Jane's emotions were bittersweet as he sat down on his couch. He had at least found out why Lisbon had been smiling. One objective had therefore been achieved. What he hadn't counted on was being the person to stop her smiling. He felt guilty, but also angry. Although he hadn't actually thought about it himself, he had deduced from his highly observant mentalist powers that Lisbon liked him. Of course he knew for sure they were friends, but sometimes when he caught her looking at him, he wondered if she saw something more. He had never let himself think about it before, but the prospect of Lisbon getting dressed up and going for dinner for another man made him feel ill. He lay back on his couch closing his eyes. Determined to try and understand the range of emotions coursing through him at the time. Anger, yes there was definite anger, but he was pretty sure it was aimed at himself more than at Lisbon, had he let something really great slip by? There was also hurt. Hurt that she hadn't told him herself, it didn't occur to him that it wasn't any of his business. They were friends, friends should tell each other stuff like that. There was also the prickling of something else, was it jealously? Jealously that another man could make Lisbon smile all day, and get to spend time with her after work? Jane decided to push that one to the side for the moment, it was all getting the better of him. One thing he was sure of, even if it wasn't his own feelings for Lisbon, was that James – however handsome he might be, was wrong for her. He was too by the book, not exciting enough. Sure he was attractive, but Jane couldn't picture Lisbon being Lisbon with him. He didn't look like the kind of man who would snuggle on a sofa, and just watch a dvd – he was all about appearance. He was too concerned about looking good for his boss and his career to have a good time. He wanted Lisbon to show her off, as just another part of his perfect package. And Jane wasn't about to let his friend, or whatever she was, become a trophy wife to some arrogant and overly ambitious career man.

Jane's mind, which had been racing with schemes of breakups and consolations and devious plans to make Lisbon realise she was making a mistake began to slow. Soon all he could really think about was Lisbon, her face, her smile – so rarely on show, he drifted off to sleep.

Jane jerked awake about an hour later, Van Pelt and Rigsby giggling at his messy hair. He had been dreaming about Lisbon, and somehow, though all was not quite clear yet, he felt he had had an epiphany. Jane liked Lisbon, Jane liked Lisbon a lot. In his dream it was him who had been taking her for dinner, him who put the smile on her face. It seemed so obvious when he thought about it – and although he knew he still had a lot of demons to wrestle with, he knew one thing for sure. He needed to stop this Lisbon and James thing before it was too late.

In much the same way as he had done earlier that day, he strode across the bullpen to Lisbon's office. The door was closed, but he went straight in, talking almost as soon as his hand reached the doorknob.

"Lisbon, listen I'm really sorry I...." he stopped abrubtly. Lisbon wasn't there, her desk was tidy and her coat was gone. She wasn't just getting a coffee, she was gone for the night. His face fell as he looked on at her empty office, so lifeless without her in it. He turned around, hiding his disappointement with his famous grin and walked over to Cho.

"Cho, do you know where Lisbon is? Seems kind of early for her to leave for the day."

Cho remained looking at his book "How should I know, I'm not her keeper"

Jane stifled a exasperated sigh, he didn't want them all to know about his sudden epiphany.

"Thanks Cho, you've been a great help"

He wandered over to Van Pelt who was in the kitchen making coffee.

"Hey Van Pelt, don't suppose you know where Lisbon is? I need to talk to her about work stuff"

Van Pelt didn't look very convinced, but didn't ask questions, she knew better than to try and pry into Jane's motivations.

"Yeh, she left early – she needed to get ready to go on her date with that hottie from the fourth floor"

Jane visibly gulped "hottie?"

"Sure, he's got some game – I might be after him myself if he was a few years younger, and, well if...." she glanced over at Rigsby and then turned back to Jane. "You might catch her if it's urgent, their reservations aren't till 9."

Jane smiled "and how do you know so much about Lisbon's love life Van Pelt?"

Van Pelt seemed to consider her answer very carefully before she said "well, in case you haven't noticed, there aren't many women around this place, we have to stick together. When James first asked Lisbon out...."

"Hold on, hold on" Jane said, interrupting Van Pelt and putting up his hand to signal her to stop, "when James first asked her out? Do you mean to tell me that this isn't their first date?"

Van Pelt looked awkward, she hadn't meant to discuss her bosses private life with Jane but it just sort of slipped out. She knew Lisbon was a fiercely private woman, and she felt immediately guilty for betraying her trust. But Jane would continue to ask she knew, and she had made her bed – she had to lie in it. She'd probably be put on stake out duty for a month when the boss found out, that is, if she didn't shoot her first.

"This will be their fourth" Van Pelt said quietly.

It took Jane a moment for this new information to sink in, this was their fourth date. That meant she liked him. He knew Lisbon well enough to know she wouldn't date someone just because she was bored. Fourth date – he knew old dating rules from college, the third date was the one he should be more worried about, but that had passed. The fact that she was on a fourth could only mean that she had enjoyed the third date...trying to fight the image of James and Lisbon in bed together, Jane returned to Van Pelt. She was looking at him curiously, his face had gone through such a range of emotions.

"Thanks Van Pelt" Jane said hoarsely, "I'm going home I'll see you later."

"Bye Jane"

Van Pelt returned to her desk, with a concerned look on her face. She was observant, maybe not as observant as Jane but she had picked up on some stuff since she'd been here. She always knew the boss and Jane had a close relationship. But for the first time she seriously thought about them as a potential couple. Jane had been visibly upset when she'd let slip this was Lisbon and James's fourth date, and she had a horribly suspicious feeling that Jane was not on his way home right now.