Authors Note: I've not been writing much lately, not for fun anyway. Life and school have been getting in the way. It's been so long that I've changed my username and I doubt anyone has noticed, I've just not been active enough. But I wanted to tell the story of Jane and Lisbon and the first few days of their newly admitted love, and while I originally sat down to write an up against the wall tear your clothes off sort of fic, that is not what happened in the least bit. Instead, I came out with something gentle and tender and soft. I thought about how much they already knew about each other, about their eminence shared history, and of all the moments that they had shared over the years and this is what happened. I'm several chapters in at this point, but each could stand on its own if it wanted. I'm writing this more for me, wanting to revisit an old friend that is the Mentalist. This first chapter was written on my cellphone. I had to get it out and get it out fast. Please forgive any errors. Thank you for sharing in these memories with me, it's been a hell of a ride.

Gentle Beginnings

The thrilling, jittery feeling of new love was still hanging around her head as they left the tiny TSA office at the small airport in the Florida Keys. She wasn't sure how much of her lightheadedness was due to Jane's kisses over the interrogation room table and how much due to the fact that she hasn't slept in almost 24 hours.

"The hotel is on your dime now, Jane." Abbot said as they walked through the parking lot to where Abbott's car was waiting. Lisbon knew better than to ask how Jane had gotten to the airport. That would come in time. Now she was just ready to enjoy the newfound feeling of hope growing in her chest.

"Lisbon, I'll see what I can do about D.C.," Abbott said add they got into the car, "but I don't imagine it will be too hard to get you back on our team in Austin, if that's what you want of course." The last sentence was added as an afterthought and made Lisbon chuckle.

"That would be great, Sir." They drifted into silence as they drove through the small town to the Blue Bird Hotel. She was sitting in the front next to Abbott, Jane behind her. Jane kept reaching his hand up and touching her shoulder, neck, arm. It seemed to her as though now that he had made his emotions known and she had come to him he wanted to make sure she didn't disappear.

"We've got things pretty much wrapped up with the case. Lisbon, you have a bit of time off, what with no longer moving, and I'm sure we will survive without Jane for a few days if you guys..." Abbott trailed off, not sure if he should finish his thought.

"We'll keep you posted," Jane said distractedly as he and Lisbon got out of the car.

"Thanks for the lift," Lisbon said with a sight wave. She had her bag slung over her shoulder and was standing closer to Jane than was probably necessary, but she didn't care.

They made their way to Jane's hotel room, the scene had been cleared, and they were free to use it for as long as they needed, provided they wanted to keep paying the high nightly rate.

Lisbon placed her bag on the ground and sat down in one if the chairs that she was sure just hours before had held at least one of their murder suspects.

"I didn't realize how exhausted I was until we got back here." She sighed, closing her eyes and leaning her head back.

"We've both been up for much longer than our bodies are used to anymore. And it's been an emotionally trying day in more ways than one for both of us." Jane said from behind her. She sighed again as he placed his hands on her neck and started to massage the pain and frustration of the past few months out of her muscles. "You've always carried your tension in your shoulders. I can tell when you've had a bad week by the way you rub your neck at the end of the day when you think no one is looking."

She just mumbled in consent, not denying it or calling attention to the fact that he watched her more than she realized. She leaned her head forward and focused on the pleasure that was his hands on her skin. It was similar to the touch in the car on the way to the hotel, but at the same time so much more intimate than they had ever allowed themselves to be. It was amazing the emotion and meaning behind a simple back rub.

Lisbon tried to stay focused on the feeling of Jane's hands on her, but found that the longer he continued, the more relaxed she became and the closer to sleep. She felt the pull of the day on her and sighed.

"As much as I would love to stay here and just let you keep ministering to my aching bones, I fear I may fall out of the chair if I don't get to sleep." Lisbon said reluctantly, drawing straighter in the chair and turning to look at the face of the man she could now admit to herself that she loved.

"Why don't you get ready for bed and I'll make sure that the room is dark enough." Jane said, backing up slightly.

Ten years of unconventional courtship and an intimacy she hadn't shared with even the man she had been willing to uproot her life for and she found herself nervous at the thought of Jane seeing her in her pajamas. She took her whole bag with her into the bathroom, suddenly embarrassed for no good reason. She undressed slowly. She had, on lonely nights long past, allowed herself to think about what it would be like to be with Jane. On the cold nights in the two years he was gone she found herself often thinking of what life would be like with him, what it would be like to share a bed with him, to have him touch her, look at her, with want and lust.

She thought about a night so long ago it seemed like a dream, where she had danced around in an old jersey secretly wishing that it wasn't an unethical, slightly homicidal, psychiatrist she was trying to snare. She smiled at the memory. She had been dancing for Jane really. The man the trap was set for would never see her dancing in nothing but a shirt.

With that memory fresh in her mind she washed her face, brushed her teeth, and slipped into the shorts and tank top she had brought for pajamas.

When she opened the door, she saw Jane awkwardly standing next to the bed as though he wasn't sure what he should be doing. The curtains on the windows were shut tight against the rapidly rising sun and in the glow of the light from the bathroom, Lisbon could see that the "do not disturb" sign was missing from the inside of the door.

"Why don't you get ready," she said softly as she made her way in the semi darkness to the bed.

"Ok."

This was still so new for both of them, this next step in their relationship, that neither wanted to make a mistake. Lisbon climbed onto the bed and under the covers; she wasn't sure if housekeeping had been in or if the bed had never been slept in, but she was betting on never slept in.

She had closed her eyes and was drifting off when she heard the bathroom door open and felt the bed dip down as Jane climbed in next to her. She could feel his warmth radiating from him and unconsciously moved closer. He tentatively put an arm around get and she burrowed into his warmth.

She wanted to say I love you but instead turned slightly in his and so that she could see his face and spoke quietly to him. "Do you remember Dr. Carmen?"

"The psychiatrist who tried to frame you for murder? What about him?"

Lisbon turned back around as she started taking. "I was thinking about how we got him to confess. Partially faking a mental breakdown, throwing chairs through office windows, donuts from Marie's, Bosco," the name said quietly, even after all these years the pain if his death still lingered, "and dancing to the Spice Girls."

"I remember that dance," Jane whispered in her ear.

"I was dancing for you." She paused for a second, thoughtful before continuing. "Not in an 'I'm trying to seduce you' way. But I knew you were watching. I was wondering what you were thinking of me. If I was having any effect on you."

"I was still so lost at that point. I saw you. I didn't want to lose you. You meant so much to me, even at that point. I could see Bosco closing in, feel Red John slipping away," this was the first time he'd said that name since he'd come back to the states and it felt dirty and foreign on his tongue. "I wouldn't admit it to myself, but that dance played in my dreams. It kept me going while I was in Vegas. The thought of life after and what it could mean."

"I still have that jersey," she said through a yawn.

"You'll have to show me." He whispered again, knowing that they both need sleep.

They lapsed into silence and drifted off to sleep in each other's arms.