Family Ties

“YAY” Yelled Van-Pelt happily as the karaoke machine buzzed in to life, “I can’t believe this thing still works” said Lisbon disbelief in her voice, “how long have you had it then?” asked Cho curiously, “since the college” muttered Lisbon “well I expect great thing from you on that account my dear” mused Jane standing, “but you first my darling” said Lisbon sarcastically as Van-Pelt, Rigsby, Cho and herself retook their seats on the sofa and floor ready for the show, “what song are you singing?” asked Rigsby from his seat on the floor, “she’s a lady by Tom Jones” said Jane happily picking up the microphone from the table, “good luck” said Cho pressing the button on the remote that started the music, Jane swayed to the into before bursting in to song.
“Well, she's all you'd ever want
She's the kind I like to flaunt and take to dinner
But she always knows her place
She's got style,
she's got grace--she's a winner
She's a lady
Oh, whoa, whoa, she's a lady
Talkin' about that little lady
And the lady is mine”, he pointed at Lisbon and beamed before continuing the second verse, he sang again never taking his eyes of Lisbon.
“Well, she's never in the way
Always something nice to say,
and what a blessin'
I can leave her on her own
Knowin' she's OK alone and there's no messin'
She's a lady
Oh, whoa, whoa, she's a lady
Talkin' about that little lady
And the lady is mine”, Jane saw Van-Pelt nudge Lisbon in the side with her elbow, this subtle movement made Lisbon blush violently as she avoided eye contact with him, he smiled again as he saw the corners of Cho’s mouth flash upwards and Rigsby beaming like a child with a lollypop, he sang the third verse happily looking at his friends.
“Well, she never asks very much
And I don't refuse her
Always treat her with respect
I never would abuse her
What she's got is hard to find
And I don't want to lose her
Help me build a mountain
From a little pile of clay,
hey hey hey”, by now Lisbon couldn’t resist watching her best friend jive around her living room singing to her, He beamed as he saw her watching him, he danced around happily as she too beamed at the sight, now was the last verse, he sang alone to the karaoke machine in perfect harmony.
“Well, she knows what I'm about
She can take what I dish out, and that's not easy
But she knows me through and through
And she knows just what to do and how to please me
She's a lady
Oh, whoa, whoa, she's a lady
Talkin' about that little lady
And the lady is mine
Yeah, yeah, yeah, she's a lady
Oh, whoa, whoa, she's a lady
Talkin' about that little lady
And the lady is mine” he sang until he faded out with the music, the room erupted in to applause for their friend, “wow that was great” said Van-Pelt smiling broadly, “why thank you” said Jane bowing, “nice one dude” said Rigsby with his usual grin, Cho nodded in agreement then they all turned to Lisbon, this was the opinion Jane wanted to her, “well I have to say that was..” Lisbon paused for dramatic effect as she stood, “put me out of my misery women” complained Jane, “amazing” said Lisbon looking Jane square in the eye as she stepped towards him slightly to take the microphone for her turn, Jane stepped closer to her until there were centimetres between them, he leant forward and whispered in her ear “it was for you my dear”, moving his lips to her cheek, he kissing her before re-taking his seat in the armchair, Lisbon was stuck to the spot before snapping back to reality by the microphone being placed in her hands, “oh yeah” she mumbled, “what song are you going to sing?” asked Rigsby happily, “um Girls Just want to have Fun, Cyndi Lauper” said Lisbon blushing slightly, “I love that song” said Van-Pelt encouragingly, “a very Lisbon-like song” said Jane quietly, “what?” said Lisbon turning to him quickly, “nothing nothing please continue” said Jane dismissively, “ok ready?” asked Cho looking at Lisbon with a smile, “never” she said looking at the microphone in her hand wondering how she had got herself in to this situation, the introduction to the song began then she began to sing.
“I come home in the morning light
My mother says when you gonna live your life right
Oh mother dear we're not the fortunate ones
And girls they want to have fun
Oh girls just want to have fun” she sang looking down at the floor that had suddenly become the most interesting thing to her, Jane let a small smile bless his lips as he watched her sing self-consciously, both of her hands were gripped tightly around the microphone, her eyes watching the floor, she began the second verse.
“The phone rings in the middle of the night
My father yells what you gonna do with your life
Oh daddy dear you know you're still number one
But girls they want to have fun
Oh girls just want to have”, as Lisbon sang the second verse she started to get more in to the music and more in to the song she began to slowly sway to the music but still looking at the floor, “Teresa look up” said Jane before she began the third verse, she glanced up and blushed before singing.
“That's all they really want
Some fun
When the working day is done
Girls - they want to have fun
Oh girls just want to have fun”, She looked round at the team nervously at her friend before finally loosening up, she began to dance slightly to the music happily bouncing to the rhythm as the final two verses began,
“Some boys take a beautiful girl
And hide her away from the rest of the world
I want to be the one to walk in the sun
Oh girls they want to have fun
Oh girls just want to have.
That's all they really want
Some fun
When the working day is done
Girls - they want to have fun
Oh girls just want to have fun,
They want to have fun,
They want to have fun”, now Lisbon was well and truly in to the song she was dancing around her living room as the others watch happily glad to see their superior literally letting her hair down, the song drew to an end, Lisbon stopped and blushed brightly. “THAT WAS BRILLIANT” yelled Van-Pelt hugging Lisbon as she retook her seat, “great” said Cho looking at his best friend, “I didn’t know you had it in you” said Rigsby looking round at her and beaming widely, “oh I always knew she had in in her I just had to get her to prove it” said Jane mischievously “hush you” said Lisbon throwing a cushion at him playfully, “make me” he said teasingly, “I’ll have to if you’re not a good boy” said Lisbon playfully then she froze hearing the innuendo in her own words suddenly both her and Jane burst in to laughter, “Miss Lisbon really!” he yelped jokingly, the three CBI agents around the pair exchanged glances and figured it was some inside joke Jane and Lisbon did spend more hours of most days together, the laughter of the two oldest adults died down. “Can we continue?” asked Cho impatiently “sorry” mumbled Lisbon “Teresa my dear I think that as Cho is so desperate for us to continue that he should go next” said Jane smiling at Cho who shot him a steely eyed stair, “I have to agree Patrick” said Lisbon snatching the karaoke machine remote from her best friends hands with a smile, “go on then show us what you got Kimmy” taunted Rigsby as Cho stood and walked over to the microphone, “shut up” said Cho looking at Rigsby angrily, “ok any more fighting and you two are going straight to bed” said Lisbon looking between the two offenders “bed?” both men puzzled “yeah one of you can go to my room the other in my spare room so I don’t want any more arguing, hitting or harsh words, deal?” said Lisbon, Rigsby and Cho looked at Jane like boys scolded by their mother would their father, Jane just shook his head, “deal” the two said together, “better now what song are you going to sing Kimball?” asked Lisbon, “I’m too Sexy” said Cho meekly “Kimball” squealed Van-Pelt in shock at his words, “calm down Grace he means the song” explained Jane, “oh” said Van-pelt with a sigh of relief, “ok ready?” asked Lisbon looking at Cho with a wide smile, “always” said Cho as the music began, He sang confidently,
“I'm too sexy for my love too sexy for my love
Love's going to leave me,
I'm too sexy for my shirt too sexy for my shirt,
So sexy it hurts,
And I'm too sexy for Milan too sexy for Milan,
New York and Japan” the team could help but smile brightly as the man sang happily and strode confidently around the room, Lisbon beamed at him so glad to see him relaxed.
“And I'm too sexy for your party,
Too sexy for your party,
No way I'm disco dancing,
I'm a model you know what I mean,
And I do my little turn on the catwalk,
Yeah on the catwalk on the catwalk yeah,
I do my little turn on the catwalk”, He sang happily, Van-Pelt nudged Lisbon and whispered in her ear, “this song suits him” smiling as she spoke, Lisbon turned her head slightly towards the younger women and smiled at her as Cho continued to sing.
“I'm too sexy for my car too sexy for my car,
Too sexy by far,
And I'm too sexy for my hat,
Too sexy for my hat what do you think about that.
I'm a model you know what I mean,
And I do my little turn on the catwalk,
Yeah on the catwalk on the catwalk yeah,
I shake my little touche on the catwalk”. Cho sang happily striding around looking between his friends with nothing but a rare smile and pure happiness on his usually emotionless face, his eyes flickered to his best and oldest friend in the group actually in his life, Lisbon they have been working together for the past 12 years in that time they’ve had each other’s back every day even when one of them was in trouble they knew the other would always be there for them, when Cho was attacked by a drug dealer back in their early days together and when Lisbon was accused of murder they were there for each other, they would never say anything to each other but they always knew that’s how it would be them against the world when everyone else had gone it would always be “Cho and Lisbon” that’s how it was that’s how it would stay, she was beaming at him and him her they were content happy and safe, as Cho sang the last verse.
“I'm too sexy for my cat too sexy for my cat,
Poor pussy poor pussy cat,
I'm too sexy for my love too sexy for my love,
Love's going to leave me,
And I'm too sexy for this song.” The song and Cho’s voice faded out together, “well, well, well Mr Cho” said Jane happily, “nice one man” said Rigsby high fiving his friend, “I loved it” said Van-Pelt looking at him with a warm smile, Lisbon didn’t speak but smiled at her best friend with a warm and genuine smile before hugging his muscular upper arm when he re-took his seat next to her, this caused him to turn and smile a rarely scene board smile back at her before passing the microphone to Van-Pelt, “your go” he chirped happily, Van-Pelt smiled at him before leaping from her seat, “what’s your jam then Grace?” asked Jane teasingly, “it’s raining men” said Grace happily, “what else” said Cho shaking his head, “don’t be mean” said Rigsby frowning at Cho before turning back to Van-Pelt with a brilliant smile, “ok come on Cho kick it” said Lisbon smiling encouragingly at the younger women as the music began, the intro played and Van-Pelt spoke the first verse.
“Hi,
We're your weather girls,
And have we got news for you,
Get ready all you lonely girls,
And leave those umbrellas at home,
Humidity is rising,
Barometer is getting low,
According to our sources,
The street is the place to go”. Van-Pelt beamed at the team that beamed right back at her all happy to be together with not murder bringing them together but the pleasure of each other’s company however the free food, drink and entertainment may have enhanced the deal somewhat but for Van-Pelt to be surrounded by the people she considered to be family was a pleasure in its self as she knew no-one before arriving in California, and of the team she first met her now superior agent Teresa Lisbon who she has instantly taken a liking to even if Teresa Lisbon had presented herself as a no-nonsense, hard as nails, strong and independent women but as she grew to know the older women, she began to see the many more sides of Teresa Lisbon so as the team drew closer still Van-Pelt had always seen Lisbon as the glue that held them, “mother bear”, Van-Pelt continued to sing with her own joy and contentment shining through in her voice.
“'Cause tonight for the first time,
Just about half past ten,
For the first time in history,
It's gonna start raining men.
It's raining men,
Hallelujah,
It's raining men,
Amen,
I'm gonna go out,
I'm gonna let myself get,
Absolutely soaking wet,
It's raining men,
Hallelujah,
It's raining men,
Every specimen,
Tall blonde dark and lean,
Rough and tough and strong and mean,”. She belted the song as she danced graciously around and smiled broadly before continuing her chosen song.
“It's raining men,
Hallelujah,
It's raining men,
Every specimen,
Tall blonde dark and lean,
Rough and tough and strong and mean,
God bless Mother Nature,
She's a single woman too,
She took over heaven,
And she did what she had to do,
She fought every Angel,
She rearranged the sky,
So that each and every woman,
Could find the perfect guy.” Jane’s eyes travelled from the red head dancing around and singing her warm and kind heart out to the tall brunette man sat on the floor enchanted by her then from him to the Asian man nodding his head rhythmically to the beat of the music then his eyes slid smoothly to the short brunette women sat happily next to a friend watching another sing, her eyes sparkled with a happiness he hadn’t seen in them in all his time working with her, it was a mixture of the pride that he saw in her eyes when Van-Pelt, Cho or Rigsby took down a suspect in the field or in the interrogation room, the love he saw in her eyes when she talked about her brothers or her team and the admiration he was in her eyes when they close a case or the team were commended or even when she took that first bite of a case close pizza because then she knew that was it and they had given justice to someone else’s family who needed it most. Van-Pelt continued to sing,
“It's raining men,
Hallelujah,
It's raining men,
Amen,
It's raining men,
Hallelujah,
It's raining men,
Amen,
I feel stormy weather,
Moving in about to begin,
Hear the thunder,
Don't you lose your head?
Rip off the roof and stay in bed.” The smiles continued as the team swayed softly to the music and the voice of the youngest agent, each finding happiness in a different moment a different aspect of the evening as the singing continued.
“God bless Mother Nature,
She's a single woman too,
She took over heaven,
And she did what she had to do,
She fought every Angel,
She rearranged the sky,
So that each and every woman,
Could find the perfect guy.
Ooh it's raining men,
Yeah, Humidity is rising,
Barometer is getting low,
According to our sources,
The street is the place to go,
Cause tonight for the first time,
Just about half past ten,
For the first time in history,
It's gonna start raining men”. The song once again drew to an end as Van-Pelts voice followed suit, she smiled as she placed the microphone down on the coffee table, the team erupted in to applause as she dropped down next to Lisbon, Rigsby smiled at her as he stood for his term, Jane smiled brightly at her, Cho stretched his hand across behind Lisbon and squeezed Van-Pelt’s shoulder encouragingly before returning his hand to his lap and Lisbon took Van-Pelts hand and held it tightly, the red-head looked at the brunette next to her and smiled brightly before both women turned their attention to the tall, broad shouldered man stood awkwardly in front of the small group holding the microphone loosely in his hand as his eyes studied the carpet under foot, “what song?” chirped Jane looking at the taller man from his chair, “Uptown Girl, Billy Joel” said Rigsby sheepishly, “bless” said Lisbon quietly to Van-Pelt, who nodded happily, “ok 3..2..1” with that the music began and Rigsby began to sing,
“Uptown girl,
She's been living in her uptown world,
I bet she never had a backstreet guy,
I bet her momma never told her why,
I'm gonna try for an uptown girl,
She's been living in her white bred world,
As long as anyone with hot blood can,
And now she's looking for a downtown man,
That's what I am.” He sang happily, stealing glances at each member of the team as his soft voice sang, each member of the team also exchanged glances, Lisbon looked towards Jane who was quietly singing along from the arm chair, then to Cho who was simply tapping his hand on his knee to the beat then finally she looked towards Van-Pelt who was staring intently at Rigsby as he continued to sing.
“And when she knows what,
She wants from her time,
And when she wakes up,
And makes up her mind,
She'll see I'm not so tough,
Just because,
I'm in love with an uptown girl,
You know I've seen her in her uptown world,
She's getting tired of her high class toys,
And all her presents from her uptown boys,
She's got a choice,” Lisbon squeezed Van-Pelt’s hand tightly before leaning in to whisper to Van-Pelt, “never realized you were an uptown Grace”, Van-Pelt blushed as she squeezed Lisbon’s hand right back as they watched Rigsby sing.
“Uptown girl,
You know I can't afford to buy her pearls,
But maybe someday when my ship comes in,
She'll understand what kind of guy I've been,
And then I'll win,
And when she's walking,
She's looking so fine,
And when she's talking,
She'll say that she's mine”, Cho let a small smile sweep his face as one of his best friends sang, as he sat next to his boss and best friend who sat hand in hand with the only other female on the team, they looked so comfortable like a sisters or a mother and her daughter yeah that fits perfectly mused Cho silently as he pulled his attention back to his currently singing friend.
“She'll say I'm not so tough,
Just because,
I'm in love,
With an uptown girl,
She's been living in her white bred world,
As long as anyone with hot blood can,
And now she's looking for a downtown man,
That's what I am.” The team watch happily however Jane’s gaze flitted between Rigsby and the petite women that sat on the sofa smiling as if she had just won the lottery, his gaze swept her body quickly, she was so relaxed and at ease but who wouldn’t be in their own home surrounded by their best friends.
“Uptown girl,
She's my uptown girl,
You know I'm in love,
With an uptown girl,
My uptown girl,
You know I'm in love,
With an uptown girl,
My uptown girl,
You know I'm in love,
With an uptown girl,
My uptown girl.” Rigsby’s voice faded out with the music, a light pink colour tainted the broad shouldered agent’s cheeks and he put the microphone on the coffee table, “great, just great” said Jane looking up at the tall gentleman as he passed the arm chair on his way back to his seat on the floor, “nice one man” said Cho high fiving him as he passed, “lovely” said Van-Pelt as Rigsby re-took his seat in between her left leg and Lisbon’s right knee, “amazing Wayne” said Lisbon pressing a light kiss to the top of Rigsby’s head, “thanks” said Rigsby sheepishly as he put his head on his superiors knee with a contented sigh a feeling that at that one moment the five very different adults from different places, different histories and different dream shared like they shared their wish for justice.