A/N. This is something that I came up with a while back, but haven't got around to writing up until recently. Hope you like it.

~WL

A Reason

Lisbon stood in front of the mirror admiring her work. Her raven hair was pulled back from her face with a few stray strands gathered around her face, and her sparkling green eyes were framed with a complimentary combination of black mascara and emerald green eye shadow. She wore a tight fitting, silky, black dress which hugged her petit form tightly, a single silver locket hung from her neck. It had been too long since she had gotten dressed up like this, she thought to herself. It had been too long since she had had a reason to...

She still hadn't made up her mind. This could be the biggest decision of her life. She looked at her watch, 7:34pm she noted. Time to get going, but where would her heart take her...?

Ettore's?

Blue Cue?

The Firehouse?

----------------XX-----------------

3:30pm that day

Lisbon just sat there, staring into space, utterly lost in her thoughts. They had closed the case earlier today, and Lisbon had come to the beach just to wind down before going home. Jane had wanted to take her himself, but she had refused; he had been extra annoying this morning. Or at least that was what she was telling herself. He disapproved of the fact that she had stayed at the office all night, trying to crack the case. She didn't see how he could justify this; he slept there most nights anyway. She just needed to be away from everyone and everything, and allow herself to fully relax for once, so she came to the one place where she always come when she just needed to be alone. There was no better way to lose yourself than to throw all your worries away with the waves, to be taken by the tide, even if only for a few hours.

"Hey," a soft voice greeted her and she noted a person sit down beside her. "Teresa," the voice repeated when she didn't reply. She felt a hand on her leg and came back to reality with a jolt.

"Oh, hi, sorry," she apologised. She looked up to see the warm brown eyes of Charlie Fitch staring intently at her. "Oh my goodness, Charlie! I didn't realise you were back in town!" She threw her arms around him and greeted her best friend properly; like they had always done.

Charlie had been on holiday for two weeks in Rhode Island, on the East Coast. Lisbon had thought that he wasn't back for a few days, but despite her surprise, she wasn't going to lie to herself, she couldn't be happier to see him. She'd missed him.

"Yeah, well, actually I came home a few days early. The weather took a turn for the worse, and, to be honest, I was really missing being at home." He explained, looked at her meaningfully. No matter how sincere his words were, she knew the real truth; there was never bad weather in Rhode Island in July. So he'd missed her too.

Charlie was Lisbon's (well Teresa's) best friend. They had grown up together and had known each other for as long as they could both remember. They shared birthdays, which made them inseparable as young children, and their parents had been good friends. All through junior school they were best friends. When Lisbon's mother had died Charlie had been there as a shoulder to cry on, and when Charlie's dad had been paralysed in a car accident when he was 12, Lisbon had been there to help him pick up the pieces of his broken family. They had been head boy and head girl together in their senior year and had both gone to Stanford University. After uni they both went their separate ways in terms of career choice, but ended up living only two blocks away from each other and seeing each other for coffee every morning before they headed off to their respective offices. Lisbon knew that she could trust Charlie with her life, and he felt likewise. Due to her job and unsocial working hours, Lisbon knew that Charlie was one of the few true friends that she had.

"How've you been?" Charlie prodded gently, tearing her away from her thoughts for the second time in a few minutes. He knew what Lisbon could be like when she was pre-occupied, but he really wanted to talk to her properly rather that just over the phone as it had been for the last two weeks. He had really missed her. Considering this, he realised that actually he was just happy to have her back in his company.

"Hmm, not too bad," Lisbon replied, still not really with the conversation. "How was Rhode Island?"

A question, that's good, at least she remembers where I've been! Charlie thought to himself. "Amazing thanks. It was just so good to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life."

"Yeah, I can imagine," Lisbon said sincerely. No matter how much she loved her job, it was very demanding and often she found herself wanting for just a day off or a lie in.

"So, seeing as your favourite person in the world is back in town..." Charlie started, his eyes sparkling cheekily, "how about you join me for dinner?"

As much as Lisbon wanted to say yes straight away she knew how tired she was and knew that she could really do with an early night. "I don't know, Charlie, I was up all night working and I'm just feeling so wiped out at the moment, I mean I'd love to...but I just..."

He cut her off before she could say no outright. "Aw Teresa please?" he questioned. However as he saw her face fall he knew that he was going to be disappointed. He gave it one last go by changing his tact, "Ok, I get it, don't worry about it, just, if you do feel up to it later, I'll be at Ettore's at 8, maybe see you for dinner?"

Lisbon saw defeat flash across his face and decided that as this was her best friend she told him "yeah ok, I'm making no promises but maybe I'll see you later." After all, this was the least that she could do. Looking pleased at this Charlie made his excuses, stood up, kissed her softly on the cheek and said sincerely, "Teresa, it's really good to see you again," before flashing his cutest smile to her and walking off. Lisbon couldn't lie to herself, that smile made her heart flutter, she really was lucky to have Charlie.

Lisbon watched his retreating shape while slipping deep back into the realms of her thoughts, this encounter adding another dimension to them, maybe even in the form of a what if? What is it that they say; the closest relationships always stem from friendships...

She sat engrossed in her thoughts, she knew in her heart that there was only one person that she wanted right now, it was always the same around this time of year.

"Hey baby," Lisbon inwardly cursed as once again her thoughts were interrupted.

"Hey," she replied quietly as Niall sat down beside her, giving her a quick kiss.

"I was just on my way home, good job I came this way" he murmured, just enjoying her company. He too knew that when she was in this mood he wouldn't get much out of her. As much as he didn't want to ask, as he knew it would only take her focus somewhere she was trying to avoid, the words "tough case?" seemed like the only ones that would bring out the reasons behind her position on the beach. Little did he know of the conflicting emotions in her heart, and the true reasons for her state, it being July.

"Hmm, yeah, Jane got it in the end though, four children left without a mother" she replied, more quietly still than her previous reply. Lisbon's voice lowered slightly at the mention of her consultant's name; however, Niall was nowhere near observant enough to notice this. Or maybe it was just intentional ignorance.

Teresa Lisbon had been dating Niall Williams for just over three months now. She was keen to keep it quiet at work; after all it was not exactly to be expected. The team knew that her father's behaviour had marred her attitude to relationships, they all knew that part of Lisbon was terrified of commitment, and of being let down by someone whom she loved. This all changed when Niall waltzed into her life in the middle of a case. It started slowly, just as friends going out for drinks and the occasional meal, but then it developed from a friendship from a relationship, and from casual get-togethers to actual dates. What was that quote again?

Lisbon knew that it was getting serious after their first kiss, but she was happy with Niall, and she knew in the back of her mind that she wasn't getting any younger. She really liked him; he was really sweet and caring.

The one thing that she had tried desperately to avoid was Jane finding out, as he would be a nightmare about it, which would make him even more annoying than usual. At least that's what she told herself, she didn't want him knowing for purely platonic reasons.

As much as Niall wished that this would lead to Lisbon opening up to him, her reaction was exactly as he had expected, even if she could have done without the reference to Patrick Jane.

"Teresa, I know that this is probably the last thing that you want to do," Then don't ask... "But I really want to take you out to dinner tonight, you know, just to try and take your mind off things." Niall spoke gently to her, wrapping his arm around her small shoulders and pulling her body in towards him. She relaxed into his frame and for a moment he thought that she would accept his offer, but when she turned to look at him, he knew exactly what she was about to tell him.

"Niall, you know that I'd love to, I just really don't feel up for company tonight. It's been a really, really tough day and I just want to go home and relax." Lisbon gave her second apology of the afternoon with utter sincerity in her eyes. She just needed to be alone. If she couldn't be with the one person she wanted more than anything in the world, alone would just have to do.

Although Niall had known that it was coming, it still hurt. "Well, maybe, if you get bored, or, uh, whatever, maybe you could call me or something..." he began, but sensing the dead end, he too, like those who had come before him, changed his angle. "Actually, I'll tell you what, if you do feel up for it, I'll be at Blue Cue at 8ish, so, you know, if you change your mind, maybe I'll see you later."

Lisbon didn't want him to go away too upset so she tried to encourage him a little. "Yeah, maybe, I'll see how I feel. Niall, I'm really sorry, just, it's been a really long day."

"Yeah, sure, well I hope you cheer up soon, and just call me if you need anything."

Lisbon felt guilt intertwine itself with her relief as she watched Niall make his way home. There was just that one person who understood her demeanour right now. Yes, it had been an incredibly tough case, but that wasn't the real reason for her sorry on July 31st, a beautiful summer's day, every year, without fail, to the other hundreds of people bustling along the beach. She dug her purse out of her bag and caressed the photo which she now held carefully with her thumb. God she missed those days.

"Hi," she murmured softly, taking the initiative in this particular conversation. She had barely slipped back into her dream world before she felt another person's presence by her side.

"Hey," he replied, carefully lowering himself to the ground beside her. For a few minutes they simply sat, their positions mirrored, eyes fixed on the horizon.

"Lisbon, if you ever need someone, you know that I'll listen. I know I might not be able to make things better, and I know that no matter how much I try to convince you, you'll never believe that I do know what you're going through. But I promise you, if you ever need me, I'm here."

The image in the mirror had been distorted as he turned his gaze on her, however as she turned her eyes to meet his it was reconfigured, back as it should be. No matter how many times she saw that look (as seldom as it was), she believed him more and more every time she saw the compassion and concern, mixed in with the grief of his own suffering. It was then that she finally realised that he did know exactly what she was going through. Although he had not lost a mother, he had received more than his fair share of loss.

"I know," she replied, almost inaudibly, "and I'm grateful for that, more than you can ever imagine."

He continued to stare into her eyes for a few seconds, before breaking the contact abruptly. Just before he had done so, however, Lisbon noticed the familiar, mischievous twinkle regain its rightful place in his eyes.

"You need cheering up." He declared suddenly. "How about you let me work my magic and we'll sort that out for you. Dinner tonight, what do you say? Hey, I'll even pay for ice creams too!" His boyish charm was willing Lisbon to give in, but her stubborn side wasn't going to let him win that easily.

"You know how tired I am."

"I offered you my couch."

"You mean my couch! My team, my office, my couch!" Lisbon declared this last statement while the corners of her mouth pulled upwards into a victorious grin. She noticed how sincerely he had spoken his last words though, and suddenly realised just what he meant by the offering to give up his one place where he found a feeling of content.

Job done. All he'd wanted was a smile out of her. He took this diversion as an opportunity to confuse her.

"So I'll see you at 8 then, at the Firehouse" he said, showing with his body language that he was about to get up and walk off.

"What! Wait, I don't think so..." she began, but when she reconsidered previous events, for once it was she who changed her cue. "You know you shouldn't even be asking, considering how the thickness of the ice that you are standing on, but I'll see how I feel. Don't be too disappointed if I don't turn up!" She said this last comment as a joke, the thought of him being stood up bringing a smile forward to play on her face. "Maybe I'll see you later," she added, almost as an after-thought.

He grinned at her, jumper up and gently brushed his lips across her knuckles before turning to leave her in solitude once again. She sat there, almost in shock, but not quite. Even the slightest contact with him had her heart going crazy. Way back when she had met him, never in her wildest dreams did she think that she'd find herself falling for Patrick Jane. Then her mind fell on the reasons for her doubts about Jane.

---------------XX------------------

She descended the stairs from her apartment, wondering how, like all good buses; three men had come into her life at the same time and forced her to make this choice.

Charlie was her best friend, and she loved him like a best friend should.

Niall was her first proper relationship in years, and she felt herself falling for him more and more every day.

And Jane was her pain in the ass consultant, so why did he even feature in this dilemma?

She made up her mind right there and then on the spot, and took a right when she reached the street.

--------------XX---------------

There he was, standing at the bar, looking as good as ever. She could just make out the sound of his muffled voice. He was making his excuses to an over-friendly blonde woman at his side by telling her that he was waiting for someone. She replied with the confirmation that he'd said that four times in the last 15 minutes, and finished with the suggestion that maybe she could help him pass the time.

Upon that note he turned to see her standing in the doorway and he gasped when he took in her appearance. He let his eyes wander over her body and made a mental note to make offers of dinner more often.

As he was doing this she slowly walked over to him and before she could even get her greeting out of her mouth, he said softly, "Please, Patrick, even if just for tonight."