The day had finally arrived, and Teresa couldn't quite believe it: after almost one year, Marcus was finally back from his assignment in Washington- for good. She started to walk in front of the diner where his co-workers had arranged the welcome back party quite nervously. Her hands were sweating, and she was taking big breaths hoping to calm herself down. The truth was, she didn't know what to think. She knew what she was hoping for- that now that he was back, Marcus would ask her to move in with him, or, even better (especially at her age) to marry him as they had wasted enough time already.

But. Truth to be told, she knew it wasn't that easy. When he had left, he had told her that he knew that one year was a long time and that she was a beautiful woman, and as such, she was supposed to feel free to date as she pleased, that he didn't want to cage her in a non-existent relationship as he had always wanted only her happiness. Teresa though, during their last night together, had been adamant that, for her, it was it and that she wasn't going to look around for a new lover.

(Besides, how insensitive was, breaking up with your boyfriend over the phone while he is away doing his job?)

Smiling and kissing him lazily, she had made him understood (or so she hoped) that he was the one, she loved him and he better like it, because now they were both marked for life, whatever he wanted it or not (of course, she had told him so jokingly. She didn't want to look like she was crazy, or a stalker.).

In short: she hadn't been on a date since she had met him, and she knew that his words had been only said because… well, Marcus was Marcus, perfect knight in shining armor who didn't want to have her resenting him. Of Couse he loved her. She hadn't dated while he was away, and she didn't even need to ask him if he had done the same, because she knew him and what they truly meant to each other. Of Course he had done the same.

And yet, there was something bugging her in the back of her mind, something she didn't know how to explain. An hunch, her sixth sense? Her instinct? Her flight or fight response? She wasn't sure. Jane had always told her that when she felt something like that, she was supposed to follow it through and screw rationality, but how could she follow it, when she didn't even know what the damn it was?

Who knew. Maybe she was just upset because she was in a dress. And she had always hated dresses. With a passion.

She sat on the hood of her car, and closed her eyes, trying to think only positive thoughts and control of breathing. Biofeedback, right? It had always worked with Jane (the man who claimed to have faked sex with Lorelai martins through the discipline), so maybe it could work with her too.

And then… she felt it. Him.

Strong, big and warm hands run their fingertips on the naked skin of her arms, and shivered in pleasure. His touch caused goose bumps to appear on her fair skin, and she smiled a bit shy as she felt heat rising all over her body. She wondered what Marcus was thinking, as he had never touched her in such an intimate (and yet caste) way before when in the open (it wasn't like they wanted to hide their relationship, as it was common knowledge that the two agents were in a relationship; but flirting over pancakes was one thing, and being touchy-feely in front of the people who called her a bad-ass cop was another one.) but she guessed it had to be a good thing: if he was being so affectionate, he had probably missed her as much as she did.

And then, maybe… maybe he wanted the same things as she did, too.

His lips suddenly found the skin of her neck, and instead of rejecting him or lecturing the man about his behavior, she decided to enjoy the onslaught of sensations that his lips, that the stubble (a novelty) provoked in her; she didn't care if it wasn't like them, they had been apart for so long, and now he back again- for good.

He moved his mouth, and before she realized what was happening or could open her eyes, warm lips found her mouth, and she immediately reciprocated the ardent kiss, his fingertips still drawing imaginary patterns on the exposed skin of her arms. He let it go when their breathing started to change, and the heavy make-out session was getting too close to indecency, but Teresa still felt tingly all over, like Trilly had come over covering her with fairy dust.

With her eyes still half-closed, she purred his name, "Uhm.. Marcus…" and was ready to lean over for another heated kiss, but then, in her peripheral vision, she saw who was standing in front of her, and she jumped, gritting her teeth, ready to hit him.

"Jane!" She hissed. She felt herself blushing, but for a completely different reason altogether from when she had gotten all red all over because of Marcus'… well, Jane's touch.

"Yep, guilty as charged." He calmly said, hands in the pockets of his trousers, rolling on his heels. He was smiling softly, his sea-green eyes were filled with mirth and fixed on her with an intensity she had witnessed maybe just once or twice before. It was something that didn't make any sense, though; all those times, even if she had believed each time that he was that close to admit his love to her, even if all those times he had always showed some kind of affection for her (told her he loved her, told her she had no idea how much she meant to him, that he wasn't going to let anything happen to her) he had always, always, been worried for her life (because of Red John), but now didn't make any sense that he, Patrick Jane, was worried for her: Red John had been long dead, the Blake Association had fallen, and even their freshly appointed murderer/stalker wasn't an issue any longer. Yes, she had a dangerous job, but Jane had never been too worried about everyday psychos.

So, what the hell was he up to? And what the damn hell was wrong with him? Sane men weren't supposed to go and kiss people whenever they felt like. She sighed. All right- they did, but it was Jane she was talking about, and sane, well, she wasn't so sure it was part of his whole, huge package. Besides, she wasn't "people". She was Teresa Lisbon, a woman in a well-working relationship.

"Jane…" She said again, sighing in exasperation, but then she pouted- of that adorable pout he just loved so much. "I thought it was Marcus."

Jane chuckled. "Yeah, I guessed as much." She hissed at him silently. Yes. She knew he knew. But the fact was, she hadn't known it. and she hated it.

(And she was getting kind of mixed signals from her former consultant/current partner.)

"What the hell, Jane? You don't go around and… and kiss people!" she screamed at low voice, so close to him he could feel her breathing on the skin of his neck. Lisbon was almost panting- he found her just adorable.

"Well, a, I don't think you are people, as I've known you for almost fifteen years, and b, why, my dear, does a man kiss a beautiful woman? I saw you there, in this beautiful dress, and I didn't resist." He paused, and chuckled. "Even my idea was of giving you just a caste peck. If things heated up the way they did, you only have yourself to blame."

"I thought it was Marcus… and you should have stopped me!" she said, indignant, making to move away from him. but before she could take even just one single step, Jane took her for her wrist, and put her back where she had been until a second before. He couldn't meet her eyes, his gaze was fixed on the concrete pavement, and Lisbon could see he was struggling with words.

"I'm sorry Lisbon, I didn't think you were going to that angry. We are friends after all, right?"

"Yeah, of course we are, Jane." She admitted, quite reluctantly hating herself because (a) she was making him feel bad, and hated when she made Jane feel bad and (b) because she had enjoyed a tad too much the kiss. But it wasn't like she could really, really blame themselves. She had kissed him like that because she thought it was someone else, and he had kissed her like that because… because, despite appearances, Jane was a healthy, adult male of the human species.

They looked at each other in silence, Teresa still blushing and Jane with an enigmatic expression, so intense that, frankly, it was scaring her. Finally, he moved, reaching out for her with his left hand, and put in order her hair. More than once, as their eyes met, he tried to say something, and every time he stopped himself. Teresa too gulped down mouthfuls of saliva, not sure if she was supposed to talk or not.

She wanted to tell him too many things, but it wasn't the time, nor the place, any longer.

"Don't worry Lisbon, you are as beautiful as always. I'm sure no one will guess that I've stolen a kiss from you. Even if…" he got closer and closer, so close she could feel the heat radiating from his body, his warm breath on her skin warming her up in all the right, and yet wrong, places. "You don't happen to want to concede me another one, just this one time, do you?" he asked, chuckling lightly.

Jane smiled, his lips right before her own ones, and the breath died in her throat. There was again that smile that scared her, playful and yet intense, somehow enigmatic- Jane's very nature, if she had to be honest. She closed her eyes, and nodded, the movement felt from the man himself, and left a butterfly kiss on the corner of his lips; when she opened her eyes, she couldn't read him, couldn't say if he felt disappointed or whatever. When they finally parted, she took a big breath and shook her head, and Jane put an hand on the small of her back, guiding her inside the diner.

"C'mon. I'm sure Marcus is as eager as you to see you again. How long has it been?" he asked her, casually, as they hadn't just made out like horny teenagers while she believed she was kissing her own boyfriend.

"Six months, given or taken." Jane smiled at her, lost in her expression. She looked… dreamy, if he could say it. Not that he dared to say the word out loud, as Teresa would have killed him on the spot, but the rare times he had seen her really in love, or sincerely interested in a man, she had rejuvenated, looking like one of those teenagers singers talked about in their pieces.

They entered together, stopping for a short while in the hall, looking around for people they knew and for Marcus too; other than their coworkers, other people they had worked with in few occasions were present too, and before looking for her boyfriend, Teresa shook hands here and there.

And then, she spotted a familiar brown-head in the crowd.

Bypassing few people, she made her way towards him, but as eager as she had been until a second ago to just jump in his arms and kiss him already, she felt like something was wrong; her instinct was kicking in again, so she played the role of the controlled agent, in charge of herself and of the situation.

She reached Marcus, who was busy talking with Abbott, and greeted them all with a non-committal "Ehy." Abbott smiled at something someone had said at his side, then, he turned towards Lisbon. There was something odd with her boss too, Lisbon realized. It was like he wasn't at easy: she wondered if it was because he was a bit socially awkward, or because he didn't like to spent too long with his subordinates outside the office. And then, her eyes fell on the very young brunette at Marcus' arm- her photocopy, only with… what, fifteen years less?

"Lisbon, you haven't met Francine Gregory from the Washington Office yet, right?" Abbott asked, clearing his voice.

Teresa didn't know what she was supposed to do- because she had a terrible, terrible idea about the whole situation- but Francine offered Teresa her own hand, and Lisbon couldn't help but being herself (Good old fashioned Catholic girl, Jane thought.) and politely smiled at her younger "doppelganger".

"Well, as from next week, I'll be from the Austin Office, actually." Francine said, between the giggles and the laughter of the crowd around them. "Teresa Lisbon, right? Patrick Jane's handler… Marcus told me so much about the two of you! I can't wait to get to know your partner!"

Teresa knew that she was supposed to say something, but no words was escaping her mouth; she felt like screaming, and yet, she was unable to, she wanted to ask for a reassurance from Marcus, but she already knew what he was going to say. Tears burned in the corner of her eyes, until the warmth that for so long had calmed her down when she was stressed and felt bad was back, in the form of a big hand squeezing her right shoulder.

"Your wish is my command, ma'am!" Jane said at her side with an absurd Texas accent, offering Francine his hand to squeeze."Patrick Jane, at your service."

"Oh." Francine said, and then "Oh" again, blushing, accepting Jane's hand. "Hi. Francine Gregory, I work fraud, and," She let it go of Jane's hand, and interlaced her fingers with Marcus' ones, blushing like a virgin. "And Marcus' fiancée."

Lisbon didn't know what to do, as her world came crushing down on her. She wanted to throw up- because Marcus had always said he liked her because she was bad-ass, and here he was, with a doll, and she wanted to scream and shout, and… and…

It just didn't make any sense, everything felt unreal, like a Matrix movie in slow motion. She was supposed to be Marcus' fiancée. She was the one he had been dating before Washington. They had never broke up. He had written to her, and called, and, and, and…

"I thought…" she said, and before she could add anything more, she felt Jane's arm on her shoulder, their sides pressed together.

"Well, congratulations, Marcus! It's wonderful, don't you think, my dear?" Jane said, looking at her in the eyes. She stared at him back, feeling that there was something very wrong (besides Marcus being engaged to another woman) going on there, and she shivered. It was a mixed reaction that she got every time she understood or felt like Jane was conjuring a crazy idea, fear for what was going to happen and yet childish excitement, like she was part of a grand show bigger than life. "By the way, we've got big news, too. Not ten minutes ago, Teresa consented to be my wife, too."

Teresa turned to face Jane with rightful indignation, but as soon as she opened her mouth to speak, he suffocated any lamentations she could have with another of those wonderful kisses of his. God, it was crazy and incredible, and, and….

Maybe she just had to calm down and compose herself. She had probably fallen asleep at the office, or maybe it was still night and she was in her own bed, making things up. Anyway. She didn't like it and she was starting to feel dizzy. She closed her eyes and took yet another big breath, willing herself to wake up, but when she opened her eyes, she was still at the Diner, Kim was kissing her on the cheeks all happy and radiant and Cho was shaking Jane's hands- smiling.

"You all right, dear?" Jane asked, and she simply shook her head. No, she didn't feel well. Everything was wrong. It was a nightmare. Only, it wasn't. She felt her knees turning into jelly, and she was glad for Jane's arm around her shoulder; at least, she wasn't going to fall. At least, she wasn't going to humiliate herself furthermore.

"If you will excuse us, it's been a stressful day for Lisbon, between the job and my proposal…" he excused themselves with just a nod of his head, and then they moved away from the crowd that had gathered around the two couples, Cho and Kim still in tow.

"You know, you kind of surprised us. I thought you said that you and Jane…" Kim started.

"Yeah, well, you know, you asked her when she joined the team. But time passes. Things change." He dismissed the woman's question with a dazzling smile.

Teresa sniffed a little. "I…" she started to say, but Jane patted her on the back.

"C'mon, dear, there's no need to cry. I am sure that our friends are not mad because we kept things under wrap for a while…"

Kim nodded, smiling. Teresa loved that smile. Kim was her friend- and she was congratulating her on a false engagement. An engagement Kim believed to be true.

"He is right, Teresa. We are all happy for you. Even Abbott secretly hoped that the two of you would end up together, after all."

Kim gave her another kiss, and Cho hugged her quickly, congratulating the two of them, and then they left, getting back at the part. Jane was squeezing her hand, and as much as she felt it was bringing her comfort and warmth, Teresa didn't want it: it was a lie, and she hated lying, especially to the people she cared about, she loved.

But as she tried to free herself from his grasp, he tightened his hold on her, and guider her outside; right where it had all started, in front of her car. Again Teresa rested against the hood of her vehicle, and again she took a big breath at closed eyes, willingly herself to forget everything, to get back in time.

When she took back some kind of semblance of control over her body, she stared at Jane. "I didn't agree to marry you, right?" she asked.

He chuckled, shaking his head. "No, no you didn't, Teresa." He told her sweetly.

"Then, why…" she groaned. "Jane, I am glad that you wanted to save me yet again, especially from humiliation, but…"

He shook his head, an expression that was screaming that he was dismissing the whole thing as it wasn't such a big deal. "It's been an impulse. A bit like kissing you earlier."

"But…." She started, looking a little lost. "But you don't want to marry me…"

He smiled at her, this time of a sad smile, and it took him longer than before to actually answer her question. "Would it really be that strange if I wanted to, Teresa?"

"YES!" she screamed, gesticulating, crying like she had only done an handful of times before. "Yes! Because… because not five minutes ago I told you that I'm love with Marcus and… and…" She stopped talking altogether, her body broken by sobs. Jane took her in his arms, calmed her down, shushing her, kissing tenderly her dark hair. "Don't cry, Teresa, don't cry…"

She nodded, and he put some space between them, but he didn't let it go of her, his arms still circling her waist. "Did you really want to save my from humiliation, Jane?" she asked, sniffing, stealing without ask, or being offered, the tissue from his jacket pocket.

"Yeah, well, I knew that you were going to say something that you would have regretted, and it was the only thing I could say to stop you." He admitted, chuckling in her hair, and she felt the vibration all over her body, lustful heat filling her from within.

"You and your schemes…" she murmured, and then, lifting her eyes so that she could look into his owns, she chuckled as well. "You know that you can't marry me just to save this humble servant from public humiliation, right?"

"Well, we aren't married, Lisbon. We are engaged…"

"And engagements can be broken!" she said, all too happy. Jane groaned. Apparently, Lisbon didn't even appreciate being fake-engaged to him. Good. Way to trust him! "Are you sure you aren't going to be embarrassed?"

"Meh, what's the matter?" He said. "I am single and available AND a consultant, and you are a charming girlfriend AND an agent. There's no fraternization rule against us, half the office wanted for us to at least try to be a couple, the other half thought that we were already together…"

She blushed. "Thanks Jane." she said. "Even if it's just temporary… thanks. Really."

He shook his head, and again it took him too long to say something in return. "Don't thank me yet, Lisbon. I may have an ulterior motive for doing so."

She shook her head, smiling. "Well, you may be Patrick Jane, and it wouldn't surprise me if you did… but I don't think it's the case."

"Don't be so sure, dear." He said, his voice husky and low, serious.

Shivers run on her back, and Teresa knew in that moment, staring in his eyes, that it was a warning- a warning of things to come, things that had the potential break her as he had done so many times in the almost fifteen years before.

And yet… maybe it was her chance to have a bit of happiness at his side, even if it was all a lie. Maybe it was the cosmos, the Universe or whatever, helping her out in healing the huge crush she had always had on him…

But it didn't matter, after all, because of one thing she was sure: everything was going to change, and nothing was going to be the same, never, ever again,

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