A/N: This is my first story. I'm nervous so please be gentle with me. Reviews and comments are welcomed.
Disclaimer: You already know.
-x-
Patrick Jane, still in shock after witnessing the brutal beating done to his wooden puzzle, saw the back of Teresa Lisbon walking out of her office clutching her black messenger bag. He was still coming to terms of watching his puzzle box being hammered to pieces. Oh, the horror. He stood there outside of her office for a second, staring blankly to the horizon, when Lisbon's words hit her: Yes, he still doesn't know everything about her. He may read her like an open book but as far as he knows, some chapters are still missing. Either torn or missing. His lips curved upwards of the thought on how he could find the missing pages. He loves a challenge anyway. The irony lost on his new found toy lying on Lisbon's table just a door away.
The scattered noise around the office was beginning to drown out as he takes each step towards his beloved couch. Maybe it's because it was late and everyone had gone home or maybe he just doesn't care about what everyone talks about, he thought. He decided it was the latter. He drops on his couch and stretches out his legs with his arms crossed, pillowing his head. He smirked just as he closed his eyes, replaying the last images of Lisbon before she took off for home.
The lady-like way she destroyed the box was Teresa Lisbon in a nutshell. An elegant, attractive woman with porcelain skin and emerald eyes but also spits fire like no one else. No wonder after all these years he's still drawn to her. The attraction between them was there; it was mutual, he thought. But before that day finally comes, all he could do for now was just leaving her clues. Little clues. Just like the box. He smiled and shook his head at the thought of his box's remains on her office. That stubborn, impatient woman just had to wreck it instead of just asking him how to open it. He opened his eyes and looked around the office cautiously if anyone was still lurking behind. Cho and Rigsby took off an hour before Lisbon while Van Pelt had already bid her adieu just before Jane went to Lisbon's office earlier. When he was sure no one was around, Jane reached inside his breast pocket and took the key.
It was custom made white gold ring; similar to that of Jeremy Reese but only smaller in diameter. It was simple, elegant and beautiful just like a certain agent he has become fond of. He stares at the glistening ring and wonders what Lisbon's reaction is going to be. Her reaction will most definitely depend on the mood and the timing of it all. He remembers the time when he gave her a hydrangea. Any other day, that would have been considered sweet by Lisbon's standards - not that she has a high standard. But catching a killer with it? Not so much. He replaces the ring back to his breast pocket and smiles cheekily. This was way harder than he thought. He may not have succeeded surprising her with the ring this time but of course, Jane being Jane, he knows when the perfect time is. But for now, he'll just have to wait a little longer.