Chapter 1: Introduction
The fluorescent lights above hummed a low, constant buzz, casting a sickly glow on the worn linoleum floor. The air was thick with the scent of stale coffee and the faintly metallic tang of anxiety. Teresa Lisbon leaned back against the uncomfortable back of her chair, her arms crossed and her eyes scanning the room. She was aware of the TSA agent watching them both from behind a glass window, but the majority of her attention was on the man across from her.
Patrick Jane sat across from her, smiling the genuine smile she loved but rarely saw from him. His injured ankle was resting on a chair, but there was little trace of discomfort on his face.
Instead, he looked like a man who had just won the lottery, and she couldn't help but feel a mirror of that joy within herself.
"You know," he said, breaking the comfortable silence, "I never thought I'd see the day when we'd be sitting here, like this."
Teresa huffed a small laugh, her shoulders relaxing as she uncrossed her arms. "I never thought I'd see the day when you'd be in a situation that required a TSA office."
He chuckled, low and warm.
"I suppose you're right. But here we are." He glanced down at his watch, the movement causing the leather band to creak softly. "We've got a few more hours before Abbott's shift ends. You sure you want to wait here?"
Teresa's gaze followed the motion, her eyes tracing the path of his hand to the watch on his wrist. She couldn't help but remember the times she had waited for him, the anxious moments when she didn't know if he'd return, if he'd be safe. She reached over, her fingers wrapping around his wrist, and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Yes," she said, her voice steady and sure. "I want to wait here with you."
Patrick covered her hand with his, his thumb tracing small circles on the back of her hand.
"You know, for a second there, I thought you were going to say no. To DC, I mean."
Teresa looked away, her gaze sliding to the far wall, where a calendar hung, its pages turned to show a generic nature scene. "I should have said no sooner," she admitted softly. "I should have told Pike the truth before... things got so far."
Patrick shrugged, his grip on her hand tightening slightly. "We can't change the past, T-Lisbon. All we can do is start from where we are now." He glanced up at the ceiling, as if seeking divine intervention or perhaps just a little more time.
"And where are we now, exactly?" She asked with a playful lilt to her voice.
Patrick's blue eyes met hers, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. "Well, technically, we're in a TSA office, awaiting the whims of Agent Abbott. But, if you're asking where we stand... I'd say we're in a good place."
Teresa laughed, a warm, natural sound that filled the sterile room. "I was hoping you'd say that."
Just then, the door to the office creaked open, revealing a harried-looking Dennis Abbott. His eyes flicked between Teresa and Patrick, a hint of amusement in his gaze. "Finally done with your...
paperwork, Mr. Jane.” Abbott said, raising an eyebrow as he noticed their entwined hands. "So are you two just going to play footsie all night? Or can we get going."
Patrick grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he motioned to his injured ankle, “I’d say footsie is definitely off the table right now.” Teresa rolled her eyes, but a small smile played on her lips. “Are we good to go?”
Abbott snorted, motioning to the open door, “You are very free to go. In fact, they will be happy to never see you again.”
Teresa stood up, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Patrick watched her, his eyes lingering on her before he struggled to his feet.
"Lead the way, Abbott," he said, his voice tinged with a humor he couldn't quite hide.
Teresa walked beside him, her arm slightly raised to offer him support. She didn't want him to rely on it, but she also didn't want him to overexert his injury. The clunk of his crutches against the linoleum filled the silence as they made their way out of the TSA office and into the bustling airport.
Patrick leaned in, his voice low so that only she could hear, "You know, I've always liked airports. The sense of possibility, the hope of new beginnings. It's...
contagious." Teresa glanced up at him, her green eyes reflecting the neon signs advertising duty-free perfumes and magazines. "Last time I checked, you preferred the comfort of your couch to the chaos of the airport." She teased back.
Patrick grinned, shrugging slightly. "Well, my preferences have evolved. Besides, I have a good feeling about tonight." He winked at her, causing her to roll her eyes.
As they neared the departures area, the airport seemed to come alive around them.
Passengers rushed past, dragging suitcases behind them, while announcements echoed through the speaker system like a foreign language. Teresa maneuvered Patrick through the crowd, her eyes scanning the sea of faces for any sign of trouble. It was an old habit, one she couldn't seem to shake after so long in law enforcement.
Patrick, meanwhile, seemed content to take in the scenery. He leaned heavily on his crutches, his gaze flitting from one passerby to the next. Every now and then, he would lean in and whisper something in her ear, a joke or an observation that made her laugh.
Each time, she caught herself squeezing his arm a little tighter, her heart fluttering in her chest like a teenage girl with a schoolyard crush.
As they approached the main concourse, the noise and chaos intensified. Patrick's pace slowed, and Teresa could feel the tension in his arm as he struggled to keep up.
"You alright?" she asked, concern etched on her face.
Patrick flashed her a reassuring smile, but she could see the strain in his eyes. "Just a little winded. I'm not used to being the one who's... helpless."
Teresa stopped short, turning to face him.
She placed a steady hand on his shoulder, her eyes locked onto his. "You're not helpless, Patrick. You're just... temporarily inconvenienced."
He chuckled, but it was a weak effort, and she could see the tension still lingering in his jaw. "Inconvenienced, huh? That's one way to put it."
She gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze before stepping back. "How about we find a quiet corner to rest for a bit?
You can't push yourself too hard," Teresa suggested, her voice gentle yet firm. Patrick opened his mouth to protest, but Teresa cut him off with a stern look. "Don't even think about arguing with me, Jane. You need to take care of yourself, or you'll slow us down even more."
Patrick sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine, fine. Where do you suggest we go?"
Teresa scanned the area, her eyes landing on a small café tucked away in a quiet corner of the terminal. "How about over there?
It looks quiet, and they have comfortable chairs." Teresa said, pointing towards the café. Patrick followed her gaze, a slow smile spreading across his face.
"You know, I think I could go for a tea. Something to warm me up." He gave a mock shudder, as if the thought of drinking something hot was the most appealing idea in the world.
Teresa laughed, gently guiding him towards the café. "Tea it is."
The café was small, with only a handful of tables occupied by tired travelers and weary airport staff.
Teresa quickly secured a cozy booth by the window, allowing Patrick to sit with the least amount of effort. She took a seat across from him for a moment.
“I’ll be right back,” she said, gathering her phone from her pocket. “I need to make a call.” Patrick nodded, and gave her a sympathetic smile “I’ll get you some coffee.” He whispered giving her arm a gentle squeeze.
Teresa slid out of the booth and stepped outside, the cool airport air providing a brief respite from the warmth of the café. She took a deep breath before dialing Pike's number. The phone rang several times before he picked up, his voice gruff and filled with sleep. "Teresa?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.
“Hey, Pike,” she began, choosing her words carefully.
“Look, I know it’s late, but I need to talk to you about something.”
There was a pause on the other end, and she could almost see the confused expression on his face. “Is everything alright?” he asked, his voice tinged with worry.
Teresa took another deep breath, her eyes scanning the bustling terminal outside the window. “No, Marcus. Not really.” She hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest like a drum. “I’ve made a mistake. A big one.”
She could hear the rustle of sheets as he sat up in bed, his voice sharpening with alertness.
“What do you mean, Teresa? What’s going on?”
Teresa closed her eyes, the weight of her decision pressing down on her. “I can’t move to DC, Marcus. I can’t marry you.”
There was a long pause, the hum of the airport filling the silence. When Pike finally spoke, his voice was cool and controlled. “Is this about your job? Because I thought we’d discussed this already. I’m more than willing to—”
“It’s not about the job, Marcus,” she interrupted softly. “It’s about me. It’s about us.”
Another pause.
This time, it was filled with the sound of Teresa's heartbeat, steady and insistent in her ears. "Teresa," Pike said, his voice softening, "I know we haven't always seen eye to eye on things, but I thought we had something good here. Something real."
Teresa nodded, even though he couldn't see her. "We did, Marcus. We do. But... I can't ignore how I feel anymore. I can't pretend that this is enough for me when it's not."
Pike sighed, the sound heavy with disappointment and resignation. "Is this about Jane?
Teresa, please don't tell me that you're still hung up on him. After all these years, after everything that's happened..." Pike's voice trailed off, and Teresa could hear the pain and frustration in his words.
She took a deep breath, her eyes drawn to the window where Patrick was sitting, his gaze lost in the crowd outside. "It's always been about him, Marcus. I'm sorry. I should have been honest with you from the beginning, but I was too afraid to admit it to myself. To you."
Pike was silent for a moment, and Teresa could almost feel the weight of his disappointment pressing down on her.
"I see," he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. "So, what happens now?"
Teresa leaned back against the glass window, her eyes never leaving Patrick. "I'm going to stay in Austin. I'm going to find a new job, a new life. And... I want you to be happy, Marcus. I want you to find someone who can give you what you deserve."
There was another long pause before Pike spoke again. "You know, I always thought we had something special. I always thought you were the one for me."
Teresa's heart squeezed at the sadness in his voice. "I know, Marcus.
And I'm so sorry that I let you down." Teresa's voice was soft, laced with regret and remorse. She could still see Pike's disappointed face, even though he was miles away.
Pike sighed, the sound heavy with resignation."Thank you, Teresa. For being honest with me, at least.” He paused, and Teresa could almost see him rubbing his temples. “I guess I should thank you for not stringing me along any further.”
Teresa winced, the guilt gnawing at her. “I’m sorry, Marcus. I never meant to hurt you.”
“I know,” he replied softly. “I know you didn’t. But it still hurts, you know? To think that all this time, you were in love with someone else.”
“I’m so sorry,” Teresa whispered, her voice barely audible over the hum of the terminal.
Pike sighed, his voice settling into a quiet acceptance. “I know you are, Teresa. I just wish... I wish I’d known sooner. I wish you’d told me before things got so far.”
Teresa nodded, even though he couldn’t see her. “I know. And I’m truly sorry for that. For everything.”
There was a moment of silence before Pike spoke again, his voice steadier this time. “So, what now? Do you need me to... I don’t know, send your things to Austin?”
Teresa felt a pang of gratitude for his practicality, even in the face of heartbreak.
"Yes, that would be great. I'd really appreciate it if you could arrange to have my things sent to my new apartment in Austin. I'll text you the address."
Pike was quiet for a moment before he spoke again, his voice tinged with sadness. "You know, I'll never stop caring about you, Teresa. No matter what happens."
Tears pricked at the corners of Teresa's eyes, but she blinked them back, determined to stay strong. “I hope one day you will. You deserve someone who can give you her whole heart.” There was silence on the other end of the line. “Goodbye, Marcus.” She said softly after a while.
“Goodbye Teresa” he responded, and hung up.
Teresa stood there for a moment, the phone held tightly in her hand, the weight of the conversation heavy on her chest. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she had to do next. She stepped back into the café, her eyes seeking out Patrick. He was seated at the table, his crutches propped against the wall, a cup of tea steaming in front of him. When he saw her, he had a concerned look in his eyes. “Everything okay?” he asked, pushing the other cup towards her. Teresa nodded, sliding into the seat across from him.
She took a sip of the coffee, the warmth grounding her as she tried to find the right words. "It's done," she said finally, her voice steady. "I told him."
Patrick's gaze softened, his hand reaching out to cover hers on the table. "How did he take it?"
Teresa looked down at their hands, her thumb tracing the rim of the cup. "As well as could be expected, I suppose. He was hurt, but he understood. He said he never stopped caring about me."
Patrick's fingers tightened around hers, a silent show of support. "That's good.
That he understands, I mean," Patrick said, his voice gentle yet firm. "It's never easy breaking someone's heart, but it's worse to let things drag on."
Teresa nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "I know. It was time. For both of us." She took another sip of her coffee, the warmth spreading through her as she let out a sigh of relief. "Now, what about you? How's the ankle?"
Patrick chuckled, shifting slightly in his seat. "It's... tolerable. Not nearly as bad as it could have been.
I'm sure you know the drill—elevation, ice, compression, and elevation again." He winked at her, the playful glint returning to his eyes. "But enough about my ankle—how about you? How are you holding up after that call?"
Teresa offered him a genuine smile, her eyes reflecting a mix of relief and exhaustion. "I'm good. It was hard, but it needed to be done. It's a fresh start for both of us."
Patrick nodded, his gaze warm and reassuring. "That's the spirit. Now, how about we focus on the positive?
Like the fact that we're finally on the same page, and we're here, together. Teresa's smile widened, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears of relief. "Yes, let's focus on that. After all, it's been a long time coming."
Patrick nodded, his thumb still tracing lazy circles on the back of her hand. "Too long, if you ask me. But, better late than never, right?"
Teresa chuckled, her heart swelling with happiness. "Right.