Abbott's team was struggling to identify a suspect for Kirk Upton's murder and time was running out. The gem show was nearing its end, and the team's greatest asset, Patrick Jane, was out with a cold. They really had to come up with a plan quickly and without Jane, it definitely wasn't going to be easy.
"You know, I almost hated to tell him, he had it all worked out." Lisbon filled her partner in on her interview with Pond. She had called to check in on how he was feeling, after Abbott had finally managed to convince him to rest in his Airstream instead of feeling miserable in the bullpen. He hated being away from the action though, and was quick to ask her for an update on how things were going with the case.
Frustrated with the lack of leads on the murder, she complained "…we've got nothing and the gem show ends tonight". She sounded defeated. Jane felt deep sympathy towards his girlfriend in that moment. She was a great detective, always eager to solve a case. It was not easy for her to accept that a solution did not seem to be in sight.
Luckily, he was, as was often the case, already a couple steps ahead of the team, despite his poor physical condition, so he responded consolingly "Well, not completely nothing. Pond said Upton was a smoker. Well, I think that tells us who's behind all this. Certainly how I can get a confession." She knows she shouldn't be surprised, after all, it has been countless times that Patrick Jane had the answer to all of their questions while the rest of the team remained clueless. Nevertheless, she couldn't hide her feelings when she let out a confused "How?".
"There is one problem…" Jane sighed into his phone. "Well, I'm a little sick, I'm … I'm not sure that I can do it." So he has a plan but he can't execute it? Lisbon sensed that he wasn't just going to leave it at that. He had something on his mind, most likely something she wouldn't like. She could tell by the tone of his voice. She needed him to explain. "So, what are we gonna do?"
"You could do it." He said it matter-of-factly, as if he'd just thought of it then and there. Even though she had expected one of his crazy ideas, she was still caught off-guard by this proposition. Her? How was she supposed to take over Jane's part in one of his risky plans? Her incredulous "Me?" was so adorable, he felt an instant overwhelming urge to hug her. But alas, she was only a voice in his phone right now, so instead he was quick to encourage her. "Sure, you've seen me do this sort of thing heaps of times."
It was a nice try, but Teresa Lisbon could not be convinced that easily. "Why don't you come by the airstream, I'll explain it to you." He was sure he was going to get her to go along, the woman just needed time and a few motivating words to warm her up to the task. Nothing he wasn't able to provide. "Why can't you just tell me now?" Apparently, she didn't think time was what she needed. She needed answers, and didn't feel up to his silly games, not when a case was on the line. His next words were quick to ease her off though, as his soft voice reached her ear through her phone, "Because I'd like to see you, and I was hoping you would bring me some soup." She couldn't help but smile at his charming honesty. The affection in his voice when they spoke as lovers, not as work colleagues, always made her giddy like a teenager in love, and the butterflies in her stomach that have been there ever since he kissed her in that TSA interrogation room made it clear she wasn't going to refuse his invitation, no matter how pressing this case was. "Tomato or bean, please."
With that they ended the call, Lisbon already brainstorming where she was going to pick up the soup while Jane leaned back on his Airstream sofa, smiling slightly at the prospect of her walking through his door soon. He pulled his blanket towards his chin. Time for a few more minutes of shut-eye before he had to disclose his genius plan to his partner, his girlfriend, the love of his life.