Girl-bonding time! For imtherookie

[bettercop]

Teresa Lisbon wasn't the type to easily admit to deeper emotional feelings, like genuine care, concern, affection, and love. But for the intuitive people in the world (Jane was, infuriatingly at times, amongst this lot), it was easy to see through Lisbon's carefully constructed veneer of detachment; beneath her facade, there was a softer, more

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[imtherookie]

Van Pelt's brush with near-death (if it could be called that) had left her in a strange state of affairs, emotionally. She was angry- with herself for standing square in the doorway instead of off to the side like she'd been trained (for just such canvassing situations), she was angry with Rigsby for not listening to her (again), and in some distant way, she was angry with Jane for not being physically present. The last one was utterly ridiculous, but he always seemed to have a keen sense of danger (though he'd ignore it many times and go wandering anyway), and Van Pelt couldn't help wondering if maybe she'd have acted with a clearer head if he'd been there to point out miniscule details that would have clued her in to an armed tenant. She wasn't holding a grudge; the thought and the anger had passed in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. She didn't dwell on it long enough to get embarrassed by it

[bettercop]

Of course, Lisbon still felt an enormous amount of concern and worry for the younger agent, but as always, those emotions swirling around inside of her were ones she tried to guard. It had just become a defense mechanism, over the years. Jane certainly seemed to have a field day with the complexities of her psyche. When she let him, which was infrequently. And though she'd never admit it to him, it would probably do her some good to let down a few of those walls. But that wasn't going to happen in a day, or even a week. Gradually, perhaps, over time.

Lisbon spared a quick glance at the redhead; there was a relief in her eyes, hidden behind her sunglasses. But it was there. She nodded at the younger agent.

"Just takes time. I catch you doing anything strenuous and you're on desk duty for the next week, though," Lisbon quipped. It was her roundabout way of being protective without being overly emotional.

[imtherookie]

"Yes ma'am." Van Pelt probably took the comment a little more seriously than Lisbon intended, but she wasn't going to argue with taking it easy. Sometimes it hurt to breathe, and it definitely hurt to laugh. Luckily, Rigsby was being ultra-serious around her since the incident, and not his normal jovial self.

Just as well. Grace stared out the window, adjusting her sunglasses and staring at the scenery as they drove.

"So this family- they've only got one son left. That must be really hard. I really hate interviews like this so close after...you know--" She means to say "a murder," but it sounds harsh even in her ears. Lisbon would know her meaning, so she wouldn't have to complete the thought. Grace liked being a CBI agent, but cases always involved such unpleasantness. It really made her struggle to keep seeing the good in humanity, sometimes.

[bettercop]

A slight smirk appeared on Lisbon's face when Van Pelt responded with an immediate, 'Yes, ma'am.' Sometimes, though she tried not to think about it, she really did wonder how much influence Jane had over her team, and who the true authority was. At times, she couldn't help seriously considering Bosco when he hinted at such. And even though she could sense the not-always-so-subtle hero-worship Grace seemed to have for Jane, she could understand it herself at times. And it helped knowing that the younger agent was still very loyal to her boss. That much had been made clear when Lisbon had been suspected of murdering a child rapist a few months ago

[imtherookie]

She can't help but purse her lips when Lisbon says she's good at being "soft." Was having a little empathy really such a bad thing? Grace wondered if she'd ever be able to get past her reputation as the sympathetic rookie. She'd really been trying to show that she could be tough, but maybe it was something she would have to--

No. She could do this. She could show Lisbon (and everyone else for that matter) that she had what it takes to be thick-skinned when necessary. But something in her kicked against the goads at the mere thought of having to shut down. Sure, she was practiced at it in relationships, but despite a few bad arguments, those weren't the same as murder.

Grace respected her boss, but sometimes Lisbon came across less businesslike and more cold. But she was giving sound advice, even though it didn't quite sit well with Grace. She decided to change the subject to something other than herself.

"How much longer til we get there? I think my legs are starting to get restless."

[bettercop]

Deep, deep inside, Lisbon could remember once being a lot like Grace, when she'd first started out as a cop. Of course, she'd been hardened significantly from her childhood, but when she'd been a fresh detective, she'd often approached situations with a softer, tender, more naive perspective. But she'd been at this more than ten years now, and time and circumstance and life itself had all simply solidified those walls she'd been putting up for many years. There'd been a point in her life, most likely, when someone could've broken them down, to a certain extent, and kept her softer side more out in the open than she ever allowed it to be now. But that time had come and gone. Or so she liked to think

[imtherookie]

"I'd just prefer to spend a little less time cooped up in moving vehicles, if you know what I mean." She said it lightly, and with a small smile, knowing her ambulance ride would still be fresh in Lisbon's mind.

She wouldn't mind a drink, but she wanted to give the impression of being focused on the case, and not prone to dallying. There would be time for them to eat on the way back to Sacramento.

Grace hoped that her focus would be sharp during the interview. It wasn't often that Lisbon visited potential suspects without Jane in tow; his sharp intuition and keen eye for details made him invaluable. She wasn't a mentalist, or anything like it yet, but she would do her best to try and pay attention to details. Maybe one day she'd be able to catch something that would really pay off

[bettercop]

The ambulance ride was fresh in her mind, and though she outwardly smirked back, she was inwardly cringing; impractical as it was, Lisbon would much prefer it if no one on her team ever had an ambulance ride again.

"I'd rather just get there first. I could use a drink once we're in Stockton, then we'll head to the house."

She was a little thirsty, but it was more her way of offering to stop for a breather without Van Pelt having to explicitly ask for it

[imtherookie]

Grace was thankful for the chance to stretch her legs. She still wasn't over how odd it was for them to have been shaking so intensely; Cho had simply noted it was adrenaline, but Grace had a suspicion it was nerves too. But she had deferred to his wisdom and nodded as they wheeled her away.

Lisbon prompted her to tune the radio, so Grace braced herself and leaned in to grab the dial. After scrolling through some stations--rap, top 40, r&B--she landed on a singer/songwriter channel. It would do for now; the easy sounds of a guitar and some breathy vocals would help take the edge off. It might also clear some of the tension in the air- she looked up to Lisbon, but couldn't help feeling intimidated by strong women in general.

Grace leaned back in her seat. "John Mayer- not my favorite, but it'll do."

[bettercop]

Lisbon spared the redhead another glance after she'd picked a station. Among the multitude of reasons she'd picked her to tag along, she hoped this outing would help to dispel the awkwardness she couldn't help feeling between them. She liked Van Pelt a lot, saw a great deal of potential in the younger woman; and if she were being really honest with herself, she could probably see herself counting Grace amongst her small circle of friends. Which was rare for Lisbon, because she'd never really had female friends to speak of. Certainly, she felt a familial bond with her entire team, and naturally fell into the role of 'mama bear,' so to speak. Apart from the terror of Grace potentially having been shot, the scene she'd come upon had been jarring; Van Pelt was younger, a little more naive and softer, but still a strong woman in her own way. And it was eerie and disconcerting to see her so...helpless, vulnerable. Lisbon didn't like it, and it had certainly evoked protective emotions inside of her

[imtherookie]

"I dunno, lots of stuff. I mean, Cho gave me this mix cd he made but I'm not really into male pop artists. Most of the time when I'm at home I shuffle through the satellite radio channels. I love near-Eastern music for some reason; it's probably all the Yoga. Speaking of, how did you like the classes? I know it's challenging at first, but if you just stick with it..."

Conversation was starting to open up. Get Grace on a topic she liked, and she'd turn into a chatterbox.

[bettercop]

"He gave me that same CD. It's...interesting," Lisbon remarked, in reference to Cho's mix cd. "Does yours have some '80s power ballads, too? Not my thing."

Ah. Yoga. Not a straightforward subject for Lisbon. While she wouldn't deny the health benefits, both physical and mental, she's not sure it's her thing. And she's certainly heard it from Jane that yoga would be good for her, but...something about being in classes with people doing...that just doesn't work for her. But she doesn't want to hurt Van Pelt's feelings.

"I'll be honest with you, Van Pelt, yoga really isn't...I don't know, it's just not something I can see myself doing," she started, trying to be as tactful as possible. "I grew up with three brothers, so all of the physical activity I do tends to be on the rougher side. Yoga's soft."

She's pretty sure no one at CBI knows she plays recreational rugby, for instance.

[imtherookie]

"No, it didn't have any power ballads, but ...Barry Manilow and Englebert Humperdink, really? I never thought Cho was the type."

Grace sees the hesitation on Lisbon's face when she brings up Yoga. "Well that's just the thing- Yoga actually builds strength in a way that lifting weights doesn't. I know I know, it looks like a bunch of dumb stretches, but I've never been so exhausted in my life after a class. I thought my own body weight was easy, but holding positions for minutes at a time really had me shaking! Jane says the whole meditation thing is silly, but he did show me some great breathing exercises. Did you know there are some yogis who can stop their heartbeat for a few moments?"

[bettercop]

"We all have secrets, other sides to us we don't show," Lisbon responded, though her tone lowered a bit as she said it; she wasn't only referring to other people, but herself. [Good luck unlocking that puzzle, Van Pelt!]

The expression on Lisbon's face was dubious. Of course, she couldn't technically counter with anything, because she hadn't actually tried yoga yet. But she was reluctant to try it all, so.

"Really. Stop their heartbeat. Why would you want to?" [She's trying, Van Pelt, she really is. Just be patient.]

[imtherookie]

Grace might not be the swiftest in the room, but she's trying, and she knows that Lisbon's comment isn't restricted to just Cho. Hell, she has secrets of her own, and if there's one thing she knows, it's that that stuff has to come out at their own pace. She decides to lighten the mood. "What, do you have a guilty music pleasure you aren't telling anyone about?"

Lisbon looked skeptical; surely she'd gone to at least one class after getting the yoga mat Grace gave her for her birthday last year?

"I'm not sure why they'd want to. But I think it's kind of interesting at least, even if it's totally impractical."

[bettercop]

Lisbon almost scoffed at the idea, even though Van Pelt was onto something there. "No."

But she hesitated. Normally, she could follow through on a dismissal like that, but...there was something about talking with Van Pelt, especially right now, that made it harder than usual. She felt...almost obligated to open up a bit. And maybe that wasn't such a bad thing.

"All right. But this gets out, and you'll be buying pizza for the next year, got it? Spice Girls," Lisbon admitted, quietly.

She really had not gone to a class, but she didn't want to elaborate on that to Van Pelt right now.

"A class setting's not really my thing. I like team sports, but...a class is different," Lisbon accidentally let slip her enjoyment of playing team sports. Everyone on the team by now knew that Lisbon enjoyed sports; few knew she enjoyed playing certain kinds of sports, too.