Epilogue
Four months later
Jane sipped his first tea of the day as his eyes trailed over the rolling shades of green and brown in front of him, contrasted by the bright blue of the sky above. Close to the mountain range ahead, he watched an eagle as it circled in the distance, screeching as it honed in on its prey below. A mouse or small rat, most probably, he mused. A horse pricked up its ears in the paddock in front of him, stopping its early morning graze at the sound and turning its head. A swish of the tail later it went back to feast on the grass again, disinterested. The circle of life, he supposed, as he took another long sip from the china cup in his hand. He heard the quick patter of light footsteps behind him and smiled. "Good morning, Lisbon," he said, without turning around. "Beautiful day for a wedding, isn't it?"
She came up beside him, leaning on the white wooden fence he rested his arms on and nodded. "Morning, there you are. Yeah, it is. Talking of which, I see you made your escape from the breakfast table early." She nudged him lightly with her elbow. "You should have woken me when you got up; I had to endure Grace's cousin going on about flower arrangements these past ten minutes."
He laughed softly. "Looking for me to get you out of it, were you?"
"Something like that. You were up early. You okay?"
He turned towards her and dazzled her with a reassuring smile, catching her lips with his own and slowly kissing her. "I am." He rested his hand on her lower back as he looked back at the view ahead again. "You and Cho arrived here late last night and today will be a long day, thought you'd appreciate the lie in."
She put her arm around his waist and squeezed his side gently. Shyly but also a touch seductively, "I wouldn't have minded an early wake up call, though."
He chuckled and kissed the top of her head, his fingertips at her back travelling to the edge of her T shirt and just underneath to gently graze her bare skin with his nails slowly, his smile widening as he heard her breathing quicken in return. "Weddings get you in the mood, do they? Well, that's certainly good to know," he said.
She blushed immediately. "No! Well...what I meant was that I've been working so hard this past week we've barely had time to..." She half shrugged and tilted her head to the side.
He turned towards her, a smirk on his lips. Innocently, "Time to...?"
She whacked him playfully on the arm. "Shut up, you know what I mean."
He set his cup down on the fence and put his arms around her fully then kissed her soundly. Withdrawing his lips slightly from hers, he nodded to a barn behind her. "There must be a hay loft on Grace's parents' ranch. We could take a mosey around now, if you want. I'm game if you are."
She laughed. "A literal roll in the hay, huh? How romantic."
He moved his lips right to her cheek and planted small kisses across her face until he made it to her earlobe where his mouth lingered. He whispered, "A roll anywhere with you any time will do just fine for the rest of my life, my dear."
She arched into him and ran her fingers nimbly across his biceps, feeling the increasing evidence of his desire as their bodies moulded against each other. "Well, you might just get lucky later if you behave yourself at the wedding."
He looked at her assuredly. "Like I'll need to behave myself for you to not have your wicked way with me when you see me in my Tux." He added confidently, "I'll be surprised if we're not late to the ceremony because of it, in fact."
She rolled her eyes at him and pressed her palms against his chest as she put space between them again. "Now I'm glad you didn't wake me up," she smiled. "I'm going off the notion entirely."
"Liar," he said with a grin, kissing her quickly. "Though with you in that bridesmaid dress yourself at long last I might have to use some biofeedback skills myself to last through the service."
Her cheeks coloured again. "Smooth talker." A beat passed as they took up positions side by side again, their arms around each other's waists. She asked, "How's Grace doing? I heard you helped her yesterday when you got here early."
"She's made amazing progress, Teresa. Her determination is quite astounding. She wanted to walk unaided down the aisle and I know she will. I just assisted her with practicing some last minute exercises. She wants it to be a surprise for Wayne, hopeless romantic that she is."
"He'll be choked when he sees that. Hell, we all will be. I'm so proud of what she's accomplished."
"Me too."
For a few moments they watched the landscape together in companionable silence. Then Jane picked up his cup again and asked with more sombreness, "So, how did it go last night? Barely got two words out of you before you fell asleep."
"Sorry, long day. We caught three more. We're getting there at last. Just the stragglers of Blake left at this stage. And they'll be in Mexico or Canada by now if they have any sense."
"Everyone okay?" he asked, his fingers instinctively squeezing her side with a tad more pressure. Though if there'd been any trouble apprehending Blake Association members he'd have heard about it by now.
"Yeah, no problems, thank god," she nodded quietly.
When Lisbon had joined the team to track down and arrest members on the now infamous list in the joint FBI-CBI task force that had been established following Partridge's arrest, the first few weeks had been bloody and terrifying. Several members of the team had been targeted or attacked and two car bombs had taken out four CBI agents they had both personally known, the darkest day they would face in the investigation. After, Jane had wanted them to leave law enforcement altogether and move somewhere new as panic set in for their safety. She had steadfastly refused to go, citing the work was too important to hand over to someone less qualified or invested, and even more so after the murders of her trusted colleagues. It had been a strained time for their relationship, Jane battling his demons internally over his future without Red John and dealing with his grief, along with fearing for Lisbon's life at every turn. They'd had more than a few arguments and shouting matches in the first month. She'd felt the pressure at work as long days and brutal interrogations with people she once considered good people wore her down. Jane had helped with some of them too but only when she or other agents came across someone they couldn't break. Police work had currently lost much of its appeal and Lisbon was aware he only became interested in the takedown to have it dealt with and out of their lives sooner rather than later.
But through it all they'd stayed together, the thought of breaking up never a consideration for either one of them. And it wasn't all bad, even in the early days. Jane would run her bubble baths and rub her feet after trying days, his reading of her body language as soon as she'd entered the door a godsend to her. She didn't have to suggest getting takeout or watching mindless television or making desperate and hurried love to each other. He knew exactly what she wanted and needed by his first look at her as she'd crossed the doorway.
She became better at reading him too, often surprising him with suggestions for picnic lunches and time away from the office when she noticed him begin to withdraw from her and the darkness threaten to overwhelm him. She'd found he opened up to her more when they were strolling down a beach or lying on a blanket in the sun, the sounds and sights of nature triggers for his ability to relate his innermost thoughts to her.
And, sometimes, they both needed the rows too. They were instant, if temporary, stress relievers and strangely cathartic in their own way. Especially when followed by a rigorous bout of make up sex. They didn't solve their issues but they presented them more openly and, after cooling off periods, they began to address such matters than shy away from them.
He never officially moved in but had only spent one night away from her since McAllister's death. That had been to paint the wall in his house in Malibu and put the property up for sale. He'd been gone for a whole day and he'd come back to her and clung onto her like the first night after he'd killed Red John. He'd thanked her for not asking questions and she'd stroked his hair until he'd fallen asleep next to her just like she'd done that night.
The second and third months had seen an improvement between them as arguments lessened and they began to laugh more with each other again as tensions eased, allowing themselves more than the occasional date night where work talk was off the table (not always a successful venture). Jane visited the graves of his wife and child, burying the mirror compact, his ring and Charlotte's ribbon stowed in it, between their graves. It was a largely symbolic gesture he never imagined would grant him any peace but he'd come back to Lisbon afterwards, looking visibly lighter from doing it and heralding it a breakthrough of sorts. Though he still had many dark days and moments thereafter, he also began to allow himself to think about his and Lisbon's future after Blake. The task force became less of a defensive machine and more of an offensive one as Blake members dwindled in numbers and begged more for plea deals than issue further threats against those in charge. The tide had turned, and it added to Jane's more optimistic outlook.
The last month had been filled with wedding talk once again as Rigsby and Van Pelt issued invitations to their re-planned nuptials. The open air ceremony was due to be held at her parents' ranch where she'd been recuperating physically with Rigsby at their side. They had tended their resignations to the CBI and there was talk of them opening up a detective agency in San Francisco after their long awaited honeymoon in Europe.
"Penny for them?" Jane asked her softly as the silence lengthened and he noticed the line between her eyes as he placed the now empty cup on the ground between them.
She shrugged. "It's been a tough few months for everyone, hasn't it? Just thinking about it, that's all."
He laughed with the same wistfulness he'd heard in her tone, his thoughts matching hers. "That it has. Yeah, me too."
He turned towards her and kissed her gently. "Thank you," he said with absolute sincerity as he cupped his hand to her cheek, capturing her lips again. "I know I've been a pain in the ass at times."
She arched an eyebrow and grinned. "You've always been a pain in the ass from the day I met you."
He grinned and shook his head. "I'm trying to be serious here, you know." He sighed happily at her. "Even more of a pain in the ass than usual, then. I know...I know things haven't been easy. And that I haven't helped matters with my paranoia."
She kissed him. "I'm still here. We're still here. And your paranoia was understandable and well founded. I think, if anything, we're stronger after everything we've gone through lately. It's easy being in love when everything's going well. It's enduring the tough times that's the test." She smiled. "My mother used to tell me that."
He grinned. "Wise woman just like her daughter."
She shrugged. "And I haven't always made things easy for you either. I was stubborn and pigheaded plenty of times too."
He nodded. "That you were," he said with a twinkle in his eyes. He tilted his head. "You know, you're absolutely right. All those rows were your fault."
She dug him in the ribs and he caught her waist straight after as he laughed, his teeth gleaming in the sunshine as he continued to chuckle. She grinned, relishing how relaxed he was on this glorious day and brought her hands up to circle his neck. "Though the past month has been much better. And Blake is pretty much done."
"Then it leads to the question...what next?"
She frowned as she played absently with the hair at the nape of his neck. "I thought we'd decided to go to D.C. It's a change of scene and a fantastic opportunity with the FBI. And Wainwright wants us there with him. Better the devil you know and all that. He's come on leaps and bounds since Blake was exposed."
Jane nodded thoughtfully. "He had to grow up quickly when Bertram was arrested. I admit, I've grown quite fond of him."
"Only because you like to poke fun at his attempts at psychoanalysing you."
He smiled. "It is enjoyable watching him try to figure me out and put me in a box. Then do something unexpected where he has to move me to another one."
"You just love messing with people, guess that'll never change, huh?"
He shrugged. "You wouldn't want it to. I see you trying to hide a smile when I wind him up."
She laughed. "Guilty as charged. So...D.C. then?"
"Hmm," he said, surveying the scenery around them again. "You think they'd have places like this there?"
She drew her head back. "You want to buy a ranch now?" She tapped his chest pocket. "What? The money from your house sale burning a hole in your wallet?"
He shrugged. "Not my money, our money now. And I don't really know what kind of place just yet. But I do want us to plant some roots. Somewhere we can settle for a while."
"We've been okay at my place, haven't we?"
"Yes but it's exactly that – your place. I want somewhere for us, Teresa. And somewhere with a little land around it would be nice. More tranquil, you know."
"I guess. Sounds nice when you put it like that."
He kissed her quickly. "It will be."
Apprehensively, "So...you've decided to take the job in D.C.? Wainwright told me you were still deciding when he asked you last."
"If it's where you want to be then I will. Maybe not straightaway, might take some time and find us somewhere to live first. I'm not sure if I'm ready to go back to crime fighting full time just yet."
"Up to you, take whatever time you need, I get it." Then she frowned. "Why do you keep questioning D.C. all of a sudden?"
Jane arched an eyebrow. "You're not going to mention the other job offer you've received?"
She gaped at him and blushed. "Hightower told you about it?"
He laughed. "Lisbon, you really think you can keep something like that from me? Cho told me she was in town and that you two went for lunch the other day when I called to see what you wanted for dinner. And you did not mention the fact you met her when you got home. And you were distracted all evening, nibbling on that beautiful bottom lip of yours. Ergo, either you're having an affair with her-" His eyes lit up devilishly as he grinned, "-or she's offered you a job since she's coming back to head up the CBI when Wainwright leaves for the bright lights of the FBI."
She pouted at him. "Why didn't you tell me you knew about it?"
"Why didn't you tell me about it in the first place?" he smiled. "This truth arrangement goes both ways you know, my dear," he teased.
Her pout remained but it was edged with some sheepishness. "Fair enough. She offered me - well us, really - jobs." A smile broke out on her lips. "She said she figured we came as a package deal and that she was willing to put up with your foolishness without it impacting my career this time. I told her you weren't sure what your plans were in relation to staying on after Blake but she said that she wanted me with her anyway."
Jane matched her smile, pleased that Hightower saw the value his girlfriend could offer all on her own. As much as Wainwright respected Lisbon, Jane knew he was the main reason the younger man had wanted them to follow him to the FBI. "Did she mention why she decided on the CBI and not the FBI? From what I heard she could write her own ticket. Both agencies want - well, need - people they can trust at her level. And no one's more trustworthy than Madeleine Hightower currently."
Lisbon nodded in agreement. Now Red John and his organisation were no longer a threat to her or her family's life, Hightower had been able to leave protective custody and resume her stalled career. "She said..." Lisbon's smile brightened and something close to pride came over her voice, "...she said that she never got to finish the task she'd set herself years ago and that was her first priority. To make the CBI the premier law environment agency in California. She said she wanted to accomplish that before she even thought about a future with the FBI."
Jane smiled and shook his head. "Quite an undertaking to raise the CBI to where it was a few months back, never mind better it. It's been largely decimated since Blake."
Lisbon responded excitedly, "But it's still open, Jane. A couple of months ago I never thought our doors still would be by now. Everyone thought it would close, be swallowed up by the Feds, forgotten and blamed for Blake." She became more animated. "But it's still here, despite everything these past few months; it's still here against all the odds."
His face lit up at her almost childish excitement, adoring the passionate side to her nature. He dampened down his enjoyment. "So, then why not mention the job offer to me?"
She shrugged, averted her eyes to the horse cantering near them. "FBI's the better choice for my career, for one. More high profile cases, more money..." She troubled her bottom lip again.
"And you think us staying in California would be detrimental to me," he said, cutting to the crux of the matter.
She whipped her head back around to him. She licked her lips. "We agreed starting somewhere new would be better."
He tilted his head from side to side as he considered. "We did. But that was also before I knew...before I saw how much you want to take Hightower up on her offer. Before there was an option you'd obviously prefer."
She shook her head. "FBI is the more logical choice."
He rolled his eyes. "But not the one you want. At least not presently. And the only reason I can ascertain why you didn't accept her offer straightaway was because you're worried about me."
She puffed out a breath. "Okay. You're right. I don't care about the money or have cases handed to me because the victims have political connections in D.C. But yes, I am worried about you. California holds a lot of bad memories for you, Jane."
"We're really going to have to work on that martyr complex of yours now I'm handling things a little better my end," he smirked. He let go of a breath, turned his tone more serious. "I have a memory palace, Teresa. Whether we stay in California or not they'll still be right in here." He touched his forehead for emphasis. "The trick I'm learning slowly is not to allow the bad memories overwhelm the good ones." He kissed her lightly and he circled her face with his eyes. Softly, "And every day, whether I'm in California or not, while I'm with you the good ones invariably win out. Not only that but increase their numbers. So, it really doesn't matter to me where I am, Teresa, as long as I'm there with you."
Touched by his words she let go of a breath as her eyes misted over. "You'd really be okay staying? It'd probably be pretty boring at first. Madeleine has a management team to build and wants me to form part of that. Then there's recruiting new agents, most of the good ones still left are migrating to the FBI. People like Cho. Not that I blame them, it's a step up and Cho's getting a promotion off the back of it. But it'll be like it's starting all over again and the public have little confidence left in us. We'll invariably get the grunt work and the overflow from Sac PD until we can rebuild our reputation."
Jane shrugged. "Sounds a whole lot more interesting and worthwhile than having work handed to you because the people involved have money or influence. And training rookies sounds like a lot of fun." He smirked. "And who doesn't love an underdog story? And...it seems like the work would be less dangerous initially than what might come our way by jumping ship to the FBI." His eyes twinkled with a mixture of amusement and seductiveness. "And maybe more time for...some extracurricular activities too." He added, "And selfishly the last two are clinchers for me."
"You're being honest with me, really? Because I know I've asked a lot of you lately and we had pretty much settled on D.C.-"
Her words were cut off by a searing kiss. "It's what you want and I want it too. Decision made. Okay, glad we got that settled. Tell me though...do you think...do you think you'll have time for a vacation first before you start?"
She smiled and pulled him closer. "I was just about to mention that she doesn't officially take over for another month when Wainwright leaves. And I have about a gazillion vacation days to take. And I don't mind admitting I'm pretty burnt out after the past few months. Could use a break. Why? What have you got in mind?"
"A month, eh?" He grinned widely. "How about a trip to Europe of our own? We could even meet and spend a few days with the newlyweds as we take in the sights it has to offer."
"Europe? Really?" Excitement buzzed through her. "You sure we can afford it? I mean...if we're looking at properties in California now it could be expensive-"
"So one of our first stops will be Monte Carlo. I'm pretty sure we could pay for the whole trip after a night there in a casino."
Her grin broadened. "Okay. Let's do it."
"Really? Excellent." His smile threatened to rival the sun's brightness.
They sealed their decision with a long kiss. She drew back, both of them smiling through and after the kiss. "Now I need your help with another matter," she said.
"Oh?"
"Rigsby's freaking out. Pre wedding jitters, I think."
Jane laughed. "Perfectly normal. And what am I supposed to do about it?"
"Can't you...i don't know...teach him some breathing exercises or something?"
"You're tempting fate after telling me to behave myself, you understand. The temptation to have him squawking like a chicken when he's asked to recite his vows is incredibly hard to resist, Lisbon."
She glowered at him. "Well, you could do that. Of course, if you do then you realise you'll be bunking with Cho in his single bed tonight."
"Hmm. Then it seems you leave me no choice but to offer my assistance, woman."
She laughed and nodded towards the house. "Come on, then."
"I'll be right behind you," he replied as he leaned his elbows on the post behind as he faced the house. "Just going to drink in a little more of this day first."
"Suit yourself." She kissed him briefly. "Think I'll go try on my dress." As she walked away from him with a more pronounced wiggle of her hips she glanced over her shoulder and shot him a seductive wink before carrying on.
He grinned and laughed softly as he stepped quickly to follow her. His right hand found the diamond ring in his vest pocket and rolled it in his fingers. He'd been looking for the perfect moment to ask her to be his wife for a few weeks now. He'd thought the view they'd just been admiring might be a good choice after the wedding ceremony.
But maybe Paris, as they walked hand in hand along the banks of the Seine, sounded like an even more excellent plan...
- THE END -
A/N: A massive thank you to all of you for your amazing support for this fic and the fact that some of you have been following it for over a year now since it began. I don't know where the time has gone but I'm incredibly grateful you're still here whether you've been with it from the start or caught up with it later on. I'm truly mesmerized and flattered by your kind words of support, beautiful and touching reviews, and words of encouragement to keep going when my interest has flagged.
Like Lisbon and Jane at the end of this one I'm feeling a little burnt out myself finally finishing this marathon of a story (unfortunately no Paris trip for me, though!) so I'm going to take a break from updating my other stories (Broken and Reconnect (& Destinies, eventually)) for a few weeks or so. Need some time out but I hope to be back in a while. Thank you again.