"You're untrustworthy. It's my job not to trust you." Lisbon's words circled through Jane's mind. He really was disappointed that she didn't trust him. Sure she obviously trusted him not to let her crash into the ground during the trust fall he insisted she do but he knew that she was holding back. He did play mind games but most of the time it was on suspects to get to the truth and the other times were just for fun, a little showboating in front of the team. He never wanted to hurt anyone on the team and if he lied once in awhile, it was to help solve a case. Lisbon's words sank deeply in his mind though and he wondered if trust was the price he was paying for utilizing his particular skills.
"Van Pelt?" Jane slowly opened his eyes while still reclining on the office couch.
"Yeah" She responded refusing to look up from her computer screen in case she were to miss some clue in the file she was reviewing.
"Do you trust me?" Jane was curious if this was unique to Lisbon or if there was an epidemic of distrust running through the office.
"Sure" Van Pelt responded, still distracted by her work.
"Grace" Jane sat up, "do you really trust me?" He drew out his question.
Van Pelt paused, looking up to see a hopeful Patrick Jane awaiting her honest response. She considered his question for a moment. She didn't trust some of his antics but if her life was in danger or if she ever really needed something she did indeed trust him. "Yes I do."
"Good." Jane closed his eyes again and leaned back enjoying the warmth of the afternoon sun shining through the window above the couch.
Lisbon sat at her desk staring at the mountain of paper work awaiting completion. She knew she should be working on them but she couldn't shake the feeling of guilt in the pit of her stomach. The look on Jane's face when he found out she didn't trust him, broke her heart. If she were completely honest with herself, Jane was the last person on earth she wanted to hurt or disappoint. She didn't understand why, after all Patrick Jane did have a knack for getting on her last nerve. Still though, she cared deeply for the man and did not ever want to see him hurt.
Regardless of her feelings, she couldn't change the fact that she was leery of the master manipulator. She never knew when he was being honest and when he was playing an angle to gain the upper hand.
She hated feeling this way, but she didn't know if anything would change that.
Finally pushing her thoughts aside, Lisbon dived into the stack of reports waiting patiently on her desk. She wasn't five minutes into her work when she heard a knock at her door. "Come in Jane." She didn't even have to look up to know who it was.
Jane smiled brightly as he entered the office. It never stopped amazing him that she had this unique ability to know exactly when he was around.
"What do you want?" Lisbon still refused to look up.
"You to trust me," Jane's smiled beamed as he leaned over Lisbon's desk.
"You're still on that? I thought we went over this already." Lisbon looked up, hoping that Jane would attribute her annoyance to the fact that she had work to do and they already had this conversation. She didn't want to give him the slightest hint that she was frustrated with herself and feeling a little guilty.
"I can't help I don't trust you. Maybe one day I will, just not today." Lisbon tried to get back to her work. She hoped that her pseudo promise of future trust would curve any disappointment in Jane.
"I meant what I said earlier." Jane sat in the chair across the desk.
"I know" Lisbon was still shuffling files
"No you don't. Look at me Teresa"
Lisbon met his gaze and could see his eyes pleading with her to understand. "No matter what happens I will be there for you." Jane stated again, willing her to understand.
"I believe you," She wasn't really sure if she did in face but he did seem sincere enough and rather than push the topic she wanted an easy way to get him out of her hair.
"Thank you" Jane replied as he got up and left.