A/N: A huge thank you to everyone that reviewed the last chapter! I'm just so pleased that you enjoyed it :)

Also big shout out to CrazerCat who's birthday month this chapter is - hope you like it!

I don't usually comment too much on what happens in the world, especially on here, but having two young children myself, I just want to say how truly awful yesterday's events were in Connecticut and even though I'm miles away my thoughts and heart are with the families that have lost loved one's. So very, very sad.

In awareness of this tragedy, please note that this chapter does contain some gun play. I understand there will be some people out there that may not wish to read on considering what's happened so I thought I'd better warn you.

For those that do wish to continue, onto November...

CHAPTER 11

"If only you saw what I can see,
You'd understand why I want you so desperately"

~ What Makes You Beautiful ~ 1D

November 22nd – 9.15pm

Rigsby brought Ben up to the office last week.

It doesn't happen often, hardly ever in fact but he had a day off and was meeting Grace for lunch. It was nice. He's a cute little boy and was running around in that bouncy, almost clumsy kind of way that probably seems really fast to him but in reality he was hardly moving at all.

I love kids at that age.

He charmed everyone, especially Lisbon, and she'd been so delighted when he'd held his arms up for a cuddle. She'd quickly obliged and had looked over at me with a beautiful smile of pure happiness.

You know that moment when everything around you seems to fade into nothing and there's just you and that one other person…?

Yeah. That was it for me.

And as I stood there just staring at her, I experienced a most profound longing to see her holding our child one day.

I have to say it caught me off guard. I've had the odd, fleeting wisp of an idea float through my head but it's not something I've given any real serious thought to…I mean, we still haven't even slept together yet.

And that's another thing I have a 'profound longing' for…although, true, it's not quite as innocent as my yearning for settling down. Still, now that the elephant that was my ring has finally left not just the room but the entire building, I really want to take our relationship to the next level. And from the way things were heating up between us just a couple of hours ago, I think she's ready too.

If only Cho hadn't interrupted us with that damn call about work…I swear he's still paying me back for that hug.

Anyway, I'm hoping that tomorrow evening we can pick up where we left off. I figure that if we close the case tonight then we shouldn't have any more interruptions. I can wait a little longer. Not much, but a little.

So now we're here, pulling up to a rundown shack out in the middle of nowhere at some ridiculous time of night because we finally got a break on a case we've been working on for the past week.

Well, actually we're only ten minutes away from the I-5 and it's not really that late, but still…

Lisbon kills the SUV's lights and we roll to a stop a little distance away from where we've been told the killer, Robert Finlay, is holed up.

"Wait here," she orders unnecessarily.

I don't need telling twice. I reconciled myself to the fact that I'll never be a hero a long time ago. Besides, I'd rather watch Lisbon take charge. I do so love a woman in control.

I grab hold of her hand as she's about to get out of the vehicle and she looks back at me with a faintly puzzled expression.

"Be careful," I caution softly.

She gives me a nod and smile before slipping off into the darkness.

I open my window a little so that I can hear what's going on. I know Cho and Rigsby are out there somewhere with her but that doesn't quell the usual feeling of anxiousness that always settles in the pit of my stomach whenever she heads off into the line of fire this way.

I automatically go to fiddle with my ring but as soon as I touch bare skin I remember that I'm no longer wearing it. I'm mostly used to the fact now but during tense moments like these I tend to forget and fall back into the habit.

It's odd, but although Lisbon and I have talked alot recently, the one thing we've never spoken about is my ring…not aloud anyway. We had one of those silent conversations that we seem to have perfected so well over the years.

It was the day after I'd told Lisbon that I loved her. I'd made myself a cup of tea and a coffee for her and had placed the mug on her desk before settling comfortably on her couch. She was scribbling away at some report or other and I didn't want to interrupt, I just wanted to be near. I'd just taken a sip of my drink when I realised that she'd stopped writing and I looked over to see what she was doing.

She'd stared at me intently then deliberately looked at my ringless hand and back up again to meet my gaze with concern in her eyes and a questioning quirk of her brows. I'd mimicked her pointed looks to my hand and up again then smiled back softly and nodded slightly. A moment later she'd blushed and smiled too then had gone back to her infernal scribbling.

No need for words; we understood each other perfectly.

And I'm happy with that. There's no need to dissect my decision. We both know what it means.

Besides, we've spent a lot of time talking about other things over the past few weeks. I want her to see that I meant what I said. I am opening up more and it is because I want to. Emotionally, it's actually been quite cathartic. I'd even go so far as to say that I believe it's brought us closer together.

Amazing really considering I so very nearly pulled us apart through my own damn idiocy. I learned my lesson but good and I won't risk losing her again.

Speaking of which, I should have seen or at least heard something by now. I guess our man isn't here after all.

The moon comes out from behind some clouds overhead, giving the clearing and shack that eerie, muted silvery glow that stands any horror movie in good stead and I try to catch a glimpse of my friends.

Nothing.

Something doesn't feel right to me and I'm just contemplating getting out of the car when, suddenly, all hell breaks loose.

Loud gunshots ring out; the staccato bursts of sound piercing the otherwise quiet night. I can see flashes of gunfire through the dirty, cracked window panes and hear Rigsby shout out something unintelligible as they try to apprehend the suspect.

As quick as the action starts, it stops again leaving the surrounding area unnaturally silent once more. I stare through the windscreen and just catch sight of the front door opening and our man creep stealthily out before clouds capture the moon in their embrace once more leaving everything in a blanket of near darkness.

I'm undecided what to do. I don't want him the get away but, although I'm certain Lisbon has a gun secreted in just about every available orifice within the car, I'm hesitant to confront him outright because well, quite frankly, I hate guns. Words are my ammunition but I doubt he's in any mood to talk right now. Maybe if I could just stall him somehow then Lisbon and the guys would have enough time to come and get him.

I can hear footsteps coming nearer, crunching on the dead twigs and leaves that are strewn over forest floor and know I don't have much time. I lean over the console and turn the keys that are still in the ignition so that I have power to the car's controls. Without starting the engine, I press the switch for the headlights and sit up in time to see the bright lights come full on and illuminate the clearing.

The man stops dead in his tracks and holds his arm up across his eyes, momentarily blinded by the glare. He recovers far quicker than I anticipate though and I fling myself back down across the console when I see him suddenly level his gun right at me.

Crap.

The windscreen erupts in an explosion of noise and I cover my head with my hands as I feel the shattered glass cascade over me in a brittle waterfall.

I'm suddenly very aware of my perilous situation and yet all I worry about is that Lisbon is going to be furious with me for getting the car damaged.

Before I can sit up, my door is yanked open and our suspect roughly drags me out by my arm. I wince as I feel the wrench on my shoulder at the violent movement but manage hold my hands up in a submissive gesture in spite of the pain.

He points his gun at my head and I swallow hard, trying to dampen down the sense of fear and panic I can feel rising rapidly within me. They say you can see your life flash before your eyes right before you die…all I see is Teresa's beautiful face.

And then, unexpectedly, I hear her voice…

"Put the gun down, Finlay," my fair rescuer commands but I can hear the slight wobble in her voice that belies her concern about the situation.

I look past our suspect and feel relief wash over me when I see her. A quick once over convinces me she's unhurt and my gaze darts to Cho and Rigsby who stand a couple of feet away either side of her; all their guns are trained on the man that was about to kill me.

Finlay stiffens momentarily then looks at me in a way that I already regret. Why, oh why did I turn on those blasted headlights? I should have just let him go and we could have found him another time…preferably in the daylight.

He moves quickly and grabs me by the jacket, pulling me to him. The next moment his arm is around my chest and his gun is pressed against my temple.

"No, you put the gun down or pretty boy here is dead," the killer threatens sourly.

Pretty boy? Really? Pretty I can live with but, boy? I'm offended.

"You won't kill me," I say keeping my voice as casual as I can manage. "You know they'll just come down harder on you in court…if one of these guys doesn't shoot you first of course."

"Shut up!" he orders gruffly.

"Jane!" Lisbon admonishes harshly.

"And you probably don't have any bullets left after that little altercation in the shack…"

"Wanna test it out, big mouth?" Finlay asks, pressing the barrel so hard against my head and I'm sure it's going to leave a mark.

"Jane, be quiet," Lisbon says curtly the fear and dismay clear on her face. She shakes her head at me in warning then relaxes her stance and holds up her gun for him to see before bending to place it onto the forest floor. She glances at Cho and Rigsby who reluctantly follow suit. I'm certain it's the wrong thing to do and am proved right when Finlay suddenly turns his gun on Lisbon.

My reaction is pure instinct at seeing the woman I love threatened and I push aside my dread and panic to elbow him hard in the gut then stamp heavily on his foot. It's enough to make him drop his arm but he still clings onto me for dear life.

All of a sudden it feels as if I've been hit by a truck as something, or someone, crashes into us and I'm slammed hard, face first, against the SUV with Finlay crushing me from behind. Pain radiates from my chest and breathing suddenly becomes more difficult. Abruptly, I feel that Finlay is gone and I turn slowly, leaning back on the car before sinking to the ground as I try to catch my breath.

I see Rigsby cuffing the suspect then Lisbon is on her knees by side, looking at me in blatant concern as she runs her hands over my face and body.

"Oh God, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Are you alright? Are you hurt? Where does it hurt? Jane?"

"That was you?" I ask in disbelief. "I thought it was Rigsby. Do you have some hidden super power or something you haven't told me about yet?"

"Patrick this is serious, where does it hurt?" she asks still prodding me.

She reaches a tender spot on my chest and I bat her hands away with a wince and a sharp intake of breath that just causes me even more pain.

"I'm fine, woman, stop fretting, I'm just winded, that's all," I gasp out a little more tetchily than I mean to be. It's just that I have a sinking feeling that it's slightly more serious than that because the throbbing pain coming from both my shoulder and my ribs is immense.

She looks understandably put out by my tone and I let out a huff of annoyance at myself for taking my hurting out on her. I gingerly push myself up to stand and she grabs hold of my injured arm to help. I let out a little yelp of pain and her arm immediately goes around my waist to support me.

"I'm getting you to a hospital," she says firmly. "Cho, call for back-up and tell them we need an ambulance." She pauses to look at the damaged SUV. "And a tow truck."

Cho does as he's asked and I, of course, protest most strongly.

"I don't want to go to the hospital, Lisbon," I say, wishing it didn't come out sounding quite so petulant.

"Stop whining," she snaps with a touch of irritation.

The fact that I need her to help me walk and I really can't quite catch my breath to argue the point means that I know I don't have any way to form a realistic retort. She leads me over to a large up-ended tree and I sit down on the trunk gratefully.

"I'll be right back," she says before walking off to where Cho has just finished his call. They have a quick conversation then he nods and she comes back over to me. "I'm going back to CBI with Rigsby to book Finlay. Cho's going to stay with you until the ambulance arrives."

I nod and reach out to grab her hand as she turns away.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you," I tell her with a contrite smile as she looks back. "And I'm fine, really. A couple of hours rest and I'll be good as new."

She stares back at me dubiously.

"Boss? Finlay's in the car. You ready to go?" asks Rigsby, interrupting the moment.

"Yeah, sure," she replies before looking back at me and giving my hand a brief squeeze. I think she's about to leave when she surprises me by bending down and giving me a quick kiss on the lips. "Go to the hospital, OK? You need checking over properly. I don't want to come out of interrogation and see you sitting on that damn couch."

"Meh," I reply blithely, not at all amazed how she knew that I'd already been trying to think of a way to persuade Cho to just take me back to the CBI too.

"Please, Patrick…for me?" she requests softly.

Although it's too dim to see her eyes in detail, I know exactly the appeal that her green depths hold for me to do as she asks.

Damn.

I was so determined not to go as well but how can I say no to that?

"Fine, I'll go," I mutter unenthusiastically.

"Good," she says far too brightly for my liking. She stands up and gives me a smile then heads off to the other car where Rigsby is waiting.

I hear them drive off then Cho saunters over and sits down next to me. He notices me grimace and from the wry quirk of his mouth apparently finds it amusing.

"How you doing?" he asks.

"I've been better," I reply, trying to find a comfortable way of sitting without moving too much. It's not an easy thing to achieve.

"Lisbon hits like a freight train," he comments wryly.

"You too?" I commiserate then take a deep steady breath and exhale slowly.

"Yeah. During training once. My back hurt for a month."

"That's my Lisbon, no half measures," I murmur affectionately then try to shift my posture again.

He looks at me for a moment then stares back over the clearing, still illuminated by the SUV's lights.

"Ambulance should be here in a minute," he says unnecessarily. I nod and he frowns a little, obviously perplexed. "Aren't you going to talk me into taking you back to the office?"

Really? Does everyone just know me now?

"Nah, thought I'd better get checked out this time," I answer dismissively.

"Lisbon told you to go, didn't she?" he guesses and actually grins. "Rigsby was right. You are whipped."

"If it's the right woman, Cho, it's simply called compromise," I counter with a smile.

He shakes his head still smiling then we hear the distant wail of the emergency services heading our way. Things move swiftly when they finally arrive and Cho gives out orders while I'm attended to by a paramedic.

As I had suspected, he tells me that I might have a couple of broken ribs and that I need an x-ray to make sure. They take me off to hospital and I spend the next couple of hours being prodded and poked. It's not really how I'd envisaged spending this evening I have to admit. Finally I'm told that nothing is broken, merely badly bruised. Oh, and I have a mild muscle strain in my shoulder.

I just need to use ice packs on the painful area's, take painkiller's if need be and I'm not to do anything physically strenuous in case I make it worse…for the next four weeks at least.

Why me?

If I believed in God, I'd think that he must hate me right about now.

They leave me all in peace to dress again and while my trousers are really not a problem, when it comes to my shirt with my shoulder starting to feel as though it's seizing up, I really find it a struggle.

"Here, let me help you," comes a welcome voice from the doorway and I look up in surprise.

"I could have been naked in here, Lisbon," I quip with a grin.

"I took my chances," she replies with an unconcerned shrug as she steps into the room.

She sees my chest and a pained expression crosses her features as she stops and gazes back at me in dismay. The bruising is already starting to come out and having looked in a mirror, I know it's not a pretty sight.

"It looks worse than it is," I fib. I think a lie in these circumstances is perfectly acceptable. She feels bad enough as it is. "But you're welcome to kiss it better if you don't believe me."

My invitation is deliberately reminiscent of the time I did just that to her poor cheek and it brings forth the smile I was hoping to see.

She walks over and for a moment I think she might just take me up on my offer but she takes my shirt from my hands instead. Very gently, she slides a sleeve up one of my arms then reaches around me to take hold of the other side of the fabric. The movement brings her flush against me, her face close to mine as she pulls the other sleeve up so all that's left to do is button my shirt. She clutches the ends in her hands but instead of fastening them together, she uses them to tug gently, pulling me down for a kiss.

I never need asking twice when it comes to that and only rue the fact that I can't press her more firmly against me. Even this is making everything hurt. I draw back reluctantly then she bends her head and sets about doing my shirt up.

"You scared the crap out of me tonight," she says, her voice sounding as shaky as her fingers suddenly feel. "He could have killed you, you know? You were lucky tonight but what happens if one day I don't get to you in time? Huh? How do you think that'd make me feel?"

"I don't know, you've never told me," I retort then regret it immediately when her eyes rise to mine and I can see them brimming with unshed tears. "I'm…"

"No, don't apologise," she says, turning away from me and running a hand through her hair before turning back. "You're right. I've never told you and that's just one of the things I can't stop thinking about…when I'm not seeing Finlay holding a damn gun to your head. What if I'd lost my chance to tell how I really feel?"

I let out a careful sigh and shake my head.

"You didn't. You haven't, Teresa. I'm still here and when you're ready to tell me I'll be more than willing to hear it…but not now. Not after a night like this when you're panicking because someone got a little too close for comfort. I want you say it when there's not a chance that you'll regret it the next morning. OK?"

She blinks a couple of times then gives a cursory sniff before nodding her head in acquiescence.

"OK. You're right."

"Of course I am," I reply with a smile. "Now, could you help me put my vest and jacket on? I'd like to get out of this place."

She does as I ask and we go out to her car then get in. She sets off and it takes me a little while to realise we're heading for her apartment. We pull up outside and I turn to her with a regretful smile.

"As much as I'd like to finish what we started earlier, I'm afraid I'm going to have to take a rain check," I tell her glibly.

She gives me a derisive look and shakes her head.

"Just shut up and get out," she orders without any real authority. "I'm not having you sleeping on that couch or in some uncomfortable bed in a crappy motel room tonight. You can stay here and get some proper rest."

I should decline but quite honestly I'm just too tired and in too much pain to argue right now so I simply do as she tells me and silently get out of the car. Once we're in her apartment, she tells me to go upstairs and get into bed.

How I wish she'd said that to me under different circumstances.

"I'll bring you up an ice pack and some painkillers," she adds as I slowly ascend.

I swear she can read my mind.

I manage to get my jacket off then gingerly lie down on top of the covers and feel myself begin to relax. She comes in a few moments later and I dutifully take the medication and apply the ice for a few minutes. She sits on the edge of the bed and waits until I'm done then takes the ice from me and runs her fingers through my hair as I close my eyes. It's nice and I quickly find myself succumbing to sleep.

"Night, Teresa," I murmur drowsily. "Love you." I hadn't realised I was quite so exhausted.

"Goodnight, Patrick," she whispers back. "Love you, too."

What the…? That wakes me up.

I force open my eyes and see her staring down at with a small smile.

"I'm still awake," I tell her needlessly, just in case she thought I'd fallen asleep before she'd told me.

"I know," she acknowledges, her smile widening. "Your eyes are open and everything."

Her hand is still gently stroking through my hair and I reach up to still her motion despite my protesting shoulder.

"Are you sure you're not going to regret in the morning?" I have to ask.

She looks down pointedly at her watch then back at me and says, "Well, since it's past midnight, I guess it is the next morning and you know what, Patrick?"

"What?" I prompt unable to contain my own smile now.

"I don't regret a thing," she says softly.

Happiness fills my entire being, dulling the pain as she leans down and gives me the sweetest kiss I think I've ever had. I want it to continue but frustratingly my injuries prevent it and I have to break contact far too soon.

"Stay with me," I request as she goes to move away. She pauses as if contemplating whether she should and I say jokingly, "I won't try anything, I swear."

A flash of guilt flares briefly in her eyes then she grins mischievously.

"I might though," she counters saucily and my breath hitches for a reason completely unrelated to my bruised ribs.

"No fair, Lisbon," I grumble half-heartedly then notice that she's got up and is walking to the door. "Aren't you staying?" I ask plaintively.

"I just want to put the ice pack away then I'll be right back," she tells me before she leaves.

I listen contentedly to the sounds of her moving about downstairs and enjoy the whole feeling of domesticity it lends. This might not be the way that I'd envisaged ending up in Lisbon's bed but having her finally admit her feelings for me…well, I think that more than makes up for it.

In truth, I wouldn't have it any other way.

END CHAPTER 11

A/N: Please leave a review - you know how much I love to get them by now ;)

Only a little over a week until Christmas so one more chapter to go - will be sorry to see this end.

If you're interested in reading some of my other Mentalist stories then I have two short fluffy one's: 'In The Dark' and the festive, 'Everything's Possible'. I also have a multi chapter, angsty more plot filled story called, 'Red Diablo.'