Jane admitted for a dive, the place was nice with the dark wood booths and cloth covered tables. The service was decent, the food was good, and they made an excellent cup of tea. All in all, it would do in a pinch and serve the purpose. A rather simple purpose actually: allowing he and Lisbon the opportunity to test their theory about dating on the sly in plain sight. Oh, and to finally see each other personally for the first time in a bloody week and he meant bloody.

Things had gone to hell in a hand basket soon after he'd tried to sneak unobserved to the attic and Lisbon had cornered him. Just as he'd feared, she'd ripped him a new one all right. Well, he had dawdled a lot longer in his lecherous thoughts than he should have after giving his word he'd be at the office as soon as possible. She was right in everything she'd said. Though no one else could have read between the lines, Jane certainly did. He'd left her seriously hot and bothered and she'd made it to work on time. The least he could do was have enough respect to do the same.

He'd agreed with her and resisted the urge to laugh out loud. While Lisbon was putting on a good show, he'd read the truth in her eyes. She'd much rather be sliding her arms around his neck and picking up where they left off. He felt the same. Fortunately, Cho had interrupted before they'd done anything foolish and dropped the other shoe.

The ambiguous case wasn't ambiguous any more. The bloody smiley face had finally appeared along with the second victim of course. Another idiotic tv reporter who couldn't keep her mouth shut about murder cases she knew nothing about. She hadn't even mentioned Red John by name; but, she had made some sweeping statements about people who took other people's lives and their sloppy handiwork that he'd taken offense at. So, he'd shown her exactly how it was done and that there was nothing sloppy about it. It was messy, perhaps; but, definitely not sloppy. For the most part, he wasn't that kind of killer. As for the reporter, she hadn't been quite so pretty any more.

Jane had bitten his tongue to keep from expressing his thoughts. He wasn't all that sympathetic to the woman. She'd known, as most reporters did now, to watch her tongue when it came to anything potentially pertaining to Red John. She'd known as well that his involvement had not been ruled out. She'd chosen to open her mouth anyway. She'd ended up dead. She'd made her choice and paid the price.

The team had spent the rest of the week tracking leads. No one was exactly sure if Red John had done the dead himself or if he'd had a help along the way. Lorelei had been no assistance. The annoying woman was proving a hard nut to crack. Harder even than Jane expected; but, she was starting to fray a little around the edges. It was only a matter of time and he'd be right there when she broke. Until then, he'd move on to more relevant things like checking out the reporter's none-too-broken up boyfriend. There was something off about the pretty boy.

Like his wealthy parents were members of Visualize. Jane had dug that tidbit up by accident. Not that he'd been able to use it yet. Still, it was a nice thing to know. He might have to pay Brett a visit. On second thought, maybe now wasn't the time. He had a winning card to play at the moment that Jane couldn't counteract. He knew he and Lisbon were dating. But once their secret was exposed which probably wouldn't take that long given how Lori Kapowski was giving him the eagle eye from across the room. The woman didn't miss a thing. She'd probably already noted him staring at Lisbon a little too long.

Well, too darn bad. She made a really appealing picture playing with Tamela's daughter a couple of tables down. While Jane didn't necessarily think the cop dive was the most appropriate place for pre-schooler, he understood the single mother's need to connect with people outside of work occasionally and her need to spend time with her daughter. The child couldn't stay with her grandmother all of the time. Besides, Tami was keeping the kid out of the bar and she really couldn't be anywhere safer than she was surrounded by a bunch of cops. Especially given most of them were getting a kick out of seeing her.

Jane had to admit the kid was cuter than she had a right to be with her bright red curls and freckles. It didn't hurt she had the gregarious personality to go with her coloring. Lisbon was certainly enjoying that game of patty cake or whatever they were playing while her beer got hot. The woman was good with children. He'd noticed that with Hightower's brood. She had that natural nurturing instinct tempered by a certain necessary firmness. She wouldn't handle him as well as she did otherwise. Jane quirked a brow at the realization he'd just compared himself with a child. It wasn't a big deal. He wasn't above admitting he had his childish moments.

Lorelei had exhibited similar traits in laying her trap. Jane had little doubt that after observing their interactions for years that Red John knew exactly the traits he found so appealing about his boss. He'd put them into play with his siren. The woman had reminded him of Lisbon in so many ways beyond her physical appearance. He'd have been truly devastated if he hadn't been playing his own con and seen the trap coming. He'd known Lorelei was a man-eating tiger disguised as a momma house cat long before he'd taken her to bed.

She hadn't disappointed him since. The woman could be a nasty shrew. More than that, she was one tough cookie and loyal to the bone. She was still alive because Red John perceived no threat in leaving her so. She was no weakling like Rebecca spewing "Red John loves me." The woman was a hard as nails killer who would have smiled and welcomed him to the party if he'd brought her Lisbon's head. That was another reason Jane despised her. That and the constant need to Clorox his body which of course he'd never done.

Turning his mind to more pleasant subjects, Jane shifted to take in the team. Cho, Rigsby, and Van Pelt were engaged in a pretty heated pool game with several officers from the local PD. It was obvious they were enjoying themselves even though some insults were being traded by the smiles and open laughter. Jane was genuinely glad Rigsby had joined them tonight. He was having fun. Sarah and the baby were out of town and he needed a break. Van Pelt looked pretty happy too and Cho just looked like Cho. From the way it looked, the CBI was whipping tail and the Cho man was leading the way.

"You okay?" Lisbon slid into the booth beside him.

"Yeah, I'm fine. You look good with Avery." She did, too.

"She's a good kid." Smart as a whip and not shy about it.

"Yeah, she is." Jane could see that.

"Jane, are you sure you're okay?" He'd looked, and seemed, fine when he'd spent quite a while earlier entertaining Avery with magic tricks.

"I'm fine, Lisbon. My daughter and Avery have little in common other than being of a similar age." Jane took a sip of tea before sitting the cup back on the saucer.

"If you say so." She'd let him play his games. They both knew better.

"Lisbon, I think I'm going to call it a night." Jane glanced at the clock and decided a couple of hours were long enough to be in Lisbon's presence without being with her.

"Okay. I'll walk you out." Lisbon rose to her feet.

"You don't have to do that." Jane slid out of the booth.

"I want to." Lisbon fought the urge to hold his hand in a way saying she really didn't want him to go.

"Kapowski is watching our every move." Jane reminded her.

"Let her. I'll be back inside in minute. If she asks, I'll tell her we were discussing the case." The nosey heifer was getting on Lisbon's last nerve.

"Sounds like a plan. Speaking of the case, I saw Lorelei today." Jane told Lisbon what she already knew on the off chance inappropriate ears were listening as they walked out the door and towards the parking lot.

"Yeah, and how did that go." Lisbon stopped by Jane's vehicle which was parked by her SUV. The whole team had parked together.

"How do you think? She's showing signs of a crack or two; but, other than that she's useless." Jane repeated their earlier conversation.

Standing by her SUV, Lisbon shifted from one foot to the other as the silence between them lengthened. Tonight had been different on several fronts. It was their first night out as a non-couple who was really a couple in the midst of people who knew them and knew them well. From all appearances, they'd done it well. However, it had been harder than either of them had anticipated leaving Patrick and Teresa behind and simply being Lisbon and Jane.

"Hey, Jane, you want to stay at my place tonight?" Lisbon's voice was little more than a whisper.

"My place is closer." Jane stated the obvious as he cased the parking lot to make sure they were alone before he spoke.

"Yeah, it is, and I already have a suit there." Her SUV would fit nicely in the garage and Jane didn't have anything to wear to work at her place.

"Yes, you do. I'd say that sounds like a plan. Why don't you go back inside for a while and I'll leave. Play a game or two and clean the boys out. I'll still be up when you get there." Jane opened his car door and slid inside.

"Sounds like a plan." She agreed though playing pool was the last thing she wanted to do. She might even let her boys win for a change.

Watching him close his car door and turn the key in the ignition, Lisbon walked back inside. She didn't need to see Jane leave knowing she had to stay for appearances sake. Not when she knew Avery's presence had affected him more than he'd let on and she wanted to be with him. They didn't have any other choice if they wanted to keep their secret a while longer and they did.

#

Jane watched Lisbon meandering around his condo totally at ease bare footed wearing a tank and sleeping shorts and little else from what he could see. She'd knocked on his door about a half hour ago and taken her own sweet time about getting ready for bed. She'd taken a shower, and from the looks of things, painted her toenails for goodness sakes. Jane wasn't so sure that last step was strictly necessary. It seemed like more of a delaying tactic to him. At least she'd given him a pretty decent "I'm glad to see you kiss." Or maybe he'd given her one.

Taking a sip from the healthy slug of whiskey he'd poured when he got home, Jane reluctantly admitted Avery's presence had disturbed him a lot more than he let on. She was more like Charlotte Anne than he wanted to admit. Enough so he'd stopped by the liquor store on the way home since he didn't keep alcohol on hand. It wasn't healthy. Not given the line of work they did. And not given their pasts. However, he wasn't adverse to an occasional social drink any more than Lisbon was.

Taking the glass from his hand, Lisbon wandered out onto the balcony she'd yet to see. Given his past and the fact Red John was lurking in the shadows, Jane refused to live on the ground floor of anywhere. She couldn't say she blamed him. He was on the fourth floor and the view over the garden and koi ponds was magnificent. Unlike so many places, Jane's complex was smaller, gated, and more intimate. The whole place had a feel more akin to a private home than condominiums and she liked it. She really did.

Taking a sip of whiskey Lisbon closed her eyes against the burn. She'd not bothered finishing her hot beer after the first couple of rancid sips nor had she ordered another. She had a feeling Jane would have something stronger at home so she'd decided to wait. She wasn't disappointed except maybe in the sense she'd known Avery had affected him more than he was willing to admit. However, she wasn't going to force him to talk about it before he was ready; if he ever was. She'd be here instead. At the moment that seemed enough.

"I think that's mine, Lisbon." Jane took the glass from her hand and set it on a side table. Like everything else in the place, even his outdoor furniture was sturdy and masculine.

"Do you now? Is that your way of telling me to get my own?" Lisbon smirked as Jane lifted her and sat her on the largest table.

"No, that's my way of saying seeing you the past week and not being able to touch you has been hell." They'd not been able to steal even a lousy kiss.

In fact they'd rarely been in the same room together unless they were at a crime scene or doing some manner of investigative work in front of scores of other people. They'd not had a private moment between them and they'd both been too tired when the day was over to contemplate anything more.

"You're seeing me now." Deciding she wanted to see a little more of him than she was currently seeing, Lisbon reached up to unbutton Jane's pajama top.

Somehow, the idea of Jane wearing pajamas was weird on the one hand and perfectly in keeping with the three piece suits on the other. The jury was still out on that one. Lisbon admitted he definitely looked better in just the bottoms as she tossed the top aside.

"That's really not fair, Lisbon, as I can't do the same." Jane ran his hands down her naked arms.

"Oh, you could do the same; but, I think we'd both get arrested." Lisbon ran her hands over his chest and shoulders enjoying the play of muscle beneath her palms.

"Somehow I think that would put a damper on the experience." Jane kissed her neck.

"It just might." Lisbon closed her eyes and leaned into his touch.

"I know it would." Jane shifted Lisbon a little closer and wasn't surprised when she wrapped her legs around his waist.

"Jane, I'd say it's time." Lisbon smirked at the smart butt comment she saw lurking in his crinkled eyes he wouldn't dare utter for fear of shattering the moment and fought a giggle. Just as she'd been the one to tell him he wasn't getting in her pants, she'd be the one telling him he was.

"You think so?" Jane bit back the remark on the end of his tongue knowing Lisbon would make him pay in the most heinous of ways if he voiced it.

"Yeah, Jane, I do." Lisbon wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in the crook of his shoulder. She wasn't all that surprised to feel his silent laughter as he lifted her and walked inside locking the door behind them.

She didn't really care how he got his jollies as long as Jane carried her up those stairs and showed her exactly what he was hiding under those loose pajama bottoms.