Alright, well, here is Chapter 4! Pretty short, I know, but it's still pretty decent. Next Chapter; EPCOT! I'm real excited about that. Now, every Chapter will the theme parks will be extra long, even though my chapters are long enough as is. I really appreciate the comments, especially ones from you lurkers! Any who, enjoy Chapter 4!
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"Wow."
The Magical Express bus had picked them up from the airport, and was now being accepted through the gates into the lodge. Greenery was everywhere; Lisbon was pretty sure that there wasn't even that much plants in Africa, period! They were all the way to the front, two to a seat. Naturally, Lisbon chose to sit next to van Pelt. Jane wasn't too happy, but decided to sit next to his 'good ol' buddy, Cho'. Any other people on the bus where in the back, so they had room.
"Now, isn't this exciting?" Jane asked them, as if they were on a field trip. It wasn't far from one, though.
Lisbon shrugged. "I guess, I can't see much." With her amused smile she slid out of her seat right as the bus came to a stop, unexpected by the others. They were real spread out, so it would take them a while to get their stuff together. She walked out, Jane at her heals.
Jane trapped Lisbons' wrist before she could get any further. He was murmuring fast with an edge of frustration. "What the hell was that on the plane?"
Lisbon paused nervously for a moment, then got a bit angry herself. "Laying my head on your shoulder is hardly a reason to get angry about."
He raised an eyebrow humorously. "I'm not angry. I'm just…" He walked a few feet away from the bus, murmuring as he passed her softly. "Frustrated. You were very unpredictable, and no matter how much I don't like to admit it, I dislike…" He squinted his eyes from the glaring sun before meeting them to Lisbon's'. "People who I can't read like a book. If I can't predict your next moves, I'd have to rely on more… physical terms, which is a low for me."
She scoffed quietly, eyeing the team as they walked out. All their real bags were shipped to the room; a new thing. Apparently, Jane also ordered groceries online, which he timed to be shipped right when they arrived to the room, or near that time anyway. He narrowed her eyes at her, putting her carry-on on his own shoulder without breaking his gaze. "I use more physical means when it's needed, and you, Lisbon, have just been counted as an obstacle."
"Wait a moment," Lisbon said slowly, stepping away from the bus so the driver could get suitcases for all of the other people on the bus. "How am I an obstacle? I thought I was the thing you were trying to get to, not avoid."
He shook his head with a knowing smile. "Oh, you do not know the extent of the plan I intend to, even though tweaked a bit, follow through to."
She sighed. "Why me, then?"
A flash of anger clouded his eyes, but before he could speak Cho interrupted. "Where is the room?"
Jane scowled briefly, before composing himself and nodding toward a path surrounded by plants. Apparently, Lisbon realized, the driver was new, so he let them of at an entrance with a short trek instead of in front of the building itself. Lisbon shrugged internally, though; she didn't mind the walk. "Come on, I'll show you."
Lisbon sensed his tone, and walked slowly with van Pelt and Rigsby. Van Pelt threw her a confused look. "Jane seemed mad. Not that it's any of my business, but… What were you two talking about?"
Lisbon cursed internally, but awkwardly shook her head. "Nothing, just silly things."
Lisbon saw Jane grip her carry-on bag tighter, and van Pelt nodded to her. "OK, I just hope he'll be a bit happier on the trip."
"Oh, I plan to," Jane shot out, running his free hand along the green leaves. "This trip is going to be unforgettable, honestly. What do you think, Lisbon?"
Lisbon narrowed her eyes at his back, but no one else noticed. "Hey, you could be wrong. What if something happens that doesn't correspond with your plans?"
His jaw clenched slightly. "Oh, that won't happen. You know me; I promise something, I follow through with it." He turned to smile brightly to everyone, his composure relaxed. "I genuinely hope that all of you will have fun."
Rigsby was on the verge of laughing. "Am I missing something? Man, you're being…strange."
Jane chuckled, just as they approached the end of the short path. "No, no, you've just never seen me excited before. You may all have fun and such, but my ramblings are probably going to make it all the more awkward."
Cho didn't ruffle. "Noted."
They crossed the street and approached a huge cover, the theme as deeply African as Jane described. They crossed the road under it and entered the lobby.
It was very cool and refreshing, the air blowing onto you whenever you were suctioned into the lobby. The interior was amazing; it had beautiful chandeliers hanging lightly, and if you looked up, you could see halls of all the doors to rooms. There were chairs and sofas everywhere, and straight ahead were floor-to-ceiling glass windows that viewed the 'savannah'. To the right was a shop, to the left the check-in. The whole thing had earthy colors and looked as if made from wood, but definitely an expensive place. African artifacts littered gracefully inside of bamboo cases.
Jane whistled lowly. "This is very nice. I bet the rooms are comfortable." He shot Lisbon a smirk.
She pretended to ignore it and turned to the team. "Let's go check in. Jane here will keep watch of our bags." She stomped off.
Jane chuckled, and van Pelt looked at him strangely. "Did you… do anything to provoke her?"
Jane paused for a moment with a slight smile, then looked up at her. "Yes, I did, but she wouldn't take kindly to me telling anybody precisely why."
Cho turned to him. "I'm guessing something sexual, right?"
Rigsby stifled a laugh of disbelief, but Jane didn't miss a beat. "Something along the sort."
"Whatever it is, don't," Cho continued, setting his bags down with Jane. "Lisbon is usually stressed enough as it is, she doesn't need to be angered even more."
"Oh, but you see," Jane said with a perk. "She just thinks she's angered. There's a difference."
"Not much."
Jane narrowed his eyes thoughtfully at Cho. "Trust me, she won't be angry, or stressed out for that matter. That's the last thing I want her to be."
Rigsby took the brief pause that followed as a chance to add something. "So, the first thing you want her to be is why she's mad?"
Jane grinned widely at them. "Exactly. Now, stay here to watch the bags."
"No… Jane, wait!"
He waved his hand at them without concern, walking over to Lisbon in her place in the line. It was short, but moved a bit slowly. There was a row of the people who worked there behind the counter.
Lisbon looked at him for a moment, thoughtfully, before looking ahead. "This place is in fact nice. It would be even nicer without your inappropriate comments about everything…" She suddenly glared at him, hissing out the next few words and poking him in his hurt rib. "… In front of the team!"
He winced at her forwardness, but was a bit pleased nonetheless. "Does that give me permission to do it away from the team?"
"Sure, since all we'll be doing is talking anyways."
He paused for a moment, and then hung is head a bit. "I walked right into that one, didn't I?"
She gave him a sarcastic smile. "Yes, and I'm pretty proud of myself."
They moved upwards in line, and Jane stuffed his hands into his pocket, and the atmosphere shifted. "I'm still angry about that silly question of yours."'
"Which one?" She cocked her head innocently, but Jane saw right through her instantly.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about, Lisbon, and you're only digging your grave deeper by feigning ignorance."
She sighed heavily. The flash in his eyes after she asked him 'Why me?' was too big to be ignored, he never opened his emotions like that before. She took another step in line and he followed suit, eyes emotionless and analyzing.
"Can you at least answer it?"
"My answer would be showing you 'why you', and I don't think this is quite the appropriate place." One eyebrow rose in slight humor, but mostly from answer.
She turned away from him. "You're usually so calm and collected, not threatening to pounce on me. What gives?" She tried to keep her voice low in kindness for the family in front of her, and Jane's voice was always a slight murmur as is.
"Well, I already explained this to you in the car, so it would be ridiculous to repeat myself." He took an inconspicuous step towards her, and seemed to look off somewhere, subtly brushing his hand against hers.
Her breath hitched, which seemed strange. He had done worse to her, so why the hell did she shiver over just this? "You're right, that would be silly."
He turned his head to hers, and caught her eyes effortlessly, taunting her with the fact that she couldn't look away. "When we get to the room, I-."
"Next group, please!"
Lisbon snapped out of her trance and, irritably, stomped over to the worker behind the counter. Jane followed with an easy smile.
The woman was slightly tanned, with straight brown hair and hazel eyes. Her nametag said, 'Hi, I'm Claire from Sydney, Australia.' Her voice had a slight accent, but mostly erased form her time in America. "Hello there. I'm Claire, where are you two from?"
They went through the boring process of checking in while the team lazed around near the bags. Cho was the first to speak.
"Let's go buy some earplugs, I have a feeling we'll need them tonight."
"Ugh!" Rigsby groaned loudly, though smiling slightly as he did so. "It's our boss, man, not cool."
"And Jane," Cho replied, void of any emotion. "You have to admit, Jane has been leading up to this point. He may not want boss upset, but he's obviously provoking her. Though it does make it a bit less weird that we know who the guy annoying her is."
"No, it doesn't," Rigsby shot back, crossing his arms. "That makes it even more weird. I bet Jane will have a few broken bones by the end of this trip." He paused and shifted uncomfortably. "Besides, she doesn't even like people like that."
"Do you not remember Walter?" Van Pelt asked him suddenly. "It was obvious there were sparks between them. Plus," she pointed out skillfully, raising her eyebrows in explanation, "She showed up in the same clothes the day after the case. She couldn't have been more obvious, and Jane was surprisingly…"
"Distant." Cho finished in at her pause. "He all but avoided her for a few days."
Rigsby looked at them in confusion. "Lisbon and Mashburn slept together?"
Van Pelt looked at him like he was the most ignorant person in the world. Rigsby squirmed under her stare, and added, "I didn't know. I'm not good at the whole romance thing, OK?"
"You got that right," Cho said, looking out the window on the other side of the huge room. You couldn't see anything, but he got a glimpse of the wildlife. "There's a zebra out there."
Rigsby perked out of his gloom and turned around so fast, you could barely see the movement. "What? Where?"
Van Pelt followed suit. "Really? I wonder what else is out there!"
Cho looked away. "You guys are so easy to manipulate."
"You're right," Jane added from behind them. He was smiling wide, holding up room keys and a map in his hand with Lisbon tagging along, looking at something on her phone. "But the key is not to tell them they are, good friend."
"That was never my style, manipulating that is," Cho said. "I just file them down until there is nothing left to hide."
Jane winced. "When you put it in that context, it sounds near painful."
"That's why I hired him," Lisbon answered for Cho, pocketing her phone. Her hand was slightly near it, Jane noted, more so then her normal attitude, which she was trying to put on. Her voice was almost all business, causing whatever happened to be on her phone personal. He narrowed his eyes thoughtfully, promising to question her on it in the near future. "Good Ol' Cho, turning people into a defenseless worm with a look."
He almost smiled, and he didn't have to try and conceal his pride, it was gushing out even though he was silent. Jane clapped his hands once.
"If we're going to make Epcot tonight, we need to get moving." He grabbed his bag and took off towards the elevators. Van Pelt joined him.
"We're going to a park tonight?" She asked, struggling to catch up with his strides. They're legs are roughly the same length, but she usually took shorter steps. He found the fact amusing.
"Yes, of course. We eat at a rather popular restaurant there, very good reviews." He took one last look at the grand lobby. "Isn't this wonderful? The architecture is beautiful."
Van Pelt nodded. "Yeah, it is. I like how I feel like I stepped foot in Africa, like a new-and-improved hotel there."
Jane smiled. "I know what you mean."
The team was following closely behind, so they didn't have to hold the elevator door open. He punched in a number, and saw that Lisbon was texting again. He didn't want to confront her on it, at least not in an elevator. He glanced at his watch, and found that the flight was about three hours, if not a bit less. It was about half-past five, due to the three-hour time change, and their reservation was at about seven. He did the math quickly in his head, and found that he had around half an hour to work with, including the buses and how long it took to find the place. He smirked internally as the doors opened.
They walked along a hallway that overlooked the hallway once more, just two stories higher. They entered a hallway starting right where the giant windows in the lobby opened up to a platform to watch the animals. They walked a ways until they reached the room. He smiled at them.
"This is the key to your future, to your lifetime!" He held up one of the room keys, and Lisbon rolled her eyes, along with the rest of the team. "Now, I think a speech is in order…"
"Jane," Lisbon said irritably, snatching the key and brushing past him. He leaned over her, watching her glance at the key, breathing lightly on her neck. He laid his hand onto her hip innocently, though a corner of his mouth twitched. Her fingers turned ice-cold, but she managed to slide in the card smoothly and click the door open.
The room was pretty, really. Right as you entered, there was a small kitchen to the left, the right a short hallway. Straight ahead there was a small living room layout, beside the couch on the left wall a small wooden, neat dining table. Ahead was a balcony with a glass sliding door. The whole room looked as if it was made of wood, clay and leather straps, but it was very neat and a few artifacts cluttered the walls.
Lisbon veered off to the right first, rather then the other door on the left that was near the kitchen. She went through a doorframe, and on the right was a laundry room, straight in front of her a bathroom, and to the left three beds in a rather large bedroom, also with a balcony on the far wall. She furrowed her eyebrows and turned to Jane. "Why are there only three beds?"
The team seemed as though they were holding back a laugh. All three breezed past them, and set their things down in the bedroom. Jane grasped Lisbons' wrist gently and tugged her to the room she missed, near the kitchen. She could've sworn she heard Cho mutter 'Have fun' and the snickers of her team. Shakily stepping across the room and into the doorway, she gasped.
It was pretty, yes, with the same theme as the rest. To the right was another balcony, only with its' curtains draped over it softly. To the left was a grand bathroom with a large tub and a shower big enough to fit three people.
Right in the middle was a plush, king-sized bed. One bed.
She whipped around, dropping her bag. Jane had his arms crossed around his chest, leaning against the now-closed door with an easy smile. Lisbon eyed him dangerously. "No…"
He shrugged, and then nodded with a smug face. "I thought of it myself."
"God, Jane, when will you ever-," she stopped abruptly, and her hand darted down to her vibrating pocket. Jane beat her to it.
He lifted it up high, out of her reach. She tried to grasp at it. "Now, let's see who we've been texting here…"
He narrowed his eyes in a flash, and his voice turned to a quiet growl. "Mashburn? You have been texting Mashburn?"
Lisbon huffed, but seemed a bit guilty. "It's Walter, Jane, and he's your friend too. He sent me a text, and I figured what the hell, why not text back?"
"Why not?" Jane tossed her phone onto the desk, and then turned to her. "Let me refresh your memory, Teresa." The way he said her name made her stumble a step back. "You need to remember who you are to him, and who you are to me. Let's not forget that the only reason you call him 'Walter' is because of that meaningless sex you two had a nigh while ago." Her knees hit the back of the bed, and he practically threw her on to it, his own body covering hers'.
She was sure her heart stopped beating when his teeth grazed the line of her jaw. His whispered words tickled her ear. "If you dare speak to him on this trip ever again, I'm going to make sure all you ever call me is 'Patrick'."
She was scared, yes, but her stubborn side shot up and an angry flare crossed her eyes. "You're not the boss of me, Jane. I can talk to whomever I want, and you can't do a thing about it."
"You're right," he said, even more quietly then their whispered conversation. "I can't do 'a thing' about it. But I can damn well try, you better realize my intent. Don't count your eggs before they hatch, Lisbon. I'm not a nice man."
And he darted up, pushing himself off the bed away from Lisbon, who was lying there defenseless. She felt a surge of annoyance and propped herself up a bit irritably, watching him take off his scuffed shoes and socks. "Is that going to become a daily occurrence, you making me into a defenseless wreck while you go on your merry way?"
He shrugged off his jacket and started to unbutton his vest. "I wouldn't call it a merry way, Lisbon, more of a... rebuilt, now approachable path." When he got his vest out of the way, he didn't bother with his shirts' buttons and just slid it over his head. Lisbon once again ran her eyes over his well-defined chest, and then stopped at his blotchy bruise. She snorted.
"I got you good, didn't I, Jane? Yet you still keep bothering me again and again." She cocked her head sarcastically as he silently opened the suitcase that was waiting in the living room when they arrived, just like he expected them to. "Why is that?"
He looked at her with an intense look, not yet angry, but not yet taunting, either. "Because I love you."
She was speechless for a moment, and he swallowed a smirk and turned back to his clothes. He would need to keep it serious at points if he were to convince her fully of the extent of his feelings. He went to the dresser, which was two rows of three drawers, and set his underwear and socks on the top left one. Her voice came back. "I hope we at least go to one formal dinner, I packed a dress."
He turned around suddenly, his eyebrows up to his hairline. "You packed a dress?"
She rolled her eyes, but slightly dipped her head in embarrassment. "I didn't stutter."
"No, no you didn't." He set his casual T-shirts right below his first drawer. "Er, it's a restaurant here, called Boma. It's casual-formal, but at a certain time and night it's formal. I gave the team a heads-up, I was just surprised you had one. I know how much you dislike formal affairs."
She was already unpacking her stuff, neatly laying her things in the same way as Jane parallel to his set of drawers. "Well… I got it, that's that. What time do we leave?"
He dished his phone out, flipped his phone open for a split second and set it on the table. "Ten minutes we leave, and it takes around five minutes to get to the buses, which is just downstairs."
Lisbon nodded as his bare arm brushed hers'. She shivered, and then turned angrily to him. "Can you please put on a shirt?"
He turned to look at her, pure innocence plastered onto his face. "Does it bother you?"
"Well, yes… No, what I mean is…" She took a deep breath and buried her head in her hands slowly, closing her remaining drawer with her knee. "Why is this happening to me?"
She felt a warm hand on her back, soothing. She looked up to his face, though it seemed etched a bit with guilt and something else… She furrowed her eyebrows. He turned her with a slight pressure of his hand, bringing her to him. She bolted up. "I do not want to be comforted by the source of my problems, thank you."
"You're welcome. And Lisbon, you just don't like having change. That goes for me and this vacation, which will soon turn out to be fun, just you watch." His hand was still on her waist, but he dropped it. Instead, he opened his arms wide. "You just need a hug."
Lisbon rolled her eyes, and then put all her weight onto one leg. "I don't need anything from you, Jane."
"Of course you don't," He said, though Lisbon sensed a bit of persuasion in his tone before he continued. "I'll just give you one whenever you want it. Say the word, I'll get you whatever your heart desires."
"Including you turning back to normal?"
"Except that." He threw her a crooked grin. She didn't return it and just scooped up her toiletries to put in the bathroom. She closed the door behind her.
Jane sighed as the door shut. It almost hurt to irritate her so strongly, though he knew it was part of the plan. He opened the middle drawer and scooped up the first thing in sight; it turned out to be a white, thin t-shirt with faded black graphic designs clumped on the side. He quickly changed into new jeans and some normal shoes, running a hand through his hair to tame it. He glanced at himself in the mirror, and deemed his outfit appropriate. He transported his wallet in and, after a moment of thought, a miniature notebook and pen with a childish smile inside his jeans' pocket.
After a few clattering and sounds of shoes emitting from the bathroom later, Lisbon emerged, looking a bit fresher and happier. Jane was glad to see her chirp up, though he kept his impassive face on when she saw him.
Lisbon always, always knew that her consultant was handsome, very much so. Not like a suit-and-tie handsome with class. But a bad boy handsome, his taunting eyes only adding to the appeal. But now, even more so then whenever he was shirtless, with this casual wear accenting his muscles, Patrick Jane was… sexy. His easygoing face that seemed to stare her down made her squirm, and his muscles that flexed on instinct every now and then with his arms crossed almost caused her to lose her resolve.
Dammit, Teresa! Her sensible side screamed at her, jerking her head away. Get a hold of yourself. Your strong, independent, and you know that you won't fall in love with him. He's just a know-it-all jackass, you don't need him!
Lisbon sighed in relief at the thought and grabbed her phone off the table, flipping it open. That broke Janes' expression, -or lack of-, and he almost growled in warning.
"I don't approve of this dictatorship, Jane." Lisbon began, finding her new messages. "Walter is a sweet guy, and it's just a conversation. I don't think this will interfere with this silly game of yours."
"Did you tell him we're in Disney World?" Jane asked her suddenly, his eyes locked on a wall behind her, calculating. His face fell from his slightly angry mood and switched to his normal, familiar one. Lisbon cocked her head.
"No, I was about to. Why?"
He breathed out a sigh in relief. "If you told him, he would definitely show up here, being the romantic he is. I suppose, if you promise not to tell him, you can still text him."
She rolled her eyes and felt a surge of annoyance. "Gee, thanks."
"Your welcome."
"You don't rule my life, Jane," Lisbon said angrily, stuffing the phone in her pocket. "Stop acting like you do before I chop your neck, right at the pressure point."
"Oh Lisbon, I didn't know you liked it rough." Jane waggled his eyebrows suggestively. She slapped him in his hurt rib.
"Yow!" He yelped loudly, swallowing his smirk. Lisbon couldn't help but grin, her dimple flashing deeply beside her mouth. Turning her head from him, she tied her hair up with the band on her wrist into a sloppy bun. It exposed her slender neck and emphasized her smooth skin. His pain dropped in a heartbeat.
Janes' lips were pressed upon her neck in an instant, his strong arms wrapped affectionately around her waist.
She didn't have time to question or swat him away when he found it, that sweet spot on the curve between her neck and shoulder. When his teeth grazed it, she let out a moan; soft and covered with breath, yes, but loud enough to vibrate her throat, causing Jane to freeze. His mouth trailed quickly up to her ear.
"Have I found Little Miss Fierces' tender spot?" His words dripped with raw humor, unable to contain his excitement. His words were shaking in an attempt to control the speed of them. "Oh, this is bad news for you."
He nipped at the same spot once more, tauntingly, and then soothed it with his tongue. Lisbon swallowed the offending noise that threatened to bubble up her throat with difficulty, but in return had to use Jane as support. Her legs felt like Jell-O, boneless for a moment.
"Jane…" She murmured after her heart stopped its' swift painful throbs. "…Stop, please."
He froze his mouth, locking his jaw. The desperate tone of her voice immediately broke his resolve and turned his face into an impassive mask. He untangled his arms from her body and turned his back to her.
"Come on, it's time to go." He refused to look at her, for he knew he would be unable to control himself at the sight of a disheveled Lisbon. And her taste… If there is a God, only He knows' how Jane was able to withstand for so long. Though, as he walked out the door, he couldn't help the slight, dark smirk that approached his face at the thought of being a… puppet master, of some sort. Granted, she was more then a toy, but still…
She watched him in disbelief as he called out to the team, in disbelief at this newfound advantage, in disbelief of her lack of strategy to counterattack him now that he found her weakness. Her fists clenched and she mechanically walked after Jane.
He was so sleeping on the couch tonight.
20+ reviews, Chapter 5! After that, though, I won't be going by reviews; I'm not quite finished with Chapter 6, so I can't magically post it with 25 reviews. Tomorrow is school again -bleh-, so less and less time will be spent working. But I do stay up late as is, so I'll put it to good use. Bye for now!