A/n Again, thank you so much for all the reviews! I am loving reading them and I am so pleased that people are enjoying this fic. Big love to you all x

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Purple Bruises

A few weeks of heaven followed the little family's weekend vacation in Corpus Christi and heaven is the easiest way to describe it. Cuddles on the couch, stolen kisses, flirtatious looks across the bullpen and Jane has even gravitated to the master bedroom so he can share a bed with Lisbon. The transition has been much better and easier than expected perhaps because they basically acted like a couple anyway.

To make them think up a highlight of their time together so far would be like asking a child to pick between chocolate cake and ice-cream. They've not really been able to date like an ordinary couple because their work life is too hectic, and their home life must revolve around their son – quite rightfully so. It would not feel okay to leave him at nursery any longer than necessary, especially when he already spends so much of his time there. So their dates either have had to be when he has gone to bed or have to include him, although they have enjoyed their family walks around the park with him in his stroller and the trip to the dessert bar was particularly scrumptious.

They've decided to keep their newfound relationship under wraps from everyone right now including William. It seems like the best thing to do because who knows what the future holds, and it is all still very new. It wouldn't be fair to the boy if they started acting like normal parents around him but then that be taken away, they both agree that this is the best thing for him. So, if he is included on any dates then there is strictly no kissing and they keep hand holding to a minimum, not like the toddler would be able to understand the rules of relationships anyway. He holds everyone's hand.

There was one night when the curly-haired man cooked an even more spectacular meal compared to usual. Lisbon was blown away by the three courses she was presented entailing of a tomato soup, steak with peppercorn sauce and lots of sides, and a sweet pudding of apple pie. She felt like she had a night in some fancy restaurant, not at home with her man dancing around the kitchen like it was designed for him. All those years that he spent living in motel rooms or at the CBI, he was letting such great cookery skills go to waste, but she doesn't mind being his test subject as he makes up for lost time.

Jane's favourite night in was a movie night. They shared a ridiculous number of snacks from salted popcorn to chocolate covered strawberries amongst other things, and they watched The Notebook. It is one of her favourite films whilst he hadn't yet seen it, so she had to rectify that. They both cried at the sad parts, laughed at the happier ones, all whilst snuggled together. When things got particularly emotional, she felt him kiss the top of her head lovingly, an action that always makes her smile.

Both of those nights ended with them in bed together becoming one. It is different to that time in his CBI attic space, it means more now, it is not hasty or used to relieve pressure. They would go so far to say that it is special.

In those final moments together before Red John's demise, neither of them thought that eventually they would end up here. Living and working together in perfect harmony with an amazing son who they both love to no end. It really feels like a blessing and when they're able to hold each other as they drift off to sleep every night, they remember how close they could have been to losing everything.

William is eighteen months old now and continues to amaze his parents every day. His vocabulary has widened, social skills improved and love for the colour orange has heightened to a point that neither his mom nor dad can really comprehend it. The boy got overly excited when they passed an orange truck last week, so much so that he tried his best to bounce out of his car seat.

They're on their way now to pick him up from nursery after a very challenging day made harder by Jane's tomfoolery, although this time no-one found it funny and certainly not him either.

This morning when they had breakfast together, they were excited about closing in on a result for their latest case. They discussed getting takeout pizza to celebrate and even letting their son try some of the greasy treat, but now they don't feel like celebrating. The mentalist knows that Lisbon is pissed off with him, everyone knows that Lisbon is pissed off with him, but they do not know the true implications of that. He has inkling as to why she is angry, but she is yet to actually announce it… at least she hasn't finished the day with purple bruises to her ribs and cheekbone plus a bust lip like he has.

He almost compromised a big mission by purposely directing his new girlfriend away from the danger. Not only that, but he also got hurt in the process. Both things have rightfully incensed her, and she has been stewing ever since. They've barely said two words to each other since they got into the car, but it is obvious she is fuming by her knuckles turning white whilst gripping the steering wheel. "We should talk about this." He pipes up when the silence becomes too much to bear.

"You sent me the wrong way." She fumes.

"Yes, I did."

The fact his response is so honest sincerely surprises her, but then again, he hasn't been anything but honest with her since his return to the US. "Why? Why would you do that?" Her voice gets louder and louder as she talks, struggling to keep her ire at bay any longer. She had to sit through hospital checks and unit debriefs, quietly seething and now she just needs to explode. "You shouldn't have gone in alone. You were lucky to get away with some bruises! What if they shot you? What then?!"

"I just wanted to protect you."

"I'm the federal agent, I'm meant to be the one protecting you." The consultant doesn't know what to say to this so stays quiet as they pull up outside their son's nursery. "Stay here. I will go and get him."

Whilst he waits, Jane pulls down the passenger side's sun visor and inspects his sore lip in the small mirror there. It isn't the first time he has been smacked about in the field but each time he hopes that it will be the last. However, if him withstanding a bit of pain means that Lisbon doesn't get hurt then he would go through it every day because that is how much he loves her, and maybe she will understand that once her anger has simmered down.

It doesn't take her long to reappear but this time with the small child in tow who toddles alongside her, gripping onto his mother's fingers tightly. It is quite late for him, nearing seven o'clock, evident by the large yawn that overtakes his features. So after a quick wash he will be straight in bed when they reach home. "Hey son, how was nursery?" He asks the boy with dark curls as he is lifted into the car.

"Really good." William replies, but his r sounds more like a w, bringing a smile to the mentalist's face. This is when the toddler notices his father's facial injuries and it causes him to exclaim, "Daddy poorly!" whilst pointing at his face, all while his mom is attempting to strap him safely into his car seat.

"Daddy is fine." The brunette mutters to her son, the coldness making Patrick frown before he settles back into his seat, mainly so the toddler doesn't get upset by his facial wound.

xxx

The tension does not at all ease when they return home. Lisbon turns her focus on bathing the toddler before putting him to bed whilst Jane takes solace in the couch, finding the best position to sit so the ache to his ribs isn't too painful. He wants all his focus to be on making things better with his partner, but he knows that isn't going to be at all easy. She will want to know if he will do it again in the future and the answer will be yes, it will always be yes. He doesn't think this is the response she will want.

It takes longer than expected for her to return to the ground floor of the property, he suspects because she has been trying to cool off before facing him. She does seem a little calmer, the vein in her forehead that usually makes an appearance when she is stressed has disappeared and her shoulders have relaxed. Maybe things will be fine, and he is fretting about nothing. "How are your ribs?" She asks him but remains fixed to the floor at the other side of the coffee table.

She doesn't want to sit with him which should be a red flag but for some reason he doesn't see it that way. Perhaps he is concentrating on the fact that she has come to talk to him instead of hiding away in her bedroom. "Sore, but I will be fine." His casualness just fuels her fire because all of this could have, should have, been avoided.

"I understand why you want to look out for me, I really do…" What happened with Red John and his family has damaged him, some damage is irreversible. The events of his past would understandably fall under this category. "But you need to let me do my job because if you don't then others could be put at risk. Cho, Fischer, Abbott, Wylie… you get that right?"

Oh how she wants his reply to be "yes I do" or "I won't do it again" but that retort doesn't come.

Jane runs a hand does his face nervously, forgetting the blemishes to the skin causing him to instantly hiss in pain. He knows what needs to be said here but he can't bring himself to say it because he doesn't want to be dishonest with her, not anymore. His days of lies and tricks that were so frequent during his revenge mission back at CBI are behind him. He used to hurt too many people, including her. "I can't promise anything." He admits, "I want you, no, I need you to be safe."

"Jane I'm an officer of the law. I know what I signed up for." Her tone is pleading now, like she is begging him to appreciate this otherwise her next step is going to wound him badly. "I try my best to keep safe and I know I've had my brushes with danger, but I've largely been okay. Mainly because I am damn good at my job."

"I know you are." He said just as much when he managed to persuade Abbott to give her a job. "I just… I can't go through that again."

Although the sudden expression of emotion makes her heart wrench it also confirms her worst fears. He is never going to get over his wife, and she doesn't mean that in a callous way because she wouldn't expect him to totally forget his past but… this runs deeper than that. Her next words come out without her truly meaning to. "I'm not going to be a replacement for your wife." The gesture to the ring on his hand only adds poison to the remark and she watches his face twist in pain.

Abruptly it is like the last few weeks haven't happened.

The flirtatious touches, the tongue-in-cheek sexy remarks, the feeling of completing one and other. Whatever their relationship has become seems to be in trouble and he is stumped. He doesn't know what to say since he doesn't want her to think of herself as a replacement for Angela but also her comment has hit him deep. It stings. There is also a little ire there. "You're not." He breathes and she notes the tears forming in her eyes.

Lisbon perceives this brief statement as "you will never be like her" as if she isn't good enough but that isn't what Jane meant, not at all. He wants her to know that he doesn't expect her to fill the shoes of his deceased wife, he just wants her to be Teresa Lisbon because that is the woman he fell in love with. He never thought he would be able to feel like that again.

When he registers the upset on her face, he realises the leap she has made and quickly his eyes go wide as he tries to backtrack. "You've got the wrong idea. I didn't mean what you think I meant. I don't expect you-"

"Just stop, please." Her hands fly out in front of her to add to her point, so he does exactly what she asks, almost shocking her into silence. He is trying, she is attempting to tell herself, but she is struggling to believe it. The last thing she wanted was for things to get complicated, but they've done exactly that. It isn't good for William.

William. The thought of her son snoozing upstairs almost brings a smile to her face, almost. She wanted to give this a go not just for herself but also the toddler who she thought deserved the chance of having a normal family – something she struggled to have growing up. Her main priority is him and right now she believes that making things complicated with Patrick Jane will just hurt the young child and she doesn't want that. "This was a bad idea. We were better as friends." She finds herself saying and although it is agonising to get the thought out there, she also trusts it is the right thing to say. It is the truth.

It is like his worst nightmare is playing out before him once again. He is losing another family, that's what it feels like anyway. "You don't mean that." It is more a hope than a known certainty, his statement just seems to annoy her further.

"Don't tell me what I mean!" She whisper shouts as one of the tears that was threatening to spill voids the breach and cascades down her cheek. She is quick to wipe it away roughly with the back of her hand. "I'm going to bed, do not follow me."

Her instruction is followed by the quick turning of her heels before she heads up the stairs, and he cannot do anything but watch with a lump forming in his throat. He refuses to believe that this is the end of their relationship when it has barely even begun. He will give her time and work out what is needed for them to move on because… it cannot be the end.

It cannot be the end.

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A/n Sorry… had to throw a spanner in the works some time.