new friend.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The drive back was almost comical. Jane opting to sit in the backseat with Maverick. Every time she looked into her rear view mirror she was met with a whole lot of golden curls and goofy grins.
When they got back to HQ, Jane disappeared for the day with the dog. It was hard to tell who was more excited by the idea of an afternoon of frolicking - Jane or Maverick.
From there, they had a long afternoon of investigations. Murder weapons to speculate. Crime scenes to re-examine. With Cho, Wylie and Vega, they made an ultra-efficient team, skilled and methodical. But the answers didn't seem to pop out like they did when Jane was around. Cho tried calling Jane a few times throughout the afternoon for his opinion, but to no avail. The phone ringing out to voicemail each time.
They worked into the evening searching for answers, with varying degrees of success.
It was close to 10pm when she'd finally made it home.
They'd found the murder weapon. A stray paver from the construction of the neighbour's new driveway unceremoniously returned back to the unsuspecting pile and was laid by the builders later that day. They'd brought the neighbours in for questioning, bearing no fruit, given their solid alibi for the previous night, as they'd just arrived back in town that afternoon. However, motion-activated dashcam footage from their parked car showed the back of a man of about 6"1 dropping off the paver and walking off with a noticeable limp. There was no glimpse of his face, but certainly a damning piece of evidence to narrow down their suspect pool.
She flipped her house keys around her finger before inserting the key into the lock. From the second she swung open the front door, she could tell something was off, something wasn't quite right. Call it a gut feeling from decades of being a detective if you will.
Her heart thumped a little harder. She closed the door cautiously and quietly, her eyes narrowed in concern as she listened carefully for any clues to confirm her suspicions. There was a breeze through her living area, and the light illuminating her kitchen was greater than what the window normally provided. Her back door must be open.
Senses into overdrive, she drew her gun and pointed it in front of her, moving cautiously towards the kitchen. She could hear movement, a scuffling, a scratching. An intruder? A bitter ex-convict seeking retribution? Something Visualize related? The possibilities were endless in her line of work and she was trained and prepared for any of it.
Footsteps accompanied the scratchy scuffling and grew louder. Someone was definitely inside the apartment and approaching her now. She cocked her weapon.
"Who's there? Show yourself," she yelled, in the most commanding voice she could muster.
In a flash, a jumble of golden fur appeared from the kitchen, jumping on the couch, then off again, before coming bounding towards her. Her eyes widened. The dog did an excited lap around her before returning to the entrance of the room, sitting at the feet of the newly emerged consultant.
"Hey Lisbon, you're home!" Jane beamed.
"Dammit Jane! I could have shot you! And the dog!" she indicated frustratingly, her weapon still lazily in her wrist.
"Why would you do that?" he asked feigning confusion. "And can you put that thing away? Please," he asked, his discomfort with her firearm pronounced.
She holstered her weapon.
"Sorry we didn't hear you come in, just took Maverick out back to uh, relieve himself," he explained, like it was totally normal for both of them to be there.
"What are you doing here?!" she asked, frustrations spurting like fireworks. "How'd you get in here anyway?"
"You left the door unlocked?" he tried.
"No, no I didn't"
"Your spare key you keep hidden?" he tried again.
"Nice try, I don't have one," she scolded. "You picked my lock, didn't you?"
"That does seem like the logical conclusion, doesn't it?" he admitted, his mind scanning for a better excuse.
"You broke into my home!"
"Well, when you put it like that…"
She grumbled and gave him a flat look. "Why are you here, Jane?"
"Can't a man in love come to see his girlfriend?"
Her flat look intensified.
He sighed with a humoured grin. "They don't allow pets at my motel," he offered in explanation.
"What makes you think I'll allow pets here?"
"You're not a motel"
"Precisely, I'm not into taking into strays… Well, apart from you I suppose," she added looking down her nose at him with a smirk.
"Oh come on? Like you could refuse this face?" Jane knelt by Maverick and rubbed behind his ears with enthusiasm.
"He is pretty cute, isn't he?" she admitted, scrunching up her nose.
Both Jane and the dog looked back at her. Blonde locks good enough to stroke, big soft round puppy dog eyes that could tug at heartstrings without words, she could've sworn the dog had a matching Jane-smile as well, if that were even possible. They gave off the same impish, fun-loving energy. She looked at the pair of them and shook her head with a big grin.
"Who doesn't like having a dog around?" Jane grinned.
"Where have you been all afternoon? Cho was trying to call"
"Did a bit of exploring with Maverick, local trail proved most interesting"
"I missed you," she said with a peck on his cheek. She could never stay cranky at him for long.
"Awwh," he said clutching his heart. "Missed you too."
Maverick bounded up the stairs and disappeared.
"If he chews on any of my shoes, you're buying me new ones," Lisbon warned, as they clamoured up the stairs after him.
They stood in the doorway to Lisbon's bedroom and exchanged glances at Maverick making himself more than comfortable on Lisbon's bed, marching himself around in a circle, before ceremoniously coming to a flop. His chin laying comfortably on her quilt cover, as he looked back at them with his puppy dog eyes.
"He hasn't wasted any time making himself at home," Lisbon said amused.
"So what do you say Lisbon? Can we camp out here tonight? Pretty please?" Jane begged, hands clasped.
She smacked her lips and made him wait a few extra seconds for the hell of it. "Fine, you can both stay the night," she agreed. "But only one of you gets to sleep on my bed," she added as a caveat.
"Fair," Jane agreed. "Thanks Lisbon," he said wrapping her in a cheeky hug that made her giggle.
"I need a shower," she declared, excusing herself to the bathroom after planting a quick kiss.
He watched her march off, hoping to catch a cheeky glimpse of something before she shut the door behind her.
"Alright come on Maverick, you heard the lady, out you go," Jane gestured towards the door.
The dog just looked back at him and didn't move an inch.
"Off, we, go," Jane tried again.
Maverick rolled around onto his back, before rolling back again, almost as if to mock him.
"Hmph," Jane grumbled, walking over to the bed. He started to tug at his collar gently in the direction of the door.
"Off the bed, out you go," Jane pleaded once more. "Come on, I'll give you a treat." But Maverick didn't move an inch.
Jane sighed, and decided to head downstairs and make himself a cup of tea. He returned back upstairs to Lisbon in her nightie applying moisturiser.
"He won't move," Jane pointed out, nodding towards the dog.
"And?"
"So what do we do?"
"We? This sounds like a 'you' problem"
"Where am I supposed to sleep?"
"The couch is comfy. You like couches," she said with a smirk.
"Seriously?"
"A deal's a deal, Jane," she shrugged with helplessness.
He looked at the dog and looked back at Lisbon, realising she was completely serious as she pulled the covers back and slid under the sheets. She was exhausted, it had been a long day.
He huffed in indignance and parlayed back down the stairs.
"Good night, Jane," Lisbon called out as he disappeared.
"You're a good puppers, aren't you," she baby-talked, generously ruffling the mane behind his ears. Maverick yawned in agreeance, flopping his head back down on the bed.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
He'd had this dream before. It was always a good dream.
Teresa Lisbon in all of her seductive glory, floating in the distance in bright pastel lights. Her brown locks flowing freely in the breeze, her lips plump bearing the reddest of shades, her cleavage looking explicitly mountainous in the intricately racy lingerie that clung to her enticingly sexy shape.
"Patrick," she called, curling her index finger to beckon him towards her, biting her bottom lip suggestively.
He felt himself start to levitate.
"Patrick," she whispered, running her hands through her hair lasciviously, her eyes rolling into the back of her head.
He floated towards her.
"Patrick," she whimpered again, a little more desperation in her voice, as she ran her tongue up her index finger, inserting it into her mouth and suckling it like a lollipop.
He gulped as he floated closer to her.
Floating, drifting. Being pulled towards her. Until he was about close enough to touch.
He reached out and she grabbed his arm, pulling him closer, closing the distance between them. Her eyes alight with the shine of a thousand diamonds.
"I want you, Patrick," she whispered huskily.
She kissed his cheek gently as his heart raced. She kissed his chin, meeting the skin with the flat of her tongue, and slowly running it up the full length of his face, all the way up to his forehead.
She bit her lip suggestively and giggled, before turning his head. She followed suit on the other side, licking the full length of his face, from chin to cheek, over his closed eye, finishing on his forehead.
"You are positively delicious," she flirted with a murmur, pressing her body firmly against his. He wrapped his hands around her, her skin a lot softer than he remembered, almost silky.
He tried to kiss her, but was met with another fierce tongue. She licked his mouth and all around persistently, like she was eating a melting ice-cream cone. He didn't know how to reciprocate.
It was weird, it was different. But it was Lisbon, looking like that in all her gorgeous glory. So he was all for it. A little kink never hurt.
He ran his fingers up her back as she continued to lick him relentlessly. His lips, his cheeks, his nose. The shapes of his eyelids. He involuntarily giggled as her tongue tickled in and around his ear. From his hairline to his chin, one ear to the other, her hot, wet tongue was all over it. Filled with passion and enthusiasm, her eyes dark as night.
"Lisbon," he groaned in odd appreciation, her tongue finding his mouth as he spoke, his senses lighting up. "Lisbon," he groaned again a little louder, muffled by her generous all-encompassing pash.
"I'd kiss you good morning, but it looks as though you're getting enough there," a voice startled him, yanking him from his weird dream.
He opened his eyes to Maverick sitting on his torso, eagerly licking his face all over, slobber dripping from his mouth. Lisbon fully clothed and dressed for the day, peering at them both from behind the couch looking highly amused and inquisitive, and a little grossed out, truth be told. He brought a hand to his eyes, his face already saturated from the onslaught, as he started to make sense of the situation.
Lisbon giggled. "Should I give you two a minute?"
He scratched Maverick behind the ears as he slowly woke up to this reality, gently pushing him off and sitting up on the couch.
"Really?" Jane whispered to the dog, slumping his shoulders in frustration.
Maverick looked back at him with a big goofball dog grin, his eyes pleading for more head scratches.
He stood up and stretched. He followed Maverick as he bounded into the kitchen and nudged at the back door to be let out, to which Jane obliged, setting him free into her backyard.
Lisbon stood at the sink filling up the kettle, the morning sun brimming over her features. He was still coming to terms with how amazingly precious he found the most basic of domestic things with Lisbon. Being able to see her as often the first thing when he woke up. Watching her prepare a hot beverage right here in her own kitchen. Being able to watch her without trying to hide it. It humbled him that it could fill his heart with such joy. Such simple things brought such magic.
He cradled his arms around her, causing a smile to creep across her face. He leaned in to kiss her and she recoiled with mild disgust. He looked at her questioningly.
"Yeah, face is sticky from the dog slobber. I'll go deal with that."
She chuckled. "I'll make us some tea."
He re-emerged minty fresh and clean sometime later.
"Maverick is coming with us to work today," he announced, taking the teacup from her hand.
"We can't have a dog at the FBI"
"Why not?"
"It's the FBI!" her voice escalating in pitch.
"But why not? He has better hygiene than some of the guys in the gang unit- "
"Can't argue with that," Lisbon muttered in agreeance.
"And we have the canine unit!"
"They are trained professionals-"
"Why should that matter? Maverick is like me. I'm not a trained professional. He'll be a consultant for the day. Maybe we can get him a little visitor pass and everything"
Lisbon shot him a 'mom' look that often accompanied his nonsense.
"Besides, Maverick is key to solving the case."
"Oh yeah, how so?" she entertained.
"Well, they say there were no eye-witnesses to the murder, but they're wrong," Jane supposed. "Maverick here saw everything, saw our killer."
"Yeah, and judging by the limp in the video we found, he probably took a chunk out of his leg too."
"Precisely! He knows exactly who did it."
Lisbon looked down at Maverick, happily chewing on a stick he'd found in the yard.
"He'd be difficult to put on the witness stand"
"Perhaps, but guarantee he'd sway a jury with that face."
"Seriously Jane, what do you expect a dog to do?"
"Ye of little faith," Jane reprimanded with an all-knowing grin.
Tea polished off, Maverick happily on his leash, all necessary belongings in tow, they went to leave the house for work. Lisbon hesitated as her hand hit the front door handle.
"What is it?" Jane asked.
Instead of opening the front door, she pulled him in fiercely by the lapels of his jacket, kissing him intensely. He exhaled a moan in surprise as her tongue found its way into his mouth. Frivolously exploring and boldly impassioned, she devoured him. She ran a hand through his curls and pulled him in closer, driving up the intensity of their kiss, if that was even possible. He reciprocated just as fiercely, wrapping his hands around her waist and pulling her flush against his body.
Maverick sat at their feet and watched him, tilting his head and giving out a whimper of bewilderment.
She finally allowed them to come up for air, pulling away slowly, biting her own bottom lip, lightly swollen from the roughness of their kiss. The dimple in her cheek pronounced in her coy salaciousness.
"What was that for?" he asked in a haze. Although he didn't care much for the answer, unless it meant he could get her to do that again.
"I just needed to make sure I got a proper dose of you so you can't go tempting me into something like yesterday's debauchery."
"Was that enough?"
"Hmm, I don't know, let me see." She coiled her arms around his neck once more and tiptoed up for another kiss. This one slower, more languid and controlled. Her lips grazing his softly, her tongue dancing delicately with his. She held her forehead to his as they separated.
"I think that should do it," she murmured in satisfaction.
"I don't care what they say about you, Lisbon. You're a big softie at heart."
She scrunched her nose and smiled at him. It took a second or two for the penny to drop.
"Hey, what do they say about me? And who is they!?" she protested.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Maverick was an instant star at FBI HQ. As adorable and charismatic as the man that held his leash, he had a constant stream of agents for sniffing and head pats. And he seemed to thrive on the attention – both man and dog.
Closer to lunch time, Cho gathered the unit in the fishbowl to prep them all for their pending investigations.
"Where's Jane?" Cho asked.
"He's at employee services. He has the victim's dog. He's bullying them into making him a consultant ID card last I heard," Lisbon replied.
"An ID card?"
"Yep."
"For… the dog?"
"Yep."
Cho blinked back at her. It wasn't even near the top 10 weirdest things Jane had ever done. In fact, it would barely make the top 100, Cho thought to himself, so he just gave Lisbon a shrug and let it slide.
"We have a good amount of interviews to get through," Cho explained. "We've called in anyone who could possibly match the assailant's physical characteristics from the footage from Luscombe's work, neighbourhood and contacts. We'll work through them methodically, check alibis. See what falls out. Any no shows will raise red flags and we'll go pick 'em up."
Lisbon nodded. Good solid, methodical police work. She wondered how Jane was going to stuff that up.
"The first half are in the waiting room. Wylie and Vega, you can take Interview 1, work together. Lisbon and I will run our own, just to get through them faster."
"And Jane when he shows up?" Lisbon asked.
"I'm sure this'll be far too boring for him. He can take a nap on his couch," Cho replied. Lisbon smirked.
She took her first 6-foot something into Interview Room 2 and went through the motions, methodically taking notes, checking alibis. It was tedious, but comforting. It wasn't often she could say that about her work with Jane around.
It wasn't until she was escorting her third interview out that she ran into Jane and Maverick at the elevators.
"Nice of you to show up," she poked at him.
"Had to put up with some discriminatory, closed-minded people at employee services," Jane said with a huff. "But I won," he continued proudly, indicating to Maverick's collar, and from it, his dangling FBI consultant ID, complete with ID photo.
She couldn't help but laugh. There was something to be said about Jane once he got his mind set on something. She could just imagine the incessant arguments he'd just had with the poor sods at employee services.
"Us consultants, we got to stick together. Big world of agents out there that think they're better than us," Jane said, patting Maverick behind the ear.
"Of course." Lisbon shook her head.
"We've been working the lobby too, checking out everyone leaving from your interviews."
"And?"
"Nothing so far. Maverick agrees," Jane said with a grin.
"Sure, so long as the dog agrees," Lisbon laughed.
They walked down the hall, seeing Wylie walking out with an interviewee he had just finished with. All of a sudden, the Kujo emerged in Maverick once more. With a growl and a gnashing of teeth, he sprung forward and broke free of Jane's grasp, launching himself down the corridor. In the blink of an eye, he had knocked his unsuspecting victim over and had his teeth in a firm lock on his leg. The man wailed in pain, echoing through HQ like a cheer through a stadium.
Lisbon and Jane raced across the corridor. As Jane tried to calm and dislodge Maverick, Lisbon noticed exactly who the man was. Peter Nolan, the neighbour with the pavers, whose wife was the one who gave them the dashcam footage from her car. Jane worked his magic once more and was able to regain control of Maverick, not that he was able to stop the hostile guttural growl from continuing as he sat at his feet, doggy eyes fixated on Nolan.
"Damn dog!" Nolan yelled. "He bit me!" he exclaimed.
"Not the first time either, I'd hazard a guess," Jane said suspiciously.
"He's got it in for me, I swear."
"Dogs don't attack people for no reason," Cho snapped.
"That damn dog is a psycho! A complete mongrel out of control! Maybe… maybe he killed Neil! He needs to be put down!"
"Or maybe he's just shown us who did," Jane said, with a smart-ass look.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
They all gathered behind the glass of Interview 1, watching paramedics tend to Nolan's wounds. Next to Nolan, his older brother, a big-shot lawyer with the biggest law firm this side of Texas. And for that reason, Abbott stood with the team as they deliberated.
"A lawyer like that, you know he's guilty," Jane looked on moodily.
"I hate well-connected people," Cho said, arms crossed at the glass.
"We have nothing to hold him on. We have to let him go," said Abbott.
"He knows he's made," Vega pointed out, "he's likely to skip town if we do."
"Not to mention the lawsuits we're going to have flying at us with a lawyer like that and the fact that we let a civilian be attacked by an animal in our very building," Abbott stressed.
"A very guilty civilian," Jane added. "A murderous civilian. A bad civilian."
"With no solid evidence and not enough for probable cause for a warrant, we got nothing," Abbott reminded.
"But he did it. Not a doubt in my mind," Jane emphasised.
"He has a solid alibi. It checks out," Wylie submitted.
"It's fake. Simple."
"Wellness retreat just out of town. That's close enough to double back," Lisbon volunteered.
"Wylie, check traffic cams in the area. See if you can pick up anything that has Mr Nolan driving back through the area before the murder," Abbott instructed.
"Got it," Wylie obliged.
"We pick up his car on a traffic cam and the fact that he lied, that will be enough to get a warrant," Cho confirmed.
"He's the right height for the video, but he doesn't have a limp?" Vega said thoughtfully.
"Maybe the damage just wasn't that bad, the footage was right after the murder and when Maverick attacked him," Lisbon suggested
"What's motive?" Cho asked, looking at Jane.
"Takes his wife out of town, comes back to an empty house. Improvised weapon, it wasn't premeditated. He was caught by Luscombe doing something," Jane surmised.
"With the wife out town, you think he was cheating on her?" Lisbon asked.
"Possibly. Or trying to smuggle something uncouth in or out of the house. Either way, Luscombe caught him doing something that would get him in deep strife and Nolan panicked."
"Without a clear motive, we really don't have probably caused for a DNA warrant," Abbott informed.
"Go and offer him a drink," Lisbon suggested. "See if we can get the saliva from the cup or bottle?"
"We've already shown our hand, they know what we want. No way Mr Hotshot Lawyer in there will let that happen. He'll see right through it," Cho replied. "But worth a shot." He nodded at Vega, and she left the room post haste.
"Paramedics tending to his wounds, do you think we could get something from them? Gloves, gauze or something?" Lisbon asked.
"Medical treatment is protected, it won't stand in court," Abbott replied.
"We'll find something. Interview the wife. Search the house," Jane continued.
"No warrant for the house either," Cho pointed out.
"Make up a motive then!" Jane suggested.
"That's bordering on illegal," Lisbon supplemented morosely.
"But we have an eye-witness putting him at the scene of the crime! Surely that counts for something," Jane said exasperatedly.
"Jane, for the last time, as much as we wish he could. The dog cannot be a witness," Lisbon reiterated.
"You sure about this Jane?" Abbott asked him directly, his face serious.
"Yes, I have the utmost faith in Maverick," Jane said steadfastly.
Maverick sat up abruptly at the sound of his name, giving a happy yap.
"What's the dog doing in here?" Abbott asked confused, not realising he was in the room under the table.
"Don't worry. He has clearance," Jane reassured, tapping Maverick's ID.
"Why… What…," Abbott faltered then sighed audibly, his brow furrowed. He shook his head a refocused.
"Maybe we just need to ask the right person. Judge Willis has been a bit more open-minded about these things, has ruled on enough of these, uh, Jane-based things… he just might give it to us," he said thoughtfully. "Cho…"
"On it," Cho replied, swiftly exiting the fishbowl.
It didn't take him long to sketch out a warrant application and hunt down Judge Willis.
"You want a warrant? Based on a dog biting someone?" he peered up from the paper and looked questioningly at Cho.
"Yeah, that'd be about right."
"Let me guess. Patrick Jane?"
"Is working the case, yes."
"Of course, he is," Judge Willis chuckled and uncapped his pen. "I don't know if he's a genius, or if he's just a fool. But he's certainly a revolutionary to the justice system," he said handing the signed warrant over to Cho.
Just before Cho could grab it, he pulled it back out of reach. "You may have your warrant, but for your sake, I hope you're right. The vastness of litigious suits that will follow if you get this one wrong… it would blot out the sun," he warned and handed over the warrant.
Cho took it with a curt nod. He knew the score, it wasn't his first rodeo. Jane theories were also a gamble, but a good one. And was it even really gambling if you knew you were going to win?
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The big shot lawyer wasn't enough to stop them from executing the warrant and finding the DNA from under Luscombe's fingernails was a match for Nolan's. With that, the circumstantial evidence was far stronger, and Wylie continued to comb traffic cams for that extra piece of evidence to be the cherry on the top, now they knew for sure it had to exist. They couldn't get a confession from Nolan, so motive wasn't iron-clad, but the DA was confident that DNA evidence was enough to start building a solid case while they investigated further.
Lisbon crossed the bullpen to find Jane sitting at her desk scribbling away, Maverick sitting by his feet.
"Do mine eyes deceive me? Is Patrick Jane doing paperwork?" she mused.
"Yeah, thought I should chip in a bit, hey? By golly, this stuff is tedious."
"Are you feeling okay…?"
"Never better"
She stood behind and peered at what he had written so far. Her eyes darted back and forth across the page, which turned out to be a witness statement form.
"Jane! The dog can't give a statement, we've been through this."
"Why not?"
"Why not… Why not...? He's a dog for heaven's sake."
"And he was integral to solving the case! He took down the killer, in a very literal sense. And he gave us the probable cause we needed for the warrant!"
"I'm not denying that. But you're the one writing the statement. Not the dog."
"Only because he can't hold a pen with his paw Lisbon. Duh."
"He can't even speak Jane"
"Well sure, not in words like you and I converse"
"Yes. And the judge, jury, and DA converse in too"
"So I'm merely just translating. They allow translators in court. And case law always begins with a case of reference, there is always a first time for everything. This could be that!"
He was determined as anything, his eyes ablaze as he debated with her.
"His best friend was killed Lisbon, Luscombe was all he had. He helped catch the killer, now he's going to help put him away. It's what he wants."
She sighed in defeat. She knew arguing with him was futile. Einstein had once said that the definition of insanity was trying the same thing over and over and expecting a different result, and far be it was she going to go insane because of one Patrick Jane and his dog. Not today anyway.
"He's going to have to sign it, Jane," she asked, her argumentative tone completely dissolved. "How are you going to get him to do that?" She scratched Maverick behind the ear.
"I've thought of that too," he said with a boyish grin, shaking a postcard-sized inkpad toward her.
She couldn't help but laugh at his nonsense. She'd always deny it, but this silly determined, empathetic tomfoolery was one of the reasons she couldn't help but fall in love with him. He always made the days more interesting and under all that fun-loving nonsense, he had a heart of gold. No matter what he thought of himself.
The last of his scribbles complete on the statement, he carefully knelt by Maverick with the inkpad. With a tongue hanging out of the corner of his mouth in concentration (which Maverick mirrored), he gently picked up a paw, firmly placing it on the inkpad, before carefully setting it down onto the signature section of the written statement.
"Et voila!" Jane proudly declared, waving the statement with a perfectly imprinted paw shape clearly rendered down the bottom.
"Here's hoping it holds up in court," she said supportively with a soft smile, petting Maverick's head and watching Jane's eyes twinkle.
"Jane," Wylie's voice echoing across the bullpen. "Cho wants you and Maverick in Interview-2. The sister is here."
"Be right there," he confirmed.
He handed Lisbon the statement. "I don't know what you guys do with these things now, but can you please take care of it for me?"
"Of course"
"Thanks," he beamed. "Come on Maverick," he summoned as he beckoned the dog to follow him to the interview room, leaving a trail of intermittent black pawprints from his one inked foot across the carpet of the bullpen.
Lisbon pressed a palm to her face and shook her head, but couldn't help but stifle a laugh. Abbott was not going to be happy. But when it came to Jane, what was new?
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
They stood by Jane's couch and watched out the window as Luscombe's sister left the building, with Maverick in tow.
"She has two kids back in Tahoe. They've been begging for a dog. It seems like it was just meant to be," Jane explained, a hint of sadness in his voice.
"That's nice," Lisbon said. "He's found more family. He's going to a home where he'll be loved and taken care of."
"It was almost as if he knew," Jane said. "He could tell she was his owner's sister. He lit up as soon as we entered the room. Dogs are amazing, very intuitive." He sighed.
"I'm going to miss him," Lisbon said tilting her head.
"You were so ready to evict us onto the street last night"
"You would too if your house had been broken into," she replied lightly. "Besides, he made an exceptional snuggle buddy."
"So will you be looking for someone to replace that role now that he's gone?"
She looked Jane up and down. "Maybe. But only good boys can apply," she said down her nose, turning swiftly and marching off toward the elevators, chin in the air.
"But… but Lisbon," he chased after her. He grabbed her by the arm and forced her to look at him. His big eyes and slightly pouted lips looking at her pleadingly.
"Oh, don't think you can use those puppy dog eyes on me."
His cute pleading look intensified. The corners of her mouth curled unwillingly.
"Dammit Jane. Now how am I supposed to say no to that?"
"It's simple. You don't." He flashed her his infamous charming grin.
"You're lucky you're really good looking, you know that right?"
"It helps me get by," he shrugged. "The fact that you're completely in love with me helps too."
"Can't argue with that," she agreed, rewarding him with a coy dimpled smile.
He beamed back at her, pushing the button for the elevator.
"I mean, I don't know if I could rival or even come close to the way he kissed you, that was really something else," she needled him.
"Do you feel threatened? Rest assured Lisbon, my eyes are only for you."
"You just looked like you were enjoying that a little too much."
He looped an arm around her shoulder as they continued to tease each other back and forth, and elevator doors came to a close.