Work Text:
Their Little Family
“Well played little one.” Jane compliments his son who cutely giggles. “Your mother has been teaching you her tricks, hasn't she?”
“Snap!” Oscar shouts again, holding up the two cards he has just won with identical pictures of monkeys on.
People thought he would be bored being a stay-at-home dad. It is hardly fast paced, or a mental workout compared to consulting at the FBI but once he left that life he has not looked back. He gets to spend his days with his almost three-year-old son, doing crafts and playing games. Then he makes dinner for him and his wife for her to have once she gets in from work before they spend their evenings chatting and watching TV together. This, is all he needs.
This morning they went to the park to feed the ducks and play on the slide, Jane took a photograph of the young boy squealing as he slid down and immediately sent it to Lisbon. When she first went back to work after maternity leave, she felt like she was missing out at times but now she is just grateful for what she has. She feels incredibly lucky to be able to do the job she loves and be a mom, which she loves more. Work is a bit different to how it used to be though, she is Cho's second in command which means she has her own office, that used to be Fischer's some years before, and she is in the field less. Her desk is littered with photographs of her family, and they make her smile as she fills in reports. The safer work life she now has can be a little tedious at times, but it is worth it because she has so much to lose now and the thought of leaving her son without a mother, something she went through, and Jane without a wife is terrifying. She doesn't think he would completely self-destruct like last time. He has a child to watch out for after all, and he has had therapy meaning that he's dealing with his thoughts and emotions better, but it still would be far from good.
After their visit to the park, they returned to the house which took him eighteen months to remodel and made lunch. It was peanut butter and jelly sandwiches all round much to the young child's enjoyment but wiping his mouth afterwards to remove any trace of grape jelly was slightly less enjoyable. Oscar fussed as the kitchen towel was dabbed around his mouth and on his chin, but the trauma was quickly forgotten when his father suggested a game of snap. Jane remembers when the only cards he would hold in his hands would be a standard 52-card deck with colours of red and black, these cards that they are now using are larger with a plethora of brightly coloured jungle themed images.
They are sat on the navy rug in the living room, the coffee table has been pushed slightly further to one side giving them plenty of room with Jane propped up against the base of the couch. He's not a young man anymore and sitting on the floor hardly has great lumbar support. He doesn't mind though, just one look at his son's smiling face and he's content. “What shall we have for dinner tonight?” He voices, racking his brain for what they have in the fridge.
“Chicken!” His son replies and when he focuses back on the curly-haired boy he realises that he's holding up a card with a parrot on.
“No, that's a parrot.” He corrects and Oscar frowns at this whilst inspecting the card. “I think we have chicken though so I could make kebabs or something.” He is mainly whittling on to himself now. “Or we could have-” The sound of his phone ringing from the coffee table stops him in his tracks. He not-so-graciously gets to his feet, being sure to step over the pile of cards on the floor. Picking up the ringing device his brow dips on seeing Cho's name on the screen and immediately he's answering whilst putting it up to his ear. “What's up Cho?”
“Jane, Lisbon isn't well. I think you need to come and get her.”
“W-what is wrong with her?” He panics and glances to Oscar who is gazing back at him with bright blue eyes, one hand twirling his dark hair worriedly.
Jane needs to get a grip, he realises, it isn't fair to stress his son out. He sends him a faux yet calming smile which appears to have the desired effect because the toddler starts to inspect the parrot card again. “She almost fainted. It probably is nothing and the doctor is looking over her now.” He appreciates that his friend is trying to put his mind at ease, he can even detect the smallest change of tone from him. “Come down to the office with Oscar. I promise you that she is fine. I'm just being cautious.” And he appreciates that.
xxx
Jane has to find the restraint to not run down the corridor he is led to, in search of the medical room. It is silly, he knows that, she has just had a dizzy spell, but he still cannot help worrying. He may be doing much better than he was thanks to therapy, but Patrick Jane is a fusspot and that isn't going to change.
When he finds the room, he immediately opens the door and is surprised to find his wife in there on her own, sat on the edge of the bed with a cup of water. “Hey.” He greets and somehow manages a smile which she attempts to reciprocate but she is still clearly feeling the full effects of nausea if her pale complexion and shallow breaths are anything to go by. “Are you okay?” He questions after shutting the door behind him and walking to her side, not knowing whether she needs space or not. It is in his nature to want to hug her tight, but he gets the feeling this wouldn't be wise just now so instead he pulls up a chair and holds his hands out to take her free one in his. It is shaking.
“I've been better.” She admits but then notes the obvious apprehension in his eyes and immediately she wants to do her best to quash whatever fears he has just conjured up in his mind. She knows what he is like. “The doctor has checked me over and says I will be okay. It is just a dizzy spell, it happens.”
“Not to you.”
“I'm not invincible Patrick.” Lisbon murmurs and gives his hand a squeeze, the use of his first name giving him a sense of calm which it usually does when she uses it. Since he has left the FBI, she uses it more than his last name now, generally only using the latter when he is being an idiot. “Where's Oscar?”
“With Wylie, playing snap.”
“Ah, he's good at snap.”
“Yes he is... so is Oscar.”
“Funny.” She tries to laugh but then another wave of nausea hits her and she's squeezing her eyes shut. Jane wishes there was a way to make it go away but being under the weather is a part of life. “I am free to go by the way, just want to let this sickness lessen a bit first.” She explains and reopens her eyes, the green of them seems duller than usual yet they're still so beautiful.
“That's alright, take your time.” The last thing he wants is for her to feel pressured. She may have said she isn't invincible but in the time that they've known each other, and it has almost been two decades, he has very rarely seen her get sick. The woman has the ability to power through anything, she even managed to push a baby out of her and when they returned home the same day, she went to fold some washing. Of course he stopped her and looked after her, but it is definitely something being married to such a strong woman.
This doesn't mean she never shows weakness, the closer they've become the more she has let him in, revealing a vulnerable side, but it is because of her strongness that he's got this far and managed to rid the world of a serial killer without losing his mind too much. He doesn't want to think about him right now though, all his attention needs to be on her and how he is going to make her feel better, or at least distract her so the nausea isn't so bad. “I had no idea this place had a medical room.” He settles on, peering around the small space and the surprisingly advanced equipment.
“Jane, this is the FBI.” She states in a matter-o-fact manner that almost has him rolling his eyes. “Also be glad you didn't know this place has a medical room.”
“Been a fun day then...” He replies with a lopsided smile which she mirrors. “We will get you home and into bed to recover. This will all pass.” If there is one thing that he is good at, it is doting on his wife. She and Oscar are his main and only priorities and that shows in how he looks after them. The crazy and sometimes dangerous schemes that used to consume his everyday life have been locked away, untouched.
Lisbon blinks back at him a few times and it is clear by the creasing of her brow that she is thinking something over. In the mere seconds of silence, he wishes that he were actually psychic so he would know what's on her mind. “It isn't going to be that easy.” She eventually comes out with, her voice small and wavering which makes him cock his head to the side in both confusion and concern. The next two words that come out of her mouth are said more confidentially, but that is thanks to a deep breath which gives her a boost of assurance that she needed. “I'm late.” She simply declares, but the phrase doesn't mean anything to him immediately.
“Late?”
“My period... quite late actually. Over two months.” She rambles, averting a gaze from him to the drink in her hand, suddenly finding it very interesting despite it just being water.
Now, it is Jane's turn to blink back at her, his shock evident as her words float around his head. “Two months??” He stutters out of excitement more than anything. He loves being a father, it is the greatest gift that could be given to anyone and now it is happening again. “How did you not notice?” The question leaves his mouth before he really thinks it over and her eyes snap back up to meet his, a trace of anger flickering in them.
“I have a demanding job and two children at home.” She retorts with a hint of fire in her tone which almost makes him smile.
“What do you mean two- oh got it.” He comprehends and starts to look shifty. “I'm the other child.” It is unnecessary for him to say it out loud, but she is glad he has because it brings a minute chuckle from her. “How long have you realised?”
“Not long. It is only when the doctor started asking me questions, but the signs were all there.”
Missed period, sickness, tiredness, sore breasts... oh the early joys pregnancy brings. The result of it all may be a delight, but she isn't looking forward to nine months of hormone changes and symptoms. “Are you okay?” He carefully asks whilst affectionately running his thumb over her knuckles, noting how the action does seem to help her de-tense.
“I don't know I'm just shocked...” She admits, although it is starting to sink in. “And feeling sick which is not a good combination.” It is certainly not helping her think straight which is necessary when processing this kind of information. Her focus darts down to their joined-up hands and then back to his face again. Etched within his expression of concern she detects the smallest indications of elation which although is a great thing, she is glad that he is excited, she doesn't want him to get ahead of himself. “Don't get excited yet, not until I have done a test.”
“I'm glad I will be there for you when you do this time.” He says without missing a beat. The circumstances are different now. Last time, they had not been a romantic couple that long and he had gone AWOL over her safety meaning she was alone when she found out. Alone and with no idea where he was or if they could have a stable future together. Fortunately on his return, he showed his commitment to her with a new home and a marriage proposal. Jane didn't think his wedding could get much better but then she told him that she was expecting, and he was transported to cloud nine. “Teresa, I know this wasn't the plan, but Oscar is a joy, and we are good parents. We can do it again.” He tries to reassure her, not really knowing how she feels on the subject.
“I know, I'm not worried about that. The thought of having another child doesn't scare me.” And that is a big relief to him and fleetingly he allows himself to relish that relief before he begins to wonder what is causing the stress line in her forehead to pop – assuming it isn't the sickness. “My age meant our last pregnancy was touch and go and that was three years ago. This one is going to be harder.”
“I will look after you.”
Teresa smiles at this, a proper, genuine smile as memories hit her of how well he cared for her last time. Nothing was too much trouble for him, and he became adept at knowing what she needed and when. “I know you will.” She earnestly replies, suddenly feeling a lot better thanks to him. “Let's go home, shall we?”
“Yes, let's.” He cautiously helps her off the bed, wrapping an arm around her torso as soon as her boot-clad feet hit the lino floor and planting a soft kiss on her cheek. She sinks into his touch, realising that although right now she is feeling pretty rubbish, if she is pregnant again then this will only be a good thing. Oscar will be a big brother and have a younger sibling to both play with and torment. The mischievous young boy would love that and keeping the news from him for a short period will be difficult – especially for his father.
She didn’t think that their little family was missing anything but for some reason the prospect of having another child on the way gives her a feeling like this will complete them and she smiles at the thought. Jane, his smile is more of a wide grin, as he guides her out of the medical room in search of their son who is probably causing chaos by now.