It was a good hours drive to where Pete's camped outside Sacramento and Jane is enjoying himself. It's good to be outside and to see some green. He wound the window down as soon as they left the CBI garage and let the wind blow his hair. It felt good against his skin, and a smile played on his face. Lisbon glanced across at him and relaxed, It was a good idea bringing him out of the office. It only just occurred to her, how long it's probably been that he's felt the freedom of the outdoors. Also it's true, it will be a lot easier getting answers from Pete with Jane along. She just needed to watch him closely for signs of tiredness or difficulty breathing as she knows he won't take any notice, unless, it's too his advantage. Jane is watching Lisbon through the glass.
"See, it was a good idea bringing me along."
Lisbon can't let Jane get away with that.
"Let's see what you get out of Pete first, before you start patting yourself on the back. This isn't a school trip, you have work to do."
Jane turns to her and flashes her a mischeivous smile
"Yes Miss. A school trip is a great idea though, I've never been on one before. I will have to add it to the CBI suggestion box."
"Hate to break it too you Jane, but, we don't have a suggestion box."
He raises a questioning eyebrow.
"Really?"
Lisbon shakes her head.
"Never."
Jane stares out of the windscreen and looks at Lisbon out of the corner of his eye.
"That explains why none of my suggestions have been taken up."
"Oh yea! What other suggestions have you come up with?"
"I thought it was about time CBI had a pet. It will make it seem more homey."
"A pet! Don't you think I have enough on my plate catching murderers and keeping you out of trouble."
"Good point. If you look after a pet the way you keep me out of trouble, it'll be dead in a week."
"You would've been dead in a week if it hadn't been for me. Remember the second case you worked on?"
Jane waves his hand dismissively.
"That was nothing I had it all under control, there was no need for the calvalry."
"So Janet Davids wasn't about to leave you buried under three feet of earth, if we hadn't arrived in time to know where you were?"
"The hypnotic suggestion I'd planted would've kicked in before the oxygen, she left me with, ran out."
"How about when Paul Brady had you trussed up like a side of beef and was about to do some serious gutting. Or when the Poussin gang decided that you needed a little bit more sun and a ride out to the middle of the desert was the perfect solution."
"Exactly my point, no good at keeping me out of trouble. Oh goody we're here."
Lisbon pulls it to a hard stop and glare at him. Jane grins at her.
"Ice cream later?"
"You're paying."
He gives her a little bow.
"Of course my dear. A thank you gift for all the times you've kept me alive, if not, out of trouble."
Pete is outside sitting on an upturned barrel working on an unknown piece of machinery. He breaks into a smile when he spies Jane.
"As I live and breathe, I'm seeing a ghost."
He stands up and he spits on his hands and rubs them together, then wipes them down his trousers. Jane holds up a hand in greeting.
"Not a ghost Pete, the real thing."
"A sight for sore eyes Patrick."
Jane soon finds himself engulfed in a hug. Pete talks in his ear.
"When I saw the new reports that you were dead...I...I...well I'm...I'm glad you're alive."
"So am I Pete, so am I."
They break apart.
"Sam, Sam, look who's here. She'll be really pleased to hear you're not dead."
Jane shrugs.
"Well maybe."
The trailer door opens and Sam appears.
"Patrick!"
Another hug. When they part, Pete turns to Lisbon.
"You must be mighty pleased to have him back in one piece?"
"Mmmm he's quickly wearing out his welcome."
"Sounds like Patrick."
They sit down in the chairs in front of the trailer.
"So what can I do for you. I presume you didn't come here just to put my mind at ease."
"Lisbon just told me today about the text she received. It would appear that at least one of the men who abducted me has a connection to you."
"As I told Agent Lisbon here, I know no-one with an eagle tattoo."
"But I've seen the others and you may know one of them."
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The man is talking frantically into his phone, while trying to keep it to a whisper.
"There sitting down together right now. I haven't had time to rig up the bomb.".
"I didn't expect him to get there so quickly, by all accounts he should still be in the hospital."
"What do you want me to do? If they compare notes, they'll have me for sure. We shouldn't have messed about with the bomb business, we should have just killed him."
"It's the way the client wanted it."
"Well we shouldn't have let him see our faces. I need to do something now."
"Do you have your gun."
"Yes."
"Then finish the job."