I never have, currently don't and never will own The Mentalist characters. I'm not making nuthin' off these writings I'm posting.

I'm Game by Sue Shay

Monday afternoon

Jane was making Cho uncomfortable.

Not that Cho would exhibit it. His favorite show as a child was Jack Webb's Dragnet, and although Sergeant Joe Friday was a fictional character, Cho always considered him the epitome of toughness and self-control so Cho did his best to emulate him. And being the master pusher of other people's personal buttons, Jane provided Cho with very good practice at keeping his shields up and his emotions down.

Now, however, something about Jane was unnerving him. The consultant was just hanging out, standing by the nearby window and casually switching his focus from the view outside to Cho's desk to Lisbon's office.

"Can I help you with something?" Cho asked.

Jane acted startled. "Me? No, I'm fine. Right as rain."

Cho stared a moment. Jane gave his usual showman smile and looked out the window again. Cho shook his head and looked back at the dossier in front of him.

Strange cat, man.

"Okay, guys, gather 'round," Lisbon said, coming into the bullpen and gesturing to the entire Serious Crime Unit team. "The Governor's last minute appearance this Saturday at the political fundraiser has been cancelled. Looks like we can resume making plans for this weekend."

"Oh, thank God," Van Pelt said under her breath.

Cho automatically looked at Rigsby. He noticed Jane do the same. Rigsby was staring longingly at Van Pelt who was looking back the same way.

Subtle. They might as well wave the hotel rendezvous reservations over their heads.

"By the way, Lisbon…" Jane said in a bright eager voice as he stepped away from the window towards their boss.

Lisbon stopped and looked back at him. Her expression was harsh. Sorta "Go ahead, I dare ya" in nature. Cho had been seeing that expression a lot today.

Jane's showman smile turned into his 'thanking the audience' grin. Cho had been seeing that a lot this morning too.

"I just want to say that you have a lovely holster."

Cho kept his jaw from dropping open. It was difficult, but he succeeded whereas no one else had.

Lisbon recovered first, turning her head and looking askance. "Er… thank you… I think?"

"Is it new? Or have you been conditioning the leather on the old one?"

"Same one I had Friday."

"Oh…well…it's nice." Then Jane made a big show of looking at the clock on the wall. "Lunch time. I'm going for tacos. Anyone want me to bring something back from him? Or her?"

Without waiting for an answer, he left the bullpen for the elevator. They all looked at Lisbon. She was squinting at his back disappearing up the hall. She was not happy.

Tuesday morning, 8 AM

Van Pelt was ecstatic that CBI had been stepped down from bodyguard duty. She knew there was a reason she'd voted for this governor, even if it was really something beyond Governor Hallenbright's control.

She and Rigsby had been planning this trip to Napa for weeks. Frankly she was getting a little tired of his place. Somehow she came home always smelling like his bachelor apartment, and sex at her place wasn't nearly as exciting as a romantic cottage in Wine Country. Between being on call and various other weekend commitments, it was the only chance for a weekend getaway for the next two months.

As Van Pelt waited for her computer to boot up, Lisbon entered the bullpen from the direction of the elevators.

"Good morning, Boss."

"Good morning, Van Pelt. Seen Jane yet?"

"Not yet," Grace started to answer.

"I'm here," Jane said, entering from the far entrance of the bullpen. He lifted his tea cup from its saucer, toasting Lisbon and grinning like the fool he sometimes pretended to be. "Good morning, Agent Lisbon."

"Good morning, Jane. I just wanted to say that the way you parked your car this morning was exquisite. Absolutely spot on. Perfectly between the lines, like you'd taken a tape measure to it. Did you?"

Van Pelt was astonished. Jane's expression went blank, the only tell Van Pelt had ever seen on the wily consultant.

"Thank you, Lisbon, but no, I didn't take any special care parking my baby this morning."

Lisbon nudged Van Pelt. "You should go out at lunch and see it." Then she left for her office.

Grace looked at him. He shrugged and continued to his couch.

++I'm Game by Sue Shay++

To be continued...