In A Perfect World I'm new to the world of fan fiction, and I thought I'd try my hand at it. This is my first one and any reviews/comments would be greatly appreciated :) Love, Ruby xx DISCLAIMER: Do not own in any way, shape or form; much to the dissapointment of my friend, Victoria. Chapter 1: Days like these are the ones we live for.

Teresa Lisbon sat in her office; content to just sit and listen to the day-to-day bustle of the CBI. No case, no hassle... Dream on... But just right now, that was how it seemed, and she was perfectly happy just to sit and listen... Oh, and fill out the paperwork that threatened to dominate her life. Can't forget that now, can we?

Just as she had a rhythm with those signatures on those pesky forms, enter Patrick Jane, "Good morning Lisbon!" he beamed whilst handing her a steaming hot cup of coffee made just the way she liked it. It was good to have him back after that stupid Red John case. "Get lost Jane. Haven't you fulfilled your 'annoying Lisbon' quota for this week?"

"That quota will never be filled." He whispered a he leant across her desk, closing the space between them, his hand coming dangerously close to hers.

Only then did she realise what he was doing. He was going to check her pulse. Her heart was in her throat already without unnecessary contact, not to mention that he didn't need to know that she could hardly see straight whenever he came near her. The 'Jane' effect, she called it. It frightened her, but she found is somewhat addictive.

Her heart fluttered and his hand brushed her wrist. She was so busted. "Uneven pulse, my dear Lisbon. It's quite surprising for you to lose your level-headed composure." He smirked and flashed her his megawatt grin. She would bet against any woman who said they were immune to the Jane effect. She was doomed. Forever imprisoned in her love for Patrick Jane.

Stop. She didn't love him, couldn't love him. He was already taken. Vanessa from counterfeiting, a match made in heaven. Well, visually at least. She had long blonde curly hair that hung in ringlets that trailed down her back, a decent tan and legs up to her eyeballs. Just Jane's type.

"Go away Jane, some of us have work to do. And by the way, that's a very disconcerting habit you have there, checking pulses." She quipped back; thank God her brain hadn't completely died and gone to heaven. "Only to you, Lisbon. After all, everything I do has a reason behind it. Method in my madness."

"Just go Jane." She wasn't up for the banter at the moment, after all being in close proximity of Patrick Jane is enough to throw anyone off kilter.

"Ok, if that's the way it is then!" He turned back towards her, smiled, and walked out of her office chuckling to himself.

What had he done now, other than stolen her heart, obviously, with those devilishly handsome looks. Mmmm, he looked good today, grey finely tailored 3 piece suit, baby blue shirt, the usual... Yup, still as delicious as ever.

Maybe, just maybe, one day in a perfect world, he'd be hers to keep forever.

Her pulse was racing. Perfect, just what he wanted. He could tell she was jealous of 'Vanessa' from counterfeiting. The reality was that 'Vanessa' was just a way of turning down women politely, as a defence so to speak, just during his recovery period after the Red John case. She didn't exactly exist. When Lisbon had asked to see a photo, he simply showed one of him and his late wife, the one he always kept in his jacket pocket, along with one of his daughter and one of them as a family, that was how it was.

Since the end of the Red John case had finished, he'd had far too many women fling themselves as him, despite his wedding ring remaining firmly in place, he needed some sort of defence. Unfortunately, to make this defence believable, he'd had to lie to Lisbon. If only she could know that Vanessa wasn't real; but it had to stay this way. He needed time; not to mention the CBI rules. Stupid rules and regulations. Rules are made to be broken right? It hurt him to think that if she ever found out she'd probably never trust him again.

At least the SCU never worked with counterfeiting, and besides they were rarely ever in the CBI building anyway; always doing some sort of fieldwork elsewhere. People usually took him at his word anyway. Nobody ever questioned the great Patrick Jane, probably out of fear that he'd blow all of their little office affairs out into the open if they didn't.

Why couldn't he just have a simple life? In a perfect world, he would have Lisbon, to keep forever. But like that would ever work out, leaving the question:

Did he want her enough to try?

"Boss. We've got one." Cho called as he came through her office door.

"Brilliant. Thank you Cho." She could be forgiven for the subtone of sarcasm in her comment; another case for Jane to muck up.

"Jane, get up!" she said as she kicked his couch. He looked good enough to eat. Stop that thought no Teresa...

"Ah, good afternoon Lisbon." Jane smirked as he sat up and stretched as he woke up from his cat nap. Oh no, how dare he look so good after dozing for hours?

"We've got one, now promise me you'll behave?" she almost pleaded. She was not going to beg Patrick Jane for anything, ever. The only reason she even dare to ask him to behave was because of a slight technicality with this next case. "It's a joint case with counterfeiting." Why them? Why her? Why him? Why them? Just her luck to end up working a case with Jane's girlfriend.

"What?" Jane looked startled and tried not to vomit at the thought that his bubble might be about to burst. "Ah yes, counterfeiting." He mumbled, trying to keep his cool. How the hell was he supposed to get out of this one?

Grace's face lit up at the statement, putting two and two together, but coming to a slightly happier conclusion. "Oh, does this mean we'll finally get to meet Vanessa? She looked so pretty from the photo you showed us. I can't wait!"

Doomed; he was doomed...