"You're ignoring me."

Her breath caught as his voice echoed out around her office. She'd hoped he wouldn't react to it, hope he'd just leave it be.

"No I'm not Jane. I'm just busy."

The lie felt weak on her tongue. And she knew he'd see through it, and she knew that everything she was doing was hiding from him. She refused to look up from her desk, making out that she was actually working. But he'd effectively put a stop to that with just his presence. Any time he was around he filled up her head and took her attention away from important things.

She heard the door close and the lock click into place. Her stomach rolled with tension and she gave everything she had not to react to that simple sound.

"You should really know better by now than to lie to me Lisbon."

She tries again, aiming for more conviction in her tone as she scrawls across one of her reports, "I'm really busy Jane. Can we do this another time?"

Suddenly he plucked the pen from her hands, drawing a sigh from her throat. Normally she'd get angry. Yell or threaten until she got the pen back. but she simply didn't have it in her anymore. She simply reached over and picked up another pen before attempting to get back to work.

"Come on Teresa, talk to me."

Her breath hitched at his use of her given name. it sounded wonderful dropping off his tongue, in that sexy voice of his.

"I already told you. I'm busy. Come back when I'm not."

It comes out sharper than she intended, but she cannot apologise. She'd lose ground, lose momentum and he'd spin her around again.

Her mistake was not keeping an eye on him.

Suddenly her chair was turned forcefully to the left, and as the occupant she had no choice but to go along. She ended up face to face with the one man she could never truly ignore, never forget no matter how much she tried to.

"Two days Teresa. You've been ignoring me for two days. I want to know why. Have I done something wrong? I don't remember being rude or even getting you into trouble. So why?"

His hands were clenched on the arms of her chair, his face closer to hers than it had any right being. She felt caged in. but instead of wanting to run away like she should, instead of the panic that should be there, she felt safe.

"I'm…"

As her lips parted to dismiss him, to conjure up some other lie, it died at the look in his eyes. He was vulnerable. Patrick Jane never showed any kind of vulnerability if he could help it. he spoke then, his voice a low whisper, "We're friends aren't we? I don't know what I did Teresa. But please tell me. tell me so I can apologize."

She suddenly realises what it must be like from his point of view. Her sudden withdrawal from him. Of course his vulnerability could be a ploy to satisfy his curiosity. But it didn't feel like that. it felt genuine.

"It's not you Jane. You haven't done anything. it's just…"

"Just what?"

Her admission is soft, "I can't do this."

He rushes to reassure her, "of course you can. You're the super agent remember? My handler for years. There's no crime that you can't face."

Frustration rolls inside her, "No that isn't what I meant."

He cocks his head to the side, assessing her with all his deductive capabilities, "what did you mean?"

And suddenly she was tired. Tired of running, of pretending. And that part of her that had tortured her with such sweet delicious fantasies of her favourite consultant rose up. commandeering her body and driving her forward. She didn't even have a second to think before her mouth pressed against his. before her hand buried itself in those soft blonde curls.

Her eyes had closed automatically. But his lips were immobile beneath hers. And she felt the sting of rejection keenly. She pulled back. His eyes were wide with shock, his grip loosened on the chair. A quiet, sane part of her mind not currently occupied by her overwhelming panic and rejection noted that she'd never seen him so surprised.

"I'm…I'm sorry."

She manages feebly, her voice soft and horrified. She felt perilously close to tears as she stood up, forcing him backwards. She fled, knowing that she may very well have ruined everything.

For a first kiss, that had really left something to be desired. And it certainly wasn't something she'd dreamed about. The merest brush of skin against skin. Although his lips were soft, yielding beneath her own insistent pressure. But they hadn't parted. He hadn't responded.

At least now she knew for sure. now there was no chance her traitorous mind could torment her with in her weaker moments. He didn't feel the same.

She'd be fine. Somehow. She was a strong woman after all, and no one had ever died from a broken heart. No doubt she'd pretend. They'd both pretend that it hadn't happened. That she hadn't royally fucked things up between them. Tonight she'd let herself hurt. Then tomorrow she'd put the mask back on and be the agent she had to be.

Authors note: I'm sorry about the length of the chapters, it's just more convenient for me to write them this way. i don't really have a lot of time, but i do enjoy writing, so i'll do what i can when i can :D

anyway, don't fret! this isnt the end of the story, though it may seem that way :D

Thank you to those that have reviewed, i do love reading your opinions, please keep them coming :D

~Red