Date Night (part 4 and 5)
Date Night
Author:little_firestar
Artist:branquignole
Link to art:here
Word Count: ~8540
Rating:T
Summary:It all happens in one long night, and Jane and Lisbon’s first attempt at dating results in disaster. Between miscommunication issues, the police, a terrible dinner and an ex showing up, will Teresa admit defeat, or will she give her consultant a second chance at making it right?
Disclaimer:The Mentalist, created by Bruno Heller, is propriety of CBS Production. By writing this piece, I don’t claim any money.
Notes:Written for the 2013-14 Mentalist Big Bang on Live-journal; title from the 2012 movie featuring Tina Fey and Steve Carell, the story is set sometimes after the season 6 episode “My Blue Heaven”. Many thanks to my artist, branquignole ,who worked with me on a Mentalist Big Bang Project for the second year in a row.
Link to fic: Part 1-3
The punch didn’t stop Jane from being his usual self; he kept annoying the rookie, until he had enough and called his boos, asking what he was supposed to do. Following his orders-that happened to be the same suggestions made by the blonde annoyance himself- he checked their stories, looked for them and saw that they were telling the truth. His name was Patrick Jane. Her name was Teresa Lisbon. And the place they had broken in was, indeed, her place.
It was almost midnight when the rookie finally allowed them go, throwing at Jane his jacket. The cop looked at Lisbon, wondering if he was supposed to be a little bit gentler with a lady there, but then he dismissed the idea- if she dared to hang out with such a jerk like her boyfriend, she was probably just like him and deserved what came her way.
“You know, as you’ve wrongfully arrested us, the least you could do would be driving us to the restaurant where we were supposed to have dinner three hours ago.” Jane was crossing his arms in front of the guy. Lisbon didn’t know if he was being serious or if it was some kind of show of twisted masculinity. Either ways, it wasn’t going to help them; masculinity didn’t affect her- especially if it was about the tea drinker, formally vest-wearing Patrick Jane- and if he was being serious, they were seriously risking being thrown in cell yet again.
“He was joking!” She said, taking him for an arm and forcing him out. “We are so sorry for the trouble you had to go through, officer! We promise we’ll not disturb you ever again!”
“What? No! He has to at least call us a cab!” Jane screamed in direction of the cop. But the guy didn’t hear him, as Lisbon had practically run all the way out of the station. On high heels. Her feet were killing her: Jane was going to pay. With interests.
“You will call us a cab, Jane. Now!” With each words, she hit with her index finger his chest, right on his heart. Now, he wasn’t exactly into sadomasochist games, but he had to admit it wasn’t so bad. Maybe it was the fact that it was her touch, but it did nice things to his body. Things Lisbon had better to not discover, or else…
Sighing, he dialed on his new phone the cab company number; he hated this phone, hated the new technology, those touch-sensible phones, all screens and no keyboards. He should have never threw away his beloved phone: now that he was getting older, he was starting to miss it.
“Is it going to be long?” She asked, walking again and again in front of him, a hard expression and her arms crossed. She was even forgetting that she was wearing high heels, so mad with him she was. Jane sighed, and shook his head. He wanted to scream, wanted to say unholy things to whatever higher power was up there and was trying to ruin his attempts to romance and woo Teresa Lisbon. Yeah, he was an atheist and Teresa was a good, old fashioned Catholic. So what? He did have the right to try and win the heart of the woman of his life, dammit! He hadn’t wasted over twelve years of his life- their lives-to wait for the both of them to be emotionally and physically free just to have this being thrown at him.
No! He wasn’t going to give up, not when the prize was that close. So close that he could almost feel her lips on his skin, and her tiny hands wandering all over his body, and…
Ok. Maybe it was time to stop the sordid thoughts and wait for his fantasy to turn into reality without actually expecting for something to happen between the two of them right away. Of course, there was a small part of him that hoped that Teresa would be inviting him in at the end of the night, but not only his chances were getting smaller and smaller, but there was also the fact that he doubted that she would be sleeping with him after just one date. Even if they had knew each other for over twelve years, and been enamored for almost as long.
They waited for the cab to arrive for over half hour, staying in an awkward and uncomfortable silence. Lisbon kept walking at crossed arms, and every time he even just dared to open his mouth to try to explain himself, or just say something, anything, really, she threw him a dirty, lethal look that effectively shut him up every damn time. At one point, it even started to rain a little bit. Of course, it wasn’t enough to soak them, but rather a normally refreshing and enjoyable soft rain, but on that very night, it was enough to piss them off, as it was just another thing that could go wrong and indeed went wrong.
The cab arrived, and the driver grunted as he saw that they were going to wet his seats, but he didn’t say anything. Of course, Jane being Jane, he knew exactly what was going through the man’s head, but just a glance at Lisbon, and he understood that he was supposed to keep it quiet. She was mad enough without him making the driver crazy enough to drop them where they stood.
“Listen, Lisbon…” He tried to say, but once again she stopped him. She turned her head and looked out of the window, and lifted a hand to instruct him like he was a baby. Jane sighed, and left the dead weight of his body fell on the seat.
“Don’t Jane, ok? I’m not in the mood. I am t tired, and thirsty and hungry and I just…” She took a big breath, and covered her face with her hands. Her voice fell a little, it was teary. “I just want this evening to end.”
“No, no, no, please.” He begged, getting closer and closer to her, just to take a step back when he understood that she didn’t like how he was intruding in her personal space. “Listen, I am a regular there. I am sure that Sylvie has kept my usual table… besides, the Orchid serves until 2 am.”
“Oh, now he is a regular….” She mumbled behind her teeth, and Jane sighed again, shaking his head. He didn’t know what to do or say. Whatever he did, it was wrong. And now Lisbon seemed to believe he was a player and a womanizer who always had women having dinner with him in expensive and luxurious restaurants.
“I don’t know, Jane, it’s just that…”
He turned to look at her yet again, and he felt like a monster, but he didn’t know what else he was supposed to do, so he showed her his best puppy dog expression, knowing that she wasn’t going to be able to refuse him anything- there was a reason she was nicknamed Saint Teresa, after all.
“Ok, Ok! We are here anyway…” The cab stopped right before the entrance of the restaurant, and she sighed as she left the car. Jane took a big breath, hoping that things could still improve. He couldn’t have her bailing him out. He had to persuade her that life could be funny and happy with him, that he was as charming in reality as he was when he manipulated people to get what he wanted whenever he wanted on the job.
She took the first few steps toward the entrance of the restaurant, while Jane approached the cab driver waiting to hear what he was supposed to pay; the guy, smirking, said an extremely high number, and Jane was about to lecture him, or something in that line, but then his gaze fell on Lisbon, waiting few feet from him. She looked young and fragile, and he knew he just couldn’t hurt her, couldn’t disappoint her any more. So he man up and decided to just pay, but when he put his hand in his pocket…
... He discovered her didn’t have his wallet with him any longer.
Jane swore, and hoped to really be a psychic and have real powers, so that the rookie cop could suffer a thousand evils, and then he looked at the cab driver. The guy was still expecting his money, nervously tapping against the wheel. One look told Jane the guy wasn’t anyone he was supposed to mess up with. His whole demeanor screamed dangerous- and not in a fictional way. God. Why him, why that night? He was out on his own six days a week, and the only time he wasn’t supposed to screw up, he did.
“Nice watch…” The guy said, grunting.
“What? No! It’s an heirloom, the only thing my father left me!” Jane looked at his watch. He rarely wore it, but he liked the thing. Not because it was beautiful- the opposite- but for the sense of familiarity, because it had belonged to many Jane men before him, and a small, bastard part of him wanted another Jane man to have it after him- an half Jane, half Lisbon man, if possible, thank you very much.
“Well, man didn’t have taste. It’s not a waste, if I tell you. Besides, you know how they say…” The driver left the cab, and stood in front of Jane. His stature only confirmed the mentalist’s theory: don’t mess with the cab driver. “Better safe than sorry, right pal?”
Jane gulped down a mouthful of saliva and gave him the watch, hurrying to get to Lisbon before she could change her mind and leave with the first guy she met.
“Everything is…” She asked when he joined her, and with an hand on the small of her back he guided her at the concierge. He put on his best smile, and started looking around for Sylvie. She was probably chatting with some VIPs or a regular, she often did, after all, her job was to keep the costumers happy, not only taking reservations. She had known him for quite a while, he was sure she wasn’t going to mind to put this one on his check and wait a couple of days to be paid.
He noticed that Lisbon hadn’t finished her sentence; frankly, she didn’t know what to say. All right? Fine? Ok? Nothing was remotely fine, all right or ok. The night had been a disaster, and she feared what was about to happen. She didn’t even want to know what had happened with the driver, she feared the answer Jane would give her. A young woman, stern and very practical, approached them, and went behind the concierge desk. And as she did so, Jane’s smile vanished.
It wasn’t his night.
“Hello…” He looked at her name tag on her pristine white shirt. “…Carol. I’m Mr. Patrick Jane. I was looking for Sylvie.”
“Sylvie’s home. I’m sorry… you said… Jane? As in our nine pm. reservation?”
He sighed at closed eyes. He knew that tone, knew what she meant. At the Orchid, they didn’t like empty tables. There was an urban legend going around, saying that whoever missed a reservation from the restaurant was to be banned forever and ever. He had never believed such a thing, but Carol was making him rethink it.
“Yes. And I swear to God, if you don’t want me here any longer, I’ll vanish from the face of the Earth. But please… we need to eat.” Jane knew that Carol wasn’t going to give up so easily, so he took Lisbon in his arms, and strategically put an hand on her belly. He hoped that Carol believed that Teresa could be expecting. And he hoped that Teresa didn’t mind his little white lie. The glacial blonde looked around, taking pity on the expecting woman, and Jane knew that he got her. He grinned at her with his most charming smile, but then, when she was already walking them to a free table, he did a colossal mistake…
“…Listen Carol, would it be a problem if I were to pay tomorrow? I am a regular costumer, as you noticed by the note close to my name, and I am sure that the director, Victor, wouldn’t have any problem at all…”
She stopped dead in her tracks, and turned to face them. “I am sorry Mr. Jane.” She said with a tone that said she wasn’t sorry at all. “But we aren’t allowed to make exceptions. If you can’t pay, please leave now, or I’ll be forced to call security.”
“What? No, Carol, Listen. I told you. I am a personal friend of Victor. I used to be his personal psych…” one look told him she was about to call the cops to denounce a fraud. People (women) normally shrieked like groupies when he said he was a psych. But not this one. He had to find the only one who didn’t. Just his luck. “Ok, fine. We are leaving.”
He was already on his way out, calling Cho, hoping that his friend was home or would have answered his mobile at least, when he heard someone calling “Teresa” with an unmistakable South Californian accent, with a voice Jane hadn’t heard in many years. He wanted to hit his head as he stopped and turned, and saw none other than Walter Mashburn approaching them.
Teresa’s ex-lover. With his damn turtle-neck. There probably was a higher power at work, one who didn’t want for Lisbon to end up with him, because how many chances did they have of meeting, in Austin, Walter Mashburn?
Jane grunted when he saw Lisbon biting her lips, and smiling - and hugging- the man who had warned up her bed for a couple of nights in the past. The two of them were very friendly, but he wasn’t a stupid. Walter Mashburn didn’t do relationships, he did sex, and he didn’t seem to mind asking Teresa for a repeating perforce, even if few years late.
“Patrick, you finally saw the light, I see…” Walter said, a hand on Teresa’s shoulder, his eyes fixed on hers.
“Oh, no, no…” Teresa said, blushing. “We aren’t dating.”
Jane lifted his eyebrows. Really? He thought that at least this once he had been adamant about the whole thing. And she had been worried about her look, so she had to know it was a date. But then, why denying it, and with an ex? He knew what kind of pull Walt had with women, and he was aware of how much more suitable he was for Teresa, but frankly, he didn’t care. Teresa was his, and if the enemy wanted to try any kind of funny business with his woman, he had to do it when Patrick Jane wasn’t around, at least.
God. Billionaires didn’t really know a thing about decency.
Cho finally answered, and while Teresa and Walter exchanged a couple of words, he explained his situation to his friend. The agent agreed to go and get them, saying that, as he and “his girl” were close to the Orchid, he really didn’t mind.
“Patrick? I am sorry, but I couldn’t help but overheard Carrie dear saying that you had lost your wallet… I was wondering… for old time’s sake, and to thank you and Teresa for the many times you risked a bullet for me… can I offer you dinner?” Mashburn had finally lifted his gaze from Lisbon’s breasts, and had met Patrick’s eyes. There was no denying that the bastard wanted to humiliate the consultant. He wanted back in bed with Teresa, wanted to make her wife number… five? Six? Whatever. It didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was that Jane wasn’t going to allow Walt to win her back. Even if this date had been a disaster and Mashburn was everything that Jane had never been and was never going to be.
“No, thank you. Cho’s coming over, and I think we’ll leave the night as it is.” Jane smiled, a hand again on Lisbon. She tensed, clearly upset, or maybe just uncomfortable. But Jane didn’t matter. All he wanted was to show to Walt that yes, he and Lisbon were dating, that she was his. “Walt… it’s been a pleasure. And please… forget to call us next time someone is threatening you, all right?”
Jane didn’t wait for Teresa nor for Walt to reply, he just grabbed her and walked outside, where Cho was already waiting near his car. His new girlfriend, none other than Kim Fisher, was at his side, and she was saying something- something that made him smile. One second, and they were kissing, and Jane didn’t know if he was supposed to scream or cry. That was how his night was supposed to end. Not like this.
They reached Cho’s car, and the Korean just gave them his keys, holding hands with the brunette. She didn’t look like anyone he had ever dated before, in his years at the CBI, but maybe it was a good thing; he supposed they were both in for the long run.
Well, it looked like another member of their surrogate family was going to get his happily ever after.
“You all right?” Cho asked, before walking away.
“No.” Jane answered from the car’s window, no light in his eyes. He looked tired, old and defeated. Like never before. “Definitely not.”
He turned on the engine, and they drove away.
They drove in silence on the whole way back, and even if Teresa, every now and then, seemed to want to talk about something, every time she opened her mouth, it came out wordless. Jane didn’t even attempt to talk. He didn’t know what to say, and he feared that every word would have just deteriorated furthermore the situation. Begging her for another chance, to forget this whole night, seemed the only thing to do, and yet he didn’t want to seem too desperate. He knew what Teresa would have said to that, the same thing she had told him when he had attempted to ask her out on a date the second time, shortly after his first attempt.
“Jane, right now you are confused, and trust me, I appreciate that you’ve finally decided that you’ll move on with your life, but that’s not the way. You may think otherwise, but you just want me because I’m easy and convenient.”
Easy and convenient. He resisted the need to snort, but only because Lisbon would have read it as an insult or who knew what. Ah.
Easy and convenient, her. In what universe? And why? Because they worked together and they knew each other? That didn’t make it any easier- but thousands times more difficult. They had to consider work. The fact that they were friends. And the fact that they had friends and coworkers in common, people who could have easily felt the fallout of an eventual relationship (and/or breakup) between the two of them.
They finally reached her place, and Jane stopped the car and, like the perfect gentleman, he helped her out and saw her to her front door. He kept his hands in his pockets, eyes glued to the concrete, and stayed in complete silence, breathing in and out, the wheels in his head turning like crazy. He couldn’t do anything because he feared it could easily make it worse, and yet he couldn’t not do anything, because that too could have made it worse.
God. He hated his life. But this- with Lisbon, with Teresa- was the only life he cared about. The only one he truly wanted.
“Lisbon… Teresa, wait.” He called after her as she was opening her door using the spare she had given Cho in case of emergency.
She stopped, and turned, slowly. She was pale, her yes huge, her breathing accelerated. He didn’t need to be a mentalist or on top form to understand that she was waiting for something- anything. If he wanted to do something, now was the time. It was trying and maybe getting her, or keeping his mouth shut and being scared, a coward, and allow her to be a friend only, live with the knowledge that she wasn’t going to wait for him any longer, that she would move on with her life and he would be there to see it and be the supportive friend who maybe even walked her to the aisle when she was about to marry another man, one of the many who were waiting in line for her to just open her eyes and see them, just like that agent Pike they had worked with few weeks before.
No, he realized gulping down a mouthful of saliva. No, he couldn’t have any of that- not without trying to win her first. If she wanted to stay friends, so be it, but he wanted to be loud and clear about what he wished they could be.
“I know you couldn’t wait for this night to end but… Give me another chance.” He actually sobbed, and felt the start of a panic attack rising in his throat. He was going to hyperventilate if she didn’t give him her answer soon. “Please.” He added at closed eyes. He didn’t dare to look at her. He was too scared that she would just give up now, after everything that had happened and stood in their way, on that night and in the past twelve years.
He opened his eyes when he heard her chuckling- next to him; he saw her, standing on tip-toes and smiling. She wasn’t exactly happy, it was like a parent that had just lectured her kid and was now trying to explain them that she didn’t do it because she didn’t love them, but the opposite. He and Angela had worn that same expression many times when Charlotte was a kid, and he remembered it all too well. But his Teresa was an enigma; and he couldn’t help but wonder why she was looking with such an expression at him.
“You know, there is a statistic somewhere.” She told him, crossing her arms and wearing a bright smile. “A first date between friends- best friends especially- is always bound to be awkward and end in disaster.”
He replayed the words she just spoke again and again in his mind, slightly nodding. Lisbon couldn’t help but smile: sometimes, even if he was one the smartest men she knew, he could really look like a silly boy. “Is that your way of telling me there is going to be a second date? Because, don’t get me wrong, but I am kind of out of practice when it gets to women.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. He didn’t want for Lisbon to think he didn’t get her on a regular basis, or that he was somehow referring to sex. He knew her, just, as much as he wanted to date her, he didn’t seem to be that good at it. “Dating women, I mean.” He even lifted his left hand for emphasis, where a tan line was still well visible where his wedding band had been until a couple of days before.
“I know, Jane, trust me, I know.” She told him, sweetly, her voice low and sweet, like honey or ambrosia, the nectar of the Gods, the only nourishment his wounded soul needed. “And believe me when I tell you that I thought that things would be worse. We didn’t have any kind of control on what happened today, so I am not going to take this in consideration.” She gave him a butterfly kiss on the corner of his mouth, lingering longer than socially acceptable between two people who were merely friends. “Besides, I have wished too much for this to let it go of you that easily.”
She parted, walking backward towards her door, never breaking eye-contact with a smiling and grinning Patrick Jane. The witch. She had left him speechless. He only found his voice when she was on her way to enter her place- and it was with a smile, and a bit of amusement, that he spoke next. “Lisbon? Would I be too arrogant if I were to ask you to offer me some tea?”
Lisbon stopped and looked at him, dumbstruck for a second; then, as she realized what he meant, she blushed, filled with indignity. The ass. Of course, Patrick Jane couldn’t talk like any other man. He didn’t ask to get some coffee at the end of the date to have an excuse to enter and master his seductive arts, no. He had to be his usual self and ask for tea instead. Well, not that it actually mattered. She wasn’t going to allow him to enter anyway. She was crazy for him, had been for years, but she wasn’t going to give herself away to him on their first date.
Hands on her hips, she looked at him, definitely not amused by the innuendo. “Jane. I don’t care if it’s you and me. I am not going to sleep with you on our first date.”
He chuckled. “Meh. We’ve known each other for over a decade. Didn’t hurt to try.” He shook his head and came closer and closer, until he was just a breath away from her. He stood there for few, interminable seconds, and then he descended upon her, his lips touching Lisbon’s for a sensual, sweet and quick peck that was over way too soon for her liking. “Goodnight, Teresa.”
“Goodnight.” She finally said, unable to look at him. She felt that if she did, she could jump him and have her wicked ways with him there and then. When she finally lifted her eyes, Jane was already entering his car, sing-songing Patrick and Teresa, sitting on a tree, kissing, first comes love, then comes marriage…
Smiling, Teresa realized that she was feeling butterflies in her stomach. It hadn’t happened in a long time. She giggled, feeling like a teenager in love for the first time. God, she wanted to write everything on her diary like she did when she was a child, and for a crazy moment she thought about calling Van Pelt and tell her everything about her boyfriend. Or maybe Kim- they both had a boyfriend now, and maybe they could compare notes, or just talk. Like normal human beings.
But maybe it was a discussion she could wait to have. Until her second date with charming, handsome and now emotionally available Patrick Jane- her Jane.
Author:little_firestar
Artist:branquignole
Link to art:here
Word Count: ~8540
Rating:T
Summary:It all happens in one long night, and Jane and Lisbon’s first attempt at dating results in disaster. Between miscommunication issues, the police, a terrible dinner and an ex showing up, will Teresa admit defeat, or will she give her consultant a second chance at making it right?
Disclaimer:The Mentalist, created by Bruno Heller, is propriety of CBS Production. By writing this piece, I don’t claim any money.
Notes:Written for the 2013-14 Mentalist Big Bang on Live-journal; title from the 2012 movie featuring Tina Fey and Steve Carell, the story is set sometimes after the season 6 episode “My Blue Heaven”. Many thanks to my artist, branquignole ,who worked with me on a Mentalist Big Bang Project for the second year in a row.
Link to fic: Part 1-3
The punch didn’t stop Jane from being his usual self; he kept annoying the rookie, until he had enough and called his boos, asking what he was supposed to do. Following his orders-that happened to be the same suggestions made by the blonde annoyance himself- he checked their stories, looked for them and saw that they were telling the truth. His name was Patrick Jane. Her name was Teresa Lisbon. And the place they had broken in was, indeed, her place.
It was almost midnight when the rookie finally allowed them go, throwing at Jane his jacket. The cop looked at Lisbon, wondering if he was supposed to be a little bit gentler with a lady there, but then he dismissed the idea- if she dared to hang out with such a jerk like her boyfriend, she was probably just like him and deserved what came her way.
“You know, as you’ve wrongfully arrested us, the least you could do would be driving us to the restaurant where we were supposed to have dinner three hours ago.” Jane was crossing his arms in front of the guy. Lisbon didn’t know if he was being serious or if it was some kind of show of twisted masculinity. Either ways, it wasn’t going to help them; masculinity didn’t affect her- especially if it was about the tea drinker, formally vest-wearing Patrick Jane- and if he was being serious, they were seriously risking being thrown in cell yet again.
“He was joking!” She said, taking him for an arm and forcing him out. “We are so sorry for the trouble you had to go through, officer! We promise we’ll not disturb you ever again!”
“What? No! He has to at least call us a cab!” Jane screamed in direction of the cop. But the guy didn’t hear him, as Lisbon had practically run all the way out of the station. On high heels. Her feet were killing her: Jane was going to pay. With interests.
“You will call us a cab, Jane. Now!” With each words, she hit with her index finger his chest, right on his heart. Now, he wasn’t exactly into sadomasochist games, but he had to admit it wasn’t so bad. Maybe it was the fact that it was her touch, but it did nice things to his body. Things Lisbon had better to not discover, or else…
Sighing, he dialed on his new phone the cab company number; he hated this phone, hated the new technology, those touch-sensible phones, all screens and no keyboards. He should have never threw away his beloved phone: now that he was getting older, he was starting to miss it.
“Is it going to be long?” She asked, walking again and again in front of him, a hard expression and her arms crossed. She was even forgetting that she was wearing high heels, so mad with him she was. Jane sighed, and shook his head. He wanted to scream, wanted to say unholy things to whatever higher power was up there and was trying to ruin his attempts to romance and woo Teresa Lisbon. Yeah, he was an atheist and Teresa was a good, old fashioned Catholic. So what? He did have the right to try and win the heart of the woman of his life, dammit! He hadn’t wasted over twelve years of his life- their lives-to wait for the both of them to be emotionally and physically free just to have this being thrown at him.
No! He wasn’t going to give up, not when the prize was that close. So close that he could almost feel her lips on his skin, and her tiny hands wandering all over his body, and…
Ok. Maybe it was time to stop the sordid thoughts and wait for his fantasy to turn into reality without actually expecting for something to happen between the two of them right away. Of course, there was a small part of him that hoped that Teresa would be inviting him in at the end of the night, but not only his chances were getting smaller and smaller, but there was also the fact that he doubted that she would be sleeping with him after just one date. Even if they had knew each other for over twelve years, and been enamored for almost as long.
They waited for the cab to arrive for over half hour, staying in an awkward and uncomfortable silence. Lisbon kept walking at crossed arms, and every time he even just dared to open his mouth to try to explain himself, or just say something, anything, really, she threw him a dirty, lethal look that effectively shut him up every damn time. At one point, it even started to rain a little bit. Of course, it wasn’t enough to soak them, but rather a normally refreshing and enjoyable soft rain, but on that very night, it was enough to piss them off, as it was just another thing that could go wrong and indeed went wrong.
The cab arrived, and the driver grunted as he saw that they were going to wet his seats, but he didn’t say anything. Of course, Jane being Jane, he knew exactly what was going through the man’s head, but just a glance at Lisbon, and he understood that he was supposed to keep it quiet. She was mad enough without him making the driver crazy enough to drop them where they stood.
“Listen, Lisbon…” He tried to say, but once again she stopped him. She turned her head and looked out of the window, and lifted a hand to instruct him like he was a baby. Jane sighed, and left the dead weight of his body fell on the seat.
“Don’t Jane, ok? I’m not in the mood. I am t tired, and thirsty and hungry and I just…” She took a big breath, and covered her face with her hands. Her voice fell a little, it was teary. “I just want this evening to end.”
“No, no, no, please.” He begged, getting closer and closer to her, just to take a step back when he understood that she didn’t like how he was intruding in her personal space. “Listen, I am a regular there. I am sure that Sylvie has kept my usual table… besides, the Orchid serves until 2 am.”
“Oh, now he is a regular….” She mumbled behind her teeth, and Jane sighed again, shaking his head. He didn’t know what to do or say. Whatever he did, it was wrong. And now Lisbon seemed to believe he was a player and a womanizer who always had women having dinner with him in expensive and luxurious restaurants.
“I don’t know, Jane, it’s just that…”
He turned to look at her yet again, and he felt like a monster, but he didn’t know what else he was supposed to do, so he showed her his best puppy dog expression, knowing that she wasn’t going to be able to refuse him anything- there was a reason she was nicknamed Saint Teresa, after all.
“Ok, Ok! We are here anyway…” The cab stopped right before the entrance of the restaurant, and she sighed as she left the car. Jane took a big breath, hoping that things could still improve. He couldn’t have her bailing him out. He had to persuade her that life could be funny and happy with him, that he was as charming in reality as he was when he manipulated people to get what he wanted whenever he wanted on the job.
She took the first few steps toward the entrance of the restaurant, while Jane approached the cab driver waiting to hear what he was supposed to pay; the guy, smirking, said an extremely high number, and Jane was about to lecture him, or something in that line, but then his gaze fell on Lisbon, waiting few feet from him. She looked young and fragile, and he knew he just couldn’t hurt her, couldn’t disappoint her any more. So he man up and decided to just pay, but when he put his hand in his pocket…
... He discovered her didn’t have his wallet with him any longer.
Jane swore, and hoped to really be a psychic and have real powers, so that the rookie cop could suffer a thousand evils, and then he looked at the cab driver. The guy was still expecting his money, nervously tapping against the wheel. One look told Jane the guy wasn’t anyone he was supposed to mess up with. His whole demeanor screamed dangerous- and not in a fictional way. God. Why him, why that night? He was out on his own six days a week, and the only time he wasn’t supposed to screw up, he did.
“Nice watch…” The guy said, grunting.
“What? No! It’s an heirloom, the only thing my father left me!” Jane looked at his watch. He rarely wore it, but he liked the thing. Not because it was beautiful- the opposite- but for the sense of familiarity, because it had belonged to many Jane men before him, and a small, bastard part of him wanted another Jane man to have it after him- an half Jane, half Lisbon man, if possible, thank you very much.
“Well, man didn’t have taste. It’s not a waste, if I tell you. Besides, you know how they say…” The driver left the cab, and stood in front of Jane. His stature only confirmed the mentalist’s theory: don’t mess with the cab driver. “Better safe than sorry, right pal?”
Jane gulped down a mouthful of saliva and gave him the watch, hurrying to get to Lisbon before she could change her mind and leave with the first guy she met.
“Everything is…” She asked when he joined her, and with an hand on the small of her back he guided her at the concierge. He put on his best smile, and started looking around for Sylvie. She was probably chatting with some VIPs or a regular, she often did, after all, her job was to keep the costumers happy, not only taking reservations. She had known him for quite a while, he was sure she wasn’t going to mind to put this one on his check and wait a couple of days to be paid.
He noticed that Lisbon hadn’t finished her sentence; frankly, she didn’t know what to say. All right? Fine? Ok? Nothing was remotely fine, all right or ok. The night had been a disaster, and she feared what was about to happen. She didn’t even want to know what had happened with the driver, she feared the answer Jane would give her. A young woman, stern and very practical, approached them, and went behind the concierge desk. And as she did so, Jane’s smile vanished.
It wasn’t his night.
“Hello…” He looked at her name tag on her pristine white shirt. “…Carol. I’m Mr. Patrick Jane. I was looking for Sylvie.”
“Sylvie’s home. I’m sorry… you said… Jane? As in our nine pm. reservation?”
He sighed at closed eyes. He knew that tone, knew what she meant. At the Orchid, they didn’t like empty tables. There was an urban legend going around, saying that whoever missed a reservation from the restaurant was to be banned forever and ever. He had never believed such a thing, but Carol was making him rethink it.
“Yes. And I swear to God, if you don’t want me here any longer, I’ll vanish from the face of the Earth. But please… we need to eat.” Jane knew that Carol wasn’t going to give up so easily, so he took Lisbon in his arms, and strategically put an hand on her belly. He hoped that Carol believed that Teresa could be expecting. And he hoped that Teresa didn’t mind his little white lie. The glacial blonde looked around, taking pity on the expecting woman, and Jane knew that he got her. He grinned at her with his most charming smile, but then, when she was already walking them to a free table, he did a colossal mistake…
“…Listen Carol, would it be a problem if I were to pay tomorrow? I am a regular costumer, as you noticed by the note close to my name, and I am sure that the director, Victor, wouldn’t have any problem at all…”
She stopped dead in her tracks, and turned to face them. “I am sorry Mr. Jane.” She said with a tone that said she wasn’t sorry at all. “But we aren’t allowed to make exceptions. If you can’t pay, please leave now, or I’ll be forced to call security.”
“What? No, Carol, Listen. I told you. I am a personal friend of Victor. I used to be his personal psych…” one look told him she was about to call the cops to denounce a fraud. People (women) normally shrieked like groupies when he said he was a psych. But not this one. He had to find the only one who didn’t. Just his luck. “Ok, fine. We are leaving.”
He was already on his way out, calling Cho, hoping that his friend was home or would have answered his mobile at least, when he heard someone calling “Teresa” with an unmistakable South Californian accent, with a voice Jane hadn’t heard in many years. He wanted to hit his head as he stopped and turned, and saw none other than Walter Mashburn approaching them.
Teresa’s ex-lover. With his damn turtle-neck. There probably was a higher power at work, one who didn’t want for Lisbon to end up with him, because how many chances did they have of meeting, in Austin, Walter Mashburn?
Jane grunted when he saw Lisbon biting her lips, and smiling - and hugging- the man who had warned up her bed for a couple of nights in the past. The two of them were very friendly, but he wasn’t a stupid. Walter Mashburn didn’t do relationships, he did sex, and he didn’t seem to mind asking Teresa for a repeating perforce, even if few years late.
“Patrick, you finally saw the light, I see…” Walter said, a hand on Teresa’s shoulder, his eyes fixed on hers.
“Oh, no, no…” Teresa said, blushing. “We aren’t dating.”
Jane lifted his eyebrows. Really? He thought that at least this once he had been adamant about the whole thing. And she had been worried about her look, so she had to know it was a date. But then, why denying it, and with an ex? He knew what kind of pull Walt had with women, and he was aware of how much more suitable he was for Teresa, but frankly, he didn’t care. Teresa was his, and if the enemy wanted to try any kind of funny business with his woman, he had to do it when Patrick Jane wasn’t around, at least.
God. Billionaires didn’t really know a thing about decency.
Cho finally answered, and while Teresa and Walter exchanged a couple of words, he explained his situation to his friend. The agent agreed to go and get them, saying that, as he and “his girl” were close to the Orchid, he really didn’t mind.
“Patrick? I am sorry, but I couldn’t help but overheard Carrie dear saying that you had lost your wallet… I was wondering… for old time’s sake, and to thank you and Teresa for the many times you risked a bullet for me… can I offer you dinner?” Mashburn had finally lifted his gaze from Lisbon’s breasts, and had met Patrick’s eyes. There was no denying that the bastard wanted to humiliate the consultant. He wanted back in bed with Teresa, wanted to make her wife number… five? Six? Whatever. It didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was that Jane wasn’t going to allow Walt to win her back. Even if this date had been a disaster and Mashburn was everything that Jane had never been and was never going to be.
“No, thank you. Cho’s coming over, and I think we’ll leave the night as it is.” Jane smiled, a hand again on Lisbon. She tensed, clearly upset, or maybe just uncomfortable. But Jane didn’t matter. All he wanted was to show to Walt that yes, he and Lisbon were dating, that she was his. “Walt… it’s been a pleasure. And please… forget to call us next time someone is threatening you, all right?”
Jane didn’t wait for Teresa nor for Walt to reply, he just grabbed her and walked outside, where Cho was already waiting near his car. His new girlfriend, none other than Kim Fisher, was at his side, and she was saying something- something that made him smile. One second, and they were kissing, and Jane didn’t know if he was supposed to scream or cry. That was how his night was supposed to end. Not like this.
They reached Cho’s car, and the Korean just gave them his keys, holding hands with the brunette. She didn’t look like anyone he had ever dated before, in his years at the CBI, but maybe it was a good thing; he supposed they were both in for the long run.
Well, it looked like another member of their surrogate family was going to get his happily ever after.
“You all right?” Cho asked, before walking away.
“No.” Jane answered from the car’s window, no light in his eyes. He looked tired, old and defeated. Like never before. “Definitely not.”
He turned on the engine, and they drove away.
They drove in silence on the whole way back, and even if Teresa, every now and then, seemed to want to talk about something, every time she opened her mouth, it came out wordless. Jane didn’t even attempt to talk. He didn’t know what to say, and he feared that every word would have just deteriorated furthermore the situation. Begging her for another chance, to forget this whole night, seemed the only thing to do, and yet he didn’t want to seem too desperate. He knew what Teresa would have said to that, the same thing she had told him when he had attempted to ask her out on a date the second time, shortly after his first attempt.
“Jane, right now you are confused, and trust me, I appreciate that you’ve finally decided that you’ll move on with your life, but that’s not the way. You may think otherwise, but you just want me because I’m easy and convenient.”
Easy and convenient. He resisted the need to snort, but only because Lisbon would have read it as an insult or who knew what. Ah.
Easy and convenient, her. In what universe? And why? Because they worked together and they knew each other? That didn’t make it any easier- but thousands times more difficult. They had to consider work. The fact that they were friends. And the fact that they had friends and coworkers in common, people who could have easily felt the fallout of an eventual relationship (and/or breakup) between the two of them.
They finally reached her place, and Jane stopped the car and, like the perfect gentleman, he helped her out and saw her to her front door. He kept his hands in his pockets, eyes glued to the concrete, and stayed in complete silence, breathing in and out, the wheels in his head turning like crazy. He couldn’t do anything because he feared it could easily make it worse, and yet he couldn’t not do anything, because that too could have made it worse.
God. He hated his life. But this- with Lisbon, with Teresa- was the only life he cared about. The only one he truly wanted.
“Lisbon… Teresa, wait.” He called after her as she was opening her door using the spare she had given Cho in case of emergency.
She stopped, and turned, slowly. She was pale, her yes huge, her breathing accelerated. He didn’t need to be a mentalist or on top form to understand that she was waiting for something- anything. If he wanted to do something, now was the time. It was trying and maybe getting her, or keeping his mouth shut and being scared, a coward, and allow her to be a friend only, live with the knowledge that she wasn’t going to wait for him any longer, that she would move on with her life and he would be there to see it and be the supportive friend who maybe even walked her to the aisle when she was about to marry another man, one of the many who were waiting in line for her to just open her eyes and see them, just like that agent Pike they had worked with few weeks before.
No, he realized gulping down a mouthful of saliva. No, he couldn’t have any of that- not without trying to win her first. If she wanted to stay friends, so be it, but he wanted to be loud and clear about what he wished they could be.
“I know you couldn’t wait for this night to end but… Give me another chance.” He actually sobbed, and felt the start of a panic attack rising in his throat. He was going to hyperventilate if she didn’t give him her answer soon. “Please.” He added at closed eyes. He didn’t dare to look at her. He was too scared that she would just give up now, after everything that had happened and stood in their way, on that night and in the past twelve years.
He opened his eyes when he heard her chuckling- next to him; he saw her, standing on tip-toes and smiling. She wasn’t exactly happy, it was like a parent that had just lectured her kid and was now trying to explain them that she didn’t do it because she didn’t love them, but the opposite. He and Angela had worn that same expression many times when Charlotte was a kid, and he remembered it all too well. But his Teresa was an enigma; and he couldn’t help but wonder why she was looking with such an expression at him.
“You know, there is a statistic somewhere.” She told him, crossing her arms and wearing a bright smile. “A first date between friends- best friends especially- is always bound to be awkward and end in disaster.”
He replayed the words she just spoke again and again in his mind, slightly nodding. Lisbon couldn’t help but smile: sometimes, even if he was one the smartest men she knew, he could really look like a silly boy. “Is that your way of telling me there is going to be a second date? Because, don’t get me wrong, but I am kind of out of practice when it gets to women.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. He didn’t want for Lisbon to think he didn’t get her on a regular basis, or that he was somehow referring to sex. He knew her, just, as much as he wanted to date her, he didn’t seem to be that good at it. “Dating women, I mean.” He even lifted his left hand for emphasis, where a tan line was still well visible where his wedding band had been until a couple of days before.
“I know, Jane, trust me, I know.” She told him, sweetly, her voice low and sweet, like honey or ambrosia, the nectar of the Gods, the only nourishment his wounded soul needed. “And believe me when I tell you that I thought that things would be worse. We didn’t have any kind of control on what happened today, so I am not going to take this in consideration.” She gave him a butterfly kiss on the corner of his mouth, lingering longer than socially acceptable between two people who were merely friends. “Besides, I have wished too much for this to let it go of you that easily.”
She parted, walking backward towards her door, never breaking eye-contact with a smiling and grinning Patrick Jane. The witch. She had left him speechless. He only found his voice when she was on her way to enter her place- and it was with a smile, and a bit of amusement, that he spoke next. “Lisbon? Would I be too arrogant if I were to ask you to offer me some tea?”
Lisbon stopped and looked at him, dumbstruck for a second; then, as she realized what he meant, she blushed, filled with indignity. The ass. Of course, Patrick Jane couldn’t talk like any other man. He didn’t ask to get some coffee at the end of the date to have an excuse to enter and master his seductive arts, no. He had to be his usual self and ask for tea instead. Well, not that it actually mattered. She wasn’t going to allow him to enter anyway. She was crazy for him, had been for years, but she wasn’t going to give herself away to him on their first date.
Hands on her hips, she looked at him, definitely not amused by the innuendo. “Jane. I don’t care if it’s you and me. I am not going to sleep with you on our first date.”
He chuckled. “Meh. We’ve known each other for over a decade. Didn’t hurt to try.” He shook his head and came closer and closer, until he was just a breath away from her. He stood there for few, interminable seconds, and then he descended upon her, his lips touching Lisbon’s for a sensual, sweet and quick peck that was over way too soon for her liking. “Goodnight, Teresa.”
“Goodnight.” She finally said, unable to look at him. She felt that if she did, she could jump him and have her wicked ways with him there and then. When she finally lifted her eyes, Jane was already entering his car, sing-songing Patrick and Teresa, sitting on a tree, kissing, first comes love, then comes marriage…
Smiling, Teresa realized that she was feeling butterflies in her stomach. It hadn’t happened in a long time. She giggled, feeling like a teenager in love for the first time. God, she wanted to write everything on her diary like she did when she was a child, and for a crazy moment she thought about calling Van Pelt and tell her everything about her boyfriend. Or maybe Kim- they both had a boyfriend now, and maybe they could compare notes, or just talk. Like normal human beings.
But maybe it was a discussion she could wait to have. Until her second date with charming, handsome and now emotionally available Patrick Jane- her Jane.