Well, we don't have much longer to go! Probably another chapter and an epilogue, after this! Thank you again to everyone who's reviewed! It's really kept me going, and I can't believe I've posted 2 chapters a day! WOW!I never thought I'd be able to write that fast! Again, I've taken a few liberties with the episode Red Tide. Y'all enjoy! (Wow, I used a lot of exclamation points in this note)

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Anybody want to pay my student loans?

Chapter 4

Van Pelt was worried. Several days had past since the Tanner interview, and Lisbon was acting different. It wasn't even that noticeable, and didn't affect her work in the slightest. Lisbon always did put the job first. Heaven forbid that personal issues interfere. Grace furrowed her eyebrows. Surely the other agents had noticed the slight change in her behavior. Van Pelt rubbed her eyes. Jane was rubbing off on her. Letting out a frustrated breath, she turned back to her computer.

Rigsby glanced towards the desk of the red haired agent. Giving her a quick once over, he could tell she was frustrated. Hell, they all were. They were in the middle of a case, and a tension had settled over the group. They all wanted to help their boss, but everyone refused to bring up the subject. Even Jane had been more subdued. He'd been distracted on the beach, no doubt reminiscing about his past family. Those two were quite a pair. He glanced toward her office, scowling.

Jane lay on the couch, contemplating the recent actions of one Theresa Lisbon. Their playful banter had stopped. He never realized how much he needed her witty remarks to help him get through the day. She was spending hours secluded in her office, whereas in the past she hung around the teams' desks to discuss the current case. At least she was looking him in the eye again. He could handle being yelled at, punched, shot at, even being ignored. (Although, being ignored was quite difficult for Patrick Jane.) He couldn't handle Lisbon looking at him like he was going to kick her like a stray dog. He needed her to be strong. They all did. She was the glue that held the rag-tag CBI team together.

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"Did anyone know Lisbon used to show horses?" Van Pelt announced out of the blue. The others turned toward her confused, as she closed out of her search engine and brought up a new browser. "It's amazing how far back the United States Equestrian Federation archives show records."

"What brought that about?" Cho asked, as Jane sat up.

"Um, well… during the Tanner interview she got a little distracted. She had her gaze on a stuffed horse. She's never mentioned pets or anything, so I just thought…" Van Pelt shrugged as she trailed off. Cho and Rigsby nodded, while Jane just looked contemplative.

"She was actually quite good. I wonder why she stopped." Grace bit her lower lip as she pulled up another search engine. "Oh my God." The others leapt to their feet, crowding around Van Pelt's work station, their eyes fixated on the police report of Eleanor 'Ellie' Lisbon. Jane raised his eyes and stared at Lisbon's closed door. No one spoke.

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Lisbon sighed as she glanced out the window. It was a surprisingly beautiful day. The kind of day that was perfect for going to the beach. She rubbed her temple. Cases normally didn't affect her like this. She prided herself on her ability to compartmentalize her feelings, but lately she was feeling like a fish out of water. She was thankful her team was respecting her privacy. She knew she'd have to talk to Jane eventually. God, that man was infuriating. Plus, he had the ability to see right through her, uncovering all her secrets. She'd caught him looking at her the other day. He'd been doing that a lot lately. His brows furrowed in that cute concerned expression; his hands fidgeting with any nearby object. She groaned. She fantasized about him, there was no denying that. She mentally kicked herself. These thoughts were totally inappropriate. Get your act together Theresa. Don't give them a reason to doubt you. Now she was really losing it. Carrying out full conversations with herself. Wow. She wondered what Jane would say about that. She frowned and stood up when she heard yelling down the hall.

Racing out of her office, she skidded to a stop at the door of the interrogation room where Dane Kurtic was being held. She spotted Mr. Tanner down the hall, causing a commotion. She sighed and headed down the hall, as he broke away from Cho threatening to kill Dane. Grabbing his hands she slammed him against the wall.

"Don't do this," She said sternly, looking the grieving father in the eye. Her skin crawled as she smelled the alcohol on his breath.

"I want that bastard gone! He raped my Chris!"

"He probably won't serve time. Not without Christine's testimony. We'll have fun trying." Lisbon loosened her grip slightly as Mr. Tanner regained control. Lisbon thought about his other children. "You have good kids."

"Yeah, I know."

"Be good to them."

"I am good to them."

Theresa took a breath. She could do this. She didn't even register the other agents staring at her in the hallway. "My father was once a good man like you. After my mother died, he was a self-pitying drunk just like you are. He killed himself, and damn near killed me and my brothers too. Get some help. Your kids deserve it and so do you." She handed him a business card then released him. Mr. Tanner nodded to her and walked quietly out the door.

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Cho stared in shock as Theresa Lisbon admonished Mr. Tanner. The height difference between the two people in front of him was almost comical. That was Lisbon with her larger than life personality. He held back, knowing she's hate him for getting involved. So he waited. He watched as Mr. Tanner walked away without reproach. Watched as his boss, leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. He wished he could move toward her, help her, anything. He glanced up when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

Jane had cleared everyone away from the commotion, giving his boss space she needed. Now he stood at Cho's shoulder, his gaze questioning. He didn't want to spook Lisbon, so for once he looked to someone else. Cho gave Lisbon another glance and then nodded slightly to Jane. Jane squeezed his shoulder, and then walked toward Lisbon as one might walk toward a terrified kitten. He refused to mess this one up. God help him if he did.

Lisbon opened her eyes as she felt someone approach. She watched silently as Jane seemed to argue with himself, a myriad of emotions openly flickering over his features, before lifting his hand to her face. She flinched at the human contact, and Jane pulled away as if he'd been burned. Lisbon let out a shaky breath.

"I'm sorry," she whispered as she glanced around the now deserted hallway, before lifting her eyes to meet his.

"Don't apologize. It's …" Theresa cut him off, anger coiling inside her.

"It's not my fault my father beat the living shit out of me?" she said venomously. "It's not my fault my mother died? Her car exploded Jane. She was picking me up! My older brother died because I was late from school! It's always been my fault!" She took a deep breath, wired with emotion. "None of your mentalist crap, Jane. I don't need you analyzing me, second guessing me. Just leave well enough alone!"

Lisbon brushed past him as Jane swore. He stood motionless as Lisbon stormed out of CBI headquarters. No. He would not make the same mistake again. Reaching in his pocket, he pulled out his keys, and he followed her.