Chapter Text
Aʜ, ᴀ ᴛᴏᴜɢʜ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ? Oɴᴇ ᴡʜᴏ ʟɪᴋᴇs ᴛᴏ ʜɪᴅᴇ ʜᴇʀ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴs ʙᴇʜɪɴᴅ ᴀɴ ɪᴍᴘᴇɴᴇᴛʀᴀʙʟᴇ ғᴀᴄᴀᴅᴇ? Yᴇs, I ᴛʜɪɴᴋ I ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴀ ᴡᴏᴍᴀɴ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ. Wᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʜᴏᴡ I ɢᴏᴛ ʜᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ʟᴇᴛ ʜᴇʀ ɢᴜᴀʀᴅ ᴅᴏᴡɴ? I ʟᴇᴛ ᴍɪɴᴇ ᴅᴏᴡɴ.
~ Pᴀᴛʀɪᴄᴋ Jᴀɴᴇ.
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The sun rose obliquely on the tranquil horizon, bathing the room in warm, crystalline light, like an ethereal painting worthy of contemplation. On the comfortable leather sofa (the faithful companion of the man with golden highlights), Lisbon and Patrick lay entwined in a beautiful display of affection.
"Lisboa, what's bothering you? Is there something you want to tell me?" He stroked her hair, as dark as twilight.
Jane knew that something was disturbing the peace of his beloved, and from the moment he saw Lisboa's gaze—sad and melancholic like the moon—he was sure he would never let the matter rest.
"There's nothing to worry about, Jane. Just give me five minutes and I'll be as active as the batteries in the TV." Her mature voice resonated with an invisible flash of sadness, which Jane perceived with his keen eagle instinct.
(Lisbon is hiding something, I have to be cautious and I won't force her to confess. I'll take it one step at a time).
The distraction ran through him like an electric shock, sending shivers through Jane's emotional armor. He gently held Lisboa's chin so as not to scare her, but firmly enough to show his concern.
"Who would have thought: my stern superior finally dreams of a vacation? I can help you."
He tried to ease the tension with his usual charisma, and judging by the way Lisbon relaxed not only at his touch but also at his handsome features, the tactic had worked.
"Jane, I appreciate your effort to make me smile, but now I need some fresh air."
She gave a brief but meaningful kiss on Jane's eyelid, taking advantage of the rare moment when they were alone. It was like an offer of peace in her own way.
He leaned in involuntarily at the contact, his soft lips still marked on her skin like a fleeting memory of the morning they had spent together. Lisbon left behind a deep silence and unanswered questions. For the first time, Patrick felt a slight wave of fear at the thought of losing her: the emerald that sparkled in his life.
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🍵 12:00 ᴘ.ᴍ. || Wᴏʀᴋ Aʀᴇᴀ.
The cup landed softly on the table and a delicate, fragile sound caught the group's attention, not to announce an alarming criminal case, but as a prelude to an intriguing team adventure.
"This may be our most difficult mission, and I dare say that even for me it will be... a challenge.
Jane let slip, assuming the remarkable posture of leader of her own ship. The aroma of fresh tea was the balm that calmed her thoughts.
"Oh! Don't tell me the police are everywhere in California?"
Grace didn't bother to hide the concern on her harmonious face. Her feminine fingers stopped in the middle of the computer keys, equally frightened.
"Not so much. I think there may be a traitor in the agency."
Cho muttered, with an impassive posture and an indecipherable expression. The Asian frowned as he felt his friends' eyes fixed on him, almost piercing him.
"I've been reading a lot of fiction lately."
He quickly justified himself, crossing his arms and looking at the floor, slightly embarrassed (though he would never admit it). It was a silent plea for them to forget the fanciful assumption.
"I'll be frank, friends. Lisbon is different today, and that worries me more than I'd like to admit." Jane leaned on one hand to steady himself amid a sea of ramblings. "That's why I invited everyone to this little meeting. Lisbon has always been like a mother to the group, and it's time we took care of our demanding boss too." He raised his cup to his lips with a subtle smile, a tacit invitation for them to enter into his magic tricks.
"And what should we do?" asked Rigsby, moved, clenching his fingers on the table for a moment.
Patrick Jane rose dramatically from his chair, showing his impeccable teeth in an amused smile.
"Grace taught me that women like to be complimented with words... I have everything planned: the flowers, the food, and... Ah! I'm not going to tell you the best part, leave that to me.
He added playfully, capturing his colleagues' attention with his peculiar charm, humor, and charisma. Perhaps this is what is meant by "eternal childlike spirit."
"So we're going to pretend to be Cupid?"
Cho replied, showing her impatience with Jane's typical enthusiasm. The short man adjusted his tie with an involuntary movement.
"It's not my specialty, but... I offer to help." He said calmly and upright, resigned to the fact that, after all, he could never leave the group without his "friendly shoulder."
"So we're all in this together?"
Jane asked, her previously tense shoulders now relaxed. She finally finished her cup of tea, leaving her tongue numb.
"Yes!"
The group affirmed in unison.
"Great, everyone. Any objections?"
"I have an objection!"
Rigsby pointed his arm like an arrow pointing at the ceiling.
The seriousness imposed on his gaze lasted less than five seconds, giving way to a pair of pleading eyes: "Can we eat something? I haven't had lunch yet and I'm about to fall asleep here."
Grace sighed as the words echoed in her ears. Cho remained motionless, ready to spring into action with her unwavering attention. Patrick Jane nodded slowly, visibly amused by his friend's comment.
"Rigsby's right. An empty bag can't stand upright. Take as long as you need."
That was all Jane murmured, sympathetically. His mind was too busy thinking about Lisbon to take the initiative among the others.
The group dispersed for a brief moment. Patrick Jane watched his friends with a kind of immeasurable gratitude. Silently, he leaned his back against the brick wall, which seemed to whisper promises that this would be a long but unforgettable day. Jane closed his eyes and sighed, finding Lisbon's slender face in the quietest corners of his imagination.
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