By the time they arrived at the hotel, Jane was dozing quietly in the back. Teresa and Dennis had engaged in meaningless small talk, neither saying what was on their minds. By halfway through the trip, she'd grown quiet as well, too tired and too dazed to try and continue speaking.

Dennis seemed to understand, only occasionally glancing at his companion, or into the rear-view mirror. A couple of times he couldn't help the smile that broke out on his face, although each time he quickly got it under control. He really wondered if the couple in the car thought they were pulling the wool over his eyes. It was more than obvious that something momentous between them had occurred.

The fact that Lisbon was not going to DC indicated that Jane's wild stunt had been successful.

He chuckled silently. Both of them deserved to have some happiness in their lives – especially Jane. He thought back to when he'd first met the man and metaphorically shook his head at how things had changed. He'd been convinced that Patrick Jane was nothing more than a con-man and perhaps even a serial killer. The truth was, he hadn't been totally wrong – at least not about the con-man part.

Because Jane was a con-man – but he was also a good man, a man with a decent soul, who'd somehow veered off the right track early in his life. After Dennis had gotten to really know him Jane had changed from someone he'd despised and detested, into one of his most valued and trusted friends.

But now Jane, and the snoozing woman sitting beside Dennis, needed to sleep, and to figure out their next steps together. He really was glad Teresa was staying, not just because she was an excellent agent, but because without her Jane would have been impossible to control. He really didn't want to imagine what Jane would have been like if Teresa really had moved to DC with Pike. With her, however, Jane would continue on the path of letting his past, all aspects of it, behind.

Yes, he was really glad Jane had pushed his way onto the plane. It turned out that loaning Jane the keys to his car was one of the best decisions he'd ever made.

"We're here," he called out as he pulled into a parking spot at the Blue Bird Hotel. Jane sat up, stretched and took a breath. Teresa simply sat up a bit straighter.

"Thank you for coming and getting us," she said softly.

"Yeah," Jane said, using his very rare, serious voice. "Thank you, Dennis."

"You've welcome," he said to Lisbon, He then looked back at Jane and nodded, letting the other man knew that he understood what Jane was really thanking him for. "Now, I'm going to go locate Cho and Fischer and find out what's happened with our two lovely murderers. Then I'm heading to the airport after dropping the car off. The two of you both better go to your rooms and get some sleep. Jane – I think you'd better take off some time too. You need a good rest."

"Two weeks?" Jane asked hopefully.

At that Dennis couldn't help but chuckle. "Two weeks," he nodded. "Now be good!" he admonished his two employees. Inside he secretly hoped they were anything but good.

Jane made his way into the hotel, holding the door open for Teresa, but not saying anything. He started to head to the elevator, almost dead on his feet, when Lisbon's hand on his arm stopped him.

"I don't have a room," she said. "I checked out. I'm going to have to go and rent one."

"You could stay with me," he suggested, too tired to think about what he was saying. He blinked at a rather stunned looking Lisbon and then backed up his brain. "Sorry – I'm tired. I didn't mean anything improper," he told her. He stopped and turned towards her, looking at her earnestly.

"It's just – I'd kind of like to not be alone," he admitted. He didn't want to explain that for the first time in a long time he craved being with someone he loved. It wasn't about sex but about having someone who loved him and needed him. It was a feeling that had grown unfamiliar – but already it was something he knew he could no longer live without.

"I understand," she nodded, looking equally as serious. "I understand and I feel the same. As for improper – well, I'm afraid I wouldn't be up to much anyway."

He grinned at her – the old Jane suddenly appearing. "And by much you mean …?"

She swatted his arm. "Come on – let's get to be – uh – sleep." As they headed up to Jane's hotel room, she suddenly wondered what she'd let herself in for. With that thought her lips turned up in a slightly wicked smile.

She really couldn't wait to find out.