A/N This started out as an homage to one of my favourite films His Girl Friday and then started to take on a life of its own.


Chapter 1: Unexpected News

So this was it, one last time and she could finally wash her hands of her past, and settle down to a new life far away from the temptations of the city. Her new beau, one Marcus Pike Junior was everything that her ex wasn't. He was honest, dependable, straightforward, not to mention utterly devoted…to his mother. Oh well, no one was perfect.

They'd met at a hotel in Acapulco, where Lisbon had taken refuge to recharge her batteries after her divorce, and to escape the constant texts from her ex, who refused to accept it was over. Marcus had been attending an international food convention, and he'd immediately been taken by the pert brunette who he'd spotted from a distance. She was so different from the women he normally met, being slightly edgy, fiercely intelligent and she had a forthright way of dealing with people. For so long the target of the unattached women at the country club, Marcus had never found anyone who really set his pulse going, despite all the eligible women his mother kept parading in front of him. There was a less that subtle inference that Marcus should be settling down, and doing his bit to provide an heir for the dynasty, but he resisted being side tracked into a marriage of convenience.

There was something about Teresa that excited him; he knew she had a past, but hell at their age who hadn't got a few miles on the clock? Her go get attitude was so refreshing in comparison to the more compliant women he normally mixed with, and he was utterly entranced by her. With uncharacteristic determination, Marcus set his sights on Teresa Lisbon, wooing her with flowers and fancy meals. Away from his home environment he was liberated from the yoke of expectations, and was altogether more carefree and engaging. However, for all his charm offensive, what eventually won Lisbon over was his solid dependability. Finally, Lisbon had found a man she could trust and after a whirlwind romance she found herself with an engagement ring on her finger and about to embark on a new life.

After a decade of cynicism, Marcus was a breath of fresh air. He offered her stability, the possibility of a future and a readymade home, albeit with Mother. That was the only cloud on the horizon, it was obvious that Mother didn't entirely approve of her son marrying a divorcee, especially one as spirited as Teresa Lisbon. It was one of the few times that Marcus stood up to his mother, he was completely smitten and wouldn't have a bad word said against Teresa. Nevertheless, Mother had a way of letting her disapproval be known, a raised eyebrow or querulous look was worth a thousand words.

The Pike were big fish in Idaho, the founders of the Old Mother Pike Potato Empire, which Marcus had been running since the untimely demise of Marcus Pike senior, who was sliced and diced after an unfortunate accident at the processing plant. Rumour had it that the old man was worse for wear at the time, and few could blame him, Ma Pike would drive a saint to drink. Privately Lisbon struggled to reconcile the happy smiling pictures of Mother that embellished the potato products, with the hard-boiled old harridan, who was soon to be her mother in law.

The home town of Peelers Creek had rallied round the Pikes, when the chips were down they could always be depended on. Marcus initially railed against following in his father's footsteps, wanting to see more of the world, but Mother prevailed and rather than have some outsider come in and fritter away his inheritance, Marcus reluctantly joined the potato community. Diligent to a fault, there was nothing Marcus didn't know about the humble spud, and given half a chance he was more than willing to share it. Still for all this, Lisbon thought the world of Marcus, finally she'd found a man who was there for her and knew how to treat a lady.

Lisbon paused in the lobby of the Chicago Globe. "You'd better wait here, this should only take 10 minutes."

"But 10 minutes is a long time to be away from you, and it doesn't feel right you having to face him alone." Marcus had misgivings about Lisbon having one last meeting with her ex.

It was sappy, but Lisbon couldn't help but be touched. "Don't you worry about me - besides I need to do this by myself."

Marcus wasn't convinced, although Lisbon was coy about her past, he knew the parting had been acrimonious. "If he gives you any problems just text me and I'll be right there."

Although Lisbon smiled indulgently, love may be blind but its wasn't entirely stupid, she knew her ex could run rings around Marcus. All the more reason to keep them well apart.

Inevitably there was a sense of nostalgia about revisiting the place, where she'd spent most of her waking hours for the last decade. Chasing headlines had been addictive, reporters were adrenaline junkies prepared to do anything to grab a headline. Lisbon wasn't proud of some of the things she'd done, but darn it she'd been a good reporter, until she went and spoiled it all by falling for the proprietor.

Lisbon took a deep breath as the elevator reached the 4th floor, psyching herself up for her grand entrance. She knew she looked good, the short-patterned dress topped by a biker jacket gave her a quirky but sassy look. It was important that she projected a confident attitude, any sign of weakness would be pounced on. Head up, chest out she strode jauntily into the news room. No one seemed surprised to see her back, they probably thought she'd come back with her tail between her legs asking for her job back. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Lisbon stopped at his long-suffering PA's desk. "So, Sadie is the prince of darkness around?"

Sadie just raised an eyebrow, she'd always got on well with Lisbon, and had some sympathy for way things had gone down with her. "Indeed, the devil's work is never done. What's more he's in a foul mood, the Tribune pipped him to a scoop. He and Cho are working on some fiendish scheme to try and grab back the headlines."

Sadie went to announce her, but Lisbon had other ideas. "No, let me surprise him." Sadie just shrugged, wishing she could be a fly on the wall of that meeting.

A resolute rap on the door and Lisbon walked straight in, Patrick Jane was watching the array of screens that decked the wall of his office, scanning them to see if there was any breaking news they might have missed.

"What is it?" He snapped without turning around to see who was there.

"Your ex-wife is here do you want to see her?" She saw him tense up briefly at the sound of her voice, before recovering his equanimity. He turned slowly with a studied air of insouciance that belied his racing mind.

Standing with the suede vest left unbuttoned, and the shirtsleeves carelessly rolled up there was raffish air to his appearance that was topped off by barely tamed blond locks that kissed the top of his collar. Lisbon drank in the sight, it was impossible to deny his allure, even if it didn't have the same impact on her these days. Naturally it wasn't unnoticed by Jane, although his smirk was short lived when he saw a hardening of her stance.

Those was angelic looks no longer held the same power over her, the illusion had been shattered and she recognised him as a fallen angel, who chose to practise the dark arts of journalism.

It hadn't been easy to break away, she'd been caught up in the interminable task of the feeding the public's insatiable appetite for news. The story was sacrosanct, and anything or anyone that stood in the way of the story was expendable. It had taken a tragedy to make her step back and take a long hard look at herself. One of their subjects had taken her life, rather than face the continued ignominy of trial by media, leaving a young family behind. Although the woman wasn't blameless, no one deserved to have every aspect of their lives picked over in public like that, but there was no stopping Jane when he smelled blood, he just went in for the kill.

Contrary to popular opinion Jane wasn't a monster, the tragedy had knocked him back briefly, but then the news hound kicked back in. This was news, and people were just a commodity to be exploited in the name of a headline. Although Lisbon knew he'd anonymously donated to the grieving family, the damage was done. They'd gone too far this time.

The truth was that she was no better than him, as his willing partner in crime Lisbon was just as culpable as he was. Jane hadn't made her do anything she wasn't willing to do, but their relationship was mutually destructive, like a pair of junkies they were incapable of restraint, knowing no boundaries in the quest for their news fix. At that stage Lisbon realised she'd have to go cold turkey, and get as far away from Patrick Jane as possible, to stand any chance of regaining a semblance of a normal life. It was impossible to separate their work and private lives, so their marriage ended the day she walked out of the Chicago Globe.

So here she was, ready to say her final goodbyes and finish this once and for all. Of course, she knew Jane wouldn't give up without a fight and was prepared for whatever stunt he concocted.

"Well hello Teresa, you're looking well." He flicked one of the TV channels over with the remote control as he watched her out of the corner of his eye, as if it were the most natural thing for her to be in his office.

"Lisbon." Cho nodded curtly in acknowledgment, thinking this was a turn up for the books. No doubt sparks would be flying before long.

"You still running that 'talent' agency Cho?" Lisbon's sarcasm didn't go unnoticed.

"Oh, that's just a sideline, I've got some new projects in development." He replied guardedly, Cho was never one to give too much away.

Lisbon knew the agency had only been a front for whatever dubious business Cho was doing. Lisbon never asked too many question, deniability was the key. Jane and Cho were as close as thieves, if Jane needed a spot of 'housekeeping', Cho was his go to man. Jane kept his hands clean, while Cho 're-arranged' the furniture. It was so easy in this digital age, in their arrogance powerful people ignored the power wielded by a bar tender with a smart phone. They never learned and Cho had an inexhaustible pool of 'talent' he could call on for any situation.

Although Jane never used any information gained this way for anything but news gathering, it certainly helped grease the wheels when trying to get a reluctant witness to talk. This wasn't law enforcement; the bar was set lower for establishing guilt in the world of newspapers. If the Globe could clinch the story with some subtle pressure, Jane wasn't going to lose any sleep about anyone stupid enough to get caught in a compromising situation.

Jane affected to be following the newsfeed as Cho and Lisbon chatted, wondering what on earth had brought Lisbon back into his life. The day she walked out on him had been the worst day of his life, not only had he lost his wife but he'd lost his best reporter, and if he was perfectly honest, he wasn't entirely sure which hurt most.

Perhaps it had been a mistake for them to get married, her expectations changed the minute he put a ring on her finger. For God's sake, she knew what he was like when she married him, and he'd never said he was going to change. He snuck a sly look at her at her. Hell, she looked good. Did she look this good when they were married, or was this the temptation of the forbidden fruit? Either way he struggled to keep his eyes off her. He shook his head as he pulled himself together, damn her this would never do.

Fortunately, he was rescued by Scully, the assistant editor, barging in. "We've got a problem Boss. That son of bitch Paulson has turned down our request under the freedom of information act, citing the data is exempt because it's geological data."

Jane frowned, that was the last thing he wanted to hear. "Just because they dug the freaking hole doesn't make it a geological feature. Can't we put the screws on the Mayor, isn't he up for re-election?"

Scully shook his head. "Can't contact him, according to his PA he's on a sailing vacation."

Exasperated, Jane barked "Where's he sailing?"

"How the hell do I know? The Caribbean or the Pacific, he could be anywhere." Scully's defeatism did him no favours with Jane.

"Well someone must have his mobile number. What about that redhead at city hall, I heard she had the Mayor's number?" He exchanged a quick look with Cho who nodded confirmation.

"What do you want me to say to him if I find him?" Scully wasn't the sharpest tool in the box.

Jane shrugged. "Whatever you have to - tell him we'll support him in the forthcoming elections, or say you'll marry his ugly sister. Just use your initiative"

"But Jane I can't do that." Scully looked aghast at him.

"Why not?" Jane snapped back.

"For a start, I'm married and we're a democrat paper, always have been." Somethings were sacrosanct in Scully's eyes.

"And we will be again, just as soon as we've got all we want. So just get on with it. You too Cho." He jerked his head in Lisbon's direction to indicate he wanted to be left alone. Cho picked up his homburg hat and donned his shades, before leaving without a word.

Lisbon had just been taking it all in, against her better instincts she was intrigued by the conversation, but the last exchange had just proved to her beyond all doubt that she was doing the right thing, Jane was a ruthless as ever if a story was on the line.

Jane circled her like a shark eying up his next meal. "So, Teresa, I have to say you're looking rather spiffy. So, how long is it?"

"How long is what?" She blanked him back.

"No need to be coy Teresa you know what I mean." The distance between them was narrowing as he closed in on his prey.

"3 months, 4 months, it could be yesterday for all I care." Lisbon didn't flinch as he drew up behind her, knowing he was deliberately trying to make her feel uncomfortable.

He whispered into her ear. "Maybe it was yesterday, if you're still dreaming about me."

"Oh, believe me I sleep soundly these days. That nightmare is well and truly over." She stepped away, re-establishing a safe distance.

Jane withdrew to sit on the corner of his desk. "Well that's a fine thing to say, it's not good for a man's ego being cast aside like that."

"Your ego's big enough to fill Lincoln Hall, so a bit of deflating won't go amiss." Lisbon felt on safer ground again.

"But it makes a man feel kind of unwanted." Despite his glibness, Jane's sense of hurt was genuine.

"Jeez Jane, that's the whole point of divorce you were unwanted!" Lisbon's patience was wearing thin, she had no intention of going over old ground again.

"No piece of paper will ever change what we had between us, besides you make divorce sound so permanent." Jane locked his eyes with hers, trying to get a read on her but she was a closed book to him.

"Jane, just get over it we're divorced and that's that. As much as I wish things had turned out differently, I realise a leopard can't change his spots. You're devious, dishonest, unreliable and manipulative –and you think one flash of that smile changes everything."

Jane shrugged. "Well those are just my good points. I can't see what your problem is, you knew what I was like."

"The problem is that I can't trust you, you don't have an iota of human decency, you can't even recognise the truth these days. The end will always justify the means to you, no matter how many people you trample over. You couldn't even behave properly at the divorce hearing. Did you really think evacuating the courthouse would make any difference to proceedings?" Lisbon's tone was getting increasingly irate as the memories flooded back.

"I don't know what you're on about." Jane feigned innocence.

"Sheepdip! An Asian guy with a homburg and shades was seen lurking outside the building just before the hoax call came in. It doesn't take a genius to work that out." Lisbon hadn't grassed up Cho, but she knew who was responsible.

Jane just smirked. "Well I tried to let go, but it's hard Teresa. Besides you'd have been disappointed if I hadn't tried. You can't blame a man for not wanting to have his home broken up."

"What home? This is your home. What did you ever offer me?" Lisbon squeaked incredulously.

Jane paused, he'd offered her himself of course, but that didn't seem the right thing to say. "I promised you we'd start looking again in the fall."

"Yeah, like you promised me a honeymoon and we ended up holed up in Nashville stalking someone geriatric claiming to be Elvis." She scoffed.

"But it would have been the scoop of the century, if it had been true." Jane had to admit that lead had been a bit tenuous.

"Jeez Jane, he couldn't even sing! So, instead of being romanced in some swanky hotel, I ended up in a cheap motel in nowheresville living off service station take out." Lisbon paused to see if he showed the slightest sign of contrition. "And there's the problem Patrick, it's always the story that comes first. No matter that you'd promised me the earth, one sniff of a story and it all got forgotten. That's not what I got married for."

"Oh come on Teresa, we had some good times. Remember Frisco?" Realising he was losing the argument, he pulled up a happy memory in desperation.

Lisbon flushed, how could she forget nearly being caught in flagrante in the elevator? "Patrick, you've got to let go and stop texting me constantly. It's time to move on."

Jane tried one last throw of the dice. "I'm happy to move on Teresa. You just come back to work and I'll put it all behind me, and if we can't put our differences to one side, we can always get married again."

Lisbon just rolled her eyes. "I know you can't help yourself but if you'd just let me finish I've got some news to tell you."

"Wonderful you can tell over lunch." Jane motioned toward the door.

"I can't. I already have a lunch date. Look Patrick you're not making this easy for me." She chewed her lip nervously.

Jane started to get suspicious. "Don't tell me you've had another offer. Not network TV surely? You're too good for that."

"It's not TV, but you're right in some respects I've had a better offer. I'm turning my back on this loathsome business once and for all." She said calmly.

Jane couldn't believe she would just turn her back on everything. "You finagled your way into my life, and it would have worked out just dandy if only you'd been satisfied being my top reporter, but no you wanted to have it all. You had to make me fall in love with you, and look where it got us. I'll swear you laced my drinks the night I proposed."

Lisbon refused to rise to the bait. "Well I've let you off the hook again now, and you're never going to have to worry about me again." She held out her finger with a sparkler on it. "You see this, it's an engagement ring and I'm getting married at the weekend."

Jane stopped dead in his tracks, like he'd been hit by a sledgehammer. Lisbon felt strangely sorry for him. "I tried to tell you straight away but you wouldn't let me get a word in edgeways. This is the end Patrick, I'm quitting for good, leaving you and this lousy business behind me."

"Hang on a minute Teresa don't be hasty. It's one thing leaving me but newsprint is in your DNA, you can't just quit like that you're a news man." Jane was treading water, trying to stop himself from drowning, until he came up with a better idea.

She smiled wryly, Jane just didn't get it. "Maybe I want to feel like a woman for once, instead of door stepping widows and ruining people's lives. I want to live a decent life for once, without feeling permanently grubby."

Jane could see his argument was holding no sway, and decided to change tack. "So, who exactly is this man and where did you meet him?"

"His name is Marcus and we met in Acapulco, and he's everything that you're not." She was wary of giving too much away.

What dull, predictable and lousy in bed?" He quipped with a smile.

Lisbon chose to ignore that. "No, he's always there for me, and treats me like a lady, not just a means to an end."

Jane seriously doubted that, there was always an endgame. "Rich huh?"

"Comfortable, he runs the family business. But that's none of your concern anymore." Lisbon was getting uncomfortable with the line of questioning.

Jane pocketed his phone and opened the door with a flourish. "Then I think it's time I met this paragon of virtue. I'm kind of fussy who my wife marries."

"Absolutely not! That's not a good idea." Lisbon knew he'd run rings round Marcus.

"So where is he, this knight in shining armour that sends his lady love into battle?" Jane's eyes narrowed in amusement, he felt more surefooted now that he had formulated a plan.

"He's waiting downstairs for me and I can fight my own battles, I don't need a defender. We just needed to get a few things straight before I left." She pressed her lips together determinedly.

Jane stopped at Sadie's desk "Call the Brasserie and reserve my usual table for three."

Sadie pursed her lips, unfazed by his brusqueness "I'll tell them to get the virgin ready for sacrifice then?"

Jane stopped in his tracks before wagging his finger at her. "Very droll. Need to work a bit on your people skills there Sadie. Staff appraisal is coming up soon."

Jane's threats cut no ice with Sadie. "Hard as I try you still keep me on. What's a girl got to do to get fired round here?" For all their banter they suited each other, she was one of the few people able to cope with his mercurial nature without getting offended.

Lisbon tried to make her escape unnoticed during the diversion, but Jane was wise to her and caught her up before she got to the elevator. "Nice try Lisbon, but you don't get away that easily. Besides I have a prospective suitor to interview."

Lisbon sighed heavily, and that was precisely what she was worried about.