A/N: I am going to get this working. Fifth time lucky, I think it is now? I'm really, really sorry for all the hassle this update is causing.
30 chapters and I haven't thanked anyone for a while! Shocking. Thanks go to: JisbonyGoodness36, PhoenixWytch, mwalter1, lil smiles, x-gemarrrr, JocelynMcC, Penelope Louise, SpaceAnJL, Frogster, Ebony10, JelloFanatic123, sprntrl grl, yasminbanu786, EastAngels2009, Madaboutthementalist, lets just call me., kathiann, Habeous Corpus, WildDaisies10, Steph.107., Divinia Serit, Cora Clavia, dizzy - in - the - izzy (in all her guises), 4nim3BBfr34k, lalez, and khalek-aeryn for the reviews, prompting and generally being awesome. I can't say often enough how much it means to me, seriously.
x tromana
Rating: T
Summary: Distraction therapy gone wrong
Characters: Jane/Lisbon
Prompts: lalez challenged me to use four prompts in one, the prompts being: paper clip, shattered glass, classic music and postcard.
Compartmentalisation
Lisbon sighed as she used the paperclip to attach the postcard to the case file. The idea of being stalked unnerved her. The fact that someone could be so obsessed with someone that they were always hiding in the shadows, rummaging through your garbage… just there. Still, at least they managed to close the case, even if she couldn't get it off her mind. It was worrisome, usually she was good at compartmentalisation of memories, she prided herself on it. It was what made her excel at her job.
As the door clicked open, she didn't sigh, roll her eyes nor pick up something ready to throw at Patrick Jane. She had long since grown used to the regular invasion of privacy which came with the territory. Instead, she just glanced up and allowed him a small, crooked half-smile before continuing with her work. And as she expected, he pulled up the chair opposite her and sat, waiting for her to get fed up with being stared at and ask him what he wanted with her. Eventually, with the sigh he had been waiting for, she did so.
"We're going to a bar tonight," he muttered. "That is Rigsby, Van Pelt, Cho and I. The case has got to them too."
She nodded in response and picked up her biro again. She knew it was his way of inviting her along, but she wanted to wait for the actual words out of principle.
"Come with us?"
There they were. Lisbon looked him in the eyes and nodded for a second time. He broke out into a smile and left shortly after. That was all she had needed.
***
Jane had picked her up from her apartment, as he often did, and drove her to the bar they had chosen. Classical music strained through tinny speakers as they took to the barstools and waited to be served. The others hadn't arrived yet, but Jane appeared unconcerned. Lisbon eyed him warily as he ordered for them and he simply beamed in response.
"Jane, are the others actually coming?"
"Good grief woman, doesn't being so suspicious all the time get exhausting?"
"No."
"No, they're not."
"See, I had a reason to be suspicious. Why not?"
Jane didn't have time to answer. The shattering of a glass window behind them meant that she was up like a shot. Being the hero of the day because of an attempted theft wasn't Jane's idea of suitable distraction therapy for Lisbon, but he decided that he would take what he could get. He rushed up as she had the suspect pinned to the floor as the local LEOs came blundering in. The first recognised her immediately and broke out into a small smile as he cuffed the man. She smiled as she agreed to give evidence in the morning; it was getting late and Jane was hovering behind her.
"This isn't quite what I had planned," Jane whispered tentatively.
"I'm not surprised."
"The idea was to distract you from the latest case, not have you working off duty."
She laughed and Jane found himself laughing too. He quickly realised that it was the first time he had actually heard her do so and he felt himself warm pleasurably, deciding that he was going to have to hear it more often, now.
"Do you ever stop working?"
"No."
"You need help, Lisbon," Jane spluttered. "Come on, let's finish our drinks, at least."
end