49Epilogue
Airstream
Lisbon woke first. It was early, still dark. The single small light only feebly pushed back the encroaching darkness. Her back was pleasantly warm while her front was cool - too cool. Disoriented, it took a moment to realize she was cradled by Patrick Jane on his Airstream couch. It took a moment longer for memory to fill in the night's events. She lay still, enjoying the gentle rise and fall and warmth on her neck from Jane's breathing, until she had gathered her wits and reality solidified around her. Lisbon carefully disentangled herself from Jane's embrace, urgently in need of the bathroom but keen to let Jane sleep, keen to prolong the sweet moment before facing the complications of Marcus Pike, and Abbott, and ... Jane.
She was drying her hands.
"Lisbon? Lisbon!" The first held a note of uncertainty. The second, fear.
She poked her head out of the bathroom. "I'm here, Jane. It's okay." She finished and returned to the couch. He made room and she sat beside him. She offered him a kiss almost shyly, staggered by the magnitude of change that occurred during the previous evening. He returned the kiss with fervor.
"I was afraid it was a dream, not real," he said quietly.
"I'm still amazed, myself." she admitted.
"What now?"
"It's a work day–"
He rolled his eyes. "I'm familiar with the workweek concept. What now for us?'
"I ... have to end things with Marcus." She laughed, a bitter edge to the sound. "Remember how I yelled at you for making me a 'condition'?"
Dryly, "I recall."
"Marcus arranged for my job offer in DC as a condition of accepting his position."
"He talked with you first," Jane offered, remembering her outrage at being moved around like a pawn.
"Yeah, but he lied. Or at least didn't tell me the whole story. I'd have taken a job everyone would assume I got because I was someone's lover or fiancee – not because I'm qualified," she said softly. "It sucks."
"You've established a great reputation in your own right in Austin," he offered hopefully.
She nodded. She leaned her head back, eyes closed. "Jane, I can't believe I fooled myself into believing in Marcus Pike. He's a decent guy. But I've been working with such great detectives I forget everyone isn't that talented. And there's only one Patrick Jane." She looked at him and grinned, "Fortunately. Don't think the world could handle two of you."
He kissed her head and pulled her closer. "Everyone does it. You take the good qualities of people you're close to for granted. It's easy to slip into thinking everyone has that. I needed Angela's voice to remind me just what Erica Flynn was - and wasn't."
"So what about us?"
"Can we date? Gradually move into a different relationship?"
"So long as we actually move forward. I want more than an FBI partner."
Softly, "As do I."
"What about all the rest? Home? Marriage? Family?"
"Teresa, we talk through all the rest." Noticing her hesitation, uncertainty, he added, "I love you and will do whatever it takes for us to be happy. Together. I'm not being coy, here."
'Okay." After a moment, "Hope Abbott will keep me."
"He will."
She huffed. "You can be sure of that–"
"Stop. Maybe it was that way at the start. Now he values you regardless of me."
She searched his face, his eyes. Seeing no deception, she finally nodded, accepting his judgment.
He pushed up from the couch. "But before all these wonderful things can happen, we have to get to work. Let me shower first, then I'll cook breakfast."
Jane got work clothes and disappeared into the bathroom. Lisbon started coffee and tea, and got her go-bag from the car for her clean clothes.
The FBI, Austin, TX
Abbott was interrupted in the morning's briefing as Tormelson handed him a note. Abbott broke off to take the call in his office.
"Yes, sir. ... Pike's nomination was factually accurate. ... Perhaps his creativity and initiative were over-stated. I didn't want to argue with his boss over the nomination. ... Yes, I absolutely stand behind Jane's nomination. ... Every detail. ... Message received. I acknowledge the importance of accuracy in the nominations. It won't happen again. ... Agent Lisbon asked to remain in the Austin office since the position in DC has been shelved. She's an excellent agent and that is perfectly fine. ... How long will their reassignment last? ... Yes, sir."
Lisbon and Jane entered Abbott's office. He motioned them to sit. "The brass in Washington has temporarily reassigned you both. You will help work through a backlog of cases at another location for the next month, starting Monday. Reception will have your tickets."
"Sir, is this punishment?"
"Yes." Then Abbott gave her a slight smile. "Mine. The brass isn't happy that I went along with a less than rigorous nomination for one of our cases. Taking two of my finest assets will help me remember in the future."
Jane smiled brilliantly. "Where are we going?" He already read that this was not going to be painful for him and Lisbon.
"Hawaii. Now get out of here."
A few minutes later Cho was asked to step into Abbott's office.
"Sir?"
"The brass was intrigued by your nomination of Jane."
Cho swallowed. "I could take it back if it's a problem. Jane doesn't care."
Cho wondered at Abbott's faint smile. "No need. I have it on good authority that Jane will get the commendation." Abbott bit his cheek. "That's a first for a consultant working off his probation for criminal charges."
"I thought the fact that Pike and Jane were nominated for the same case was ... controversial."
"It was. I have been officially reprimanded because of exaggerations which I let pass. The reprimand is entirely deserved."
"And that's not a problem?" Cho hazarded, confused.
"Agent Cho, you have been very helpful, so I'll do you the favor of explaining. l hoped the Pike nomination would remove a ... distraction from some of my most talented assets in Austin. It didn't work out that way. In fact, it was turning out badly. Your initiative in nominating Jane solved the problem – for which I am appreciative."
"But you got a reprimand."
"Eh. That'll be forgotten in a month. Meanwhile, I retain two extremely effective partners who, unless I am mistaken, will probably be even more effective in the future. That will pay off for years. Nice play, Cho."
"Thank you, sir."
"Thought you'd like to know."
The FBI, Washington, D.C., Six Months Later
Marcus Pike received his first review – a favorable rating reflecting his solid, competent work, and, a hefty raise to bring him in line with the other successful agents. He had established a circle of friends in the new city and enjoyed the good regard of his fellow agents. He and his fiancee would be married in the spring.
