The Unfinished Truth

Lisbon and Jane sit away from their wedding party across the lake, admiring their friends and family celebrating.

“How you feeling?” Jane asks, glancing away from the party and toward Lisbon.

Lisbon turns to him with a wide smile. “I am so happy,” she says.

Jane matches her smile. “Me too,” he replies, unable to contain the happiness he feels knowing this woman is now his wife. They both look back toward the celebrating guests before he quietly repeats, “Me too.”

Lisbon takes a sharp breath, a flicker of nervousness crossing her face. “There’s something I need to tell you,” she says, looking back at him.

Her hand moves to her stomach, and Jane notices immediately. Realisation hits him and his eyes light up. “No... you’re... you’re kidding me.”

Lisbon shakes her head, a huge smile on her face. “I’m not kidding.”

“You are?” he asks, stunned.

“I am,” she says, holding back tears.

They both laugh in disbelief and joy, and Jane reaches for her hand, caressing it gently in his.

They lean in and kiss, a soft, joyful moment before pulling into a tight hug. Jane can’t stop smiling as he holds his new wife, overwhelmed by the news she has just shared. Lisbon smiles too—softer now, calmer, knowing she is safe with him.

They stay like that for what feels like forever, holding each other before finally pulling apart. Jane wipes away his tears of joy.

“Are you crying?” Lisbon asks gently, a fond smile on her face.

He lets out a breathy laugh but doesn’t answer.

Lisbon, knowing he won’t respond, stands and reaches out her hand. “We should get back to the party.”

Jane nods and takes her hand. His other rests lightly at her lower back as he guides her back toward the celebration.

As they approach, they overhear Cho talking with Rigsby and Van Pelt.

“Yeah you heard right I am going to be the Supervisory Special Agent for the FBIs Austin division, you know I am in need of two more people to join the team, have you ever thought of moving here? Leaving Sacramento behind?” Cho says with his hardened expression.

Rigsby looked at Van Pelt before turning back to Cho.

“Move to Austin?” he repeated. “You realise you’re asking us to leave behind everything we’ve built in Sacramento.”

Cho shrugged.

“I’m asking you to think about it.”

Van Pelt folded her arms as she considered the idea.

“It would be a big change.”

“It’d be a huge change,” Rigsby corrected.

Cho nodded.

“I know. That’s why I’m not asking for an answer tonight.”

Jane and Lisbon finally reached the group.

“What aren’t we answering tonight?” Jane asked.

Cho glanced at him.

“I offered them a job with us”

Jane’s eyebrows rose.

“Really? Cho recruiting people. Next thing you know he’ll be smiling.”

“I smile.”

“No, you don’t.”

A few seconds passed.

Cho stared at him.

Jane pointed triumphantly.

“See? Not smiling.”

Van Pelt laughed while Rigsby shook his head.

“I still can’t believe you’re the boss.”

“I’ve been your boss before.”

“Yeah, but now you’re officially the boss.”

Jane grabbed a canapé from a passing server’s tray.

Then another.

Lisbon immediately noticed.

“Jane.”

“What?”

“That’s the third one.”

“It is our wedding.”

“You’ve said that five times tonight.”

“And it’s worked every time.”

Lisbon rolled her eyes, though the smile tugging at her lips gave her away.

Rigsby narrowed his eyes at the pair.

“Okay.”

Nobody responded.

“Something’s up with you two.”

Lisbon froze for half a second.

“Nothing’s up.”

“See?” Rigsby said, pointing at her. “That’s exactly how someone acts when something’s up.”

Jane casually stuffed the canapé into his mouth.

“You’re imagining things.”

Van Pelt looked between them suspiciously.

“Actually...”

“No,” Lisbon interrupted immediately.

Van Pelt grinned.

“I didn’t even say anything.”

Jane looked away, unsuccessfully hiding a smile.

Van Pelt’s grin widened.

“Oh, there is definitely something.”

Cho quietly took a step back.

Years of experience had taught him not to get involved in other people’s business.

Thankfully, Wylie appeared before Van Pelt could continue her interrogation.

Camera in hand, he pointed it at the group.

“Everybody together.”

Before anyone could object, the flash went off.

“Seriously?” Rigsby asked.

Wylie checked the image proudly.

“That’s a good one.”

“You’ve taken photos all night.”

“And every one of them is important.”

Jane held out his hand.

“Let me see.”

Wylie reluctantly passed over the camera.

Jane scrolled through the photos.

“Hmm.”

“What?”

Jane continued scrolling.

“Hmm.”

“What?”

Jane turned the screen around.

The photo displayed Wylie smiling directly into the camera.

The next one was exactly the same.

And the one after that.

Van Pelt burst out laughing.

Rigsby nearly choked.

Even Cho looked amused.

“They’re test shots,” Wylie defended.

“Of yourself?” Jane asked.

“You can never be too careful.”

The band suddenly began playing a faster song and several guests rushed toward the dance floor.

One of Lisbon’s brothers immediately appeared beside her.

“Come on, Teresa.”

“No.”

“You’re the bride.”

“I’ve already danced.”

“Not with us.”

Before she could argue further, he took her hand and guided her toward the dance floor.

Jane watched her go, smiling to himself.

The secret they were carrying felt almost impossible to keep.

Every time he looked at her he wanted to tell the world.

Instead, he settled for watching as Lisbon laughed while dancing with her brothers.

For once there were no cases.

No killers.

No deadlines.

Just family.

Just happiness.

Rigsby noticed the look on Jane’s face.

“There it is again.”

Jane blinked.

“What?”

“That look.”

“What look?”

“The weird happy one.”

Jane smiled innocently.

“I just got married.”

“That’s not it.”

“Sure it is.”

Rigsby wasn’t convinced.

Neither was Van Pelt.

Across the reception, Lisbon caught Jane’s eye and smiled.

Immediately, Jane smiled back.

Van Pelt gasped dramatically.

“Oh my God.”

Jane looked at her.

“What?”

She pointed between him and Lisbon.

“You two are terrible at keeping secrets.”

Jane nearly laughed.

Cho sighed.

“They’ll tell you when they’re ready.”

“Tell us what?” Wylie asked.

Nobody answered.

Wylie frowned.

“Why am I always the last person to know things?”

“Because you ask too many questions,” Cho replied.

“I ask perfectly reasonable questions.”

“You asked me if Austin had alligators.”

Wylie frowned.

“That’s a reasonable question.”

“It isn’t.”

“It is if you’re moving there.”

Rigsby laughed.

“I’m with Wylie on this one.”

Cho looked disappointed in both of them.

The conversation was interrupted when Lisbon returned from the dance floor, slightly out of breath but smiling.

“You survived?” Jane asked.

“Barely.”

“Your brothers are relentless.”

“They’ve always been relentless.”

Jane wrapped an arm around her waist as she leaned into him.

Neither of them realised how obvious they looked until Van Pelt cleared her throat.

The pair immediately stepped apart.

Van Pelt’s grin returned.

“There it is again.”

“There what is?” Lisbon asked.

“That.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“Exactly.”

Rigsby pointed between them.

“You two are acting like teenagers.”

“We just got married,” Jane replied.

“Yeah, but even newlyweds don’t stare at each other that much.”

Jane looked at Lisbon.

Lisbon looked at Jane.

Then they both realised they were proving Rigsby’s point.

Wylie quickly raised his camera.

The flash went off.

“Got it.”

“Delete that,” Lisbon said immediately.

“Never.”

Jane chuckled.

“Smart man.”

The evening continued as more guests joined the dance floor.

For the first time in years, nobody had anywhere they needed to be.

No crime scenes.

No reports.

No urgent phone calls.

Just music, laughter and family.

Jane found himself watching everyone.

Rigsby and Van Pelt dancing together.

Cho standing off to one side pretending he wasn’t enjoying himself.

Wylie documenting every second of the night.

And Lisbon.

His wife.

The word still felt strange in the best possible way.

Wife.

He smiled to himself.

A movement beside him caught his attention.

Cho had walked over carrying two glasses.

He handed one to Jane.

Jane accepted it.

“Thanks.”

Cho nodded toward Lisbon.

“You look happy.”

Jane laughed softly.

“I am.”

Cho studied him for a moment.

“I know.”

For a few seconds they stood in comfortable silence.

It was rare for either of them to say much when they didn’t need to.

Eventually Jane spoke.

“You’ll be good boss.”

Cho shrugged.

“I’ll do the job.”

“That’s not what I said.”

Cho glanced at him.

Jane smiled.

“They’re lucky to have you.”

For perhaps half a second, Cho looked genuinely touched.

Then the expression disappeared.

“Don’t get sentimental.”

“Too late.”

Across the lawn, Wylie had somehow convinced several guests to pose for a group photo.

The process was taking considerably longer than it should have.

“Move left.”

Nobody moved.

“Your other left.”

Still nobody moved.

Rigsby looked completely confused.

Van Pelt buried her face in her hands.

Cho sighed.

Jane laughed.

“He’s going to make a wonderful supervisor one day.”

Cho looked horrified.

“Don’t encourage him.”

Eventually the photo was taken.

A cheer went up from the group.

Wylie looked incredibly proud of himself.

As the evening wore on, guests slowly began collecting coats and saying their goodbyes.

Lisbon spent nearly twenty minutes being hugged by various relatives.

Jane suspected half of them had repeated the same advice.

Treat her right.

Don’t disappear.

Call more often.

The usual.

One of Lisbon’s brothers even pulled him aside.

“If you hurt her—”

Jane immediately raised a hand.

“I know.”

“You don’t know what I was going to say.”

“I assume it involved bodily harm.”

“It did.”

Jane nodded.

“Fair enough.”

By the time he returned to Lisbon’s side, she was laughing at something Van Pelt had said.

The sight made him stop for a moment.

He thought about everything that had brought them here.

The years together.

The arguments.

The cases.

Red John.

The losses.

The victories.

Every choice had somehow led to this exact moment.

Lisbon noticed him staring.

“What?”

Jane shook his head.

“Nothing.”

“That’s never true.”

He smiled.

“Just thinking.”

“Dangerous.”

“Very.”

The band announced the final song of the evening.

A collective groan rose from the remaining guests.

Nobody seemed ready for the night to end.

Jane turned toward Lisbon and offered his hand.

“One more?”

She smiled immediately.

“Always.”

The pair stepped onto the dance floor together.

Around them, conversations faded as couples joined them.

Jane pulled Lisbon close.

Neither of them cared who was watching.

The music drifted across the lake as they swayed gently together.

For a moment everything else disappeared.

The guests.

The noise.

The future.

It was just the two of them.

Lisbon rested her head against his chest.

Jane closed his eyes.

For the first time in a very long time, life felt simple.

Not easy.

Not perfect.

But simple.

When the song finally ended, applause broke out across the reception.

Several guests began leaving shortly afterwards.

Cho said his goodbyes.

Wylie promised to send everyone copies of the photographs.

Rigsby and Van Pelt lingered a little longer.

Before leaving, Van Pelt hugged Lisbon tightly.

“You deserve this.”

Lisbon smiled.

“Thank you.”

Rigsby shook Jane’s hand.

Then, after a moment, pulled him into a hug.

Jane looked surprised.

“So this is happening.”

“Don’t make it weird.”

“You’re making it weird.”

“Goodnight, Jane.”

As they watched their friends disappear into the night, Lisbon slipped her hand into his.

The reception was finally winding down.

Only a handful of guests remained.

Jane looked down at their joined hands.

Then at Lisbon.

Then at her stomach.

A smile spread across his face once more.

This time Lisbon noticed immediately.

“You’re doing it again.”

“What?”

“Smiling like that.”

“I can’t help it.”

For once, neither of them tried to hide why.

The last of the guests eventually drifted away, leaving only the soft sounds of the lake and the distant chirping of crickets.

Jane and Lisbon stood together for a moment, taking in the now-empty reception area. A few fairy lights still glowed overhead, casting a warm light across the grass.

“Well,” Lisbon said softly.

“Well,” Jane echoed.

She laughed.

“We’re married.”

“We are.”

“And everyone survived.”

“Barely.”

Lisbon shook her head, smiling.

Hand in hand, they made their way toward the Airstream parked a short distance from the lake. The silver trailer reflected the moonlight as they approached.

Jane opened the door for her with an exaggerated flourish.

“After you, Mrs. Jane.”

Lisbon rolled her eyes.

“That sounds weird.”

“It sounds wonderful.”

“It sounds ridiculous.”

Jane grinned.

“I’m keeping it.”

“I’m sure you are.”

Stepping inside, Lisbon immediately kicked off her shoes and let out a relieved sigh.

“Oh, that feels better.”

Jane closed the door behind them and loosened his tie.

The small space felt cosy compared to the noise and excitement of the reception outside. For the first time all day, they were completely alone.

Lisbon sat down on the edge of the bed and rubbed her tired eyes.

“You okay?” Jane asked.

“I’m exhausted.”

“It was a long day.”

“It was.”

Jane sat beside her, their shoulders touching.

For a few moments neither of them spoke.

They simply enjoyed the quiet.

The reality of everything that had happened slowly settled around them.

The wedding.

Their family and friends.

The future waiting for them.

Jane glanced at her and smiled.

“What?”

“I was just thinking.”

“Dangerous.”

“Probably.”

Lisbon rested her head against his shoulder.

Jane wrapped an arm around her and kissed the top of her head.

Neither felt any need to fill the silence.

Outside, the world continued on as normal, but inside the little Airstream everything felt still.

Safe.

Home.

Eventually Lisbon lifted her head.

“We should probably get some sleep.”

Jane nodded.

“Probably.”

Neither of them moved.

A minute passed.

Then another.

Lisbon laughed softly.

“We’re really bad at this.”

“At what?”

“Going to bed.”

Jane considered that.

“That’s true.”

Finally, they got ready for the night, changing into more comfortable clothes and settling beneath the blankets.

The exhaustion of the day was beginning to catch up with both of them.

As the lights went out, Lisbon reached for his hand beneath the covers.

Jane intertwined his fingers with hers immediately.

“Goodnight, Jane.”

He turned his head toward her in the darkness.

“Goodnight, Lisbon.”

A comfortable silence settled between them.

Jane stared up at the ceiling for a moment, still unable to believe how much his life had changed.

His wife beside him.

A family of their own on the way.

For the first time in years, he wasn’t wondering what came next.

He already knew.

And he couldn’t wait.

With Lisbon’s hand still in his, Jane finally closed his eyes.

Within minutes, both of them were asleep as the gentle sounds of the lake carried them through their first night as husband and wife.