A/N: Thank you for all the reviews for the last chapter. Glad you all liked Victor being one of the heroes in Red John's demise.

Chapter 36 – Moving On

Jane finally caught up with Lisbon as the EMTs checked her out. After McAllister was dead a flurry of phone calls and questions to both of them from her team on what had happened meant they hadn't had a moment to themselves.

"You should stay in the hospital overnight, Agent Lisbon," he heard one of them say to her as he approached as the man put a bandage on her collarbone.

"I'm fine. I have too much to do," was her curt response.

"You should do as you're told," Jane said as he got closer.

She rolled her eyes. "Don't you start. I'm fine." She regarded the CBI sweatshirt he had been given. 'Nice outfit," she smiled.

He looked down at it and shook his head. "You realise it's not even 100% cotton? I help you catch a serial killer. You would think you people would at least dress me better for the occasion."

She laughed and he put his arms around her as she sat on the edge of the ambulance. She sighed and put her arms around his neck. For once she didn't care who saw as she pulled him towards her and kissed him deeply. Jane moved nearer, her legs dangling loosely on either side of his waist, and drew her in closer, his hand moving to the back of her head. He heard a soft moan from her before he reluctantly pulled away. He glanced at the empty ambulance behind her and motioned with his eyebrows to the gurney. That brought her out of her trance. "Seriously? No chance," she laughed.

He shrugged, his arms still around her waist. Then suddenly she whacked him on the arm hard.

"'Ow! What was that for?!"

"Kissing that bitch."

"Oh, a little jealous, eh?" he smiled. "I promise that's the last time I cheat on you. Forgive me?" He gave her his best puppy dog expression.

She smiled back, giving him a quick kiss before getting up to stand. She went to go over to her team but he pulled her arm.

"What is it?"

"You don't think you owe me an apology too?"

"For what?"

"Um...let's see. Not telling me about your plan to lead Lorelei here. Not telling me about using my dog in your operation. Not telling me about Minelli's distraction."

She grinned back. "Not so nice to be left out of the loop, is it?"

"Oh, so that's what it was, payback for that hypnotism stunt?"

She shrugged. "Perhaps. But I had to make it look realistic. That you really thought I had screwed up and got caught."

"Guess I should have had a little more faith in you."

Lisbon looked from her office to the bullpen outside. It had been two weeks since McAllister's death and she and her team had barely slept. A list of his confederates had been found at his house and, when teamed with phone and property records she and her team had not only found a serial killer but had uncovered a secret organisation made up of police, CBI, FBI and even some judges and senators. There was going to be a reorganisation in Californian law enforcement and she was worried the CBI would feel the brunt of it.

Minelli entered her office and slumped into the chair opposite. He looked as tired as she did.

"Last of the arrests have been made finally. It's over. At last."

"Everyone okay?" she asked. Some of Red John's more ardent supporters had tried to escape arrest by shooting their way out of trouble over the last two weeks and four good cops had been killed.

"Yes, thank god." He rubbed his eyes.

She removed a bottle of scotch from her desk along with two glasses and poured them each a clinked them together in a silent toast.

"I'm retiring, Teresa," Minelli told her quietly.

She nodded. She had been expecting it since Bosco's team had been shot. She could see the exhaustion in the older man's eyes and although she didn't know how she would cope without him she understood. At least he had been in charge and so would get credit for bringing down one of the most notorious serial killers in history.

"How's Jane these days?" he asked.

She was surprised by the question as Minelli rarely interfered in his agents' personal lives.

"Oh fine. He's finishing up in Vegas this weekend."

"And then?"

She smiled. "Then he's coming back to Sacramento. Retiring, he calls it."

Minelli nodded. "A little young for that, isn't he? But I'm glad he's getting out of that game."

"Me too. So is he. He didn't even want to go back after the night we got McAllister but I knew I'd be too busy with all this crap going on to spend any time with him."

"Mmm. He comes across a little high maintenance."

She laughed. "Yeah, you could say that. If he's not getting any attention he mopes around instead or pesters you until you give him what he wants."

Minelli smiled back at her. "Well if there's someone who has a chance of keeping him on the straight and narrow it's you, Teresa." He paused for a second. "Did I ever tell you how I met my wife?"

Lisbon shook her head. Minelli's wife had died five years prior but he had never spoken about her.

He smiled at the memory. "I stole her wallet."

Lisbon's eyes widened.

"Surprised, eh? I wasn't exactly a straight arrow when I was younger. I never did anything to hurt anyone but a little bit of pickpocketing and the occasional bout of shoplifting."

"I can't believe it!"

Minelli laughed. "She caught me. And well the rest is history, as they say. We were married for over thirty happy years. She straightened me out, wouldn't take any of my bullshit, challenged me every day. I think that's why I was harsh on him, to begin with. I saw a little too much of myself in him. You know I could be quite the charmer in my younger days."

Lisbon laughed but tears were coming to her eyes as he shared this story with her.

He leant in closer, taking a sip of the scotch. "Don't be afraid, Teresa. I've seen how he looks at you. It's the real deal. If you feel the same way then let him in."

With that, he drained his glass and left her office. She was in tears within seconds.

Jane finished the show and strolled into the elevator to go back to his room. Three nights left. He had managed to finally pay Eddie off and to cancel all other bookings he had lined up. In three days time, he was a free man. He wondered what on earth he was going to do with his life. Then he smiled. Teresa Lisbon was certainly going to be a huge part of it. If she ever managed to leave work between 10 pm. What was he going to do instead? There was only a certain amount of walking in a day Victor could take. As he opened his hotel room a strong scent of cinnamon flooded his senses. The room was dark apart from candles that were strewn around the room. Lisbon came out of the bathroom dressed in a football jersey.

"Hey," she smiled at him.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he asked with a grin, walking over and taking her in his arms.

"I came to make you an offer," she replied, slipping the tie off him.

His eyes twinkled. "My answer is yes," he said, pushing his jacket to the floor and kissing her deeply.

She began to unbutton his shirt. "You haven't heard what it is yet."

He kissed her neck. The bite mark from McAllister had faded and he kissed the spot softly. He mumbled, "You mean this isn't it?"

She stopped and made him look at her. "Well, no but this is maybe the sweetener to entice you to say yes."

He stared at her in the candlelight, trying to read her. But his libido was fighting with the part of his brain that would allow him and it was winning. He removed his arms from her waist to ground himself. "Okay, it must be serious. You're nervous."

"I'd like us to move in together when you get back to Sacramento." She said the words quickly and puffed out a breath at the end.

He saw how nervous she was, her hands fidgeting over her jersey. He shot her a solemn look and put his hand through his hair, looking away from her.

"It was just a thought," she added quickly.

"It's a big step, Teresa," he said glumly, his back still to her.

"I-I know. You're right. Forget I said it."

He shrugged. "I'm not sure if that's possible," he said sadly.

She came up behind him, panicking and turned him around. A grin was spread across his face.

"You son of a bitch!"

"Language please, Teresa. I don't want to cohabitate with someone who uses such profanity," he teased.

She punched him on the arm.

"Or uses excess force," he grinned, rubbing his arm.

She laughed then quietened. Seriously, "But are you sure? You were right. It is a big step."

He circled his arms around her again. "It's one I'm more than ready to take. I'm a little surprised, though, I thought I would have a lot more work to do before you wanted something like that."

She shrugged. "I've realised recently that life's too short. We want to be together and with my job, it'll be difficult enough fitting a relationship in never mind if we had to flit from place to place while being in one."

"Ah, so you want to do it for practical reasons?" He raised an eyebrow to her.

"Well, yes, that and the fact that I love you."

He grinned. 'I'll never tire of hearing you say that. Say it again."

She rolled her eyes. "You heard me the first time."

A/N: Last chapter coming up next...