Thank you to everyone who has read, reviewed or favourited and particularly to the guest reviewers as I can't reply directly. Lorna and Ilovetea, thank you for your comments.

Thank you also to Sue Shay for her time and expertise in generously beta reading, reality checking and helpfully questioning. Check out Sue's current project "Ready or Not". The latest chapters are heartwarming and hilarious.

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with the Mentalist and make no money from fanfiction

5.15pm Friday, one week later

Lisbon clicked the delete button on the final e-mail. Leaning back she rubbed the sore spot at the nape of her neck, whilst allowing herself a few moments of satisfaction. That was the last month's correspondence all dealt with – a few kept but most directed either to archive or to the recycling bin. It was a suitable job for a quiet Friday afternoon when she had no remaining paperwork to complete.

She still couldn't credit it. This week her desk had been blissfully empty by 5pm each night and today would be no exception. It felt a little weird - like somehow she was bunking off school - but she wasn't complaining. It was glorious, not craning over form after form till gone midnight. And not racking her brains to figure out how to customise the usual platitudes to make it look like she took the complaints against Jane seriously. Not that she didn't, but her stock of decent excuses had long since been exhausted so now she just recycled them as appropriate. What else could she do?

For the fifth time this week she was going home in daylight! And she had been able to make good use of the extra hours too. In between food shopping and finally filling her freezer, two nights at the gym and one at the swimming pool, she had a real sense of accomplishment. And, for tonight, she had the ultimate stress reliever planned. A couple of hours on the range with just her Glock and a set of paper targets to take down, followed by a quiet evening with take out, ice cream and a re-run of Casablanca. It had been good to remind herself that, whilst contracted hours belonged to Bertram, her free time was hers to either give to the CBI or not as the case may be.

Lisbon shut down her computer. She'd check for e-mail again when she got to the range, just to make sure, but now she was outta here. Cho and Rigsby had already left. As for Jane, well he was probably lurking in his attic or somewhere. He wasn't in the bullpen. And she refused to worry about it.

Still, all things considered, it had been a good week. Rigsby was back. He was still on desk duty but healing well. Jane had evidently made his peace with the boys. She neither knew how nor cared, but it was encouraging to see. The three of them were working together calmly and professionally, possibly because Jane had been on his best behaviour. He hadn't spent much time in the bullpen but he had grabbed a fistful of cold cases. By the time she'd arrived on Monday morning, he had already cracked one, leaving her and Cho to do the honours. And by Wednesday afternoon, she'd been able to add a second to the closed board. The murder of a senator's daughter fifteen years ago. Bertram had even sent an e-mail of congratulation. Terse, like he it choked him – oh she could dream – but acknowledgement anyway. And it wasn't Bertram's thanks that really mattered. Senator Cohen had run for office as a means to do something about the drug and trafficking problems in California. He and his wife deserved every bit of closure it was possible to give them.

Stopping in front of the elevator, Lisbon pressed the call button and waited, reaching into her pocket to grasp the car keys. But just as the doors slid open, she heard a shout. Great! What now?

Jane leapt down the last three steps of the flight that led up to his den.

"Lisbon! Where are you going?"

"Home. Some of us have them you know." For a second she froze, realising that this wasn't the best thing to say to Jane but he hurried towards her regardless.

Glancing up at him for a second, Lisbon made sure to pointedly avert her gaze, hoping that her lack of interest was apparent. Then she stepped into the elevator and pushed the button for the parking garage. As the doors slid together she saw the chagrined look on Jane's face but steeled herself not to react. At least not until his foot jammed the closing doors. Could he not take a hint, the jackass?

"Lisbon, where are you going? Don't lie to me."

She shook her head. Nope, jackass central. He may have been on good behaviour all week but the week was clearly over. What was she gonna say? Given he'd now joined her in the elevator, there was no escape.

"Jane, since when do I need to account for my movements? To anyone, let alone you?"

"Meh." Jane eyed her carefully. "Now be fair Lisbon, can you fault my work this week? Two closed cases and another three where I've found potential leads. Good work or what?"

Lisbon hung her head for a moment. OK, that had done it. She couldn't leave now without hearing him out but they'd be going to the park, not back into the building. Sighing, she glared at Jane, "Of all times… Spill."

The doors opened and the two co-workers exited the building together walking towards Lisbon's vehicle, Jane keeping his counsel for a few moments. When they'd almost reached the car, he paused, thrusting his hands into his jacket pockets and rocking back on his heels.

"Don't look like that Teresa, I'm not out to spoil your evening. If you want to spend your free time executing innocent and unresisting paper targets, be my guest. It's good to vent your aggression…"

He skipped back out of reach, ready for the fist of doom, but Lisbon just stared back at him with her faintly disbelieving smile. "OK, I'll bite. How did you know Boy Wonder?"

"Boy? Please. Can't you see that I'm a man? If you need glasses, I can recommend…"

"No! Thank you. There's nothing wrong with my vision. Your mental age is about six. Hence Boy Wonder." Lisbon pulled her face into that forced smirk that said 'ha, got you mate' but too soon.

"If you think I'm a six year old, Mommy, you can't just leave me here. I'll have to go with you." He turned his best charming smile on her, full voltage. Lisbon paused, dazzled for a moment. Which was all the time Jane needed to slip into the passenger's seat. Damned, she'd been conned. Yet again.

Climbing into the driver's seat, Lisbon tried not to look at Jane. She didn't need to see the triumphant grin or to hear him gloat. It was time to take charge of the situation. If she could.

"OK Jane. You wanna talk. Let's talk. Which three cases? What have you found?"

"But Llliiisssbon, aren't we gonna go play with guns?"

He was staring at her with that 'you're a mark and what's more you should know it' expression. She longed to wipe it off his face. But this was Jane. He could twist anything.

"No, Jane." She was not going to beg. Silence was her best defence. Let him get bored. Come to her.

Lisbon stared into the middle distance, contemplating the barrier at the parking lot gate. Looked like it was Jim on security but she couldn't be sure since he was looking away. Now what else could she do? Time to count the vehicles hurtling past. One yellow van. One dark blue Ford. A truck with a trailer advertising some CBS programme. Not one she'd heard of.

A rustle next to her caught her attention and she turned back automatically. Jane was holding out a tube of mints. For Jane, that was almost an apology.

"Seriously, Lisbon, I'm not here to annoy you. How about, I'll go and get us some take out and we'll meet at yours in what, an hour and a half? I'll catch you up on those cases and then we can hang out for a bit. Talk. Maybe watch a movie. There's a couple of action films just been released. I know how much you like them…"

Wow, he really was trying, that was clear.

"I thought you hated them?" Lisbon called Jane out on it. "What are you playing at?"

Jane clasped his hands in his lap as he fidgeted for a moment. "Mending fences? Building bridges? That kinda thing." That look that she detested was back on his face. Like he was about to cry or be crushed by the weight of his failures. It left her with no choice.

She pulled her best mock stern face on, knowing that there was really no point. "OK. OK. 7.30 at mine. Not before. And I want Chinese and the Bruce Willis film or Liam Neeson. Either."

Jane's whole demeanour lifted, though she knew full well it was partly faked. "Thank you Lisbon." He reached over to pull her into a quick hug. "I'll see you later. Bearing gifts as promised." He didn't even tease her about Neeson himself not being available.

Jane had released the door catch, making as if to get out of the vehicle, when he leaned over to her instead, bringing his lips close to her ear. Her inhalation caught in her throat as she heard his whisper.

"Those oval emerald studs really suit you." A shudder rippled through her, his warm, moist breath electrifying the side of her neck, making her whole being lurch towards him. "But this one needs a little straightening. I'm guessing you didn't check your appearance carefully enough this morning?"

Teresa gripped the steering wheel, her whole body rigid as the tremors trilled up and down her from crown to toes. That was so not his business but she couldn't stop the longing that surged through her, emotionally and physically. She fought to hold onto her reason and to hide her responses but it was a losing battle. She had no doubt that he knew.

Jane moved away again, giving her space, though his breathing looked a little erratic too, and a slight blush had stained his cheeks. It looked like she wasn't the only one with control issues. After a few minutes during which he stared out of his side window, he spoke.

"I'm sorry Lisbon. I shouldn't have done that. Not with Red John still out there. We're friends, right? And that's all we can be."

The heat drained from Lisbon's body like she'd been thrown into Iceberg Alley. Yes. Friends. That is what they were. The yawning crevasse inside was not going to swallow her whole. She was not shaking. She was no Lorelei. Of course he didn't want her. Not like that. He was just messing. All part of the con.

Slowly Lisbon regained control. Her stubbornness and determination were a life raft. They made her strong. She tried not to look at Jane but it didn't work. She could see him chewing his lower lip whilst the furrows in his forehead suggested deep thought.

Opening the car door, Jane still didn't look properly at Lisbon. He paused with his feet outside of the vehicle and his back to her. "7.30. Chinese. Willis or Neeson. Got it." Slamming the car door behind him, Jane was gone.

Lisbon crossed her forearms on the steering wheel and lowered her head against them. What was she going to do now?

7pm. Lisbon pulled into her parking space and locked the car. Just time for a coffee – the large Tigger mug at the back of the cupboard would be coming out – a relaxing shower and a change of clothes. And if Jane dared to turn up without a suitable movie and food, she would shoot him. She'd leave her off duty Glock near the door just in case.

Closing the front door, she locked it and put a chair under the handle. It wouldn't stop Jane getting in if he was early but she would at least hear him. Then flicking on the kettle Lisbon found the emergency mug and brewed her needed fix. Taking her coffee upstairs, she pulled out an old T-shirt – long with elbow length sleeves and a round neck – and a pair of sweatpants. Going into the bathroom, she grabbed the shower gel from the cupboard. The bottle claimed it was for stress relief allegedly. Well, it was time to test it.

Ten minutes later, showered and more comfortably dressed, Lisbon dragged a brush through her wet hair before pulling it back into a ponytail. That would have to do. She so wasn't making any effort for Jane and it was important that he should know this.

7.30pm. Right on cue, she heard the light rat-a-tat-tat on the front door. Jane's knock. She would know that anywhere. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself. First she moved the chair to the side and then she opened the door, peering round the edge to see what she was gonna have to face. There he stood. Same 3-piece suit. Jacket thrown over one arm and a bag of goodies in the other. Chinese. As she pulled the door right back, he bounded in like an exuberant Labrador. All caged energy and excitement.

"Ah, Lisbon. So how was the range?"

He'd already marched straight into her kitchen and was clattering through the cupboards.

"Good."

As Lisbon stood there, unsure what to do or where to put herself, Jane re-emerged with a pile of plates, two wine glasses and some chopsticks. He unpacked the bag, holding each dish up for inspection before emptying its carton onto one of the plates. Diving back into the kitchen, he re-emerged with a bottle of red which he must have brought, two tumblers and a jug of water. Pulling out her chair, he waved her over like she was a lost tourist looking for the information desk.

"Come on Lisbon. Don't let it go cold."

Lisbon, not Teresa. OK, that set the tone. And, gentlemanly though he was being, he was careful not to touch her when he seated her at the table. Yes, this was going to be OK. She could do this. They both could. The occasional flutters and the glow she could feel in her eyes could be ignored. And as for Jane… Whether there was something there or not, she was not going to look, was not going to see. Hell, she'll held it together after that Vegas 'Love you.' Even after the 'love you' followed by proof of his liaison with Lorelei. This was a piece of cake, right. And besides, they needed to talk shop. What were these three cold cases that he'd been boasting about?

An hour later, Lisbon lay curled up on the couch whilst Jane slumped in the armchair opposite. The food had been delicious. Not surprising given where it had come from. And it had been followed with more wine – just for her as Jane had switched to water after the first glass – and a decadent dessert. She was stuffed and sleepy, though she might still reach over and re-fill her wine glass. Jane looked similarly inert. She wondered if he was just going to fall asleep where he sat.

Staggering to his feet, Jane passed her the bottle of wine before sinking down again. He was looking a little more alert though so she wasn't too surprised when he began to speak.

"So tell me about last weekend. How was Long Beach? Tommy and Annie OK?"

Teresa took a sip of her wine before replying, feeling relaxed and at peace.

"Yeah, they're fine. Tommy's still bounty hunting but hey, you know, I've kinda started to accept that. It's dangerous and I fear for him sometimes but, you know, so is being a cop. So is teaching in a deprived neighbourhood, like Andrew, over in Baltimore. There's only James who has a 'safe' job. He's an accountant back in Chicago."

"Mmm-hmm." Jane leaned back in the armchair, closing his eyes, as Lisbon continued.

"So yeah. Tommy and Annie came over last Friday and we spent the night here, catching up on stuff. Tommy's doing better. He's not so worried about money. And Annie… She's fine. Doing well at school and still determined to be a cop. There's nothing I can say that'll dissuade her. She's taken up martial arts and self-defence. I'm kinda glad she can protect herself. And she's been an ace shooter since she was twelve. Learned in arcades and on video games. Last time I went to see her and her dad we spent some time on the range. She's pretty darned good."

"Sounds like she's well on track."

Lisbon took another sip before continuing. Her heart swelled at the thought of the feisty teenager who backed down from no-one and who was determined to follow in her aunt's cop footprints.

"She's working now, you know, most Saturdays. Going to pay for her way through college. She'll be off there next year. She'd growing up so fast. Every time I see her…."

Jane opened his eyes, looking at Lisbon tenderly.

"Sounds like all she needs now is the advanced first aid and running practice. She's already got the quick thinking and nerves of steel. I think she'll do very well."

Stretching his arms up, Jane sat up a little straighter.

"So, Long Beach. What did you do, leave here early?"

"Yeah, we got there around 1 o'clock in the afternoon. Checked in and then went down to the waterfront."

Stopping for a moment, Teresa swung her feet around to sit upright.

"It was a good day. We went round the Aquarium and took a trip out into the bay to see the sealions. Then had a slap up meal and just talked. On Sunday, Annie had her first surfing lesson in the morning. So needless to say, Tommy and I watched.

"And then we set off back. Stopped for lunch on the way.

"They left on Monday. Tommy had a job over in Nevada and Annie's on her school break so she went with him."

She glanced over at Jane. He was leaning forwards, giving her his full attention.

"Good. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Annie needs a strong mother figure."

"Pah. Me?!"

Refusing to take the bait, Jane reached for the small plastic bag that he'd fetched inside the larger one with the food in it. "So, my dear. Time for Liam Neeson or time to call it a night?"

Lisbon stretched as she yawned. "Liam Neeson and a good cup of coffee."

Jane stood up, shaking his legs to ease out the stiffness and pushing both arms up in an overhead stretch.

"Your wish is my command, dear."

He primed the DVD, making sure that the feature began to play. 'Taken II'. It promised excitement and violence. Moving to the kitchen, he prepared a tea for himself and a coffee for Lisbon. But when he returned to the living room, she was fast asleep.

Jane took a few moments to enjoy his tea, watching Lisbon sleep. She had curled back up on the couch and looked to be comfortable. Bringing the duvet from her bed, Jane covered her over, killed the television and silently made his way out, locking the door as he did so. With any luck Teresa would sleep till morning.