30 - Apprehension
By the time the FBI was ready to run their sting to capture Erica Flynn & Marcus Pike in Lebanon, Jane was nearly back to normal - though Lisbon (understandably) remained overly protective of him. Combined with his worries about Lisbon overdoing things while carrying their child, it would be a miracle if they accomplished any detective work at all.
It had been determined that Danny Ruskin would be safe enough taking part in the stateside operation (they were going to need someone who could fake an info drop convincingly, and he definitely fit the bill). Typically they would have sent Cho, but at Lisbon's suggestion they'd agreed to have Danny play the point man, with Cho masquerading as his hired muscle. Danny could definitely be authentic in this role, and with Cho enrolled in the act he'd essentially have FBI backup on the sly.
Jane had booked a fancy Lebanese hotel, hoping to put at least a little romance into the trip. From experience though, he knew not to expect anything but business from his wife until the mission was successfully completed. Nonetheless, as they walked the stairs toward their room he regaled her with his knowledge of local delicacies like manakish and orange blossom ice cream.
"I love you even more when you use the promise of food as a distraction." Lisbon quipped.
"Whatever do you mean, my dear?"
"Whatever do I mean is that you're talking nonstop about ice cream and such to keep my mind off of things."
"Things?"
"Yes. Things. Like my worries about your health, your worries about my active duty on this mission when I'm just starting to show, and how both of us are worried that something bad will happen to Danny, despite his good intentions. How'm I doin?"
"Fair enough, my love. It's true that there are many things about this mission that make me apprehensive. You haven't even mentioned the dread we both feel at having to see the two suspects in question again."
"Yeah, I'm trying not to think about that. It'll be excruciatingly hard to not just shoot them both. And I'd hate to subject Junior to cold-blooded murder." With that, she coolly opened the door to their luxury suite, and slipped inside.
Jane laughed at her sarcasm, but the look in his eyes showed that he'd heard the honesty in her words as well. With a deep breath, he followed her inside.
The FBI had located Jan Nemec's residence, and had confirmed that Erica was indeed on-site there. Jane had a plan to ensure her capture, and he and Lisbon were on their way there via local taxi.
"Do you think Scotland Yard will track down Marcus?" He asked.
"I truly hope so. And I'd love the chance to give him a piece of my mind before they give him the death penalty." Lisbon's eyes were narrow and cold as she spit out her words. She hadn't wanted to see Pike again, but was furious to know that he was no longer in Lebanon - having been sent off on a hit by Nemec just days before she and Jane had arrived. Inspector Slocombe had assured them that he knew Pike's target, and would have him rounded up ASAP for delivery back to Austin. She made a mental note to discuss the matter with Abbott on her return from the current mission. She wanted confirmation that Pike would be safely in prison well before the baby was born. Her worries were interrupted by the arrival of their taxicab at Jan Nemec's apartment complex. Lisbon's face suddenly showed no hint of her previous concerns. It was showtime.
Jane's plan required him to confront Erica alone, easing her into a false sense of security. He knew that she'd assume that her seductive charms would convince him to leave with her, abandoning Lisbon and his attempt to arrest her. He knew that her arrogance would be her undoing. Walking into Nemec's apartment, he was greeted by Erica within minutes. As expected, she seemed quite relaxed and began speaking to him like an old friend.
"Patrick! What an unexpected, yet utterly pleasant surprise!" The seductress hummed in her usual way, eyes sparkling as she circled him like a lioness, brushing a hand across his shoulders as she did.
Meanwhile, Lisbon stood poised in the hallway, carefully taking in every word. She had no worries about Jane being fooled or turned by Erica, and was completely confident in Jane's dedication to her, and their child. But, she didn't trust Erica in the least, and hated that Patrick had to put himself at risk this way. Lisbon seethed as she heard Flynn's attempts to seduce him with a share of Nemec's fortune, and as she gave her 'expert' opinion that "The relationship between you and Lisbon won't last."
Next, she heard her lover defend their marriage, and shut Erica down with a flat refusal. Her emotions were so much bigger than usual these days, thanks to the pregnancy, and she had to work hard to stay in control of her exuberant vindication at hearing her husband's words. Her heart beat faster - wanting to grab Jane and hold him tighter than ever. Then she jumped in surprise at a crackling sound followed by a yelp from Jane.
What the hell? Had Erica tased him?
Teresa was livid - Patrick had been through so much with the shooting. And now that manipulative bitch had zapped him? Would his heart take it? She had seen and heard enough. The next phase of Jane's plan was going into effect now - whether he liked it or not!
"On your knees Erica. NOW!" Lisbon shouted with authority, gun drawn, as she burst through the doorway.
"Jane? You okay?" She tempered the concern that was raging inside her, allowing only a businesslike tone to come through in her question. She wasn't going to give Flynn the satisfaction of witnessing the turmoil she felt at his injuries.
As Jane croaked an answer, and slowly moved toward the hallway - hoping to walk off the effects of the shocks Erica had administered, Flynn's attention turned intently to Lisbon.
"You have nothing to worry about, you know"
"Why would I worry, Erica?" Lisbon remained at attention, eyes narrow, gun drawn.
"Oh. Did he not tell you? Typical."
"Tell me what?" Lisbon saw straight through Erica, and was looking forward to shutting down this little game she was playing. "Oh! Do you mean about that cheap kiss from a few years back? Yeah he told me about it a long time ago Erica. Nice try. Like I said - not worried in the least."
Flynn winced in surprise. She hadn't known Jane to be so forthcoming, and was unpleasantly shocked to discover his honesty and openness with Lisbon. Damn that woman, stealing all of his attention.
Lisbon simply rolled her eyes, gun still drawn.
Within minutes, Jane stumbled around the corner, still stiff from the tasing, and a US Marshal (flanked by Abbott and Slocombe) took Flynn away in cuffs. As he left, Abbott cautioned them to get back to Austin on the next available flight. It wouldn't take Nemec long to piece together what had happened to Erica, and Dennis didn't want his two agents to be within reach once he did.
"So I'm a bit sore, Teresa, but how are you?" Jane asked, more panic in his voice than she thought was necessary under the circumstances. It's not like she was the one who'd been tased, right?
"I'm fine, Jane! I'm not the one who's barely recovered from major surgery only to get zapped by 50,000 volts of electricity!" Her aggravation at Erica came through clearly, though she hadn't meant to take it out in her husband. Damned hormones!
Meanwhile, Jane moved toward his true love, with an exhausted look in his eyes, and pulled her close in a weaker-than-normal embrace. He had been less than thrilled that his plan had required her to be his main backup. It's not that he didn't trust she could do it. He knew to his core how fierce she could be - he'd seen it hundreds of times over the years. He did, however, worry about what effect the adrenaline and stress of the situation might have on the baby, and on Lisbon's pregnant self. She had agreed to take on less risky work during pregnancy but not 'til after this mission was over. He hoped the stress of all of it hadn't damaged her health or that of their still quite small and vulnerable baby.
"Really, Patrick," she softened, "I'm completely fine, and so is the baby." She yawned wide, though, betraying her own exhaustion after the strain of hearing her husband's perilous (though masterful) handling of the suspect, and the exhilaration of holding Erica at gunpoint, then witnessing her apprehension.
"Aw, my dear, but you're sleepy!" He grinned lovingly, squeezing her gently, remembering how tiring it had been for Angela as she'd carried Charlotte. "Let's get you back to the hotel for a nap. Then maybe we can get a nice dinner before our flight home?"
"Sounds lovely!" She smiled, as they walked to their waiting police escort, arm in arm.
She napped on Jane's shoulder as they rode back to the hotel. It was a longer-than-normal drive, what with all of the festivities and traffic surrounding Ramadan. As a result, Lisbon arrived feeling well-rested, insisting that she no longer needed a nap before dinner.
"I know I wear a constant air of independence, and it's true that I never want to appear helpless." Lisbon began, "But have I told you lately how nice it is to have someone in my life to take care of me when I truly need it? Sorry for snipping at you before, Patrick. I love you dearly, and it means so much to have you as my soft place to land. I've never trusted anyone more - not since Mom died."
Jane beamed in delight at that, moved beyond words at her sentiments- especially the part about trust. He'd worked so hard to show her he was worthy of that. He practically floated as he led her upstairs - past their hotel room door.
"Where are we going?" Lisbon wore a confused, but amused smile. "They said to be at the airport two hours early!" She chided.
"We have plenty of time, Lisbon. Don't worry." He grinned as they reached the top step, opening the door to present her with all of Beirut - from the rooftop of their hotel. The surface was nondescript, save for a bistro table and two chairs, positioned for an optimum view of the city at night.
"Jane!" She marveled at the scene before her. "You did this?" Her jaw hung open in awe.
"Of course!" He sparkled at her delighted reaction. All he wanted to do with the rest of his life was to make her happy. She was so beautiful, as the city lights glinted in her eyes, and illuminated the breezy gauze sundress she'd packed for their celebration dinner.
The two sat and enjoyed a bowl of orange blossom ice cream (which he'd tipped a bellman top dollar to pre-place in a cooler). The first fireworks of Ramadan startled Lisbon - especially after Jane's recent shooting. But once he reminded her of the holiday, and that they were, indeed, just fireworks, she calmed enough to enjoy the scene, and the two stood, arms around one another, watching as fireworks reflected all through the city.
Back in the US, the fake drop had gone off without a hitch. Danny was ecstatic that his shady skills had found an honest use (though he still worried a little about looking like a mark - going legit and all), and Cho had been impressed with Danny's work.
Upon his return, Jane was ecstatic to hear that Danny was safe and things had gone well. Even though they'd been estranged for years, and even though Danny wasn't a blood relative, Jane still worried about him like a biological big brother would. It was one thing he could actually still do for Angela, and he took Danny's safety and well-being seriously. The past couple of weeks had gone so well, Jane wondered if he could convince Danny to stay in Austin indefinitely? (As long as he was on the up and up, these days, anyway Things were too good in Jane's life now to have them ruined by old-school Tomfoolery).
He shared the idea with Lisbon as they arrived at home, collapsing onto the couch together after their partially-successful mission.
"I would love having Danny in town! It would be great for Little Jane, too! We still need to nail down Pike first though." She corrected.
"True, and we will. But right now I want to celebrate the fact that we are both - I mean ALL - safe, and have made it home together."
"You're right, love. Come here, partner." They cuddled for the longest time, relaxing into one another intently.
After a while, Jane moved to his knees so he could kiss his wife's adorably pregnant belly. "Little baby, do you know how loved and how lucky you are? You've won the Mommy lottery!"
Lisbon smiled rolling her eyes at his sweet playfulness.
"It will somewhat make up for who you're stuck with for a Daddy." He teased.
"Jane!" She spoke quietly, but pointedly. "I will not have you putting yourself down in front of our children!"
"Child-ren?!" He grinned.
"Just covering all bases." She quipped. "But you need to stop with the negative self-talk, love. Not only is it completely untrue, but it won't be good for the baby psychologically either. My dad used to mutter similar thoughts under his breath even when mom was still around, and it made us all feel unsteady - because, if our own father was so bad, what did that say about us?"
Jane sat back stunned. "Teresa I'm so sorry. I had no idea." He looked crushed in that moment. He hated how Lisbon's father had abused his family, and wanted to vomit at the comparison she'd just made.
Seeing his reaction, and knowing intimately how easily her husband took to guilt, she quickly rescued him from his thoughts.
"Don't go there, sweet Patrick. You know that's not what I meant." She caressed his cheek with her hand, and gently coaxed his misty eyes to look into hers. "You are NOTHING like him. I just wanted you to be aware that your words will be heard and absorbed by our child - even now - and they deserve to know how ridiculously lucky they are to have a Dad who loves them so deeply. Who will keep them safe no matter what, because he knows the alternative. Who will fill their life with magic and light. Besides, it breaks my heart when you say things like that. You are so amazing, love. And I want to give you everything. But I especially want to give you the gift of seeing yourself as I see you. In my eyes, a more worthy, more wonderful man doesn't exist. Why can't you see how beautiful you are, my love?"
She held his gaze warmly, hoping to convey every ounce of the weight and quiet desperation in her words. He had gotten better at it over the months they'd been together as lovers, and she knew he was partially joking when he'd spoken to the baby just then, but what she wanted more than anything for her husband was the gift of self love. Even in the beginning, she had never been able to ignore the gnawing in her heart when he would get that look of self-loathing on his face. Anytime he was in a vulnerable position she flashed back to those first moments she'd seen him, a shell of a man, and she wanted to save him all over again.
"I'm so sorry, love, he replied, "I know how you feel about me, and to this day it still fills me with butterflies," Jane responded gently as he moved beside her, pulling her against him with an arm around her back. "And if someone as amazingly wonderful, and honorable, and lovable as yourself has chosen me, then I guess I must not be so bad." He smiled, and she snuggled into him, pulling him tight. As he melted into the comfort of her, he remembered something that had been troubling his subconscious for weeks.
"Teresa? Did you mean what you said at the wedding? That I had made you a better person?"
Surprised at his question, she turned quickly to face him, eyes wet with tears. "With every fiber of my being." She choked out the words through thick emotion. She needed him to know how true that statement had been. How true it still was.
Jane sobbed, smiling, clinging to her in a desperate embrace. After holding her tightly for a long time, the weight of the world seemed to fall away from him.
"Thank you, dearest Teresa," he breathed, "I guess I still can't believe it sometimes. That we're here together. That I get to act on all the ways I adore you. That you love me so completely. I'm so lucky to be me right now, and that is nearly uncharted territory in my mind." He smiled and brushed a gentle kiss on her lips.
"I can't believe it sometimes, either, Patrick. When I think about it, it feels like a dream, being so close to you. Having all of the secret wondering and achy longing be a distant memory. Finally allowed to be with you fully… honestly… knowing that the love I feel for you is truly reciprocated. I have never been happier, sweet love. You're the only man who could have completed me in such a way, and I love you more every day that we're together."
Overcome once more with gratitude that they so fully belonged to each other now, she massaged the curls behind his head and put the weight of her words into a long, passionate kiss - She was so very lucky.