Alright, I'm going to be posting a bit less. I can't believe I actually posted so many chapters so quickly. I'm slowing down- I've got school, so I'm going to need more time to write the posts. I've got the next one almost done, and I'll post that when the one after that is done. Probably Thursday or Friday. Maybe Wednesday, if there are a lot of reviews.

IMPORTANT: This story takes place after the 10th episode. Whatever happens in further shows will not affect the story, plot, or characters.

Thanks to: CSI-M, piratejester, langfieldl, Lerrinus, bulletproofweeks, Collier World, and Auraya-of-the-White.

Special thanks to piratejester. I just realized that wasn't a word!! XP I feel like a complete idiot now… I thought I just kept spelling it wrong, because spell check kept showing that it was wrong. I just gave up on trying to fix it, hoping nobody would notice, and if someone did, they'd know what I meant.

Now, story time!

The Next Day

Lisbon stared at the papers in dismay. Warrants. Permission slips. Insurance information. Everything that needed to be done before they could get to any of the fun stuff. She knew it wasn't going to be a good day from the start.

Jane had come in later than usual, and was oddly detached, without any of his usual spirit and humor. He was slightly drawn, too, his face a bit pale, cheeks flushed, and his eyes looked more tired than ever. Rigby and Cho had noticed, and were trying to get him to tell them what was wrong. Lisbon was worried it was what happened yesterday. The kiss.

The only good thing that had happened was from Van Pelt and Azulia. Van Pelt said they talked some, and she was getting a bit friendlier. Azulia was at the office, listening to her iPod on the couch. Lisbon wasn't sure what exactly changed, but she didn't seem as strange and abnormal. When she glanced over at her, she didn't see a unique-to-the-point-of-being-disturbing girl. She saw a young teen, sprawled out on the couch, listening to music.

"Did she voodoo you?" Rigby was saying to Jane.

"No." Even his voice seemed off, with less perfect articulation and emotion.

"I bet she told him something really weird, and he's still in shock," Cho guessed. Lisbon tried to tune them out and focus on nothing. That usually made time go by faster. After a few minutes, they gave up. It was quiet save for the scratching of pens, shuffling of papers, and the faint sound of Azulia's iPod pumping music in her ears. It was comforting, that the girl was average enough to listen to her music too loud, just like any other teenager.

An hour later, Jane put his pen down on his unfinished paper. In the silence, the faint click against the table seemed loud. Lisbon looked up, ready to tell him to get back here and help. He was probably 'going to get coffee' for all of them, and wouldn't show up until they were done.

As soon as she looked up, she knew something was wrong. His face was ashen- his lips and eyes seeming very red in comparison.

"Jane?" she said questioningly. "Are you okay?"

Jane shook his head mutely. He stood up stiffly and quickly walked around the corner. She heard a door open, and got up to follow him, the others trailing behind curiously. She realized Azulia's music had stopped.

"Jane, what are you-," she stopped as she rounded the corner.

"Oh. Aw, man," Rigby said. Van Pelt grimaced, and Cho frowned sympathetically. Jane was leaned over the toilet, coughing up the contents of his stomach. Van Pelt went back to the kitchen, and Lisbon heard the sound of water running. Washing her hands, she realized, remembering in her application she'd said she was a bit squeamish when it came to vomiting.

"Sick?" Azulia said, appearing around the corner. Lisbon nodded, and the girl made a face. "That sucks." Jane finally stopped heaving, and rested his head on his arms wearily. Lisbon walked in, moving in front of his turned head.

"Hey. Are you okay?" she said gently. He let out a weak laugh.

"I'm great. Marvelous. Fantastic. Superb," he rasped, looking vaguely embarrassed.

"Do you… um… want me to drive you home?" she asked. He opened his mouth to say yes, but paused, appearing to reconsider. After a moment, apparently realizing he didn't really have any other options, he nodded.

"Yes, please." He staggered to his feet, and Azulia was suddenly there, pulling his arm over her shoulders and helping him up. She whispered something inaudible in his ear. He gave her a small smirk. Lisbon walked them to her car, slightly nervous that he would get sick again, but he didn't. She noticed him swallow convulsively a few times, but that was all.

Azulia

Azulia noticed him struggle to get up on rubbery legs, and strode quickly to his side, helping him.

Standing up on her toes, she whispered, "You would go and get sick. How am I supposed to protect you, Mr. Jane, when you're hurting from something I can't fix?" He smirked slightly, his pride showing through his sick pallor for an instant.

She helped Lisbon get him to the car, noting her big, fancy SUV. She was obviously proud of it- it was one of those cars that everyone saw, respected, and obeyed. It was hard not to climb into the backseat and go with them. She was very curious about Jane's house, and why he'd locked down when she said she wanted to stay with him.

Instead, she simply went back into the building and waved.

Jane

Jane. Felt. Horrible.

Firstly, the obvious one- he was sick. He'd woken up with a queasy stomach, but that happened often. It wasn't anything out of the ordinary- he was pretty sure it was from not getting enough sleep. His body still wanted to sleep, and his digestive system was still in 'sleep mode'. So, as usual, he dismissed it and forced himself to eat a bagel.

But then, instead of slowly getting better like it normally did, it got worse. Paperwork never went fast for him anyway, but his stomach made it nearly intolerable, not to mention the fact that he felt very hot. Finally, it reached a climax. He knew it: he was sick. Good thing the bathroom was so close.

Second, there was the kiss. Lisbon hadn't said anything about it, and neither had he. They both pretended they didn't have enough alone time to talk about it. It didn't help that he'd probably given Lisbon what he had, unless it was just food poisoning.

Next was the case. Ever since he'd joined Lisbon's team, they'd been solving twice the amount of cases, and it wasn't because of his paperwork skills. It was the fieldwork, and if he wasn't better when they started investigating, he'd feel like he'd let the team down. He felt the least he could do for Rhea, since he hadn't gotten there fast enough, was to find her killer.

Then there was Azulia herself. He was glad she hadn't come with them in the car- as is, he was nervous enough about what Lisbon would see or think. He didn't even want to think about her strange infatuation with protecting him. If he was truly honest with himself, he was scared. Scared of why she felt that way. Scared of what he would need protecting from. Scared of the fact that she might actually be doing something with the other side,and he was wrong, that there really was a god and things after life.

As Lisbon drove, he was glad she was such a good driver. They didn't talk- he simply rested his head against the window. It felt pleasantly cool on his burning face. She found his house without trouble, and he dragged himself to his feet, crossing to the door and unlocking it. Lisbon followed him inside, just as he knew she would and wished she wouldn't.

Lisbon

Lisbon followed Jane inside, telling herself it was because she was worried about him, but it was partly because she was curious. Every time his house was mentioned, he froze up, becoming icy and sharp. Cho had commented on it to her, once. He joked that Jane probably had a bunch of speed or other illicit drug hidden in his house, something that helped him be so observant and perfect. She'd laughed, but for all she knew, he could be right.

She didn't see any strange white powders lying around, or pills, other than a small, orange bottle of sleeping pills. However, she did notice a red jacket hanging on a hook near the door. A woman's jacket. Did he have a cleaning lady? She listened, but didn't hear anyone else.

Then she saw a children's book lying on the coffee table. Jane certainly hadn't been reading children's books. As she mulled it over, she started to notice other things. A bottle of nail polish on the end of the counter. A young girl's boots sitting just inside the door. Homey decorations that certainly hadn't been picked out by Jane.

When she glanced at the fridge, it suddenly made sense. Oh, she thought, how could I be so stupid? Of course… On the fridge was a picture of Jane holding a young girl, who was giving him a hug and one of those clumsy, six-year-old kisses. Beside it was another picture, this time of Jane standing with a beautiful woman who looked quite a bit like the young girl. She had her arm around his waist, and his was around her shoulders.

There were others, featuring Jane, the girl, and the woman doing different things. A birthday party. Swimming somewhere tropical. Skiing. With a jolt of horror and pity, Lisbon understood.

He was still in agony. He hadn't even been able to pick up their things and put them away. She imagined makeup scattered over a sink in front of a mirror, maybe a couple of stuffed animals in random places in the house, a small pile of folded outfits waiting to be hung up.

Poor Jane.

Sorry about the randomness- I wanted Lisbon to see the inside of Jane's house somehow, and this seemed like the best way. Next chapter starts the investigation (and not just of Rhea's stuff- someone might let some things slip.)

And now, of course, random stuff that the author writes that she just has to get out! If you don't want to read this, then you don't have to. Anyone watch House? I was watching it last night, and there was a 16-year-old having night terrors and I freaked out! I've had night terrors since I was 6, but I'm pretty sure my brain isn't messed up in a way that's causing it. It usually happens when I get overheated. Other than that, I was completely relating to the guy in it. According to my parents, a night terror is when one has a horrible nightmare, and is conscious through the entire thing. They'll sleepwalk, cry, scream, run around… after, they don't remember any of it. I only remember being really, really scared.

But, whatever. Please, click that magnificent green button and gimmie a review!