FIC: A Smile Solves Everything (1/1)
I promised this fic to benetrice absolutely ages ago. Sorry it took me so long to write. It's partially because of the Jello Forever Summer Secret Santa but also because I'm not all that keen on writing fluff and it always takes me a long while. Don't worry though - it's good to challenge myself - and strangely enough, fluff does just that to me.
Title: A Smile Solves Everything
Author: tromana
Rating: T
Characters: Jane/Lisbon
Summary: …or maybe not quite, because sometimes it is just a mask.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Notes: Also written for the mentalistprompt community, the prompt being 005: tea
A Smile Solves Everything
The first day on a new job was at least a little bit daunting for most people.
Well, unless your name was Patrick Jane, that was. He shook Virgil Minelli’s hand with a firm grip, listened closely as he explained that the team he was to be assigned to had gone out on an early morning bust but should be back soon. The man was clearly very trusting - anyone had to be to be able to hire him, after all - but he didn’t mind that. If anything, that was more of a relief. If he didn’t trust him, then he’d have problems.
Not least working out how to seek revenge for what Red John did to his family.
Still, he knew it wouldn’t all be working the Red John case. Heck, the rest of it might even be fun. That partially depended on what the team he was working with was like, especially his new boss, Teresa Lisbon. Funny that he was to be working underneath a woman. He’d assumed that Minelli wouldn’t trust him unless he was under the control of a man with an iron grip. He didn’t exactly have the most trustworthy of records.
“Excuse me?”
Patrick Jane looked up at the person who spoke with a smile.
Well, that was a different way to meet your new boss.
He hadn’t been quite sure when he’d wandered into… he looked up briefly at the open door… Teresa Lisbon’s office, but somehow he’d just found himself in there. Not that anyone would believe that. Besides, it was quite an interesting workspace to be in. He’s already worked out a lot about her already. Teresa had clearly made quite an effort to personalize the prefabricated room.
“Hi, you must be Teresa,” he said, still grinning. “I’m…”
“Patrick Jane. I was told you’d be starting today,” she interrupted and he looked a little surprised by her interjection. “It’s good to meet you. Though, next time you want my attention and I’m not in my office, I’d appreciate it if you waited just outside instead of walking in and making yourself at home.”
-
“Trust me Lisbon, it’s foolproof.”
“Oh really?”
A ghost of a smile appeared on her lips and she quickly worked to suppress it. Jane hadn’t been working with them for long and really, each and every time he suggested something, it seemed to get more outlandish. Lisbon was beginning to wonder why on earth Minelli had hired a genius and a lunatic, though not necessarily in that order. He did close cases, even though it was usually with very unorthodox methods, concepts which went against her very beliefs. A niggling thought at the back of her mind suggested he wasn’t really worth the hassle, but she promptly ignored it. She was getting very good at that now.
“Fine,” she replied and Jane looked triumphant. “Though, if it doesn’t work, this one’s on you.”
Six hours later and Lisbon found herself sitting in ER. Jane was right next to her and he was prodding his nose occasionally and wincing every time he did so. They’d made the arrest, at the expense of a bloody nose on Jane’s part. It was his own fault though. If he hadn’t used a kid to convince the murderer to confess. A young boy whose mother had just died at the hands of his Uncle. She didn’t blame the man for lashing out, using his fists to show his dislike of Jane‘s supposedly foolproof plan.
Really, it could have been worse.
She said as much with a light smile and Jane simply glowered in response.
-
She smiled, albeit briefly, as she glanced at her cell phone before slipping it back into her pocket. Quickly, she rearranged her features into a far more demure expression, more suited to looking at the dead body of Gregory Richards.
Jane noticed though. Nothing ever got past him.
-
“You have a boyfriend?”
“Boyfriend sounds so juvenile, Jane.”
“Fine. Partner then.”
“Yes, I do.”
He smiled in response and Lisbon found herself feeling as though she had just been thrown completely off guard. Of all the reaction for him to throw in her direction, a smile had been pretty low down the list.
“Good. That’s good. You need more of a social life.”
“Right…”
“I’m happy for you.”
Jane disappeared almost immediately, almost running out of her office. Again, an unexpected response. First thing in the morning, he would set himself down in her office and attempt to distract her from her work as long as feasibly possible. It was like it was number one of the list of Patrick Jane’s things to do for the day. Lisbon had grown used to the routine, even set aside time for it.
For him to just walk out is so damn out of character for him. Especially as she hadn’t had to either give him a direct order or throw some kind of projectile to him.
As troubling as Jane’s personality switch was, she couldn’t spend too long contemplating it. There were far too many cases open for her liking and besides, she and Cho were due to go talk to a suspect within half an hour. The unexpected free time would be far more constructively used preparing for that.
Even if she couldn’t help but think there was even more to Jane’s responses than usual.
-
Jane’s initial reaction to his discovery that she was actually dating somebody still bothered Lisbon and she wished she had time to address it properly.
However, what with work, her family and actually having somebody to meet around her already busy schedule, it didn’t leave much time for contemplation.
Besides, it was nice, doing something for herself for a change. She wasn’t going to sacrifice that for the world.
Or even Patrick Jane.
-
Jane told himself he wasn’t jealous, but there was a difference between meaningless words and what he actually felt.
As a result, he was rather short with Lisbon and only discussed work related issues with her.
He also told himself she hadn’t noticed, that she was too busy to do so. Deep down, he also knew that was a lie.
-
“Have I done something to upset you?” she snapped, kicking the couch roughly. “Because it sure as hell feels like it.”
Lisbon stood with her arms folded tightly, glaring down at him angrily. Clearly, she intended to mean business. However, unlike Rigsby who would find such a stance from his boss rather intimidating, Jane simply found it amusing. He quirked his lips upwards slightly, pleased that she had decided he was actually worth the effort.
They hadn’t really been getting along all that well. Not since the boyfriend incident. Not since his attitude around her had changed for the worse because of stupid emotions he couldn’t control.
Jane knew she was still with him, whoever this mystery man was. He hadn’t tried to find out either; if he’d even dared to, she would have accused him of interfering and things would have gotten messy. Besides, it was obvious she was having problems with him without any input of his own.
Contrary to popular belief, Jane hadn’t been wishing this would happen. He much preferred a happier Lisbon to a sad one. Even if it was somebody else that made her react that way. Even though it felt like a stab in the gut each and every time the subject was almost mentioned.
Besides, it was better one of them feeling content than neither.
Not that that was going to last for much longer, clearly.
-
She was quietly shredding tissues, not something she did without cause.
Jane brought in a box of tissues, a mug of hot tea and a slice of cake.
With a wry smile, she accepted them. They didn’t need to vocalize what had just happened. Just being together was enough.
-
“You okay?”
“Never better.”
Jane didn’t believe her and continued to bring in the tea and cake whenever it seemed appropriate.
-
Tea and cake turned into a lunch once. They were on an out of town case and the others had disappeared to do the tasks assigned to them. Lisbon was growing frustrated with the lack of leads and beginning to take it out on inanimate objects.
Out of fear of her computer not surviving the rest of the day, Jane whisked her out, to a small café he’d spotted in the town. She complained, loudly, but he was immune to her responses.
Over sandwiches and soda, they discussed the case, naturally. They generally tried to avoid talking about themselves as those conversations always seemed so depressing. Besides, they were still technically on work hours as well and Lisbon would feel guilty if she wasn’t doing anything to try and solve the case, even while eating.
It was also while eating that Lisbon realized that one of the girl’s earrings had been missing. That they had seen the other half of the pair on the counter in her cousin’s kitchen.
Within three hours the case was closed and said cousin had confessed all.
From that point onwards, lunch breaks became a more frequent part of their day to day life.
-
She seemed lonely, ever since her mystery boyfriend disappeared.
Jane didn’t like that.
He tried to treat her, to make her feel special.
It was good to see her smile, even if it was over something as mundane as theatre tickets or shouting herself hoarse at a baseball match. And it meant they both enjoyed themselves, both had something to focus on other than work or the inner demons that they were both fighting but rarely, if ever, talked out.
He would have liked to give her more, but he wasn’t ready, not yet.
Besides, she didn’t seem to be either.
-
“You sure that’s Red John?”
“We’re sure.”
Jane looked down at the body of his nemesis, fallen on top of his final victim and then glanced around the scene of the crime.
It didn’t take a genius to work out what had happened.
Wife was home alone. Husband out of town, at a business seminar.
Red John came to kill her. Husband came home early and shot Red John to death shortly after he’d managed to murder the woman. He fled, driving himself into a river, unable to cope with the loss of his wife.
Jane knew he shouldn’t be happy, that Red John’s demise had also resulted in the death of two innocent people, but he couldn’t help it.
He smiled.
Lisbon did too.
It was contagious, after all.
-
“You’re leaving us? Now that Red John’s dead?”
“Only if I can’t date you and be on your team at the same time.”
“What?”
“You heard.”
Lisbon placed the folder down, laced her fingers together and rested her chin on her hands. Though they’d always gotten along well and she’d always thought that maybe someday something could happen, she’d always managed to persuade herself that she was daydreaming, hoping for the impossible. Even now, Jane still felt emotionally unavailable, like he was too in love with a ghost for her to ever have a chance.
She glanced at his left hand.
The ring was conspicuously absent.
Then, she smiled.
“You know what? I think there’s some kind of loophole meaning it would be absolutely fine,” she stated and Jane grinned. “You are only a civilian.”
She stood, walked around her desk and Jane remained frozen to the spot. It seemed like the tables had turned. He’d walked in, taking her completely off guard with his proposition. Now, she was the one, cupping his cheek, pressing her lips against his own, lacing another arm tightly around his waist. Of course, he responded with fervor, enjoying every single second of it, waiting for the moment when she would spring away, stating how inappropriate such actions were in the workplace.
That moment never came and instead, he placed a gentle kiss on the tip of her nose shortly after they broke for air.
They both smiled. Honest to goodness real smiles, with no hidden agendas or woes hiding beneath the surface.
Some things were worth waiting for.
end
Title: A Smile Solves Everything
Author: tromana
Rating: T
Characters: Jane/Lisbon
Summary: …or maybe not quite, because sometimes it is just a mask.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Notes: Also written for the mentalistprompt community, the prompt being 005: tea
A Smile Solves Everything
The first day on a new job was at least a little bit daunting for most people.
Well, unless your name was Patrick Jane, that was. He shook Virgil Minelli’s hand with a firm grip, listened closely as he explained that the team he was to be assigned to had gone out on an early morning bust but should be back soon. The man was clearly very trusting - anyone had to be to be able to hire him, after all - but he didn’t mind that. If anything, that was more of a relief. If he didn’t trust him, then he’d have problems.
Not least working out how to seek revenge for what Red John did to his family.
Still, he knew it wouldn’t all be working the Red John case. Heck, the rest of it might even be fun. That partially depended on what the team he was working with was like, especially his new boss, Teresa Lisbon. Funny that he was to be working underneath a woman. He’d assumed that Minelli wouldn’t trust him unless he was under the control of a man with an iron grip. He didn’t exactly have the most trustworthy of records.
“Excuse me?”
Patrick Jane looked up at the person who spoke with a smile.
Well, that was a different way to meet your new boss.
He hadn’t been quite sure when he’d wandered into… he looked up briefly at the open door… Teresa Lisbon’s office, but somehow he’d just found himself in there. Not that anyone would believe that. Besides, it was quite an interesting workspace to be in. He’s already worked out a lot about her already. Teresa had clearly made quite an effort to personalize the prefabricated room.
“Hi, you must be Teresa,” he said, still grinning. “I’m…”
“Patrick Jane. I was told you’d be starting today,” she interrupted and he looked a little surprised by her interjection. “It’s good to meet you. Though, next time you want my attention and I’m not in my office, I’d appreciate it if you waited just outside instead of walking in and making yourself at home.”
-
“Trust me Lisbon, it’s foolproof.”
“Oh really?”
A ghost of a smile appeared on her lips and she quickly worked to suppress it. Jane hadn’t been working with them for long and really, each and every time he suggested something, it seemed to get more outlandish. Lisbon was beginning to wonder why on earth Minelli had hired a genius and a lunatic, though not necessarily in that order. He did close cases, even though it was usually with very unorthodox methods, concepts which went against her very beliefs. A niggling thought at the back of her mind suggested he wasn’t really worth the hassle, but she promptly ignored it. She was getting very good at that now.
“Fine,” she replied and Jane looked triumphant. “Though, if it doesn’t work, this one’s on you.”
Six hours later and Lisbon found herself sitting in ER. Jane was right next to her and he was prodding his nose occasionally and wincing every time he did so. They’d made the arrest, at the expense of a bloody nose on Jane’s part. It was his own fault though. If he hadn’t used a kid to convince the murderer to confess. A young boy whose mother had just died at the hands of his Uncle. She didn’t blame the man for lashing out, using his fists to show his dislike of Jane‘s supposedly foolproof plan.
Really, it could have been worse.
She said as much with a light smile and Jane simply glowered in response.
-
She smiled, albeit briefly, as she glanced at her cell phone before slipping it back into her pocket. Quickly, she rearranged her features into a far more demure expression, more suited to looking at the dead body of Gregory Richards.
Jane noticed though. Nothing ever got past him.
-
“You have a boyfriend?”
“Boyfriend sounds so juvenile, Jane.”
“Fine. Partner then.”
“Yes, I do.”
He smiled in response and Lisbon found herself feeling as though she had just been thrown completely off guard. Of all the reaction for him to throw in her direction, a smile had been pretty low down the list.
“Good. That’s good. You need more of a social life.”
“Right…”
“I’m happy for you.”
Jane disappeared almost immediately, almost running out of her office. Again, an unexpected response. First thing in the morning, he would set himself down in her office and attempt to distract her from her work as long as feasibly possible. It was like it was number one of the list of Patrick Jane’s things to do for the day. Lisbon had grown used to the routine, even set aside time for it.
For him to just walk out is so damn out of character for him. Especially as she hadn’t had to either give him a direct order or throw some kind of projectile to him.
As troubling as Jane’s personality switch was, she couldn’t spend too long contemplating it. There were far too many cases open for her liking and besides, she and Cho were due to go talk to a suspect within half an hour. The unexpected free time would be far more constructively used preparing for that.
Even if she couldn’t help but think there was even more to Jane’s responses than usual.
-
Jane’s initial reaction to his discovery that she was actually dating somebody still bothered Lisbon and she wished she had time to address it properly.
However, what with work, her family and actually having somebody to meet around her already busy schedule, it didn’t leave much time for contemplation.
Besides, it was nice, doing something for herself for a change. She wasn’t going to sacrifice that for the world.
Or even Patrick Jane.
-
Jane told himself he wasn’t jealous, but there was a difference between meaningless words and what he actually felt.
As a result, he was rather short with Lisbon and only discussed work related issues with her.
He also told himself she hadn’t noticed, that she was too busy to do so. Deep down, he also knew that was a lie.
-
“Have I done something to upset you?” she snapped, kicking the couch roughly. “Because it sure as hell feels like it.”
Lisbon stood with her arms folded tightly, glaring down at him angrily. Clearly, she intended to mean business. However, unlike Rigsby who would find such a stance from his boss rather intimidating, Jane simply found it amusing. He quirked his lips upwards slightly, pleased that she had decided he was actually worth the effort.
They hadn’t really been getting along all that well. Not since the boyfriend incident. Not since his attitude around her had changed for the worse because of stupid emotions he couldn’t control.
Jane knew she was still with him, whoever this mystery man was. He hadn’t tried to find out either; if he’d even dared to, she would have accused him of interfering and things would have gotten messy. Besides, it was obvious she was having problems with him without any input of his own.
Contrary to popular belief, Jane hadn’t been wishing this would happen. He much preferred a happier Lisbon to a sad one. Even if it was somebody else that made her react that way. Even though it felt like a stab in the gut each and every time the subject was almost mentioned.
Besides, it was better one of them feeling content than neither.
Not that that was going to last for much longer, clearly.
-
She was quietly shredding tissues, not something she did without cause.
Jane brought in a box of tissues, a mug of hot tea and a slice of cake.
With a wry smile, she accepted them. They didn’t need to vocalize what had just happened. Just being together was enough.
-
“You okay?”
“Never better.”
Jane didn’t believe her and continued to bring in the tea and cake whenever it seemed appropriate.
-
Tea and cake turned into a lunch once. They were on an out of town case and the others had disappeared to do the tasks assigned to them. Lisbon was growing frustrated with the lack of leads and beginning to take it out on inanimate objects.
Out of fear of her computer not surviving the rest of the day, Jane whisked her out, to a small café he’d spotted in the town. She complained, loudly, but he was immune to her responses.
Over sandwiches and soda, they discussed the case, naturally. They generally tried to avoid talking about themselves as those conversations always seemed so depressing. Besides, they were still technically on work hours as well and Lisbon would feel guilty if she wasn’t doing anything to try and solve the case, even while eating.
It was also while eating that Lisbon realized that one of the girl’s earrings had been missing. That they had seen the other half of the pair on the counter in her cousin’s kitchen.
Within three hours the case was closed and said cousin had confessed all.
From that point onwards, lunch breaks became a more frequent part of their day to day life.
-
She seemed lonely, ever since her mystery boyfriend disappeared.
Jane didn’t like that.
He tried to treat her, to make her feel special.
It was good to see her smile, even if it was over something as mundane as theatre tickets or shouting herself hoarse at a baseball match. And it meant they both enjoyed themselves, both had something to focus on other than work or the inner demons that they were both fighting but rarely, if ever, talked out.
He would have liked to give her more, but he wasn’t ready, not yet.
Besides, she didn’t seem to be either.
-
“You sure that’s Red John?”
“We’re sure.”
Jane looked down at the body of his nemesis, fallen on top of his final victim and then glanced around the scene of the crime.
It didn’t take a genius to work out what had happened.
Wife was home alone. Husband out of town, at a business seminar.
Red John came to kill her. Husband came home early and shot Red John to death shortly after he’d managed to murder the woman. He fled, driving himself into a river, unable to cope with the loss of his wife.
Jane knew he shouldn’t be happy, that Red John’s demise had also resulted in the death of two innocent people, but he couldn’t help it.
He smiled.
Lisbon did too.
It was contagious, after all.
-
“You’re leaving us? Now that Red John’s dead?”
“Only if I can’t date you and be on your team at the same time.”
“What?”
“You heard.”
Lisbon placed the folder down, laced her fingers together and rested her chin on her hands. Though they’d always gotten along well and she’d always thought that maybe someday something could happen, she’d always managed to persuade herself that she was daydreaming, hoping for the impossible. Even now, Jane still felt emotionally unavailable, like he was too in love with a ghost for her to ever have a chance.
She glanced at his left hand.
The ring was conspicuously absent.
Then, she smiled.
“You know what? I think there’s some kind of loophole meaning it would be absolutely fine,” she stated and Jane grinned. “You are only a civilian.”
She stood, walked around her desk and Jane remained frozen to the spot. It seemed like the tables had turned. He’d walked in, taking her completely off guard with his proposition. Now, she was the one, cupping his cheek, pressing her lips against his own, lacing another arm tightly around his waist. Of course, he responded with fervor, enjoying every single second of it, waiting for the moment when she would spring away, stating how inappropriate such actions were in the workplace.
That moment never came and instead, he placed a gentle kiss on the tip of her nose shortly after they broke for air.
They both smiled. Honest to goodness real smiles, with no hidden agendas or woes hiding beneath the surface.
Some things were worth waiting for.
end