A/N: Perhaps it's not a good thing that I enjoy creating/emphasising a twisted past for Lisbon. But she has issues too, it's not just Jane! Plus I like the idea of them *healing* each other. So I hope you enjoy what I write and don't think me too cruel towards her. And as always, I try to use as many Americanisms as possible, but sometimes I slip up, because to me they will always be lifts, flats and lollipop men.

Disclaimer: If I owned the Mentalist, no cases would ever get solved; Jane and Lisbon would be far too busy…

Patrick Jane watched Lisbon curiously as she tucked a dark strand of hair impatiently behind one ear. It was one of those longwinded cases in which every lead seemed to result in a dead end, and neither any witness nor piece of evidence had decided to be particularly helpful.

At the end of yet another tether, the team found themselves in the frustrating situation of needing to address one man in order to obtain details of another, who may or may equally not have information on a woman, who may or may equally not have witnessed an argument between a mystery man and the girl who was later found strangled to death in her apartment. Needless to say, Teresa Lisbon looked as if she was likely to rip off the head of the nearest consultant who so dared to step a toe out of line, and Jane loved every minute.

He didn't know what it was about her frustration that made his blood boil with glee and desire, he considered the possibility that it was at least some form of passion or emotion, neither of which she often disclosed to anyone. He enjoyed seeing a more intimate and personal side of her, even if it did usually leave stapler dents in the side of his head. He decided they were worth it.

Van Pelt and Rigsby had been out to question said (original) man. Lisbon herself had not gone because it was a mere procedure questioning - all they needed from him was a name, perhaps an address; information for which he had no reason nor motive to withhold from the CBI. Yet for some reason, perhaps just because nothing that happened in this particular investigation had gone predominantly smoothly, the man in question had caused a fuss, and needed to be taken back for official CBI interview.

Upon their arrival, Lisbon took the last swig of her now lukewarm coffee, slammed the mug down on her desk, and marched her way to the interview room, followed by a bemused Jane.

She entered the observation room, and saw the man sitting on the other side of the one-way mirror for the first time. Jane watched as recognition, horror and then a struggle to maintain a placid expression occurred almost simultaneously on her face. She turned to Rigsby and asked, in the calmest voice she could muster, but Jane noted the slightly higher and broken pitch of her tone.

"Who is this?"

Rigsby looked slightly confused.

"It's Sam Worton, the guy we discussed on the phone..?"

Her eyes slid back to the man sitting in the interview room; he was calm and quite frankly seemed amused at the situation. Jane's curiosity melted into calm concern.

"Do you know Worton, Lisbon?"

She stayed silent, not taking her eyes off the suspect, not making any attempt to look at Jane in response to his question.

"That's not Sam Worton. That's Rick Crowley."

"Who the Hell is Rick Crowley?" Jane asked incredulously.

She didn't answer, still staring unblinkingly at the mystery suspect. Then out of nowhere, she swooped out of the room back towards her office, sharply instructing Rigsby to conduct the interview as normal and to remove the suspect as soon as the information was obtained.

Jane and Rigsby glanced at each other, completely bewildered by their boss' outlandish behaviour. Rigsby then shrugged, and followed instructions.

After several failed attempts to get the suspect to open up, using the usual detective tactics, he decided it was time to unleash the power that was Patrick Jane upon the frustratingly difficult man.

Jane went in with his award winning grin plastered firmly on his face. He sat down calmly and didn't say a word, waiting for Crowley/Worton to address him first.

"Why aren't you questioning me?"

Jane's grin widened.

"Because you obviously want something from me, otherwise you wouldn't be withholding such insignificant information from us. What do you want? Why are you being so difficult?"

The suspect's own smirk also widened further.

"Because I heard you were CBI. I'm waiting till you draft in the legendary Agent Teresa Lisbon to come and kick my ass."

"I'm sure either one of these fine, burly agents Rigsby and Cho here would be quite happy to kick your ass for you."

"If it's all the same, I'd rather wait for Teresa."

"Why?"

"We have unfinished business to attend to. If she wants information from me, I'd quite like to know where she's been for the last five years."

That statement did surprise Jane, even just slightly.

"And who are you, exactly?"

"I'm Rick Crowley. Teresa's fiancée."

OOH! Reviews/suggestions PLEASE?