Okay, so this isn't wholly unconnected to the previous chapter on Jane titled 'Red Hit,' but I couldn't ignore this idea so…here it is! : ) Also, I don't quite have the next chapter written so there may not be an update tomorrow. I'll try my hardest, but no promises. Sorry!

30 Shades of Red:

Right Hand, Red Circle

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A thud followed by laughter. Lisbon looked up from her file, wondering what the hell was going on outside of her office. She had gotten behind in her paperwork (it was just so tedious) so she had shut her blinds in order to dedicate her full attention (well, almost) to it. Unfortunately, this resulted in her not knowing what was happening with her agents outside—normally, an okay occurrence. However, the ruckus made her nervous. Honestly, anytime she left Patrick Jane unattended she was nervous. But especially when there were noises.

She looked to her pile of files, which seemed to rival Mt. Everest, and then turned her gaze to the door. Sighing, she got up and made her way to the door. So much for getting work done. She knew she should have just given Jane the day off.

Opening her door, she froze at the sight in front of her. Desks and chairs were pushed aside to make an open space. And in that open space?

Who else but Patrick Jane?

And Cho. And Rigsby.

She was happy to note that Van Pelt, at least, was sitting at her desk working—well, trying to. Lisbon could understand why it would be difficult.

"Jane!" she barked out. She was pleased to note that her two agents jumped, startled. This pleasure faded as she looked into the grinning face of her consultant. She continued. "What are you doing? This is a workplace, not Chuck E Cheese!"

The three grown men were twisted together on a mat full of colored circles—a game she recognized as Twister. To the side, a newbie (obviously recruited by Jane from the front of the building) held the spinner. He looked to the contorted men, to Lisbon, and back to the game.

"Uh…right hand, red circle?" he stated uncertainly. There was a moment of silence and immobility. Lisbon knew, she just knew, that there was no way they would continue despite her presence.

She was shocked once more as the still moment ended and the three men scuffled with each other, each trying to claim a red circle and hold their balance. Van Pelt glanced up at Lisbon.

"I tried." She sounded apologetic. Lisbon nodded her acknowledgment. Really, it wasn't the rookie agent's fault. Jane raised an eyebrow at Van Pelt's statement.

"You don't know what you're missing, Grace. You should hop in, Lisbon," he encouraged. "Also, they don't have Twister at Chuck E Cheese."

He seemed to contemplate that for a moment before making a slight humming sound. "Pity, though. It's quite fun, actually."

"Says you," Cho responded, clearly getting annoyed at being in such close quarters with his colleagues. Van Pelt rolled her eyes.

"If you don't like it, why are you playing?"

"Jane dared me." Cho's tone indicated that Jane's dare and his subsequent actions spoke for themselves. Rigsby coughed, his arm starting to ache from his current position.

"Can we get on with the game, guys? I don't know how much longer I can hold this position."

Lisbon stared at them in bewilderment as they resumed the game. What the hell was wrong with the men on her team?

"Jane," she spoke slowly and clearly as if to a wild horse that needed taming, "you are never to bring coffee in the morning again."

She hadn't had any, had she? Mentally, she reviewed her actions of the morning. No, she was sure she hadn't had any of Jane's proffered coffee. Thank the powers that be! What had he put in it?

"Sure thing, Lisbon," Jane replied cheerfully. "I didn't put anything in it, though."

She hated when he did that! As she watched them try to maneuver their legs to get their feet on yet another small circle, she mused at how different the atmosphere at the office was since Jane had started. There had always been the kind of pranks and teasing that developed among peers, but Jane brought something different—a kind of lightheartedness that no one had noticed they lacked until he added it into their weekly routine. Lisbon wondered how many times he had steered agents away from the depressing thoughts and moods that accompanied law enforcement. Sure, most of the time they ignored his antics or pretended to be unmoved, but she knew he had helped quite a few of them. And days could be pretty boring when Jane didn't come in. But that didn't mean she could allow them to flagrantly ignore their responsibilities and set up a playgroup in the middle of the bullpen, for Heaven's sake! As she scowled, Rigsby, not being the most flexible guy, fell to the ground, but he was determined not to go down quietly. Hooking a flailing foot around Jane's ankle, he brought the other man down with him. Cho alone remained intact and upright. Rigsby groaned and shoved Jane's arm off his face.

"I think I broke something."

"Yes, your dignity," Lisbon put in dryly. She should really write them up or something. They had work to do, serious work. Crime to fight, people to save and whatnot. Cho stood and crossed his arms, assuming his normal stance.

"I think that was sufficient in proving you wrong." Cho turned and went back to his desk. Jane, lying on the floor, tilted his head up to Lisbon. His smile and the light in his eyes tipped her off. Cho hadn't proved Jane wrong at all. It had been a set-up. As usual, Jane was using his tricks to manipulate the situation. He knew which buttons of Cho's to push in order to achieve his objective. She sighed and turned back to her office.

"Just clean it up before Minelli gets back from lunch," she tossed over her shoulder. If she were a betting woman, she would have put a twenty on the fact that Jane's smug smile had just turned into a wide grin. She slammed her door, closing their childish antics out.

Jane stared up at the ceiling, his rivals having gone back to work. His smile had dimmed to a soft, gentle one. If anyone had been looking at him, they wouldn't have recognized the expression. He didn't even know if he quite recognized the feeling. Bewildered Lisbon was a nice sight.

Good thing Lisbon wasn't a betting woman. She would be twenty dollars poorer.