A/N: I can't even contemplate the next chapter of Ouroboros before next week with the way I've been working as it's much too complex so here's a mindless little two-parter for Christmas instead. ~Calla

#

Turning her coat collar up with a flip of her hand, Lisbon made her way to the familiar Mustang. While it wasn't exactly cold, it was undeniably cooler than she liked. Glancing around at the steady stream of worshippers pouring from the Cathedral departing Christmas Vigil Mass, she was glad she'd gotten to come this evening. The likelihood of attending an actual Christmas Mass tomorrow was slim to none. She and the team were certain to catch a new case or two. They always did. Besides, everyone knew the crazies came out in force on the holidays, especially Christmas. That included their resident crazy who, far from being in his depressing hotel room, was probably reflecting on happier days gone by under a snuggly pile of blankets on his couch in the CBI attic as he frequently did.

Shoving her keys in the ignition harder than she should have, Lisbon turned the key smirking as her beast purred to life. There was a reason she rarely let Jane drive her car unless she had to. Actually, there were two: she hated the way he drove and her car was her baby. There was no way in heaven or hell she was willing to let Patrick Jane behind the wheel unless she had no other choice. Though she had done it a time or two over the years, she'd always claimed temporary insanity or debilitating injury to anyone willing to hear.

Pulling onto the highway, Lisbon turned the Christmas classics playing on her radio up a notch as she refused to allow her thoughts to spiral in the direction they wanted to go. Her consultant so wasn't her problem this year. No more than he was her problem in the past. ..She simply wasn't going there. Just because she wasn't visiting with friends or family as she usually was didn't mean she couldn't enjoy the peace and quiet of an evening alone.

Besides, she'd done her duty by her guys including Jane. They'd had their team get together last week at the cop dive across the street making a jolly good time of it. In fact, they'd closed the joint down deciding to throw one last heated game of darts. Van Pelt had cleaned Rigsby's clock early on and Jane had taken care of everyone else by the end. They'd even exchanged token presents as they always did.

Jane had gotten her an extravagant basket of bath products featuring her signature spicy scent and she'd gotten him an expensive bottle of Armagnac. One very similar to the Brandy he was always pilfering from their wealthier victims every chance he got. Maybe having a bottle of his own to nip whenever he pleased would help keep him out of trouble. She sincerely doubted it; but, it was worth the effort of making a substantial dent in her pocketbook.

If that wasn't enough togetherness to suffice for the holidays, the team had met up at the Annual CBI Christmas Party a couple of nights ago. They'd spent most of the evening in each other's company after she'd done enough of the obligatory schmoozing to satisfy Bertram and received that subtle nod setting her free. Lisbon had to admit she'd enjoyed the rest of the evening for the first time ever which was largely due to finally foregoing her "I don't do personal with the team" rule.

She'd reluctantly accepted Van Pelt's offer for a Girl's Day Out the day of the party: a morning spent searching for the perfect dress and visiting their favorite day spa. Grace had simply wanted something new while Lisbon decided to try something more feminine, and less tailored, than her usual fare. Neither of them really cared if they found anything they liked or not. They both had suitable gowns hanging in their closets without buying another thing. It was the laughs, the companionship, and the pampering they were after.

As much as she disliked formal occasions, dresses in general, and for the hell of it shopping, Lisbon had enjoyed herself immensely. Grace was an amusing companion. More surprisingly, the world hadn't come to an end because she'd hung out with the only other female on her team. Not even when they'd slipped away to enjoy Margaritas and nachos and some harmless flirting with much too young waiters after getting their hair trimmed and their nails done soon after noon. Actually, Van Pelt had done most of the flirting while Lisbon watched. A while later she was safely home with her dress in tow and a few hours to spare before she needed to get ready. Deciding to take a nap, Lisbon refused to contemplate why she'd suddenly done something so out of character after all these years.

In the end, there was no denying every penny she'd paid for that dress was worth it. Lisbon had appreciated the masculine attention she'd attracted although it was the open admiration in Jane's eyes bringing the flush to her cheeks. She'd had a little open admiration in her eyes as well. The man cleaned up very nicely when he tried…And he'd clearly liked what he saw on her end as well…From the body skimming lines of her crimson halter dress to the brighter hues of her make-up balancing so well with the color of her gown to the sleeker tresses framing her face lending a more sophisticated twist to the slightly awkward tomboy usually showing up at these affairs…He'd definitely liked what he saw. And she'd appreciated the oh so subtle flirting they'd engaged in all evening as a result far more than she would have enjoyed anything more overt. Her team hadn't noticed anything more than the usual harmless snipes and jabs passing between them. But, they'd known the difference. Any lingering doubts she had were dispelled at the end of the night by a kiss on cheek landing much too close to the corner of her lips to be accidental…She so wasn't going there any time soon.

Spotting the looming sign for the market in the near distance, Lisbon prepared to turn with the coming light. There were a few things she needed to get for her private celebration this evening. It was a much deserved party of one ending in a long candlelit soak in her favorite cinnamon scented bubble bath courtesy of Jane accompanied by a healthy glass of wine and her favorite music playing softly in the background. As annoyed as she was to be grocery shopping on Christmas Eve, it was the first opportunity she'd had all week to get the necessities as they'd been busily wrapping up two lingering cases even Jane had found challenging to solve.

Pulling into a parking space surprising close to the door, Lisbon made her mental shopping list. A bottle or two of that good red wine she used for cooking to stick in her pantry and two splits of champagne to stick in her fridge for tonight and New Year's Eve, her favorite assortment of greasy appetizers, a decadent slice of that chocolate cake, and several staples she needed to get her through the week.

Closing her car door, she entered the market and headed right towards the deli to see what delights she could find. Making her choices, Lisbon didn't think twice about the fact she was loading her buggy with far more than she would ever eat even considering the left over angle. She certainly didn't need several generous slices of multiple varieties of cake. Nor did she need the slice of ripened Brie she tossed into the mix along with the box of fancy crackers, a ripe red pear, and green and purple grapes. Refusing to think about what she was doing, Lisbon tackled the frozen food aisle next where she threw a box of cheddar jalapeno poppers in her buggy along with a small box of ready-made quiches in several flavors before adding that bag of chipotle sweet potato fries she liked to snack on.

From there she headed towards the dairy aisle grabbing a small carton of pumpkin spice eggnog and another of plain as well as the milk and yogurt she really wanted. Turning her buggy towards the check-out counters, she grabbed the rest of her list along the way. Watching her selections being bagged, Lisbon refused to think about where all of this was going as she swiped her debit card, took her receipt, and rolled her buggy out to her vehicle. Given the insanity of the next few days, she'd need all the help she could get when it came to easy access foods in the fridge and pantry. Right, that voice in her head chided as she unloaded the cart and shoved it into the corral before heading back towards her car to slide into the driver's seat. Lisbon didn't think twice about it as she turned her car in the opposite direction from home.

A few minutes later she pulled into her parking place and strode into the CBI taking the elevator to the appropriate floor before taking the stairs that final couple of flights. Stepping into the attic, she saw exactly what she expected to see. One Patrick Jane spread across his couch with his eyes closed wearily in typical Jane fashion.

"Hello, Teresa, I knew you couldn't stay away. How was Mass?" Jane asked without opening his eyes.

"Good." Lisbon said feeling suddenly awkward as though she'd made a really bad choice in coming here.

"Only good?" Jane asked suddenly sitting up and folding his blanket.

"What do you want me to say? It was Mass and I'm glad I got to go for a change. So, yeah, it was good. Very good." Lisbon glanced out the dirty attic window at the lights beyond uncomfortably.

"Then I'm glad you got to go. Now, My Dear, what really brought you here when I know you'd rather be home soaking in your tub and sipping a glass of wine since you haven't got a hot date?" Jane asked.

That was her normal M.O. when she wasn't dating anyone or visiting family from what he'd gathered. She'd never sought him out on Christmas Eve before…not in all the years they'd known each other. He hadn't been open to such encounters in the past preferring to hide in the dark licking his wounds with only a few healthy slugs of high quality Cognac and a hangover for company. This year had felt vaguely different, at least since the Christmas Party, although his final intent had remained the same except maybe he'd trade the Cognac for a 30 year old Scotch for a change. But that was about it. As for the booze of choice, he hadn't quite made his mind up on that one hence the two expensive bottles hidden in his bottom desk drawer Lisbon knew nothing about. She certainly wouldn't approve of his drowning his sorrows as he did a few times a year.

Biting her lip and gathering her courage, Lisbon decided to bite the bullet. Cho was with his date of the moment tonight…A good looking auburn haired motorcycle riding tough chick book store owner with her head screwed on surprisingly straight that he'd met on a recent case. As it was a long solved case she'd been only a coincidental witness on, he was welcome to pursue any kind of relationship he chose with her. Lisbon hoped this one worked as Katrinka would keep her Number One on his toes presenting much saner challenges than Summer had. Cho was a good guy and he deserved to be as happy as he seemed to be at the moment.

As for the rest of her team, Rigsby had Benjamin for Christmas as his Mommy was off for a short getaway with her new boyfriend from the D.A.'s office meaning she'd get her chubby cherub for New Year's as she and his Daddy had agreed. Oh, and Wayne had Van Pelt, too, though she wasn't supposed to know about that. All of that meant, as usual, Lisbon had no one as her brothers and friends were all off doing traditional things with their families as they should be. Unfortunately, she wasn't as accepting of the hollowness as she had been in past years when their Christmas plans had fallen through. This year she thought she'd try something different. She only hoped Jane wouldn't make her regret it.

"I thought a change would be nice this year." Lisbon said staring at the dust on the floor resisting the urge to scuff her feet like a kid.

Jane wasn't helping her discomfit with that much too penetrating stare.

"What kind of change?" He asked.

"Why don't you bring that bottle of Bourbon you have hidden over there and find out?" Lisbon said in a challenging tone as she turned to walk down the stairs thinking Jane would accept her offer or he wouldn't.

If he didn't, she'd go home and continue with her original plans. Her gesture hadn't cost her anything. If he did, they'd see what happened. Maybe they'd both have a pleasant Christmas. Barely nodding her head, Lisbon decided that would be nice for a change.

Watching her retreating back, actually the sway of her hips, Jane shrugged before pushing off the couch. What did he really have to lose? It wasn't the first night he'd spent on Lisbon's comfy couch and it wouldn't be the last. It wasn't like he didn't have a spare suit and shirt hanging in her guest room closet, a pair of pajamas plus a few odds and ends crammed in an adjacent dresser drawer, and a toothbrush under the sink in the spare half bath. They'd been friends a long time with all the accumulating clutter…Plus, he'd spent more than one night on her couch over the years so this wasn't his first rodeo.

While nothing new, the circumstances weren't the norm. Neither he nor Lisbon was working through a particularly bad time. They were both on a pretty even keel having laid any lingering detritus left over in the wake of Lorelei to rest a while ago. That being said, he wasn't sure how to act. He wasn't quite sure what they were doing. Things had been a little different since the Christmas Party. While not his intent, he'd done little more than confuse them both with his aborted gesture that hadn't ended the way he'd intended.

He'd intended kissing Lisbon flush on the lips as he'd found her deliciously irresistible in that surprisingly unLisbon dress she'd worn so well. In the end he'd not kissed her as he'd wanted chickening out at the last second. Merely bussed her much too close to her delectable lips to be as innocent as he'd made it seem. As for Lisbon, she'd given him that wide-eyed look and not said a thing.

Turning his attention back to the Lisbon standing before him, Jane recalled the way that crimson silk halter gown with the discreet touch of rhinestones along the décolletage had clung in all the right places emphasizing the slender curves she possessed proving to anyone who'd ever questioned it that Teresa Lisbon could hold her own against any other woman in the room. She'd been strikingly lovely and surprising confident in her attire. He'd been impressed and more than a little turned on to see the woman beneath the slightly awkward tomboy exterior he loved so well shining in a way she never had. From the covert glances she'd sent his way when she thought he wasn't looking, Lisbon had liked what she saw as well.

Too bad she hadn't been astute enough to see beneath the ruse. His intentions had been less than honorable. He'd fully intended to sweep her off her feet, or at least lay some significant ground work in that direction. Had he stuck with the plan, Lisbon wouldn't have known what hit her. It wasn't an idle boast that he could seduce any woman he wanted. Lisbon included. Too bad he'd chickened out at the last possible moment….

However, it appeared all wasn't lost. He was getting a second chance. Even if Lisbon didn't know it he certainly did. Besides, the reality was, sneaky intentions aside, he'd be alone if he didn't accept her invite. And if the best laid plans of mice and men came to naught, was it really such a bad thing to enjoy a few hours of feminine company over the holidays for a change? Especially if that female was Lisbon? He didn't think so. Better to follow now and ask questions later. They'd both have more fun that way….

#

Watching Lisbon walk into the kitchen delightfully damp haired and attractively scrubbed, Jane banished the thoughts she looked surprisingly young and lady cop sexy wearing the familiar work out wear consisting of black yoga pants and a body skimming sunny orange spaghetti strapped tank. It was typical Lisbon lounge wear he'd admittedly seen countless times over the last decade…But, without his pulse accelerating as it was now.

Refusing to go there, Jane ruminated on his present state of affairs instead.

Freshly scrubbed himself thanks to the guest shower, he'd changed into that pair of pajamas he'd kept around the past few years for their impromptu sleepovers. As mundane as such things seemed to the average Joe, he wasn't a pajama wearing kind of man. However, he could hardly prance around Lisbon's apartment naked or in his underwear. ..They didn't have that kind of relationship…As for sleeping in his suit that was a no go as well. Even stripping to his button down and slacks would be far less comfortable than one might think. Not to mention utterly ridiculous. Hence the comfortable p.j.'s lingering casually forgotten on that shelf until they were needed.

"Did you decide to buy the whole market tonight?" Jane asked as he gazed at the platters of food he'd spent the past twenty minutes setting out. After he'd rooted through all of her cabinets for the appropriate serving dishes in typical Jane fashion as she surely expected. Lisbon had some surprisingly nice things up there most of which had probably belonged to her mother once upon a time. The style, while elegantly beautiful, was certainly dated. "And where's the team?"

"Yeah, I think I did." Lisbon said quietly debating where she should tell him she'd not really planned on buying anything beyond the pretty red and white Christmas bouquet, that slice of cake, and the everyday items on her list which hadn't included meatballs, chicken wings, nachos or any of the rest. "As they weren't invited I'd say they aren't coming."

Jane didn't say anything as she'd expected. Merely went about the business of placing a final couple of crackers around the Brie. Truthfully, before this hair brained plan had taken root in her mind, she'd been more inclined towards a couple of those cheddar cheese filled jalapenos and a Southwestern egg roll or two along with that decadent slice of cake.

She wouldn't be staring at platter after platter of finger food or all of those slices of cake: Carrot, Triple Chocolate, Red Velvet, German Chocolate and a sliver of Raspberry White Chocolate Cheesecake if she'd stuck with her original plan. She had enough food setting on her counter to feed her whole team two times over, Rigsby included.

"I'd have been happy with popcorn and tea." Jane said quietly knowing it was a lie.

He much preferred the spread before him suddenly realizing he was far hungrier than he'd thought. There was something about lounging about munching greasy appetizers and sipping wine with Lisbon that was much tastier than it seemed. And it was far more appealing for reasons having nothing to do with food.

For one, he rarely got to be around Lisbon au natural being her smart butt, lively self. Stressed out, nurturing Lisbon was far more common. Jane deliberately ignored the reality that, if not the cause, he was certainly usually a contributing factor in her being one or both of those things. For another, he wasn't looking at his "Boss" in quite the same manner since Lorelei.

He'd always found her attractive. There was no denying that. There was something poignant about those eyes…He'd always been a sucker for poignant…and the way her top lip curled up and out when she was thinking was irresistible…Watching her watching him, Jane decided, in the name of prudence, he wasn't going there. Even in the confines of his head.

"Yeah, well, I wouldn't. But, none of this is exactly what I intended either. It just happened." Lisbon admitted.

"Any more than you intended ending up in the CBI parking lot." Jane said what she wouldn't.

"That sort of happened, too." Lisbon agreed. "Although it wasn't the parking lot getting me in trouble…It was the going inside."

"I suppose it did." Jane agreed. "Regrets aside, I'm glad you did…Come inside, I mean."

"Me, too." Lisbon softly agreed.

Glancing at her from over the counter, Jane decided the expression on her face was much too pensive. From the look in her eyes to the way her lips were parted to the awkward alignment of her hands, she was second guessing herself as she often did. Everything from her stance to her expression was classic Lisbon confused and thinking too much. She still wasn't sure inviting him here was such a good idea. He might get the wrong idea. Or, worse yet, she might get the wrong idea and start having those thoughts they both knew she shouldn't.

Or, rather, she thought she shouldn't.

He thought she should as he'd been having thoughts along those same inappropriate lines for a while now. His companion was just slow on the uptake or she'd have seen the truth a long time ago. Not that he was all that surprised. He was "talking" about Lisbon. A woman who'd never seen herself as quite the prize he knew she was.

He, on the other hand, was a different story. He knew exactly what he was: massively damaged goods. A woman like Lisbon would be a fool to consider taking him on…Much less ever doing it.

But, such oddities had been known to happen.

Catching the strange glint in Jane's eye and the not so strange "lost-in-his-thoughts" expression, Lisbon's lips curved at an unbidden thought. Having him here in her home disrupting her orderly life was only slightly better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. But, the evening was still young. She could easily regret her generosity before the night was done as she was certainly asking for trouble of one kind or another. From the slight grin dancing across Jane's lips, he was reading her mind and she hated that! He did it much too often mostly to annoy her. One day she'd get him for it…as soon as she figured out exactly how one did such a thing to Patrick Jane.

Goodness knows Bertram had been trying unsuccessfully for years.

Watching Jane walk across the room to her pantry, she wasn't surprised when he went straight for the more expensive of the two bottles of red over the champagne in her refrigerator. Watching him reach into her cabinet for two wine glasses before uncorking his robust offering, Lisbon decided maybe he had the right idea. It was time to move this evening along.

Accepting her glass, Lisbon started loading one of plates with an array of appetizers and the coveted slice of Triple Chocolate Cake. Seeing Jane's eyes sweep longingly over her creamy decadence, Lisbon sent him a look clearly saying she'd fork him for his trouble. No one, and she meant no one, not even her favorite consultant making puppy dog eyes was coming between her and her favorite dessert. Taking her fork in hand, Lisbon scooped a nibble of cake and slowly licked the icing from her fork clearly staking her claim.

And realized immediately, from the look in Jane's eyes, doing that wasn't the wisest course of action under the circumstances.

Dismissing the undisguised lust and turning her thoughts to more innocent things, Lisbon couldn't decide between watching Die Hard or White Christmas. Maybe they'd watch both of them before they were done. She'd have to wait and see. Jane would probably make her watch Notting Hill instead. She'd deal with that discussion when it came.

What she wasn't doing was contemplating what that look she was ignoring could possibly mean...