Author's notes: Thank you for your lovely responses, they make my day. It's been strange using Patrick and Teresa in this chapter...
Here she is in another beautiful room. Though nothing compared to the beauty she saw on the drive through the park as they made there way to the hotel. She was happy she wasn't driving and able to concentrate on the magnificent views that were laid out before her. They were breathtaking. At the check in Jane..no ..Patrick, collected up every brochure they had on display with ideas of what to do in the park. He seemed particularly excited about hiring bikes, it's been a long time since she's been on a bike. There's a knock on the door.
"Teresa?"
She goes over and opens the door. Patrick is practically hopping on one foot. He's wearing some of his new clothes. A dark blue pair of chino's paired with a pale blue button shirt, made in soft cotton and woven with a lighter blue thread in a swirl pattern almost invisible to the eye unless viewed up close. He obviously has a liking for blue but she managed to persuade him to buy some light green and beige. He's somehow had time to take a shower, his hair is still damp, his curls just beginning to dry
"Are you ready to get going?"
"I haven't finished unpacking yet."
"Meh, that can wait until later."
He grabs her arm and starts to pull along."
"Wait. I need my room key."
He let's go and Teresa grabs her key off the bed.
"So where are we going?"
"Nowhere in particular, I thought we'd just have a stroll around the neighbourhood, get our bearings, see how the land lays..."
"I get the picture."
Patrick smiles at her.
"Good."
It's a lot cooler in the park but still warm, a perfect temperature. Once they move away from the hotel car park they leave civilization behind them. It instantly becomes quiet and peaceful. Trees, hills and flowers stretched out before them. Jane spreads his arms out in appreciation.
"This is beautiful."
Teresa can't disagree.
"It's incredible."
"C'mon"
Patrick takes her elbow and starts walking
"Where are we going?"
."I have no idea."
As they walk Patrick hums with delight as he takes in sights he's only seen in postcards. He's always had an appreciation for the beauty that surrounds the craziness of civilization, but here, it's nature at it's best. They come to a ridge where they can see into the valley below. Patrick sinks to the ground, grabbing Teresa's hand gently pulling her down beside him.
"Don't worry, the grass isn't wet."
Patrick is sitting with his arms wrapped around his knees, which are pulled up towards him. He shakes his head in wonder and turns to look at Teresa, a beaming smile on his face.
"I may never want to leave. Do you know what that is?"
He's pointing to a red flower that looks spiking, it's petals reaching up to the sky, that's just a few feet on the other side of her.
Teresa shakes her head.
"I'm not really up on flowers, just know the common variety species, it's very beautiful, though evil-looking."
Patrick looks aghast.
"Evil looking?"
"It's spiky, like it would prick me if I tried to sniff it."
"They're not spikes, they're bristles. It's called a giant red paintbrush."
"Ah, that works."
Patrick gets on to his feet.
"I'm going to take a closer look. I've only ever seen one in a book."
"Knock yourself out. I'll stay here."
"Okay."
Teresa watches as he makes his way over to the flower, he gets down on his hands and knees, for a closer inspection, it reminds her of when he inspects a body. His gaze is intense as he takes in every detail, sniffing it's scent. She turns back to the view of the valley and spies a young couple in the distance, with backpacks on their shoulders, their hands entwined and their bodies as close as possible, she suspects they could be newly weds, she watches their descent. In the background she hears Jane's/Patrick's exclamations of delight at, what she surmises, are further discoveries. The couple are no longer visible and she realises that it's very quiet. she turns towards Patrick's direction and he's also nowhere to be seen.
"Jane?"
"Patrick, remember."
Lisbon's heart jumps and she whips her head around to the opposite direction where Jane is lowering himself back to the ground.
"Geez Jane when you scare me like that, I've not intention of calling you Patrick."
"Oh, like when a parent uses a child's full name when they're in trouble?"
"Exactly like."
"Sorry I couldn't resist, you were so engrossed in something down there."
Teresa shrugs, inexplicably feeling embarrassed as if she'd been stalking the couple.
"It was just a deer."
A smile plays on Patrick's lips as he knows she's embarrassed and lying to cover herself, he wonders what she was watching, but decides the heart scare was enough for the time being. He stores it away for later. He lays down resting his head on his hands, he looks up at the sky. It's a deep blue, without a cloud in sight. Birds criss-cross their way across his vision. Faraway voices occasionally reach his ears, he's aware of Teresa laying down beside him, he squints open one eye and looks across at her.
"Does this mean we're sleeping together?"
"Shut up Jane."
He looks up at the sky once more.
"Oh, oh, in trouble again."
He smiles when Lisbon pushes him in the arm.
"You better believe it.
He can hear Lisbon smiling in her voice. He shuffles himself in to a seemingly more comfortable position and lets out a sigh.
"This is nice."
"Mmmm"
He feels gentle nudge on his arm.
"Wake up Patrick."
He opens his eyes, to find Teresa staring down at him, smiling softly
"Ah, I'm forgiven"
L