They landed a little after 8pm and Jane led her through the terminal, a hand at the small of her back as they made their way to the taxi stand. For tonight, she was staying with him in the airstream, it was more practical given that all her belongings, including bedding, were packed away in boxes. They took a cab and dropped their bags off at the trailer before strolling down to the nearby food truck for something to eat. Ordering tacos and beers, they found a table and sat down under the light strewn arbour to enjoy the evening.

Teresa was lost in thought, sipping her beer. "Do you think Cho knows?" she asked absently.

"About us? Hard to say what goes on in Cho's mind. The man's an enigma." He leant back in his chair, considering. "My guess; probably not. But he'll be happy we're happy." He shrugged. "It's Cho."

"What about Fischer?"

"Hmm, likely."

"Wylie?"

"No."

"Abbott?"

"Definitely." He took a drink from his beer. "Does it bother you?" He raised a brow over the bottle in query.

Leaning forward, she put her chin in her hand and began tracing the grain in the table with her fingernail "Not them, no."

"But you're worried that other people will talk about us. Or about Pike?"

"I just don't like the idea that my private life is going to be food for the gossips. Urgh."

"Relationships end Teresa, you did nothing wrong. Who cares what people think? I certainly don't."

"Really?" she said. "I'd never noticed."

"Ahh, sarcasm. The refuge of a shallow mind." He said mockingly, with a grin.

"Hey!" She threw a napkin at him. "We can't all be like you."

"No. Nor can we all have good taste and a sense of humour." He dodged another napkin. "Life would be very dull."

"I have a sense of humour!" She said indignantly. "Although my taste over the last few days maybe is a bit questionable."

"Ooh, ouch. Touché Lisbon, touché." He laughed.

"Clown. I'm empty, do you want another one?"

"I'll get them, you stay there." He collected their empty bottles and headed over to the window for two more.

Teresa watched him as he walked away, smiling to herself. He chatted with the vendor, gesturing, making some kind of joke, she assumed, as other patrons laughed. Pride swelled within her, that was her man. Her clever, funny, sexy man. Their friendship meant the world to her but, oh, how she wished they'd come to their senses sooner. They could've avoided so much hurt if they'd only been honest with each other.

"You look pensive Lisbon, should I be scared." He said, handing her a beer as he sat back down.

"Only if I'm wearing my gun." She joked.

"Good to know." He took a swig from his bottle, eyeing her. "Out with it. What's bothering you?"

She took a deep breath, deciding it was best to get things out in the open. "What happened in Florida? Why all the…shenanigans?"

"Shenanigans? I've always loved that word." He smiled sadly and sat quietly, eyes down cast. "It's quite simple really. You were leaving me." He said, a catch in his voice. "I panicked." He looked up at her then, and Teresa thought her heart would break at his expression.

"Patrick…"

He shrugged his shoulders. "I really did mean for it to be one last adventure. I didn't think too hard about my motives, just that maybe, maybe, I might persuade you to stay."

"Why couldn't you just talk to me?" She asked and he leant forward across the table to take her hands in his.

"Teresa. For more than a decade, you have been, and still are, the most important person in my life. My partner, my friend, my greatest ally." He paused, staring at her intently. "I have loved you, always." A tear slid silently down her cheek, and he reached up to brush it away. "It wasn't until I'd lost you that I finally realised I was also in love with you. I was a fool."

Teresa shook her head. "It wasn't all your fault, if I'd told you how I felt…"

"No." he said, shaking his head. "I had to get there on my own. I think, deep down, you knew that. But I promise, no more shenanigans. Unless you're in on them of course."

Teresa laughed and smiled at him tearfully "OK."

"OK." He kissed her tenderly. "Shall we just go?"

Teresa nodded, wiping her face, and stood up, taking the hand he reached out to her. "Do you really think I have no taste or a sense of humour?"

"Good grief woman, do you never stop fishing?" He tutted. "Was my heartfelt declaration not enough? You must try and wheedle a compliment as well?"

"Oh hush." She said pushing him away with a grin. "You don't though, do you?"

Patrick sighed dramatically, throwing an arm across her shoulders. "She never stops. Me, me, me…"

Laughing, they strolled back to the trailer. Teresa washed up and changed into the oversized jersey she wore for bed while Jane poured them a nightcap.

When she emerged, he was sat on the bed, legs stretched out in front of him, barefoot and languid, watching her with a look of amusement as she tugged self-consciously at the hem of her shirt. "I like it." He said, smiling lazily as he sipped his drink.

"Don't judge me, I've seen your pyjamas." She jibed, feeling suddenly shy and awkward as he stared at her with hooded eyes. She perched on the edge of the bed and took the scotch he proffered, gulping down a large mouthful.

"I said I like it." He grinned suggestively. "Barely covers anything."

She blushed like a schoolgirl at the husky tone of his voice. It wasn't fair that he could reduce her to a quivering mass of desire so easily. God, she wanted him so much she could hardly breathe, he looked so sensual it was practically indecent. It just wasn't fair; he seemed completely unaffected whilst her heart was racing. Well, she wasn't a blushing schoolgirl, she was a strong, independent woman with a healthy sex drive, she would just have to see how unaffected he really was.

She took his glass from him and placed it on the side with hers before crawling over his lap to sit astride him. She placed a hand against his chest and felt the thumping of his heart, she saw his nostrils flare and his pupils dilate. OK, not as unaffected as she thought then.

"Patrick." She breathed, before kissing him deeply, her fingers deftly unbuttoning his shirt. "Will you make love to me?"

He groaned, leaning into her, returning her kiss with fiery passion. His hands stroked up her back, hooking the hem of the jersey as they went, tugging it gently over her head. He shrugged out of his shirt and pulled her to him, skin to skin.

"With pleasure." He murmured into her mouth as he lowered her to the bed.

"Say it again." He whispered as he trailed kisses down her neck.

"Patrick..."