As always - thank you to those of you who take the time to read and review. Your comments mean so much ...
I've read a number of fantastic fics on this site (and a lot of really good post-Blue Bird fics) - in fact many that are much better than mine. I'm debating continuing or putting an end to this story - please let me know if you'd like me to continue. If not, I'll wrap it up in a chapter or two.
Thank you!
"So, did your sister know you wanted to sleep with her?"
"She was my step-sister and you're sick! I didn't want to sleep with her." Joel Davis took a step back, and gave his mother a quick, difficult to read look.
"How dare you!" Emily Matherson hissed at Jane. She surged to her feet and pointed her finger at the consultant from the FBI. "I'm going to have your badge for this. Who do you think you are?" She swung around towards her husband, who sat quietly, his face pale with anguish and loss. "Are you going to let him get away with this? He's accused my son of – of – oh, for God's sake Frank, don't just sit there, do something."
"What do you want me to do Emily?" her husband said tiredly. "The man just asked a question and Joel answered it. Just let it go."
"Let it go! He accused my son of incest."
"Actually", Jane answered, his hand gently tapping his lips. "I didn't. I said he wanted to sleep with her, not that he did. Sara wouldn't have agreed. It's interesting, don't you think, that the first thing he said in reply was that she was his step-sister, most likely trying to justify that it wouldn't really have been incest. And, oh, I don't actually have a badge. It's more of a card -"
The next thing anyone knew, a resounding slap echoed through the elegant living room of the Matherson's home. Jane looked surprised and rubbed his cheek with his hand. Lisbon rolled her eyes and stepped forward.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Matherson. I'm sure Mr. Jane", she glanced over and scowled at the consultant, "didn't mean anything by his comments. Sometimes we have to ask uh – difficult questions. You understand it's all part of the investigation. Our sole purpose is to try and find out who killed your daughter."
"Step-daughter", Jane interjected with a quirk of his lips. "What?" he gave Teresa a hurt look after receiving the Lisbon 'glare of death'. "Joel was careful to clarify that he was Sara's step-brother so I figured she would want us to be accurate. That's right isn't it Mr. Matherson", he turned towards the defeated looking man on the sofa. "Your wife was Sara's step-mother?"
"Yes", he sighed. "Her mother died of cancer when she was eight. I married Emily two years later. I'd hoped -" he paused and took a breath. "I'd hoped she could be a real mother to Sara."
"But it didn't happen?" Jane eyed Emily Matherson warily and took a step closer to her husband just to be safe from further assault. Teresa just shook her head and watched it all play out.
"No – no, they never really got along."
"So, Joel loved Sara but his mother didn't?" Jane looked at the two people who were both glaring at him. "What -"
"Jane!" Teresa warned. "That's all for now Mr. and Mrs. Matherson. We may need to come back to ask you a few more questions but for now that's everything. Again, I'm sorry for your loss and be assured that we'll do everything we can to find out who killed Sara and bring that person to justice."
"I don't want him back in our house", Emily jerked her head at Jane. "You're welcome Agent Lisbon but if he steps one foot on our property I will call the Attorney General, who happens to be a friend of my husband!"
Teresa raised her eyebrows at the older woman. "You do what you have to do Ma'am, and so will we."
Lisbon didn't speak on the way to the car, her manner showing her irritation. Jane followed along behind, his lips held tightly in concern. Damn it! He'd been trying so hard and now he'd screwed things up again. When would he ever learn?
It had gone well the last couple of weeks. They were getting into a rhythm in their relationship and although things could still get awkward because of their new way of being together, they were managing. It was strange, he thought briefly, in some ways they were so familiar with one another but in others everything was new.
Jane had experienced more than his share of angst as they moved into this new phase. He sometimes still had trouble believing that he deserved her, let alone any kind of happiness. But that feeling was fading as each day went by. Partly that was Lisbon herself – her love and acceptance had already started the healing years ago. Now that that love was acknowledged it was speeding the process even more. But it wasn't just her, for Patrick knew that for this to work he had to believe, to feel he was worthy of her love and to build a relationship of equals.
Still, he continued to try and be better, to do better. He held his tongue, he resisted drawing his teammates into any of his schemes, and tried to stay clear of any 'pickles'. He smiled at that – it was such a Teresa thing to say and something he'd always remember – one of the best moments in his life in fact.
He pulled his mind back from that day at the airport and instead concentrated on Teresa's straight and rigid back as she stamped towards the car. Yup, he'd done it again. He'd opened his mouth and now she would probably get into trouble. He had to figure out how he was going to fix this.
After getting into the car Teresa sat and stared out the window, her mind on the scene they'd just left. It was the first time, since that wonderful, embarrassing moment on the plane, that she'd seen him act like his old self. He'd been blunt, embarrassing and just plain rude to the Mathersons, or at least to Emily and to Joel Davis. And the fact that Emily's husband was a wealthy businessman and friend to the Mayor, Attorney General and probably every other person of importance in Phoenix hadn't helped. Why was it that he always seemed to insult important people?
Why had he done it, Jane castigated himself as the silence continued? Because he hated the arrogance and assumption of people that, because they were 'rich, famous, well-connected, etc' they didn't have to answer to the same authority as everyone else. That's why! And so he liked bursting their bubbles, as much as he could anyway. The problem was he got carried away and forgot that his words could hurt – not the people to whom they were addressed because he didn't care about them – but Lisbon and his team.
So why the hell didn't he think before he opened his mouth?
"So", Teresa took a cleansing breath and let her shoulders relax. With a serious look on her face she spoke to the unusually quiet man next to her. "Sounds like the old Jane is back."
He grimaced and forced himself to face her – and his actions. "I'm sorry", he said. "I – uh – didn't think."
Her brows lifted in surprise. She was pretty sure that was one of the few – if not only – times that Jane had apologized so quickly or sincerely after one of his outrageous 'let's insult the victim' routines. "You didn't think?" she asked incredulously. "That's new, isn't it? Since when does the great Patrick Jane not think?"
"Hey, I don't mean I didn't think about the case – because I already know who the murderer is – I meant I didn't think about the fact that you could get in trouble. So, I'm sorry."
She nodded slightly, and then a small smile burgeoned on her face. A moment later it had turned to a full-blown grin. That was followed, seconds later by a snort which ended in loud and long laughter.
Jane watched her, at first with surprise, but a moment later his own smile began to appear until he now supported a big grin. "So, you're telling me you're not upset with me?"
"What?" she gasped, still laughed hard. "The look on her face, when you accused her" she laughed again, "and her precious son. Oh God Jane – I've missed you!"
Jane deduced things through reason, observation, and a finely honed knowledge of people's behavior. So it didn't take him long to figure it out. Teresa wasn't upset with him – in fact she was glad he'd returned to his old behavior. Who would have figured!
God – the relief. Here he'd been killing himself trying to be a better person, completely forgetting the fact that she loved the old Jane – or at least most of the old Jane. He knew she was glad he'd left off some things – the main thing being his obsession with Red John – but she clearly didn't want him to change completely. The knowledge was liberating and made him appreciate, even more, how really, really lucky he was.
"So, you're telling me you don't mind when I -" He motioned with his hand, "You know – when I -"
"Insult the victims of a serious crime? Oh, I'll probably still mind sometimes, and it will still get me in trouble, but I confess I've grown to appreciate your tactics. And as long as I don't say those things, I'll admit to enjoying it when you do. I mean, Emily Matherson? What a complete bitch. I wanted to slap her!"
Teresa wanted to laugh, at herself, at Jane, hell, at everything. How many years had she railed against Jane's ways at a crime scene? How often had she scolded him for his rudeness, his bluntness towards victims? How often had she prayed he'd, for once use a little tact? Well, for the past few weeks that's exactly what he'd done and it had driven her crazy. Her world had been tilted on its axis since she sat in seat 12B, and his 'too good' behavior tilted it just a little too far. Instead of enjoying the peace, she'd hated that he was no longer Jane – at least when they were working.
Well now – Jane was back – and she loved it. She would just have to be careful not to encourage him too much.
"Yes she's quite a piece of work. I feel sorry for him though." Jane's voice interrupted her thoughts and she dragged herself back to the present case.
"Who the son?"
"Joel? No – he's a spoiled brat. I don't feel sorry for him at all. No, I meant Frank. He's lost his daughter and he's about to lose his wife." He sighed and became somber. "I hope he can find someone who loves him, otherwise he's going to be a very lonely man."
Teresa watched her man – she still couldn't quite believe she could even think that – and knew that he was showing her a glimpse into his soul. He had rarely done it in the past, but now he was attempting to be more open with her. She understood that it still frightened him, this openness, this relationship and she never pushed, but once in a while he'd let something slip. She reached out with her hand and gently laid it on top of his. "I love you", she told him softly. "And I'll make sure you're never lonely again."
The blinding smile that met her words – an honest, open, loving smile – was so different from those ones he'd often worn to hide his real feelings that she couldn't help but lean forward and kiss him, even though they were on a case. He was surprised, she could tell, but after a brief hesitation kissed her back warmly.
A minute later she pulled her thoughts together and leaned back. With a smile she straightened her shirt and took a deep breath. "So, I guess we'd better go solve this one huh?"
The next day they arrested Emily Matherson for the murder of Sara, her stepdaughter. A short time spent with Cho and she'd confessed that she'd suspected her son of having inappropriate feelings for his step-sister and had killed her to 'protect' her baby. Joel, when he'd heard what she'd done, told her didn't want to ever see her again. Her husband told her the same thing – in much harsher words, and ended his scathing verbal attack by telling her he hoped the prosecutor went for the death penalty. He walked away, on his way to call his lawyer and initiate divorce proceedings.
After that call he had called his friend the Attorney General and had commended the 'professionalism and fine detective work' of Agents Lisbon and Jane. The result was a very happy Abbott. Jane, of course, exploited the chief agent's good mood.
"I convinced Abbott to give us some time off", Jane told Lisbon that evening over dinner.
"You what?"
"Got us two days off. Abbott was really happy about the Matherson case and I told him it was exhausting and that you needed a couple of days to rest."
"Jane", she laughed. "It was not exhausting at all. You figured it out almost instantly and all it took was one search warrant to locate the gun and arrest Emily Matherson."
"Meh", he said, giving a quick, sharp gesture with his hand. "Any murder case is exhausting, especially when it has to do with someone's child. So anyway, I was saying, we have a couple of days free – what do you say about going on a little trip."
She eyed him carefully; curious as to what this was about. "A trip? We just got back from Florida."
"I know, but this will be different."
"Different how – and where do you plan to take me?"
"Anywhere and everywhere I can dear Lisbon."
She laughed at the double entendre and swatted him on the arm. "I had no idea you had this in you."
"Had what?"
"This – naughtiness", she told him, thinking back on some of the more adventurous times they'd had since Florida.
"All men have it in them Teresa."
She rolled her eyes at him. "Okay, so spill. Where are you planning on taking me?"
"How about San Francisco?" he asked seriously. "I thought we could go visit Rigsby and Van Pelt."
"Really?" she turned her head to look at him. "What a great idea. Do you think they'd mind?."
"I know they wouldn't", he informed her. "I called to check that they'd be around and they're thrilled to have us come. Grace said they just finished fixing up their guest room so we can stay with them."
Teresa gave him a blinding smile and a hug. As much as she felt like they were taking time off under false pretenses, she had really missed Wayne and Grace and looked forward to seeing them and her Goddaughter and little Ben. She had a pretty good suspicion that Jane was doing this for her. It's not that he didn't care for Wayne and Grace, because he did – but he also knew this would mean the world to her.
Thinking of the Rigsby's made her remember back to the conversation she had with Grace just a few short weeks ago. She had known that Cho would call Rigsby and tell him about the Great Plane Caper, unless she could get to Grace first. For some reason it was important to her that she break the news to her friend before anyone else.
She'd managed to give Grace a quick call before they headed off to Austin, while still in Florida. Jane had taken a cab to the car rental place to pick up their ride and she'd taken the time to get in touch with her friend. She smiled when she thought of the call.
"Lisbon? Hi, how is everything going?"
"Uh – good Grace, great. How are Wayne and the kids?" They chatted for a few minutes about the latest antics of the Rigsby clan. It wasn't too long before there was a pause.
"So, what's up? When are you headed to DC? I'm assuming Marcus already left?"
Teresa could instantly hear the concern and hesitation in the other woman's voice. Grace hadn't said anything directly, but she knew her friend well enough to know she hadn't approved of her relationship with Marcus Pike. Even though she was too loyal to say anything directly, her dismay at Teresa's choice had been obvious.
"Yes, Marcus left a few days ago. But I'm afraid there's been a slight change of plans."
"Really?" The curiosity was thick in Van Pelt's voice. "What do you mean?"
"I've decided not to go to DC", she answered in a rush. "In fact, I've broken it off."
There was a moment of dead silence on the other end of the line and then a quiet sigh. "I'm sorry Teresa. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine", she smiled and wondered if Grace could hear it in her voice. She felt a momentary sense of guilt over the fact that she was so happy and poor Marcus was probably suffering.
"What happened?"
"I realized I didn't love him", she said simply. "I convinced myself that I did, but when it came right down to it I knew that I was in love with love, not with him."
"Oh thank God!"
"Grace?" Teresa laughed, surprised at her friend.
"I was worried sick that you'd move up there and then realize you didn't love him. I'm so glad you came to your senses in time."
"You could have said something to me you know."
"Right, and have you bite my head off? No Teresa, you had to figure this out on your own."
Teresa grimaced slightly when she thought about the fact that she hadn't really figured it out on her own at all.
Grace must have read her mind because at that moment she spoke. "So, what did make you realize he wasn't the right one?"
Here it came. Teresa took a deep breath and held it for a second. Letting the air out of her lungs slowly she said a brief prayer. "Well, it was Jane actually."
"Jane?" Grace said, sounding pleased. "What did he say?"
"That he couldn't imagine waking up and not seeing me."
"No!"
"And that he loved me."
"Oh my GOD Teresa. He actually told you? FINALLY!" The sound from the other end suddenly became muffled but Teresa could still hear her friend. "Wayne – Jane finally told her – that he loved her idiot!" She came back on. "Teresa – I can't believe it. And what did you say?"
For the next fifteen minutes Teresa told her what had happened – at least up until the time Jane had been released from TSA custody and they returned to the hotel. She wasn't about to share anything more with her friend, feeling like it would be a betrayal of Jane to say too much.
"So what happens now?"
"We're heading back to Austin. Jane just went to pick up the car. After that – I don't quite know. I mean, we're in love and we're going to pursue a relationship but – we haven't exactly talked about next steps or anything. That'll come but for now I'm just going to enjoy this."
"This is so great Teresa. I'm happy for you both. Oh God, I still can't believe it. I wondered if he'd ever get the courage up to tell you how he felt. Wayne didn't think he would but I suspected he might. The smartest thing you ever did was start dating Marcus."
Teresa laughed. "Yeah, I guess so. There's nothing like a bit of competition to get a guy moving."
Teresa snorted softly as she returned to the present, to see Jane looking at her with a quizzical look on his face. "Where did you go?"
"Sorry, just thinking about Grace. She knew for a long time how you felt about me you know."
"I know. It's a good thing she was in San Francisco."
"Why?"
"She would have given me hell."
"For being an idiot."
"I wasn't – okay, so I was and yes she would have."
She grinned. "I'm so looking forward to seeing her. Thank you."
They flew out Wednesday immediately after work, arriving late in the evening in San Francisco. Wayne picked them up at the airport, after giving Teresa a hug. He looked unsure of how to greet Jane, standing awkwardly with a half-grin on his face.
"Oh, come here!" Jane reached out and gave the big guy a hug, which was returned enthusiastically. "It's good to see you Rigsby", Jane said, stepping back.
"You too." He reached over and took Teresa's case. "So, I hear the two of you finally got your acts together. That's great you know. We're really happy for you."
"Thanks. Now all we have to do is find someone for Cho and the whole team will be set."
Wayne laughed and led them to his car, chatting all the way.
The four friends stayed up late that evening, talking over old times and laughing at some of the crazier things they'd done – most of which had been initiated by Jane. As the evening drew to a close, the mood became sad as they thought of those they'd lost over the years. It was Rigsby who brought them back by refusing to let them dwell on those thing too long.
"So, is it true that you forced your way onto an airplane?" he asked Jane, who was looking lost in not-so-nice memories.
"Huh?" he glanced up, not sure what had been said.
"Cho said you jumped a fence at the airport and forced your way onto a plane. Is that true?"
"Well", he shrugged, "sort of. I didn't actually force my way on. I asked the flight attendant to open the door, and she did. Not very security conscious I've got to say."
"Hah!" his love rolled her eyes. "He told her he was FBI."
"And I was – am – but I didn't have a badge. She should never have let me in."
"Are you sorry she did?"
Jane grew serious and both Grace and Wayne stared at him in wonder. Neither had ever seen quite such an expression on him before.
"No, of course not. It's the best thing I ever did."
"Yes it was", Teresa smiled softly. It took her a moment to remember they weren't lone and she blushed and coughed "Sorry."
"Oh don't apologize", Grace told her. "It's so romantic!"
That night, as they made their way upstairs to bed, Grace stopped Jane. "I'm happy for you Patrick", she told him softly, giving him a big hug.
He had to swallow a couple of times before he could even attempt to speak. He'd always known that Grace had a warm heart, but it gave him an incredible feeling to realize that she really cared about him. "Thank you", he whispered. He leaned back and smiled and then gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you Grace", he said again, and it wasn't just her words he was thanking her for – but all the years of her friendship.
They were woken up the next morning, early, by the piping voices of two young children who were trying to be as quiet as mice and not wake up their Aunty Teresa and Uncle Patrick. Of course at this age trying to be quiet didn't quite work.
"I think the munchkins are up", Jane muttered, his eyes closed.
"Mmm", murmured Lisbon, mostly asleep.
With a sigh Jane opened his eyes, and allowed himself the opportunity of just looking at the woman at his side. He still had trouble believing all this and some days expected her to disappear in a puff of smoke – at which time he'd realize it was only a dream. He carefully reached out and touched her shoulder just to prove to himself that she was there.
"Hi", she smiled at his touch. "Sleep well?"
"I always sleep well with you", he told her as he nuzzled her neck. And the fact was it was true. He hadn't slept so well in years as he had done since they'd gotten together.
"Good, but now I think we'd better get up."
"Aaaaagh", he groaned. "Do we have to?"
"Yes, we do or else I expect a little Rigsby is going to be jumping on us at any moment.
"Fine. I deserve a huge cup of tea for this!"
She laughed and pushed him out of bed. Following a joint shower – which took longer than it should because of them getting dirty before deciding to get clean – they dressed and made their way downstairs.
"Auntie Teresa", Ben shouted, catapulting himself into his honorary aunt.
"Hey kiddo – how are you?" Teresa picked him up and gave him a hug.
"I'm fine. Daddy got me a new bike", he told her proudly. "Do you want to see it?"
"You can show it to her after breakfast Ben", his father instructed. "Right now Auntie Teresa wants breakfast. And you need to say hi to Uncle Patrick."
Ben looked shy but after some prodding from his father walked up and held his hand out. Jane took it and shook it solemnly. "It's a wonderful thing to get a new bike. What color is it?"
"It's green", Ben said excitedly. "And it has racing handle bars and lights that go around on the wheels. Do you want to see it?"
"I would love to. Rigsby, do we have a few minutes for young Benjamin to show me his bike?"
"Sure", his father yielded. "Just no riding it without your helmet!"
Ben grabbed Jane's hand and dragged him to the back door. He gave Teresa a grin and a wink and then was gone.
"He's great with kids", Wayne commented, still looking at the door where his son and friend had just exited. "It always makes me sad when I see him around them though. I can't help but think of his daughter."
"Me too", Lisbon nodded, turning just in time to see Grace enter the room with a rosy cheeked Maddy in her arms. "Well there's my precious baby", she cooed, reaching out and accepting the little girl in her arms.
"Where's Patrick?" Grace asked, heading to the stove for a coffee now that she had a rare moment of child-free time.
"Ben's showing him his bike", her loving husband told her.
"Oh dear, I'm afraid Jane is going to have a hero-worshipper after this."
"Good", Teresa smiled. "He needs that in his life."
"And you're not a hero-worshiper?" Grace asked, sounding a little cheeky.
"No, of course not", she answered seriously. "I've known him too long so I know all his faults and short-comings. Okay, okay so there are parts of him I worship." At Wayne's rather sick look she laughed. "Sorry Wayne, I'll try and keep it PG."
"Yes please", he answered. "There are children present."
Teresa spent a pleasant hour chatting to her friends and playing with little Maddie. She didn't remember when she'd enjoyed anything more (except, of course, all the various encounters with Jane over the past weeks). The little girl seemed to love her and the two of them had a great time. Maddie was such a beautiful child, she thought as she watched the little girl play.
Soon the little girl grew tired, rubbing her eyes and beginning to get whiny. They'd told Wayne and Grace to get away for a couple of hours while they babysat, so Teresa was about to pick up the little girl when Jane beat her to it.
"You're tired sweetheart", he said softly, kissing her on the cheek. He made his way to the sofa and sat down, speaking soft nonsense to her. It didn't take long before her head was resting on his shoulder and the next moment she was sound asleep.
Looking at the two of them – Jane looking happier and more relaxed then she'd ever seen him – and a beautiful innocent child - a sudden longing grew in Teresa, one she'd never truly experienced before. It snuck up on her so quickly she took in a sharp breath. She wanted a child.