Some Jisbon fluff, hope you guys enjoy it! A Friday night out with the team, and some dancing.. No spoilers really, maybe a teensy one for Red John's Footsteps (1x23)

Not exactly a songfic, but the song mentioned/quoted is Allison Moorer's A Soft Place to Fall (a beautiful, beautiful song, check it out!)

Rated M for the next chapter, there will be smut...

A Soft Place to Fall

It had been a long, exhausting day at the CBI. The case had finally been closed, yet again thanks to Jane's mentalist abilities, and the team had decided they wanted to celebrate their long-anticipated victory by going out for drinks.

At first Lisbon had objected decidedly, but after a while of persistent reasoning from the whole team, especially Jane, she had agreed on going. After all, it was a Friday night, she could afford to let loose for one night couldn't she? "But only a few drinks, guys. Seriously."

After all, she was glad she decided to accompany her team, it was actually a lot of fun, though watching Rigsby's feeble passes at Van Pelt was rather sad at times.

Lisbon smiled, and swayed to the groovy country music playing on the background, taking another sip of the fruity drink Jane had handed her a while ago.

She surveyed the dance floor, noting that Rigsby had finally found the guts to ask Van Pelt to dance, looking for the charming, golden-haired consultant. To her disappointment he was nowhere to be seen. "Where on earth have you gone now, Jane?"

"I'm right here," she heard a soft voice from behind her and a small, involuntary smile crept to her face.

"Miss me already?" Jane grinned as she turned to face him, accidentally brushing her leg against his, making him cough to cover up the sigh escaping his mouth. Eyebrows raised, a hint of a smile still playing on her face she replied, "No. Just wondering how on earth you came up with this place? I mean. Patrick Jane and country?"

"I'm full of surprises, my dear," he claimed with restored confidence and smiled, holding out his right hand to her, "to dance?"

"Well, you certainly are full of surprises," Lisbon granted, taking his hand, "I'd love to."

There was nothing to it, right? Just two colleagues, two friends dancing for fun after a rough day at work. It was an upbeat song, and Lisbon thought, nothing to worry about. He wouldn't be that close to her, maybe he wouldn't even touch her. She wouldn't feel she wanted to melt into him like she had imagined so many times. She wouldn't feel his arms wrapped around her, his scent drifting all around her, making her dizzy. No. They'd just fool around on the dance floor like friends do, making funny faces and having a laugh.

The second they found their place in the middle of the floor, the song changed. There's no way. Just my luck, Lisbon thought to herself, there was no way she would admit she was actually glad it was a slower, more flowing song.

"Daylight has found me here again, you can ask me anything but where I've been.
The things that used to matter seem so small…"

Jane's blue eyes found hers for a moment before he slid his arms around her, pulling her softly to him. She let her arms rest at the back of his neck, slightly brushing his soft curls on their way and pressed her head gently to his chest. Her eyes drifted shut as she relaxed against him, wanting to savor every second of them being this close. She knew it might well be the last time she got to hold him like this, with no worries, just the two of them and the music.

As soon as his arms were around her, he felt the stress starting to melt away. His Lisbon was right there in his arms, where no harm could come to her, where no other man could touch her. He hadn't felt like this in years, he didn't know how it was possible, but this amazing, little woman had somehow found the loving, tender man inside him, a man he hadn't been sure still existed. He had no idea how she did it, but right now he didn't care. All he cared about was holding her, feeling her warm body quietly pressed against his.

"Don't misunderstand me, baby please. I didn't mean to bring back memories.
You should know the reason why I called, I was looking for a soft place to fall..."

His hands caressed her back slowly, and an unheard sigh left her parted lips. She smiled against his chest as they swayed in perfect rhythm, thinking about how this man could make her feel so good, when just a few hours prior he had been the biggest pain in the butt. The case had been far from easy to solve, and Jane had caused his share of trouble along the way. But with the case closed, thanks to him, he had been forgiven by all of them as usual. The man was a mystery, what could she say?

"Looking for a place to hide, a warm bed on a cold night
I didn't mean to hurt you, oh no..."

Wrapping his arms tighter around her, he thought about the past months. The way she had bit by bit broken down the walls it had taken him five years to build up. Five years of grief, five years of pain. Five years, washing away strand by strand, as she unraveled him. Of course there had been others he'd trusted, people he let in for brief moments, closing up just before they could make out who he really was. But with Lisbon, it was different. With her he was at ease, there was no need to pretend, because in the end, she saw through him. He wasn't used to someone who put up with his crap like she did, someone who bluntly told him when she thought he was being stupid and childish. Someone who told him -when he was about to give up- that there were people who cared about him, who needed him.

"You're the one who taught me, after all, how to find a soft place to fall…"

Once they noticed that the song had changed, they stopped moving, holding each other close for a brief moment, not wanting to let go just yet. As he pulled away from the embrace, Jane caught Lisbon's eyes and smiled, "Thank you." She gave him a small nod, and they headed back to their table in silence.

"You know guys, I should get going. I did say just a few drinks," Lisbon decided once they got back to the others. Silencing Rigsby's and Van Pelt's weak protests, she thanked her team for the fun night, letting her eyes linger on Jane for a split second too long. She blushed slightly, found her jacket and waved them good-bye, smiling as she turned towards the door.

"Hey Lisbon. Wait up," she heard Jane calling from behind her just before reaching the exit.

"What now, Jane?" she sighed, faking annoyance.

"I was wondering if you could give me a lift? Left my car at the office," he appealed, grinning at her. A knowing smile spread on Lisbon's face and she nodded, leading them out into the cool night air.