A/N So this was an absolute...pain, to write. I had about three different ideas, and decided to run with this one yesterday. Anyway, thanks to everybody who took the time to review the previous chapter! It really means a lot. Enjoy this chapter! Flashbacks in italics.
Disclaimer: I double checked my Macy's voucher, and it actually says that Simon Baker is a free gift, but I don't know if I have anywhere to put him...
For an investigative officer, Teresa Lisbon wasn't very good at knowing when she was being followed.
Which, Jane supposed, was a good thing for him.
As the black SUV ahead of him turned left, the consultant did likewise, making sure to keep an inconspicuous distance away. He frowned slightly.
"Where are you going?" he murmured to himself. This was the sixth time she had left work early. The sixth Friday in a row, to be exact.
Jane was curious. There was no other explanation (or so he desperately tried to persuade himself) as to why he would be following her around to find out where she was going.
It would have made things a lot easier if she had just told him
"Boss, when do you wa...?" Rigsby started, seeing her emerge from her office.
"Leave it on my desk. I'll deal with it in the morning."
"Where are you going?" Jane asked, not even bothering to open his eyes.
"Out," Lisbon replied. Van Pelt and Rigsby exchanged mystified looks, watching as she pulled on her jacket. Jane sat up sharply, much like a meercat on a mission, and levelled her with a steady gaze.
"Where are you going?" he repeated with a smile. Cho shook his head, chuckling to himself.
"None of your business," the boss said easily, "I'll see you tomorrow."
And so it began- the quest to find out where Lisbon went every Friday afternoon.
After much deliberation, Jane and the team had ruled out the scary idea that their boss was dating. Rigsby and Cho were certain that they would know. Van Pelt said it was just unlikely, all things considering.
"What do you mean 'all things considering'?" Jane had demanded, but the red-head just smirked knowingly.
Jane himself was loathe to think on it more than he had to, because the idea of Lisbon with another made him feel slightly nauseous.
Van Pelt had suggested that maybe Lisbon had joined a club- Rigsby shot that down by asking why she wouldn't tell them.
So, after exhausting numerous possibilities, here he was.
She turned left again, driving halfway down the street before disappearing from his sight. Pulling over, Jane stuck his head out of the window, looking up and down the street for his target.
Not seeing her anywhere, and realizing he had no idea where they were, Jane sighed.
"Well, this should be fun."
The only noticeable thing about the street on which Jane had parked his car was the church. So, he thought, it would probably be the ideal place to start.
The hall was buzzing. That was the only word he could use to describe the rambunctious chaos he had just entered. Despite the noise, Jane had to breathe in appreciatively- the smell was great. A mixture of chicken, tomato and fresh bread.
"Hey, watch it, boy!"
Jane jumped, spinning around to come face to face with an angry woman, her gray hair filthy and matted. She clutched a bowl of soup to her chest, coveting it protectively and fixing him with a steely glare.
"I'm sorry," he apologized with a smile. The woman's face softened at the sight of the charming twinkle in his eyes, and shuffled away.
"Jus' don't spill my soup 'gain."
It was a kitchen, Jane realized, God's gift to the homeless and needy. And, judging by the numbers of people, quite a popular one. Long tables stretched along either side of the hall, spare seats unlikely.
A hand touched him on the arm.
"Excuse me, sir, can I help you?"
Jane turned, smiling sheepishly at the realization that he must look totally out of place. The woman returned the smile easily, and he relaxed slightly.
"Yes, actually. What is this?" he asked, gesturing around.
"Every day the church opens its doors to the homeless and needy. Soup, bread, clean clothes. We run a child-care centre for the...working moms."
"We?"
"Father Anthony and the congregation. But some of the volunteers aren't even religious."
"I wonder if you could help me. I'm looking for my friend, Te..."
Jane never got to finish his sentence, because like Moses and the Red Sea, the crowds parted to reveal a small group of children, and Jane felt his breath catch.
"JANE!"
He tried to smile, but the realization that he had gotten the whole situation very, very wrong made it hard. Lisbon stared at him in shock.
"What are you doing here?" she said angrily, blushing bright red. A small girl hid behind her knees, her thumb glued to her mouth, her bright blue eyes staring up at him curiously.
Jane felt a stab of pain in the pit of his stomach at the memory of his daughter, but bravely battled on.
"Ah, Lisbon! How nice to see you! Do you come here often?"
"Did you follow me? Dammit, Jane, what is wrong with you?"
The woman who had been speaking to the consultant arched an eyebrow.
"Patrick Jane?" she repeated in amusement, "You're Patrick Jane? Well, that explains a lot."
"Lacey..." Lisbon ground out threateningly, "Maybe you'd like to take over for a minute?"
"Sure thing, Tess," Lacey replied with a wink. Rolling her eyes, the small brunette grabbed his arm, pulling him (hard) away from the group of children. She finally released his arm when they were away from the main hall, in a corridor that presumably led to the actual church.
"I'll ask you again," she said in a deadly voice, "and this time I want an answer. What are you doing here?"
Jane shrugged.
"I followed you. Six weeks in a row, you've left early. I wanted to know why."
"So you've been stalking me for six weeks?" He shook his head.
"Tut tut, Lisbon. It's not stalking, it's just me looking out for you. And no, tonight was the first time."
"I don't need you to look out for me. I carry a gun."
"And what good would that do you against someone who attacks you from behind, eh?" Jane pointed out, "Anyway, I have a question. Why do you choose to spend your time in a church when you haven't followed a religion for years?"
Lisbon sighed, running a tired hand through her hair.
"I like it here."
"No, you don't. Your shoulders are tense, your eyes are tired, and the bags beneath them have grown since you left the CBI."
She hesitated, and moved to lean against the cool stone pillar. Jane remained motionless, just content to watch her.
"After my mother died, my father just...lost it," she began softly, "He's drink every hour of the day. When he...when he forgot to leave money out, and when there was no food in the house because I didn't have a chance to go to the store, and when the phone line had been cut off because we didn't pay the bills, my brothers and I used to go to the soup kitchen at our church."
Lisbon took a deep breath, letting her head fall back onto the rock.
"I can't repay the people that helped me, so I try to help the people here instead."
Jane lowered his head.
"I'm sorry," he said seriously. She scoffed.
"No, you're not," she replied bitterly, glaring fiercely, "And now that you have your answer, I'd like you to leave."
"Lisbon..."
"Leave, Jane. Now."
"Why are you so angry?"
"LEAVE!"
So he did, with his hands hanging loosely by his sides, the sleeves of his shirt rolled up to his elbows, and a frown creasing his brow.
Hours later, Lisbon kicked the side of her SUV in frustration, glaring at the flat and deflated tyre.
"Great," she muttered, "perfect."
This time Patrick Jane had gone too far. Bugging her at work, at weekends, at Christmas, was one thing, but to actually invade her privacy by following her across town...
With a growl of frustration, Lisbon grabbed her gun, badge and purse from the glove compartment, locked the car, and began to walk down the street towards her home. She hadn't got more than two blocks when the sky opened and rain began to fall in heavy sheets.
"Is this my punishment for being mean to Jane?" she cried.
"Maybe, but I think the flat tyre had that covered," came the familiar voice shouting over the rain. As she saw the crappy blue car pulling in beside her, Lisbon stopped, rolling her eyes.
"I told you to leave me alone."
"Since when do I listen? And you do know it's raining, right?"
Lisbon frowned, speeding up to get as far away from him as possible.
"You work that one out all by yourself?" she snapped. Jane grinned, and pressing his foot onto the gas pedal, set his vehicle gliding along beside her.
"Let me give you a ride."
"No."
"Really?"
She hesitated. It was Jane's turn to roll his eyes, and he came to a stop.
"You're determination to deny any contact between us is admirable, Lisbon, but please. Get in the car."
Lisbon nodded, and climbed into the passenger's seat beside him.
"Jane?"
"Lisbon?"
"You let the air out of my tyre, didn't you?"
Jane pulled up outside her apartment, and proceeded to follow her up to the door. Lisbon sighed.
"Jane, what are you doing?"
"I'm going to make you dinner," he said, his voice light and matter-of-fact.
"I don't want your guilty charity, Jane."
"So you'd rather spend the evening alone? In a cold and lonely apartment?"
Lisbon glared at him, but her silence was more than enough to give him an answer. He took a step towards her, his hand finding the curve of her arm.
"Let me make you dinner."
"No, because this is just you feeling guilty for ruining my afternoon," she repeated. Jane chuckled, dropping his hand from her shoulder.
"Whatever you say. Personally, I'd say it was more of a friendly act of kindness, from one friend to another."
"We're not friends."
"I disagree, Lisbon."
Lisbon glared at him. Jane smirked infuriatingly, waiting for her to unlock the door.
"I may enjoy charity work, but I'm not feeling generous enough to let you spend the night here," she said, sliding the key into the hole. Jane looked at her curiously.
"I never said anything about spending the night. That you made that leap tells me that the thought had occurred to you, which I find strangely flattering."
"Oh, God..." she moaned, at the realization that she had just willingly let him into her home.
"No, not God, Lisbon. Jane. Patrick Jane..."
OOC and unlikely, but WTF, because it made me happy to read it! I hope you enjoyed it too! :)