A/N Second chapter, delivered hot and ready. Hope you like it, and please keep the reviews coming.

The next day at the CBI was uncharacteristically quiet.

There was a homicide, but it was an open and shut case. Not a complicated thing, by anyone's standards. The agency had stepped in to provide manpower and resources, the local PD having been busy with other cases. Robberies, another murder, and a couple assaults, to be specific.

In the bullpen, Van Pelt worked on her computer. Rigsby and Cho handled paperwork, and Lisbon worked quietly in her office. Right there with her, Jane slept on the couch he had bought for her. It was horrible, as a point of honesty, to see him there.

The sight of him made Teresa remember his fake breakdown. It was a memory she tried not to revisit. At least, not too often.

As he napped, Lisbon tried to concentrate on her files. Once she heard his snuffles though, it didn't take long for her to give up. Way before she'd ever loved him, she'd already loved those snuffles. They were cute, and they turned him into a little boy instead of the sharp consultant that he was.

Sighing, she put down her current folder and looked at him instead.

Now that she was in a particularly reflective, it seemed only yesterday when she'd taken Jane in after the Hannigan fiasco. He was hopeless then, and clearly broken as all hell. Anyone who looked hard enough could see that. And even then, his poor plight had tugged on her heart. She hadn't known him all that well yet, but already his pain had affected her.

Was it destiny? Maybe it was. Maybe they were endgame. Her and Patrick, a goddamn OTP like all the teenagers said.

Her eyes strayed to his chest, going up and down with his breaths.

Considering the depth of his agony, she sometimes expected him to just die. No muss and no fuss, just his dead body on the bullpen couch. Cause of death would, appropriately, be a broken heart. Maybe the coroner would autopsy him, and find the poor organ completely crushed by Red John.

Lisbon shook her head as she thought about it.

How Jane could survive such wretchedness was beyond her.

It only made her more determined to share the weight. To ease the suffering he bore so quietly on a daily basis.

"Lisbon, stop staring at me, please."

She blushed at having been caught, but damn if she'd ever admit it. "I wasn't staring. Dream on, Jane."

Jane opened his eyes fully, and then turned his head and winked. "You keep telling yourself that, dearest."

Dearest. There it was again. He seemed fond of the term these days. "Why do you call me that?"

He only shrugged. "I'm not likely to call Cho or Rigsby that, am I? Also, Grace is spoken for by Wayne, so you're the only one left. And you matter to me more than anyone else, Teresa. You know that."

She leaned forward on her desk. "You seem unusually forthcoming today."

"What other choice is there?" Jane sat up fully. "You asked me to trust you, so I will. Besides, I'm thinking we need a new strategy if we're gonna catch Red John. Hiding things from each other hasn't helped so far. That leaves one logical solution. We both turn a new leaf, and tell each other what the other needs to know."

Lisbon said nothing, so Patrick continued with his words.

"Teresa, you know I'm not being forthcoming just out of pragmatism. Something changed between us yesterday. I won't disrespect that by hiding things from you. So from now on, if you want me to explain anything, you have but to ask."

Although his statement was meant to please, it only made fear boil inside her blood. There was one answer she wanted from him, one explanation she wished to ask for. Depending on what he said, he could make her happy, or he could crush her completely.

But then, he did want them to turn a new leaf. So fine. She would just take the plunge.

Lisbon steadied herself and spoke. "Listen, Jane. The day you fake-shot me. Did you really forget what you said?"

He got up at her question. After clearing some space on her desk, he sat there and cradled her face again. Patrick leaned forward so their noses touched. His voice was low, honest. It was his real self coming totally to the fore.

"I've loved you for such a long time," he said. "How could I ever forget it once I told you?"

Lisbon disintegrated within moments.

Meaning to soothe her, Jane pulled her close, feeling her start to cry against him. Their quiet day at work surely wasn't quiet anymore, but he was still happy about this sudden turn of events. Telling her the truth had lifted a huge weight, and Jane felt elated at Lisbon's reaction. Why else would she cry, if she didn't feel the same? She had to love him, right? She just had to, that was the logical thing.

Once she stopped, he pulled away. He still cradled her face though, desperately wanting to hear the words.

"How about me?" Jane asked. "Do you love me as well, sweetheart?"

There was still a slight sob in her voice as she said, "Of course I do, you big idiot." Her smile took over her whole face.

Her short response made Patrick cry too. It was only one tear down his cheek, but whatever. Jane didn't cry often, so that tear was a feat.

Oh God, Teresa loved him. The thought had his soul singing like an idiot.

"You know you can't take that back, right?" There was still a frisson of doubt in his voice.

Lisbon laughed. "Don't worry, Jane, I won't."

The answer got her a blinding smile. Jane pulled her up from her chair, leading her to the couch he'd just vacated. He was the first to sit down, tugging her onto his lap. He took the closeness as an opportunity to wipe her tear tracks away.

Once Lisbon was presentable and considerably calmer, Jane leaned in to whisper in her ear.

"You've made me very happy, Teresa. You should know that. But now also very scared. I won't survive if you leave me."

His frail words made Lisbon want to cry again. As they sat together, Jane transformed into the mortal man he'd always been. With her was not the charmer who always got his way. Instead, with her was a man simply afraid to lose his woman. And in its own way, his fear proved his love.

Lisbon pulled him even closer, sensing his need for reassurance. She repeatedly kissed the curls on his head.

"I won't leave you, you know that, right? He won't take me away."

His hold on her tightened, a slight tremble included. She continued to speak.

"Patrick, I've got your back, you've got mine. If we keep it up, we'll get through this. And who cares if Red John is Bertram, or Kirkland, or whoever? We've got way better people on our side. We've got Cho, Rigsby and Van Pelt. Those three and us two? Perfect combination. We're like Daredevil."

Jane's laugh broke his silence. "Since when did you get so humorous, Agent?"

"You must be rubbing off on me." Teresa pulled him up with a smile. "Come on, you. Let's get going."

"And where to, my beautiful love?"

She tried not to grin and failed utterly. "You blond charmer. Come on, let's get you some tea."

Patrick took a slow sip, enjoying the brew sliding down his throat. Somewhere between now and a decade ago, Lisbon had learned his tea method perfectly. No mean feat too, considering he'd never really taught her. Somehow she had just learned, in that efficient Lisbon way of hers.

It only made her more lovable. He thanked her by way of a kiss, and she'd never been more thankful that they were alone.

Although she smiled, her eyes were serious. "You know Jane, I really don't like seeing you afraid."

He set his cup down. "I wish I could help it, sweetheart. But you're my last hope for a future. If he gets you, I might as well die too."

"Don't you say that, Jane." She gripped his arms hard. "Losing faith gets us nowhere. You have to be strong."

Jane pulled her into a sudden hug. "I'll try my best, Lisbon. For you and for everyone else."

"Damn right you should. That's the kind of thing I want to hear."

He picked up his tea again, being somewhat mollified now. Jane smiled his contented smile at her.

Then he said, "You know, I really like you calling me Patrick. It makes me feel very close to you."

At first, the words had stopped her cold. And then before she knew it, she was just crying like a lunatic.

What kind of man said things like that anyway? I like you calling me by my given name, it makes me feel close to you? Really, who said stuff like that? Oh yeah, Patrick Jane did. And because it was him, she'd cry in the break room if she wanted. It was her goddamn right after all they'd been through.

Still, why was she against his chest? When had that movement happened?

He soothed her, hand tracing circles on her back. "Did I say something wrong, darling?"

She hurriedly dried her eyes. "No, no, nothing wrong. It's just crazy, you know? I can't even explain it. You're really something."

"If I'm really something, then what are you waiting for? Be out with it and just say I'm amazing."

"Oh, bite me."

"Out here, Lisbon? Where everyone will see me nibbling you?" He put a hand to his heart. "I'm scandalized!"

She slapped his arm. "You know that's not what I meant."

Jane took an innocent sip of his tea. "Well what did you mean, then? Shall I bite you somewhere more private?"

"Oh screw you." Frustrated by his antics, Lisbon retreated to her office.

"My, my, Teresa!" he yelled out. "I didn't know you were so forward!"

"She's so what?"

Patrick whirled around to see Grace, sporting a confused expression on her face.

He sipped his tea with a grin. "Never you mind, Agent Van Pelt. Never you mind."

A/N Thought I'd give them a quiet day first. Next chapter, the hunt for Red John goes into full swing. Review, yeah?