A/N: Wrote this because I'm still stuck here on the couch. I DO, however, have to study, so the next part of it might not be up until Saturday. =( Sorry. But I am putting up another little oneshot to tide you all over until then, if you'd like to read it (read: pretty pretty please!). My computer keeps trying to restart to "install important updates," so it might take a little while.
Disclaimer: If they were mine, Barbie and Ken dolls would be replaced.
Jane stepped out of his car, smiling but more than a little bit afraid inside. Lisbon hadn't said much on the phone, just growled "Get your ass over here, Jane." He didn't question. He knew not to question that tone of voice. He had just hung up his phone, got into his car, and started to drive. Waiting for the elevator, he tapped his finger on the lid of the coffee cup he was holding. He was holding his peace offering out in front of him, ready to use it as a shield if necessary.
Lisbon could hear Jane's annoyingly shiny shoes clicking slightly on the floor as he entered. "What the hell took so long, Jane?" she demanded. "I've been waiting for more than-" Jane waved the coffee under her nose and she stopped, grabbing it eagerly. "We'll discuss this later," she mumbled around the lid as she took a long, slow sip. "Thanks, Jane," she added grudgingly after a moment or two. "The stuff they serve here is crap."
"Obviously," he chuckled, smirking at her. She brushed her hair away from her face and laughed a little. Jane's expression immediately darkened. There was a cut running down her cheek that he hadn't noticed before. Lisbon made a confused face at his silence. He reached out and ran his finger alongside the scratch before letting his hand rest under her chin. "I'm sorry," he finally said. "I really hate seeing you hurt, even more if it's my fault."
"Occupational hazard," she said offhandedly. She brought her own hand up to Jane's, wrapping her fingers around his palm where it was resting on her chin. She smiled a little when he started slightly at her touch. "You're surprised," she bluntly pointed out. "Why is that? You touch other people all the time, but you never let them touch you."
"Since when do you ask questions like that?" Jane asked, trying to mask exactly how much she had thrown him off and how much he enjoyed her small, cool hand wrapped around his bigger, warm one. He scrambled, trying to keep his usual composure. "That's my job," he teased. "Besides, that wasn't why I jumped. Your hands are cold.'
She laughed, and he was glad because it made some of the worry lines disappear from her face. He knew he had caused most of them. "Of course that's why," Lisbon said, smiling cheekily at him, and he was pretty sure he heard a mumbled smart ass tacked onto the end. "Anyway, let's get out of here," she said, stretching out her hand, grasping for the smooth fabric of Jane's suit. Finding him, she pulled herself up so that she was standing face to face with him.
Jane smiled his cat-got-the-canary smile at her closeness. Despite everything they had been through in the past eight hours, all of the stress, he wanted to kiss Lisbon. She was right there, already holding onto his shirt. He probably would have, too, if a small cough at the door hadn't caused them both to whip around. The doctor was standing at the door. Lisbon stepped quickly away from Jane, dropping his lapels and blushing furiously. The doctor handed a stack of papers to Jane. "Her release forms," she said by way of explanation. Jane nodded and tucked them under his arm. "Remember what I said," she continued, turning to Lisbon. "Take it easy. I'd stick to paperwork for a while." She motioned to Jane with a knowing smile. "I bet that with this one, there's a lot of paper work." Jane groaned inwardly, knowing that he'd be the one doing all of the typing. "Other than that, you're set to leave." She shook hands with both of them and then swept out of the room to see her other patients.
Lisbon reached out and gripped Jane's shoulder and they made their way out at last.
