Authors note: I've had the next chapter written for ages and I'm churning out chapters to get it posted, purely on principal! I hope to wrap this up in about 5 chapters. It's been fun, but wow is it far longer than I ever thought it would be, so thank you all for sticking with me. So in my haste to post there is no doubt, numerous mistakes, so apologies.
Disclaimer: I own nothing from the mentalist, not even DVD's, but if they ever make a Patrick Jane action figure, especially if it's life sized, I'll be first in line!
(Fixed it thanks Kaoh)
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Thursday disappeared in a vacuum of scams, interrogations and finally an arrest. All this meant that the evening rolled around quicker than anticipated. The team was on a roll these days, case given, case solved. Jane couldn't help but wonder was it perhaps because they were all becoming more in sync again.
Well almost all, while he was most assuredly on sturdier ground with his lovely boss, he still had a ways to go. Though his enforced, near constant, presence by Lisbon's side, had gained him some familiarity with her, Jane had yet to spend quality time with his brunette firecracker.
He knew he was doing better, he had managed this week, to purchased for her, two coffees and a bear claw. Jane could feel his world righting itself, he had spent a few hours on her couch this afternoon, not to mention their phone call this morning. While all strong indicators that things were improving, but it was not enough.
Lisbon was completing the last of her paperwork, thankfully none to do with him, he had no doubt he would be doing it otherwise. That woman, give her an inch...
"I believe that the case is, infact closed, so whose turn to get pizza is it?" Rigsby called.
Jane watched Lisbon's lips quirk through the glass, ah so she was listening, she must be nearly finished.
"If I recall correctly it's Cho's." Jane answered.
"Thanks Jane" Cho glared.
"Now now Cho, I have a proposition, you may like" Jane smirked.
"Look at you Cho, propositions all over the place from shady characters." Rigsby chided.
Cho shot him a death glare.
"Eh yes unfortunate choice of words," Jane interceded, thinking to himself, only Rigsby would get away with a titbit about that sensitive subject.
"What I was suggesting was closed case beers... It's nearly the weekend and we don't have to be in too early tomorrow, to offset our overtime. Plus the first two rounds are on me." Jane looked around for reactions.
"You know what Jane, I could really use a drink" Rigsby assented first, "As long as we get bar food too" he bargained.
"Fine, two rounds and bar food." He agreed, releasing an overly dramatic sigh for effect. This was blatant abuse of his generosity.
"Why not." Cho responded most underwhelmingly, Jane was starting to get irritated.
"Sure sounds fun" Grace chirped. He was never more glad for the young woman and her blessed cheerfulness.
"I'll go ask our fearless leader so." Jane stood to get up, glad to have a reason to interrupt her.
"No need Jane, this is a roofless room and the door is open, ergo I can hear you. Master of observation my ass." Lisbon called, grumbling the last sentence.
Lisbon stood, walking out into the bull pen. The team all sniggered and watched Jane for his reaction. He shrugged, and dropped himself back onto his couch heavily, causing the cushions to whoosh some air out at the sudden contact.
"Careful Jane, your ego's escaping by the sounds of it." Lisbon mocked.
"Ha ha, yes I'm full of hot air, my, my, someone's witty this evening" he answered, not opening his eyes.
"So are you coming boss?" Van pelt asked.
"Sure but only for a couple, between last night and tomorrow night, I'd like to spend at least one evening at home, this week." She smiled, she was glad to spend time with the team, but her tiredness made her acutely aware that it had been a long week.
At least Jane was right, the early start had meant that, bar any unforeseen circumstances, she would be all set to go out tomorrow. Six o clock and she was out of here.
"Great, well are you all done my dear?" Jane checked with Lisbon, she nodded yes, "then what are we waiting for? Lets go." He beamed, as they all got up and walked to the elevator.
"O' Malleys?", Rigsby asked.
"O' Really O' Reillys?", Cho suggested.
"How about 'The Dancing Leprechaun' it has better bar food", Lisbon countered.
"How come all the bars we go to are Irish bars." Grace wondered.
"Asks the fiery red head" Jane teased.
"Hardly Jane, my second name's Van Pelt. Anyway Lisbon is way more Irish looking than me." Grace added.
"I suppose freckles, green eyes, one hell of a temper, yes very much an Irish Cailín." Jane ribbed.
"Oh, Póg mo Thóin Jane and thanks a lot Grace." Lisbon groused, though her stern face was betrayed by the amusement in her eyes.
"Sorry boss" Van Pelt laughed. She was so glad things were getting back to normal with the group. She had underestimated Jane. She had thought that he wouldn't put in the effort to spend time with them all, but he had, not to mention his new found dedication to making amends and to get along better.
The elevator doors pinged open and they all squeezed in. Jane guided Lisbon, his hand finding its familiar place in the small of her back. He quickly whipped his hand away, at the unfamiliar jolt of static electricity. The spark had crackled loud enough, that the others heard it, causing them to laugh loudly.
"Thanks for your concern everyone, you will be glad to know I'm fine... Lisbon you need to change you fabric softener, I nearly lost a hand." Jane moaned.
"Are you serious? if it stops you and your inappropriate touching, I'll double up on the dose I use. Think about the profit I could make, selling it as a Jane repellent." Lisbon joked.
The others laughed harder, and Jane laughed with them for show, but his mind was focused elsewhere. Did she really feel he touched her inappropriately? He had always guided her, had it always bothered her?, was he being sleazy, no... he was just being a gentleman.
Ok so he only gestured with Van pelt, rather than placing his hand on her, but that was because she was young and new and he hadn't wanted to frighten her, or give her the wrong idea.
His silent reverie was broken when the others began chatting away as they excited the elevator and the building. They headed directly for the 'Dancing Leprechaun', having all subconsciously consented to Lisbon's choice.
The place was busy for a Thursday night, with many groups clustering together near the bar. The team waved to several other CBI employees, grabbing an emptying booth, much to the annoyance of other patrons that had been there longer.
"Ok order up, everybody having the usual?" Jane asked, once they were all seated. Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Oh and the usual food too Jane" Rigsby added, cheekily.
Jane just shook his head and went to go order everything, happily being told a waitress would bring it over, so he wouldn't have to carry them all.
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A few hours had passed and now that they had been fed and watered for free, Cho and Rigsby migrated to the pool table. They were planning on duelling with two of the guys from Narcotics. Grace had gone to talk to Marilyn from the same team, about the next ladies night out.
Lisbon and Jane remained in the booth, Lisbon nursing the last of her drink and picking at the leftovers. They had chatted for a while, settling into silence a few minuted before. Jane surveyed his surroundings, amused by the interactions around him.
Jane watched as a good-looking man, in his early to mid thirties, entered the bar. The tall, male, scanned the room quickly, his eyes landing on Lisbon. He headed towards the booth. Lisbon smiled brightly and got up to hug him warmly. Jane watched as he kissed her cheek.
He may not have known him, but Lisbon certainly did. Who were all these men suddenly popping up in Lisbon's life and where the hell had they all come from. Jane hid his grimace behind a lukewarm smile.
"Jane this is Will, Grace's boyfriend. Will, this is the teams consultant, Patrick Jane." Lisbon introduced them.
"Hi Patrick, it's a pleasure to finally meet you." Will shook his hand warmly and Jane returned it with equal fervour and a genuine smile, this time.
Jane was glad to meet him and it looked like Grace, for once, had managed to wrangle a normal guy. Though O' Laughlin had hid the crazy well, so he would reserve judgement for a little while longer.
Will had kept talking throughout the exchange, nothing important Jane gathered, tuning in on the last few words that he spoke.
"So its great to finally put a face to you, Patrick, I was thinking you didn't exist. So is your girlfriend here?" Will inquired.
"No, Alicia is working late this week, big show or customer, something very important and very boring." he quipped.
Grace had finally spotted Will and she signalled him five minutes, from across the room. He smiled and mouthed at her, to take as long as she liked. He turned back to Lisbon and Jane.
"Well Teresa you look as lovely as ever, its been ages since I've seen you. You'll have to come over to dinner again and bring your cheese cake... its so good." Will patted his stomach.
"You bake? I mean I knew you could cook, three brothers and all, but you bake" Jane sniggered.
"You wouldn't laugh if you tasted it Patrick, amazing, oh, are you still seeing Dylan, he is of course welcome too."
She clearly wasn't Jane thought, she was spending far too much time with other people he reasoned, trying to quell the uneasy feeling he had.
Lisbon stiffened at the question, well aware of who was beside her and now listening intently for her answer. She could read him well enough to see that he thought she wasn't. Well you are wrong Jane she thought angrily.
Placing a sweet smile on her face, it was hardly Will's fault, dropping her in it. She hadn't mentioned anything, because it was in no way serious, nor had she wanted to receive Jane's usual inquisition.
"Yes, I am I'll pass along your invite, though it may be another few weeks before he is free, the case he is working on is taking up all his free time." It was Lisbon turn to feel Jane shift at the news. Ha score one for her.
"No problem we can do it another time, anyway I'm sure I'll see him at the gala." Will shrugged.
"Gala?" Jane looked confused.
"The C.B.I. gala Jane, the one we have every year, I sent you three memos." Lisbon turned to him angrily.
I never got any memos" Jane replied befuddled.
"Because you never check you e-mails." Lisbon shot back.
"Then why email it to me if you know that" Jane argued.
"Just because you don't, doesn't mean you shouldn't. And I told you I sent you an email" Lisbon reminded him.
"I don't remember that."
"Sure Mr. Memory Palace, you don't remember both the gala and the email, if your are trying to avoid it I swear I will physically drag you. This is compulsory..."
"And just how is the thought of you man handling me a deterrent?" Jane baited her.
Grace arrived back at the table sitting down beside Will, kissing him lightly to get his attention. He was following the exchange mouth slightly open as his head moved back and forth between the two with their retorts. To Grace he looked like a demented observer of a tennis match. He finally dragged his attention away from the squabbling pair as their argument finally subsided.
"You get used to it." Grace cut off his question. Lisbon glanced at her watch and let out a sigh, Jane leaned over picking up her wrist to see the time for himself.
Will's forehead wrinkled and he shot Grace a look, she just shook her head and rolled her eyes.
"Well I think I had better be off, so much for an early night" Lisbon said rising.
"Yeah us too boss" Grace agreed.
"It was nice meeting you Patrick and lovely as ever to see you Teresa. Say hello to Dylan for me." Will lent over hugging her goodnight. Grace looked panicked and her eyes darted between Jane and Lisbon.
"I will indeed Will, goodnight Grace." She patted Van Pelt's arm reassuredly and smiled.
Jesus, Jane thought, he wasn't that bad was he. He was sometimes infuriated by the way the treated him like a pariah.
He exchanged goodbyes before heading over to the boys to pass on the others farewells. He saw the other teams game, well this will be easy he thought, planning to get his cash back for the rounds and food he paid for. Cops all that testosterone and one-upmanship made them easy marks.