"So basically we need to wait until Stiles gets in touch. That's what you're saying, right?"
Jane nodded, "I don't see any other way forward at the moment."
"So for now we're at an impasse."
Jane pointed between the two of them. "Well perhaps us becoming a couple will break it."
Chapter 33 – Back on Track
"Yeah, maybe," Lisbon replied with a sigh.
"Well, you haven't punched me so I'm guessing what I've told you hasn't made you too mad," Jane smirked as he sat on the side of the bed.
"It's not like I'm not used to you keeping stuff from me, is it. And, to be honest, I probably was expecting worse. At least there is some kind of lead we can follow, confusing as it is." She paused, "Thank you...for telling me everything."
Another pause followed. Gingerly, "That was everything, wasn't it?"
He grinned, "Yes, Teresa. There's nothing more to tell. Consider me stripped bare before you." As she blushed at his choice of words he chuckled, "Not literally, of course. But I wouldn't object to that either if it'd make you feel more comfortable."
"It wouldn't," she glared before averting her eyes, a vision of a naked Patrick Jane filling her head and skyrocketing her pulse.
Amusement disappeared from his voice after another brief smile. "Actually it feels good, being able to talk about this stuff, to have someone to talk through the possibilities. Well, to talk to you about this stuff if I'm being completely honest."
"I'm glad you finally felt able to."
"Me too. Sorry it took me so long."
She cleared her throat. "I told Walter to stop calling me if he wanted more than my friendship. Last time he came to CBI and he gave Rigsby and Van Pelt that ridiculously over the top wedding gift."
"You did?" He couldn't stop a smile forming.
She glared, "Yeah...so...you can cut out all that jealousy crap from now on. Not that it's any of your business who I do actually date."
"It's not?" he smirked. "I don't know how I feel about us being in an open relationship, Lisbon."
She rolled her eyes and set her coffee cup down on the table then grabbed her jacket off the back of a chair. "Guess I better go. There's really nothing else to talk about for now. How long do you think before Red John, whoever the hell he is, finds out about us being a couple?"
Jane flung his legs onto the bed and settled himself into a sitting position against the headboard. "Probably not too long. Word's out at CBI, I'd guess a day or two at most before word filters back to him."
"And then?"
He shrugged, "And then we'll see what happens. Hopefully the news will disconcert him sufficiently enough that he does something hasty and contacts one of us."
"Something hasty? So if Stiles suddenly gets in contact with you that would definitely be a red flag."
"Indeed. As would you receiving any kind of message." As she went to put her leather jacket on he added, "You shouldn't go just yet."
She eyed him warily and then unconsciously the space beside him on the bed, "Why not?"
A smile crept up on his lips as he noticed her eyes' path before she made a correction back to his face. "Because this is meant to be a date, Lisbon. You've barely been here an hour. And we had takeout. We're supposed to be in the first throes of love, aren't we? An hour where we spend it eating and then have a quickie is hardly believable."
She smirked and raised an eyebrow, "From what I recall you used to like takeout and then a quickie?"
Unabashed, "Only in the CBI attic occasionally or if we were pressed for time. At your place it was inevitably followed by a much lengthier encounter."
"So what do you suggest we do?"
He chanced a seductive waggling of his eyebrows before he chuckled. Then he picked up the television remote control from the nightstand beside him and switched the television on. "There's a baseball game on tonight, I believe. We could watch that, get our minds off Red John for an hour or so. I, for one, could do with the distraction after the last couple of days."
"Since when do you like watching baseball?" she frowned.
He patted the space beside him and shifted into a more comfortable position on the other side. She bit her bottom lip as she looked at the empty side. "I won't bite, Teresa," he said, shaking his head, his eyes glued to the screen in front of him as he channel surfed. "I'll be a complete gentleman, I promise."
"Keep to your side," she glowered before she kicked off her boots and sat on the top of the bedclothes beside him, crossing her arms across her chest and pursing her lips into a fine line.
He glanced sideways at her, the tension in her body palpable. He stopped flicking channels when he came to the baseball game, hoping that watching it would relax her a little at least. At the moment she was wound tighter than a spring and had been since he'd returned, only increased since Florida.
While being truthful with her had allowed some questions to be answered it had also opened up a cornucopia of others. He could practically hear the cogs turn in her brain as they ran around her head. "It helps me sleep sometimes," he said as he sat the controller on the table beside him.
"Huh?" she replied, her brow creasing as her thoughts were interrupted.
"Watching baseball. Helps me sleep."
"Oh," she commented with a nod. Then she frowned, "Since when?"
Pleased her mind was off Red John temporarily he replied, "A while after I left. When I was exhausted I'd tune into the odd game and I'd be asleep in no time." A beat passed as he took a breath. "Imagined I was on your couch and you were beside me watching it. It proved quite effective for my insomnia."
Silence enveloped the room before he heard an intake of breath to his right. Their eyes still fixed on the screen she replied softly, "When you left I sometimes came downstairs and turned on the Discovery Channel during the night."
He laughed softly and a moment later their eyes met as they turned their heads to face each other. "We're quite a pathetic pair when we're apart, aren't we?" he smiled, a melancholic edge to his voice.
A hollow laugh escaped her and she nodded, "Then perhaps we should make sure we're not apart again," she proposed quietly.
"I like the sound of that," he agreed with a bigger smile.
"Good," she nodded, her arms relaxing so her hands lay joined on her stomach as she took a deep breath and focused on the television again.
For a while they watched the game in silence. Then Lisbon began to take more interest in it as Jane bit back chuckles as she began to snort and mutter insults at the players. "Sorry I don't have any beer in for you," he commented only to be shushed by her at a crucial point. He watched barely any of it himself, so enthralled was he by observing her out of the corner of his eye as she became increasingly engrossed. He didn't know what was around the corner for the pair of them but he was pleased they were getting some respite after the emotionally gruelling past few days and weeks. And year come to that.
After the game she got off the bed, in a better mood as her team had triumphed, and put on her boots and jacket. "So, you satisfied now that your sexual prowess is in no doubt?" she smirked.
"Well not as satisfied as I might be if it had actually been proven but I guess I'll have to make do," he smiled. He paused then added, "For now, anyhow."
"Jane..." she warned but the smile that appeared on her lips contradicted the tone of her voice. He grinned in return as he came to stand beside her.
"You'll text me when you get home, let me know you got there safely?" he said, more serious again.
She drew her head back as she zipped up her jacket. "You're taking this fake dating thing a little too far, aren't you?"
"We don't know what his plan might be, Teresa. Not for sure." He licked his lips nervously. "I-I'd be happier knowing you're safe and with a gun under your pillow."
"I'll text you," she responded without humour when she saw the worry in his eyes. "And you make sure to lock the door behind me."
"Don't forget to check for bugs too, just in case." They'd decided to sweep their homes each night on their return from work on the chance that Red John may bug them to discover if their new romance was genuine or faked. Lisbon's office and Jane's attic were also to be checked every morning.
"Uh..." he began as he put his hands on the lock of the door. "We need to...uh...you know...kiss again when you go outside."
"Okay," she replied with a nervous smile, her voice higher than she intended. "Right."
As he drew the door open he planted a smile on his face and took her waist gently in his hands. Her eyes were immediately drawn to his mouth as it descended towards hers. Her eyelids fluttered shut, heat rising in her as she felt the warmth of his lips capture hers. Too briefly they were gone again and she almost stumbled forward, surprised at the loss of contact after only a second or two. She blinked rapidly as she opened her eyes and frowned. She'd have thought after his innuendos and the past couple of hours where they'd made definite progress in mending fences he'd have tried to take advantage like he had at the office earlier. Instead the kiss was chaste and passionless. He kissed her quickly again. "Goodnight, Teresa."
"Night," she replied, her mind in a fog momentarily before she nodded as she cleared her head.
He watched as she reached and entered her car, tucking a strand of chestnut hair behind her ear as she did so, and waved at her as she reversed out of a parking space.
When she arrived home she took the electronic detector from her bag and made an inspection of the entire place. Finding no bugs she went into the bathroom attached to her bedroom and disrobed, throwing her clothes into the wash basket there. She reached into the top drawer in her bedroom and took out her favourite football jersey before throwing it on. As she washed off her makeup and brushed her teeth her mind settled back on the kiss he'd given her at the door. Now she had more time to think about it she theorised he had been right to keep it impersonal. Things were difficult enough in this so called charade they were supposed to be putting on without sending each other mixed messages with the type of kisses they used to share. But now he'd been honest with her it was harder to keep her latent feelings for him at bay and she could feel herself falling under his spell again. She was almost as terrified of that prospect as she was of Red John. Both had the ability to destroy her she knew only too well. She sighed as she got under the covers and picked up her phone from the nightstand.
She texted him quickly.
Home safe. C u 2moro.
A second later he replied. What, no kiss at the end? What kind of gf r u?
She smiled and typed an 'x' before hitting send again. He was taking this 'fake' relationship a little too seriously but she couldn't help play along. She waited a few seconds and laughed softly. As she went to put her phone down it vibrated again.
You in bed?
Yes.
She laughed out loud at his next message. What are you wearing?
Her fingers poised over the keys of her Blackberry for a second and then she smirked. Just a smile.
He came back quickly with a response. A smile? Then I must have texted the wrong person. I thought this was Teresa Lisbon's phone.
Ha ha, Jane.
Sweet dreams, Lisbon. x
Her breath caught in her throat suddenly at that little letter at the end of a silly text message conversation. She was inordinately pleased to have him back in her life all of a sudden, a rush of renewed hope filling her heart tinged with just a soupcon of fear. She was all at once certain they could face whatever Red John threw at them now they were united in their fight against him.
She had no idea how much that supposition was about to be tested.