Author's Note: This chapter didn't quite go as I meant it to. I hope you find it believable though. Here's to surviving the final two weeks of hiatus!

Chapter 10

The next morning, Lisbon seemed restless. She wasn't one to hunker down and hide, he reflected; she was more the type to run straight at danger and tackle it head on. As they cleaned up the breakfast dishes, he said, "I think it wouldn't look too odd if you went in to work today for a few hours."

She shook her head. "And leave you on your own? No." She shot him a suspicious look. "Are you trying to get rid of me so you can run off and do something stupid?"

"No." He couldn't help chuckling a little. "For one thing, I'll never want to get rid of you. Why would I want you to go sit at a desk all day—because there's no way Abbott's letting you into the field right now—when we could spend the day napping and making love?" He smiled at her, then said soberly, "Besides, you've been very clear about your views on my running off."

"Then why bring it up?"

"Because you are the least sedentary person I know. And you already finished unpacking yesterday. You're happiest when you're doing something productive. It's your industrious nature."

Lisbon sighed a little. "I guess I could clean. Oh, and laundry."

"All right. I'll be your assistant." Jane seized the opportunity to show her the value of a partner in domestic chores. Once upon a time he had folded laundry and vacuumed, after all. He'd find her least favorite chore and volunteer to do it. Angela hadn't liked to cook or iron, so he'd gotten good at both. He already knew Lisbon wasn't big on cooking either, so he looked forward to resuming his hobby. "Give me an assignment."

She looked skeptical. "I haven't dusted in a while."

"Perfect. Point me in the direction of your duster."

mmm

Jane dusted, mopped the kitchen floor, and then scrubbed the counters. Lisbon vacuumed and did the laundry, then tackled the bathrooms. After they had finished their chores, they indulged in a long cuddle on the couch.

"It's been a long time since I had a day like this," Jane reflected, nuzzling Lisbon's hair.

"Don't try to tell me you're nostalgic about housecleaning," she scoffed.

"A little bit. It's been a long time since I had anyplace to call home. I think that's mostly what I miss."

"The Airstream doesn't count?" she asked.

"For me, a home is a place I share with someone I love. You haven't spent much time in the Airstream yet." He squeezed her shoulder. "I hope that will change, of course."

Lisbon gave a non-committal hum, which he decided to take as a challenge. He'd make her love his home as much as he was growing to love hers. Eventually, he hoped, there would be no his and hers, only theirs. It would take time, but he would be patient. And meanwhile, he would enjoy convincing her.

Thinking of all that lay ahead, he buried his face in her hair, smiling. "Shall we move to the bedroom?"

"Some of us don't spend our daylight hours sleeping," she pointed out.

"I wasn't necessarily proposing we sleep," he murmured.

She chuckled. "You are out of control."

"I love you deeply, but I admit you also inspire more lust than I thought I was still capable of," he said. She wasn't the only one surprised by how much—and how often—he wanted her. It must be all those years of longing, he thought. He hadn't been like this since he was a teenager.

She looked up at him, and he smiled at the little crease between her brows. "Why now? After all those years of...of not being attracted to me?"

"I'm free now. That's the biggest reason. But the truth is, Teresa, that I was always attracted to you. I just had to keep my promise before I could let myself express that."

"Always?"

"Yes. The attraction changed as we got to know each other and I started to recover a little, but it was there from the moment you introduced yourself. You're a beautiful woman, you know."

"Not in your league," she demurred.

"Far out of my league, my darling. Because you're beautiful to your core, not just on the surface."

She tucked her head into the crook of his neck. "You have a good heart," she said, laying her hand over it. "And I know you'll always do your best for me. That's a beautiful thing."

"I will always do my best for you," he agreed. "Nothing will ever change that."

She lifted her head to kiss him, sweetly at first and then becoming demanding, and he began to think she'd accepted his plan for their afternoon—until her phone buzzed. She pulled away despite his attempt to hang onto her and picked it up. "Cho's on his way over with lunch. I hope there's news."

"Preferably good," he said, resigned to postponing his plans.

When Cho arrived a few minutes later, he glanced around the pristine house with a hint of amusement. "Been busy?" he asked Lisbon.

"Figured as long as I was stuck here, I might as well get some stuff done," she replied. "What's up?"

"Abbott wants to move things along. We decided the easiest thing to do is pretend we had the body cremated and take the ashes to Sacramento. I talked to the cemetery and made arrangements for a graveside service." He turned to Jane. "They said we could bury the ashes under your wife's headstone. We can always take them back out later."

Jane breathed through a wave of grief and anger at the thought of disturbing Angela's grave. But it wasn't as if she would be aware of it, and he thought she wouldn't mind even if she were. It was for a good cause, after all. He liked to think she would have been proud of his second career helping people find justice. "Doesn't matter," he said, managing an even tone. "Whose ashes are they?"

"Nobody's. Just wood ash," Cho replied. Lisbon looked relieved, and he realized that, as a believer in the afterlife, she would have found putting a stranger's ashes in his wife's grave repulsive. He felt grateful that she cared so much about someone she had never met. But then, she was the most compassionate person he knew, and she hated for him to be hurt in any way. "I already have them ready to go. And our plane tickets for tonight. We'll spend the night, go to the cemetery tomorrow morning, and fly home in the afternoon."

"That doesn't leave Volker a lot of time," Jane pointed out.

"If this is part of his plan, he won't need a lot of time. I talked to Rigsby, and once I told them it was a ruse, they decided not to take the chance of coming out into the open."

"Good," Lisbon said. "It makes sense that you and I wouldn't spend a lot of time there if there's nobody to see."

Jane found himself a little depressed by the idea of being mourned by so few people. But if this had been a real funeral, at least the two people there would be ones who had really known him and cared about him. "I take it you've got people who'll be watching?"

"All set. A team flew out today. Abbott won't trust anybody in California. Something about a list you have?" Cho fixed him with a look.

"Grace is working on it," Jane assured him. "And what about my travel?"

"You're not going." Cho folded his arms.

"The hell I'm not!"

"Abbott's already annoyed that you made your own arrangements here," Cho said. "If anybody's watching Lisbon, that makes it impossible to get you out without tipping them off. You have to stay put. We'll only be gone for 24 hours."

The idea that he wouldn't be there to help keep an eye out was unacceptable. He wasn't going to have Lisbon out there as bait without whatever protection he could offer. "We can find a way."

"He also said it's too difficult to get you through TSA under a fake identity," Cho added. "We don't have time and it's not worth the effort. You stay here."

"No." Jane glared at his friend. "I'm not going to sit here and do nothing while you and Lisbon put yourselves at risk."

"I told him you'd say that. He told me to tell you that if you disobey orders, he'll have you arrested for interfering with an investigation. And to remind you that there was nothing in your deal that prohibits him from transferring Lisbon to another field office. He mentioned Alaska."

Jane thought his head might explode with rage. "I trust you gave him some inkling of the havoc I would wreak in retaliation for such foolishness."

"I guess he figures he has nothing to lose. You're no good to him dead."

Lisbon took Jane's arm. "Jane. It's only 24 hours. We don't even know if Volker's still alive. Even if he is, I'll have plenty of protection. I'll be back before you know it."

Cho apparently decided that persuading Jane was best left to Lisbon. "I'll be back to pick you up at four," he told her.

"You're not going to stay and eat?" she asked.

"I'll take mine to go." He dug in the bag and grabbed a container. "See you at four."

When Cho had closed the door behind him, Jane busied himself setting out lunch. From the scents wafting from the bag, he knew Cho had remembered all their Chinese favorites. "Would you get us some drinks?"

There was no response, and he turned to find Lisbon watching him, her hands on her hips. "What?" he asked innocently.

"We're not done talking about this," she warned.

"I'm aware. But there's no reason to discuss it on an empty stomach."

"Fine," she muttered, stomping toward the kitchen.

Despite his resolve to be straight with Lisbon as much as possible, Jane knew she would not accept his resolve. He would need to go behind her back. Regrettable, but necessary.

She returned with a beer for herself and water for him. He frowned at her; it wasn't like her to drink at lunch.

"Oh, stop," she said. "I need to look like a wreck on my way to your funeral. This'll help me sleep on the plane."

"You need your wits about you." Jane switched their drinks.

Lisbon shot him a glare. "One beer isn't going to impair my ability to protect myself, Jane." She grabbed the beer back, taking a swig before sitting down.

"You're not inspiring the confidence I'll need to bear my confinement," he complained, sitting down and claiming the carton of shrimp lo mein.

"Stop lying to me," she snapped, grabbing the container of chicken and broccoli. "You've already decided to run off on your own, no matter what anyone else thinks. Even if it gets me sent to Alaska. I'm warning you, if that happens, I'm finding myself a lumberjack to keep me warm at night."

"Abbott's bluffing," Jane said. "He wouldn't dare transfer you. I'd make his life a living hell and he knows it."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Lisbon grumbled. "I'm also not so sure I want to be with someone who's determined to be careless with his own life."

Jane put his chopsticks down. "Are you giving me an ultimatum?"

"Would that work?"

"Maybe," he admitted reluctantly. "I'd think it was pretty low for you to stoop, though."

They stared each other down. Jane noted the fear in her eyes and her queasy expression. His stomach lurched as he was reminded of their argument in the house on Orchid Lane, when she'd given him an ultimatum about Lorelei. He'd seen that she'd been prepared to throw him off the team, even though it would be like ripping her own heart out. He had no doubt she was capable of sacrificing their new relationship, especially since ending things and telling herself it was his fault would let her off the hook for dealing with her commitment issues.

And she wouldn't stick around to give him the chance to change her mind. She'd ask Abbott for a transfer and whisk herself out of his life, just like she'd left Greg. He needed to put a stop to this. "Before we escalate to threats, perhaps we could begin by calmly making the case for our preferred course of action," he suggested.

"Fine. This is a law enforcement action. It will be carried out by professionals who do not need to be distracted by a civilian freelancing. Especially when he's supposed to be dead and if he accidentally disproves that, his life will immediately be at risk."

"I have a great deal of experience with costuming and concealing my identity," Jane said. "I won't be caught."

"You'll introduce an unexpected element to an already volatile situation," she argued.

"I'll be an extra layer of protection for you."

"Maybe. Maybe you'd end up distracting my protection. You could get one of us killed."

He decided to cut straight to the chase. "And if something goes wrong, how am I supposed to live with the fact that I didn't even try to save you? I can't, Teresa."

Lisbon sighed. "Nothing's going to go wrong, Jane."

"You can't be sure of that." He frowned, searching for the words to convey to her his absolute terror at the idea of letting her walk out that door without him.

"Jane." Her voice softened, and he wondered what she was seeing in his expression. "I know that you think we can't get along without you. But in this case, we can. I promise I'll be careful. And you know Cho will keep a good eye on me. I know you're scared that you might lose me. But I'm just as scared I might lose you. You won't have anybody to protect you. And even if everything turns out okay, Abbott won't let this pass. He'll feel the need to assert his authority. Either he'll send you to jail or me to Alaska, or both. Either way we'll be separated again. And it'll hurt more than before because now you've filled my head with all these ideas about building a life together." She paused, drawing in a watery breath. "So if you do this, I have to think you weren't serious about wanting forever. Because if you were, you wouldn't take such a ridiculous, selfish risk."

Jane ran a hand through his hair in frustration. She had him neatly trapped. "Let me get this straight. Unless I stay here and twiddle my thumbs while you hold my fake funeral, you'll give up on us?"

"I'm asking you," she said quietly, holding his gaze, "to please do what I and everyone else who cares about you are asking: stay here. You've already gotten hurt twice by whoever this is. If you got killed because of me, I'd never forgive myself." She swallowed hard. "I want this life together you say we can have. Don't take it away from me. Please."

Closing his eyes, Jane let out a sigh of capitulation. "All right." He looked at her so she could see he was telling the truth. "I'll stay here. But you have to promise me to take every precaution. Don't be out of Cho's sight for a second."

"That'll make going to the bathroom interesting." Her mouth quirked into a brief grin.

"I'm serious."

"Does that mean you expect us to share a hotel room?" She took another sip of beer.

"Two rooms with a connecting door will do," he replied.

"I think we can handle that. Any more demands?" There was an edge to her voice, and he would have grinned if he weren't heartsick.

"Yes. We are going to finish our lunch and then go upstairs and have vigorous, slightly desperate goodbye sex."

She smiled. "I can live with that."

As she munched on an egg roll, Jane hoped fervently that she would live with more than that. For a very long time.

They didn't speak much for the rest of the meal, but Jane noticed that Lisbon was watching him when she thought he wasn't looking. She wasn't convinced he was giving in. But she was also thinking about how to incentivize him to obey orders. Because most of her relationships with men outside work had been based on sex, that was where her thoughts were heading. He could tell by the way she was sucking on her chopsticks a little every time she drew them out of her mouth. If he played his cards right, this could be the most mind-blowing good-bye he'd ever had. Since she was the one insisting on him staying behind, he was happy to let her make it up to him, both now and when she got back.

If she came back.

"You realize," he said after he'd finished his last bite, "that if you don't come back, I'm going to track down the person responsible and give them the most painful death I can devise. And this time I'm not going to bother to run afterward." Whether he'd allow an arrest or commit suicide by cop, he wouldn't know until it happened. It would probably depend on who came after him. He would never put his death on Cho. Not Fischer either, he thought. Abbott, maybe—he could stand to be shaken up, lose some of his smugness.

"That is not what I want, Jane." Lisbon put her beer down with unnecessary force.

"You'll be dead, so why should I give a damn what you want then?" He pinned her with his most intense stare. "Your influence over me is powerful, Lisbon. You're the one person on this planet who can force me to act against my best judgment. But that ends the moment you die. Do you understand? I'll make you no promises about what happens after that. If you want to ensure I behave a certain way, you have to stay alive to enforce it."

"You don't have to threaten me to make me want to live," she snarked.

"One good threat deserves another. I resent the hell out of you using my love for you as a weapon to force me to do what you want." He was glad she had the grace to look ashamed. "But I know you're doing it because you're scared, so I'm willing to let you. This time. But this is your only dispensation, Teresa. You don't get to threaten to leave me every time you want something I'm not willing to give."

"I wouldn't do that," she said.

"Good. Next time I'm calling your bluff." He got up and began gathering things up to clear the table. He was angry and frightened himself, and for once he wanted her to know it.

"I'm not bluffing," she snapped, getting up herself and carrying the remaining containers and her empty beer bottle into the kitchen behind him. "Sometimes you have to follow orders, Jane. You have to do things you don't want to. That's—"

He cut her off, pushing her roughly against the refrigerator and fastening his mouth to hers. She let out a squeak of shock, but after a moment she opened to him, wrapping all four of her limbs around him firmly. He wanted to rip her clothes off, throw her over his shoulder, and carry her upstairs to toss her on the bed, but he conceded that attempting it would land him in the emergency room, even if she cooperated. He'd throw his back out, most likely. Lisbon was petite, but she was all sleek muscle, heavier than she looked. His wounded arm was already screaming in protest holding her against the fridge.

"Upstairs," he growled into her ear.

"Fine." She sank her teeth into his bottom lip before lowering her legs and arms. He stepped back to let her go first, giving her a retaliatory smack on her shapely ass as she turned away from him.

She tossed a glare over her shoulder, but her pupils were huge. He grinned at her, feeling ravenous, and grabbed a handful of her shirt. "Ladies first."

They playfully struggled toward the stairs, where Lisbon finally tired of towing him and pulled her shirt over her head, flinging it at his face and using the seconds that bought her to race up the steps. Jane followed, reaching the bedroom and stopping short as he found it empty. Before he could turn to look around, he was tackled from behind and found himself face down on the bed, his good arm twisted behind his back. "Hey," he protested, offended at being manhandled like a suspect. "I don't think this position is going to be fun for either of us."

"Are you going to be a good boy, or do I have to cuff you to the bed?" she demanded, settling her weight on him as he struggled experimentally.

"Trick question," he retorted. "You get suspicious when I'm a good boy. And I don't want you to cuff me to the bed in case you forget to uncuff me before you run off to Sacramento."

"You'd survive," she told him. "I'd leave you some water and bread or something."

"I said I'd stay. What do you need as proof?" She could be so infuriating sometimes, he thought.

"I'm going to wear you out so you won't follow us," she said.

"Better than pistol whipping me," he joked.

"That reminds me. I have to show you where the guns are, in case you need them. The FBI will maintain surveillance, but I don't want you here alone and unarmed."

"Ooh, sex and guns. What's next, drugs? You're not going to force feed me sleeping pills, are you?"

"Don't tempt me. I'd do anything to keep you alive. Anything." She eased up her hold and flipped him onto his back, straddling him. "I'd never get over you, Jane. Not for the rest of my life."

"Good, we're on the same page then." Her bra fastened in the back where he couldn't reach without sitting up, so he pulled on the cups until her breasts spilled out of them, nipples hard and straining toward him.

Lisbon reached behind her to get rid of the bra, but he couldn't wait, splaying his hands over both breasts and kneading them. She threw her head back and moaned, her hips moving restlessly. A hiccuping cry escaped her as he gave her nipples a hard pinch, and after she tossed the bra aside she started to unfasten her jeans. When she went up on her knees to slide them off, Jane made his move, grabbing her around the waist and pushing her onto her back, pinning her with his body. "Much better," he said.

"I can't unbutton your shirt like this," she complained, trying to work her fingers between their bodies.

"You don't need to. I hope you're ready, love, because I'm going to make you so sore you'll think about me all the way to California. I don't want you to forget for one second what's waiting for you back here." He kissed her, hard, thrusting his tongue into her mouth as if to claim her. When her hands were safely tangled in his hair, he lifted his hips just enough to yank her panties down to where she could kick them off with her jeans.

Moving his weight to his bad arm, the adrenaline and endorphins quelling the pain, he thrust two fingers into her, smiling at the shriek that erupted from her throat. He was merciless, pushing her as fast as she could go, working her clit with his thumb as he moved his fingers in and out, adding a third as her hips fell open wider under his onslaught. Her eyes were glazed with passion and pleasure, and she was breathing so hard it sounded like sobbing. He gave her one last brutal thrust and she came apart, screaming his name as her body convulsed violently. He stilled his hand but maintained the pressure on her clit until she went limp, panting, a tear escaping one eye.

"We're just getting started," he whispered, giving her a loving kiss before pulling away. Balancing on his knees, he guided her to roll over on her stomach, noting how her breathing quickened as she pulled her knees under her and raised her lower body for him. "I love to watch your face, but I love this position too. I can go so deep this way. I'm going to be a little rough with you, sweetheart."

"I can take it," she gasped out, as if he'd dared her.

"Oh," he chuckled, "I know you can. My badass cop." He unzipped his pants but didn't take them down, drawing his stiff, aching cock out of his fly and guiding it to her wet, swollen entrance. "Hang on tight."

She grabbed fistfuls of the covers, but when his first powerful thrust sent her skidding forward, she reached for the headboard to brace herself. Jane paused, savoring the feeling of being wedged so deep and tight, and said, "I warned you."

"Less talk, more action," she breathed.

He pulled almost all the way out, gritting his teeth as she gripped him in protest, and then slammed back into her. She'd asked for it, after all; he was going to make her gorgeous ass so sore she could hardly bear the flight away from him.

Lisbon seemed to be in agreement, pushing back against him as if trying to impale herself even more deeply. They fell into a fast, almost frantic rhythm that threatened to shut down all his higher brain functions. He was lost in the feel of her; the scent she was giving off, all sweaty and musky; the sound of the bed creaking beneath them and the little huffing sounds she made each time he shoved himself into her, as if he was driving all the air out of her lungs. She was a sensual feast. He leaned down to take a long lick along her spine, adding her salty taste to his sensory input and making her shudder.

His voice was raspy as he asked, "Are you close?"

"Uh huh," she managed. Then she lifted a hand away from the headboard, bringing it between her legs. He felt her fingers brush him as he pulled out and pushed back in, and he let out something between a cry and a growl at the sensation and the knowledge that she was rubbing herself to climax while he pounded into her, grunting like a wild beast.

He lost it the moment he felt her start to convulse around him, milking him ruthlessly, almost to the point of pain. He managed a few more erratic thrusts, gushing into her like a firehose, before collapsing. Rolling off her took the last of his strength, and he lay on his back, gasping for air, as she uncurled herself and lay alongside him, a beatific smile lighting her face.

"You win," he panted. "I'm too exhausted to go anywhere."

"Mm." She hummed in approval, lifting one leg so she could slide her foot along his calf. "Yeah, you need to save your strength for when I get back. I expect a really enthusiastic welcome, and you've set the bar pretty high."

He chuckled, running a hand along her back. "You liked that, huh?"

"Mm hm."

"Me too. Especially the part where you touched yourself for me. I'd really like to watch you masturbate sometime."

He felt her tuck her face into his shoulder and glanced down to find her blushing. She was adorable, he reflected, such a fascinating mix of assertive sexuality and Catholic guilt.

"Maybe if you behave, I'll do it when I get back. As a special treat," she murmured.

"Make that a definitely instead of a maybe, and you won't have to worry about what I'm up to while you're gone. I'll be right here in your bed touching myself and thinking about you doing the same."

She lifted her head to look at him, a finger moving in slow circles on his chest. "Hm. Deal."

"Good." He buried his face in her hair, smiling as he breathed in her familiar fragrance. "And the rest of the time, I'm going to look for that vibrator I know you have. We can have some fun with that too."

She gave him a light, playful slap on the chest. "I guess it won't do any good to tell you not to snoop."

"None at all, I'm afraid. I want to know everything about you."

"Does that mean I get to know everything about you in return?"

"Yes. I can't guarantee you'll like everything you hear, but I'll do my best to answer any questions you have." He yawned, wishing for a nap but not wanting to lose any of his precious remaining moments with her.

"Good. I'll think up some while I'm gone," she said, failing to stifle a yawn of her own. "Maybe just a short nap."

"A short one," he agreed, giving into the drowsiness tugging at him.

mmm

When Jane woke, Lisbon was fully dressed and putting things into a duffel bag. He watched her for a few minutes, comforted by the familiarity of it. Every inch of her screamed cop, from the way she planted her feet to the bulge of the gun she was already wearing. Jane glanced at his watch and realized he'd slept much longer than he planned. It was almost time for Cho to pick her up.

Sitting up, he tucked himself back into his slightly sticky pants and zipped up. Lisbon glanced at him with a smile. "I was wondering if I was going to have to wake you up," she said.

"You wore me out," he admitted.

"Cho texted me he's on his way." She must have seen his expression change as his stomach gave an unpleasant lurch, because she sat down on the bed, laying her hand on his cheek tenderly. "I'll be back tomorrow evening. And I'll text you as much as I can. Don't run off. I want you here waiting for me when I get home."

"I will be," he promised, though he had no idea how he was going to get through the next 24 hours. The burner phones were the only reason he thought he had any chance at all. "Promise you'll be careful and you won't leave Cho's sight."

"I promise, except for bathroom breaks," she replied. "With any luck, we'll have this guy in custody tomorrow morning and you can come back to life."

"I hope so. Though it's not so bad, hiding out here and being your boy toy." He managed a grin, drawing one from her in return.

Her phone buzzed, and she glanced at it, texting a short message back. "Cho's here."

An icy shiver went down Jane's spine. "I'll walk you to the door," he said, getting up and taking her hand.

"There's a gun taped to the underside of the nightstand," she said. "And one in the back of the kitchen cupboard with the mugs. Both loaded. There's a rifle in the back of the coat closet, unloaded. The ammunition's in the box marked 'hats.'"

He smiled a little as she grabbed her bag, and they went downstairs together. They stopped at the door, looking at each other and trying to hide their anguish. Lisbon dropped her bag and cupped his face in her hands, looking intently as if memorizing him. "Be here when I get back," she whispered.

Jane swept her into his arms, holding her too tightly but unable to stop himself. "Come back," he choked out. "Come back alive."

She hugged him back just as fiercely, then tried for humor. "Of course I'm coming back. It's my house, Jane."

"I love you." He had to make absolutely sure she knew that. "You're taking my heart with you."

"And I'm leaving mine here with you," she said, a quaver in her voice. "I love you too, Patrick. And I'm sorry for all the hurt I caused you—"

"Ssh," he reproved. "I'm the one who's sorry. I have so much more hurt to apologize for. I want to make it up to you. And I will. As long as you come back."

"I will. I promise."

Jane knew he should let her go, but he wasn't sure he was physically able to loosen his embrace.

"Jane, I have to go," she murmured in his ear.

"I know." Jane felt his burner phone vibrate in his pocket, and he managed to move one hand to pull it out. There was a text from Cho: Send her out or I'm coming in.

He chuckled hoarsely. "Cho apparently thinks I'm holding you hostage."

Lisbon pulled back, wiping at her eyes, and read the text with a huff of laughter. "I'd better go."

He nodded, unable to speak, and caught her hand in his, lifting it to his lips for a long moment. A warm tear made its way down his cheek, and he looked at her eyes, wet with tears of her own. They stood that way for a minute, until Lisbon took a deep breath, tried to smile, and pulled her hand gently out of his. She picked up her bag and was out the door before he could react.

Jane moved to the window, lifting a slat of the blinds to watch her walk to Cho's car. Cho was waiting to put her bag in the trunk, and he gave her a brief hug before they got in and drove off. Jane watched a long time before sinking onto the couch, his head in his hands.

Cho would do everything possible to bring Lisbon safely home, he knew. He was highly trained and highly motivated. He was, in fact, a better bodyguard than Jane would ever be.

But his wasn't the heart Lisbon was taking with her. And he wasn't the one sitting here even though every nerve in his body was screaming for him to go to Sacramento. If it weren't for his determination to prove to Lisbon that she could trust him, depend on him, he'd already be on his way.

Still. Maybe he could get there and back without her ever knowing. He could—

His phone buzzed with a text from Lisbon. Thank you for staying. I know it's hard. But it means a lot that you're willing to do it for me.

Jane sighed. It was going to be a very long night.