Author's Note: Thank you everyone who reviewed and sorry for the delay! Made me happy in a time where I'm dealing with a lot of stress. Moving is never easy. Moving across an ocean is even less so.

When It's Gone

Their latest case landed them in an old historical printing factory. It was self-explanatory for any agent, and not even worth the effort for Jane to get off his precious couch. Yet, still holding to his new trend of keeping a maximum of two meters distance between them, Jane was there.

The case was an open and shut suicide of a middle-aged mentally challenged man. Even estranged family members and the few friends he had were not surprised that his body had been found at his old workplace. When the factory had closed fifteen years earlier even though it was a working museum, he had been unable to cope with the unemployment status. The victim had a history of other suicide attempts, but someone had always managed to stop him. But this time he had returned to his beloved factory, climbed up to the manager's catwalk, and thrown himself over the railing.

Lisbon and Rigsby scaled the metal stairs to the point where the man had allegedly dropped to his death to look for any solid evidence. Sections of the platform had been replaced, but it had been nearly a decade since the last repairs and the frame swayed ominously. They had nearly reached the point where their victim had possibly jumped, when Lisbon half turned to look at her biggest team member.

"Maybe having you come up here wasn't such a good-"

There was no warning. The scaffolding under her feet gave way, an older brace snapping apart from the newer section. Rigsby grabbed at his boss's arm but missed and for one horrible instant, Lisbon was suspended in midair.

In the back of her mind, she registered a shriek of fear from below and a faint "Boss!" but she was more focused on grabbing and holding on to the broken platform. A ragged bit of metal sliced into her forearm, but she managed to hook her fingers into the grating. Dangling four stories above a series of old machines and concrete floor, she bit her tongue hard, to keep from screaming.

"Boss! Hold on!"

Rigsby was stretched out on his stomach behind her, reaching out to try and grab her by the belt.

"Rigsby, get out of here - you might be next."

"No way, boss... Just wait a sec. I can almost reach."

"Dammit Rigsby - you're going to fall too!"

The junior agent didn't budge, just locked and arm and a leg around the metal frame of his thankfully more stable catwalk and reached for Lisbon again.

"Just don't move. I'm going to grab your belt and your arm. When I have you, let go and grab me."

Lisbon couldn't argue. She could hear the remaining bolts straining above her and just as Rigsby's big hand grabbed her arm, the platform beneath her gave up and plummeted toward the ground. Lisbon never quite appreciated the size and strength of her 'little brother' until, with one arm and gritted teeth, he hauled her up so she could easily reach a secure grip on the guardrail and pull herself to relative safety.

Panting, and admittedly shaken at the close call, Lisbon didn't pause. They carefully, but quickly descended to the ground, testing each section of the catwalk before crossing. Feet finally on concrete, Lisbon gave Rigsby a beaming smile.

"Thanks Wayne."

He flushed, cradling his arm. "I'm just glad you were in front of me. I don't think you'd be able to pull me up. Good thing you're so small."

Lisbon laughed a little. "Usually it's a curse, but in this case, I agree."

An instant later, the rest of her team surrounded the pair. VanPelt managed to restrain herself from hugging Lisbon, but couldn't stop from wrapping both hands around Rigsby's arm.

"Oh my gosh! That was crazy!"

Cho gave them both a short nod, "Nice save, Rigsby. Are you alright boss?"

"I'm fine. Might be uncomfortable with heights for a while, but I'm fine."

"You are not fine. You're bleeding!"

Lisbon turned just as Jane whipped out a handkerchief to press it to the cut that was slowly but steadily staining her shirtsleeve.

"Just a scratch."

Cho raised an eyebrow. "A scratch that might need a shot. This place isn't exactly clean."

"I'm fine. Rigsby had to pull me up one-handed though. I think a stop at a hospital on the way back is in order." She pushed Jane away as he hovered over her arm. "Really, Jane, I'm fine."

"Hold still, woman! You don't want to bleed all over your car do you?"

About to smack him for being a pest, Lisbon hesitated at the sight of Jane's still panic-y glare. Instead, she rolled her eyes and held out her arm so he could tie his handkerchief around the 'wound'.

Three hours later they were all back in the CBI bullpen.

"Boss I have some info for you."

Lisbon glanced over at her second-in-command and got the slight tilt of Cho's head that indicated that his information was not case related. She nodded casually and gestured to her office.

"Sure."

Cho simply handed her a small USB drive and went back to his work. Lisbon tucked it into her pocket and went for a cup of coffee, dodging Rigsby on the way into the break room. His arm was in a sling as per doctor's orders from straining it, but he still gave her a cheerful wave with it as he passed by, other hand holding a fold-over peanut butter sandwich.

At her desk, she glanced at Jane on his couch before inserting the drive into her laptop. Opening the single document, she tried to keep her face neutral.

Borrowed tools from friends. Found some traces of vermin. Only one in the living room. It seems they like to listen in on conversations but have a long reach.

She and Cho had decided to refer their secret operation as anything related to camping or a vacation. It seemed that their hunch that Red John was watching Jane's relationships closely was paying off. That meant they were going to have to up their game, which was fairly easy, since Jane was unconsciously playing along.

Lisbon knew that he hadn't taken the last misadventure very well. Even now, she caught movement from his corner of the bullpen from the corner of her eye. Habitually, he would be sitting up, and looking for her moments after waking. She kept her eyes trained on her laptop, quickly writing back:

It was only a matter of time. May call pest control soon. The bait is easy to find, and quite possibly irresistible at this point. Thanks for watching the place while I'm gone.

She saved and closed the document before ejecting the drive. Taking a deep draw at her coffee, she tried to prepare herself for the best acting of her life. It wouldn't be too difficult, but what scared Lisbon the most was how much of the truth she'd have to show their enemy. If it went wrong - they were feeding the fire and not containing it.

She'd nearly died today - a chocolate shake was in order. She probably ought to get one for Rigsby as well, considering he'd saved her life.

She picked up the phone and dialed a nearby ice cream shop and ordered for her team.

That evening, she was opening her front door once again to the man who somehow managed to look lazy and well dressed at the same time. In the back of her mind, she wondered why she hadn't simply given him her spare apartment key. He greeted her with a shallow grin and casual, "Hey, Lisbon." before crossing the threshold.

This time, he didn't immediately take off his suit-jacket as was the usual routine, but stood in the middle of the room with his hands shoved in his pockets. Lisbon frowned.

"What is it, Jane?"

She recognized that cold, dark look in his eyes. She could see his brain, ticking away at all the repercussions of his next decision.

"I'm not sure the risks are worth it anymore. I think, maybe, I'd better try doing this on my own again."

Away from you... was the unspoken statement.

Lisbon pushed back her hair in frustration. "Because that worked so well the first time... Jane, you are not a lone soldier - hell, you're not even a police officer. You are a consultant. We all know what might happen to us when we sign up at the CBI. This could be any other case, any other serial killer."

"But it's not. And it's me and Red John. It always has been, and always will be. But now-"

She cut him off. "You swore to me, Jane. You leaving is just as good as handing yourself over to him."

"I know. But I didn't-"

"There are no loopholes in this."

They stood in her living room, silent. Lisbon knew that she was being watched, even if by friendly eyes, yet she felt eerily calm. A line was about to be broken and she knew it would have to be Jane's move, not hers. She had made her peace with her emotions and desires over a year ago, when she had once more brought this damaged man back into her little work family.

Lisbon put her hands on her hips and raised an eyebrow at her consultant who was actually avoiding her gaze like a misbehaving puppy. "Jane, when I made you swear that Red John wouldn't get you, I meant it in every way, shape, and form. Mentally and physically - he cannot have you. You break that promise and I will never forgive you. I will ban you from the team. I will shoot you myself if it comes to that."

He didn't argue and that raised Lisbon's warning flag even higher. "Jane..."

"It's not worth it."

"What!" Lisbon took one long step and jerked him around by the arm until he was facing her. "Nine years you've been on this crusade. Eight you've been dragging me and my team around with you. Don't you dare belittle our work and our sacrifices now!"

Jane's eyes were hollow green steel as he looked down at her. "I'm not - not in the slightest. But today..."

He reached out a finger and ran it gently down her cheek and along the tendon on her neck. His gaze sharpened at her involuntary shiver. "Today I watched as you almost died on a case that wasn't remotely Red John related. I watched, and I haven't felt that kind of terror for someone else in such a long time... How can I keep my promise when someday it is him?" His hand slipped around to the back of her neck, pulling her forward. "How can I, when you are the one thing that holds me together?"

This was it. This was a moment that would make or break the case and quite possibly, the two souls standing in the room together. Lisbon almost didn't care, her focus entirely on the struggle she felt in her partner.

She reached up to gently frame his face in her hands. "Patrick Jane, you will keep your promise like you have kept it for nine years. You will find him. I will keep you from doing anything too drastic. You never stopped before, and you are not going to stop now. Your promise to me will make you stronger than him. Just remember that. Always remember."

Jane leaned down to press his forehead against hers. His other arm slid around her waist, drawing her closer. The tension was making Lisbon's hands start to tremble, but he tilted his head to press against her fingers. He wanted contact - physical assurance that they were here, together on the edge - and Lisbon obliged but she could not kiss him. That was the line he would have to cross on his own.

When his eyes finally opened, Lisbon smiled up at him and let her hands fall to his chest. "It's ok, Jane."

Eyes hooded, he finally bent and let his mouth drift down to touch hers. "Forgive me, Teresa."

It was brief, chase, and all too short. He pulled back almost reflexively, but she chased him. Their second kiss was much more impassioned, she pushed him, opened him, and took what she wanted and knew he needed - knowing that it was possibly her first and last chance for this in a long time.

When they broke apart, she trailed her fingers over his lips once more and whispered, "Only if you remember, and forgive me too." And then, because she couldn't stand it any longer, she buried her face in his chest and blurted out, "Love you, Patrick Jane."

Something in her chest hurt. She knew her last words were quite possibly the nails in the coffin for one of them. She was determined for them to not be his.

His arms came up and locked her against him. He held her, and that was all she remembered for the rest of the night.

When Lisbon woke up, she was disoriented for a brief moment at the feeling of someone moving next to her. Jane had moved them from the living room to her bedroom and then tucked her in. He was sleeping on his side atop the comforter, his back to her. She smiled sadly and slipped from her bed.

She reached for her cell phone and texted: Trip is planned, dates to be determined.

Her code to Cho stating that: The trap is set.

Author's Note:

The trap is set, but who is going to trap whom? Reviews make my world a much happier place! Arigato gozaimasu!