A/N I had a major writers block… so this was written over a course of about four blocks… I hope it still makes some form of sense.

Thank you to all my reviewers. You're all truly wonderful. xx

"Patrick…" he could hear the tentative sound to her voice. He felt the hairs on his neck stand up, even before she uttered the next words. "He was killed by Red John."

Jane stood up and made his way across the living room, sparing a quick glance at Lisbon.

"You're sure?"

"Textbook Red John." Grace replied over the phone. "He was found an hour ago by prison guards, SACPD called us. Me and Rigsby are on our way there now."

Jane turned away from Lisbon, not wanting her to see his face.

"Thank you Grace."

"Jane, he's left a note for you. It hasn't been read, but it's addressed to you."

"I'll be there soon."

He ended the conversation and looked at Lisbon.

"What's happened?" she asked from her spot on the couch.

"Red John." Jane brought a hand up to his face, all remains of his pleasant sleepy state completely gone.

"Who?" Lisbon whispered. From the look in Jane's eye, she was scared it was someone they knew.

He turned back to face at her. She was perched on the edge of her seat, fear prominent in her features.

"Lucio Cortez." He answered.

"The killer from the Johnston case?"

Jane nodded and made his way back to the couch.

"Lisbon… there's a note…"

"Go Jane." Lisbon said understanding straight away. She could see the reluctance on his face over leaving her. While she really didn't want him to leave, just the fact the he didn't want to leave, made all the difference. It made her ok over letting him go.

"Lisbon…"

"I'll be alright. I think I should probably sleep for a bit anyway."

Jane nodded, already back on his feet looking for his keys.

"You call me if you need me. Ok? I'll come right back."

Lisbon smiled. She liked this new caring side of Jane.

"I'll call later." He added, standing awkwardly in the doorway.

"Go Jane." Lisbon said again, though the tone of her voice was soft.

He nodded. "Right."

"Bye Jane."

Jane nodded and was halfway out the door before he thought better of it and turned around again.

"Anything at all Lisbon… you call me…"

"Goodbye Patrick." She said a little more firmly.

She saw Jane take one last look at her, before nodding his head once and walking out the door.

She leant against the couch and blew out a lungful of air. Ok so she likes Jane being there for her as a friend… but the fact that he was reluctant to leave, even when Red John shows up… she was beginning to wonder what was becoming of them…

OOOOOoooooOOOOO

He could feel his heart beginning to race, and could feel that all too familiar twinge of nausea, that came every time he looked into the tripled stroke of the bloody eyed face. Tearing his gaze away from Red John's symbol, he focused on the bloody massacre of the man that used to be Lucio Cortez.

He was lying on the floor of his prison cell, throat slit, eyes staring into abyss.

"Red John doesn't usually kill males, why would he change his M.O now?" Grace asked softly.

"The note." Jane answered quietly. "You said he left a note addressed to me."

Rigsby came forward with a pair of gloves, indicating for Jane to put them on before he got the letter.

Jane sighed. Not being one to usually obey forensic law, he wouldn't normally see the point in wearing gloves, especially for Red John. They wouldn't find anything anyway. Red John doesn't make mistakes.

He looked up at Rigsby almost incredulously, but took the gloves all the same.

He tore open the envelope, which had been addressed with a simple Patrick. to find a single word printed in the middle of the paper.

Obligation.

"Obligation? Well what does that mean?" Rigsby asked from behind Jane.

"It means he's testing me." Jane replied with a worried look in his eye. He handed the letter to Rigsby for forensics, before rushing out of the cell.

"What was all that about?" Grace asked, coming to stand by Rigsby.

Rigsby shook his head in reply.

"I… don't know?" he replied slowly.

OOOOOoooooOOOOO

Back in his car, Jane was speeding back towards Lisbon's apartment. How could he have been so stupid?

He had left her alone and vulnerable… Red John could have gotten to her… he banged the steering wheel in frustration.

Obligation.

"I scratch your back, you scratch mine." Jane murmured.

What the hell was he thinking? Leaving Lisbon alone while she had been so sick. She was exhausted walking up her apartment steps… there would be no way she could defend herself.. from anyone.

He stepped down harder on the gas, trying to get to her faster.

He arrived at her house and ran up the path, and with a sinking heart opened the door that wasn't locked.

He burst into her empty living room, taking in the tidy array of furniture.

No sign of a struggle…

He ran up the stairs, slowing as he got to her bedroom door, which had been left slightly ajar.

Taking a deep breath, he opened the door, slowly at first, before swinging it open all the way and rushing into her bedroom.

"Lisbon!"

The bundle on the bed stirred slightly and Jane was met with green sleepy eyes.

"Jane?" she asked, concerned. "What's wrong? What's happened?"

Jane shut his eyes, and breathed a sigh of relief, begging his heart to slow down.

"Lisbon." He breathed walking over to her an enveloping her in a hug, before he had even registered what he was doing.

"Jane?"

Jane let her go and moved to sit on the end of the bed.

"The note… it said obligation… I thought…"

"You thought what Jane?"

Jane rubbed a hand down his face.

"Red John killed Lucio Cortez because his actions hurt you… and now he's saying I owe him." He sighed in slight frustration, at her still vacant expression. "I thought that meant he was going to hurt you."

He hung his head.

"Jane… that makes no sense."

Lisbon shifted so she was sitting higher in the bed, so she could see Jane more clearly.

"Yes it does… he wanted your dead body as proof of my loyalties… he knows my loyalties lie with you. So he kills Cortez as a favour to me… and now he thinks I owe him."

Lisbon shook her head.

"Why would that cause him to come after me though?"

Jane looked away from her, staring at his fidgeting hands.

"I don't know… I jumped to conclusions. I panicked."

Lisbon watched as his brow wrinkled in frustration.

"Hey, it's ok. You're worn out… you've been worried about me… I guess at the moment your mind is going to automatically jump to my demise."

Jane chuckled softly.

"That wasn't meant to be funny." Lisbon added.

"Well, if obligation didn't mean you… then what… or who, did it mean?"

Lisbon shook her head softly.

"I don't know Jane… I really don't know."

OOOOOoooooOOOOO

Jane stayed at Lisbon's that evening, not wanting to let her out of his sight until his nerves calmed a little. He knew he was being silly, and over protective, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen to her.

They had shared Chinese take-out and after clearing up, had both settled down to watch old reruns of House.

"You know, you guys are very similar." Lisbon said with a smirk on her face.

"Easy Lisbon… I'm not quite as mean as him."

"But you break all the rules…"

"Well I guess that's true… and we are both geniuses… hmmm." Jane said thoughtfully. "I guess we could be classed as similar… though I don't have a limp."

Lisbon smirked.

"Great analogy there Jane."

"Hmph. You seem to share a few similarities yourself Lisbon." Jane said, trying to nurse his ego of Lisbon's sarcasm.

"What? Me? to house? Nah-ah. I'm more of a Cuddy."

Jane shifted and smirked.

"Do enlighten me."

"Well… we're both female bosses… we both have dark hair… and we both have to deal with pain in the arse men… and when I say men… I mean we have a man each… not several different ones to control."

"You make that sound so domineering. Only you could do that my dear Lisbon."

Lisbon looked down, trying to hide her blush. Whenever he called her 'his dear Lisbon' she couldn't help but feel a certain want.

She watched as House knocked on Cuddy's door to find her dishevelled and crying. 'You'd have made a great mother.'

Lisbon watched the half hearted fight break out between them, followed by the kiss.

"Do you ever regret the path you chose?" Jane suddenly piped up.

Lisbon could see that far away look in his eye and she knew she was in for a 'deep and meaningful'.

"What do you mean Jane?"

He continued to stare to the television, where House had just made a hasty exit.

"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth."

"Now you're reciting poetry?"

"Robert Frost."

"Ok?"

"You would make an excellent mother too, Lisbon." He said, turning to look at her.

Lisbon felt her cheeks stain red. Where was all of this coming from?

"Jane…" she said a little sternly. Lisbon wasn't one to eagerly jump into personal conversations with her co-workers.

"What about having a personal conversation with a friend?" Jane said knowingly.

Lisbon jumped. Sometimes she thought he really was psychic.

"Do you ever think you chose the wrong way of life?" Jane asked again.

Lisbon shook her head.

"Why?" Jane asked softly.

Lisbon looked away, focusing on a spot on the wall.

"I like my job. It was my choice. And I'm not having this discussion with you." She turned back to look at him. "Friend or no." she said a little softer.

Jane nodded, knowing this was probably going to be the most he was going to get out of her tonight.

"I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference." Jane got up and headed for the door.

"I hope you know you have friends Lisbon. You're not alone."

Lisbon nodded, completely confused again. Where was all of this coming from?

"I'm going to head back to the office for a bit. See where they are going with the case." Jane said as he put his jacket on and picked up his keys. "Do you need anything?"

Lisbon shook her head in reply again.

"Lock the door when I leave. I'll call in an hour."

"Night Jane." She said quietly.

"Night Lisbon… oh and by the way… I've thought of another comparison…"

"Mmm?" Lisbon asked looking up at him.

"House really likes his boss."

Lisbon stared speechless at Jane. What the bloody hell?

She caught a glimpse of his almost surprised smile as he left, before she realized she was smiling too.

Jane made it out the door before he cringed internally. The one thing he had promised himself, that he wouldn't say anything to Lisbon until Red John was killed… and now?

Idiot. Complete idiot… but the look on her face when he had said that though… almost totally worth it.

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