Pure fluff ahead.
The work was fine, Lisbon thought. Jane was impossible sometimes making his own little stunts that almost gave her an heart attack. But he found a lot of ways how to make it up to her so it was fine. Everything was fine. Well, almost. It was fine expect those times when it wasn´t.
The team wrapped up cases as they went making Hightower happy. Happiness from finally getting rid of Red John persisted long enough for everyone.
But sometimes it seemed to Lisbon that too much happiness lead Jane down the brooding road again. During some nights he still had nightmares. After particular good days she found him standing on her front porch looking desperate again. Maybe it was because he wasn´t used to being happy all the time. It got to him. She was there for him for sure, making sure he will let her. And he did most of the times.
There were times when he didn´t and she was going crazy because of it. Getting mad at him was out of the question as she found out one day. He was brooding that day, not talking to her almost at all and she snapped at him. That was a mistake. He left work alone and it took her almost two hours to find him. When she did he was a mess.
They talked that day. He told her that it is understandable if she left him, because he is broken indeed and it´s not going to go away any time soon, if ever.
„Don´t be absurd Jane. You know I wont do that."
„Why?, he asked her desperately, looking at her with those puppy eyes, I´ll make you sad. Even if I try to do the exact opposite. Why put up with me?"
„Hmm, let´s see. First of all I love you, you silly man. Second, I understand what are you going through and I don´t mind. And the last of all I just want to help, maybe too much. I am sorry for snapping at you today, okay? I just...don´t want you to lock me out, again."
„I should be the one to apologize -"
„Stop it right there. We are in a relationship and that means we are both going to make mistakes. We will hurt each other. It´s completely alright. But we love each other and that counts, right?"
„Yeah," he nodded starting to look less desperate.
„Just don´t lock me out. If you need some time alone, tell me. I can take it, okay?"
He murmured something she couldn´t understand.
„What?"
„I don´t want to be alone."
„I am glad to hear it, let´s go home then. It´s been a long day."
„But Lisbon, what if I -"
„What? What if you´ll be sad? It´s fine, you don´t have to be happy all the time."
He smiled shyly at her for the first time that day and she felt some solace after all.
„Okay then, Dr. Phil."
She rolled her eyes and got up, then helped him to get up.
Jane seemed to take her wish seriously and he tried to tell her what he was thinking or feeling. It was...refreshing. For too long he spent his days trying to hide various things from her and now he was doing the opposite. He loved making her laugh. Telling her all those little things that came to his mind. One morning he wake her up, it was too soon for her and she was all grumpy until she saw the sunrise he wanted to show her. They stood on the front porch, hugging and just basking in the growing sunlight.
Then, they returned to bed because it was all too soon for sure.
They also went on dates. It was Jane´s idea as he pointed out one night to Lisbon that they actually never dated. The relationship just happened. She kind of liked that idea. He took her to all kinds of fancy restaurants and movies even. Sometimes their dates were interrupted by call from work and sometimes those dates took place in her home when she lacked the energy to do anything at all.
After few days she gave him key to her home. The way he looked at her almost melted her heart. He could pick the lock anytime but that wasn´t the point. Now he got the permission to come and go as he pleased. Not that she wouldn´t let him come and go as he pleased before he got the key, but they always made plans together. He asked her first or waited for her invitation. And now...this changed everything. In a good way.
It happened some time ago when Lisbon had to stay late at work and Jane went home, feeling unwell. She felt bad for leaving him alone, when he was obviously ill but there was so much work to do that she just had to. She promised him to hurry, kissed him carefully so nobody would see them and he went home looking visibly pale. It took her almost three hours to finnish the work and when she finally got home he was waiting for her, shivering. He wasn´t the only one waiting for her. There was dinner ready in the oven. She gave him a speech about cooking while being ill, told him he should have stayed in bed but he just smiled. Said that he wanted to make sure she ate at least one healthy meal every day.
He cared for her and it hit her hard. After all those years taking care of everybody else, now, there was Patrick Jane, making sure she ate healthy. And it wasn´t just that. Without a warning she started crying. What wrong with her? A man she loves is taking care of her and her response is crying? She didn´t even realize how much is he doing for her. Not that she took it for granted, she didn´t even saw it in the first place.
„Hey, come here," he said to her.
She sat on his lap sobbing like a three year old.
„What´s the matter, Lisbon?"
She sniffled and shook her head.
„Nothing, Jane."
„Oh, common, it is the least I could do."
He knows. Of course he knows what´s going inside that head of hers. Damn his mentalist powers.
„You took care of me and now it´s my turn to return the favor. And I will gladly do it."
„You are not well, you shouldn´t."
He just smiled.
„I always will, well, at least until you let me."
She didn´t know what to say. So she just sat on his lap hoping to calm down. Then her mother hen instincts kicked in and her hand went to his forehead, which seemed to be burning.
„You´re hot."
„Well, thank you." he said with another Jane grin.
„Let´s get you to bed, okay?"
„Hm, Lisbon first you tell me I´m hot and now you want in bed," he winked at her playfully which made her chuckle.
„By hot I mean feverish and by bed I mean a good night sleep." She said smiling at him.
„I am not so sure, my dear."
„Jane, you are ill. Don´t try to deny it or I get a doctor to prove it."
„I´ll be fine, it´s probably just cold," he said as the horror of seeing a doctor crept over his face.
She stood up and took his hand. Together they walked to her, or better, to their bedroom and she tucked him in. She wanted to lie down with him but he wouldn´t let her, saying that she should eat first.
„I´m fine. You go and have some food. I can tell you it´s pretty tasty," he said with a grin.
„I´m sure it is. Be right here."
„Don´t hurry, you should enjoy fine food."
She was almost halfway down the stairs when she heard him calling her name.
„Lisbon?"
She stopped.
„Yes?"
„Could I bother you for a cup of tea while you´re in the kitchen?"
„Sure, Jane."
When she went back with the tea he was already asleep, snoring lightly even. She watched him for some time, just enjoying the view. Then, she did her nightly routine and went to bed.
It was early in the morning when loud coughing woke her up.
„You okay?" she asked when he finally stopped.
„Yeah," he said clearing his throat.
„Stay here, be right back."
After few minutes she came back with steaming cup of tea, pills and a glass of water. She balanced everything on a small tray which was harder then it looked.
„Take this, it´s just something for cold."
„I rather not to -"
„Don´t be silly. Take it, you´ll feel better."
„Pff, fine." He gulped it down with the glass of water and took the tea. The hot liquid soothed his sore throat.
„Do you think you´ll be able to sleep some more?"
He thought about it for a moment.
„Yes, I think."
„Fine. You should stay at home, at least today."
She was right. Spreading his germs all over work seemed to be a bad idea. Lisbon seemed to be unaffected, for now at least. Staying at home all alone was another thing. He didn´t want to. What to do? Lie in bed all day?
„Oh but Lisbon, what will you do without me? You guys need me too much, I am the top case solver."
She chuckled.
„We manage somehow. Don´t worry."
„But -"
She covered his mouth with her hand.
„Shush. It´s just one day. If you feel worse, just call me."
„Fine," he mumbled stubbornly through her hand.
He was still asleep when she left for work. It´s so hard to leave the comfortable and warm bed when you have to get up while the other person is lying there, sleeping. She sighed and wrote him a note. Feeling a bit jealous she left the home.
He woke up with a headache. The clock was telling him he overslept Lisbon´s leaving for work. It was almost ten o´clock. With a sigh he stood up from the bed, the blanket wrapped around him. Walking dizzily into the bathroom he saw a note on the bedstand. It was Lisbon´s neat handwriting.
I will hurry home. If you feel worse call me. And stay in bed, if possible.
Love you.
Teresa.
He smiled at that. His little control-freak. Her brothers must´ve had it bad when they were sick.
Lisbon was worried about Jane. What can he found in her apartment just in one day? She kept all the origami frogs he gave her. She had them hidden in a box, under the bed. That wasn´t everything. All the little gifts from him were there, too. Anything he gave her for birthdays, Christmas...she kept it all. The only thing she couldn´t keep was the pony, now living happily in a small farm. It was long time since she visited him. Maybe they could go there together.
The buzzing sound of a text message broke her line of thoughts. She took the phone and found a text from Jane.
I am bored. When are you coming home?
She sighed.
I´ll be back around five, do you need anything?
Yes, in fact. I need you to come sooner.
Lying in bed is boring.
Or, lying in bed alone is boring.
It would be more bearable with you here.
He is being impossible again.
Read a book. I got a few.
How are you feeling, anyway?
You got pretty weird book taste. It´s almost all work related. No fun.
And I´m fine, just a little headachey.
She typed what she thought would be the last message ignoring the book taste remark.
Glad to hear it. Be home soon. Love you
Then she got back to work and it took Jane only two minutes to interrupt her again.
Maybe I could come to work and help out.
I´m feeling a lot better. Like I´m on fire!
She sighed.
No. You will stay at home and if you stop interrupting my work I might come home at time. Deal?
She waited.
Fine.
She could imagine his face as he wrote that „Fine" and had to smile to herself. Poor little ill jerk. Her jerk, though. She dived into paperwork thinking that maybe she could leave a little sooner if she work extra hard.
It was almost five o´clock when he heard her car. He smiled and jumped out of the couch to greet her. He was already at the door when she tried to unlock them. He opened it for her and embraced her in a hug. She chuckled.
„Hey,"
„Hi, I missed you," he said.
„Missed you too."
„Good." he said grinning.
They went in and Jane locked the door behind them with his own key. He went back to couch.
„So how was work?" he asked.
„The usual, I guess. How are you?"
He lied down making enough room for her to join him.
„Come here and I´ tell you."
She sat on the couch and he pulled her down.
„Jane!"
„What? I´ve been lonely and cold and now I am safe and warm."
„You are such a baby, you know that?"
„Am not."
„Sure you are," she said cuddling closer to him which made him hum in contentment.
„Do you want some tea?" she asked after a while.
„That would be lovely, thank you."
She got up much to his dislike and went to made him a cup. When the scent of ginger tea spread around the living room she realized how much her life changed. Well, not just her life. As much as it was scary, it was beautiful too.
Making him a cup she did one for herself too and went to couch with a smile on her face.
She was looking forward for this evening.
And she wasn´t the only one.
Hope anybody who reads this enjoyed it :) Thanks for reading and for your reviews :)