Chapter 10: First Steps

Six weeks later, after being made to take a medical leave from work upon her release from the hospital, Lisbon was welcomed back to the CBI with a round of applause and a surprise party, organized by Grace. He wound had healed and her relationship with Jane was still under wraps, the way they both wanted it. She was letting him take her out to dinner that night, a somewhat first date, after a lot of convincing. ("If we're going to begin a relationship, Lisbon, you have to do it right.")

"Ssh, she's coming!" Grace hissed to the agents hiding around the bullpen. Lisbon entered the darkened bullpen and looked around. "Van Pelt? I got your text. Where's the forms I needed to sign? Van Pelt?"

Grace flicked on the lights a moment later and the various agents and Jane all sprung up from their hiding places.

"SURPRISE!" they all yelled in unison and Lisbon laughed, even though she wasn't overly fond of surprises.

There was pizza, chips, soda, balloons, a cake that read "Welcome Back, Lisbon" and a banner above the food table that read the same.

Van Pelt hugged her tightly. "Hey, Boss. Good to have you back."

"Wow…this party…thank you." Lisbon said, looking around.

Grace shrugged. "It was no big deal. We all wanted to help welcome you back."

Each member of her team hugged her separately and said "Good to have you back, Boss."

When Jane's turn came, he hugged her said "Good to have you back, Lisbon." and muttered a quick "I love you" in her ear, but they played it off as if he were only telling her a joke.

Each of the other agents, most of whom Lisbon knew and some of whom she didn't, shook her hand and expressed their happiness at her being back to work. She thanked each one and smiled.

Minnelli appeared after the last agent went for food. "It's a pleasure to have you back, Lisbon. Good to see you out and about."

Lisbon smiled and shook his hand politely. "Thank you, sir. It's good to be back."

Everyone ate and talked and traded jokes and case stories. Lisbon's team was thankful to have real food after dining on only fish and granola bars at the campsite.

After a while, Lisbon excused herself to go home, claiming she had late paperwork. She and Jane had agreed he would pick her up at seven thirty.

At home, she pulled on a black, dressy lace shirt with a black blazer over it and a short, ruffled skirt. She paired it with strappy high heels and left her hair down. She went into the bathroom and ran a light lip gloss over her lips and some light mascara on her eyes. Lisbon wasn't one for make-up but she wanted Jane to notice it. She put in some small diamond stud earrings and went to sit on her couch to wait for Jane. At exactly seven-thirty, there was a knock on her door. She fixed her hair slightly, she wanted everything to be perfect. She took a nervous breath and opened the door and he stood there, smiling, wearing a blue suit with a white button up shirt on, the very top button of his shirt was undone. Her mind flashed back to the day after they'd met, when she told him to clean himself up.

His eyes lit up when he saw her and he kissed her cheek. "You look gorgeous."

She cleared her throat and touched her lips to his cheek. "Thanks, you don't look too bad yourself."

He extended his arm to her and she took it. "Shall we?"

She nodded. "Yes."

Soon, they arrived at a quaint Italian restaurant, decorated with plants and lights. They were seated at an outside table next to a trellis decorated with lights on the wall. They heard the soft chatter of patrons around them as they sat down. There were potted plants by the trellis as well. The candlelight played off Lisbon's face and she smiled.

"So, we're really doing this, huh?" Lisbon asked, looking at the menu.

"Well, we kissed twice, I've saved you twice…I'd say there's no turning back now." Jane said.

"I guess you're right." Lisbon agreed.

After they ordered, they waited for their food, and it came several moments later. They ate, and smiled and talked about their future together, among other things. Once they finished their food, the couple walked hand-in-hand back to Jane's car. Jane stopped, before they got in and leaned against the car, smiling.

Lisbon looked at him quizzically. "What?"

"Thank you, Teresa." he said softly.

"For what?" she questioned.

Jane sighed, content. "For being you…and for giving me a second chance."

Lisbon smiled and chuckled lightly. "You're welcome. Beers at my place?"

Jane stopped leaning on the car and walked over to her, putting his lips close to her ear, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. "Of course."

They got in and drove back to Lisbon's apartment.

Once they arrived, Lisbon locked the door behind them and shed her coat, draping it over a chair. Jane made himself comfortable on the couch. She kicked off heels and grabbed two beers from her fridge. She popped the tops off them and sat down on the couch next to him, handing him one. It was true he didn't drink much and neither did Lisbon, but it was one beer so he accepted it.
Jane took a sip. "You know, that skirt is quite becoming on you, Lisbon. I've only ever seen you in dresses and work suits."

Lisbon glanced at him, teasing. "Is Patrick Jane actually surprised?"

He glanced back at her, smiling. "Stunned, actually."

Lisbon sipped her beer and lowered her voice. "Good, that's the way I want it." she teased.

She turned herself so she was facing him on the couch. He put down his beer and stroked her cheek with his thumb.

"Are you feeling better, love? You've had quite an…eventful few weeks." he questioned.

Her hand moved to cover his on her cheek. "I'm healed now. I just hope you're ok, you know, after everything that happened."

He nodded in certainty. "As long as I have you, Teresa, I will be."

She smiled. "No matter what I say or how much you annoy me, we'll always have each other. I promise, Jane."

He leaned forward to whisper in her ear. "I know."

When he leaned back, she leaned forward and planted soft kisses on his neck, working on the front first and making her way down the side. The hand on her cheek made it's way into her hair and she laid down on the couch on top of a pillow, pulling him on top of her. He kissed her open mouth and she closed her eyes as he worked his way down her jaw and down her neck until she moaned.

He stopped and she opened her eyes, looking at him. "Why'd you stop?"

Jane sighed. "Lisbon…are you well enough to?"

She nodded. "The doctor said six weeks and it's been six weeks."

Jane studied her face. "Is this what you…what you want? If you're not ready, we can wait. I'd respect that if you wanted to wait."

Lisbon shook her head. "No, I want this…I want you. I've never been more sure of anything."

Jane was reminded of what he'd said in the forest and he sighed. "If you're sure…"

"I am." she said, sounding certain.

He shed his jacket and started kissing her neck again. He felt her fingers undoing the buttons on his shirt. He pulled it off and she started kissing the sensitive spot at the base of his neck.

"Mmm, Jane, bedroom. Let's do this right…" she murmured into his neck.

He got up off of her and she got up. He picked her up in his arms and she wrapped her legs around his waist.

"Bedroom's…that…way." she said softly, in between kisses.

He took her into her bedroom and laid her down on her bed, helping her take off her shirt. Once it was off, he climbed over her and ran his lips from her neck down to her belly button, and she groaned softly.

Jane smirked. "Am I teasing you too much, my love?"

Lisbon held in a gasp. "You wish. You're the one having a hard time controlling your impulses."

Jane smirked. "You definitely don't make controlling one's impulses easy, Teresa."

Jane decided to tease her a little more, biting her earlobe, trying to get her to break, but she was so tantalizingly stubborn. He liked the challenge. He kissed her lips and tasted the gloss on them. He inhaled her scent that smelled like a mix of cinnamon and vanilla on her skin.

"Stop teasing, Jane." she finally whispered and he chuckled.

With that, he gave her what she wanted.

Jane quickly discovered that he liked watching Lisbon sleep. Though she was tangled up with him and the sheets, he thought the moonlight shining on her skin was the most beautiful thing in the world, besides her. He tentatively moved her hair and kissed her neck gently, trying not to wake her. In spite of his efforts, she stirred and he cursed himself. She rolled over and rubbed her eyes, opening them to look at him.
He pressed a kiss to her temple and then the corner of her mouth. "Good morning, love. Are you hungry?"

She nodded and Jane got up, pulling on what he wore the night before.

She rolled over and checked the clock, holding the sheet against her as she got up. "It's three AM." She searched on the floor for her underwear but she couldn't find it.
Jane held up her lacy black bra and panties on his finger and smirked at her. "Looking for these, Tess?"

She frowned at him. "Good morning to you too, Jane."

The blonde consultant walked over to her, put an arm around her waist, pulled her close and kissed her. "Now, you can have these. I'll start breakfast."

Lisbon rolled her eyes at him and smiled, taking her underwear from him. "Gee, thanks."

He winked at her before leaving to start breakfast.

Lisbon pulled on her underwear and then her blue and orange jersey and walked into the kitchen where Jane was cooking eggs.

"Smells good." she commented, leaning on the counter. The eggs finished a few moments later, and he put them on two plates.

He grabbed a fork and put some on it, holding it out to her. "Taste it, love."

She opened her mouth and ate it. "Hey, those are good."

He smiled, raising his eyebrows. "And you were surprised? I'm a man of many talents, Lisbon."

Lisbon scoffed. "Let's not forget the ego."

"One of my many endearing qualities." he teased.

"I love you." Lisbon said softly.

"What?" Jane asked.

"I love you, Jane." she repeated.

"I love you, too. Very much." Jane replied, brushing his thumb on her cheek and looking into her intense green eyes. "I always will."

And they kissed again, the eggs forgotten. It was a kiss that was pure and it would stand the test of time because they were sure that they had all they would ever need…each other.

A/N: That's it, guys. Hope you enjoyed it! It was my first multi-chapter in ages and it took me a long time to finish! More to come soon! I promise. High school doesn't allow for much writing time. LOL :/ ~DetectiveKateBeckettCastle