Chapter One

It had been ten days since Lisbon had left, her delayed flight rescheduled and actually leaving Austin the second time round. As he'd feared, her absence had forced his heart to contract every time his thoughts latched onto her. The thing that scared him most, however, was that it had only been ten days and it was already hurting this much. He'd weakened to the self-pitying state he'd vowed with himself that he would never reach again. Yet here he was.

The team had acknowledged that Lisbon leaving was going to hit Jane hard. He'd perhaps request time off, isolate himself or put on a poker face. Instead, his work ethic had strengthened, his mind only wandering when he was sat on his couch; or so they thought. The truth was, he wanted to prove to himself, Lisbon, and the team that he could still close cases without her. Plus, he needed to learn to cope with it sooner or later, he still had at least another four years working under the deal him and Abbott had drawn up, the nearest to an exoneration for the murder of Red John that he was going to get.

The out of work hours were the most difficult to handle, surprisingly. He was alone, meaning he had time to think and silence to fill with his thoughts and pain. He'd always been awaiting, expecting, a call from Lisbon, telling him about a new case or updating him on the evidence they'd gathered. Now, his cell never rang in the evening. It wouldn't ring at all if Abbott and Wylie stopped notifying him a few times a week.

When he'd confessed his feelings for Lisbon, he'd also confessed them to himself. Saying them aloud had made it real, it was no longer a simmering affection that he could ignore. He'd meant everything he'd said on the plane. He was terrified and he couldn't imagine not seeing her everyday... Even whilst currently living it, he couldn't.

As the eleventh day dawned, he threw the comforter aside, as he'd been waiting to do for at least two hours. Sleep was rare. He slipped on his suit jacket over the disheveled shirt and left his Airstream. From there, he crossed the parking lot to the main doors of the FBI glassed building. He'd moved the Airstream there in the past week, finding it easier to settle at night with the hum of traffic fighting away the silence that swallowed his thoughts. Abbott had agreed to it, as had Director Schultz, who both claimed it meant he wouldn't be late to work again with the benefit of keeping an eye on him. Of course, Jane knew Abbott had linked this sudden rearrangement with Lisbon's departure from his life and the team, and neither him nor Schultz questioned his motives.

He was preparing a cup of tea in the break room when Abbott approached him.

"Jane," Abbott greeted, standing near the island in the middle of the kitchenette.

Jane's lips drew into a thin, shallow smile. "Abbott."

"How are you?"

"Perfectly well." This was a repeated conversation that he had with members of the team on a regular basis now.

"Good… Then my news shan't come as a dreadful surprise…"

He took a sip of the bland mix he'd just brewed. "And what's that?"

"Agent Samia Porter shall be joining us today. She's transferring from the FBI field office in LA."

"She'll be replacing Lisbon?"

"Yes, she's on a two day trial period."

"You're unsure, or she's unsure?"

"The director is unsure. Porter hasn't worked in a Department of Justice unit before, we need to see how she takes it."

"And you'll know in two days?" He said, a hint of judgement in his voice.

"We'll have a better idea as to whether her training and experience is suitable for the role here."

"Very well." Jane shifted, making it clear he wanted to leave.

"Jane," Abbott said again. "You two will often find yourselves in the field together."

"The problem is?"

"There's no problem, I just wanted you to know."

"Well, thanks for plenty of notice," he exclaimed sarcastically as he walked out the door to meet his couch.

Abbott remained, shaking his head with a smirk at the consultant's remark.

When Jane had comfortably positioned himself on his couch, settling the saucer on his lap with a long finger still hooked through the cup's handle, Fischer edged towards him.

"Jane," she smiled. He reluctantly held back the need to roll his eyes as the scripted sounding conversation started again.

"Kim."

"How're you today?"

"Well."

"That's good… good… Abbott spoke to you?"

"Indeed."

"How're you feeling about the new recruitment?"

"I'll get back to you on that one," he said as he stood and strode straight past her. She frowned, confused, then spun around to see that he was speaking to someone in front of the elevator.

"I'm Patrick Jane," he introduced, holding out his free hand for her to shake. "You must be Samia Porter?"

"Yes… How did you know?"

"I recommend not asking that for the simple things. Wait until you're really hung up on something, then bank it in."

"I'm sorry?"

He waved his hand around for a few seconds, trying to summon the right words to describe his confusing nature. "I have a tendency to… be a little excessive. Hurl around some hunches and accusations. Nothing to worry about. Just think about things before you ask questions, no doubt you already know the answer." He sighed. "I can see we'll get along just soundly."

"Agent Porter," Abbott interrupts, appearing beside them.

"Dennis Abbott?"

"Yes. Let's go to my office." He glanced a warning glare at Jane, before returning his gaze to the pretty faced agent with a smile. "I'll lead the way."

They both walked off down the corridor leaving Jane stood on the unit's emblem printed onto the floor. He looked down at his feet, catching a glimpse of his handmade socks from Washington and turned to step into the elevator.