A/N: Thanks for all your reviews to the first chapter. This chapter is still a bit of an introductory one but gives some hints on both their stories. Hope you continue to read and review!

Chapter 2 – Getting Familiar

Jane leaned against the Captain's desk, his head tilted to the side as he openly studied her. She sat back in her chair and crossed one leg over the other, her demeanour showing him she wasn't intimidated. 'So, Lisbon, I'm interested to find out what makes you think you can take me on.'

She glanced quickly at Marshall but saw his gaze flicker between the two of them, a soft smile playing on his lips. This was obviously some kind of test to see what she was made of.

She cleared her throat, looking Jane up and down. 'Perhaps you should ask yourself the same question.'

'Ah, but I've already impressed the Captain here for a number of years. You're the one who has something to prove.'

After a second of contemplation she nodded. 'Fine. Have it your way. I have a number of years experience under my belt, both in local Law Enforcement and, you were correct, I was with the FBI for a few years. I decided I was tired of all the politics in D.C. so wanted to get back to grass roots detective work, if you will. This police department here has an excellent closure rate and, after some researching, I've found out that this is largely attributed to you. I'm interested in seeing what you can teach me. I think we'd make a good fit together.'

Jane nodded, as if ruminating on her response. 'Always nice to end with a little piece of flattery. You're correct about the closure rates but the rest, well, that's nonsense.'

'Nonsense?'

'Yep. You didn't leave D.C. or the FBI because of politics. But you did seek out an opportunity to work here. Why you did both of these things, I don't know yet. Even I'm not vain enough to believe it has anything to do with me being here. And, if you have researched me thoroughly enough, which I believe you have because...well you seem the type of person who wouldn't go into any situation without adequate and, perhaps, over adequate preparation, then you're not really interested in what I can teach you. You think my methods are haphazard at best, bordering on the illegal and you're wondering how the long suffering Captain here hasn't kicked me out of the force by now. You don't think we'll make a good fit. You think we'll butt heads at every opportunity. I tend to agree.' He folded his arms across his chest, a smile still on his lips.

Lisbon looked off to the side for a moment and bit the inside of her cheek before turning back to him. 'But you still want to work with me nonetheless' she stated confidently.

His smile turned into a grin. 'How could I not?'

A knock interrupted them both from their thoughts and Jenkins popped his head in the door. 'Jane, Holloway wants to talk to you. Says he's ready to make a deal.'

'Excellent.' He moved from the edge of the desk and bent down to shake Lisbon's hand again. 'I'm pleased to meet you, Lisbon. I think we'll actually have some fun working together.'

As he left Lisbon let out a sigh. 'Well, he's certainly lives up to his reputation' she said to Marshall.

'He does that. Still think you can handle him?'

She nodded. 'Nothing wrong with letting him think he has the upper hand. Might as well let him enjoy it for a while.'

Marshall grinned in response. 'This is going to be interesting.'

Detective Kelly caught up with Lisbon the following morning as she tried to figure out how to operate the coffee machine. 'Hey, so I believe you'll be joining our little band of merry souls. I'm Kate Kelly' she smiled, taking charge of the operation.

'Um...yeah, thanks. Teresa Lisbon' Lisbon smiled back. She hated this part, being the new kid on the block and trying to fit in. She judged Kelly to be in her mid twenties, a decade younger than she was and of a somewhat chipper disposition. 'How long have you worked here?'

'Just under a year. It's quite a unique team.'

Lisbon nodded and laughed. 'Yeah, I met Patrick Jane yesterday.'

Kelly leaned in, 'He likes to pretend he's the coolest cat around but he's a pussycat once you get to know him.'

Lisbon got her coffee and went to the bunch of desks in the bullpen where she would be sitting, trying to balance a bear claw and a coffee in one hand and a bunch of files under her other arm. 'Careful' she heard a voice say behind her and felt the files be released from her grasp. Jane immediately sat at his desk, sprawled his feet on top of it and put the files in his lap, beginning to open them, skimming through their contents.

'Excuse me, what are you doing?' she asked, walking up beside him.

'Isn't it obvious? Reading' he replied without looking up.

She rolled her eyes as Jenkins came up to them, a flask in his hand. 'Detective Lisbon, I believe you're my replacement.'

Lisbon turned her attention to him and tried to take the scowl from her face and turn it into a smile. 'Hi, yes, I guess so.'

He motioned to Jane with his hand. 'He already causing you trouble?'

Jane grinned but kept his attention focused to his reading material.

Lisbon straightened her shoulders. 'Nothing I can't handle.' She spoke more softly, 'Ken, is it?' shaking his hand.

'What say you and I get some peace for a few minutes?' he smiled. She smiled back, his avuncular nature reminding her of her grandfather.

She nodded. As they were about to walk away Jane piped up in a light tone, 'Ken, now don't go and give away all my secrets. Lisbon will figure them out in her own time.' He didn't lift his head until they were almost at the door, then he looked up and pursed his lips, a barely audible sigh escaping from his lips.

Jenkins brought her up to the roof of the precinct, a view that allowed them stunning views over San Diego. A bench sat there looking over the ocean view. As the old man sat down, moaning slightly as his backside hit the bench, Lisbon sat beside him tentatively. 'What's a bench doing up here?' she asked.

Jenkins chuckled. 'You're more interested in that than my words of wisdom?'

Lisbon smiled beside him. 'I'll be glad of any tips you can give me on how to work with him. You've been his partner now for what, four years?'

He nodded, running his hand through what was left of his white hair. 'I never thought I would last a month.'

'Is he that hard to handle?'

Jenkins rubbed a finger across his lips, considering the question. 'Once you go with the flow then no, not really.' A pause followed when his expression turned darker. 'But sometimes...well...I'm guessing you know his history, why he joined the force.'

Lisbon looked at her feet. 'Um...yeah. It's hardly a secret within Law Enforcement.'

He nodded. 'Well, when...when Michael rears his head then...let's say any rationality he has goes right out the window. The change in him is remarkable.'

She sighed. 'I heard as much on the grapevine. Becomes a man possessed.'

'That's an understatement.' The old man took a hip flask out of his pocket. Seeing Lisbon's surprised expression he shrugged, taking a sip. 'I'm leaving at the end of the week, what are they going to do to me?' After putting the cap back on the flask he spoke in a softer tone as he looked out into the horizon. 'It's my one regret you know. About leaving. I can't wait to get more time with the grandkids, been in this job so long they hardly recognise me. But...I wish I could have helped him catch him.'

As they came back into the squad room the files remained on Jane's lap but his feet still rested on his desk and he had his neck to the back of his chair and his eyes closed. Jenkins rolled his eyes at Lisbon and shrugged. 'Take my desk, Teresa. I'll sit on the sidelines.'

Lisbon hesitated. 'Are you sure?'

Jenkins smiled, practically pushing her into the seat opposite Jane. 'I've spent long enough looking at his ugly mug, it's your turn.'

Lisbon regarded Jane, a slight upturn in the corners of his lips the only sign he was awake and had been listening to the exchange.

She settled herself at the desk, adjusting her chair and straightening some items on it, moving the phone and computer screen so they sat at a straighter angle. As she shifted in her chair she saw him watching her. She hadn't even realised he had opened his eyes. He was doing the same thing he did the first time she met him, openly observing her every movement.

She shot him a pointed glare. 'Give me my files back.'

He knew what she and Jenkins would have spoken about. Tips on how to keep him in line. Of how to stop him going off the rails when Michael claimed his next victim. But none of it showed in her expression. She was using determination and an apparent lack of empathy instead of compassion or pity. He liked her for that. As long as she didn't get in his way then they may have a chance of this working after all.

He pulled the files together and pushed them over to her desk. He leaned forward in his chair and clasped his hands together as they lay on the desk in front of him. 'Why were you looking at cold cases of disappearances?'

'Just acclimatising to how you file your reports here. Current case files might be needed by other detectives so it was easier to understand how things are filed here by looking at cold cases.'

An obvious lie that she barely tried to conceal. He nodded slowly before putting his feet back on the desk and feigning sleep once again.

A/N: So, some clues to both their back stories in this chapter. Some light heartened fun in the next one!