Summary:

Set right after S03E15 'Red Gold': After mocking Lisbon for being jealous that he worked with Hightower instead of her, Jane has an idea how to make her day a bit brighter, meanwhile, giving himself plenty of opportunity to tease her. Pure friendship fluff, Jisbon hints.

A/N: heclosescases recent, dead-on tweets about 'Red Gold' made me decide to crosspost this, so here we go :D. I agree, that episode is definitely underrated!

- posted on AO3: Nov.1.2021 -

Thank you for your lovely replies on my Christmas fanfic, every comment is greatly appreciated!

Find me on twitter: PolarnightF - the link is in my profile description

At a knock on her office door, Lisbon looked up from the file in front of her. She'd been staring at it for a while now, not even taking in what was printed on the pages. "Come in," she said with a tired voice. Her injured ankle forcing her to stay in the office, she'd done more paperwork that day than could be called healthy. She should probably go home now, but somehow she didn't feel in the mood for that yet. Nothing to do there either but to stare at the TV for a couple hours before falling into bed. And with her ankle she'd likely spend the whole weekend at home. No, she might as well get on with her paperwork.

"You seem depressingly disgruntled," Jane said, letting the door fall shut behind him and casually walking over to the couch to sit down with his tea.

"My ankle hurts." She gave him another brief look before she tried to make sense of the file in front of her again, finally remembering why she'd taken it out of the cabinet. Her statement for the Justin DeGeorge case was still missing. She'd been putting it off since Jane had talked her out of putting Trina in front of a judge for killing her father. The fact that her statement would contain a lie was giving her a headache.

"So," Jane muttered, holding his cup of tea in his lap while contemplating her, "What is it you're doing there?"

"Paperwork." Glancing at him, sitting with his feet up on her couch, resting peacefully, she added: "You know, the tedious stuff we, hardworking agents that is, have to deal with after you've had your fun with a case."

"Mm," Jane raised his brows, taking another sip of his tea before falling into silence.

Shaking her head, Lisbon turned her attention back to her desktop to open the form she had to fill in but was distracted again as Jane said: "That's a very nice couch."

Lisbon glared at him and his self praising expression. "I miss my old one."

"Have you tried this one yet?"

"Yes, Jane, I … sat on it, if that's what you're asking."

He gave her a smile and raised his cup to his mouth, but sat it back down without drinking from the tea. "But have you tried resting on it? It's very comfy."

Sighing, Lisbon replied: "I'm trying to work here."

"You haven't done a thing during the last five minutes."

"You keep distracting me." Maybe she should've gone home. "I thought you've got your own couch in the bullpen."

"Everyone else has left. Besides, I like this couch."

"You picked it." Lisbon sighed once more. "Please, Jane, let me finish this, ok?"

Shrugging, Jane took another sip of his tea, and thankfully remained silent, so Lisbon could finally concentrate on the form. She liked having Jane in her office, it was a nice relaxing feeling as long as he didn't insist on distracting her for his own amusement.

But he kept his silence for as long as she was typing away on the keyboard, only moving to put his empty cup on the little table and stretch out on the couch. Lisbon started to wonder if he might actually be sleeping as he still didn't say something when she was skimming over what she'd written before filing it. But just as she'd finished her second read, he picked up his head, grinned at her and asked: "Finished?"

"Yes," Lisbon replied, returning the smile and closing the form on her computer.

"Good."

The underlying tone made Lisbon look back at him. "Good?"

"You can't be working the entire night, Agent Lisbon," Jane said firmly, getting up from the couch and taking her coat from the rack. "You need to take some time to relax, too. And I happen to know just the thing that will help you do so."

"You do, huh?" Lisbon had followed him with her eyes and was letting him help her into the coat, while she was still sitting in her chair.

"Yes. Perfect little thing to make up for me going out with another lady today."

Lisbon had been reaching for her crutches but just ended up staring at him, certain the heat in her cheeks meant she was blushing. Jane's wide grin only confirmed that. After swallowing her surprise Lisbon tried to make up for her obvious reaction by bluntly stating: "We're work partners, Jane. You can go out with whomever you want."

"True. And yet you're jealous I was working this case with Hightower instead of you."

Lisbon blinked, then turned away from him to grab her crutches and get up from her chair. "I'm jealous of your unharmed ankles and the fact that you didn't have to sit in the office all day."

"That's it, huh?" The bastard was still grinning at her.

"Yes, Jane."

He shrugged and cocked his head. "Meh. Doesn't change a thing. What I have in mind will make up for that, too. Trust me."

Lisbon had a couple pictures in her head of Jane helping her to relax, the most harmless one being him hypnotizing her. But somehow, even though relieved and disappointed at the same time, very certain he didn't mean any of the things rushing through her mind, she was determined not to blush again. Don't give him the satisfaction to know he'd planted those images in her head. "I don't know if I ever did that. Trusting you," she mumbled, finally standing with the help of her crutches and looking straight at him.

"Now, that hurts." Jane actually looked downcast as he went to pick up his cup from the table. "We did the whole trust fall thing for a reason."

"I remember that, yes." Stepping through the office door, Jane was holding open for her, Lisbon added: "You caught me just before I hit the ground."

"The point is: I caught you."

She sighed as the door fell shut behind them, and they went into the direction of the kitchen. "You did." She gave him a shy smile. "So what is it you're planning for this evening?"

"You're coming with?" Jane was looking smug with himself again, putting the cup into the dishwasher.

"I didn't agree to anything yet."

"Oh, but you're considering it." He grinned at her and directed her to the lift.

"What is it, Jane?"

"Wouldn't you like to know? Tell you what, it's not eating some microwaved dinner, sitting on your couch and watching TV."

"But it involves dinner, yes?" She needed something to eat.

"Of course. I can't let the hardworking Agent Lisbon who lazily sat around the office all day go hungry."

"Hey! I wasn't lazy!" She tried to hit him with her crutch like before, but he evaded her by stepping into the lift.

"You're coming, or what?"

Rolling her eyes, Lisbon stepped into the lift with him, turning away from him, so she wouldn't have to look at his smug smile. When the iron doors opened again, Jane directed her straight past his Citroën and towards her own car.

A bit irritated, Lisbon got out her keys but instead of unlocking the vehicle, she turned around to him. "We're not taking your car?"

"Meh, I thought we'd meet at yours. Leave your car there and drive on with mine. Didn't think you'd like to come back here in the middle of the night." He grinned again. "Of course, I can always drop you off at yours and pick you up before work on Monday, if you'd like that."

"No," Lisbon blurted out, feeling the heat return to her cheeks at the thought of arriving for work in Jane's car. "No, your first plan sounds just perfect," she said then and hurriedly unlocked her car.

"Fine with me." Jane winked at her as she let herself fall onto the driver's seat and still smiling he turned away to get into his baby blue Citroën. As she started the car's engine, Lisbon felt thankful that it was her left ankle giving her trouble. Driving the automatic wasn't a problem. No need for someone driving her around.

-x-

Jane arrived at her place only a couple minutes after her, parking right next to her car. Letting down the window, he asked: "Do you have a warm coat with you?"

Lisbon shook her head.

"You should grab one."

"Where are we going?" Lisbon asked suspiciously. Usually the places that would make her relax didn't require a person to bring a coat.

"Surprise," Jane said, grinning again.

Thinking that his smile was unfairly charming, Lisbon locked her car and went into her flat to get her winter coat. As she returned, Jane had stepped out of his car and was holding the passenger's door open for her.

-x-

Lisbon let her head sink against the window when they got on the highway. Her eyes closing every other minute, she blinked to keep them open, looking at the lights of the city rushing by.

Jane poked her ribs, making her startle and sit up straight again. "Hey!"

"Don't fall asleep."

Lisbon remembered a conversation they'd had about this before and groaned. "Where are we going, Jane?" They were leaving Sacramento heading west.

"Patience, Lisbon, relax a bit."

"I'm hungry."

Jane sighed and rolled his eyes dramatically. He pointed at the radio. "Pick a station."

They ended with some slow jazz, and Lisbon leaned back in her seat as they passed a gas station. The sun had almost vanished, leaving a soft glow on the sky in front of them while behind them everything had already turned dark. Trying to stay awake, Lisbon thought about the day and Jane mocking her for being jealous.

She sighed. It was hard to decide whom she was more jealous of. Hightower working with Jane or Jane working with Hightower. She frowned as Jane turned off the highway at a seemingly random intersection. They headed to a little town where Jane stopped the car at a small grocery store and hopped out. But when Lisbon opened the door on her side, struggling with the crutches he shook his head and told her to stay in the car. He wouldn't take long.

-x-

He remained right. Lisbon had just relaxed into a little slumber, when the sound of the trunk being opened made her eyes fly open. Hearing Jane rearranging whatever he had bought, she relaxed again, waiting for him with a slight smile on her lips.

A smile he returned, grinning, when he got back on the driver's seat. "Dinner's ready in ten," he said, closing the door.

"You ordered something?"

Turning on the engine of the car, Jane nodded.

"You didn't ask me what I wanted."

"We were talking about trust."

"You're taking it a bit far," Lisbon grumbled as they left the parking lot.

"No one's allowed to touch your food, huh?"

"No."

Jane shook his head. "You're a piece of work."

"You could've asked me."

"It's a surprise."

"I might not like it."

"You're being childish."

Lisbon cuffed him.

To her relief, Jane soon stopped at a Thai restaurant, carrying two boxes of fried Thai noodles with chicken back to the car. Lisbon was hungry enough, she would've eaten her portion right away, but Jane made her wait a few minutes more, till he'd stopped his Citroën at a little parking lot at the start of a hiking trail.

Following Jane's request as he opened the door for her, Lisbon climbed out of the car. On crutches, she went with him to the trunk. He opened it to reveal a paper box with two beer bottles and their takeaway food on top of other things Lisbon couldn't make out. Next to the box was a folded picnic blanket.

Lisbon swallowed, looking around herself as she leaned onto the side of his car, letting go of her crutches. It was a beautiful night, a bit chilly maybe due to the time of the year, but the stars in the darkening sky around them were bright and sparkling. The moon almost full, spending soft light. Lisbon even believed to make out the sound of waves crashing onto a shore. Had they come this far from Sacramento?

"Um, Jane?" Lisbon asked tentatively, suddenly insecure. "This isn't supposed to be a date, is it?"

He looked up at her, the folded picnic blanket in his hand. Just for a second he seemed to hesitate, but then he flashed her a wide smile. "You should know me better by now, Lisbon. If this was a date, the place would've already been set up. And we'd have good wine, too, trust me. No. Sorry, but it's not. You'll have to make do with beer today." He pointed at the two bottles in the carton. "Oh, and if you could carry this, that would be great!" He threw the blanket in her direction and Lisbon reflexively caught it.

"Good," she said, then, looking at the blanket in her hands and the rocky place around her, she added: "Didn't you say something about making me relax, Jane? I don't recall hearing the word 'hiking'."

"It's hardly gonna be that long till we find a nice spot," Jane answered, picking up the box with their dinner and locking the car.

Lisbon could hear her stomach grumble. "I can barely walk for two meters!"

"I thought that was what these crutches are for."

"I mea- oh, whatever…," Lisbon sighed. She was here now, so she might as well just hope for the best. She looked around herself once more. "Ok, so where are we going?"

He must know this place, Lisbon decided, as he immediately took off to a small sandy path leading them down a little incline and through some rock formations. He was walking slowly though, leaving her enough time to keep up with him with her crutches while carrying the blanket. Nevertheless, it was exhausting, the path just visible in the darkness of the night.

Lisbon was just about to ask him how much further they'd have to go, as he stopped unexpectedly. She just managed not to bump into him. Instead, she stepped beside him and was rewarded with a view of the ocean. The reflection of the moon and stars shimmering on its calm surface.

After a moment of silence, she mumbled: "It's beautiful."

Smiling, Jane, who'd just set down his carton, took the picnic blanket from her. She was thankful, he placed it on the ground for her as she wasn't too certain how she would've accomplished that with her hurting ankle. Feeling rather brave though, she looked down at him and mocked: "I thought this wasn't a date."

Jane smiled up and winked. Then he took one of the beer bottles out of the carton and handed it to her, saying: "It's not."

Thanking him, Lisbon carefully let herself sink down on the blanket next to him. She waited till he had also handed her her still warm paper box with Thai noodles before she asked: "Ok, so besides the scenic view, why do we have to eat in the almost dark? I would've enjoyed a restaurant, too."

Jane, who was already opening his own paper box of Thai takeaway, pushed it into her hands to bend over to the carton once again. This time he got out an old oil lamp. "Found this at the mining camp's supply store," he explained. "It was pretty cheap."

"I bet." Lisbon eyed the dinosaur of a lamp suspiciously as Jane first lighted a match and then used it to light the lamp. It spread a soft warm light all across their little picnic place.

"Citrus oil against mosquitoes," he said.

"It's February, Jane. Shouldn't it be too cold for them?"

"Best to be safe." Handing her the typical cheap sticks, he took his Thai box back out of her hands.

They ate their noodles in silence, enjoying the company and the beautiful view. Lisbon smiled at Jane when she noticed his eyes on her.

"You're right," she said slowly as she sat the empty paper box down next to her, "This beats microwave dinner in front of the TV. Thank you."

He grinned. "Happy you like it." He motioned for her to hand him the paper box and put it back into the carton with his own. "Feeling relaxed?"

Lisbon sighed in response, letting herself sink down to lay on her back. Looking into the sky she murmured: "I'm getting there, I think."

"Good." She could hear him rummage through the goods in his paper box till he seemed to have found what he'd been looking for. Some kind of plastic wrapping was torn open next to her and only a moment later Jane held his hand out in front of her face, blocking the stars from her view. "Some chocolate?"

She took the little piece from his hand, mumbling a soft 'Thank you.' Sighing with the sweet taste on her tongue, she closed her eyes for a moment. Jane, the bastard, had managed to arrange a sweet picnic that was probably more romantic than most dates she'd had.

She swallowed. She shouldn't be thinking about such things when he was laying right beside her. Biting her lips she opened her eyes and turned her head to see him offer her another piece from the chocolate bar. She took it but refrained from eating it as she asked in what she hoped was a casual tone: "What are we doing here, Jane?"

He lifted his brows and grinned at her. "I'm eating chocolate while you're looking at yours."

Lisbon rolled her eyes and put the piece into her mouth. "You know what I mean, Jane."

"Um. I told you, didn't I? I'm making you relax. Forget about that ankle for a while, so you won't be grumpy on Monday."

She chuckled, shaking her head about him. "You drove me to the coast, so I won't be grumpy for work?"

"My days are better when you're in a good mood."

Lisbon turned to her side and broke off a piece of chocolate for herself, mustering Jane in the soft light of the oil lamp. The sight of his golden curls and the smile lingering on his lips made her swallow. But she raised her brows at him as she asked: "So actually, … you're being selfish." She grinned, putting the chocolate into her mouth.

"Meh"

"It would be very relaxing if I could sleep on the drive home."

"I see what you're doing there, Lisbon. Not a chance." Jane's grin grew sheepish. "But we could stay at a hotel and drive back tomorrow morning."

Lisbon stopped chewing, staring at him. Her brain was taking this suggestion into dangerous directions causing her cheeks to heat up.

"I was talking about separate rooms," Jane added with a wink. He was obviously enjoying himself way too much.

"Good," Lisbon muttered, turning to her back and looking at the stars. After a moment of silence she asked: "You're paying?"

"For my room."

She turned her head to him. "What a gentleman."

"Not a date, remember?"

Shaking her head, Lisbon returned his smile. "You're unbelievable."

He frowned at her. "Are you always complaining so much when someone takes you out for dinner?"

Lisbon shrugged, looking at Jane who'd just taken the last piece of chocolate from the package. "I've had a bad day. Sprained my ankle. Besides, you said it's not a date."

"So if it were, you wouldn't be complaining?" He grinned at her, his eyebrows raised as he put the piece of chocolate into his mouth.

Turning her head to look back into the sky, Lisbon smiled and mumbled: "Wouldn't you like to know."