Author's notes: Thanks to everyone who read,the last chapter and especially to those who reviewed it, and followed and favourited. as I mentioned in one of my other stories, I've never had so many read something of mine before, I didn't know that many readers existed, the number blew me away. I hope you enjoy this one. I loved the understated feel of the final scene as these two long time friends deal with becoming more than that and I've tried to keep that feel for this chapter. Hope it worked.

As the guard leaves Lisbon sits back down in the chair. She looks at Jane.

"How's the ankle really?"

"It's not broken, I just twisted it a little when I landed."

She looks quizzical at him.

"When you landed?"

Jane looks a little uncomfortable.

"Yea I had to climb a rather tall fence to get to the plane."

"You did what? Jane that's really serious."

He shrugs.

"I know but I didn't have my ID with me and they wouldn't let me through so I had to find another way."

"You're an idiot."

Jane's nodding his head.

"I know."

Lisbon's face softens as the memory of his words on the plane run through her mind and she can't stop the smile.

"I'm glad that you did."

He smiles back at her.

"So am I."

She glances at the guard looking at them through the glass behind Jane.

"Do you think he'll mind if we hold hands?"

"We can only give it a try."

Jane reaches his hand across the table and as Lisbon mirrors his action he takes it and wraps his fingers around it. As he relishes the feel of how her hand fits completely in his own, and the softness and silkiness of her skin. He has a flash back to sitting at the side of a dusty road having narrowly escaped the terror of losing two of his fingers and suffering from his beatings. He'd told her loved her and had then denied it.

He still wasn't sure what had caused him to say it before shooting her. He later told her he was hyped up, and he was. He'd told her that he couldn't remember but he could, he just couldn't explain why, perhaps it was the giddiness of having her back in his life again. He knew he wasn't ready and it was simpler to deny it and she'd let him get away with it. Funny that he'd been able to blurt it out in the midst of all the Red John madness and here, on the other side, when the killer of his family didn't exist any more, when he didn't really have anything to fear any more, he'd almost let her walk away.

"Penny for them."

He looks to her and smiles gently.

"I was thinking what an idiot I am almost losing you. I was sure you stayed on the plane."

"I'm not quite that predictable then?"

Jane smiles at the memory of the conversation.

"No, I guess not...just in some things."

They hear the door open and pull their hands a part. Abbott walks in.

"Hello Sir."

"Hi Lisbon, good to see you."

He nods in Jane's direction:

"Jane."

Jane nods in return.

Jane starts standing up.

"Phew out of here at last!"

Abbott shakes his head.

"It's not that simple Jane."

"Jane."

Jane turns to Lisbon at the sound of concern in her voice and she nods towards the window behind him. He turns to look and there are two guards looking at them. He turns quizzically to Abbott.

"You haven't been able to get me out of here?"

"There's only so much even the FBI can do. They say they can't have people breaking security with no penalty, it's a serious business. They're offering a deal."

Jane rolls his eyes and Lisbon asks:

"What kind of a deal?"

"One week of detention or they take him to trial and charge him under the anti- terrorism act."

Jane spreads his hands in unbelief.

"It's the best I could do Jane, they look down on this kind of thing."

Jane drops down into his chair, his rests his hand on the table rubbing his finger and thumb together. Lisbon reaches over and covers it with her own. He looks at her.

"Take it Jane, it's only a week, you've done worse. I don't want it hanging over us."

He looks at her, the thought of them being separated so soon tearing him apart, he sees the same in her eyes.

"You'll come visit?"

"Well technically Lisbon's on leave and I think she has some things to sort out."

Lisbon nods her head.

"Of course."

"I'll give them permission to release my personal effect to you, use my credit card to extend your stay at the Blue Bird, I would like to know you're somewhere nice."

"It's a bit stuffy Jane, I don't think I want to dress up for dinner every night."

Jane nods in understanding.

"Then use it to find somewhere else. Promise me you will."

"Okay I promise."

He breaks in to a smile.

"It's going to take a while for you to get use to calling me Patrick"

Lisbon smiles in return.

"I'll work on it."

Abbott interjects:

"Good, there's some paperwork to sign and I'll see you in a week. I trust I can leave it to Lisbon to get you back to Austin?"

Lisbon answers:

"Yes sir."

"Good"

Abbott's features soften as he looks between the two of them.

"Congratulations, I'm happy for the both of you."

Abbot nods towards the guards and then enter the room.

"You are going to have to leave now as we process the prisoner."

Lisbon stands and Jane follows. She walks over to him.

"Bye Patrick and I'll come see you as soon as I can."

"Don't forget my personal effects."

"I won't."

"Good luck with Pike."

"Thanks."

Jane looks toward the guard still behind the glass and then returns his gaze to Lisbon, he takes her face in his hands and they kiss, long, deep and sweet. This time the guards wait patiently. They savour every sensation, fixing it in to their memories to relive as they wait for his release. They break apart and Jane slowly traces a finger down her jaw line. He whispers softly:

"Bye."

Tears are swimming in her eyes. He leans in close to her ear.

"I love you."

He kisses her one last time on the cheek. She chokes out a reply.

"Bye."

Abbott and Lisbon leave the room, Lisbon looks back and a guard puts his hand on Jane's shoulder gently forcing him back down in the chair as the second guard sits across from him with papers in front of him.