Return to Sacramento: Chapter 9
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Disclaimer: Nothing is mine
"Walter." There was no question about Jane's tone now. If he possibly appeared tight and suspicious in seeing the multi-millionaire in the hotel lobby earlier that day, it was now crystal clear exactly what he thought. "Another incredible coincidence. Twice in one day, huh?"
"It's unbelievable. Who would've thought?"
"Yes. Unbelievable – quite difficult to believe."
"Mind if I sit with you guys?"
"You didn't bring some hot young thing to keep you company?" He said with his customary joking air; but thinly veiled beneath the faint humor, his voice was dangerously low.
"Patrick..." Lisbon's voice whispered, urging some subtlety.
But Mashburn didn't seem to notice. He just smiled charmingly and sat himself down between Teresa and where Cho and Claire lay, on the open towel where Rigsby or Grace might've lain down.
"Not this time, Patrick." His eyes looked to Jane, conveniently skimming over Lisbon's abdomen, bare in the bikini, to reach eye contact. "Through the years, my uh... My habits of hanging around the ladies as much as I used to changed. I think you'd be surprised at how much I've calmed down since we last met." Briefly, ever-so-briefly, his eyes flashed to Lisbon's, before looking back to Jane without missing even a fraction of a beat. "Not that I'm saying I've become a boring old man all of the sudden. Not by any means. I'm actually in town for an auction. An one-of-a-kind Reventon Lamborghini; you should come with me. I know how you love the fast cars." His eyes sparkle with mischief. "You still drive that little Citroen of yours?"
"I still own it, yes. I don't like driving it with Jess in the car."
"Understandable." Mashburn looked forward, out into the sea, out to where Jess and Rigsby were still playing in the waves. She was now building a large, messy sandcastle that was having a lot of trouble staying upright with its wet, sandy foundation. Her light pink overtly-frilled swimsuit was completely smeared and ruined with sand, and she was waving her little arms wildly in delight when the tower didn't collapse. "She's absolutely precious. Beautiful, delicate like her mother. A flower."
"A what?" Lisbon piped up.
A flower. At Mashburn's words, brought her attention back to the conversation that was taking place mostly between her husband and ex-lover. The memory of the blood red rose by Jess' bedside that morning flooded her mind. She felt goose bumps all over her skin as her blood became icy in her veins; she could feel the team, and even Jane, sitting behind Walter, stiffen like her.
Mashburn, however, didn't seem to notice the way her shoulders tensed, or how the entire group's attention was now suddenly rigged finely on the conversation.
"Oh, I hope that doesn't offend you, Teresa. I understand that you work hard to maintain that calm, cool, professional facade of yours and the term 'flower' probably isn't your compliment. But look at her. Such a little girl. Like a little..."
"Rose?" She prompted.
"Yes." He chuckled. "A little rose. Exactly."
"You're here for an auction, you say, Mash?" Jane asked.
He didn't answer, but nodded.
"Alright, everybody come get your ice creams before I drop them." The giggling voice of Grace interrupted the tense situation as she approached the towels, juggling several ice cream cones. "Wayne! Jessie! Ice cream!" She noticed Mashburn for the first time, blushing brightly at the way he smiled up at her rather scantily-clad, bikini-adorned form. "Oh. Mashburn..."
"Hello Grace. Let me get off your spot..." Mashburn stood and let Grace sit down. She handed out the ice cream cones to those around her, awkwardly silent. "Well then, I think I should be on my way. Things to do, people to see... you understand." He smiled charmingly. "Goodbye Patrick, Teresa. Everyone."
As he turned to walk away, he almost bumped into Jess who was running excitedly towards her ice cream cone. "Woah there." He chuckled, ruffling Jess' wild curls. "Slow down, sweetie."
Then he walked away, leaving the team speechless and quiet.
On her towel beside Jane, Lisbon was sitting with wide, terrified green eyes ahead of her. Her breath was caught in her throat and she wasn't quite sure if her heart was beating anymore...
"Teresa?" Jane asked, his hands going to gently rub her shoulders.
"Jessie? Jessie, come sit with Mommy." Lisbon ignored him as she reached out for her child, grabbing her into a tight embrace and burying her nose into the little girl's hair; the dark curls were tight from the salty sea air, and wet and matted with sand. She ran her fingers through it, gently smoothing through it, holding back the threatening tears as she whispered beneath her breath. "I love you, baby, I love you. Everything's gonna be fine, Jess, everything's fine."
From her little face, Jane could see that Jess was confused on what exactly had sent her mother into such a state, but wisely she stayed quiet and let her hug her.
A few moments passed and Lisbon had grown silent. The rest of the team was silent, too, all watching the scene with anxious expressions; none more than Jane, whose hands were still on Lisbon's shoulders, and his eyes far-off.
"Mommy?" Jess cautioned.
"Yes, my girl?"
"Can I have my ice cream now?"
X
"Do you think it's him?" He asked as he tied the shoelaces to his signature brown shoes.
"Who? Mashburn?" Lisbon was also busy getting dressed; she struggled with the little buttons on her shirt. "I don't know, I really don't know..." Frustratedly, she threw her hands down. "I can't do these damn buttons."
Humourlessly, Jane chuckled. "Come over here." When she hopelessly trudged closer, he started buttoning up the buttons of her blouse slowly.
"You're letting this get the best of you. That's not very like you, Agent Lisbon."
"Yeah, well, this isn't very like the normal case. Normally, it's not my daughter on the line."
Jane nodded, his eyes not leaving the buttons. "Yeah, I get that. That I get. But she can tell, you know..."
"I know she can tell. She's a smart girl. Too smart for her own good."
He reached the top, leaving the top two buttons open, and he looked up at her and smiled. He kissed her forehead tenderly, cupping her cheeks.
"This is very hard." She whispered, her voice only a breath.
"I know. It's impossible. But I really need you to be strong, Teresa. Remember, I'm the one that gets all irrational. I need you to be the strong one."
"I'm not sure if I can do that this time." Her eyes flashed back to the bathroom. Giggling sounds emanated from it as Jess was playing around in the tub.
Drawing a deep breath through his nose, as if to draw strength in such an impossible situation, he pulled her ever closer into a tight embrace. She didn't resist, molding against his chest with her head tucked in under his chin.
They stayed like this for a while, until they heard the little voice coming from the bathroom again, calling for her mother that she was bored and done.
Jane couldn't resist to chuckle. "Demanding little thing. Gets that from her mother."
"Oh yeah? Was I the one calling that I was bored and needed entertainment all day?"
"Quiet, woman." He smiled, kissing her deeply and then letting her go from the embrace. She slowly walked backwards towards the bathroom, smiling now. But as she disappeared behind the doors of the bathroom, the smile on his face fell. He knew she was putting on a brave front again. The same on that she kept putting on and that kept faltering all through this trip. He wondered now if it was even worth it...
Tomorrow night they would be going to the fundraiser. They would see Hightower and all the other more important people. They would shmooze the bigwigs for a bit, catch up with old colleagues, drink a few glasses of champagne and then it'll all be over. They'd be on their way back to Los Angeles, back to their home and their life and normal. Blissful, beautiful normal where everything is fine and everyone he loves is safe and happy.
At least he hoped so...
He had written all of this off so long ago. Five year ago, when he exited that courthouse, acquitted for all charges, with his new girlfriend under his arm and a great, big smile on his face, he had thought that that was the end of his old life. He had ended the curse that Red John had put on him; he had been able to move on. He was lucky; unspeakably lucky. Maybe that was it; he had been so lucky, being acquitted from murder, having the woman he loves love him back, marrying her and being blessed with such an amazing little girl... sooner or later the shit had to hit the fan.
And apparently that was now.
"Alright, let's get you dressed!" He heard Lisbon coo in the room next door, and she appeared in the doorway with Jess, wrapped in an oversized towel, scrubbed and squeaky clean, in her arms. He smiled at the sight of the little girl.
"Hey, my little princess. Let's get you in your jammies."
"When is the team coming over?" Lisbon asked as she started dressing Jess in her pajamas.
"As soon as they're done showering and getting dressed. I think Rigsby already ordered the pizza, it should be arriving soon."
"Good..." She stayed silent for a moment as she buttoned the pajamas up, and a nostalgic kind of smile appeared on her face.
"Hey. What's that smile for?" Jane asked, amused.
"I was just thinking that it'll be really nice to have pizza with the team again."
"Hm... I know."
"Is Uncle Rigsby and Auntie Grace coming over?" Jess asked, rubbing her tired eyes. It had been a long day for a three-year-old.
"Yup, sweetie. And Uncle Cho and Aunt Claire. We're all having a sleepover."
A happy smile spread over Jess' little face. "Can I stay up late tonight?"
Jess got a chorus as an answer: "Of course, sweetie." and "No way." came from her father and mother at the same time.
Okay, apparently cheesy ends are my thing with family fics. Well, I hope that was okay... Hope you guys liked it and please review!
Much love, Zanny