A/N: Really angry Jane and Lisbon alert ahead! There will be better times ahead (in the past) soon so hope you keep reading. And thank you to all the new reviewers and followers this story has received. The lovely support spurs me on.
Chapter 7 – Explosions & Enlistment
The knock on her office door brought Lisbon out of her thoughts as she stared at the screen in front of her. She took a moment to take a deep breath before saying, "Come in."
Cho entered and said, "Jane says he's ready to start work on the Walker case."
Lisbon shook her head and smiled thinly. So now they were communicating through proxies. "Fine," she said brightly, standing up and grabbing the notes on the case from SFPD.
When she arrived at the conference table Jane, Rigsby and Van Pelt were already seated, an uncomfortable silence filled by Rigsby tapping his pen on the table. While Van Pelt was gnawing on her bottom lip and looking at her lap, Jane sat back in his chair, a cup of tea in his hand, a calm and cold expression on his face. Lisbon glanced at the familiar teacup he'd obviously found at the back of the cupboard and looked into his eyes for a second, willing him to acknowledge that she had kept it safe for his return. She noticed him shift slightly in his chair as he picked up on the intimation before casting his gaze away from her and down to take a sip of his favourite brew. She felt she had just won a small victory when she had just made him blink first. He wasn't as cold to her as he was letting on; there was still something there between them. She knew him better than anyone before he'd left and in that instant she saw a hint of the man she loved once again. She suddenly felt surer she could fix this.
"Okay," Lisbon said brightly, sitting down followed by Cho. "So, Jane, let's hear the full story about Janet Walker now that you have your credentials approved."
Jane put the cup and saucer on the table slowly before placing his hands in his lap. "Are you sure you want to hear the full story, Lisbon? There may be parts that will make you blush," he replied dispassionately but with a smile on his lips.
"When did you meet her?" Lisbon replied with little emotion to her tone.
Jane sighed quietly and sucked in a breath as he looked out of the window beside him for a moment. Before she asked him again he turned back to face her. "Two months ago. I visited the Art Gallery in San Francisco where she was a partner. We struck up a conversation about a piece there, found we shared a lot in common and arranged to meet for drinks the following night."
Lisbon inwardly prickled as Jane recounted making a date with another woman. "Did you meet her partner Costas that night?"
"No. He was there but I didn't meet him that night."
Cho asked, "When did you meet him?"
"Um...a week later. There was an opening for a new artist so Janet introduced us then."
"What was their relationship like?" Lisbon asked.
"Costas & Janet? Stormy I guess you'd call it. They didn't always see eye to eye. They argued often. Kept secrets from each other I suspect too. The relationship was bound to fail because of it." He stared at her heartlessly as he imparted his last sentence.
Blushing she persevered, "You said relationship. So are you saying they had been involved romantically at one stage?"
"I never asked."
Lisbon found herself getting agitated. "That doesn't mean you didn't know. Or that she never told you without you asking. What was your read on the situation?"
"Why does that matter?"
"Because we're trying to solve two murders here, Jane. First, we need to know if Janet Walker killed Costas or if it's possible that the same person who killed Walker killed Costas too. If they had been involved romantically then there's more chance of Janet being his killer, crime of passion and all that. You know this stuff."
"Oh," Jane replied, nodding, as if he was really taking in the information before looking at her pointedly. "Why not just ask me if Janet killed Costas? Wouldn't that be easier than going around the houses with these foolish questions?"
Lisbon blinked quickly as Rigsby asked, "Did she kill him?"
Jane nodded. "Ah, yes, I believe she did." He picked up his cup and took another sip of tea calmly.
"You knew this all along?!" Lisbon growled. "Why didn't you tell us sooner? In fact, why didn't you come forward at the time?" In a lower tone she said, "Tell me you didn't help her do it or cover it up afterwards."
"I didn't help her do it or cover it up afterwards."
Her relief was replaced by uncertainty when she replayed his answer in her head. "Are you just saying that because I've just asked you to tell me that or is that really the truth?"
Jane gave her one of his most enigmatic smiles. "I'm not interested in Costas' murder at this time. Let's just say I am certain Janet did it. Now, let's move on-"
Lisbon exploded from her chair and placed her palms flat on the table in front of her. "You can't just make a statement like that and expect us to brush it under the carpet that you knew about it, Jane! Not to mention that you may even have been involved in it for chrissakes!"
Jane's temper snapped and he bit back, raising himself from his chair to stand opposite her. "Please, Teresa, really? If there's anything this team is good at it's brushing things under the carpet and collaborating with murderers! Maybe before you snap to judgement at what I may or may not have done perhaps you should take a look at your own behaviour first and stop being so damned sanctimonious when this whole table knows what you're capable of!"
"That was different and you damn well know it, you son of a bitch!"
As Van Pelt opened her mouth in shock at her boss and Jane having a slanging match across the conference table Rigsby took hold of Lisbon's shoulders to hold her back in case she decided to take a swing at Jane as Cho moved to stand beside Jane and said quietly to him, "Keep your voice down."
Jane laughed in his face as he noticed other agents now peering in their direction at the kerfuffle. Jane mocked, "Oh, of course, we can't have the rest of the CBI find out that Saint Teresa's halo is tarnished, can we? We have to protect our glorious leader at all costs, don't we, Cho?"
"Take a walk," Cho told him. "Cool down."
Cho shook his head at Lisbon at the nightmare that had unfolded within two minutes of Jane being back. "You too."
Lisbon slammed her office door shut behind her, a little surprised the glass didn't shatter as she did so. She sat down at her desk with her head in her hands, trying to take deep breaths to calm down. She'd never seen him like that, not to her, not to anyone really unless it was part of a plan to unmask a killer. She brushed a couple of stray tears from her eyes and took another deep breath. She laughed nervously suddenly, a memory of Jane telling her once that she was meaner to him than the other kids because she liked him. Well, from the treatment she'd just been given, he must be positively head over heels in love with her. She sighed as she watched the prompt on the monitor blink in front of her.
Lisbon stared at the screen. Her eyes began to burn as the minutes extended into an hour. She leaned back in her chair and looked at her watch. Jane would more than likely be awake again soon and would look for her. The memory of his lips on hers made her heart flutter. She laughed to herself. Either that or just too much caffeine. She closed her eyes for a moment and relived the experience. Their first kiss was tentative, slow and she felt an uncertainty and almost an awkwardness from him when he first brushed his lips to hers. She supposed that was only to be expected. As far as she was aware she was the first woman he'd kissed since his wife. She had an inkling that something may have happened with Erika Flynn but she couldn't be certain and she'd rather live in denial at this point if something did. Unless her plan worked, she would certainly be the last person he would kiss.
A beep from the monitor made her open her eyes instantly. She fought for breath as she read a reply to her message.
My help? You truly must be desperate, Teresa.
She typed back: I am.
A few seconds passed before he replied. What can I do?
Help me save him. I have a list of the anti venom drugs but don't know which one will help him or if any of them will.
I've brought myself up to speed on his case and the list in question. And you think I know the answer? You think I'm a doctor?
I don't know and at this moment in time I don't care who you are. But if you find the person who murdered Martin Norris then I am hoping you can persuade him to impart the name of the cure.
You realise you're talking about torture and perhaps cold blooded murder, Teresa. Hardly standard police interrogation methods. Tell me, does that excite you? Crossing the boundaries you've set yourself?
Lisbon felt like she was about to throw up.
You know I wouldn't have come to you unless I'd already exhausted all leads in the case. And since you're not responsible for what happened to Jane I believe you are probably already looking for the person responsible for thwarting your plans for him. I know you have friends in many places, friends I do not have.
Criminals you mean?
And you have a certain knowledge of poisonous drugs. I believed there was a chance you may already have come across the perpetrator or know where to start.
Ah yes, poor Rebecca.
If you tell me where to start looking I'm more than happy to do whatever it takes myself to find a cure.
Such fierceness. Such loyalty. I wonder if Patrick Jane truly appreciates the treasure I've allowed him to find. Does he?
Lisbon shook her head. Did he really believe that by killing his family he'd done Jane a favour? She didn't have time to ponder the question. Instead of replying to his question she asked one of her own.
So, you'll help?
If I do what do I get in return?
Lisbon swallowed hard. What do you want?
I'll be in touch. Keep your phone charged.
He doesn't have much time.
Talk soon, Teresa. This has been illuminating.
Jane sat on the rooftop coffee shop he'd frequented often. Many times with Lisbon. He'd tried to get her to open up to him here when her psychiatrist had attempted to frame her for murder. They'd eaten ice cream here more than once. Laughing, bickering sometimes, and bantering. For all his issues times were much simpler back then. And now he'd just lost it in the middle of the CBI bullpen. So much for his legendary control. He sighed loudly and shook his head just as he noticed Cho approach and take a seat opposite. Neither man spoke for a few minutes.
Cho finally said, "If you want to work with us again there have to be some ground rules."
Jane raised an eyebrow. "I didn't realise you'd taken over from Wainwright. Congratulations on your promotion."
"Stop acting like a jackass. We all know what went down. Time you either got over it or leave again if you can't."
Jane shook his head slowly. "Cho, no offence, but you have no idea what went down between Lisbon and I."
"I know enough. She asked Red John to help save your life. He did. Then you entered a sexual relationship together. She hurt you by not telling you about how you were cured. You're pissed at all of us for not telling you but especially her. What else is there to know?"
Jane rolled his eyes at the quick but pretty accurate synopsis of what happened a year ago. To an independent bystander Cho was mostly correct in his summary. Unfortunately Jane was not a bystander but a full participant in the proceedings so couldn't look at the situation in such black and white tones.
Jane replied, "I know you don't believe what she did was right either. Why have you stood by her?"
"People in love do dumb things."
"That's it? Those are the great words of wisdom from Kimball Cho? So, because she was in love with me I should forgive her for everything she did, is that what your advice is?"
"That's up to you. None of my business whether you do or don't. But if you insist on working here then you have to find a way to work with her. She's not going anywhere. Simple as that."