Author's notes: Thank you as always for your kind reviews and here's a little light relief, I hope you enjoy it.
When Teresa's dressed and she comes downstairs Patrick's nowhere in sight. She searches through the few rooms that are on the ground floor shouting his name but there's no answer. She's certain he isn't upstairs but goes to the bottom step and calls up anyway to be certain. There's only silence. She notices that the front door isn't closed properly and giving a sigh of relief she goes outside.
She hears a bang from her right and follows the sound towards the side of the house. She finds some doors open near the bottom of the house with a few steps leading down in to a dark space. She leans her head inside and calls out Patrick's name.
"Don't come in its dark, the light's not working, I'm coming out."
Teresa steps back as she hears further clattering. It seems that Patrick is dragging something out. She hears him hit something and curse.
"Are you all right? Do you want some help?"
Patrick's face appears in the door way. he has a grease stain down the left cheek. He smiles at her.
"Thanks I'm fine just stand back."
Patrick backs his way up the steps, he's definitely dragging something with him. As it comes in to view she see's it's a lawn mower. Patrick hauls it up the final step then steps away and rotates his right shoulder and rubs his arm.
"I called the realtor and they were showing some one a house down the road last week and they asked about this one. She expects they'll want to see it tomorrow. I thought I'd better clean the place up a bit."
"You're not mowing the lawn."
"It's okay, it's electric and practically pushes itself. I've done the hard part."
"Yes and you shouldn't have."
"I wondered if you would tidy up the flower beds and then we could go out for lunch and buy some paint while we're out."
"I'll be watching you."
"Yes Ma'am."
It's gone noon when they finish in the garden. After Patrick finished mowing he helped Teresa with the flower beds. Luckily there weren't many beds as they were very neglected. He did have a gardener coming in for most the time that's he's been away but he died eighteen months ago and Patrick never replaced him. Jane gathers up the garden refuse and puts it in the bin.
"Shall we go get cleaned up for dinner?"
Teresa looks at his grease stained face and dirt on his hands and up his arms. She looks at her own, which are only dirty on her fingers and palms.
"Yes I think you'd better."
Patrick moves in close to her."
"You think you're so much better, but you've forgotten about scratching your face, let me have a look at it."
As he was speaking Patrick's taken a gentle hold of her chin. The wicked twinkle in his eye told he was lying and she tried to duck but was too late as Jane wiped dirt on her face.
"Now that's much better."
Teresa can't help smiling and shakes her head.
"You think you're so funny don't you!"
Patrick shrugs
"Just trying to help out."
"Oh yea. Just watch your back Patrick Jane."
Patrick twists and turns trying to look at his back, when he turns back Teresa's gone. A smile plays on his lips and he gathers their tools and puts them back in storage. He's whistling as he makes his way towards the front door. He's surprised when the door's yanked open as he's about to take hold of the handle. Before he gathers his wits a stream of water hits him in the face. He yelps and steps back in surprise, as the water continues he ducks his head and raises his hands for protection. The water stops and he hears Teresa's voice:
"Now that's helping some one clean up."
Patrick removes his hands, water's dripping down his face as he smiles standing on the step watching a retreating Teresa walking up the stairs.
Lunch is at Patrick's favourite Mexican place. It's nothing to look at and if Teresa was by herself she wouldn't give the place a second glance. The tables a grey wooden bulky benches, the lighting dull and the decorating looks shabby, the whole thing giving off a dingy feel. But Patrick swears by the food. Teresa can't help but wonder what possessed him to give the place a try in the first place.
"It was recommended by a friend."
Teresa shakes her head at Patrick reading her mind once more.
"That the way it usually works with these type of places. We snobby Caucasians miss out on a lot of great food because we take fluff over substance. The owners here started this place on a shoe string and place their money into great ingredients and putting their five children through college."
"I look forward to tasting it."
Patrick's right, it's the best tasting Mexican she's ever had. She wipes guacamole off her chin.
"I think we may have to move the CBI Headquarters down here."
"You enjoyed it then."
"That was delicious."
"Good. I promise I will bring you here again."
"You'd better."
Patrick holds his hands up in surrender and raises his voice just a little.
"Ow Lisbon there's no need to threaten me.."
Teresa is aware of eyes turning to look at them.
"..and you a cop too."
"Put your hands down, I wasn't threatening..."
Patrick's shaking his head.
"Tone Teresa tone."
She looks at the other customers and the employees.
"I wasn't threatening him, he's just messing around because I sprayed water in his face earlier..."
As the people are still looking at her, their expressions unchanging she tries again.
"...only because he wiped dirt on my face...I wouldn't have done it otherwise."
She hears Patrick chuckling.
"Me thinks she doth protest too much."
Teresa scowls at him and leans in to whisper to him.
"I'm going to kill you."
She walks off and cringes as she hears Patrick's voice behind her.
"More threats ladies and gentlemen."
He leaves money on the table for the meal and exists after her. Too late he remembers that she has the car keys.