Disclaimer: I don't own Mentalist, its affiliated characters or my own laptop. These are the sad facts of my life.
Author's Note: I'm so, so, SO sorry this is so short. Again. I know I promised longer and I swear if I didn't have negative time right now I would be delivering on that. Hope this tides you over.
They piled into the car and were shortly underway. Agent Lisbon enjoyed the first few moments of silence but she knew it would be short lived. She was right.
"You know, you don't always have to be on the losing side of our little differences of opinion." Jane was clearly talking to her, he was looking right at her. And she'd thought he would just let this be. How silly of her.
Despite knowing she should just be the bigger person on this but she couldn't let it go. Somehow Jane always managed to get under her skin. It was infuriating and yet strangely addicting. Arguing with Jane was like booze to a recovering alcoholic. One last drink. One drink can't hurt, she thought. Just challenge him this one time. Last time I swear. Yeah, last time until next time anyway. She quirked an eyebrow at him.
"Oh, is that so?" Huh, she was sure she had meant to tell him to go to hell.
"It is so." Jane leaned in closer and gave her that look. He knew what he was doing. The bastard. The man takes no prisoners.
If ever there was a time to drop the subject it was now, while she still could. Inside she was screaming at herself not to encourage him. Outside she was listening to herself say "I'm sure you're dying to enlighten me so go ahead." Damn it.
Jane's grin grew. His eyes sparkled and his smile was deceptively charming. It was a very endearing look on him.
"Stop disagreeing," he stage-whispered like it was profound wisdom he was imparting to her. Okay, maybe the smile wasn't that endearing. She rolled her eyes and turned away from him. If she was honest with herself, it was as much to hide her smile from him as anything.
Seeing him watching her in the rearview mirror she quickly smothered her amusement in favor of adopting a disapproving glower and averted her eyes. She was to busy staring out the window at nothing in particular to notice his answering satisfied smirk.
She spent the rest of the car ride listening to Jane and Rigsby debate the finer points of rugby of all things. From the little she was able to glean, Jane had quite a bit to say about the mindset of a rugby player while Rigsby simply maintained that it was "awesome" to watch. Their very different worldviews would have made it an entertaining conversation to witness had the fact she that was alternately kissing Jane and kicking him in her head not distracted her. She sighed and his eyes snapped immediately to her, though he did not pause in his dissertation on men who get a thrill from violent sports. She gave them her best unimpressed look but she wasn't sure he was fooled. She had to prevent another sigh from escaping. There was no way this was healthy.