Title: Hurt
Spoilers: Spoilers for Ep 1.20 Red Sauce
Prompt: PhoenixWytch's prompts #066: Hurt

Hurt

The party had been Van Pelt's idea. She'd been surprised that Lisbon would be up for it at all - celebrating birthdays at the headquarters definitely blurred the lines between professionalism and personal issues. Jane watched in amusement as Lisbon happily agreed in to the idea; he was fairly certain she hadn't celebrated birthdays much as a child so that probably explained her enthusiasm for it. As she got older, it remained just the passing of another day.

The whole team were up for it, agreeing that their boss deserved to be spoiled every once in a while.

Van Pelt insisted on doing most the organising. It wasn't that she didn't trust Jane, Rigsby and Cho. Well, that was exactly the reason. They'd probably buy the paper plates and forget the cake, or something. For the week before she was constantly reminding them that the event was coming up; asking them if they had brought and wrapped the gift. She, out of all of them, was the most determined to ensure their celebration went off without a hitch.

When Jane appeared to forget the gift, it was hard to judge who was more disappointed, though they both tried not to show it much, Lisbon or Van Pelt.

Van Pelt was angry, she felt as if all her efforts had been in vain. But then again, if anyone was going to do something wrong, she should have known it would be Jane. She was about to give him a piece of her mind when they found out about another case. Jane would have to receive an earful later, she mused, as they got back to work. Well, if she had the confidence to tell the consultant off, at any rate.

Lisbon hadn't meant to get upset, really, she hadn't. Of course, she tried her best to cover it under a brusque, professional manner, especially once they received a case, but it just got to her.

The years after her mother's death had been hard and it took her a long while to get back onto her feet. She always tried to make her brothers feel special on their birthdays, making sure they had a gift of some kind, staying up late to bake cakes. Ensuring that a card was signed 'love Dad' despite the fact he was barely conscious most of the time, never mind in possession of the ability to write.

When it came around to hers, no one seemed to notice the change of date, that the young girl was slowly becoming a woman. And it hurt, having to explain to the few friends she had that no, she wouldn't be having a party. That they didn't really have the money. And besides, she had a lot of work to be getting on with. When the simple fact was that she was more likely go home to find her Dad sleeping off alcohol in a pool of his own bile than setting a table for a birthday meal. There's no point asking for that pony you've always secretly wanted when your father can barely remember your name.

Rejection hurts like hell when you're a teenager. Lisbon just didn't expect it to still hurt when you're an adult.

So, when an actual pony appeared in her office, having nibbled on some rather important paperwork, Lisbon can't help but shed a tear. Whilst feeding the creature a few of Rigsby's carrot sticks, she also began to feel guilty for holding a grudge against Jane. The man could be a thorn in her side but he also knew exactly how to make a woman smile.