Into The Red Forest

Chapter 10- First Steps

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.