There are so many wonderful Blue Bird Tags out there that I decided to try it in drabbles/double drabbles instead. Not sure at this point whether I'll continue. My muse has wandered off to Islamora.

Definitely don't own the characters which is probably as well. All respects to the writers, actors and production team that bring TM to life.

Applause

Patrick Jane was in love with her?

Squeezing shut her eyelids, Lisbon willed the tears to stop, but they still spilled down her cheeks. Where was her control?

He loved her! Jane….

After all these years. All this silence.

She could kill the son-of-a-bitch. She really should.

But her body betrayed her and she rose to her feet.

Pushing past the lady in 12C, Teresa reached for her carry-on bag.

Then, staring at the floor, face burning and hair cascading to shield her shame, Lisbon marched to the exit.

Behind her, the passengers broke into applause. "Go get him, girl!"

Bet

Lisbon slumped against the terminal building, eyes closed as she breathed deeply.

She had never been so embarrassed. Never would she have dreamed of disembarking from a plane like that! All those strangers who now knew her most private business… And yet wished her well!

One thing for certain, there was no going back. No escape to Marcus' arms. No carefully planned, normal existence.

The dice sure had rolled. This would be the gamble of her life. Being with Jane would consume her. But being without him now might be worse…..

Not for the first time, she reflected that backing Jane into an ultimatum was a dangerous thing to do. All these months she'd hoped for a sign. For some crumbs of affection and attention for her, even though she wasn't a murderous supermodel.

But nothing!

And then, beyond any reasonable point of clawback, what had he done? Shown her himself, stripped emotionally bare. Vulnerable like she'd never thought possible. And as for honesty, he'd given her that alright. The question now: could she accept that kind of devotion? And even return it? This wouldn't be just dating. This was commitment.

Fingers gripping her cross, she reached her decision. All-in!

Changes

First things first. Whatever happened with Jane now, the thing with Marcus – well, um, technically, she supposed, the engagement – was off. And she needed to tell him.

Flashing her badge at Security, Lisbon walked back into the departure lounge and sank into a waiting chair. Poor Marcus. He hadn't even made it to number 1 on her speed dial. In fact, he was fifth, after Jane, Abbott, Cho and Fischer!

When he answered on the second ring, so excited, she felt like such a bitch. "I'm really sorry, Marcus. I won't be joining you in DC, now or ever. "

Decisiveness

Peering through the interrogation room window, Lisbon drank in the sight of her man. The rigidity of his spine and the curve of his neck gave away his dejection. He must have assumed that she'd gone.

And his bandaged foot was up on a stool. What had he done now, the idiot?

Time to step forward. Grab the future by the throat. A fierce voice in her head noted that he better darned well have meant it… though somehow, in her heart, she had no doubts that he did.

Pushing the heavy door open, she slipped into the available seat.

Enthralled

Twelve years of shared glances and gentle touches. How come she'd never really noticed?

Oh sure, she'd been under the Jane spotlight before – that split-second flashgun that bared your thoughts and feelings to him instantly. At times, she almost felt sorry for his suspects. After all, he'd never really sought to destroy her. Some of them weren't so lucky.

But never had it felt like this. Captivating. Enthralling. Like she was seen in total - strengths and insecurities, joys and devastations – and bathed in acceptance, warmth and trust.

And those eyes. How could she ever escape them? Why would she?