*Authors note: I do not own the Mentalist or the characters. This chapter is going to start deviating a little from the show. Hope you enjoy. This chapters a bit longer than the others. Please review! :-)*

Chapter 3

Lisbon arrived at the FBI headquarters in Austin, Texas. Clipping a visitors badge to her jacket, she scanned the room looking for Abbot. He told her he'd meet her when she arrived. She straightened her jacket and smoothed her hair down. She woke an hour earlier than she needed too this morning, unable to sleep. Today she was going to see him. Today she was going to see Patrick Jane. The excitement that had followed Abbots call on Tuesday had long since, not all she felt were nerves.

Her stomach was in knots, and she hadn't been able to eat anything. Apart from the dozen coffee's she's had this morning, her stomach was practically empty. As she walked through the reception area, she got a glance of herself in the window. She stopped and checked her reflection, for what seemed like the thousandth time. 'Stop it, Teresa.' She berated herself, 'It's only Jane, he's seen you before. This time is no different.' That was a lie, this time was completely different. She hadn't seen the man for two years, she had no idea what he'd been up too. Would he be the same man who left? How would he feel about her? He didn't need her any more, she had always known Jane only stayed around the CBI because of Red John. Well, Red John was dead, so why was she here?

Lisbon turned her back on the window, before she could start fretting about her hair again. As she turned, she saw Abbot walking towards her.

"Chief Lisbon." Abbot said, formally, holding out his hand. Lisbon shook it and then dropped hers back to her sides. "I'm glad you agreed to come. Let's go to my office, there's something I'd like to discuss with you before we meet Jane."

"Is he here?" Lisbon asked, her eyes scanning the room for the familiar blond head.

"He's in a detention suite, upstairs." Abbot replied. Lisbon shot him a puzzled look. "I'll explain it all in my office." Abbot lead her through the building and, despite herself, Lisbon couldn't help but be impressed. The building was impressive, professional and clean. The offices were open and spacious, the agents around professional and they all seemed to be busy. Lisbon couldn't help but feel a little jealous of the work they get to do. Abbot led her to the 4th floor and let her precede him into his office.

"Please, take a seat." He gestured to the chair opposite his. Lisbon sat down, feeling slightly uncomfortable. She just wanted to get this over with and see Jane. Why on earth was she here? "I'm sure you're wondering why I've asked you here, before seeing Jane."

"As a matter of fact." Lisbon replied, trying to keep the bite out of her voice. She wasn't successful. Abbot smiled at her, picked up an envelope and handed it to here. "What's this?" She asked, even more confused now.

"A job offer."

"What?"

"You're surprised, I understand." Abbot started.

"Why?" Lisbon asked, to say she was shocked was an understatement.

"I know you don't practically like me, or the FBI for that matter. And who can blame you, I know if it were the other way around I'd be pretty pissed myself." Lisbon snorted, Abbot ignored her and continued. "Nevertheless, you are an exceptional cop Teresa. My bosses, and myself included, now you would be a great asset. We want you to work for us, more specifically, for me."

"You want me to work for you?" Lisbon was sure she was dreaming, surly she would wake up any minute at her house in Washington. Why would Dennis Abbot of all people want her to work for him?

"Here me out, Lisbon. You're record with the CBI was incredible, your integrity and compassion surpass anyone I've ever known. I may not agree with the way you and your team conducted yourselves occasionally, especially when it came to Patrick Jane, but there's no denying you were the best Agent the CBI had. And we want you here." Lisbon just stared at him, not really sure what to say to that. She thought this man hated her, and yet here he is asking her to work for him.

She wasn't sure if she'd had forgiven him for what he did to her and her team, let alone working for him. But working at the FBI. That would be incredible. "When do I need to decide?" She asked.

"Well, I was hoping you'd accept now." Abbot replied, hopefully.

"Why?"

"Jane" He said simply, now she understood

"You're going to offer him a job, aren't you? And you offering me one because of him, right?" She accused, not at all happy about being played.

"Yes, and no," Abbot said, cryptically.

"What does that mean?" She was starting to lose her patience now.

"We want you in the FBI, because you are a fantastic cop. I want you I my team, because of Patrick Jane." Lisbon was surprised by his honesty. "I know the two of you have a, for want of a better word, 'special' relationship. You were the only person who was able to control him."

"I wouldn't say that." She scoffed.

"I would, except for the McAllister fiasco, you were able to keep him reigned in. He never went too far when under your supervision. I need your help, if I have any hope of keeping some form of control."

"You can't control Jane, he does what he wants. If he likes you, he may do as he's told." Lisbon retorted. "If you want him to do what you want, you need to give him something he wants."

"That's what I'm doing." Abbot replied, "He gave me a list of demands before agreeing to return. Most of them are mundane things, easily worked around and not essential, except one."

"Which is?" Lisbon prompted, her frustration returning.

"You."

Jane sat on the small chair, in the tiny box shaped detention suite. He was rereading Moby Dick, the only book the ever so helpful FBI agents gave him. He turned his page as the door opened, his entire body stilled. He didn't even have to look up to know who had just walked in. He remembered everything about her, the sound of her footsteps, the smell of her shampoo, the small little intake of breath she does before doing something she was nervous about. He lifted his eyes up and they fell on her face, his breath caught a little in his chest when he saw her.

Lisbon stood in the doorway, her eyes soaking in everything she saw. He was different, and yet still the same. He wasn't wearing his three piece suit, and there were socks missing from his feet. His hair was lighter and his skin darker. He seemed to be more muscular than she remembered as well, but when he looked at her she saw the same Jane that left two years previously. A smile slowly spread across his face, and her own broke in to a smile as well. He closed his book and put it down, getting out of his chair her crossed the room and pulled her into a tight hug.

The pair of them just stood there, holding each other. Both thinking that any moment they would wake up and be alone. After a minute they let go, Lisbon pulled back and laughed.

"Nice beard." She grinned.

"Oh, I've missed you." He said simply.

"I've missed you too." Lisbon replied, not knowing, until this moment, just how much she had. She just stared at him for a few seconds, everything she had planned to say flew out of her head. He was really there, he was really back. She shook her head slightly and took a step back, needing to put some distance between them. "I've just had an interesting conversation with Abbot."

"Really?" Jane said, keeping any emotion from his face. He couldn't let her know how much his heart was pounding, waiting for what she would say next. She didn't say anything. "What did he want?"

"Don't do that, Jane."

"Do what?"

"Lie to me. You know what he wanted." She was getting angry now, her mood changed in a split second. Yes, she was happy to see him, but now she was angry with him. "Who do you think you are? You've been gone, out of my life for two years. And now you swan back in here organising my life for me."

"Lisbon-"

"No, Jane. You can't just come back, expecting everything to be ok. Did you even think about me? Even think about what I want for me life?"

"Of course I did, you're one of my demands."

"Your demands? I'm not your tea, Jane!" Lisbon was so angry now, Jane shrank back a little and the tiny brunette lashed out. "I have my own life in Washington. I have a job, a house."

"Do you enjoy it?" He put in, trying to make her see his point of view.

"That's beside the point." She snapped back. "You can't know that I don't like it, for all you know I could have settled down there. How do you know there isn't someone back there waiting for me?" She immediately regretted that comment when she saw a flash of pain cross his face. It was only brief, and it she was anyone else she wouldn't have noticed it, but she did.

Jane sighed and dropped his eyes, his shoulders slumped. She was right, of course she was. He did was he always did, thought of himself. Assumed he knew what she wanted. Truth be told, he knew she didn't enjoy Washington, but he didn't know if she had moved on. Who can blame her if she had? He had been gone for two years, and it wasn't as if they were a couple or anything. The truth is, he assumed she wanted to be here, because he wanted her to be here.

"You're right." Jane looked back at her, noticing her eyes soften a little. "I'm sorry, I didn't think of you. I just assumed, I shouldn't have. I'm sorry." She didn't say anything, just smiled a little and sat on his little makeshift bed. He hesitated a little before joining her. "So," He began, no really sure where to go from here. "How have you been?"

All of a sudden, Lisbon burst out laughing. Jane joined in and the pair of them just sat on the bed laughing together, just like they used to. Once they had calmed down slightly, Jane put his hand over hers. She looked up at him, surprised at the move. "In all seriousness, Lisbon. Have you made a decision?"

"I have." Jane waited, patiently, for her to continue. "I've accepted the job." Lisbon said, watching him carefully for his reaction. His smile was so big, she couldn't help but grin back. "Abbot sent me in here, to escort you to the meeting."

"Does he think I'm going to try and escape if he sends anyone else?"

"This is no laughing matter, Jane." Lisbon said, seriously. "You could go to jail, for the rest of your life. Please be sensible and hear Abbot out."

"I promise." Jane said, and he meant it. He would agree to anything Abbot said, just as long as he could have this woman back by his side. Lisbon smiled at him, and the pair of them got up and left the room. As they left, Jane called; "Federal agents, coming through."