A/N: Hi everyone, hope you are still hanging in there during this difficult time. Reality is not really the best place to be hanging out these days, so here is some fic to escape to for a bit. This is another writing exercise that took on a life of its own. I had the idea for a couple of scenes in this story but couldn't decide which season I wanted to set it in. I started thinking about how different the story might be if it were set in season 3 vs. season 5, so then of course instead of doing the sensible thing and just picking one, I decided to write the story twice, one version set in season 3 and the other set in season 5. Not sure if people will want to read the same basic plot twice in a row, but it was a really interesting exercise to write it! Here is the season 3 version - will post the season 5 one as a separate story after I finish posting this one.

P.S. If you live in the United States, regardless of your political affiliation, PLEASE VOTE. Please vote for the sake of your neighbors and fellow citizens, even if for some reason you might not feel motivated to vote for your own sake.

Rating: T

Spoilers: Through mid to late season 3, I guess.

xxx

"Get up."

Jane lifted his head from his cot to see Lisbon standing before him, the golden sunlight slanting through the attic windows lighting red gold sparks in her dark hair.

He stretched languorously. "Good afternoon to you, too."

Lisbon kicked his cot. "Nap time's over. Get your ass downstairs."

He sat up. "New case?"

"Yeah. Hightower's briefing us in the bullpen in five minutes."

He rolled down his sleeves, slipped on his jacket, and hopped off his cot. "I'm right behind you."

Xxx

Hightower was already in the bullpen with the rest of the team when Jane and Lisbon arrived downstairs.

"Nice of you to join us," Hightower said with a pointed look at Jane.

Jane flashed his most charming smile. "Always happy to provide my insights to you fine law enforcement professionals."

Hightower hmphed but made no further comment. She turned to the business at hand. "The Organized Crime Unit needs your help," she informed the team. "They've been working leads on a human trafficking case for the past several months and they believe a major transaction is going to take place this weekend at the Belmond Hotel in San Francisco. Intel suggests the deal is linked to a gala at the hotel tomorrow night."

"Ooh, a gala," Jane said. "Sounds fun. Black tie?"

Hightower cast him a sidelong glance. "Yes."

"What does Organized Crime need from us?" Lisbon asked.

"Blackwell and Lopez are both in the hospital after the raid last week in West Sac. Now the Organized Crime team is shorthanded and need some members of your team to fill in."

"What other intel do they have?" Cho asked.

"They've been monitoring the activities of a man named Fedir Sevechenko. We think he'll be at the hotel this weekend."

"Sevechenko," Lisbon repeated. "He's got ties to organized crime in the Ukraine, doesn't he?"

"Yes. Our organized crime unit suspects he's been trafficking women out of Eastern Europe and selling them to the highest bidder the moment they reach U.S. soil."

"How does the hotel fit in?" Van Pelt asked.

"We think he's got a contact at the hotel that's been helping him broker deals with rich patrons."

"Who's the contact?" Rigsby said.

"We don't know. That's where the Serious Crimes Unit comes in. We need you to identify the contact and get evidence on Sevechenko that Organized Crime can use to shut down his operation."

"Do we have anybody on the inside at the hotel?" Cho asked.

"Unfortunately, no. But there are two other events at the hotel this weekend, so it should be easy to blend in with the crowd."

"What are the other events?" Rigsby asked.

"A couples retreat and a conference for representatives of the tourism industry."

Jane straightened with interest.

"Security for the gala will be a nightmare," Lisbon commented.

"Yes," Hightower agreed.

"So what's our assignment on this?" Lisbon asked. "We're happy to help any way we can."

"I need two of your team members to go undercover as guests at the couples retreat," Hightower said.

"The couples retreat?" Lisbon said in dismay. "Can't we just go as conference attendees?"

"Blackwell and Lopez set up the covers in advance," Hightower said, a sour look on her face. "The Organized Crime unit suspects someone associated with the retreat is involved with Sevechenko's operation. But they don't know whether it is someone attending the retreat as a guest or one of the staff members who run it."

"Okay," Lisbon said dubiously. "I guess Cho and I can go."

"You and Cho?" Jane scoffed. "You can't go undercover as a couple. You two are like brother and sister."

Lisbon set her jaw. "Rigsby and Van Pelt, then."

"Really?" Jane said. "Sending star-crossed lovers under cover to smolder at each other all weekend at a couples retreat? That's just cruel, Lisbon."

Rigsby looked pained. "Seriously, man?"

Van Pelt just punched Jane on the arm. Hard. He flinched and moved away.

Hightower grimaced. "Much as it pains me to admit it, I have to agree with Jane on this point. It would be better not to put Rigsby and Van Pelt in that situation."

Rigsby and Van Pelt shifted uncomfortably and avoided looking at one another.

"Fine," Lisbon said, annoyed. "Jane, you and Van Pelt can go."

Jane made a disapproving noise. "Van Pelt and I are hardly a plausible couple. I'm far too old for her."

"Didn't stop you before," Rigsby said. "You made her pretend to be your fiancée on that case with the painting last year."

"When it could serve double duty to annoy me and provoke a suspect, and no one else was available," Van Pelt muttered, her eyes cutting over to Lisbon.

Jane ignored this. "Cradle robber is too distracting a role in this context. Hightower said they need a couple that will blend in easily."

Lisbon looked as though steam were about to start pouring from her ears. "Fine. Rigsby and I—"

An expression of alarm crossed Rigsby's face.

Jane jumped in at the opportunity. "Rigsby's afraid of you," he argued. "We need two people who will look natural as a couple. How natural will it look if your husband cowers away from you anytime you get within three feet of him? Unless your cover is as some kind of super dominatrix—"

Both Lisbon and Rigsby turned bright red. Lisbon glared at Jane. "Jane, you are so far over the line right now—"

"For the love of God," Cho interrupted, pinching the bridge of his nose. He looked at Lisbon. "Will you please just agree to go with him and put the rest of us out of our misery? He's obviously not going to accept any other outcome."

Lisbon's jaw fell open, but before she could splutter a protest, Hightower broke in.

"Good," she said. "That's settled, then."

"Ma'am," Lisbon began, but Hightower overrode her.

"I know it's not ideal, Teresa, but Patrick's skills will be invaluable on this mission, and you're the only one with the smallest prayer of keeping him under some kind of control."

"Point of order," Jane said, indignant. "No one keeps me under control."

Hightower gestured towards Jane, her eyes still on Lisbon. "See what I mean?"

"All right," Lisbon said, resigned.

Jane clapped his hands together. "Excellent. I'll be in charge of wardrobe."

Lisbon ignored him and addressed Hightower. "When do we need to be at the hotel?"

Hightower checked her watch. "Take the next couple hours to pack for the weekend. You'll need to get on the road by four to make it to the hotel in time for the mixer this evening."

Lisbon grimaced. "Another event?"

"Both people from the conference and guests from the retreat will be attending. It should be a good opportunity to collect additional intel."

"Great," Lisbon said without enthusiasm.

Jane grinned. "This is going to be fun."