The 'Mentalist' Association

Countdown

Countdown

By @shmuffinjiggle17, America

I couldn't hear. The noise was overwhelming my normally perfect ears, and I wasn't going to be too surprised if I emerged into the next year a deaf man.

I had somehow managed to convince Lisbon to come with me to Times Square, as it was New Year's Eve, and Abbott had brought us to New York to deal with a situation. A situation of the murderous type.

Of course.

"How did I let myself get into this?" I heard my Lisbon grumble.

Because I'm irresistible, dear. I shout back, "Because you know as well as I do that you love New Year's. You love the clean, fresh start. The holiday marked by a new chance to start over, wiping away all bad memories from the year past. You love New Year's-"

"OKAY! Okay, geez, I get it. Why are you so irritating on such a great holiday?"

"Me? I'm sure I don't know what you mean."

A sigh. "Shut up, Jane. I'm trying to somehow figure out how this could be enjoyable."

"Cheer up. It's almost next year. You don't want your next year to start with a quarrel, do you? I'm pretty sure that's a bad omen."

"Shut up."

"So, got any New Year's resolutions?"

She can't help it. She smiles through her automatic groan. She likes it when I charm her, I can tell. But unlike most women, she tries to resist, which, of course, makes her so much more endearing. I've calmed her down though, for her posture is much more relaxed, she has subconsciously inched towards me, and she is blushing slightly, her reddened cheeks glowing gently in the moonlight- a sign that she now knows that we are having a conversation as friends right now, not coworkers. We are more than that. We've always been more than that.

"Uh, no! No, now that I think about it. How about you?"

"Oh, I don't know. I was hoping to keep my sock drawer more organized this year though. Especially now that I have some good, handmade Washington socks to fill it with."

"Really? You must have the cleanest sock drawer of anyone I know. How could it even get any cleaner, with all of the time that you already spend on it?"

"There's always room for improvement, Lisbon. Although I must say, I'm curious how you know the state of the sock drawers of everyone you know."

A blush. "Really, Jane? Really?"

"Meh."

A sigh.

"You know, Lisbon, I do believe its almost time for the ball drop. Do you have a watch?"

She looks at me, incredulous. "No, Jane. I don't. But you do know that there is a giant clock rough above us?" She sighs, then her eyes light up. "We have three minutes left!"

A guy next to us, who appears to be here with his girlfriend, turns and has the nerve to admonish Lisbon. "You don't say, miss! How did you just now notice that?"

The nerve of him... "Sir, if you don't want me to tell your girlfriend here about your-" I'm spitting the words at him. "-lovely wife, then I suggest you leave my, my legitimate girlfriend and I alone!" I know full well that his girlfriend won't take to that ~false~ accusation well, and sure enough, her eyes widen and she slaps him immediately, screaming "WIFE!?!"

An elbow is thrust into my side sharply. "Girlfriend?!?" Lisbon whisper-screams into my ear. I loudly speak back, "It's okay, babe. I don't mind yelling at an idiot when he disrespects you." Then I raise my eyebrows high, trying to send a message to her. She crosses her arms and glares at me, turning her head so the creep can't see her face. Then she slowly grins wickedly, as if thinking up revenge.

She quickly pulls me by the neck towards her, lining us up so that our lips are centimeters apart. She knows she's driving me crazy, and is obviously loving it, because then, she speaks in a low tone that I can barely hear, but that is dripping with lust. "Thanks, sweetheart. I love it when you protect me like that." Then she adds, in an even lower, sexier voice, "You drive me... crazy." Her lips curl slightly as she grabs the sides of my face, pulling me closer and closer, until...

She pulls away, grinning. She takes one look at me, the panting one, and raises her eyebrow. "What's wrong, honey?" Then she smirks and looks back up at the clock, while I take the opportunity to catch my breath. Her eyes light up. "Thirty seconds left! Jane, it's almost here!"

"Yes it is." For a second, I think of Angela and Charlotte, and I falter slightly. But I see Lisbon's face begin to show concern, and smile. "So... how about that, huh? Mark my words, they're going to blow a fuse someday with all of these lights."

Lisbon's still concerned but plays along. "Yeah, probably. It's worth it, though."

The crowd's cheering is steadily growing, and Lisbon stays silent while I give a few whoops, with her watching, amused by my antics. Oh well. What's the point of coming to Times Square if you're not going to squeal a bit like a little kid? I rest my case.

And the countdown begins.

Ten...

Lisbon's smiles, though a bit nervously.

Nine...

She glances at me, sees me watching, then quickly looks away.

Eight...

Lisbon joins in counting down with the crowd, making me smile.

Seven...

She chews her lip, giving me an idea.

Six...

I wonder if Lisbon has ever been kissed on New Year's Eve before.

Five...

I may have lost my mind.

Four...

I deserve to have my revenge on Lisbon, for her play on me earlier.

Three...

Yeah. I'll go with that as my reasoning. That's good.

Two...

I may be a genius, but right now, right now- wow. Idiot, I tell myself.

One...

Shall I go for it?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Meh.

Times Square explodes, and I officially lose my mind.

I grab Lisbon, who is cheering with everyone else, and kiss her like I've never kissed anyone before.

The noise fades away, and so do the people, and the time that has just passed.

It's just us. And that's all it ever needs to be.