Title: Misconceptions
Author: tromana
Rating: T
Characters: Lisbon, Jane, Van Pelt, Rigsby
Spoilers: 1.16, Bloodshot
Summary: Chocolate is the way to a woman's heart, right?
Disclaimer: Well I didn't get the Mentalist for my birthday, so it's still not mine.
Misconceptions
It's a common misconception that every woman loves chocolate. Jane always ensured he had a spare bar about his person just in case one of his two favourite women, Lisbon or Van Pelt, was having a particularly rough day. He'd needed it when Van Pelt had found out just what a bastard Dan Hollerbeck really was. After Rigsby had made his excuses to go fill in some kind of form, Jane had spent several hours rubbing the poor girl's back soothingly before presenting her with the treat. She'd smiled appreciatively, whilst Lisbon watched approvingly for a change. Jane had time to flash her a knowing smile before returning his attentions to Grace.
Once, he'd even had to use the magic of the chocolate bar on Rigsby. But that was different. They'd been on their way to question a victim's family and he hadn't shut up about just how hungry that he was. It also didn't help that Rigsby knew full well that Jane always carried a bar of chocolate in case of emergencies. Eventually Jane had to give in and hand over the candy, if only to shut him up and attempt to satisfy the void that was Rigsby's stomach for a couple of minutes.
Lisbon was upset, and Jane hadn't had the time to fathom out why she was so withdrawn. There were occasions when the case just got to her for no obvious reason, and Jane had surmised that it was probably the stress of the job. Being surrounded by death and destruction for as long as Lisbon had was always going to leave repercussions. The case that had just been closed involved the death of a toddler and a baby. The mother had wanted to kill herself, but killed the elder of her two children first to catch the attention of her estranged husband. Once her audience was big enough, she jumped, baby in arms and Lisbon had fell into a moody silence ever since. The rest of the team seemed to know to stay well away, but that wasn't going to stop Patrick Jane.
As he turned the door handle to her office, he carefully slipped out his fail-safe peace offering. Lisbon had her head on her desk and was sobbing gently. Jane had to admit that the case had got to them all a bit, and was certain that Lisbon blamed herself for the death of the baby. She seemed to be blaming herself personally, insisting that if she hadn't let Jane wind up the suicidal mother so much, if she'd got there earlier than maybe, just maybe, she'd have been able to save a life. Or two.
"I've brought chocolate?"
Lisbon's head snapped up and she shook her head at the gift held out in faith by Jane. He frowned and pulled up a chair, staring intently at his boss. As far as he was concerned, a woman never refused chocolate. It was unheard of that a woman didn't like it. Besides, if she didn't like chocolate, he should have known by now.
She shrugged. "It gives me migraines."
Ah. He wished he worked that one out before. A weepy Lisbon was one thing. A crotchety, weepy Lisbon would be another thing entirely.
end