Chapter 2

"Relax, I'll get us out of this I always do."

"Oh please, this is your fault entirely and as much as this is humiliating maybe some embarrassment will do you some good."

"My fault!?"

Jane was trying to keep up as Lisbon stormed down the hall and towards Mrs. Dutch's room, who was to be their trust therapist. Lisbon looked threatening, like one false move and you die. Everyone in the hallway cleared a path to stay out of her fury but Jane didn't seem to notice. He advances on her before she reaches the door and in one swift movement he grabs her arm and turns her around to make eye contact. Some agents in the hall stopped what they were doing and watched simultaneously murmuring to each other things like: "what an idiot." And "does he want to die?".

He's about to tell her just how wrong she is when she cuts him off.

"THIS IS YOUR FAULT! YOU HUMILIATED ME IN FRONT OF HIGHTOWER! YOU NEARLY COST ME MY JOB! YOU LIE TO ME CONSTANTLY! AND YOU ARE THE BIGGEST GOD-FORSAKEN, SELF HATING, PHONY PSYCHIC THAT I HAVE EVER MET!"

"IF YOU WEREN'T SO STUBBORN YOU WOULD SEE THAT THIS IS NOT MY FAULT! IM DOING THIS FOR YOU!-"

"OH YES BECAUSE I AM SO BLIND TO YOUR GOOD DEEDS! LET'S JUST TRUST THE CON MAN WHO IS DEFINITELY NEVER AT FAULT FOR ANYTHING! CLEARLY THE ONE AT FAULT IS HIS BOSS HEAVEN FORBID IT'S HIM!"

"And you two must be my new project."

The new voice surprised the two of them into silence and they found themselves next to a hippy-like woman who looked to be in her 70's. She had long straight black hair that fell to her waist. She was thin and wore a long sleeved brown shirt with gold beading and blue jeans with small brown boots.

She smiles at the both of them.

"Hello Agent Lisbon and Mr. Jane, my name is Mrs. Dutch. But you can call me Ruth. Now common let's get started."

They follow her in angry silence, Jane masking his with a smile and Lisbon clenching her hands into fists, digging her nails into her skin without knowing it.

Entering the office Ruth takes her place at her desk and due to there only being one couch, and no chairs in the room, Jane and Lisbon had to sit together, close together.

The office was relatively small and had all sorts of small abstract glass statues, Ruth had a bookshelf which mostly had books labeled with psychology, inner peace and a book on herbs and medicine.

"So then, tell me what brings you here."

"Well you see Ruth-he wraps his arm around Lisbon's shoulder and she bristles-my lovely wife here is convinced that I wanted to get her fired when in fact I don't."

"Ah so you're married?"

"No. We're not. He doesn't even live with me."

"Now honey you know I've been busy."

Well, two can play at this game. Lisbon puts on a slightly concerned expression and leans on his side, she can feel his heart quicken, his arm around her tenses, and with her best effort she says ever so softly:

"I know dear, I just don't like it when you trick me."

His breath is labored but he covers quickly. She knows she's torturing him and she loves it. He gets up to leave but this time she snatches his hand and forces him to sit back down.

"You don't get to run this time. You WILL take the hit and you will PAY for what you did."

Her words are dripping with venom and he sees just how angry she is.

"So your going to hurt me like this?"

"Oh please like you've never hurt me before."

"I NEVER MEANT TO HURT YOU!"

She towers over him now that he's on the couch.

"YOU HAVE NO IDEA THE PAIN YOU PUT ME THROUGH! YOU DESERVE EVERY MOMENT OF THIS! AND DON'T YOU GET EMOTIONAL ON ME MY DEAR! I WILL NOT FALL FOR THAT!"

"Now now stop it!"

Ruth has clearly had enough of this and separates the both of them. She's looking all flustered an it takes a few minutes for her to relax.

"Now then, I've seen the main issue and I need you to both relax for me and sit down."

A very reluctant Lisbon sits next to Jane.

"So then, you first Mr. Jane, tell me what you like about your wife."

"And this helps regain her trust? Are you kidding me!?"

"Mr. Jane."

He lets out an irritated sigh as he runs his hand through his hair.

"She's loyal, she's a challenge, and I know that if something happens she'll get me out of it."

"So I'm a pawn basically."

"You are not! I didn't say that!"

"Yes I am! That's all I've ever been to you! You don't have to say it!"

Ruth hushes the both of them.

"Your turn Mrs. Jane."

"I don't know."

"Pfft thanks."

"He's understanding and he solves cases."

"Teresa we're married surely you didn't become my wife because I solve cases!"

"I AM NOT YOUR WIFE! I AM YOUR BOSS AND YOUR MY FREAKING CONSULTANT. WHY CAN'T YOU TAKE ANYTHING SERIOUSLY!? WHY DO YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO CON ME?!"

"Mrs. -"

"MY NAME IS TERESA LISBON! NOT TERESA JANE!"

She falters a little bit regains courage an tries again.

"Fine then Miss Lisbon don't see him anymore!"

Jane shot up off the couch.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I mean that the two of you should stay separated."

"You can't do that! She'll get hurt!"

"Looks to me like you hurt her pretty well."

He's getting anxious because he knows this is a losing battle.

"You don't understand! She's everything to me!"

"Doesn't look that way."

Lisbon smirks.

"If I am everything to you then you have an odd way of showing it."

"Same goes for you agent Lisbon, you can't see Mr. Jane anymore from now on."

Her eyes get wide.

"You can't mean that!"

"Well dear you do believe you're his pawn and you don't trust him at all, I don't see why this separation shouldn't happen."

"But he's My Jane!"

There's a moment of silence.

"I'm your what?"

She's glowing red.

"Just-just get out!"

He shoots her a confused expression and leaves. Only after ten minutes does she start to leave. But before she reaches the door Ruth puts in her two cents.

"You know agent Lisbon, it seems to me the two of you care a lot about each other am I right?"

"It's...complicated."

And with that she leaves.

•••••••••••••••

Thanks for being so patient! My fortune teller toy says 4 so next Wednesday it is! (Most likely...but aiming for it...).