Chapter 9: Now What?
Team Lisbon
Jane led the way, stride lengthening till Lisbon was trotting to keep up. Once outsideJane stopped dead and the others stepped aside awkwardly to avoid crashing into him. A car honked and he visibly startled before turning to the other three.
"What now?"
Placing her hand on his arm, "Jane, Dr. Kendall is waiting for us. You need to be examined," Lisbon said calmly.
Stiffening, "No. I'm fine, just need a meal and, uh, hotel room."
Smoothly, "Mr. Jane, do you accept me as your attorney?" Moore waited politely. Jane glanced at Lisbon who raised her eyebrows and nodded. After intently looking him up and down Jane nodded. "–As your attorney, I strongly recommend having a physician examine you. Should this end up in court, documented facts by a credible third party will be invaluable."
Jane inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly, "Okay." He slumped a little as the tension eased.
Cho said, "Jane, I'm responsible for you. I'll get the SUV," and walked off. Jane looked at Lisbon, 'What next?' in his expression.
"Mr. Moore, I need to ride with them. Would you mind following?"
"I have nothing to contribute there. If you'll tell me the hotel, I'd like to meet with you–" Lisbon frowned and he hastened to emphasize, "–briefly to pin down the details about the agreement. And offer letter."
Cho pulled up and Lisbon moved her luggage to Cho's vehicle. Moore left for the Omni Southpark Hotel where Cho said they would be staying and the other three left for Dr. Kendall's office.
The better part of an hour later Kendall emerged alone while Jane dressed.
"Ms. Lisbon, Mr. Cho, Mr. Jane gave me permission to share his medical information with you. Overall, he is in excellent physical health. He is underweight by 18 pounds which he explained is because he has been skipping meals. And his reflexes are slightly impaired. That is consistent with the drug identified in the toxicology report you showed me. Most of the drug was eliminated from his system in the three days since he stopped eating. The rest will be metabolized and excreted gradually over the next week. Any questions?"
Lisbon had to ask, "Signs of other abuse?"
"Not physical. As for his mental and emotional status, 40 days of solitary confinement invariably has an effect. Mr. Jane is exhibiting some typical reactions."
"We're in law enforcement and know the impact of solitary confinement. Can you tell us about Jane?"
"I have no baseline since this is my first meeting. I do observe he startles easily, is generally anxious, and seems skeptical verging on paranoid about a simple medical examination." Kendall looked surprised when Cho snorted softly, then continued. "He seems somewhat emotional. These effects will lessen but may never completely disappear."
Jane quietly joined them.
Lisbon asked, "Is any kind of follow-up needed?"
"No. Some diagnostic results won't be back till next week. I or my nurse will call with the results either way." He turned to Jane. "Mr. Jane, solitary confinement has significant psychological effects. I encourage you to seek professional help."
"Thank you." Lisbon looked expectantly at Jane who belatedly added his own thanks.
They finally were on their way. Lisbon sat in back with Jane while Cho drove. Jane let his head fall back, eyes closed.
"You okay?" Lisbon asked.
"Getting there." He opened his eyes and gave her the first smile since their initial meeting over a month ago. "Thanks to you. And you," he added, including Cho.
Cho caught his eye in the mirror. "Jane, I need your word you won't disappear."
Carefully, "So long as you're responsible for me, I won't disappear." Lisbon stiffened next to him. Jane added quietly, "Why would I vanish? I chose to come back. I'll make this work."
Lisbon relaxed. "Good."
They sat in silence for the rest of the short drive. The team strong-armed Abbott so I could meet Bertram, go after Red John. I owe more than I can ever repay. His reminiscing was interrupted when Cho parked at the hotel. Cho took a three-bedroom suite with a shared living area. They had a bellhop take up Lisbon's luggage and Cho's go-bag when Jane insisted he couldn't wait longer for tea. Or food. Moore met them in the hotel restaurant and went over a few points for the agreement, then left for his flight to Dallas.
They opened the door to the suite. Cho checked each room from an excess of caution then picked up his go bag and chose a bedroom at random.
"Must be nice working for a bureau with money," Lisbon commented wistfully, looking around.
Jane muttered, "Nicer. Still a cage." Lisbon let it pass, picked up her carry on and looked at Jane who waved his hand, indifferent. She disappeared into a bedroom.
Having nothing but the clothes on his back, Jane poked around the room, made restless by the bright artwork and sheer differentness from his surroundings of the 43 solitary days on top of the two years. Lisbon found him studying the room service menu when she came back.
"Hungry again?" she asked with a smile.
He started then turned with an answering smile. "It's just a pleasure to read printed material again. In English."
Her smile faded. "What? You – you didn't have anything to read?" She looked beyond his immediate fake smile.
"I reread a dozen books, everything Shakespeare, and the Bible, St. James version," he said, tapping his temple. "It may be controversial, but the language! It–"
"Jane." She cut him off, voice sharper than intended. Anger flared at this new detail of abuse.
Cho walked over. His lips twitched at Jane's inadvertent revelation but he said nothing.
Unable to stay still any longer, Jane turned and faced them. "I really need to take a walk. Lisbon?" She nodded. He looked at Cho. "Two hours." Lisbon stepped into her room to get her wallet.
Cho nodded and turned away. The Jane of old wouldn't have bothered to reassure him, would have evaded answering if pressed. Changed. Definitely changed. Lisbon's company was insurance. Cho mentally sighed. Divided loyalties were never good on an assignment.
Lisbon and Jane
A few minutes later found them outside. Jane walked faster than Lisbon wanted till she had to ask him to slow down. That got her a sheepish grin and he set a merely brisk pace. How he knew there was a park nearby she couldn't magine. Scent? Sounds? Once in the park he slowed to a stroll and they walked side by side. Ferocious daytime heat had mellowed to a warm caress as twilight painted the western sky with pastels that were graying to dark. Spying a bench, Jane guided Lisbon there with a touch on her elbow and they sank onto the sun-warmed slats. Their legs inadvertently brushed. Jane's arm was thrown over the back.
Suddenly there was everything and nothing to say. "How have you been for the past 700 days?" "Was exposing Blake worth destroying your life?" "How did killing McAllister feel?" ... "What do you want to do with the rest of your life?" And with whom?
They sat in companionable silence as each gathered scattered thoughts. Ever practical, Lisbon ventured, "You never did say what this is all about."
The corner of Jane's mouth quirked up, "Abbott interrupted us. And then, well, haven't had a free moment." He winked.
Lisbon took a deep breath and bit her lip. "You must have had a plan. What happened?"
Jane closed his eyes. "Abbott offered a get out of jail free card if I work for the FBI." He shrugged. "He implied he accepted my terms in Venezuela." Her eyes teared at learning where he had been for the first time in two years. Jane continued, "Thought it was fifty-fifty whether he'd honor them. Now I know what I'm dealing with."
"Patrick Jane doesn't throw himself on the mercy of the Feds. What was your leverage?"
He grinned. Being understood is an underrated pleasure. "Haven't used it yet. Fischer gummed up the works," he said, his tone a breath of frost.
"You'll really work for the FBI for five years?"
"Under my terms." She was his first term. He turned and looked at her, forgetting to breathe. "What about you?"
Lisbon didn't answer immediately. She looked him over, drinking in the familiar, assessing the obvious and the subtle changes. He was keyed up, angry about the detention, off balance from the drugs. The big change was what was missing. The sense of teetering on the edge of madness and murder was gone for the first time she had known him. She swallowed a lump. Nothing ventured...
"That depends on you, Jane."
His eyes flicked to her left hand, then met her steady gaze. "You have me at a disadvantage, Teresa," he said softly. "You know about me from my letters. I – I don't know anything about where you are now. If you're happy in Washington..." Anxiety battled warm affection in his eyes.
That earned him a grin. "The great Patrick Jane doesn't know?" she mocked gently.
He rose to the challenge and enveloped her right hand between both of his. His piercing blue‑green eyes laid her bare. "You're working as a police chief in Washington. You lost ... everything when the CBI was disbanded, after I killed McAllister and ran. Abbott didn't file charges. He also never gave you credit for Red John and Blake. Cho left to join the FBI. Rigsby and Van Pelt–" He read her reaction, "–remain friends, but aren't nearby. Your job is–" he took in her micro-reactions, "boring. So Washington is settling. A paycheck. And, no - no serious relationship keeping you warm at night." The blush tinted her cheeks and crept down her neck, making him smile smugly. "Oh, something kept you warm at night, but it wasn't in Washington." She pulled her hand from his and whapped him lightly on the chest.
"Jane!"
"Lisbon, I came back because everything – everyone – I care about is here. I'll gladly work for the FBI if," he swallowed with difficulty, "–if I get back what I had at the CBI."
She raised a skeptical eyebrow and murmured, "'Except for that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?'"
"Except for that."
She licked her lips. Softly, "I've missed you. But I want more than being your sidekick as we solve cases for Abbott," she said, faint disgust coloring her voice at Abbott's name. "You – you're ready to move on?" she asked with more hope than certainty. Sunlight glinted off his wedding band.
His smile broke like sunrise. "Despite my 'devotion' to law enforcement, I want more too. A lot more."
"You meant what you said? No disappearing?"
His arm draped around her shoulders and he puller her closer. "I want to be where you are, Teresa. That will never change." She couldn't say anything around the lump in her throat. She nestled against him with a sigh, giving him the answer he needed.
After a while, he shifted uneasily. She looked up. "What is it?"
"What if Blake isn't over for us?"
She frowned. "Abbott is still working Blake. Don't know if he'll want us on it."
"What if we're pulled into it? Are you up for that?"
She tilted her head and a crease appeared between her eyebrows. "You know something, don't you?"
"Suspect, Lisbon. –A hunch."
She straightened and pulled away to face him, eyes fiery. "I'd love to put away those bastards. They smeared us all. Too bad Bertram's already dead."
He grinned. "That's my Lisbon." He drew her into a hug. "I've missed you so much."
They pulled back to face one another. The surroundings faded as their total attention focused on each other. Jane licked his lips and drew closer, breathing shallow and fast. Lisbon tilted her chin up, eyelids fluttering shut as she closed the distance and brushed his lips with hers. His arms tightened, pressing her to him. Kisses multiplied and were sprinkled on her cheeks, along her jaw, on her forehead, delicately on eyelids and then back to lips. She responded eagerly with joy and relief so strong it neared pain. Breathing heavily, they finally drew apart, green eyes shining into blue-green, cheeks aching with smiles.