Chapter 16 – Laura

Lisbon awoke the next morning to soft kisses being placed on her neck and Jane's hand moving slowly from her hip to around her waist, his fingers dancing over her skin as they moved. With her eyes still closed, she smiled and revelled in his touch for a few moments before turning towards him opening her eyes.

'Morning' he said, planting a gentle minty kiss on her lips. She had noticed the night before he had placed a new toothbrush in the holder next to hers so must have wakened a little while earlier.

'Morning' she replied sleepily.

He went to bend down to kiss her again when she lightly pushed him back, moving forward so she could see the alarm clock sitting on the bedside table beside him. It read 5.45am. She thought for a second then rested her head back on the pillow and smiled up at him, giving him permission to continue silently. He smiled at her, doing the sums himself now.

'You know most men wouldn't be too happy that your first thought in the morning was to calculate the amount of sexual activity you had time to fit in so you wouldn't be late for work.'

'It's just this case, I just want it to be over' she replied, sighing. 'Besides, you're not exactly most men, are you?', putting her arms around his neck and pulling him towards her.

They made love and Lisbon rested her head on Jane's chest.

'So, who much cuddle time am I allowed then, Agent Lisbon?' he asked, putting his arms around her.

'About ten minutes.'

He smiled and kissed her forehead. After a moment he said softly, 'I had forgotten what this was like.'

'You mean sex in the morning, yeah, it's pretty great, huh?'

'No, that's not what I meant. Although I can't disagree, it certainly is with you.'

He paused for a moment then added, 'I meant this part, afterwards, the closeness of holding someone in your arms that you're in love with. I wish I hadn't been afraid for so long, that I dwelled on the bad things that might happen if I got close to you instead of thinking of the good things it might bring me.' He squeezed her tighter and kissed her forehead again.

She smiled and looked up at him, kissing him gently before putting her head back on his chest.

'I want to talk to those kids that found Kerry today' he said after a few moments, his arms still around her, sensing her thoughts had gone back to the case.

'You think they know something?'

'Maybe. That Michael character certainly sounds interesting at least and we don't have much else to go on. I want to see what they think of this professor too.'

'Okay, I need to stay at the office to talk to her brothers so I'll see if Cho or Fischer can go with you.'

'You don't trust me on my own?' he replied cheerfully, knowing she was making sure he was protected, despite her protests yesterday.

'Never', she replied cheerfully in return.

Lisbon and Fischer sat across from Kerry's brothers, obviously still in shock at her murder. They learned that Kerry's mother died of cancer when she was fourteen, making her father spiral into a world of depression so much so that he left them all a year later, unable to cope with the loss of his wife. He had died at a halfway house a couple of years ago after living on the streets in the intervening years. When her father left, Kerry fought for and was eventually granted emancipation, refusing to let her brothers go into care. She worked two jobs before and after school to support them financially and still worked in the coffee shop at the college to send money home. Lisbon sighed heavily, a headache beginning to form. She thanked them for their help and promised that she would find the person responsible before leaving the room.

She stood outside for a moment, rubbing the temples of her forehead before Fischer came out. Kerry's life hadn't been a carbon copy of hers but there were certainly enough similarities for her to be concerned.

'Let's get some coffee' Fischer said, walking towards the break area.

Lisbon followed her there and stood with her back to the counter. Fischer gave her a cup and looked at her.

'If this is too much for you-'

Lisbon immediately looked up from her coffee and snapped, 'It's not, I just need a minute.'

Fischer nodded. 'Okay.' She then added in a softer tone, 'Look I know we don't know each other that well but obviously I've read your background and Abbott's told me about Jane's theory on this case. After talking to her brothers it's bound to get to you a little. I know it would if it were me. All I'm saying is that if you need to speak to someone impartial about this, or anything else, then I'm here.'

Lisbon nodded, sipping her coffee. 'Thanks Kim, I appreciate the offer, really, but I'd rather just focus on the work for now. I'm sorry I barked at you.'

Fischer nodded, taking a sip herself. 'It's good to have you back by the way' she said brightly. 'Jane was a real pain in the ass when you were in D.C. I don't know how you've put up with him for so long without killing him.'

Lisbon smiled as Wylie walked in and addressed them both. 'Jake Henderson's been found. He was in a bar on the outskirts of town, looked like he'd been there for most of the day. He's been sleeping it off and local police are bringing him here now.'

Lisbon perked up and said, 'Okay, let's go see what he's got to say for himself.'

Jane and Cho were driving to the campus when Lisbon rang to update them. After Cho had heard the information Jane put the speaker off on his phone and turned around in his seat so he could talk to her more privately. 'You okay?'

'Yes, of course, I'm fine.'

'Teresa' he said softly.

'Just let it go Jane, please, I have to be okay so I can do the job' she replied, hanging up the phone.

He sighed, putting the phone away.

Cho kept his eyes ahead and said, 'She'll be fine. She's the toughest person I know.'

Jane nodded his head in agreement.

They arrived at the campus a little later, Cho went to get the room numbers from the office for Michael and Julia as Jane went to see Laura first.

The door was ajar as he knocked.

'Come in' called a female voice. Jane entered to see two girls sitting on the bed, a blonde one with her arm around a brunette.

'Laura?' he said to the brunette.

'Yes' she replied as she looked up, tears coming down her face.

'Can I talk to you? I'm Patrick Jane. I'm with the FBI.'

'I already spoke to some people yesterday.'

'I know, but it won't take long I promise.' He glanced around her room before looking at her again. 'You don't mind leaving us to it do you?' he said to the blonde friend who looked back at Laura for affirmation.

Jane found a kettle and switched it on, the two girls eyeing him suspiciously.

'You got any tea?'

Laura replied, 'Y...Yes, just over there' waving to a small box on her desk, still confused at this strange man coming into her room making himself at home.

'It's okay' she said to her friend 'I'll be all right, I'll call if I need you.'

'Are you sure?' her friend asked.

'You can leave the door open, if you like' Jane said, putting the teabags into two mugs he found, his back still to the girls.

The friend left as Jane gave a mug to Julia as he sat on her desk chair.

He allowed her to take a few sips then started talking as her hands began to shake a little less.

'From what I hear she was a good person' he said, sipping his own tea now. 'Help us find out who did this to her.'

Laura looked up. 'Me? Of course I would if I knew anything but I don't. I didn't see or hear anything yesterday.'

He studied her face intensely. 'Who do you think would do this to her?'

She looked at him astonished and stuttered, 'How would I know?'

Jane leant back in the chair. 'Well, someone just came to your mind, who?', his voice a little louder.

She looked away from him and down to her tea.

'You won't find the answer there, who?' he asked loudly.

She shook her head and began to cry a little but he wouldn't let up, leaning forward in the chair and speaking quietly again 'Who, Laura?'

She looked up at him, tears running down her cheeks and whispered 'Professor Vance.'

Jane leant back in his chair, thinking.

'Why him?' he asked her after giving her a tissue to blow her nose and she composed herself a little.

She exhaled. 'Because he's a creep, you know, sleazy, he had a thing for Kerry lately.'

'What type of thing?'

'You know, putting his hand on her back in class, ogling her, making comments to make her feel uncomfortable.'

Jane thought for a second then said to her, 'He wasn't just like this with Kerry, was he? He was like this with you too, or at least had been in the past.'

She looked up at him, unsure of what to say in response.

'No point lying to me now, Laura, it's all over your face. That's why your friend was here and didn't want to leave you alone. You told her that you're afraid if he did do it then he might do the same to you, is that it?'

Laura nodded. 'Something like that, yes.'