Sorry for the longer than usual wait. Iwas out of town visiting a friend for the weekend and didn't manage to post before I left.
Warning: Explicit sexual content and Fiery Lisbon in this chapter - the second not entirely due to the first though...
She motioned him in, went to the kitchen to get two shot glasses, and asked, "You hungry? I could reheat you something."
"Jane made it?" Cho asked. She nodded. "Then I'm game."
Lisbon came back with his food and the glasses, sat down beside him on the couch, and ordered, "Eat. And do it fast. You have to read something."
He raised his brows and dug in. Between two bites he sighed, "Say what you want about that guy, but cooking he can do."
"He has other fine qualities as well, " Teresa said defiantly.
Cho raised his brows again and cast her a pointed look. "I never doubted that, though I certainly don't want to know any details, Teresa."
She huffed. "I wasn't talking about those kinds of qualities…" A blush spread over her face, making it blatantly clear to Cho that sexual frustration at least wasn't a problem in his boss's life.
He grinned. "That good, huh?"
Her blush intensified. "Damn it, Cho!"
He decided to let her off the hook. "So what's this really all about, boss?"
"Here," she handed him the papers that had made her so angry, "It's Jane's contract." With a very sheepish expression she added, "Tonight's the first time I've taken a look at it."
"I'm still eating. Makes it kind of hard to read. Why don't you just give me the gist of what about it has you so enraged?" he suggested.
"The gist? You want the gist? The whole damn thing is an outrage, Cho! It's exploitation. It's a scandal." She jumped up from the couch and waved about angrily. "I mean, he's the best damn detective in this whole damn state, Kimball. He's the reason we have the best case stats in the state. Director Bertram uses him as his PR-poster boy, for heaven's sake. He's even raised a large amount of funds for the CBI and that's the thanks he gets? It's preposterous," Teresa ranted, pacing in front of the coffee table.
"Okay, he causes problems as well," she continued, running a hand through her hair in agitation, "And lawsuits, and he doesn't always follow the law, and ticks off important people. I know that. But still, if the powers that be didn't see him as an asset, why would they even bother to employ him at all?"
Cho looked at her with slight amusement. It wasn't often one saw Senior Agent Teresa Lisbon in such a state. Her indignation had reached volcanic proportions with steam coming out of her ears. She didn't appreciate his mirth at all and cast him a death glare. "If you're going to make fun of me, you better leave at once before I make you…" she said angrily stepping in front of him.
"Sorry, boss. Just not used to seeing you like that. But it would help if you actually gave me some real facts. So far you've only conveyed your displeasure," the male agent replied carefully.
She took a deep breath and calmed herself down a bit. "You're probably right. I'm just so angry about this. And at Jane because he never said anything about it. But okay, facts."
Her pacing started again. "He's only employed on a monthly basis with no guaranties for him. It extends automatically for another month as long as the CBI doesn't decide otherwise, which could be any time in fact. Consequently, he has no right to any benefits. No health insurance, no leaves of any kind, be it due to sickness or personal reasons. No vacation entitlement, no bonuses. Not even his travel expenses are covered, when we're out in the field."
She bristled with irritation. "He has to reimburse the CBI when I pay for the team with the Bureau's plastic. And obviously he has paid for every single fine the CBI's ever been sued for because of him."
She had to pause for a moment after her long recitation, her anger flaring up again with full force. And she wasn't even ready yet.
Her usually stoic teammate seemed equally shocked. His eyes had gotten wider and wider, the more she revealed. "This isn't all, Cho. There isn't even anything in it about working hours, meaning that essentially he never gets paid for overtime or weekend duty. I just call him at all hours of the day and whenever I call the rest of the team and let him pull all-nighters and no matter what, he gets the same lousy check every month."
She snorted, her pacing getting more and more agitated. "And that's not even the worst of it Cho. I know he's not in it for the money, but frankly, I don't understand how he gets by on this. The health insurance fee alone must be exorbitant because any company would deem him a member of law enforcement and thus consider him a high risk insurant. And his contract demands for him to have one."
She pondered the implications of this. She stopped her pacing, her face pensive, and a moment later she said more to herself than to her companion, "He must be using money from other sources. I guess, he has something left from his former life."
She halted again, deep in thought about the matter. He had his house still, and vintage cars. That much he'd divulged to her. But he must have some liquid money as well.
Cho interrupted her thoughts. "Well, how much does he get? You haven't mentioned that yet."
"Oh, sorry. I got a bit carried away I guess. Yes, how much does the best investigator in this state get for his troubles? I swear it, you won't believe me, Kimball. He gets three hundred a week."
"No way, boss. You're kidding me. I mean, when we're out in the field, I'm sure a week costs even more than $300 per person with hotel rooms and food and stuff. It's completely impossible for him to get by with so little. There must be a mistake somewhere, Teresa. This can't be right," Cho replied, surprisingly verbose.
She nodded. "That's what I thought as well, at first. But I actually have his latest paycheck here with me. And it confirms it, Cho."
She seethed again, looking at him with deep indignation. "Just last Sunday his quick thinking saved a life and yielded a donation of $50,000 for the CBI and he gets not even $15,000 a year! It's incredible. I'm so angry, Kimball." She was pacing the room once more, trying to vent her frustration.
Cho could see that she wasn't finished with her rant yet and that it was best to let her get it all off her chest before he spoke up again. It wasn't easy though because he was nearly as enraged as Lisbon about this. And he couldn't understand why Jane accepted those conditions. Just to have access to the Red John files and investigation? That couldn't be the only reason. Jane must know what value he held for the CBI. Their bosses certainly weren't as canny when pointing that out and exploiting it as they obviously were at rewarding it adequately.
As expected, Teresa started up again. "And he just puts up with this, Kimball. Why? God, I'm sure it's some rubbish again about not deserving more and that he has to do penance for his very existence or something like this. How am I supposed to make him believe in his own worth when his employer's been riding roughshod over him like that for years and he thought I was in on it?" She hid her face behind her hands.
Cho got up from the couch and stood in front of her. "Boss? Teresa? If what you just implied is true, I mean that Jane actually believes he doesn't deserve better than that, then he seriously needs help," he said earnestly.
She lowered her hands and looked him in the eyes. "I know, Kimball. I am trying to help him," she replied.
"That's not what I mean. Jane needs professional help," he told her carefully.
"I don't disagree with you, but you've seen him around doctors and counselors, Cho." They exchanged a knowing look. "I won't betray his secrets but he's had some rather unfortunate experiences on that front, to put it lightly, and let's leave it at that. I don't see him seeking that kind of help any time soon." She laughed without humor. "So I'll just continue with my personal project of trying to raise his self-esteem. Love conquers all, right?"
Cho gave her one of his small smiles. "Yeah. And I might not exactly love the guy, but if you let me I'm gonna help."
"You will?" she asked, brows raised in astonishment.
"Yes."
"Thank you, Kimball." She cast him a grateful look. "Come on, let's sit down again. I need one of those shots now." They retook their seats and Teresa addressed her friend and colleague again, "I probably shouldn't ask you this but would you tell me, honestly, what you really think of Jane?"
Cho took a little time before he answered. He poured them both a glass of the tequila and prompted her to down hers by doing so with his. "That's a tough one, boss. He's a good man, not always a nice one though. Troubled. Damaged, maybe beyond repair. You would know more about that. Smart, obsessive. Headstrong and reckless."
He took a breath. He'd already said more than he was strictly comfortable with. He wasn't a man of many words after all. But he could see that this was important to Lisbon, so he decided to deplete the rest of his weekly quota of sentences for this good cause and continued, "A big heart he keeps carefully hidden. Loyal. Have always known he hides a lot of old pain behind his arrogance and cockiness, probably even older than the Red John stuff." He searched her eyes and the look of sadness he found there confirmed his suspicions.
Sporting a warm half-smile he went on. "Secretive as hell. Prankster, master of manipulation and deflection. Kind, when he wants to be. Great with kids. Good sense of humor. Full of surprises. Tongue as sharp as a razor. To be honest, half the time I don't know if I really like him or not, but he's my friend. And he's been a good friend to me on many occasions."
He paused, remembering the time when he'd truly understood that the other man was his friend. When Jane had pushed him to look into the murder of his closest friend from his days as a gang member. Their consultant had realized at once how important this was for him and that he would have regretted it if he hadn't done it – even when he himself hadn't been able to see it at first. And Jane hadn't only pushed him. He'd actually tagged along and helped solving the case, long before they'd taken it over officially. Cho was suddenly unsure if he'd ever thanked Jane for it…
Shaking himself out of his memories and getting back to the situation at hand, he added one last thing to his characterization, one he'd known for a long time, "And he loves you, Teresa, has for years." He breathed out and felt exhausted. So much talking didn't agree with him.
"Wow. I don't think I've ever heard you talking that much before. Did it hurt much?" she teased him.
He pulled a face that made her chuckle, but then she turned serious again. "Thank you, Kimball. I appreciate your honesty. And I'm glad you consider him a friend in spite of everything. I know for a fact that he thinks of you as a friend, as family even, but that he's equally as sure that you don't return the sentiment."
"I told him just a week ago," the Asian man explained, pouring them another shot of tequila.
She emptied her glass and rolled her eyes when she chimed in again, "Huh! Telling him? Nice one, Cho. Do you have any idea how often I've told him certain things and he still doubts them the minute the slightest trouble occurs? We have to show him that we appreciate him. That's my new tactic at least. Words aren't enough obviously."
"I won't start kissing him, Teresa," he smirked.
"You better not or I'll have to break your nose," she snickered.
"Possessive, are we?" he replied.
"Oh yes. He's all mine," she answered, the teasing tone she'd aimed for overruled by the obvious tenderness and wonder that had sneaked into her voice.
He regarded her with benign eyes. "He makes you happy. I can see that." She nodded, her smile brightening the room. "Good. And about the contract?" She looked at him expectantly. "I think you should talk it over with Jane first. Don't do anything behind his back. When he's ready, I'm sure the whole team will be behind whatever you plan to do about it. Okay?"
"Seems like sound advice." She paused shortly. "Thank you, Cho. For coming over and listening to my ranting and you know…"
"You're welcome. Got to eat Jane-cooking for my trouble, so we're even." He grinned. "Let's have another shot before I take my leave, boss." He poured them the next round and they clinked glasses. "To our mission of Jane-repair," Cho toasted.
"I like that," she smiled. They both tossed back their shots and Teresa felt a smooth warmness spread through her and knew it was only in part due to the alcohol.
"So he's out with his grandparents? Last week's crisis fully averted then?"
She nodded. "Yes. You saw that letter from Matthew Jane, didn't you?"
"Yeah. A bit lame, though. Considering what he did. Should've punched him when I had the chance to have it look like self-defense," Cho stated.
Lisbon chuckled. "I must confess to having similar thoughts… But he's Jane's family and that makes him mine too in a way. Actually, I hope I'll get the chance for some revenge at a later date." Her grin turned devious.
"You do that, boss." Cho got up from the couch and she followed suit to see him out.
"See you tomorrow, Kimball. And thanks again for, well, you know."
He nodded. "Good night, Teresa."
Left to her own devices again she cleaned the dishes and got ready for bed, feeling a bit tipsy after the three shots and the glass of wine she'd had. When she lay down in bed she had another moment of terribly missing Jane, but she scolded herself for her silliness. He was just out for the evening after all, and her behavior was a disgrace to any self-respecting woman. Since when did she need a man in her bed to feel safe and comfortable? Preposterous…
Still, she fell asleep to thoughts about him with a smile on her face. She woke up again when he snuck into bed. She opened her eyes and smiled sleepily at him. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," he whispered gently. "Just go back to sleep, love."
But she just opened her arms, inviting him to come closer and said huskily, "I think, you left some unfinished business, Mister."
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. She was warm and soft and tasted of sleep and happy dreams, though he found some underlying traces of alcohol in her mouth as well. "Had a little party without me, love?" he teased her. "Is that tequila I sense?"
"Your fault. Had to drown my sorrows when you left me the way you did," she replied defiantly.
He caressed her cheeks and leant in for another deep kiss. "I missed you," he stated warmly, when they finally broke it.
Teresa traced his cheekbone lightly with her forefinger and searched his eyes in the half-dark of the bedroom. "Did you have a good time with your grandparents, Patrick?" she asked quietly.
"The performance was beautiful. And we had some dinner afterwards. I don't think I made too much of a mess of the conversation either. So all in all, I would say it was a success," he told her, his eyes shining with genuine happiness.
She rolled her eyes but smiled as well. "You have to stop thinking you'll screw this up, Patrick. Just be yourself and they are gonna love you." After pecking his lips she added, "Works with me after all."
Then her hand wandered down and sneaked unerringly into his shorts. She found him half-hard already, and her bold move had him moaning. A few strokes and he was fully erect in her hand. "I've been ready for you the whole evening, Patrick," she whispered seductively in his ear. "And even if you're a nasty little tease and I should just leave YOU in this state now, I want you to make love to me, and then I want to sleep in you arms," she ordered, squeezing his shaft for emphasis.
He groaned, "God yes, Teresa. Want you." And then he fumbled with her sleep pants, while she pulled down his shorts. Feeling around on her bedstand in a frenzy, she told herself how thankful she was that due to the pill, soon they wouldn't need to remember condoms anymore.
They were still lying on their sides, facing each other, but now he pushed her on her back and kneeled between her splayed legs. He took the rubber from her and donned it. Slowly lowering himself over her, he thrust into her and her legs came around his waist in an attempt to push him in even deeper. "You feel so good, Teresa," he moaned, "Want to stay inside of you forever."
"Oh yeeees," she whimpered, "That would be niiiice. I…"
He cut her off, starting to thrust into her in earnest - long, even, and hard strokes. "Love you, love you, love you," he repeated like a mantra with every thrust. When they were both getting close, he stopped talking and devoured her mouth with his instead, his strokes getting more and more erratic. Her arms had come around his torso and had snuck under the t-shirt he was still wearing. She stroked his back at first, but when their arousal grew and they were both getting frantic, her grip on him became almost painfully firm and when he finally pushed her over the edge, her nails scratched the skin on his shoulders. He shuddered and came us well with a final cry of "Love you."
Still panting he turned on his side and pulled her with him, so they were lying face to face again. Even though it wasn't the ideal solution he dumped the used sheath on the floor beside the bed. He pulled her close, so she lay with her head tucked under his armpit, her face almost pressed against his chest, but with enough space for her to breathe. Their legs intertwined immediately of their own accord. He pulled up the comforter and when they were both covered sufficiently, his free arm came around her waist, his hand resting on the small of her back. He kissed the top of her head and wished her a good night, though judging from her even breathing, she was probably already asleep again. He closed his eyes, breathed in her familiar scent and drifted off with a small smile tacked on his lips.
TBC
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