Authors note: I know its been a while since I updated, but real life is taking up more of my time than I'd like. Add to that I wasn't very happy with 4x11, and genuinely questioned if Simon Baker wasn't so hot, would I actually like his character? All this killed my creativity. Thankfully though, a bout of insomnia later (I write best at 3am) and here we are.
I've cut up what I had, in to two chapters, as together it was a really long one, and moved through a natural break. So the next chapter should be up in a couple of days.
Reviews: I love them all, thanks so much! again I pm'd those I could to the others; Jazz: what can I say, Jane pain makes my day!, MeltedChocobutton: yes, indeed it was, good catch, Camille: thank you so much, you are too kind and I'm glad you find it believable as real characterisation is what I strive for most!
Disclaimer: I don't own it, if I did Lisbon would not be pretending that she neither knew what Jane was doing, or that it was ok. 'Denialblity' my ass.
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It was Thursday morning and he had still gotten nowhere with Lisbon. Jane's frustration had made him cranky, so much so, he and Alicia had had a major row the night before. Seemingly he was distracted, oh please, his attention at 50% was the equivalent of others giving 100%, so even if he was 'distracted', she would never notice.
Normally he would have apologised, he had a strict don't go to bed angry rule, but on this occasion he didn't feel that he was in the wrong. She was probably just pissed off that he was spending more time with his friends these days.
Though he had to admit, his innocent comment, that he may not renew his tenancy hadn't helped the situation any. He swore Alicia thought his desire to move literally, meant something deeper figuratively. He was hardly going back to the hotel, so, so what if he moved.
It was a quiet day, scratch that week, in Serious Crimes, Lisbon seemed to be the only one with urgent work. Jane nipped outside to get everyone their respective beverages, although Lisbon had already gotten hers. She seemed to come in caffeine prepared everyday, he missed providing her with her coffee and sugar hit.
Jane took his place on his couch, dropping heavily onto the tan cushions. The others were milling around chatting amicably. Jane wondered just how he could have let himself stray from all this. The familiarity of the situation only furthered his determination to work on Lisbon.
It was consuming him, plans, ideas, schemes, he needed to right everything and fast. He hated how angry Van Pelt had been on her behalf, if she felt even one tenth of that wrath... well he would give anything to make it better.
Despite his desire to right the situation, nothing seemed to go his way. No cases, meant no drive time, no late nights, meant no chats over tea and the near constant presence of Wainwright had him banished to the bullpen.
He had already tried to distract himself from his failures, a brief chat to Cho, about a mutual, favourite authors new release. He had discussed an excellent restaurant with Grace and Rigsby. He had even hidden Wainwright's phone and watched as he looked for it. Still he felt something was amiss.
"Hey Jane, show me a trick, I'm all caught up on my work since yesterday." Rigsby called.
Jane smiled at how easily they had gotten back into their rhythm. He silently thanked the other man's simple countenance.
"Sure, card or Magic?" He offered.
"Magic, I'm thinking..."
"No time for that, I'm afraid." Lisbon threw Rigsby an apologetic smile. "We have a body beside Shortline lake, near Camden Passage West. A big wigs daughter found the body so we're up."
"Details?" Cho asked.
"None yet I'm afraid, apart from dead body. Van Pelt grab your communications gear, we'll have to send details to the office from the location." Lisbon ordered.
"Sure thing boss." Van Pelt scrambled, grabbing lots of various electronical gear, just in case.
"Okay Cho, you're with me. Rigsby and Van Pelt take the larger vehicle in case we need to switch up numbers later with the local P.D."
"Oh I'll take my own car, thanks." Jane remarked snottily, resulting in a raised eyebrow from Lisbon.
"I figured you would." She countered.
He had feared this would happen, so thankfully he had the foresight to place a rather large chunk of glass behind one of Lisbon's wheel. Ah, like a good boyscout, he was always prepared.
They all walked towards the elevator, Van Pelt rushing to catch up, her hands full of electronics.
Rigsby politely took half her load, without asking and Van Pelt smiled in thanks. Lisbon watched the exchange before typing away on her phone, trying to hide her knowing smirk.
Jane caught her eye and grinned too. Lisbon schooled her features, unwilling to admit she had seen the exchange or thought it was sweet. Okay... Jane thought, now I'm getting suspicious.
Once outside Jane held back, allowing Van Pelt and Rigsby to reach their car first. He lengthened the time it took to get to his car, by conveniently parking further away than usual. He waved to Van Pelt as she pulled out and drove past.
Lisbon and Cho got into their car as Jane began opening his door. Pulling it open slowly, he watched as they pulled out of their car park space.
Lisbon heard the glass crunch under the tyre, the unmistakeable sound making her blood pressure rise. She parked and got out of the car to view the damage. Some idiot had left, a now broken bottle on the ground.
The hiss of escaping air from the tyre, matched the sound of Lisbon's breath, as she slowly and violently expelled it through her clenched teeth. She kicked the tyre.
"I'll get the spare" Cho announced, grateful for a reason to leave the side of his angry boss.
Jane appeared beside her "Something wrong?" he asked as if he didn't know.
"Flat tyre." Lisbon grouched.
And now for the pièce de la résistance thought Jane, awaiting Cho's return.
"Bad news boss, the spare is flat too." Cho revealed the rather deflated tyre. Yup preparation was key, Jane grinned to himself.
"You have got to be kidding me... I have to question the capability of the idiots that work here, leaving glass around, not checking the equipment..fools we're surrounded by them." Lisbon ranted loudly.
"Well I can give you a lift Lisbon, while Cho here, waits for triple A or whatever the C.B.I.'s equivalent is." Jane offered, in what he hoped was helpful and not smug tone.
Lisbon watched him, he could see thoughts speeding through her mind, but couldn't pick them out clearly. He really had trained her too well.
"No give Cho a lift, I'll ask for one of the other teams spares." Lisbon turned to go back inside.
"You are our lead agent, I think you should be at the scene, don't you." Jane argued.
"I don't mind waiting or seeing who has a spare." Cho shrugged.
Lisbon pulled out her phone, pressing speed dial.
"Van Pelt you gone far?...good, I need you to come back and get me...flat tyre...don't ask...see you in ten." Lisbon hung up.
"There all solved, I'll ride with Van Pelt. I wanted to discuss the logistics of checking the speed cameras with her anyway. Cho go with Jane, interview Harriet Long, she found the body, I'll call Wainwright he can sort out the tyres, it's hardly our problem." She finished.
Cho turned and walked to Jane's car visibly unhappy about the situation, but too smart to question an already aggravated Lisbon. Jane remained watching Lisbon.
"What Jane?"
"You know Lisbon, some might think you were trying to avoid me."
"Now why would I do that Jane? It would be a pointless endeavour, as we work together."
"I have a few theories." Jane stated.
"Well they will have to wait, Cho's ready to go." Lisbon folded her arms, pointedly finishing the conversation.
Jane stepped in closer to her, leaning towards her, his mouth next to her ear. He waited a brief moment, breathing softly near her neck. Watching as her pulse point quickened, she gave no other outward reaction, though he couldn't see her face.
"Your wish is my command." He teased, his voice low.
"Great, I wish you'd leave." She answered sharper than she intended.
"That wont happen again." Jane responded, letting her see the intensity of emotion in his eyes to further his point.
"So you plan to remain in this car park forever then?" Lisbon deflected.
Jane's lips opened to respond but his reply was cut off by a sharp call from Cho. He decided not to push it further with the silly, stubborn, little woman.
He walked towards his car and to an irate Cho, He could feel Lisbon's eyes on his back. A shiver ran through him, if this was the game she wanted to play, well fine.
"You good to go now? filled your quota of pissing of the boss for the day...yeah... great." Cho pulled on his handle repeatedly, until Jane unlocked it, just to annoy the consultant. He loved the car more than most men loved their girlfriends.
Jane just smiled and took his seat. He now knew for certain that Van Pelt hadn't been far off the mark about Lisbon's hurt feelings and that Lisbon had been avoiding him. New rules and new challenges, that he hadn't fully considered before, but he loved a challenge, especially one involving his pocket rocket boss.
He wasn't totally screwed though, his proximity had garnered a reaction. And the opposite of love isn't hate, it's indifference and she most certainly was not indifferent. He kept smiling the whole drive further aggravating Cho, but he was too happy to try hide it.
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The interview with the spoiled brat, Harriet Long, had revealed nothing past her spoiled nature. She clearly knew nothing about the murder, but seemed to categorise herself as more of a victim than the deceased. It irked Jane, but he kept himself in check, he was not going to anger Lisbon further today.
He and Cho had nearly reached the rendezvous point, where they were meeting up with the others to pass on their findings to the local cops. As usual they had insisted on being kept in the loop. It was tiresome trying to please everyone. Cho kept squirming in his seat, trying to relieve his back pain. The older seats did nothing for his lumbar support.
Jane pulled up beside the Lisbon's SUV. Only a few squad cars dotted the lot outside the small station. It must be nice to live in such a secure neighbourhood. They traipsed into the room, where the others had already gathered and were summing up their reports.
Cho grabbed a cup of water, knocking back twice the recommended dose of medication, while one hand massaged his lower back. Lisbon watched him, then moved her eyes to Jane's, her silent question easily read. Jane mouthed 'my seats, long drive' and shrugged. Lisbon nodded her head in understanding, turning back to Cho.
"So, Ms. Long, anything significant?" She questioned.
"Nope the usual O.P.P." Cho summed up. "She found the body, called it in, no other info."
"O.P.P ?" Sheriff Buckley inquired.
"Overly privileged princess." Jane supplied.
"Ooh, I could have told you that. She once called for a squad car, because she had a bag stolen, turned out she just left it on the porch. She tried to blame us then, she would try the patience of a saint." Buckley mocked.
Lisbon turned to Jane, her face suspicious. "Did you do something to put her in her place?"
"Nothing, I promise, not that I didn't want too."
"Really Boss, he was in view of me the whole time, she was so obnoxious I kinda wished he had." Cho added.
"Okay...well that sums us up then Sheriff, we'll conduct more interviews at CBI headquarters tomorrow and well keep you informed." Lisbon finished off.
"I appreciate that, Agent" Buckley stood up and shook her hand.
Cho exited first, automatically going towards Jane's car.
"Cho wait, go with Rigsby and Van Pelt, take shotgun and stretch out, rest your back." Lisbon called.
"You sure?"
"Yeah we're not doing the interviews until tomorrow afternoon, go to your doctors in the morning if you need too." Lisbon patted him lightly on the arm.
Van Pelt took the far back seat, placing all her gear beside her so Cho could place his seat back in full recline. Rigsby slid into the driving seat as Cho got comfortable.
"Okay Jane lets go." Lisbon said, once the others had settled and were ready to go.
They remained quiet for the first 45 minutes of the journey, Lisbon had turned on the radio, the music preventing the silence of their situation from becoming awkward. Lisbon had closed her eyes, rolling down the window slightly, so a breeze lightly blew through the car.
Jane had lost sight of the teams car a while ago, their SUV far quicker than his. It was a long empty road, miles and miles of flattened grey dust on tarmac. The defined pools of the headlights, barely broke the darkness of the night, instead highlighting sporadic rocks and parched bushes that dotted the side of the road and little else.
Lisbon let a soft sigh escape her lips, causing Jane's mouth to quirk upwards, he had known she wasn't asleep but certainly hadn't thought she was at that level of relaxation.
"Careful my dear, I might get the idea that you like my car." He teased.
Lisbon snorted, her eyes opening to look at him. "Hardly."
"Liar your relaxed posture and contented sigh, begs to differ."
"Truth?" She asked. Jane nodded eagerly.
"It's the radio, the music sounds so much better out of these speakers. It has more base, sounds older, smoother you know, like a caress."Lisbon blushed at her words.
"It reminds me of those 50's drive ins. A better time, more innocent. I guess, so when I close my eyes and listen, it feels like I'm in another era and I can forget the horrors of what we see daily." She sheepishly confided, annoyed that he had caught her.
"So you like do my car then." Jane reiterated, pleased with this little turn of events.
"Oh no, this clap trap should be in a junk yard, just, before I sent it there, I'd get Mike from electronics to take the radio out and put it in my car." She chuckled at his scowl.
"That hurts, she is a beautiful antique...imagine a junk yard. Cold, cold woman." Jane muttered to himself, ignoring her deliberate ribbing.
They lapsed into an easy silence again. Jane felt this was the best time to bring up the past few months. Its not like she could go anywhere.
"Truth?" he asked tentatively.
"Darth Vader, Luke's father." Lisbon joked.
"Touche Lisbon." Jane glanced over, glad she remembered their past conversations as well as he did.
"I'm sorry."
"Van Pelt shouldn't have said what she said." Lisbon looked away and out to the darkened road.
"I'm still sorry", he had suspected Grace would tell her of their talk.
"Okay." Lisbon mono-toned.
"I missed you Lisbon" Jane added, needing her to understand,.
"I never went anywhere." She said so softly he almost didn't hear it. Lisbon closed her eyes again, her posture visibly more tense.