(A/N): Woo! Another chapter! Even I'm excited that I finished this one! Damn, this was hard to write. Hopefully I can get the next chapter up more quickly. I make no promises though. College is hectic right now, and I'm supposed to be revising none stop, so I promise no matter what that I won't have forgotten to write for this. Thank you to all who reviewed, followed, and favourited.

Responses:

LAurore: Thank you! I loved that chapter too!

LouiseKurylo: Yeah, I get what you mean. I've started showing a little of the background in this chapter, and I'll do it little by little I think. Thanks :)

JanaDKatic: Yay! Here's the next one! But I'm not sure that this is as happy a chapter! Still, hope you like it! :)

jane-i-need-you: Aww, don't cry! Thank you though :)

lili87: I know, me too! They need more moments like that between them. Thanks for the review and I hope you like this chapter.

joyo-yoyo: Thanks :) Hope you like this chapter too!

This chapter is darker and explores a few insecurities of their marriage, Lisbon's at least. Jane's will come later. So anyway, OOC and all that. Just give it a chance, please. Still, I'd like to know what you think!

Disclaimer: Still don't own it, but I have a pile of college work I want to get rid of but can't. But nope, not owning the mentalist is something I have to live with.

Enjoy the chapter and I hope to see you all again soon,

HeavenSkye x

Through Thick and Thin.

Chapter 4.

Ladies In Red (1x04)

"Patrick, do you own a vest that actually matches your suit?" Lisbon asked teasingly as they got ready for another day. She looked in the closet for a moment before remembering that the washing still needed doing, so she pulled out a warm brown shirt and began fastening it up over a plain black t-shirt.

Jane stuck his head out from the ensuite bathroom, a toothbrush stuck in his mouth. He took it out in order to speak. "Of course, my dear, why do you ask?"

"In all the time I've known you, I don't think I've ever seen you wear a vest that matched the suit on that day." Lisbon commented as she tucked her shirt into her black slacks and knelt, hunting for her boots under the queen sized bed.

Jane frowned a little. "What are you trying to say, Teresa?"

Lisbon looked up, the smile sliding off her face as she saw Jane's expression. He looked angry, and a little hurt.

"Patrick, I-"

Her cellphone interrupted her before she could say any more.

Stood at the funeral, Lisbon could feel Jane's annoyance with her burning a hole in her back. What had happened? She had only been teasing him, for crying out loud! He teased her all the time! In fact, last night he'd been teasing her about the way she sat on the couch, saying that she looked so small when she curled up on it that he'd thought he'd lost her! What had changed since then?

She listened to Cho and Rigsby blame Jason Sands for his own death. Personally, she figured that the man disappearing into that safe room hadn't been his brightest moment, but there were better places to say so than at his funeral.

She felt an involuntary smile break free as she told Jane that the wife and daughter went to see Peter and the Wolf. She'd been to see it twice. Once when she was little with her brothers, and once with her niece, Annabeth, who was now ten years old.

She and Van Pelt turned to leave. Rigsby's dejected reply almost had her consoling him like she would with one of her brothers. She settled for teasing instead. "You never know, somebody might confess." She then proceeded to walk back to the car with Van Pelt.

"Van Pelt, you're killing me." Rigsby stated. Cho and Jane turned to see Rigsby checking out Van Pelt's ass as she walked back to the car with Lisbon. Involuntarily, Jane's eyes wandered to Lisbon's ass. God, his wife was hot. A rush of guilt washed over him as his mind wandered back to that morning.

Looking back on it, it was clear that she'd been teasing him, much as she had with Rigsby just then, but somehow, his mind had convinced him that she was being cruel, that she was trying to change him. Which was utterly ridiculous. Not that he didn't want to change for his wife, far from it. No, it was because Lisbon had seen the worst of him, and she still loved him, had still married him, knowing who he was and what would happen in the future. He'd never made any of that a secret. He decided not to dwell on it, and settled for teasing Rigsby about his crush on the rookie, Cho joining in, deadpan as ever.

Rigsby finally shot back with, "I don't see a crowd of women following you around."

Jane frowned, confused. "Why would I want a crowd of women following me around?" Really, why? He was a happily married man. Thinking back to that morning, an image of Lisbon's confused and hurt expression popped into his mind. Maybe not so happily married right at that moment. He'd have to make it up to her.

Now, he had to prove Rigsby wrong, and try to seduce the widow.

Minelli was berating them again for Jane's attempted seduction at the funeral. Jane was attempting to stay calm and collected, but Lisbon kept shooting him alternately angry and hurt looks. She had no idea what was happening; all she knew was that her husband had just tried to seduce a woman at a funeral. Minelli glanced between them, his eyes lingering on Lisbon's expression before he shot another glare at Jane. He didn't completely understand Lisbon's expression, but knew enough to guess that it was Jane's fault.

"And what were you thinking leaving this man alone at an event like that?" Minelli demanded as he turned to face the duo, only to stop for a split second as Lisbon almost imperceptibly winced.

"No excuses, I mistakenly treated him as a responsible adult." Lisbon replied softly, her pretence not quite masking the hurt in her voice. Lisbon glanced at Jane, her eyes full of tears she wouldn't shed in front of her boss.

Jane ignored it, hating himself as he did. "I do have a plan."

"Which is?"

The verbal sparring went on for a little while, whilst Lisbon stayed silent. She had to be a cop first and a wife second, and it was killing her. She wanted nothing more than to drag Jane to one side and ask him to explain. But she couldn't. She wouldn't. She swore that when they got married, she would marry him knowing who he was, and being under no illusions as to his character. He liked women, she knew that. She fought the urge to cry. She just hadn't expected it to hurt like this when he found someone else, even if it wasn't clear if he was going after the widow or not.

"…So I tolerate you, and I protect you, and I let you make Lisbon's life a misery." She heard Minelli say, and she definitely agreed with it. Especially now.

Minelli watched as the two exited the room from separate sides. Something was going on between them, that was for sure.

Jane twisted his wedding ring guiltily. He'd had to lie about his marital status to Jennifer Sands in order to gain her confidence, and he now hated himself for it. He also hated that Lisbon seemed resigned to what he was doing. He never thought he'd see the day that Teresa Lisbon lost that feisty stubbornness he loved so much, but he had.

Oh, how he wanted to reassure her that she was the only woman for him, that after he married Angela, his womanizing days were over, and he hadn't gone back to them. He wanted to assure her that he took his marriage vows seriously, but he couldn't when she avoided him at every turn, and allowed him to wander off on his own.

He'd messed up big time, and he needed to fix it before he lost her.

"You're not soft on her, are you?" Lisbon asked. Her eyes screamed that she didn't want to believe it but it was looking more than likely. The words were out of his mouth before he'd really thought about them.

"No. Maybe a little."

He then changed the subject abruptly to the lawyer, and Lisbon went along with it until she realised what he'd said. "Did you say maybe a little?"

"She's a gorgeous grieving widow. Of course maybe a little."

Lisbon felt like ice had just been shoved down her throat, making it hard to breathe. She'd been married to Jane for over a year, and never once had he called her gorgeous. Sure, he called her beautiful, and on rare occasions incredible, but never gorgeous. She closed her eyes briefly to rid herself of the tears before opening them and continuing as a professional. She walked out before Jane could catch up with her.

Lisbon sank onto the red couch, breathing deeply. Oh, how she wished for Jane's ability to mask her emotions right now. She hated knowing that anyone who looked too closely at her could see the hurt and betrayal lingering on her face. Sometimes, she honestly wondered why they got married at all. After all, they weren't exactly the most compatible couple in the world. She'd been as by the book as she could be ever since she'd joined the police academy in San Francisco, wanting the closure for others that she'd never received for herself. Jane was a self-confessed fake psychic with a thirst for vengeance. How in hell had they lasted for so long?

Lisbon smiled sadly as she remembered the day she'd gone on her first date with him. She'd had a long day at work, a child-trafficking case that had ended in a lot of little children dead or seriously injured, and had pretty much collapsed on her couch when she'd gotten in, not even bothering to take off her jacket or gun as she'd sighed heavily. God, she hated cases that involved children. Jane had shown up not long after, stating that she needed to eat, and that he was going to make sure she'd eaten, whether she liked it or not.

Lisbon smiled, running a hand over her mouth gently. That night had been when Jane had first kissed her too. When he'd brought her back from a cosy restaurant, more intimate than Lisbon had liked to admit to, he'd dropped her off at her door and pressed a soft, gently probing kiss to her lips. At the time, she'd been too surprised to return it, but now she looked back on the memory fondly.

She swallowed heavily, biting back tears as she stood up and straightened her clothes. Musing over her marriage would have to wait. Right now she had a lawyer to visit.

Jane followed Lisbon as she led him and Cho down to the Sausalito Marina, in search of Happy Landings Entertainment. He could feel the hurt and desperation radiating off her in waves, but somehow, he couldn't think of anything that would make it better. He knew he hurt her, made her doubt his faithfulness, and some part of him felt betrayed that she'd think that of him. But the overwhelming part of him felt that after the way he'd treated her that morning, she had ever right to be doubting him. He'd done nothing but hurt her.

Jane sighed. Time to focus on the job, and he'd make up for it later. She hadn't served him with divorce papers yet, so he hadn't done anything he couldn't come back from. He almost smiled as he watched her searching the boat, gun drawn, face tight and focused. He loved her, and for now, that would have to be enough.

Lisbon collapsed onto the bed, utterly exhausted. Wow, that was one hell of a day. The opposing views on her husband made her want to laugh, especially Adrianna Jonovic's comment on him being gay. Between her and Jennifer Sands, there were two deeply conflicting views on her husband. If the widow hadn't made her feel worse about herself than she usually did, it would have made her laugh. A widow that was hell-bent on getting a man that still wore a wedding ring.

She sat up suddenly, frowning. Why was Jennifer Sands going after her husband? Shouldn't she still be grieving, less than a week after Jason Sands' death? It didn't make any sense.

Sighing, she made herself get up and get changed into a grey tank top and violet shorts that barely reached mid-thigh. Whatever. They were comfortable, and it wasn't like she cared what anyone else thought about her. Usually.

She pulled the chain from round her neck and put her wedding ring back on her finger before putting the chain back round her neck and sinking into the mattress, closing her eyes. Lay flat out on the bed, left hand curled round Jane's old wedding ring, she drifted off into a fitful sleep.

Jane let himself into the house, setting his jacket down over the back of the couch. He ran his hands over his face tiredly. It had been a long day. He smiled gently, not his usual mega-watt grin, as he remembered Adrianna's comment about taking Julie with her and Jason when they fled the country on the boat. He wandered up the stairs and gazed at his wife's sleeping figure through the open doorway. A glint of light from the bedside lamp shined off the ring on her left hand.

He walked through the doorway, sitting on the edge of the bed beside Lisbon's sleeping figure. Would she do the same as Adrianna? If Charlotte had survived, would Lisbon have taken her in like Adrianna wanted to take Julie in? Jane smiled. Of course she would. Lisbon was far too good for him.

He changed into his old-fashioned pyjama pants and climbed into his side of the bed, setting his cellphone down on his nightstand before turning Lisbon to face him gently. Her eyes fluttered open, blinking sleepily at him.

As soon as she was awake enough, she attempted to shift away from him, but he held her hip and shoulder in place, preventing her from moving. "Jane?" She asked questioningly, her voice still husky with sleep. Jane smiled.

"I love you, Teresa. Only you. I'm not the womanizer I once was, I promise you. I want you, just you, I swear. Now and forever, my dear." Jane murmured, his mouth placed right next to her ear. She shivered involuntarily, and he had to grin at her reaction. "I take my marriage vows seriously, Teresa, so how could you think I wouldn't want you?"

Lisbon mumbled something as she tried to turn over and put her back to him. He simply turned her back to face him. The hand that had once been resting on her shoulder crept up her neck to stroke her cheek softly.

"What?"

"You were soft on her. You tried to seduce her. You called her gorgeous." Lisbon muttered, flushing a deep red colour as she had to admit it out loud. Yes, it had bothered her. Growing up in a houseful of boys hadn't left much room for her to care about her looks, but to see someone like Jennifer Sands, who looked good and clearly knew it, left her wondering what exactly it was her husband saw in her.

"Oh, Teresa." Jane pushed on her hip until she lay on her back before covering her body with his own and planting butterfly kisses over her face and neck. "How… can… you… not… know… how… gorgeous… you… are?" He asked in-between kisses. "You're… the… most… gorgeous… most… beautiful… woman… ever."

Lisbon reached out to grab his neck and pull his face up to hers so she could see into his light green eyes. "You mean that?"

"Teresa, please. You know I do." Jane responded, watching as her eyes lightened, and a small smile graced her lips. He pressed his own lips to hers, gently kissing away her smile. Just as his hand began to graze her stomach, Lisbon frowned.

"Patrick?"

"Yes, my darling wife?"

"Don't you think it's a bit odd that Jennifer Sands was interested in you when her husband hasn't even been dead a week?"

Jane grinned. Lisbon was a lot more perceptive than people gave her credit for. "I do. But now is not the time for talking, my dear."

He then proceeded to make sure she was in no doubt as to whom he wanted for the rest of the night.

"Patrick? Will you hold me? I need someone to hold me, please."

Jane searched Jennifer's eyes, his hand automatically playing with his wedding band. Whilst he knew Lisbon would no longer mind if he offered that small comfort to the woman, he minded. He was married to Lisbon, and saving all his attention and comfort and love for her was the least he could do. She'd drawn the short straw in so many other areas that he felt he owed her that much. She'd never ask for it, but she shouldn't have to. So he changed his expression into an apologetic one, albeit an insincere one.

"I'm sorry Jennifer. I wish I could."

Jane poked his head into Lisbon's office as soon as he'd entered the CBI building. He smiled as he saw her filing out more forms of dreaded paperwork. He'd place money on most of them being complaint files concerning himself.

"The duck."

Lisbon looked up from the mountain of paperwork in front of her. "What are you talking about, Jane?" She asked. Really, could her husband get any stranger? A smile crept onto her face. Her husband. All hers, and he'd made sure she'd remember it all right.

Jane grinned as he saw the thoughts passing through her mind. He stepped into her office so he wouldn't be overheard. "My, my agent, such dirty thoughts. Are such thoughts allowed for a good catholic girl like yourself?"

Lisbon blushed, as he knew she would. "Hush, Jane, and explain yourself. What does a duck have to do with anything?"

"The duck is an oboe."

"Still not making any sense Jane."

"Peter and the Wolf. The duck is an oboe."

"Oh, right. So?"

"Jennifer Sands thinks it's a bassoon."

"But anyone who's seen Peter and the Wolf knows that-" Lisbon broke off as realisation dawned on her. Jane smiled softly at her.

"Exactly."

Lisbon nodded before standing up. "Come on. Van Pelt and Rigsby should be back from Oakland about now."

"Still awake?" Jane asked, sat in the car all by himself. He could hear the rain lashing down and the wind howling round the nearby buildings.

"Wide. Jane, be careful. Don't try and get them to say anything or stop them. All we need is their phone." Lisbon responded almost immediately. Jane grinned. He made a silent bet with himself that she was stood in the bullpen, with a cup of coffee in her hand, trying her best to pull another all-nighter on coffee and the drive to solve the murder and now find the little girl.

"Just send us the number. We'll track the kidnapper's address." Rigsby's voice broke in, reminding him that it wasn't just Lisbon on the other side of the camera and microphone.

"Oh, here comes someone." Jane commented as he noticed a figure under a large umbrella walking towards him purposefully. Really, why would anyone else be out here in this weather?

"Jane, just do your mind games and get out of there, okay?" Lisbon told him, her voice holding only the faintest hint of worry. Cop first, wife second. He knew that mantra would be running through her head, though the wife part would be screaming for her to rush to him and pull him out of harm's way.

"Don't worry, mom." Jane teased, watching the figure getting closer. Oh, how good it felt for him to be able to tease her again.

"I have a plan." Jane told the others as they stood in the hallway outside Bennett's hospital room. Lisbon rolled her eyes as the others exchanged glances.

"Like what?" Lisbon asked, curious despite herself. "It was Bennett. He had the kid."

"Yeah, but either Jennifer or Adrianna acted as his accomplice. We need to know which one."

Lisbon sighed. She hated it when he was right. "So, in theory, what's your plan?"

Jane grinned. "First, you need to get Minelli on board, in case we need someone to have our backs."

Lisbon groaned. "Really? Minelli?"

"He'll show up anyway to see what happened to Bennett. I'll have to go back to the victim's house to catch the accomplice." Jane reasoned as the other three members of the team slunk away in search of some more coffee. Lisbon groaned again.

"Damn," She swore, before holding her hand out to Jane. "Fine, but you're paying for his coffee."

"Adrianna!" Julie grinned as Adrianna walked into the hospital room, a suitcase of Julie's in her hands. Julie then turned to the dark haired woman sat beside her, playing with her Troll dolls and a stuffed bunny rabbit.

"See, Teresa? Adrianna always comes back for me." Julie said matter-of-factedly as she positioned the bunny rabbit by the railing of the hospital bed.

Lisbon smiled as she set Wendy Sands down onto the bedcovers and walked over to Adrianna. "What's wrong?"

"They won't let me have Julie. She has to go in your stupid foster care, and I won't see her again."

"You love her." It wasn't a question.

Adrianna answered anyway. "Yes, I do. Jennifer is a cold woman, but Julie is not. I love her, but she has to go, yes?"

Lisbon smiled softly, handing a sheaf of papers over to Adrianna. "It turns out, Jason didn't have any family left. We don't want to hand Julie over to any of Jennifer's family. It turns out, Jason had filed for you to be named guardian over Julie if anything should happen to him. The paperwork was finalised this morning. You can take Julie home with you to Jason's boat, if you want."

Adrianna stared at Lisbon in shock. "You are not joking with me are you?"

"Deadly serious. Adrianna, you love her more than her own mother ever did. She sees you as a mom to her, so why not? Just be good to her, okay?"

"Okay, I will." Adrianna nodded, taking the papers from the agent, tears spilling down her face. "Thank you, agent."

Lisbon nodded as she began to walk out the door. "Goodbye, Adrianna, Julie."

"Bye Teresa." Julie called out, waving from the bed. Lisbon waved back with a smile before continuing out of the hospital room.

"Agent?"

Lisbon turned at the door to find Adrianna watching her with a smile. "Mr Jane, he is not gay, is he?"

Lisbon smiled in return. "No, he isn't."

Adrianna nodded. "You love him."

"He's my husband. Of course I love him."

"I see the same in you two that was between Jason and me. What you have is special. Don't let it go."

"I won't. Look after Julie."

"Of course."

"Goodbye Adrianna."

"Goodbye agent."

"Patrick?" Lisbon called out as she walked into their home, setting her badge and gun on the hallway table and hanging up her jacket in the closet. "Patrick?"

Jane appeared from the other side of the couch, grinning. "Come here, Teresa."

"Why?" Lisbon asked, instantly suspicious. Jane rolled his eyes.

"Must you question everything, woman?" He asked as he approached her. Gently prising her briefcase from her hand and setting it down beside the hallway table, he pulled her round the couch with him.

Set in front of the couch was a picnic. A chequered tablecloth was set out on the floor along with plates of sandwiches and cakes, with a bottle of wine and two glasses, candles on the coffee table that had been moved to the side of the room.

"Ta da."

Lisbon smiled, tears in her eyes as she turned to Jane. Thankfully, he understood her unspoken question.

"Teresa, I love you. Am I not allowed to make a picnic for my wife in our living room? I figured we could eat and watch tv if you really want to. I don't mind."

"Patrick." Lisbon sat down on one side of the cloth and pulled him down to sit beside her. "Thank you."

"What for?" He asked as she pulled her rings out from under her shirt and put her ring on her finger.

"For everything."

TBC…