A/N: It's Christmas eve and the CBI gang is ready for a break. Of course there will be gift giving and the normal holiday depression. How will Jane cope with another Christmas alone?

Merry Bleeping Christmas

Patrick Jane stared out of the CBI windows at the festive street, below. He shook his head slowly musing on the folly of the good cheer and joyous bursts of revelry. He knew that he shouldn't be so bitter, so jaded, but it was impossible to be otherwise. Every bell, every sound, was like a knife opening wounds of what should be, what could have been if he'd not been so stupid and arrogant. His face was bleak as he surveyed the scene below.

Christmas eve was not his favorite time of year. The reminders of the family that he'd had and lost were to raw and too poignant. The level of pain was almost physical and excruciating. Briefly, he wondered, "How much longer? How much longer will I have to endure this?"

"Merry Christmas, Jane," Patrick heard Rigsby say." He turned to face his smling colleague, his face morphing from utter moroseness to one of reasonable holiday cheer. "Back at you, Rigsby, back at you!" Jane saw the extended hand holding the small box. He lifted his eyebrows and looked surprised. "For me?"

Rigsby grinned. "It is that time of year."

Jane smiled and accepted the gift.

"Now, you can't open it until Christmas morning. That's the rule,"

Jane grimaced. "OK, I hear you, now, but I'm not so tough." He grinned. "Check your shirt pocket."

Wayne frowned and reached into his shirt pocket. "What's this, "he muttered, extracting two pieces of paper. He stared at them blankly. "How... How... How did you get these tickets, and how did you even know how hard I'd been trying to score some?" His expression was priceless.

This time, Jane's smile was genuine. "Why, it's magic of course. I made an arrangement with the man in red, and this is what we came up with."

Wayne carefully put the precious tickets back into his pocket, patting them to make sure they were secure. "Jane, you really are amazing, thank you!"

Before Patrick could respond, Wayne, in a burst of gratitude, grabbed him and hugged him. Patrick's arms were pinned to his side and his face showed utter confusion and shock.

Grace walked by and snickered, "You guys want to get a room?"

Patrick's glare at her only heightened her amusement.

Breaking the embrace, Wayne held Jane at arm's length. "Seriously, Dude, thank you. This means more to me than you'll ever know." He returned to his desk, protecting his pocket with one hand.

Patrick shook his head. "Jocks," he muttered. "Pull a few strings to get some scarce tickets, and they fall apart on you." But his face has softened, and his expression was more cheerful.

oOo

The CBI office party had been nice. There were no fights, no one got falling down drunk, and no one got caught having illicit sexual relations with a coworker! It was one of the best Christmas Eve parties in years.

Lisbon was at the door with the breathalyzer, checking everyone as they left. Anyone blowing above a .06 had their keys impounded and had a cab called to take them home. So far, that had been a low percentage.

"This is not necessary," Patrick insisted to Lisbon.

Lisbon's face was steel. "Necessary or not, you will blow into the tube or I will arrest you if you try to leave."

"You are violating my constitutional rights, you know," Jane told her.

"You work for me, Jane. Inside this office, I say what your rights are, and right now I'm telling you that you have the right to blow into this tube. Now fasten our lips around it and BLOW!"

Jane lifted his eyes to heaven, shrugged and sighed, "What I have to go through as a public servant" He blew into the tube.

Lisbon frowned. "Do that again, Jane. I think it was off, somehow."

He grinned and did as commanded.

"Ok, Jane, you are messing with me. How did you do it," she asked.

Jane laughed. "It was easy! I didn't have anything to drink."

She glared at him. "So why all this constitutional crap?"

He leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. "I like messing with you! That's my present to you." He grinned and left the office.

Lisbon glared after him, but then smiled. "Patrick Jane," she muttered. "One of a kind!" Staring at his retreating back, her face softened into an expression that few would ever see. "You just wait," she thought. "Wait till you see what I have planned for you!

oOOo

A/N: A Teaser of what's to come. Review please! More to follow soon!