Red Cell Block

Disclaimer: Do not own the show.

A/N: This idea came to me during the writing of Secluded in Red. So please enjoy this story and feel free to add reviews. Season five spoilers.

"You can't be serious?" Lisbon exclaimed as the sheriff escorted her and Jane into the jail cell.

"I'm very serious," the sheriff replied as he locked the door behind them.

"I'm an agent with the CBI."

"You really expect me to believe a place like that exists?"

"You have my badge and gun, not to mention my cell phone. Feel free to call my boss it is under the name Bertram," Lisbon explained as she placed both hands on the bars in front of her.

"This sheriff office is closed for night," he grabbed his hat and headed to the door.

"You can't leave us here all night," she yelled.

"You are not going to change his mind, Lisbon."

"Shut up," she growled at him as she watch the sheriff stop at the door.

"I'm begging you to call my boss."

"Tomorrow morning, until then goodnight," he told as he turned off the light and left the office.

"Sheriff!" Lisbon yelled as she banged on the bars.

Jane pulled his jacket off and placed it on the cot in front of him before dropping down onto the cot and placing his hands behind his head. Lisbon rolled her eyes at him and then went back to banging on the bars hoping to get anyone attention.

"Give it up Lisbon, we are stuck here for the evening."

"I'm not speaking to you," she hissed as she pounded the bars a few more times out of frustration.

"Why so grumpy?"

"Because you got us locked away in this stupid jail."

"Meh, it was all in good fun."

"Fun for whom? You?" She asked annoyed as she started to pace.

"Is there any other type of fun?" He asked as he smirked at her.

"God, I hate you sometimes."

"No, you don't, so why don't you just come over here and lay down," he moved over a little bit to make room for her.

Lisbon watched him and shook her head "No."

"It is warmer."

"I'd rather die then sleep near you."

"Really?" He raised an eyebrow at her statement.

"Yes," she crossed her arms across her chest as she looked at him.

"You'd rather face death then share a bed with me?"

"I'd rather lie down with maggots then share a bed with you"

"Last time you were in the same room as maggots and fainted into my arms," he pointed out with a smile.

Lisbon mind went back to the one time she fainted at the sight of fleshing eating bugs. Leave it up to him to use it against her now. At least he had been at her side when she fainted.

"You're blushing," he stated with a huge smile.

"Shut up, Jane," she tried to look away but she knew he had caught her.

"Nothing to be ashamed of dear," he remarked then added. "I'm used to having woman falling at my feet."

"I am not one of THOSE women," she said angrily.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I don't fall for your supposed charm or your sexy smile and I have an IQ higher than a napkin."

"So you admit that you think my smile is sexy."

God he was annoying, she thought as she turned to face the bars again. Maybe if she didn't answer him he would go to sleep, leaving her alone with her thoughts on how to get out of this mess and most importantly on how to kill her blond consultant.

"You can try and pretend but I know you are listening to every word I say," he patted the cot again.

"You pat the cot like that again and I'll break your hand," she threatened as she placed a hand on the bar and gripped it tightly.

"Such violence for a small woman."

"Bite me."

"Is that a offer?"

"Please, give me my gun. All I want to do is shoot him, I swear I'll give it back," she yelled hoping that someone would hear her.

"You won't shoot me and beside he went home for the night."

"Dammit! I hate small towns. I want my badge, I want my gun, I want to get the hell away from you."

"So much want. Can't you just sit back and think of this as a new experience?"

"In jail?"

"I found them to be a truly life changing experience."

"The only life changing experience I want right now is to hurt you."

"How is that different from any other day?" He asked as he kicked off his shoe and stretch across the cot.

"Usually I'm not locked up in an 8X8 cell with you."

"Come lay down and after a good nights sleep you will feel more refreshed about our particular situation."

"How the hell are we supposed to sleep on that thing...together?" She asked as she eyed the small space on the cot.

"Well, there is really only one solution."

"In your dreams, Jane."

"I must admit that I have had this particular dream but in that you were more compliant to join me."

"Oh... don't...don't joke, Jane." Shakily smoothing her hair, trying to hide how much that idea affected her

"It is natural progression that we would start to dream about each other after knowing each other for so many years."

"I don't dream about you...not like that"

"Liar."

"I'm not lying," she replied.

"It still amazes me that you think that I don't know when you are lying," he yawned before turning onto his side and looking over at her. "You know the desert get really cold this time of year."

"So?"

"As far as I can see there is no source of heat for this place so unless you really want to freeze to death I recommend joining me."

"For survival purpose?"

"Of course."

She walked over to him and sat down slowly on the cot. "No funny stuff."

"Wouldn't dream of it dear," he responded as she lay down next to him.

"If you do then, so help me God, I won't need my gun to hurt you, are we clear?"

"Yes," he said as he sighed and closed his eyes. Lisbon kept hers opened as she tried not to concentrate on how close he was at the moment.

"Relax Lisbon, you are perfectly safe with me," he whispered behind her.

"I can't relax," she gritted through her teeth.

She felt him place a hand on her hip and she jumped slightly before he started to talk to her again.

"Breath in on one, breath out on two."

"What?" Her voiced hitched slightly.

"It is a technique that will help you sleep," he told her as he removed his hand from her. She immediately missed the heat from his hand. She cursed herself for thinking that idea and then forced herself to start breathing the way he said.

"You aren't trying," he told her after a few moments.

"It is a stupid idea," she snapped and made a move to get away from him when his arm snaked around her waist and pulled her close to him.

"Jane!"

"Breath," he ordered.

"No," she went to move away but he only tightened his grip. "Remove your arm before I do it."

He removed his arm from her waist. "When you are ready to let your guard down for the night let me know."

"Jackass," she muttered under her breath.

"Do you hear that?" He asked softly into her ear. Lisbon suppressed a shiver before speaking.

"Hear what?"

"The coyotes," he told her. "If you listen you can hear them howling."

Lisbon listen and indeed she could hear them in the distance. She closed her eyes and listened for them more.

"The howls keep going around and around," he whispered into her ear. "Do you hear the difference in the howls?"

"Yes," she whispered trying to fight off the exhaustion she already knew she was succumbing to.

"Just keep listening to them Teresa," he told her as he wrapped his arm around her waist again and pulled her close. Lisbon didn't fight him this time but instead relaxed against his touch and allowed herself to fall into a deep sleep. "Good girl," he whispered to himself more than anything before closing his eyes and falling sleeping himself.

13 hours earlier:

"And just like that I win again," Jane said gleefully as he placed his cards down on the table.

"You are cheating," Lisbon accused as she sat back against the chair and crossed her arms.

"Cheating? Me?"

"Yes, you Patrick Jane the conman," Lisbon huffed as she got to her feet. "Why do I even bother?"

"Because there is no case, no paperwork and you secretly enjoy spending time with me," he told her as he started to pick up the cards from their poker game.

"Yes, because I just love to lose every game we play," she grabbed her empty coffee cup from the table and headed out of the office with Jane right on her heels.

"You did win one game," he pointed out as he picked up the teakettle and filled it with water.

"You let me win!" Lisbon exclaimed as she slammed down her coffee mug with a little more force than necessary.

"Did I?"

"You are a jerk," she pulled out the coffee pot and poured herself a cup of coffee. "You only play games with me for your own perverse sense of humor."

"That is entirely true," he leaned back against the counter as he waited for the water to finish boiling.

"Oh, right I forgot no one else is dumb enough to play games with you."

"Exactly," he answered with a smile. She rolled her eyes and walked over to him.

"Move over," she order, he nodded and moved away so she could reach above him for something in the cupboard.

"Looking for something?"

"Yes, something to hurt you with or poison, which do you prefer?" She asked as she pulled out a new box of sugar packets.

"Can't say I would choose either," he placed a hand on her waist to move her over just as the kettle started to whistle. She tensed as she felt his hand on her waist but moved quickly hoping that he had not noticed.

"You really should try drinking more tea Lisbon, it will help take away your stress," he told her as he poured the water into his precious cup.

"There is not enough tea in the world to make the stress of having to deal with you everyday go away," she returned.

"I'm wounded," he said mocking as he placed a hand on his heart.

"Sheep-dip," she opened the sugar packet and placed the contents into her coffee before picking up a stirring stick from the island and mixing it.

"That cut me deep, Lisbon," he whispered from right behind her.

"Suck it up," she responded as she took a sip of her coffee before placing in back down. Jane placed his teacup on the island table and leaned closer to her making her tense up at his proximity to her.

"Why so tense?" He asked softly. "There are no cases, everyone is getting along so you should be nice and relaxed, my dear."

"Jane."

"Yes?"

"Go away," she pushed back lightly and felt her back come into contact with his chest. She jumped at the realization that he was very close. Just then Cho walked into the kitchen, he stopped and took in their positions before speaking.

"We have a case."

"Where?" Lisbon moved away from Jane quickly as she followed Cho back into the bullpen.

"Small town just outside the Nevada border."

"Why are we being called in?"

"The victim is the son of a local judge and he personally wants Jane on the case."

"Really?" Jane asked as he entered the bullpen with his teacup and Lisbon's coffee mug that she had forgotten. He handed her the mug before making his way to his couch to sit down. Lisbon placed the coffee cup on Cho desk.

"Yes, a Judge Danton," Cho read the information that he had written down.

"Danton? I thought he hated you," Lisbon asked Jane.

"Me too."

"Well, we are on the case," Cho told her as he gave her the notepad.

"Okay, you guys stay here and look up any leads to where his son could have been and talk to the judge. Jane and I will head to the crime scene," Lisbon order.

"Cool, we get to go to the desert," Jane was on his feet and at her said within seconds.

"Yeah, great." Lisbon replied as she made her way back to her office to grab her stuff. She was just placing her gun holster on her hip when Jane walked in.

"So where are we headed exactly."

"Some town call Twin Sun," Lisbon stated as she pulled her jacket off the chair and put it on. "Nice few hours drive from here."

"Let me drive," Jane offered.

"No, I'd rather get there in one piece," she said as she padded her jacket with a confused look on her face, then turned and glared at Jane. "Give them."

"Give what?" He asked as he took a sip of his tea.

"My keys, now!" She placed her hand in front of him.

"I have no clue what you are talking about," he said as he shrugged his shoulders.

"You pickpocketted my keys didn't you?"

"Would I do that?"

"Jane!" Lisbon whined as she pulled back her hands and crossed her arms across her chest in annoyance.

"Say I can drive."

"No."

"Then that poor victim's case will never be solved," he informed as he headed back in the direction of his couch.

Lisbon sighed then dropped her arms before following him. "Fine you can drive."

"Good, lets go," he said as he showed her the keys in his hand. He walked into the kitchen and placed his teacup in the sink before heading to the elevator.

"I hate you," Lisbon muttered when she joined him at the elevator.

"Meh," he answered just as the doors opened. "It will be a fun trip."

He walked in and waited for her to step inside but she refused. "Something wrong, Lisbon?"

"Promise me you will behave yourself."

"I promise I will-" he started to say then muttered the word "behave."

"Say it Jane, say the word behave."

"Behave, now may we go?" he motioned her to get in.

"I get the feeling this is going to be a long day," she told him as she walked in.

"Really? I get the feeling it will be a fun day," he smiled at her just as the doors closed.

To Be Continued.