The case was a one that tested even the veteran agents.

A twelve year old had been raped and her body used up before being tossed into the trash as dead. They had not been fast enough to save the girl but Lisbon swore they would catch the bastard that did it.

She allowed Jane to come along as she interviewed Laura's parents. She figured it was easier than fighting.

The Mangrum's were distraught as Lisbon sat with them in their living room while Jane wandered, doing his thing.

"Please accept out sincerest sympathies," Lisbon told the two of them to begin the interview.

The mother, Janet, sniffed into a tissue. "Thank you, officer," she said, mistaken.

"What are you doing to find these bastards?" Mark asked.

Jane, looking at the fireplace photos, perked up. "What makes you think there is more than one?"

Mark glared over at Jane. "How could there not be? My little girl would never go with strangers."

In the SUV they talked.

"I don't think the stepfather did it," Jane told Lisbon.

"Why not?" she wanted to know. "In these cases the father figure is good for it."

"This guy has been her stepfather since she was 2," he told her. "Did you hear him? He still sees her as that baby. I don't think he did it," he repeated.

She sighed. "Who did?"

"Only the blood test and rape kit will tell."

Lisbon was quiet the rest of the ride to the station.

Van Pelt was running Laura's computer for any possible leads of the internet basis. Cho and Rigsby were running other leads from the neighborhood.

Apparently Jane chose the couch in Lisbon's office as his own.

"Go away, Jane," she told him.

He had the audacity to grin at her. "Not until you agree to dinner with me."

"No!"

She was trying to think of different angles to hit the family when Jane, lying prone on his back, started humming 'The Song that Never Ends' incessantly. About twenty minutes of that was her limit. "Either shut up or get out."

"Dinner?"

"No, Jane!"

"Just one dinner, Lisbon. Try it out."

She sighed. "We're in the middle of a case."

He twisted from his position to look at her. "And you're already getting a headache. It will be a good thing to take a small step back."

"Jane, we can't afford to."

"We need to eat," he argued.

"Take out."

"Eat in," he shot back. "Thirty minutes."

She gave in. "Thirty minutes."

"Forty-five at the most."

"Jane!"

The afternoon was equally as filling. Lisbon took Van Pelt and Jane to Laura's school to talk to her teachers. They all reported the same thing- Laura was a smart, friendly, outgoing girl who was never in any trouble and was the top of her class.

Talking to the children without parent permission was out of the question but Laura's two best friends were actually home from school.

Both girls were inconsolable to the point that Lisbon was resigned to waiting a couple of days when Jane asked Lisbon to the side at the second girl, Marcy Thompson's, house.

"Let me talk to her," he asked of her.

"You think you can..." she started them stopped. "Jane, I'm hesitant."

"You want some answers, Lisbon. This is the only way for immediate ones."

She looked at him for a moment longer before turning back to the tearful child. "Marcy, do you think you might be able to answer some of Mr. Jane's questions?"

She nodded. "I'll....try."

He sat directly in front of her and smiled. "Don't worry. I'm a trained professional."

Lisbon watched as Jane subtlety put the girl under his spell. To the girl's parents they saw a man talking gently to Marcy and her respond to him. They thought he was just good with children. And he was. But he had hypnotized Marcy and as much as Lisbon hated it she was desperate to use anything. And as she watched Jane keep his complete attention on the twelve year old Lisbon was amazed at how their relationship had changed.

"I know there's nothing that can be said to comfort you, Marcy," his voice broke through her thoughts. She focused on him and saw him glancing at her- trance-time apparently over. "But there will be a time when you can put this behind you."

"Thanks, Mr. Jane," she said watery. "You catch the person who did this."

"Agent Lisbon won't rest until she does just that," he reassured her.

As they got into the SUV in their respective places Jane sighed. "So much tragedy at such a young age."

Van Pelt piped up. "I can't begin to imagine. I thought you handled her very well, Jane."

He grimaced. "I hated lying to her."

"She's a kid," Lisbon told him. "They tend to be more resilient."

It wasn't until they were at the CBI Headquarters and Van Pelt was walking in front of them that Lisbon acknowledged his deed. "Thanks, Jane, for talking to her."

He smiled himself out of his pensive mood. "Anytime, my dear."