Author's notes: Thank you as always for all the support given me, you keep me going. I hope you enjoy this one.
Abbott storms in to the fish bowl. Everyone looks up at him and sits that little straighter in their chairs. All that is except Patrick, who's laying on his couch, his eyes closed. Abbot misses everyone's reactions because he's looking at only one person.
"Jane. My office now!"
Abbot leaves as Patrick opens his eyes in surprise. He looks towards Theresa, she hisses to him:
"What have you done now?"
Patrick sits up and shrugs.
"No idea. I was just laying here. You've been with me all morning, you know I haven't done anything."
"What about yesterday?"
"We closed a case, successfully, no one getting shot or even having a gun pointed at them. And he was perfectly happy with me when he left."
"He seems really mad it must have been something serious, think!"
Patrick opens out his hands.
"I've got nothing. I've been on my best behaviour."
Teresa groans.
"Now I'm really worried."
"Why should you be worried, it's me he wants to shout at."
A phone rings and Cho answers, he looks towards them as he's listening. Patrick leans towards Teresa and whispers:
"Oh, oh I think that's about me."
Cho puts down the phone.
"Lisbon, that was Abbott, he says he's still waiting and to get that consultant husband of yours to his office right now."
Teresa looks daggers at Patrick.
"See what you've done, I'm in trouble now."
Patrick stands up he face a combination of puzzlement and innocence.
"Why is it my fault, it's you who delayed me with your questions."
"I didn't sto..."
Patrick halts her by raising his hand.
"Now, now we don't have time for this, we better get to his office if we're to have any chance of getting out alive."
Patrick head to Abbotts office, Teresa has to quicken her step to catch up.
"You're going to owe me dinner for this. I feel like I've been summoned to the principles office and that didn't happen to me at school."
"Shhh woman, suck it up."
Teresa glares at him as he opens the door to Abbott's office and lets her pass. She whispers to him.
"I hope it includes taking you out on a boat and throwing you over."
Patrick smiles.
"You forget I'm a good swimmer."
Patrick follows her through the door and closes it behind him. Abbott is sat at his desk, he doesn't smile as he directs them to sit down. He looks towards Patrick.
"Nice of you to finally make it."
Patrick sits and rest his hands on his lap.
"Your wish is my command."
Abbott stares at him not amused, Lisbon elbows him. Abbot folds his hands in front of him, laying them on the desk, he leans forward slightly and looks sternly at Jane. When he opens his mouth his tone's filled with irritation. He nods to a file laid just in front of his hands.
"Jane, when the powers at be sent me to offer you the deal and bring you back to the US I wasn't happy about it. I wasn't happy at all. I felt you should be dragged back and thrown in to prison. I didn't think you should get away with murder and the mayhem you caused and left behind."
Teresa butts in:
"That's not fair sir, he also exposed a.."
Abbott cuts her off with an icy stare. He turns back to Jane.
"You came back all cocky and unrepentant, weedling a sweet deal for yourself. I went a long as I could see that perhaps you could be of service, you certainly have skills that are unique and lend themselves very well to crime solving."
Patrick smiles sweetly.
"Thank you, it's always nice to be appreciated."
He starts to rise.
"Now if that's all?"
Teresa is looking daggers at him.
"That's not all! Sit down!"
Jane shrugs and sits down. He looks towards Teresa who looks down at where she keeps her gun, and then at him, he gets the message. He turns back to Abbott. Abbott opens the file, picks up a sheet of paper and leans back in his chair, a satisfied look on his face.
"Now Jane, you may believe that you've gotten away with murder, for the second time, but I knew you'd screw up one day, and become a liability to this great organization, and more importantly my team."
He waves the piece of paper.
"I'm sure you recognise what this is? This is your leverage, your list of redacted names of unknown members of the Blake Association. I had a little chat with Grace Rigsby when they were with us."
He leans forward once more."
"And do you know what she told me? She told me that she never broke the key to that disc of names, that to this day, she still doesn't know what it contains."
Teresa's stomach plummets.
"Boss, no."
Abbott looks at Teresa.
"You were in on this, you knew this list was fake."
Patrick quickly interrupts:
"She knew no such thing. I never told her how I persuaded that FBI to take my terms. As everyone can attest, I always give Teresa deniability."
Abbott leans back in his chair again, his hands in his lap and looks between the two.
"No doubt. I've held this information back, because you're very useful to the team, but knew that when you over stepped the mark, I can bring you down. I can get you kicked out of my team, out of the FBI.."
Abbott leans forward again and his voice is louder and harder.
"...and I can get your pardon voided. I can do it any time I want."
He looks to Teresa.
"I'm sorry Lisbon.."
His gaze returns to Jane.
"I really didn't expect to use it so soon, I knew the time would come but I'd hoped I could get more use out of you. It's only been.."
He moves some papers in the file. Lisbon finishes for him.
"A year, don't do this boss, whatever he's done, I'm sure it can be fixed."
Abbott goes on as if he didn't hear her pleas.
"Yes a year, somehow it seems longer."
He reads something from the file.
"In fact a year to this very day, that the two of you joined us."
He shakes his head.
"A shame really."
He hits his intercom button.
"Fischer you can come in now and escort Mr. Jane to the detention suite ready for processing."
Teresa jumps up on to her feet.
"Boss no. You can't, you haven't even said what he's done."
She looks to Patrick in panic.
"What have you done?"
She almost want to punch him as he looks serenely at Abbott and then at his wife. Teresa looks to the door as it opens and in comes Fischer, followed by Cho and then behind him is Wiley carrying a cake with lighted candles and wearing a goofy smile. Cho speaks:
Happy birthday Lisbon, Jane, you made it to the one year mark.
As Teresa sways on her feet, overcome with relief, Patrick looks to Abbott as Abbott tears up the piece of paper.