Chapter 4 - The ring

After Jane made breakfast for them both Lisbon insisted on doing the dishes.

The conversation at breakfast revolved around cases they had worked on while apart, work stuff they had talked easily about for years and they both enjoyed the familiar discussions where Jane caught her up on some of the outrageous plans he had concocted to catch criminals in the last two weeks while Lisbon raised her eyebrows and told him how bad those plans were.

As she cleared up, Jane watched her from the kitchen table, a mug of tea in his hand. He would have to invest in a nice teacup and saucer to keep here, he thought. She had the same look of concentration on her face scrubbing plates as she did at work reading case files. She moved quickly around the small kitchen working efficiently. He smiled when she had to stand on her tiptoes to put the plates away in the higher cupboards, catching a glimpse of her back as her t-shirt rode up as she moved her arms up. He started to fantasise about kissing the small dent in the middle of her back but as he tilted his head he saw her bite her lip and a moment of worry crossed her face. He realised she was looking for a way to ask him as he glanced down at the now ringless finger of his left hand. She was having trouble finding the words so he spoke first.

'Why haven't you asked me about it?' he said to her back.

She turned around to him, tried to bluff him, asking brightly, 'Ask about what?'

He smiled, his eyes saying, 'really, you're still trying to kid me after all these years?' like he had a thousand times before. He glanced down at his left hand to make his point.

She shook her head and looked away from him, pretending to wipe the kitchen counter. 'To be honest Jane, I didn't know what to say.' She turned back to him. 'You know I would have never asked you to take it off, or, at least, not for a long time anyway if this even works out.'

He nodded. 'I know that Teresa but it was hardly the right thing to keep on wearing it was it?' After a moment, he asked, 'And what do you mean by 'if' this works out?'

'What do you mean? We've just started this and we don't know what's going to happen further down the road.'

'Well', he said, standing up in front of her and touching both her arms with his hands softly, 'No matter what happens in the future, I can hardly wear the ring one woman gave me when I've fallen in love with another.' He leaned in and kissed her gently.

'I...guess not' she replied quietly. She pulled away from him, turned around and picked up the cloth again.

'That's got to be the cleanest kitchen counter I've ever seen Lisbon, you should get some silver out while you're at it' he smiled. She put down the cloth but still had her back to him.

He stood behind her touching her arms again. 'I'm sorry if I freaked you out, am I moving things too fast? You know there's no stopping me once I decide on a course of action.'

She turned to face him, tears in her eyes. 'I just never thought I'd hear you say those words or take your ring off. Not for me. Not for us. It's just a little overwhelming that's all. I guess it's just sunk in that this is really happening between us.'

He could see the fear in her eyes, a fear matched by his own. 'I'm petrified too, you know. You know I put on bravado but you know how scary this is for me' he replied honestly.

She nodded. 'It's just that if this doesn't work out Jane, what are we going to do? You're my best friend and I couldn't bear to ever lose that', tears streaming down her face now.

He looked deep into her eyes, wiped her tears with his fingers and pulled her close. 'Well we just have to make sure we don't fail at this then, we both have too much to lose.'

After a moment he smiled. 'Besides, you've put up with me for twelve years through the worst times of my life, what makes you think dating me is going to be worse than that?' He paused, grinning as he saw her relax a little and asked 'Am I that bad a catch?'

She laughed softly and nodded. 'That's true, how much of a bigger jerk could you turn out to be as a boyfriend than as a work partner?'

'Time will tell Lisbon, time will tell' he smiled, pulling her close again.