A/N: To those of you who celebrate, Merry Christmas, Mentalistas! If you don't celebrate Christmas, I hope you are at least enjoying a cozy day off work or school with your families. Hoping you're all warm and happy on this midwinter day. :)

xxx

"You mind?"

Jane looked up and saw Fricke gesturing to the seat next to him at the bar. He looked down at his club soda and lemon and hid a grimace. He wasn't really in the mood to deal with Fricke, but the man looked rather downtrodden in his terrible velvet blazer, so he kept his voice neutral. "Not at all."

Fricke seated himself but didn't offer any additional conversation.

Jane glanced at him. "Rough night?"

Fricke attempted to disguise his misery with false bravado. "Not bad. A couple good phone numbers." His eyes sought Katie and lingered. She met his gaze, then turned away. Fricke looked down at his hands, then pasted on an arrogant smirk he couldn't quite carry off. "Yep," he said, his mouth stretching the smirk but still not achieving the care-free look he was aiming for. "Two veeery tasty numbers."

Jane considered these words. Then he calmly threw his drink in Fricke's face. "I wish you'd stop being so damn stupid. You have a good woman over there who knows you and still loves you." He left the critical words unsaid. What are you waiting for? Fricke, stunned and sopping, heard them anyway. He looked at Jane in disbelief for a second, then wiped his dripping face and went to talk to Katie.

At last. A little peace and quiet. Jane stared at his empty glass and brooded over Haightly's lack of remorse for his actions. The actions that had led to the death of Claire Wolcott.

I'm not sorry…It's not like anybody cares—

I care. She was a living person.

He'd extracted an apology from Haightly in the end, but as far as Jane was concerned, it was too little, too late.

A low, sultry voice interrupted his maudlin thoughts. "Excuse me."

Jane turned to see a very attractive woman in a low cut red dress standing behind him.

She smiled at him invitingly. "You looked kind of lonely. My friend and I were wondering if you'd like to join us."

Jane looked past her to see another equally attractive woman sitting at a table nearby. She gave him a little wave.

He automatically raised his hand to wave back. "Hi." He turned to his companion and smiled ruefully. He held up his hand. The one with the wedding band on it. He didn't think twice. "I'm sorry. I'm married."

She gave him a disappointed smile, and a little shrug, then turned and walked away.

Jane turned back to the bar and ordered another club soda. Once he'd received it, he stared into the bottom of his glass again. Now, where was he? Ah, yes, peace and quiet. And brooding.

"There you are." Lisbon plunked herself down in the seat next to him, not waiting for an invitation. "I've been looking all over for you."

Jane caught the faint scent of cinnamon drifting towards him and his heart lifted despite itself. He looked over at her and smiled a little wryly. "Here I am."

She frowned at the glass in his hand. "Drinking on the job?"

Wordlessly, he slid the glass over to her.

She raised her eyebrows, then cautiously lifted the glass to her lips and took a sip. Her eyebrows crinkled in surprise. "Club soda?"

"With a twist," he confirmed.

Her mouth quirked. "Fancy."

Jane idly watched her mouth and asked on impulse, "Can I buy you one?"

"Sure, why not?" Lisbon sighed. "The rest of the team already left, and it's been a long day."

"It has," he agreed, gesturing for the bartender.

"And you do owe me one for making me deal with Wolcott and his thousand dollar an hour lawyer," she finished.

He smiled. "Touché, my dear."

Lisbon accepted her club soda and slid his back to him. Jane rested his hand along the back of her chair and stared at his glass, wondering if he would taste her on it if he took another drink.

His eyes drifted over to the table with the two inviting women at it. Their heads were bent together and they were sending covert glances in his direction. But they weren't looking at him. They were shooting envious glances at Lisbon.

They thought she was his wife, he realized with a shock. He straightened and hastily removed his arm from the back of her chair.

Lisbon looked around and followed his gaze. Her eyes came to rest on the two women and lingered for a moment before she turned away and returned her attention to her club soda. "Those are a couple of good looking accordions over there," she said lightly.

Jane stared at her. "Excuse me?"

"I saw the one in red talking to you earlier," she said. "They seemed pretty interested in getting to know you."

He shook his head. "Not interested."

"You didn't even want to have a drink with them?"

"I'd rather have a drink with you," Jane said unthinkingly. Too late, he realized what a loaded statement that was. It was true, though.

Lisbon looked at him intently. "You okay?"

"Of course," he said, busying himself with his club soda again. "Never better."

"You seemed a little worked up earlier," she said gently.

Jane stared at his drink. I think he should be sorry. "I'm fine."

She wasn't buying it, but she didn't press the matter. "Okay."

He turned to her, wanting to get his mind off his own depressing thoughts. "You know what my favorite part of this case was?"

Lisbon arched one elegant brow. "Assaulting a personal friend of the Attorney General?"

"Tweaking the nose of a pompous buffoon," Jane corrected. "And no, that wasn't it."

"Making Cho go clothes shopping?" she guessed.

"No, although watching him in action was highly entertaining."

Lisbon smiled. "No business like Cho business."

"Indeed," Jane agreed.

"So what was it then?" Lisbon prompted him.

A slow grin broke out over his face. "Watching you interrogate Fricke about his life as a pickup artist."

She snorted. "You mean his 'total lifestyle?'"

Jane grinned wider. "You should have seen the look on your face when he started talking about 'practicing his passion.'"

"He's quite a character," Lisbon said dryly.

"I think he'll be changing his ways soon enough," Jane said, watching Fricke talking earnestly to Katie, his head bowed.

Lisbon turned her head to see what he was looking at. She frowned. "You think she'll take him back after all the crap he's pulled?"

Jane shrugged. "I think he regrets his actions. And she loves him, so who knows? Maybe there's a happy ending in the cards for them after all."

"I hope so," Lisbon said, sounding dubious. "If they do get back together, at least the rest of womankind will be spared having to deal with him from now on."

Jane chuckled. "True."

Lisbon finished her club soda and set her glass down on the bar. "Shall we go? It's late."

Jane thought about returning to Sacramento and going back to his dingy motel room. He glanced up at the night sky, glittering with stars. Then he looked back at his companion.

"Let me buy you another club soda," he offered impulsively. The evening was crisp and cool and clean and he didn't want it to end.

Lisbon's lips quirked. "Big spender."

"Come on, Lisbon," he urged. "Live a little."

"All right," she conceded. "Just one more."

"Excellent." Jane turned back to the bar and signaled for two more of the same.

His fingers brushed against hers when he handed her the fresh glass. He paused and looked at her, studying her closely. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, he told himself. You have a good woman who knows you and still tolerates you.

That was a precious thing. He really shouldn't take it for granted. He shouldn't take her for granted.

Wordlessly, he raised his glass to her. Lisbon raised her glass in turn.

They clinked their glasses together and drank.