Author's note: I just noticed I have over 50 reviews. That is amazing. Thank you so much. *gasps* *flips tables * *transforms into a unicorn* *dances* This chapter had a big twist on their relationship. Please leave a review with your thoughts and your opinion.
Jane woke up due to a strange romantic dream involving Lisbon. Taking a moment, he tried to remember what had happened the night before. As he felt someone beside him he let a sigh.
"What did I do last night?" he thought running his hands on his face in a panic.
Jane took a breath trying to remember what happened. All he could think was he went out to a bar and he was drinking alone. Then the memories of the previous night came back to him. The shots of tequila, the music and a blond woman he was talking with.
Suddenly, Jane was overcome with humiliation for his behavior last night. He felt like a fool. He felt dirty, disgusted. It didn't make sense. He squeezed his eyed shut. Lisbon's green eyes came to his and he felt his heartbeat to quickened. How did his life become so messy?
Jane groaned and his head ached from the hangover. He got off the bed and went to take a long shower. Maybe some hot water would help him recover. He stood under the water and tried clear his thoughts. Sleeping with unknown women was a habit to him. Then, why did it feel so bad this time? He knew the answer but he didn't want to admit it.
Leaving the bathroom, he found the bed empty. He searched the apartment but nothing. He left a breath of relief and went back to his bedroom. He picked up some clothes from the dresser and when he was finished he looked himself on the mirror.
All his life he was standing in the centre with everyone admiring him. Until he met Lisbon. His whole world got twisted and he had fallen into his own trap. He felt like he betrayed her last night. He spend a wonderful day with her and then he ruined everything for something unimportant.
Jane shook his head and took his cell phone on his hands. He had three missed calls from Matt and a reminder about his date with Lisbon. Lisbon... the only woman who didn't want him. The only woman who could see sometimes behind his mask the truth. The only woman who meant something for him.
Jane went to his kitchen and prepared a tea for him. Making his way to the couch, his eyes caught Lisbon's file. He took some sips and then he grabbed the file and began to read it. He closed his eyes painfully as he read about her life. She had so many tragedies in her life. Her mother death when she was only twelve years old, her father who turned to an alcoholic and a abuser, his suicide a few years later, the raising of her younger siblings, her husband's car accident.
Lisbon was a fighter. She was the strongest person he had ever met. Jane wondered how she was able to do what she did when she was so young. She was incredibly. He always knew she was a kind hearted woman but he couldn't imagine she had to live such horrible experiences. When he noticed a tear running gown his cheek he decided to stop using her for his cause. Jane couldn't read the rest of her file. He took it and threw it on the sink and then burnt it.
He could understand her reactions and her behavior. The reason why she didn't let anyone close to her. Why she had built walls inside her. She had been hurt in so many ways in the past and she didn't deserve any of it. Jane tensed and clenched his fist. He felt his head was about to explode. It was too much for his mind to be flashed with images of Lisbon being hurt or cry by her own father. If he wasn't dead, Jane would have kill him again and again. He didn't deserve to die so easily. Jane would have done to him worst things.
Jane took a deep breath and he tried to calm himself. He wanted to take her in his arms, hold her tight against him, took care of her. He wanted to be as close to her as possible. To erase all the bad memories, to heal her.
He couldn't do it anymore. He needed to make a decision. Going back to his old life or moving forward with her. He shivered at the thought. Jane had made a promise to himself to not be like his father. He didn't love anyone and he could sell his own soul for some dollars. Jane didn't want to take after him. He hated from a young age to lie and deceive people.
Jane remembered a case with a young sick girl who visited them with her grandmother. The girl had cancer and his father made him sell a crystal which had magic powers and it could heal everything. He hated so much himself that day. Their eyes hunted him for so many months later.
Before he made a decision someone was knocking his front door. Letting a groan, Jane stood up and opened his door. It was Matt and he entered having a smirk on his face.
"Hey, Patrick. How is my favorite friend?"
"What do you want Matt?" Jane asked coldly.
"I came to learn about the bet. Do you have any progress? Your doorman told me he saw you with a woman last night." Matt replied happily.
"She wasn't Lisbon. She was a strange I met in a bar." Jane responded
"Meh, I understand. You needed some company." Matt said with a plain voice. "But what are you doing with Miss Lisbon?"
"Nothing. I have a date with her today but I may cancel it." Jane said with a low voice.
"What the hell Patrick?" Matt said upset.
"I can't continue lying to her. I don't want to hurt her." Jane explained softly.
"Oh my god. You have the hots for her, don't you?" Matt asked him serious.
When Jane didn't answer, Matt let out a laugh.
"Oh, I can't believe it." Matt said laughing. "But let's be serious here. Why do you make it a problem? In my point of view, it will be easier for you. You will win a big job and the woman you want."
"I don't want to treat her like it. She deserves better. She may learn the truth one day. I don't want that."
"She won't. Who could possible tell her?" Matt replied disbelief.
"Do you know Kristina Frye tells everybody about the bet? Clara came and threatened me. I can't risk it." Jane responded serious.
"And, what will you do?" Matt asked calm.
"I want to call off the bet. " Jane replied serious.
"What?" Matt said upset. "You can't throw everything for someone you met some days before."
"It's not your decision. I made my mind." Jane responded dead serious.
"You are crazy. Think about it. You can't throw away such a big opportunity."
"I don't need to think anything. Please inform Mr. Mills about my decision. The job belongs to Kristina."
"I hope you know what you're doing." Matt said irritated and left slamming the door hard.
When Lisbon woke up she felt against her a warm body. She opened her eyes and looked at her daughter Charlotte who was sleeping peacefully in her arms. She had a nightmare during the night and Lisbon took her with her to her bed. Lisbon ran her hand loving to her little face and planted a kiss on her forehead.
Lisbon slipped herself carefully way from Charlotte. Charlotte tried to grab her back in her sleep and Lisbon turned to see if she was awake. To her relief, she wasn't and Lisbon smiled to herself. She made her way to her bathroom and then she went down to the kitchen. Lisbon began to make coffee and breakfast when her front door opened and Angela entered. Angela tried to make her way upstairs without to make any noise until Lisbon spoke to her and stopped her.
"Look who finally decided to come home." Lisbon said calm.
"Good morning to you too." Angela responded compose and passed her and went into the kitchen.
" Did you have a nice night?" Lisbon asked amused and saw Angela blushing.
"I can recognize the walk of shame." Lisbon continued amused.
"In my defense it was the fourth date with him."Angela replied a little embarrassment.
"I'm just joking with you. but he better be nice with you. Warn him that I carry a gun and I won't hesitate to use it." Lisbon said half serious and half joking.
"He already know it." Angela whispered and Lisbon narrowed her eyes. "He is Charlotte's pediatrician."
"Dr. Whales? He is a nice guy. I'm happy for you." Lisbon said softly.
"You know, you should try it. Dating, I mean. It's really fun. I had forgotten how nice it was."
"Actually, I have plans for tonight." Lisbon replied uncomfortable.
"What? With who? I bet he's Patrick. Isn't he?" Angela asked curious.
"Yes, he is. I couldn't say no forever. It's just dinner, nothing more."
"Oh, don't worry about Charlotte. I will keep her tonight. Where will he take you?"
"I don't know. He said he will text me the address. I hope it's not something too fancy."
"I'm happy for you. You deserve to be spoil a little. And Charlotte likes him. He seems a good guy."
"Yeah. But..."Lisbon replied with a strange expression which made Angela frowned.
"When he started to work with me, the first day, one of my colleagues and a lawyer who cooperate with CBI warned me about him. To keep space from him. To not trust him. He didn't treat them good and I could see the pain in her eyes." Lisbon explained softly.
"He may changed. All of us had made mistakes on the past. He was nice with you and Charlotte. And like you said, it's only a dinner." Angela replied smoothly.
"You are right. I always over thinking." Lisbon said ending the topic. "Do you want breakfast?"
Lisbon spend the rest of the day with Angela and Charlotte. They took Charlotte to the playground and stayed there until five at afternoon. Lisbon received a text from Jane during the day with the address. Angela helped Lisbon to choose a dress and around eight , Lisbon arrived at the date.
Lisbon was greeted by a waitress as she entered and she showed her the way to her table. The restaurant seemed lovely, it was exactly what Lisbon liked, people seemed nice and it wasn't crowded.
As Jane saw her his a wide grin painted across his face. He wasn't only smiling to her with his lips but with his eyes too. He saw her wearing a length black dress with lace sleeves that just covered her shoulders. Her hair was in loose curls, that fell down to her shoulders and her makeup was smooth and her lips red.
"Well?" Lisbon asked as she stood up in front of him.
"Stunning." Jane replied softly and he helped her sit on her chair.
Lisbon blushed at his compliment and she took some seconds to admire him. He wore a blue suit with a vest which set off with beautiful eyes.
"Jane, the place is amazing. It's not what I expected." Lisbon told him sincere.
"You thought I would have chose something more fancy. This place is more close to my tastes. " Jane replied honesty. "I'm glad you like it here."
"It's nice." Lisbon admitted blushing.
When the waitress came again, Lisbon and Jane picked up the menus and began to look what the restaurant had to offer.
"Do you have anything to recommend?" Lisbon asked Jane.
"I'll have the rabbit crepinette and the lady will have the oysters and pearls with the salmon tartar. And bring us a red bottle wine '96 " Jane said giving their order and the waitress left with a nod taking the menus with her.
"I hope you don't mind. You seemed a little lost." Jane said grinning.
"No, it's ok. " Lisbon replied and the waitress came back with the wine.
"Let's make a toast." Jane said and raised his glass. "To our first date."
Lisbon laughed and took a sip... for the first time since her husband's death she was on a date and to her surprise she felt nice and not uncomfortable. She found Jane's eyes to follow her and spoke again.
"So, will you stare me all night?"
"Well, you can't blame me. You are breathtaking. It is natural people to stare at you." Jane responded and Lisbon rolled her eyes.
"You are impossible, you know that." Lisbon replied with a smile.
"As I said, this is our first date. Tonight is about us. "Jane said and took a sip from his wine.
"Right." Lisbon agreed. "Which it means I can ask you everything I want to get to know you."
"And vice versa. You can ask me everything you want whenever you want Lisbon. Not just tonight. And I promise you to be sincere. No lies."
"Really?" Lisbon asked disbelief.
"Really. But I made things I'm not so proud. You just have to accept them and not affect us" Jane added seriously.
"That's fare." Lisbon agreed.
"so, what do you want to know?" Jane asked with a smile.
"Let's talk about dating. What was your worst and better date?"
"I was seventeen. I wanted to impress the girl I was with. I took her out for a walk and ice cream and we fell into her ex. In conclusion, she walked away with him."
"That was horrible. He was my friend in high school. I had a crush on him and I was exciting when he asked me out. When he came to take from my house for our date, my brothers made a farce on him and he left running."
"What did they do?" Jane asked curious.
"Tommy, my oldest brother appeared in from of him with a knife and clothes filled with fake blood. He gave him the 'brother talk'. He left terrified running." Lisbon replied and Jane laughed.
"And your best date?"
"It was with my husband on the prom. He was sweet and he looked and danced with me the whole night. Then , he drove me back to my house and gave me a goodnight kiss." Lisbon said and smiled at the memory. "Yours?"
"Well, there was this woman. I was crazy about her since I met her. " Jane began and he saw Lisbon paid attention to him. "But I can't tell you more. It's still in progress".
She didn't answer to him. She didn't know what to say. They stayed silent until the waitress brought their plates. They kept talking making a light conversation. The food was great and they both felt themselves to relax and having a nice time.
Jane took a sigh and stood up offering his hand to Lisbon.
"Can I have a dance?"
"lead the way." Lisbon said with a shy smile interlacing their fingers.
Jane pulled her into the middle of the dance floor and around them other couples moved to the soft music. Jane's arm encircled her waist, his hand on Lisbon's back pulling her against him. His other hand was holding hers to his chest and they began to sway.
Lisbon gave him a smile before she rested her chin between his shoulders and neck. Jane buried his face in her hair, taking in her sweet smell. She smelled like apples and cinnamon. It was intoxicating.
At the end Jane offered to drive her home. When they reached her house, Jane escorted her to her front door. Jane leaned in to kiss her lips. He kissed her gently but he pulled back immediately to look at her. When Lisbon didn't say anything , Jane leaned closer raising her face with his hand looking at her eyes. When Lisbon closed her eyes, Jane took that as encouragement and pressed his lips again to hers. He felt her hands on his arms and he pressed her tighter on his body. They mouths moved in synchronization without deepened the kiss.
The need for oxygen pulled them apart. They stayed like that for a while and then Jane kissed her forehead breaking the connection.
"Good night, Teresa. I will see you tomorrow."
"Good night Jane." Lisbon said and opened her door.
Jane watched her until she closed her door and then he turned and went back to his apartment. He couldn't vanish the smile off his face even in his sleep.