A/N: This story is based on a request from Sssssy who read my one shot Couch Confessions and asked if I could write an alternative end to 6.17 if I felt inspired. I did so here it is! Hope you like it. I'd love to know what you think, as always.

This was originally intended as a one shot but it will be a few chapters long, the story is growing legs the more I think I about it so hope you'll bear with me to the end.

Disclaimer: I don't own The Mentalist, the wonderful Bruno Heller does.

The Black Dress

Chapter 1 - Decision

Jane closed his eyes as he lay on his brown leather couch. He heard a noise beside him and he opened his eyes to see Lisbon look for her keys on her desk wearing a black sleeveless dress. 'Look at you' he said, admiration in his tone.

She turned around to him. 'Don't start' she replied, a slight blush coming to her cheeks.

He looked at her for another moment. He said softly, 'I'm not starting, you look beautiful. I hope he's taking you someplace nice.'

Lisbon rested against her desk, the personal nature of the conversation and the intense gaze he was giving her making her feel a little uncomfortable. 'Cloth napkins and everything.'

Jane nodded, his eyes still fixated on her. 'Fancy...Well you have a great time' he said quietly.

'Night, Jane.'

As she walked away he said, 'Night, Teresa.'

After she left he stared at the ceiling. Another date with Pike, obviously. This was unusual for her. She normally dated a man a couple of times before kicking him to the curb. Sometimes not even that. But this wasn't a casual encounter. He knew Pike was smitten, that was apparent. But Lisbon seemed genuinely interested in him too. She had taken his call as they were on their way to an interview, something he had never witnessed before, flirting and arranging another date with him right in front of his eyes. He had never seen her act so...unprofessional? Was that the word? He wasn't sure but he didn't like how it made him feel. Not one bit.

He missed her. He wondered for a split second if this was why he was having such a problem with her dating Pike. Was it just jealousy that Marcus had taken up her time now instead of her spending her free time with him? But he already knew perfectly well what the problem was. He was jealous. But not because she was spending her time with someone else besides him. Because part of that time involved her sleeping with him. The picture formed in his mind of her in the throes of passion with Pike, too quickly for him to stop it. He breathed deeply, making it vanish but it left a dull ache in his stomach.

It had never bothered him at CBI when she took lovers. Then he shook his head. Okay, it had bothered him a little. When he had went to Mashburn's room that night to give him back his credit card he knew she was there. Mashburn steered him away from the bedroom in the hotel suite and he saw the empty bottle of champagne on the table. He was a little taken aback that night but not completely surprised. In fact, he had practically encouraged her to sleep with him. It wasn't like he could offer her anything more back then in any case and he knew it wouldn't last with Mashburn, not on her part. He was a safe choice, someone she could have fun with and he knew that at the time but with Pike things were different.

Since he'd come back from South America she was different to how she was back in those days too. And not just because of the distance she had put between them on his return, her need to stop him getting too close to her again, the fear of him hurting her once more. He had given her the time she needed, hoping that she would begin to find trust in him once again. To realise he wasn't going anywhere ever again. Just as he felt they were turning a corner Marcus Pike had come into her life, offering her honesty and openness and a stress free life. It was no wonder she had jumped at the chance, a juxtaposition of the relationship they shared.

But she was also different because she wasn't a boss anymore and didn't have to fill out the endless paperwork explaining and covering up his bad behaviour. She had more time on her hands so she wanted more than a work life. And Pike was giving her just that.

The next day he saw her in the break room. She was smiling to herself before she heard him come in to fetch his tea.

'Hey Jane' she said, pouring herself a coffee.

'Morning, Lisbon. How was your night? Meal fancy enough for you?'

She shrugged. 'Sure, it was...nice.'

Jane raised his eyes. 'Nice? Well, that's not good.'

'What do you mean?' she laughed. 'Nice is a good thing.'

Jane tilted his head. 'Maybe sometimes but for an extravagant meal? Nice? Sounds like it was overpriced and not much to it.'

She smiled at him. 'You have no idea what you're talking about.'

He leaned in and took a closer look at her, sniffing her, making her take a step back. 'What the hell are you doing?'

'Traces of almond residue on your lips and the unmistakeable aroma of Danish pastry. If you had been fed properly last night you wouldn't have needed a bear claw this morning.'

She widened her eyes and put her fingers to her lips, looking at them to see if there were any crumbs. 'There's nothing there!' she exclaimed.

Jane raised his eyebrows. 'No, but you've just confirmed I was right in any case' he smiled.

She shook her head and chortled. 'Okay, fine. It cost Marcus a fortune and there was a portion of fish the size of a pea on the plate. Happy now?'

'Deliriously' he smiled, in large part due to Agent Pike spending a week's salary on this ill advised venture.

'Do you have plans for tonight?' The words were out of his mouth before he had a chance to think and back out of what he had decided last night as he lay on his couch.

Lisbon was taken aback for a second at the hurried way the words had toppled out of his mouth. 'Um...'

'Surely he can last a night without you, Lisbon. It'll make him keener in the long run, trust me. And I promise you the fattest burger you can manage. And ice cream for dessert.' He was laying it on thick but he hadn't come this far to take no for an answer.

She smiled at him, a little pity in her eyes. 'Sure. Sounds good. It'd be nice to catch up out of work. Seems like a while since we have.'

Normally that look would have made him defensive and make him come back with a retort of some kind but instead he shot her a dazzling smile. 'Excellent.'

They were going straight out after work but Jane decided to clean himself up a little before leaving. He brought his shaver and shaving foam into the bathroom and set to work on a clean shave. As he began to make clean strokes with the razor Abbott walked into the bathroom. They nodded to each other and Abbott used the facilities. As he was washing his hands he looked sideways at Jane.

'Shaving?'

Jane washed out his razor in the sink. 'It's no wonder you've got where you are with those fine observation skills, Dennis.' He began another pass with the razor, eyeing Abbott who was still looking at him with a smirk on his lips.

'You got a hot date or something? Since when do you bother to shave at this time of night?'

Jane shrugged, hoping saying nothing would give nothing away.

Abbott was not so easily discouraged and leaned against the sinks, raising an eyebrow.

Jane sighed, dipping the razor back into the sink again. 'My stubble was starting to itch. Time for a clean shave.'

Abbott nodded, a smile on his lips letting Jane know he didn't believe a word of it. He dried his hands on a paper towel, leaning over to him. 'Time for a clean start too, Patrick. Don't back out of it. It's about time you came clean in more ways than one. Just make sure the pair of you aren't late in the morning.'

He chuckled lightly as he left leaving Jane at the sink, staring into the mirror.

A/N: Hope you liked the beginning. The dinner date is next.