A/N: Well hello :) So I'll be honest and say that I'm not sure where this suddenly came from. But I'd like to point out that in all of my oneshots/current universes, I am choosing not to acknowledge the last two minutes of the S3 finale (even if the last, slightly angstier oneshot I posted now seems far closer to canon than I would've liked). Instead, I am continuing merrily down my fantasy lane of stories set somewhere in the future. Consequently, all that follows is of course even more OOC in light of recent events. Sadly. But…ah well, I decided to post this anyway.

Beware of fluff.

Another sincere thank you to Autumn (watchyouwalk) for checking this for me, and for making me laugh at the most random times ;)

Disclaimer: I do not own anything even remotely related to The Mentalist.

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05. Gift

A gift consists not in what is done or given, but in the intention of the giver or doer. – Seneca

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"You bought me a pair of goldfish?"

Lisbon had been coming back from her obligatory post-case briefing with Hightower, fully intent on simply ignoring the ever-increasing pile of paperwork for once and call it a night at a reasonable hour.

But her planned quick retreat was halted by the fact that, aside from the usual files that made up the mess on her desk, she now had a medium-sized glass tank containing two curious-looking orange creatures staring back at her.

And a grinning consultant on her couch.

"How do you know they're from me? They could be from a secret admirer," he replied, thinking that wouldn't be entirely untrue.

"Please," she scoffed. "As if anyone else would even think to give me something like this. This has your name written all over it."

"Well, I figured you needed something to brighten up your office a little; decorate it a bit more." He explained, choosing not to dwell on the fact that she didn't appear as impressed as he would've liked.

"And goldfish are the way to do that?"

"Would you have preferred a painting? Because I happen to know you're not too fond of art."

Lisbon cast a disbelieving glance around her office, and Jane watched her eyebrows sink deeper into a frown as her eyes scanned the familiar surroundings.

"First, you get rid of my perfectly good couch without my permission, to replace it with one you seem to think is more comfortable."

"I don't just think that, it is more comfortable. Even you have admitted it since then," he countered. "And that was almost two years ago - when are you going to stop bringing that up?" He sighed in mock-exasperation.

"Then," she smoothly ignored his interruption, "you decide to buy me a blown-up, black-and-white photograph of the city because 'it'll look absolutely perfect hanging over the file cabinet in the corner'. Again, according to you."

"You love that framed picture!" he exclaimed somewhat indignantly.

"And now...," she paused, turning around slightly amazed to look at the little flashy fish eagerly swimming back and forth. "Goldfish. You're redecorating my entire office, Jane."

"That's an exaggeration. But hey, in my defence, I spend a lot of time here, so it should be an enjoyable space for both of us."

"It's usually more enjoyable for me if you're not in it," she murmured half-heartedly.

"Ouch, Lisbon, your words wound me; there's no need to be cruel." He said with a lazy smile as he watched her bend forward to get a closer look at her new companions.

She softly tapped the glass, causing them to scurry backwards, one of them trying to hide behind a few miniature plastic palm trees Jane had apparently dumped in there. Lisbon took in the different rocks and the large number of shiny, blue stones casually strewn across the bottom of the tank, and she couldn't prevent her lips from curling up into a smirk. He'd actually gone and decorated the tank.

She had to admit it was all pretty cute.

"I had a feeling pets like you."

She was too busy staring at the specks of black that dotted the gold to notice the wistful note in his voice, and a small snort of laughter escaped.

"I had a hamster called Troy when I was little that would probably disagree with you. I very nearly killed him once, and if it hadn't been for Jimmy, who took a serious liking to him, the poor thing probably wouldn't have survived."

"But he did," Jane stated.

"Yea, but like I said, that wasn't thanks to me; it was in spite of me."

"Troy?" He couldn't resist asking, not bothering to hide his obvious amusement.

"Don't ask."

Silence engulfed them, and when Lisbon finally stood up straight, a small smile still gracing her face, she silently acknowledged the sweetness of Jane's gesture. Tracing the top rim with her index finger, she was lost in contemplation, debating the possible reasons behind this specific gift.

She'd never actually stopped to think about why he could be doing this - any of this; the framed picture, the couch, the numerous boxes of chocolate left on her desk - other than some strange way to entertain himself maybe.

However, the truth was that she wouldn't allow herself to ponder the issue too much, fearing that a certain hope she had tried to bury a while ago would resurface all too quickly.

She remembered eyeing the new couch warily when she'd first discovered it, suspicious of his motives and wondering what on earth he had up his sleeve. She recalled unwrapping the huge frame when they were the only ones left in the office on a forgotten Tuesday close to a year ago. And in hindsight, she knew that her guard had been slowly coming down around him back then, an indirect result of too many late-night conversations and impromptu take-out meals.

It all seemed so long ago now.

Things had changed, and regardless of his earlier statement, he hadn't been spending time in her office nearly as much as he used to.

"Why did you get me these?"

The unequivocal sadness lacing her soft-spoken question lingered in the air, and she turned around to look at him, startled to find him right behind her. There was something indefinable in his bright eyes as they focussed on hers with an unexpected intensity.

She blinked and it was gone, replaced by one of the more commonly distributed brilliant smiles, causing her to wonder if it had been merely a figment of her imagination.

He was suddenly far too close, and her heart gave a familiar flutter.

"I wanted to say thank you," he said sincerely. "Not only for saving my life that day - or the million times before, come to think of it - but for stubbornly refusing to give up on me. For your never-ending patience." He paused, seemingly struggling for words. "I know I wasn't the easiest person to be around after we caught Red John, or during the months leading up to his trial."

He caught the brief flicker of surprise crossing her features, but she masked it quickly.

"I kept you at arm's length, when I should have done the opposite, and I'm sorry. I won't do that anymore," he added almost as a whisper. "It was a mistake, in more ways than one."

Jane was fully aware that Lisbon must have felt powerless all these months. There had been nothing she could do except stand on the sidelines and watch as he continued to pull away from her, not acknowledging any of the efforts she'd initially made to help him through a tough time. It wasn't until she'd stopped trying that Jane had realised just how big of a fool he truly was.

The very reason he was still here, still breathing and still enjoying his freedom...was her.

"Despite what you might believe, I know you're good at keeping things alive, Lisbon."

He knew from experience, in fact, but refrained from voicing that particular thought.

She tried to swallow the lump forming in her throat, finally managing to look away from the surprising and genuine affection in his gaze.

"And what am I supposed to do with them here, at the office?" She asked instead, in a mocking tone of voice, assuming an expression of disinterest.

But Jane easily recognised the appreciation in her eyes, and he was convinced that while she'd take every opportunity to complain about it in the future, she was secretly nothing but pleased.

"Well, you feed them, watch them...talking is optional, but I'd suggest doing that after hours so people don't start questioning your sanity." He grinned when the expected rolling of her eyes followed, and he could almost hear her thinking that people had started questioning her sanity the day she'd signed on with him.

"They'll grow under your care," he continued, casting his eyes down. "And you might not notice it at first, but they'll come to care for you as well. And then they'll wake up one day and finally recognise that you are the single most important thing in their lives."

He looked up after that, taking in the big green eyes staring back at him.

"And that you have been for awhile."

Her features softened, igniting a spark of hope deep within him that maybe he hadn't screwed things up beyond repair after all.

She reached out and tentatively placed a hand on his arm, giving a light squeeze as a shy smile formed on her lips.

"Thank you," she whispered, and he grabbed her hand in both of his, grazing his thumb over her knuckles.

"You're more than welcome."

There would come a time when he'd have to gather up the courage to actually tell her just how much she meant to him, instead of trying to show her in unconventional, roundabout ways. But he hoped she knew, anyway. Hoped she realised that he was nothing but grateful for everything she had ever done, even if that had ultimately included taking his revenge away from him.

He didn't blame her.

Not anymore.

Yes, there would soon come a day when he'd tell her exactly what he should have told her all along.

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