Authors Note: To make up for my last update and my God awful attention to detail, I'm posting this quickly as an apology. (Though I should say I struggled with naming the character, which is why there was two names mixed in.)
I am my own very flawed beta and grammar is not my strong point, so apologies for the mistakes I no doubt have here. If anyone is looking to beta let me know!
A special thanks to everyone for reviewing and pointing the name mistake out you guys are stars, I replaced them in the previous chapter though I didn't have time to do a complete check.
Disclaimer: Not mine, though I do own a cheap flight to London for the weekend woohoo.
Alicia looked around in disdain at where the small group had gathered for the evening. How was she here? It was a Friday night, Sacramento's cultural season was in full swing and here she was, sitting in yet another run of the mill, faux, Irish pub.
This was the second encounter she had had to endure in a place like this. She was glad that she was getting to know Patrick's 'friends' better, though worryingly they were all workmates, but couldn't they do it somewhere a little nicer?.
She scraped some peanut shells from the bottom of her Louboutin's, trying desperately to imagine why they chose here of all places. She was squeezed into the centre of their u shaped booth between Patrick and 'Lisbon' as they all called her. Her boyfriend was chatting animatedly to one side, with Rigsby and Cho about baseball of all God forsaken things. He was so different around them.
She was supposed to connect with the women, no doubt, a slight problem though, they were talking about football. She could wax lyrical about many things, but sports, not a chance. Christ, it was like she was in a frat house nightmare.
She regarded the women with a critical eye, both were attractive and with some styling they would be able to marry out of their jobs, or at least into a desk job of some sort, something a little more ladylike. She couldn't imagine wanting to go into a job where you had to tackle, punch, hit, or shoot a gun. It was all so barbaric and masculine.
Well, she hadn't managed to create a rapport with anyone the last time, so she supposed she had better try harder, if she wanted to impress Patrick. Taking a deep breath, she searched for something to talk about. Seeing her opening, she decided to delve right in.
"So, it must be tough working in a mostly male environment" Alicia ventured.
"hmm?" Lisbon wasn't even sure Alicia had spoken. She turned to face the woman who had been looking down her nose all night, at everyone and everything around her.
"Sorry, did you say something?" Lisbon asked.
"I said it must be tough working in a mostly male environment...it seemed when I was there that it was mostly men in the building." Alicia clarified.
So she can talk to someone other than Jane, Lisbon mused.
"No everyone is great usually" Grace piped up.
Lisbon always loved how the young woman was so upbeat, especially as there were plenty of men in the building who resented woman and they both knew it. Her positivity was coming back and it made Lisbon smile.
"That's good, and I supposed its a easy way to meet guys, you know they're just swarming around the place," Alicia joked.
She glanced towards Patrick before leaning in conspiratorially, "though none as handsome as mine, no doubt."
Lisbon glanced at Van Pelt, she could see the woman's eyes flicking towards Rigsby and back. Van Pelt was visibly caught up in the memories of Rigsby and herself and Lisbon could see her need to defend Wayne's looks begin to surface.
Oh lord Lisbon thought, she still had it bad, but it was hardly Alicia's fault. She couldn't have possibly known about their past together. Lisbon slid her hand over and gave Grace a soft reassuring pat before answering for them both.
"Well we don't really look at our job that way. For us its just another day at work, you know, like everybody else." Lisbon figured disregarding her implications was the best idea.
She kept thinking, make nice, Jane is your friend, she makes him happy, he is your friend. She had replayed this mantra in her head since she met Alicia, but it wasn't really helping though.
"I suppose, but it's so dangerous. I just think how courageous my Patrick is, every day facing down brutal killers and criminals." Alicia sighed. She had been going to town on the merits of his bravery to impress her friends. A smart, well off, attractive and heroic cop of sorts, well that trumped all their measly, rich, accountant husbands any day.
"Jane?... Patrick Jane? bravely facing down criminals?" Lisbon let out an unladylike snort.
"Yeah only if you're standing in front of him, boss." Grace added stifling a giggle.
Alicia was not impressed at their implications. The woman was tiny, what kind of man would, or even could, hide behind her. Before she could respond Patrick touched her arm, she turned to him, her most brilliant smile in place, oh he was so yummy.
"Hi having fun?" He was relieved they had all finally broken the ice.
"Of course darling", Alicia smiled.
"Well we have to go soon, is that ok?" his eyes flicked to the women behind him, who seemed more than a little amused at something that had been said. He was really glad they were getting on.
"No problem, honey." She watched after him as he turned to finished off his point to the men, about why some guy was the greatest sportsman, ever.
"Well you heard the man, unfortunately we have to go soon. It was lovely meeting you both again." Alicia smiled, but really she was quite disappointed that she hadn't gotten to know the women any better. She suddenly had a burst of inspiration, they just needed to bond properly.
"You know we should go and do something sometime, get to know each other better... I know a spa day." She practically beamed at them, forgetting her earlier affront.
Lisbon watched as Van Pelt nearly jumped with joy at the prospect, that girl sometimes.
"That would be great." Lisbon replied with more enthusiasm than she felt, how can you tell a princess, that to her, hours of pampering sounds like hell? plus Van Pelt would cry if she refused.
Alicia reached over, squeezing Lisbon's hand,"Really? Great! I know the perfect place, Armon does wonders with tired, neglected skin."
"Oh, and they have a treatment that just knocks inches off a girl" she added waving her hand towards Grace.
She got up with Jane, smiling warmly at Cho and Rigsby as they said their hurried goodbyes and left.
Van Pelt turned to an incredulous Lisbon, "Did I just get called fat?" Her mouth hung agape at the woman's gall.
"At least you weren't called old!" Lisbon replied indignantly.
The two woman stared at each each other for a few seconds before falling into giggles at Alicia's words. Lisbon had a feeling that judging by Van Pelts face, their little spa play date wouldn't happen soon and she couldn't have been happier.
XXXXXXXXXXX
When Jane and Alicia got back to his house, they barely made it through the door before he pulled Alicia into a bear hug.
"Thank you for tonight, it means a lot to me that you all get along." He whispered into her hair.
"Well then, you will have no problem paying for the spa date myself, Teresa and Grace are intending to go on" Alicia jokingly winked at him.
"Spa date? Wait, you got Lisbon to agree to a spa date." Jane guffawed at the image.
"Yes what's so odd about that?" she demanded.
"Well for one, my Lisbon doesn't sit still or relax ever. Her calmly relaxing for five minutes, let alone hours would be a miracle. So yeah I would gladly pay to see that happen." Jane smirked. "Hell, if they offered her a coffee facial she would probably try to drink it" he continued.
"Women love to relax and be pampered" Alicia responded, trying to ignore the 'my' comment.
"Yeah, I know, I just have images of her getting a massage and flipping they guy for kneading her too hard" he laughed.
"Well she agreed anyway, so hopefully well go soon and get to know each other better." She was getting tired of all these in jokes they all had, she was just trying to fit in.
"I know, and I'm grateful, I am, its just a strange mental image for me, I keep seeing Lisbon in a face mask or a mud bath and it just looks wrong." He lent in and kissed her forehead before turning to ascend the stairs, chuckling quietly to himself.
Alicia stood for a few moments before heading to the bed room. Pulling out a red teddy from the drawer Patrick had given her, she slipped into it. Like hell was her man going to bed with images of another woman in his head, even if she had inadvertently put them there in the first place.
When Jane entered the room, he was greeted by Alicia seductively posed across the bed. Wow, was his last coherent thought as she pulled him too her, passionately kissing him senseless.