Warning: Explicit sexual content in this chapter.
They left her office together, engaged in their usual bickering. The rest of their team looked up from their work when they heard them approach.
"I still can't believe you made an appointment with a physician for me without asking. Why don't I make some kind of appointment for you as well? Maybe for the hair dressers?"
She cast him her famous death glare.
"Not that there's anything wrong with your hair, Lisbon, but just on principle? See how it makes you feel?" he insisted
"It's not my fault you have the maturity of a five year old, Jane. I do have my hair done, when it's necessary. You, on the other hand, wouldn't even see a doctor if your life depended on it. And yes, pun intended," she bantered back.
Rigsby, Van Pelt, and Cho felt obvious relief when they heard their teammates engaged in one of their typical exchanges. Cho couldn't help a small smile. They were really cute together. Jane looked a bit better at least, his private conversation with Teresa had visibly cheered him up. And though Cho planned to have a serious talk with the consultant soon, at the moment he was only worried about him. He'd looked awful this morning, and Cho had the distinct feeling that there was more to the story of his attack than Lisbon had revealed to him. He hadn't pried, accepting her judgment about what to divulge and when. But it had perturbed him.
Jane and Lisbon had stopped close to the team's desks. "We're off for lunch. Anyone want to join us?" Lisbon asked.
All three nodded eagerly. Without an open case to work on, they were all bored and a team lunch would be a welcome distraction. Grace was the first to get up. She practically stormed over to the consultant and gave him a spontaneous hug. "We heard about the attack. I'm so glad you're alright, Jane," she said warmly.
Patrick looked slightly thrown off his guard and cast a questioning look in Teresa's direction, while he patted Van Pelt's back awkwardly.
"Ah, yes. I told Cho that you have been attacked by a man bearing a knife yesterday and that SacPD is handling the case," Lisbon provided, making sure her lover was on the same page now. "And Grace? Get a grip, will you? Unhand our consultant so we can leave. He wasn't mortally wounded and I'm quite sure you're actually hurting his injured arm right now."
Grace released him immediately with an apologetic expression. "Oh no. Did I really hurt you, Jane? I'm so sorry. I'm just so relieved you're okay," the young woman said.
"I'm fine, Grasshopper. I managed to get my arm to safety on time. I'm touched by your concern. Ignore Lisbon. She's just grumpy because she needs to be fed," Jane assured the redhead.
That earned him a slap on the shoulder from Teresa. "Ow! Really now, woman? Assaulting an already injured man? How mean is that? And you accuse Grace of hurting me. Honestly, Lisbon," he whined.
"You are such a cry-baby, Jane," she teased.
"You just don't know your own strength, Lisbon."
"Ah, shut up, Jane. I'll even buy you an ice cream after lunch as consolation. But only if you eat all your greens," she said in a patronizing voice.
Everybody laughed at Jane's pouting face and spirits were high when they left HQ.
They all had an enjoyable time at lunch. And the rest of the working day went by mostly without further excitement.
Lisbon got an angry phone call from Director Bertram later in the afternoon, who'd been contacted by the DA's office. He promptly predicted a PR nightmare for the CBI, if news got out about their consultant being attacked with a knife by his own father, a carnie, while at a carnival. Lisbon used this to get his support for trying to convince the prosecution to cut a deal with Alex Jane. Bertram was a bit miffed, that the Senior Agent had been present at the crime scene as well and wanted a detailed explanation, but fortunately she could appease him with some half-truths.
She sighed with relief afterwards. That had gone better than expected. And to have Bertram on their side while negotiating with the DA was actually a very good thing.
Even Jane had behaved well enough and had gone to his appointment with their Medical Officer without too many complaints. He had gotten his ice cream after lunch and that might have helped.
She smiled warmly thinking about her imp. It was turning out to be very difficult for her not to touch him here at work. She realized that since they'd confessed their feelings for each other, they'd been incredibly touchy-feely. And she wasn't even talking about the sex. No, they'd been holding hands, kissing, caressing, and touching each other almost constantly and she'd enjoyed this closeness very much.
This came as a complete surprise, well both her savoring it and him acting like that. He'd been shying away from almost all physical contact during the whole time she'd known him. She'd actually been one of the few people he had allowed to touch him on occasion. But she knew, she shouldn't be surprised. It hadn't been a case of Patrick not liking to be touched but rather him denying himself this luxury out of self-punishment. For all she knew, he could have been a very physical person before his family's murder. Considering her new insights from the last three days, she was rather convinced that that was the case. So she decided to encourage him to continue expressing his feelings that way. It was a real win-win situation for her after all.
Well, not at work, of course. But she had to admit that he had done everything in his power to act in normal Jane-style today and not to raise attention to their changed status. And apart from her constant craving to touch him, she thought they'd been doing well so far. That Cho had seen through their or rather her act at once, couldn't be taken as the yardstick. Still, she would obviously have to work on her facial expressions when talking about her lover.
Since they weren't working a case at the moment, she decided she'd call it a day soon. No reason to linger at the office when she could be at home with Patrick, where she was at liberty to actually touch him when she felt like it. And there was no need to force him to stay here any longer either in his state. He could pretend all he wanted but she still saw that he didn't feel very well.
She shut off her computer and put her desk to order, grabbed her jacket and briefcase, and locked her office. Upon entering the bullpen, she made her way over to the brown monstrosity in the corner, which was, as usual, occupied by her curly consultant.
He watched her approach with a curious expression. "Wow, Lisbon. You look like you plan to leave for the day. But that can't be true. It's only five o'clock after all," he teased.
"If you want me to give you a lift you better shut up and get ready. I'm out of here," she stated.
He sat up immediately. Rising from the couch too fast however caused him a slight dizzy spell. Lisbon caught on to it and had the presence of mind to actually grab his left arm to steady him instead of his right one, which had been closer to her. "Easy, Jane. I didn't mean to imply you had to jump up at once. Take your time."
Cho had gotten up as well when he realized his teammate was on the verge of tumbling. He came over and inquired if the other man was alright or whether he needed help.
Patrick had collected himself at that point and nodded. "Just got up too fast. I'm fine. Sorry for the scare."
He started to move, pulling Lisbon along with him because she was still holding his arm. "Hey, I was supposed to support you, not the other way around, Jane," she complained.
He stopped abruptly, causing her to walk into him. "You said you wanted to leave, Lisbon. I'm just following orders. Somehow it never turns out right. Either I'm not following orders and you get miffed, or I'm actually following them and you're still complaining." He sighed theatrically. "I guess it's my fate to always get it wrong."
She rolled her eyes. "You're such a drama-queen, Jane. Come on." She dragged him with her. Before leaving the bullpen, she addressed her team. "Everybody, go home. We all worked long hours last week. Enjoy the peace as long as it lasts."
She and Jane could hear Rigsby's amazed reaction and Cho's answer, both of which they were most certainly not supposed to hear.
"What's wrong with the boss? She's leaving early on a Monday AND she's sending us home as well."
"Sometimes you are really dumb, Rigs. Did you take one look at Jane today? She's making sure HE gets home early. Honestly, man. And you call yourself a detective."
Patrick and Teresa had to grin at each other after overhearing that little dialog. It felt so very familiar. Probably because they had actually grown as close-knit as a family over the years. It was good to know that some things never changed, like Rigsby being a dunce and Cho calling him out on it.
On the drive home, they decided to get some take-out again. Jane didn't feel up to cooking, or rather, Lisbon determined he wasn't up to it and she wasn't in the mood either. They opted for Chinese.
Reaching her apartment at last, she gave in to her urge to hug and kiss him at long last as soon as the door was closed behind them. She pressed her lips to his greedily and almost forced him to open his mouth with her eager tongue. The kiss was deep and passionate and they both groaned hungrily. She couldn't stop her hands from touching him wherever she could reach: his hair, his back, his butt. He did the same, albeit only with his left arm and hand. The take-out boxes stood forgotten on the dresser in the entrance, while the two lovers reacquainted themselves with one another. "I want you, Patrick," she moaned.
Never breaking their kiss, he opened her pants and pulled them down together with her underwear. She stepped out of her boots and clothes. He shoved the food to the back of the dresser, lifted her up and placed her on the edge of the furniture. His right arm hurt quite a bit in the process, but he ignored it. He stepped in between her dangling, spread legs. His left hand made its way to her core, touching her gently. Her breath hitched. He found her already wet and eager, so he only continued his fondling for a short moment, before he moved to open his own pants. But Teresa beat him to it. She freed his erection and rubbed it lightly, eliciting a deep moan from him.
"The small bag there," he pressed out. "Bought some condoms at the drugstore while waiting for the food."
She fumbled behind her until she'd found the right bag and the pack inside it. She ripped it open impatiently. Not wasting anymore time, she opened one of the small packages and pulled the rubber over his penis, took a hold of his stiff organ and guided it to her entrance. He sank into her with one smooth thrust. He just stayed like that for a long while, both relishing the feeling of being so intimately connected. They exchanged heated open-mouthed kisses.
Finally, he started to move inside of her. Very slowly and carefully at first, but with their growing arousal, his thrusts increased both in speed and intensity. He bestowed feather light touches to her clit with the fingers of his left hand as well, driving her completely wild. He brought her off like that twice, before he succumbed to his own urgent needs and started to pound her in earnest, his tongue mimicking his actions in her mouth. He came with a blissful groan and being the thoughtful and skilled lover he was, he actually managed to make her come a third time almost simultaneously.
Both were panting but it didn't stop Patrick from kissing her deeply once more before he pulled out of her. He made to help her down from the dresser, but she stopped him. "Don't. I can manage on my own and I don't want you to put more strain on your arm."
He stepped back to give her some space, nearly tripping over his own pants in the process, which were pooling around his feet. He chuckled at his own clumsiness. Before he bent down to pull up his clothes, he decided to get rid of the condom. Afterwards he stood there, indecisive what to do with the offending piece of rubber. With only one good arm, he was very limited in his options.
Lisbon had climbed down from the dresser in the meantime and watched the scene before her unfold with increasing mirth. "Need a hand, imp?" She snickered.
She could see in his expression that he wavered between accepting her help and keeping his dignity. He came to the conclusion that his dignity might take even greater damage if he didn't ask for her assistance. So he nodded.
She grinned knowingly, bend down and pulled up his shorts and pants and closed both the button and the zipper, exploiting their closeness to steal another kiss.
Then she grabbed their now cold food and proceeded to the kitchen. "I'll reheat it in the microwave. Why don't you dump that soiled little thingy and take a seat on the couch? I'll be with you in a few."
He went upstairs to the bathroom and washed his hands and his face. Looking up he caught sight of himself in the mirror. He was a bit appalled at his own complexion. No wonder everybody had commented on it, he thought. He went downstairs again and sighed with relief, when his backside made contact with the sofa. Leaning back with a groan he realized just how fatigued he was.
Teresa came in with their food and took one look at him, coming to the same conclusion. She would have to feed him first, but he really needed to sleep, that much was clear.
After they'd finished their meal, he made no move to get up and clean the table. This was so unusual for him that it actually alarmed her a bit. "I'd like to lie down a bit on the sofa, if it's alright with you," he said meekly.
She caressed his cheek and nodded. "Of course, love. Just rest."
When she came back into the living room two minutes later after a trip to the kitchen, he was out like a light. She covered him with a blanket and decided to retire to her bedroom and watch some TV. She would have liked for him to sleep in a real bed, but right now whatever sleep he got was good in her book.
At 10.30 pm she was ready to turn in for the night. Patrick was still fast asleep on the couch and she opted to just leave him there.
TBC
That was the end of the first day back at work. Let's see how the second one'll turn out...
A/N: I don't know what this time of year is like where you live. Here it's dark, and cold, and gray. But you could all send me some warmth and light by writing a review... thanks!
