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THREE - To build something new

Set at the beginning of "Red Tide", shortly before Jane finishes his sandcastle. No missing scene or possible part of the episode, because this one wouldn't fit into the original story (unless you change the rest of the episode ;)).

"I was looking for you."

As irritated as Teresa Lisbon's voice sounded, it also spoke of amusement. And how couldn't she be amused, with this picture in front of her - one of Patrick Jane sitting in the sand, jacket and vest taken off, sleeves rolled up, feet bare, and hair a bit wild. And in front of him was a big - and even that was an understatement - sandcastle.

"Something you need me to do?" he asked, not looking up, but busily shoving sand into the small bucket. Lisbon didn't even want to know where or whom he had gotten it from.

"Actually, yes, we need your help at an interrogation of a suspect...," she answered, but was interrupted by him, who didn't really seem to listen to her, when he asked "You want to join in?"

"Don't you think you should leave the sand to the children?"

"Come on, have you never been dreaming about being a princess in a castle when you've been a little girl?" Without waiting for an answer, he leaned towards her, grabbed her hand, and pulled her down to make her knee beside him.

"Even if I had - I'm not a little girl anymore. And besides, we don't have the time for this now," she argued, and tried to get up, but he stopped her effectively when he pushed her back into the sand and then quickly took off her shoes.

"Jane, give them back," she groaned and reached for them, but he quickly hid them behind his back. "Why can't you just act like a normal adult?"

"Why can't you just simply take a break? Ten minutes. You help me, I help you. And I'm almost done, so it will probably take less than ten minutes. Deal?"

"No, Jane, it's not a deal. We have work to do and this is a waste of time. So come on now."

"You work too much, you know. And," he looked at his non-existent watch, "it's time for a break anyways. Ten minutes." She rolled her eyes when he offered her the bucket with a winning smile.

And she couldn't believe she gave in.

---

As he had promised, it didn't even take them ten minutes.

Lisbon looked up curiously when people around them were clapping and cheering, and she needed a moment to realize that the people were so enthusiastic about Jane's and hers work. More Jane's than hers, but at least it had been her time, so she deserved the applause as well, she decided for herself.

She was still sitting on the ground when he appeared at her side, bent down and held out a hand.

"May I have this opening dance, Your Highness?"

"What?" she asked confused. Either he had inhaled too much sand or spent too much time in the sun. Or both. But he definitely had lost his mind and that thought was visible in her facial expression.

"The castle is finished, and now there's an opening ball. Besides, I still have four minutes," he explained nonchalantly, what made Lisbon sigh.

"You're such a child sometimes," she commented with a shake of her head, but took the hand he offered nonetheless, and let him pull her up and close to him. While his one hand was still holding hers, his other came around her to rest on the small of her back. She placed her other hand on his shoulder, looking expectantly at him.

She didn't know which music he was swaying to, but she had to admit that she liked the gentle movement, how he guided their bodies around the castle. She barely noticed the people around them watching, and how they smiled. She just got lost in his eyes; the smile and the tenderness that showed through them.

After half an eternity he slowly stopped the movements, stopped swaying; only stood and held her.

"Thank you for the dance," he gave her a gently kiss on the forehead and then let go of her, "and now we can go to work."

With this, he quickly picked up his things, gave her her shoes, took her hand and pulled her with him to her car without even giving her the chance to think about a response.

END