A/N Christmas came a little early (at least as far as this story is concerned) ;o) I thought this part would be two chapters worth of material but it may end up being three. We'll see. I'll let you enjoy the first part for now. Enjoy!
Chapter 9
When the plane touched down in Hartford, the temperature was thirty degrees colder than it had been in Sacramento at take off. It was winter and this was New England after all. Lisbon was thankful they had thought to bring warmer clothes, though Jane wore the same thing regardless so maybe it was just she who was thankful. Lisbon dug her hand deep in the down pocket of her black puffy winter coat. Her other hand was pulling the suitcase she had just received from luggage claim so it was still exposed to the elements. Large snowflakes fell silently though there was barely a dusting accumulated on the ground. She stopped when she noticed Jane was no longer trailing behind her.
He had stopped a few meters back, dressed in his long pea coat. His arms were outstretched, luggage forgotten as his face pointed toward the sky. He was catching snowflakes on his tongue.
Lisbon was about to say, 'What, you've never seen snow before?' but refrained realizing that this may very well be Jane's first experience with the flaky precipitation. After all, you don't often hear of carnivals in the snow. She, on the other hand, having grown up in Chicago, dealt with long cold winters though it had been a while.
"Come on Jane. We don't have all day. We need to be at Emma's school in a few hours and I don't know how much snow is supposed to pile up."
They had finally managed to get away from the demands of police work for a while and just in time for Christmas. They had first planned a thanksgiving trip but had to cancel when they were handed a double homicide case with political affiliations to boot. Emma had been so disappointed that they both decided not to tell the girl of the possible Christmas reschedule in case something else had come up. Their arrival at Emma's school to pick her up before the holiday break would be a surprise.
"So, where do we go to rent ourselves a vehicle?" Jane asked, finally caught up again.
"Right over there." Lisbon said, pointing to the car lot at the far side of the airport.
"Please tell me we're getting something other than a dark SUV." The consultant pleaded. "We're not even on a case."
Lisbon rolled her eyes. "Jane, an SUV would be best in this weather, better traction and four-wheel drive."
"But oh so boring." Jane groaned in reply.
They settled on a red Lexus RS 350, because it wasn't black and Jane said it had at least a little class. Lisbon didn't care as long as it had the 4-wheel drive.
After a quick pit stop for coffee/tea, they headed south towards Emma's school. Lisbon pulled into the parking lot fifteen minutes before classes let out for the day. By this time, there was a good three inches of snow accumulated on the ground and they had the heat in the car turned on high.
When the students stared piling out of the school, Jane suggested they wait outside the vehicle. Emma's grandparents had called the school earlier to inform them he and Lisbon would be waiting in the pick-up line.
Finally a bouncing Emma trotted out of the building. All of the students seemed particularly excited about the holiday break. She spotted Lisbon first, leaning against the hood of the vehicle.
"Tree!" She exclaimed as she picked up speed. Lisbon noticed the girls black and red polka dotted boots as she ran down the stairs and into Lisbon's arms.
"Hello Emma." Lisbon said chuckling.
Then, Emma noticed Jane standing patiently behind Lisbon. "Trick! What are you doing here at my school?"
Lisbon loosened her grasp on Emma and lowered her to the ground so that Jane could have his turn.
"What, you don't want us here. We can go back." Jane said jokingly as he pointed backwards.
"No, no, no." Emma said sternly as she hugged the consultant fiercely. "Don't go. It's just that I talked to you yesterday. How did you get here so fast?"
"We flew here today." Jane explained.
"Are you staying for dinner?" Emma asked.
Lisbon couldn't help but smile. "Oh, I think we'll be around for dinner."
"Maybe a few dinners." Jane matched Lisbon's grin.
"Really?" Emma still couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Yup. Lisbon and I don't have to fly back until two days after Christmas."
"That's like five whole days!"
"She's getting pretty smart." Jane quipped.
Lisbon nodded in agreement. "So, what do you say? We should probably head to your grandparents before they worry."
Emma looked toward the car and then her eyes widened. "First, you have to meet Mystic." She grabbed Jane's hand with one arm and Lisbon's with her other. They headed away from the school, towards the street. Reaching the sidewalk, the trio looked both ways and then crossed the street onto a gravel driveway. Most of the land across from the school was open field with woods bordering the far rear of the property. It was evident Emma was taking them to a run down white barn at the end of the gravel pathway.
Jane shook his hair to free some of the snow as they entered the small open doorway of the barn. It was still cold but at least it was dry. Finally they walked over to a small horse stall and a medium sized chestnut horse poked his head through the stall door.
"This is Mystic." Emma said, climbing on top of a nearby hay bale so she could stroke the mare's nose.
Jane joined her on the other side. Mystic whinnied in delight to have some company.
"Is that so…" Jane said as if answering the horse.
Emma's eyes widened.
"What? You didn't know I could talk to horses?"
The young girl's eyes traveled from Jane to Lisbon, clearly looking for a confirmation from the agent.
Lisbon elbowed Jane.
"It's true. Mystic here was just telling me that you and your class came over here recently and fed him a bunch of apples. He said they were very delicious."
Emma's jaw dropped in amazement.
It was then Lisbon noticed the thank you card tacked to the left of the stall. It was from Emma's class thanking Mystic and his owner for allowing them to visit and feed the horse. She smirked, amused that she had figured out Jane's game but chose not to spill the beans on him. Instead, she scratched the horse behind the ears.
The sun was and the snow was finally starting to slow when the red SUV finally pulled into the driveway of Emma's grandparent's house. Emma, of course jumped out as soon as the vehicle was parked and ran inside to announce their arrival. Lisbon shut her own door and she followed Jane up the walk. She could hear the six or so inches of snow crunch under her feet with each step.
"Good thing we thought to wear boots huh Lisbon?"
She agreed but replied, "Wouldn't want to ruin those priceless leather things of yours."
"You only wish your five matching pair of loafers were as comfortable as my one pair of leather shoes."
Fortunately or not, their arrival at the front door stopped the banter. Jane held the door open for Lisbon and the petite agent stepped in. Both removed their shoes as Mrs. Brooks called from the kitchen.
"Emma sweetie, why don't you take Mr. Jane and Ms. Lisbon's Jackets into the guest room."
Emma came running in an whirlwind, sliding to a stop in her socked feet. The two jackets nearly swamped her but Emma managed to carry them into the other room.
Mrs. Brooks walked in wearing a green apron carrying a wooden spatula in hand.
"I'll have George bring in your things when he goes out to salt the walk."
Lisbon looked quickly at Jane. "Abigail, Jane and I were planning on staying at a hotel tonight."
"We made reservations." Jane added.
"Nonsense," Mrs. Brooks said walking closer. "Patrick dear, you cancel those reservations right this instant. You two are our guests. We only have one guest room but the couch pulls out into a sofa bed so there's absolutely no need to spend money on a room."
Lisbon realized there was no arguing with this woman. "Thank you, if you're sure."
"We're sure." Mr. Brooks said as he entered the front hallway with his winter coat on. "If you'll just hit the button on your trunk, I'll run outside and grab your things before dinner."
Lisbon pressed the button on the remote and George headed outside.
"Now, I'll have you two help me set the dinner table for me."
"I can help." Emma said returning from what Lisbon assumed was the guest room.
"Sweetie, why don't you go upstairs and wash up for dinner. I'm sure we can handle the table." Mrs Brooks said.
Emma obeyed and ran up the wooden stairs to the second floor of the house.
Dinner was the best Jane could remember having in a very long time. Home cooking wasn't something a CBI agent or consultant was accustomed to. The meal consisted of pot roast, roasted red potatoes, and green beans. To conclude the perfect meal, Mrs. Brooks brought out a plate of molasses cookies which they enjoyed with coffee, or tea in Jane's case. Emma had a mug of hot cocoa. She wasn't usually allowed chocolate at night but it was vacation and a special occasion after all.
When they finished, Lisbon stood to help clear the plates.
"I'll get that honey. Why don't you and Patrick go get yourselves settled. Emma can show you the guest room before she takes her bath."
Emma stood to comply when Mrs. Brooks added, "No dilly dallying tonight Em. We have a big day planned tomorrow."
Unknown to Emma, they had all decided to take a train into New York city the following day for some shopping and sight-seeing. After all, neither Lisbon nor Jane had been to New York.
Emma grabbed Lisbon's hand to show her to the guest room. Jane found his way to the living room and introduced himself to the plaid pull out sofa. It was nowhere near as comfortable as the leather sofas back home but it was long enough and Jane didn't spend all that many hours sleeping anyway. He decided he wouldn't pull the bed out and instead, settled down on the cushions with his arms grossed under his head.
Lisbon found him like that a half an hour later. She was dressed in old sweatpants and a CBI t-shirt. She carried with her two folded blankets from the closet in her room.
"You want me to help you pull out the bed?" She asked.
"Nah. I'm good right here."
She understood better than anyone. "I ah brought a few of the books you had laid out on your desk back at the office. They're in my suitcase but I'll bring them out. I figured you'd want something if you, you know, had trouble sleeping."
Jane nodded, touched by her thoughtfulness. She handed him the two blankets and then disappeared back towards the guest room. She returned less than a minute later with the handful of books and placed them on the coffee table in front of the sofa.
"Thank you." He said sincerely.
They both turned when Emma came bounding down the stairs dressed in her pink Disney princess pajamas.
"Nana said I have to go to bed now. Trick, will you tuck me in?"
Jane swallowed and then nodded.
Lisbon watched with slight concern as Jane followed the girl up the stairs. He had seen the small flash of panic cross Jane's face. She wondered briefly if she should follow them but decided against it. Instead, she went back to the guestroom and brushed her teeth. She was lying in bed with just the lamp illuminating the small room when Jane poked his head inside.
"I just wanted to say goodnight." He said.
"Goodnight Jane. Emma asleep?"
Jane nodded. "Yeah, she demanded I read her a book. She was asleep by the tenth page."
"What book did you read?"
Jane smiled. "Alice in Wonderland."
"If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?" Lisbon quoted.
"Very impressive my dear."
Lisbon shrugged. "I pretty much taught my brothers to read."
Jane nodded. "Well goodnight Lisbon."
"Goodnight Jane."
A/N So, what kinds of things will they do in NYC? Stay tuned to find out. Please review (it'll be like early Christmas for me too!) :P