Jane was eyeing Lisbon suspiciously. She had been walking around the office with a big smile on her face all day. Not that he didn't enjoy seeing her smile, in fact – he loved it when that rare emotion took over her features, but today, he didn't know the reason for the smile and that made him nervous. He decided to find out, he had been finding it increasingly difficult to stay away from Lisbon and thinking that she might be having fun without him tortured him endlessly. He had trouble realising why he felt so worried but decided to think about that later, for now, he just wanted to know why Lisbon looked so damn happy. He got up off his couch and walked purposefully to her office, swinging open the door without knocking. Lisbon was on the phone, he just caught the end of her conversation...

"No, that's fine, 9 o'clock is perfect.....it's ok I'll meet you there, I want to go home first.....ok,.....yeh, I look forward to seeing you too, bye."

Lisbon put the phone back in the cradle and looked up at Jane expectantly. Jane stood paralysed, trying to figure out the meaning of what he just heard.

"Earth to Jane?" Lisbon called "Jane!" Lisbon rose her voice a little higher which snapped Jane out of his reverie. "Was there something you wanted?"

"Who was that on the phone?"

"Excuse me?" Lisbon wasn't all that surprised by Jane's obvious interest in her private life, but that didn't mean she had to answer.

"Who were you speaking to?" Jane repeated, stepping more fully into Lisbon's office and standing in front of her.

Lisbon just sighed. She knew Patrick well enough to know that there was no use in avoiding the question or lying. Either he would nag her until she told him or would just take to following her around until he worked it out for himself.

"Not that I see how it's any of your business, but that was James from the fourth floor. We're going out for dinner."

Jane hadn't been prepared for this. Though the idea of Lisbon going on a date wasn't totally unrealistic, he never thought she would go out with someone from work. He felt a strange tug in his stomach, and without stopping to think what emotion might of caused it he continued to question her.

"James, James who?" Lisbon was about to open her mouth to speak when Jane answered his own question. "Not James Dancy?"

"Well how many other James's do you know on the fourth floor Jane? Or in the whole building for that matter?"

Jane looked further perplexed.

"You can't seriously be telling me your going to go out with that guy?"

"Why not?" Lisbon responded, a small smile playing out on her lips.

"Because he's just so.....he's just so..." Jane looked around him trying to find the right word.

"So...?" Lisbon prompted him.

"So big." Jane said, slightly pathetically.

Lisbon almost snorted she was so amused by Jane's obvious discomfit at being for once at a loss for words.

"And why, dare I ask, should his being big stop me from going out with him?"

Jane squirmed slightly. The truth was, James Dancy seemed like a good choice for Lisbon. Much better than most of the other men who worked with her every day. He was athletic, tall and handsome, with dark hair and was always immaculately dressed. He was a highly respected agent, who had his own team, and who was widely considered to be going on the fast track to the top. Rooting around in his mind for what to say next Jane tried to explain to Lisbon what he meant.

"Well, he's a bigshot isn't he? He's going to spend the entire night talking about his team, and work, and being a sporting man he's no doubt very competitive and will try to prove in a number of ways how his team is better than yours. Sure he'll do it in a jokey way, make you seem like your having banter, but really he's eying up the competition."

Jane looked at Lisbon triumphantly, pleased that he seemed to have got over his recent inarticulateness, but his smile froze on his face when he saw Lisbon's hurt look. He thought over what he said and with dawning realisation, recognised that what he had said wasn't very flattering to Lisbon at all, and he certainly hadn't meant it like that.

"Lisbon, sorry. I didn't think. I didn't mean to say that he was only going out with you because he wants to see how likely you are to receive a promotion. I just...."

"You just what Jane? If that's not what you meant why did you say it? Are you trying to tell me that the only possible reason an attractive co-worker would ask me out is because he's threatened by me?"

"No of course not, your...your..."

"I'm what Jane?"

"You're a very attractive person yourself Lisbon, of course men will ask you out. I just didn't realise you were interested in dating."

Despite her anger at Jane Lisbon blushed slightly and Jane's compliment. She hadn't been interested in dating in the past it was true, but that's because she was focused on her career. When Jane had arrived however, she had suddenly become more open to the idea. They had shared a few moments when she thought that something might happen, he seemed to love making her blush, and sometimes the way he looked at her sent shivers down her spine. But months of waiting for him to make a move, or just show that he might be ready to move on, had turned into a year. And Lisbon had come to the conclusion that Jane was just playing her. He hadn't gotten over the deaths of his wife and daughter and probably never would. She had to move on, waiting for Patrick Jane was childish, and when James had asked her out, she felt flattered. Hints and sly gifts from Jane had left her wanting something more substantial, she was tired of being toyed with. James was honest and funny and she had enjoyed three dates with him so far. The last of which, much to her surprise, ended with her waking up naked in his bed the next morning. She would not let Jane ruin this.

"Jane – leave please"

"Lisbon I'm sorry, I didn't think"

"Jane" Lisbon looked down at her desk, refusing to look him in the eye "just go."

Although Jane couldn't see her face, he knew that tone meant she was serious. Ordinarily he would ignore her when she tried to make him leave her office, but today he knew he had crossed a line. Lisbon refused to look up and Jane had no idea what to say, he was shocked at how the hurt in her voice made him feel so guilty. Slowly he left her office without saying another word, and quietly closed the door behind him.