A/N: I can't wrap this up too quickly, so I'm stopping a little short so I can post it and start on the next chapter. Let me know how it's going.

Patrick's Dilemma
(Chapter 2)

THE END OF WEEK FOUR

Cho was dressed casual, not the expected workout gear. Jane was ready for the Saturday jog and was surprised an Cho's lack of readiness. He grinned, "Uh, did you forget something, Cho? You seem to not be dressed for the occasion."

"You know what today is," Cho asked.

"Yes, it's Saturday. A day I've come to affectionately consider our easy day."

Cho nodded. "True it is Saturday and Saturday is normally our easy day, but far more significant is that today is your four weeks of training that you agreed to. You are now a free man! You have fulfilled your commitment."

"You mean you're not going to train me any more?" Jane's look of distress was almost comical. "I know I complain a little, at times, but I've really gotten used to the routine."

"I said that you are a free man. I didn't say I wouldn't train with you. I just won't be your "boss" any more. We'll be workout partners. It's been years since I trained with anyone, and you forced me back into a discipline that I'd gotten too lazy to maintain. You accepted a challenge and you did well, Jane. You have reason to be proud of yourself."

Jane smiled. "This is a trick, right? I'm on candid camera?" He winked. "Seriously, I did have all sorts of concerns. You pushed me hard, but not so hard I couldn't do it. I've lost 20 pounds in the past four weeks and I feel better than I have in years. Another 10 pounds, and I'll weigh what I weighed when I was 22, when I was at my physical best. So, since you're not dressed for a workout, how about we head out and find some good food. I'd never be silly enough to eat before a workout, but since we are taking it easy today..."

The past four weeks had gone by quickly at CBI. The first week of Jane's workout efforts, there had been no new cases, and he'd been so sore that lying on the couch was all he really felt like doing. Since this was his normal mode of existence, no one noticed or commented. What everyone did miss was that he'd not had one doughnut all week long.

The second week, they pulled two major cases and broke both of them on Friday afternoon. Jane had contributed to the solution, but was not the shining star. In one case Van Pelt had figured out that the person behind the murder was actually a jilted lover, and in the other, Rigsby had uncovered the vital lead. Friday, afternoon, the pizza was hot and plentiful.

Lisbon, ever alert to Janisms, did notice an odd interplay between Cho and Jane, but never did discover that Cho had given Jane permission to have some pizza – something that would not be on his Monday – Friday diet.

The third week, Lisbon did notice and comment on how energetic Jane had been. He'd actually spent more time being productive than napping on the couch. Tuesday, he'd spent some time on the couch, contemplating a case, and had bounced up with a solution a couple of hours later.

By the fourth week, Jane had two of his suits altered to better accommodate his changing body. His shirts and vests had been altered to a taper, to account for his slimmer waist and broadening chest and shoulders. It was not a dramatic change, but it did make his suits fit more comfortably. He did not miss the additional glances that he received from Van Pelt and Lisbon. He grinned and winked at both of them, adding to their confusion.

THE FIFTH WEEK

Jane strolled into the CBI office, step jaunty, whistling and off key tune. Lisbon stopped pouring a cup of coffee and squinted towards him. "Would you please learn the tune to that damn song you keep whistling and humming," she griped.

Jane grinned. "Now, now, Miss Sunshine, what side of the bed did you get up from today? The wrong one?" He looked pleased with his retort.

Lisbon took a sip of her coffee. "What is it with you, lately? You've been coming in all smiling and happy. This is not the Jane I've grown to know and despise."

"You're just jealous that I'm coping better than you, and you know you really love me!"

"Right! I love you like I love a hemorrhoid! Pain in the ass," she muttered.

"Oh, you mean you hold me close to you and treat me gently?"

Lisbon had been taking a sip of hot coffee. She choked, the hot liquid came spewing out of her mouth and nose, fouling the area of the coffee pot and staining her blouse.

Jane decided this was an ideal time to make a very quick trip to the men's room, possibly to even to barricade the door.

"You get back here, Patrick Jane. You clean up the mess you've caused. I swear, I honestly swear that I'm going to shoot you. Where is my gun?"

Patrick leaned against the men's room door, grinning. "Some mornings you just can't buy," he mused. "Some are just too good to be true."

THE SIXTH WEEK

For three days in a row, now, the building air conditioner had been broken. There was minimal air circulation and all of the offices had been supplied with floor stand fans. That was better than nothing, but not adequate to the task of providing any level of comfort. "Okay, gang," Lisbon had said Tuesday evening, "we all know it's hot as the hinges, in here, and maintenance has no idea when the repairs will be complete, so tomorrow will be dress casual day. Keep it decent, but make it cool. We do need to get some work done, and we can't function if we're roasting." The enthusiastic response to her announcement was even more than she'd expected.

The next morning, it was a different crew that reported for work. Van Pelt was clearly the "flower" of the bunch. She'd worn a mid-calf sundress that was low on the shoulders and presented an interesting view of her anatomy. She was clearly pushing the limits of decent. Rigsby could hardly take his eyes off of her, seeming unable to decide where to gaze. It would be difficult to decide if her legs or breasts more spectacular in that dress.

Both Cho and Lisbon were casual, but not spectacular. Cho was wearing jeans and a polo shirt, looking as neat and impassive as ever. Lisbon's black jeans and form fitting, sleeveless pullover were flattering and cool. Rigsby had harkened back to his "jock" days, and wearing light slacks and a muscle t-shirt. The looks Van Pelt and he were exchanging showed it was having the intended effect.

Lisbon tapped on her coffee cup with a letter opener, the tink, tink, tink, focusing attention on her. "I see we're all ready to face the heat of the day. She glared at Van Pelt and Rigsby. "Let's see if we can keep it cool." She looked around and focused on the couch. "Has anyone seen Jane? He's been Johnny on the Spot, lately."

As everyone was looking around and indicating the negative, Jane came bustling in. "Sorry," he said. "There was an accident and I had to find an alternate route." He stopped and stared at all of them. "My, my, aren't we all casual today."

"I don't believe you, Jane." Lisbon said. "You can't really be wearing a three piece suit in this heat."

"I'm not," he said smiling. He removed his suit coat, revealing that his arms were bare. Removing his vest, a sleeveless, form fitting, tapered white shirt was revealed. He unclipped the clip on tie and tossed it on his desk. "Now I'm ready to face the day, here, in the CBI office."

The reaction was everything he could have hoped. Van Pelt was the first to react, and she did it in an uncharacteristicly boisterous manner. "Holy cow, Bat Man, where did you get those guns?" She was staring at his well defined arms and tapered torso, making her meaning very clear.

Rigsby chimed in, adding: "Damn, Jane, I don't remember you looking like this." Then opening his mouth so he could insert his foot further into it, he continued: "You're the office cream puff."

Cho actually smiled, in public, taking evident pleasure at the results of "his" handiwork. Jane glanced at Cho, slightly nodded in acknowledgment and winked. Again, Van Pelt thoughtlessly spoke. "If that's a cream puff, I'm adding cream puffs to my diet." That earned a hard glare from Rigsby and she ducked her head, looking embarrassed.

"Children, children! It's a casual day and he's casual, now let's go to work," Lisbon injected.

Jane turned to her and smiled. "Thank you, My Lady." He followed that by a semi-bow. He went to his desk, aware of her eyes following him. His secret smile would indicate to anyone who knew him that he was plotting some scheme. His occasional glace at Lisbon showed who the plot could involve.