Author's note: I've been a HUGE fan of The Mentalist ever since the first episode aired. However, it has always bothered me that Jane rarely got called out for everything he put Lisbon through over the course of the series. It aggravated me to the point that I almost wanted her to end up with Pike (though I'm happy she and Jane got together obvi). I thought this little story would be the perfect opportunity for Lisbon to once again display her heart of gold while also reminding Jane all that she's done for him. Hopefully you enjoy!

Disclaimer: The Mentalist does not belong to me, but I appreciate being able to borrow the characters and the scene, especially for the first chunk of this fic (:

Jane sat with his finger to his bottom lip, the picture of nonchalance. However, his thoughts were anything but casual. He knew what he had lost. Everything, really. What was there in his miserable, meaningless life other than Lisbon?

"It's too late," she had said. And now he was nearly numb as anguish and hopelessness clawed at his brain. He tried to shut down his thoughts, his feelings, and focus on the ache in his injured ankle instead, but that was nothing to the pain in his heart. He felt it physically, a sharp stabbing in his chest. His emotional turmoil hadn't manifested itself physically this way since… He cut off that line of thought. That would only amplify the torment.

Thoroughly broken but not wanting to appear so, Jane didn't react at all when the TSA agent shuffled out of the room, closing the door behind him. He didn't move when he heard the door swing open again either.

An alluring and painfully familiar scent tickled his nose, but he knew it had to be his imagination. If one thing was for sure, it was that Teresa Lisbon was gone. He couldn't bear to turn his head and meet the eyes of the TSA agent who had cruelly given him a split second of false hope that Lisbon hadn't left. That she had stayed for him.

When she sat down before him, tucking her bag to her side and wearing an expression he couldn't quite read, Jane could hardly believe his eyes. He wasn't imagining things. She was here?

"Hey," Lisbon said, as if this was just another day. As if he hadn't illegally entered a plane right before takeoff, confessed his love for her, and promptly gotten detained. As if she hadn't shattered him when she'd chosen Pike over him.

He hesitated for a beat, still unsure this could possibly be real. "Hi," he finally answered.

"This is another fine pickle you've gotten yourself in, huh?" Lisbon smirked slightly. Jane couldn't help but notice how very large and green her eyes were.

"I've seen worse, pickle wise."

"Yes, you have." Her voice was almost indulgent. The overwhelming anger she had displayed earlier was completely gone, replaced, he realized, with tentative hope. "How's the ankle?"

"Ah, it's fine." He stared at her for a moment, trying to read the situation, but his mind was muddled from everything that had happened that day. Lisbon was the only one who could have that effect on him. Why was she there? "You didn't go to D.C." It was more a statement than a question.

"No." Her eyebrows quirked a bit, and he felt his heart soar with unmistakable hope. Could she possibly be saying what he thought she was saying? He waited, blinking at her, wanting her to confirm that she was staying. That she wasn't going to leave him.

Lisbon's face grew serious. "Did you mean what you said?" she asked quietly, her head tilted down, but she never looked away.

"Yes, I did."

"Good." A small smile softened her face, and he read the tenderness in her eyes. God, she was beautiful.

Jane couldn't resist teasing her, just a little bit. "Just to be clear, we're talking about pickles, right?"

"No. No. The other thing." Jane drank her in as her smile broadened to reveal her teeth. He loved making her laugh.

"Oh. That." He wouldn't admit that he was still mortified by his uncharacteristic vulnerability, still stinging from her rejection.

Lisbon's smile faded as she promptly became serious again. "This is no joking matter."

All trace of humor left Jane's face as he responded with complete honesty, intentionally removing the façade he typically wore as a defense mechanism. "Yes. I meant what I said. Every word of it."

"Good. Because I feel the same way."

A smile slowly appeared on Jane's face as Lisbon's words took root. She feels the same way. "Well, that's lucky." She smiled demurely back at him, clearly a bit embarrassed by her admission, but Jane's grin deflated as a vision of Lisbon arm in arm with another man invaded his mind. "What about Pike?"

"He'll understand." And he would. Jane knew he would. Pike was a much better man than he could ever be, and part of Jane hated him for that.

Jane watched as Lisbon licked her lips nervously before offering a coy smile. "Say it again."

"Say what again?" He knew what she wanted, but the picture of Lisbon and Pike was still prominent in his brain, and he wanted to make her work for it a little bit. Lisbon simply raised her eyebrows and gazed at him expectantly, unwilling to put up with his nonsense, and any thoughts of Pike dissolved as his love for her welled hot in his chest.

He rose from his seat, careful not to put weight on his twinging ankle, and leaned over the cold metal table. Lisbon's lips parted in anticipation, and Jane tucked his fingers beneath her chin as her eyes fluttered closed. And then he was kissing her, lightly pressing his lips to her sweet mouth. He could taste the salt from the tears she had cried earlier. Because of him.

"Hey! Quit that." The TSA agent knocked on the window behind Jane, but he and Lisbon paid no mind. They barely heard the interruption they were so wrapped up in each other.

After a moment, Jane pulled back slightly, his eyes twinkling merrily, but he didn't go far. His lips hovered mere inches from Lisbon's, and he watched as her lips curved softly, quiet joy and relief coloring her expression.

"I love you," Jane whispered before tipping her chin up once more and kissing her again. It was incredible to him that she was kissing him back, that she felt the same way about him as he did about her, and he reveled in the warmth of her lips.

As the rapping on the window became more forceful, Jane finally pulled away completely, settling gingerly back into his seat. Lisbon's cheeks were pink with pleasure, and her eyes appeared to be a brighter green than usual, set off by her jade blouse and the moisture in her eyes. Jane hoped they were tears of happiness. He had caused her to spill enough tears of heartache, pain, and loss. Now, it was time to make up for all of that.

"So, you feel the same way?" Jane prompted, finding he desperately wanted to hear Lisbon confirm her feelings for him.

She simply nodded and smiled almost shyly, her blush deepening.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Jane couldn't help the note of accusation that crept into his voice. Didn't she understand how much he had suffered watching her love another man?

"You're the one who can read minds. I thought you knew." Lisbon shrugged, her brow furrowing slightly.

"No such thing as psychics, remember, Lisbon?"

"Coulda fooled me. You always know what I'm thinking."

"Not always," Jane admitted quietly.

"You're the one who's a risk taker, Jane. I tend to play it safe." Tension had twisted Lisbon's fingers together.

Jane could tell he was pushing her, and he didn't want to ruin this perfect moment between them, but as his mind flashed through all the times he'd seen Lisbon and Pike together, he couldn't seem to stop himself.

"You were risking something. You were risking me. Our friendship. Our partnership. Our chance at happiness. I almost lost you." Tears sprang up in his eyes as he gazed searchingly into Lisbon's face. Usually, he would try to mask his feelings, exude an air of supreme unaffectedness, but he wanted Lisbon to see how much this meant to him.

Lisbon looked at Jane for a long moment, clearly considering what to say. Then, she sighed, closing her eyes briefly, before diving in with brutal candor.

"I thought it was your turn, Jane. Ever since we met, you've been using me, misleading me, manipulating me, trying to get one over on me. You've lied and cheated and downright betrayed me more times than I'd like to remember. You've left me behind and even used my feelings for you against me."

A vision of Lisbon, realizing he was leaving her on the beach while he hunted Red John, struck Jane, and he felt utter shame. He could only imagine how she had felt, no doubt thinking what he had said to her was just a ploy to distract her while he left her behind. In reality, everything he'd said had been true, though it had barely scratched the surface of his feelings for her.

Lisbon took a shuddering breath, the mention of Jane's innumerable transgressions darkening her expression and slumping her shoulders. "Each time, I—I forgave you. I went out on a limb to protect you and fix things for you. I took risks I wasn't comfortable with and did things I never would have done otherwise because I wanted to help you. I guess I just felt that I'd done my part. I'd been fighting for you for over a decade. It was your turn."

Jane merely stared at Lisbon, speechless. He could hardly think of a reply because, of course, she was absolutely right.

When Jane didn't respond right away, Lisbon continued. "When we reconnected in Austin, and even after Marcus and I got together, I gave you chance after chance after chance to open up to me. To tell me how you felt. But it was like you were pushing me away from you, toward Marcus. So, I thought you must not feel the same way."

She glanced away, not wanting to meet Jane's eyes, and he knew what she was going to say next would probably hurt him. "I had an opportunity for a wonderful life with Marcus. I didn't love him—not yet—but I felt that I could one day." Lisbon suddenly looked back at Jane, capturing his eyes with devastating earnestness. "I had everything to lose if I told you how I felt. You only had anything to lose if you didn't. So, what took you so long? Why would you wait until the very last second to open your heart to me, Jane?"

He had finally found his voice. "Because you're right. I'm a liar. A cheat. A charlatan. But you… You're St. Teresa. You're beautiful and strong and good, and I knew you deserved a man like Pike. Not a man who has treated you so horrifically." Jane shook his head, a wry smile curling up the corners of his mouth. "I promised myself I would let you go because that would be the ultimate act of love. Denying myself so that you could finally be truly happy. But I've always been a selfish bastard." He chuckled darkly. "When it came down to it, I couldn't let you go. So, I came up with that crazy scheme to get you to stay…"

Lisbon reached across the table to touch Jane's hand as his voice suddenly faltered. "All you had to do was be honest with me," she murmured. "No games, no tricks, no manipulation. Just the truth of how you feel."

Jane nodded, dumbstruck by the kindness and understanding in Lisbon's eyes. He knew he was forgiven—again. He truly didn't deserve her. As Lisbon began to withdraw her outstretched hand, he captured it with both of his own, squeezing affectionately.

"You know me better than anyone, Jane. And you know what? I know you better than anyone too. You don't have to put on a big show for me."

He thought about his plan to seduce Lisbon into staying in Austin. The hotel. The dresses. The romantic dinner they would have shared. Jane shook his head at his own idiocy. He'd once said he would never seduce her over a meal, and yet that's exactly what he'd ended up trying to do. Sophomoric indeed.

His desperation to keep Lisbon by his side had clearly addled his brains. He did know her better than anyone, and he should have known that a flashy, elaborate scheme wouldn't convince her to stay. In fact, it had only pushed her away. It was only when he'd given her the honesty she almost always graced him with that she'd decided not to leave. All she wanted was him—truthfully and wholeheartedly.

Lisbon, a highly observant individual by her own right, watched the emotions play across Jane's face and felt she could deduce what he was thinking. What he was realizing. Giving him a little squeeze with the hand he still held captive, she continued.

"I care about you for who you really are, Jane. Not for the act that you present to the rest of the world. You don't have to pretend with me. I can see you. And I can see that you're a much better man than you give yourself credit for. You're generous, thoughtful, kind. I've seen you act with honor and courage, and I've seen you put others' welfare before your own. I just wish you could see yourself the way I see you."

Words failed Jane again, but the tears that had been lingering in the corners of his eyes began to fall. Lisbon clearly wasn't ready to say that she loved him yet, but her words and the tender look on her face told Jane all he needed to know.

"C'mere," he said, but Lisbon had already risen at the sight of the first teardrop streaking down his cheek. She extricated her hand and moved around the table to perch lightly on Jane's lap, careful not to jostle his injured ankle.

"Shh," she breathed, tucking her face into his neck and rubbing big, soothing circles into his back. Jane's tears stopped almost as quickly as they had started, but Lisbon didn't pull away.

"I'm sorry," Jane finally said, his breath causing a wayward strand of Lisbon's hair to flutter, tickling her cheek. She raised a hand to tuck it behind her ear, but Jane beat her to it. She closed her eyes contentedly as he continued to stroke her hair almost reverently.

"Mmm, why are you sorry?"

"For hurting you over and over again. For not putting you first when I should have. For almost letting you go."

"You can make it up to me, okay?" Jane felt her smile against his neck and wondered exactly what was going on in that pretty head of hers. In many ways, she was incredibly easy to read, but she still managed to surprise him on a regular basis. He had no idea what she was thinking in that moment.

"How can I make it up to you?"

Lisbon raised her head to meet Jane's gaze, and her expression was positively wicked.

"Lisbon!"

As she shook with laughter, Jane captured her lips again. Their first kiss had been gentle and soft. They'd been seeking, learning, feeling it out. Now that they'd talked through everything (or a lot at least), Jane was desperate to really taste her. One hand cupped the back of her neck and the other wrapped possessively around her waist as he touched his tongue to her lips. With what Jane could only describe as a whimper, Lisbon drew impossibly closer and kissed him senseless, her fingernails scraping through the hair at the nape of his neck.

Jane didn't think he had ever experienced passion this acute in his life. When Lisbon bit his lip, he groaned and kissed her even more fervently, trailing across her cheek to her ear and down her neck. He grinned in triumph against her skin when she squirmed in response.

"Okay, lovebirds. That's enough. It's time to sign some paperwork."

Jane and Lisbon broke apart and glanced at the TSA agent who was trying and failing to look stern as he stood in the doorway.

"Yeah, sure," replied Jane, resting his forehead against Lisbon's. She tried to get up, obviously embarrassed at being caught in such a position, but Jane tightened his arm around her waist. "This paperwork… Is that going to spring me from this joint?"

"That's the idea."

"Then, by all means, let's get this over with. I've got plans for today." Jane winked at Lisbon, tossing her a devilish grin of his own. Her whole face turned bright red, and he traced a finger up and down her hip with his left hand while scrawling out his signature with his right.

An hour later (the paperwork had been extensive), Jane and Lisbon stood hand in hand outside the airport, watching the first pale rays of the sun lighten the sky. While they waited for their cab, they glanced at each other and smiled. They were both exhausted after staying up all night, but the excitement of finally, finally being together had energized them.

As dawn approached, Lisbon leaned against Jane, putting her trust in the man who had proven himself untrustworthy time and time again. He wrapped his arms around her, determined to be the kind of man she deserved. The man he knew she always thought he could be.