A/N: I've clearly neglected my series for far too long. And I have about a billion other bunnies that I want to feed but clearly don't have the time. Thank you to all the readers. Steph.107, Tiva4evaxxx, MissNitaGirl, yasminbanu786, Cora, Lysh, Kathiann, Isabell, Viktorija, Alyssa, Jennifer, shopping-luva91, Aeryn, Tracie, Madaboutthementalist, Lee, House Calls, Linwe Elendil, Susan, Ashwaq, Shelly, mwalter1, Sexycindi, Kate, FallIntoAHellCalledLove, x-gemarrrr, KaleidoscopeEyes13, Jo, 221b Baker Street, OnlySoAnHour, 4nim3BBfr34k, Jisbon-Fan, chocolatefan, Divinia, xXLuvin-itXx, CharlieBlue1977, SpaceAnJL. And special thanks to Yana for her kind words and for reviewing every chapter in a row. I hope I haven't forgotten anyone. This newest chapter is slightly crazy and weird but hopefully fun admist the angst. Not sure how I feel about it. In any case, enjoy!
Spoilers: Very, very minor reference to 2x03 Red Badge.
Disclaimer: Ah, yes, if I owned anything valuable like the rights to the Mentalist than there wouldn't be the need for the 'Get Rach the rights to the Mentalist Fund' now would there?
End of the Rainbow
"I was right, wasn't I?"
Jane looked positively smug, as usual. Lisbon wanted to roll her eyes but found that even such a simple task was too tiring. Instead, she remained silent as she slowly walked towards the SUV.
"Lisbon?"
His hand was on her arm as she stopped mid-stride. She barely turned her head to face him. The playful glint in his eyes was now gone, replaced with concern.
"I'm just tired," she said after a brief silence, "couldn't sleep last night."
"Thunderstorms keep you awake?"
She glared at him before shaking off his hand and climbing into the vehicle.
"Hey, talk to me."
"Why?" she questioned irritably.
"I like to think we're friends and friends share their problems with each other. Don't they?"
Rubbing her temple, Lisbon jabbed the key into the ignition. Jane's hand immediately covered hers before she could start the engine.
"I'm fine," she said automatically.
"Oh sure and I'm a leprechaun."
"Seriously, Jane, don't."
"Okay, I'm sorry. I just," he paused for an uncomfortably long period of time.
Without finishing his sentence, he retracted his hand and quietly sat back in his seat. Instead of questioning him on what he was going to say, Lisbon was simply thankful for his silence. She should have known it wouldn't last. They had been driving for only a few minutes when he spoke.
"Pull over."
"Excuse me?"
"Pull over," he repeated, this time staring straight at her.
"And why would I do that?"
"I forgot that I needed to pick up something."
"I'm not your chauffer, Jane."
"Would you just pull over, woman?"
Sighing, Lisbon grumbled as she parked the van along the sidewalk.
"I'll be five seconds."
Jane grinned widely as he hopped out and ducked into a run-down corner store.
"One," she muttered under her breath, "two, three, four, four and a half…"
She wearily eyed the front door of the store.
"Five."
Jane was nowhere in sight. Closing her eyes, Lisbon groaned as her forehead landed against the steering wheel with a soft thud.
Fifteen minutes later, Jane re-emerged, carrying a gaudy foil green gift bag. He was whistling an old Gaelic hymn, one that Lisbon immediately recognized. It was a lullaby, something her mother used to sing to her and her brothers when they were little. She listened intently to the gentle melody as she was momentarily whisked away to a world far from the present. When she reopened her eyes, Jane's face was just inches from hers. She stared at him for a few seconds before jerking back in her seat.
"What the Hell took you so long?"
She sounded skittish, un-Lisbon like.
"Let me drive."
Fighting back a laugh, she shook her head.
"You're too wound up. It'll be best if I drive."
"Uh, let me think about that. No."
"It's okay, really. I'll drive slowly and it'll be fine. It's not like I'm drunk or anything."
The moment the words left his mouth, she shot him the most venomous glare, a look that was normally reserved for the most hardened criminals.
"I know you get a perverse sense of pride when you mess with people's minds, my mind in particular, but I also know that this is just your pathetic way of coping with your crappy life."
His lips crinkled into a smile.
"That's very insightful, Lisbon."
Her hands tightened considerably around the steering wheel. She turned away from him.
"Get out," she said evenly.
"What?"
"Get. Out. Now."
"Teresa…"
She felt the small strand of control she had on her emotions snap. Tears burned in her eyes, threatening to spill at any given moment. Déjà-vu. She hated herself for allowing Jane to corner her, to see her vulnerable so soon after her small breakdown, in her apartment no less. Biting her lip, she fought with everything she had to stop herself from going that far again.
"It's not fair," his voice softened slightly. "It's not fair that you have to always be the one that's calm and collected all the time."
She angrily swiped the tears away with the back of her sleeve before a single one could fall.
"I'm sorry."
"Yeah, right," she scoffed.
"No, I am. I'm sorry your father was the man he was."
"He was a good man."
"Of course."
"He was."
Lisbon was almost certain that Jane knew the day's significance, although the pair never spoke about it. Every year, it was the only time they pretty much avoided each other or at least Lisbon did her best to stay away from Jane. But this year she thought she could live through it. It wasn't the first time she had been wrong.
They sat in complete stillness, with only the sound of a light rain misting the front windshield. Momentarily, the sun peeked out from behind the clouds. Lisbon turned her head and saw Jane's face light up like the Fourth of July. He had that look in his eyes, a kid on a snow day. Before she could stop him, he was out of the car, carrying the package tightly to his chest as he ran along the wet pavement. Muttering words that her mother could have easier washed her mouth with soap for, Lisbon unbuckled her seatbelt and chased after him. Lingering drops of rain fell as she darted around the tiny puddles along the sidewalk. When Jane suddenly came to a halt, he was grinning happily at her as she frowned back, clearly unimpressed with his immature behaviour.
"What is wrong with you?" she exclaimed, irritably.
"What's wrong with me? You told me to get out."
She threw her hands up in defeat and was about to leave him to his own devices when he grabbed a hold of her arm with his free hand. Sighing yet again, she turned back around as Jane thrust the foiled monstrosity into her grasp. She stared up at him quizzically, but didn't even bother asking as she reached into the green bag revealing a familiar black box.
"Pot of Gold?" she questioned.
"Why, yes, dear Lisbon, pretty appropriate if you ask me."
He pointed upwards into the air as her eyes followed his line of sight. She gazed in wonder at the arch of pink, orange, green and indigo melted seamlessly together, sweeping across the pale sky. Letting out an involuntary gasp, she suddenly forgot everything that made today almost unbearable, at least temporarily.
"It's beautiful."
Jane eyed the woman beside him staring completely in awe at one of nature's miracles and nodded.
"Yeah, beautiful."
She missed the look of longing from her consultant and instead, immediately glanced back down at the box in her hands.
"This is horribly cheesy, you do know that right?"
"I was thinking more romantic."
"Oh really? Is that why you were being a completely insensitive jerk earlier? Because you knew I'd just forgive you if you gave me chocolates?"
She looked positively stunning with a hand planted on her hip, eyes narrowed, rain drops glistening in her wavy curls.
"I say things without thinking it through sometimes. I'm sorry."
He mustered his best wounded puppy dog look. He genuinely meant his apology.
"Okay," she said slowly before quickly adding, "for now."
Smiling, he helped her unwrap the plastic film from the box and freed the green bag from her hands so that she could open the lid. As he attempted to steal a truffle, Lisbon jerked the box away before he could grab a treat.
"Hey!"
"I've reached the end of the rainbow and stolen a pot of gold from an annoying little man in green. I don't care what you say, this is cheesy. "
She smugly popped a chocolate into her mouth before bolting for the van, leaving a slightly stunned Jane alone on the sidewalk. He slowly looked down at his choice of clothing. The olive shirt he was wearing beneath his vest clashed with the flashy bright bag in his hand. Smirking, he shook his head. Well played, Lisbon, well played.
Fin for now, Jello forever
