Author's note: written for the Paint It Red Ficathon - prompt: "I'm bored of closed case pizza."

Closed case strawberries

"I'm actually bored of closed case pizza. Why don't we try something else?"

The four other people in the room simply gaped at him. Even Jane looked rather taken aback by Rigsby's unexpected remark.

"Well, what's wrong with you?", the man added nervously as the astonished silence seemed to last indefinitely.

"Oh, nothing much, Rigsby", Jane offered cheerfully. "We were just wondering if the end of the world is finally coming, or something like that."

The taller agent pouted slightly. "What do you mean?"

"You usually love closed case pizza", Cho delivered in his matter-of-fact tone.

"I never said I don't like it anymore. I just feel like having something else for a change – such as Mexican food, Thai, or whatever."

Van Pelt frowned. "Case-closed pizza is much of a tradition in our team. Are we really going to break it?"

"Okay, forget that I ever spoke", was Rigsby's somewhat sulky reply. He'd still avoid arguing with Grace if he could help it.

Lisbon decided to intervene at that point. "I think it'd be nice if we ordered something different for once. We could set up a new tradition, you know."

"That sounds great", Jane promptly agreed. "I'm going to provide the food. Don't move, I'll be back soon."

"Wait a moment", Rigsby interjected worriedly, fearing that the man was up to some kind of mischief – as was his wont.

Jane stepped out of the door before anyone could stop him. His colleagues wisely shook their heads and went back to their glasses of lemonade.

...

"Here you are!"

They stared at the bag that Jane had put on Van Pelt's desk. He had probably ransacked a greengrocer's or something.

There was almost every type of fruit one could think about – orange, apple, kiwi, papaya, banana, mango. And of course a basket full of delicious-looking strawberries.

The look of disappointment on Rigsby's face was absolutely priceless. It had the others in fits of laughter – and they nearly forgot about their dinner as a matter of fact.

Lisbon finally managed to speak despite the hiccups that threatened to choke her. "Fair enough, Patrick. Bring out our dinner – the real one this time."

"What are you talking about?", he countered, feigning surprise. "This is our dinner. Fresh fruit is both refreshing and healthy – what else should you ask for?"

Cho and Van Pelt simply looked at him in disbelief.

"The food, Jane. Bring it in."

Lisbon's insistence finally won the day.

"You're such a spoilsport, woman", her husband complained as he fetched the other bag he had left just outside the door.

Rigsby's face lit up all of a sudden. "Is that Chinese food?"

"Korean. I thought that Cho would appreciate it."

"Sounds good", the Asian agent agreed. "Much better than vegetables anyway."

Now it was Lisbon's turn to sigh. "I guess that Jane and I are going to eat fruit salad for the whole week, aren't we?"

"Look on the bright sight of it, darling. Those strawberries are absolutely the best I've ever tasted in months."

"All right. Then I'll eat them and leave you the other stuff."

"Don't you remember what they say? A apple a day keeps the doctor away."

He ducked quickly enough and the aforementioned fruit missed his head by a mere inch.