I had a hard time with this but I think I worked out the bugs in my head. Please enjoy and I hope you like it!
Disclaimer - Not Mine
The team sat around the CBI table with pizza boxes and beer bottles strewn haphazardly across its surface. Everyone was relaxed and happy after the closing of a pretty straight forward case. Jane's inspired performance of losing "evidence" caused the murderer to try to plant more to get the heat off of himself. He was literally caught with his hand in the cookie jar where he was putting the more incriminating evidence. He had sung like a canary after death was taken off the table.
Van Pelt was grinning at Jane and Lisbon as they bantered back and forth, stealing each others food and swigs of beer. Stealing glances and sly touches. The mood was light, now was as good a time as any.
"So um," Van Pelt started hesitantly, "How did this all start? I might be out of line but.."
"It's OK, Van Pelt," Lisbon replied, "He seduced me over a meal."
"I did not. I drenched you in the Pacific just to see you in a wet shirt," Jane teased.
"You would," Lisbon shot back with a grin.
Grace just chuckled and started to clear the boxes and bottles. Lisbon stood to help.
Jane started to clear the mess with them but Lisbon stopped him with a pointed look. Jane saw her eyes flit to Van Pelt and he knew that Lisbon wanted to talk to her alone. With their arms loaded, Grace and Teresa headed to the kitchenette.
"You know you can ask, Grace."
"Are you happy?"
"Yeah Grace I am."
"But he's so Jane. Doesn't that drive you crazy? And what about Red John?"
"Understandable concerns, but we are OK, really. So far so good so to speak. He is damaged and tiring and demanding. But he's also considerate, attentive, and gentle. He trusts me, I trust him and that would surprise most but its true. As far as Red John, he hasn't tried anything yet and we will get him before he does. We aren't getting any younger you know. Are you upset because of Rigsby?"
"No, I don't think it would have worked anyway in hindsight and he's got Sarah now. And Jane's not an agent so the rules are probably different anyway."
"Actually not so much. That is what Bertram wanted this morning was to bounce one of us."
"Really?"
"Yeah but Jane made him back down."
"What did he do?"
"No idea, he won't tell me and he is unconcerned so I'm OK with it."
"He always acts unconcerned."
"I've learned his tells, Grace. I probably knew them awhile ago but just ignored how well we knew each other. Made it easier to stay apart I suppose."
"You guys are cute together. He looks younger you know. Less pain around the eyes."
"It's still there Grace, but we are working through it," Lisbon said quietly as Van Pelt looked at her knowingly. She knew about deep seated scars after shooting Craig. Understood what Lisbon was trying to say.
Grace reached out and gave Lisbon a surprise hug, startling Teresa who froze for a moment before giving in to the warm hearted gesture of the younger woman.
"I'm happy for you guys, Lisbon."
"Thanks, it means alot to me you guys are OK with this."
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"So are you treating her OK, Jane?" Rigsby asked with as stern of voice as he could.
"I hope so Wayne."
"We had this conversation yesterday Rigsby," Cho offered.
"Oh."
Rigsby knew if Cho had a conversation already with Jane, then he should already be sufficiently warned. Jane and LIsbon deserved have a chance at love but he never expected it to be with the other. They fought, they argued and frustrated each other but he could see the affection always under their surface but never suspected it was more than affection. Whatever floats their boat, he thought.
Jane just smiled at the two men at the table with him. Lisbon could disembowel him with a teaspoon but they still worried about her. He was glad for their loyalty.
"What do you want to know Rigsby? I can feel your thoughts boring into my brain."
Rigsby didn't know how to ask politely, so he just blurted it out.
"Can you do this, Jane? Demons sufficiently tamped down?"
Jane didn't know how to answer. So he was honest.
"I don't know. I just know that if I ever intentionally hurt her, I will buy you a shovel also."
At Rigsby's look of confusion, Cho filled him in.
"Jane said he'd buy me a shovel if he hurt her. To help hide the body."
Rigsby just grinned, Cho smirked slightly and Jane widely smiled at them both. It would be OK.
*************Mentalist************Mentalist**************Mentalist***************
"How did your talk with Grace go?" Jane asked as he curled around Lisbon in bed later, his chest pressed into her back while his fingers made lazy patterns on her stomach.
"Went pretty good. I thought she'd be upset about what happened with Rigsby but she seemed OK with it."
"We have a good team, Teresa. Good friends. We probably should keep them," Patrick jokingly said as he nuzzled her neck.
Lisbon chuckled and turned to face him.
"It helps that the boys would hurt you if you didn't do your best in this."
"Yeah they are almost as protective of you as I am. But I won't give them a chance to protect you, that is my job."
"So possessive Patrick."
"Only of what its important to me. I think you trump everything else I have."
"Even the Citroen?" Lisbon asked jokingly.
Jane looked at her with mischief in his eyes and replied, "Well, she is a Goddess you know so maybe I should stick with the divine in that case."
Lisbon chucked a pillow at his head and Jane pulled her close, kissing her and smiling against her lips. He was going to worship the goddess in his bed instead. He wouldn't ever let Teresa feel second best and he would prove it to her every chance he got.