Jane carried his suitcase through the airport towards the boarding terminal. His suitcase was small, but he didn't really need much. He saw the rest of the team standing together, talking. They hadn't spotted him yet, and so he took this opportunity to view them from a distance, read their body language. A sort of warm up exercise for the upcoming case. His eyes went to Lisbon first, his favourite. His favourite to read, to be around, to tease, annoy, and amuse. She stood at least six inches shorter than the rest of her team but he did not need to know them to know that she was in charge. Her body language exuded confidence and she seemed cool and in control regardless of the fact that he knew she was beginning to stress due to the fact that the plane was due to board in 20 minutes and she had yet to spot him. Cho stood next to her. Arms crossed over his chest, his face stoic as always. Always the hardest of the team to read, he appeared today, ready for business and giving nothing else away with his body language. Jane wondered if he had always been like that or if he had become so when a "mind reader" had joined his team. Jane expected it was likely a combination of both. Van Pelt stood beside Cho, she was the only member of the team that Jane ever felt really comfortable calling by her first name, and the only one who the other team members sometimes called by her given name. Grace was smiling but Jane could see past it and tell that she was uncomfortable bringing her colleagues to her home town, let alone having them investigate a member of her family. She clearly preferred keeping her work and personal lives separate. Or perhaps that was no longer truly accurate thought Jane as his gaze moved to Rigsby standing beside Grace. They stood the appropriate distance apart to appear as co-workers, but Rigsby's body language gave away that he wished he could do more to comfort Van Pelt in her agitated state. Jane assumed that she had told him a bit about her past that had Rigsby even more protective of her than usual. This lead him to the lovely little conclusion that if Grace was sharing personal stories with Rigsby, the relationship must have reached a point beyond sex - and Jane smiled widely at the thought of this.

As he smiled Lisbon finally caught sight of him. She shot him an exasperated look and raised her arms. Jane gave her a little finger wave before heading over to join the group.

"Here's your boarding pass," Lisbon said as she rolled her eyes at the cheeky grin he wore as Jane came over to greet the group.

"Is it a window seat?" Jane asked looking at the ticket.

"No," deadpanned Lisbon

"Oh, well I really would have preferred a window seat," Jane replied

"Tough," replied Lisbon, a smile threatening to appear at the corners of her mouth. She suppressed it as the plane started to board. Jane had hopes of trading with one of the others but knew better than to bother asking when he saw how they were arranged. Rigsby had a window seat but Grace was sitting next to him so Jane knew there was no chance of him obtaining that seat. Lisbon had the other window seat and Jane knew she wasn't about to give it up, so he seated himself between Lisbon and Cho and turned to face Rigsby and Van Pelt.

"So, Van Pelt, excited to go home?" he asked

"Excited to see my sister," she answered.

"Hmmm, interesting" said Jane. Van Pelt rolled her eyes and looked away from Jane, recognizing one of his attempts to pull his "mentalist" analysis on her.

"Excuse me sir," Jane looked up to see a flight attendant standing beside their bank of seats. "Would you please turn around in your seat and fasten your seat belt? The pilot would like to begin the take off."

"Oh, sure, sorry" Jane replied, turning and fastening his belt and not failing to notice the small smirk that played on Lisbon's lips beside him. "Lisbon, you're all happy because someone else had to tell me to follow the rules this time instead of you"

"Yes, I am" she replied, her smirk turning into a smile. Jane could tell it was going to be a fun plane ride.

When they arrived at the airport in Cedar Rapids Iowa, they regrouped in the lobby, Lisbon taking charge again. "I called ahead to the sheriff, guy by the name of Lloyd Odette - " Jane interrupted

"Do you know him Grace?" he asked.

"Um, no not really. I went to school with some Odettes though. Probably related somehow."

Jane nodded. Lisbon shot him a look for interrupting her. "I was just trying to get a feel for how small this town really is."

"Anyways," continued Lisbon, "I've spoken to the sheriff, and he has already informed the family. What we need to now is - " Jane interrupted again

"Ooh ooh ooh, I think what we really need to do is talk to our mystery motive girl - "

"Anna. Her name is Anna" Van Pelt was the one to interrupt this time, a slight edge of annoyance to her voice.

"Right, sorry, Anna," Jane continued "If someone was willing to kill over her, she's be the most likely one to know who that'd be right?"

"Fine," said Lisbon "Let's go to Eldon, set up at the sheriff's office and Jane, Van Pelt and I will go talk to Anna. You in an unofficial capacity" she added pointing to Van Pelt. Van Pelt nodded, relieved just to be allowed to accompany them to see her sister right away. "Rigsby and Cho, you two take a look at whatever the locals have started, any ideas they might have. What time is it here?" she asked turning to Van Pelt.

"Around 7 am" she answered

"And how long is the drive from here to Eldon?"

"About two and a half hours" Van Pelt answered again.

"Great, you know the way?" Grace nodded. "Good, you drive the first car."

The party drove in two rental SUVs the two and a half hours to Eldon, stopping only once to hit a drive through for coffee and muffins. Grace felt a wave of nostalgia when she saw the same old sign the read "ELDON", saw the same houses on the same streets as she lead the team to the sheriff's office. Memories hit her in rapid succession as she drove pasts places she hadn't seen for several years. Whenever she'd come to visit her siblings she took the same streets to get to the house and didn't venture out into the town. She pulled the SUV into the parking lot at the small office, parked and turned off the engine. Lisbon and Jane exited the car as soon as it stopped, eager to stretch their limbs. When the SUV parked beside them, Cho and Rigsby behaved similarly. As the rest of her team headed towards the front door of the office, Grace braced herself. She took two deep steadying breaths, looked at herself in the rear view mirror, and exited the vehicle, ready now, for whatever the case brought her.