I could see the boss stare over to the couch every 10 seconds just wishing that Jane would return. Everyone noticed how she was pulling herself away, not attending informal drinks meet-ups. Sometimes she would have her coffee in Janes mug or sit on his couch. She would often zone out and just lose herself in her office and return he eyes inflamed from tears. I wish I could do something, but she barged me aside.

"Grace what have you got?" she asked.

"I've got a partial registration plate and I traced the purchase number back to the parent company but apparently the seller doesn't exist". I said, my results hasn't exactly been helpful. She looked pensive for a moment and then said:

"keep looking, try and get that plate, we will be back in a couple of hours". I nodded and put my my head down trying to look engrossed in the computer. I love my boss, I hate to see her like this. It makes me sick. Every time Jane would leave her in the lurch.

It was 3 days till Christmas and boss always had a small fake Christmas tree in her office. Each year much to her displeasure Jane would decorate her room overnight and the next morning she would have to struggle around the masses of lights and tinsel to reach her desk. The tree stood bare in her office, it made me upset to glance over at the poor brittle plastic branches. I wandered into her office and noticed that the tree had one hand made decoration on. It was an angel that looked in every aspect like Lisbon, underneath it read 'Saint Teresa'. It was a beautiful, generous gift that Jane had obviously spent a long time making. I quietly left her room, even an even worse mood than when I had entered. Something caught my eye as I stepped through the door. There was an untitled CD on her desk, I picked it up vowing to return it as soon as I had finished.

I slipped it into the computer suddenly feeling nervous. I found some headphones in my bag and plugged them into the base unit. The media player opened on the screen and I clicked play. Jane's face appeared on the screen, instantly recognised the background. It was the dating service we had solved a case at.

"I'm looking for someone... Someone who err I can trust" he said to the camera.

"someone strong, someone at peace with themselves. Someone better than me, someone who knows the worst side of me and still loves me".

"sounds like an amazing woman" a female voice says.

"she was". Replied Jane. My heart sunk. He had described Lisbon in every way, despite their constant banter everyone could see it. She loved him so much she would wait for him forever. I slipped the disk out of the machine and placed it back on Lisbon's desk. Boss had chosen to believe that he would return, her heart was so strong. If only he could understand that.

I returned to work I had matches for the plate and one of them had had a recent speeding ticket, paid by Jared Watson who lived in downtown Sacramento. I picked up the phone and called boss. Each time it rang I was slightly scared that she knew I had seen the disk. I knew this was impossible and therefore a completely irrational fear, but when she picked up I jumped slightly. I explained the situation and gave an address, she thanked me and then hung up. I missed the Lisbon that used to make sarcastic jokes and ignore all Janes hunches. I owed her my job. She never did anything about Rigsby and I, for that I loved her. Most people hate their job and their boss, but I adored both. It had been a lifelong ambition to work with the police but this was better. I texted Rigsby and asked if he wanted a drink tonight. He excused himself by saying he had to look after Benjamin. I felt a slit twinge in my stomach, he was married and had a kid. Cho had a serious girlfriend. Boss and I were without anyone. Both the people we loved were wrapped up with others, Jane and Red John and Rigsby and Sarah. At this point I texted Boss and invited her for a drink, I fancied some girly time and getting her out of her apartment was the least I could do. She politely declined but I insisted, and eventually she gave in.

When she returned to the office I noticed how much weight she had lost. I had never noticed her eat lunch. There were no more case closed doughnuts since Jane was gone, and I suspected that Lisbon had dropped under 7 stone. She looked older and more tired, yet her eyes never changed. They were always full of fire, and sorrow, but never defeat. She hadn't cut her hair since he left, she had given up all hope of keeping her appearance up. She didn't care what people thought, only Jane. If I could get into contact with him I would scream at him and tell him to stop toying with her emotions. If he would just call her and tell her to move on with her life she would, thats how much devotion she showed.

"Grace we looked into Jared Watson, he's clean no record aside from a speeding and parking ticket. Plus he has a concrete alibi for the night of the murder". I sighed, and she noticed.

"we don't always get the break in the case that we want, and it's never the obvious suspect. You know that". She said rubbing her hand n my back as if she was comforting a child.

"are you ok to come round to mine at 7?" I ask.

"yes sure, sounds great". She said lacking enthusiasm.

"night then boss I'll see you later".

"yes" she whispered. I pretended to leave but did a lap of this floor. Cho and Rigsby had already left. I watched the boss sit down at her desk and pick up her phone. She called voice mail.

"you have no new messages and one saved message" the automated voice told her. "press one for saved messages and 2 for other options". I watched her from my hiding place press one.

"hey Lisbon, I'm at the Crew Valley restaurant and I have a feeling this are about to get interesting here. Also they do an excellent soufflé which you really must try, we could share one. See you soon" he laughed. I watched the tears stream down her face, she had lost something irreplaceable.