Here's the real chapter. I think we're back on track. You can let me know. I'd certainly appreciate it. ~Calla

#

Padding out of the bathroom and down the hall, Lisbon didn't bother combing her hair or brushing her teeth. She wasn't doing a darned thing until after her first cup of coffee or maybe her second, bed head and stinky breath aside. It wasn't like Jane was still hanging around to care. He was always gone long before she made her way to the kitchen and he usually left a stiff pot of brew in appreciation for her hospitality. From the aroma wafting up the stairs, it seemed the pattern hadn't changed.

Propping against the wall, Lisbon decided maybe it had. Jane wasn't gone. He was actually standing over her stove expertly tipping eggs into a small frying pan. Eggs he would soon fill with that bowl of sautéed vegetables, cubes of ham, and, from the second bowl at his hand, a judicious mixture of cheese from one of those store bought medleys. She watched him push and swirl the eggs in the pan as he eased a steaming cup of coffee in her direction with his free hand. He must have heard her coming.

Taking the cup from the counter, Lisbon took a sip and decided it was perfect. Just as she'd learned to make Jane's tea over the years, he'd learned how she liked her coffee. Walking around to sit at the bar, she resisted the urge to run upstairs to make herself presentable. Jane could just get used to it. If they progressed with this relationship, she wasn't changing for him. What he saw was what he got. Take it or leave it.

"I must say you look a bit like a shocked porcupine this morning, Teresa…rather cute; but deadly." Jane sat the largest omelet she'd ever seen in front of her.

"Bite me, Jane." It was hard to be grumpy with a man fixing her coffee and breakfast even if he did have that devilish gleam in his eye. Especially considering they never had sex.

"I would try; but, I think you might kill me." Sitting a plate of buttered toast on the counter and his tea at the place beside Lisbon, Jane walked around the bar to take the seat beside her.

"You'd think right." Seeing the fork materializing in his hand, the huge offering on her plate made sense. Lisbon didn't really care anymore. She'd already made peace with the idea she'd be sharing a lot more than slobber with Jane before they were done. "This is really good, Jane. I'm not sure I want to share."

"Is that your way of saying to make my own?" Jane took a bite of omelet and decided it was really good.

"Nah, it's my way of saying I think my eyes are bigger than my stomach." Lisbon slathered some raspberry jelly over her toast and took a bite.

"That was the whole idea. I have to admit, my omelets never taste like this when I'm alone. Perhaps it's the company." Jane sat back in his chair watching Lisbon devour her toast with obvious enjoyment before walking around the counter to refill her depleting cup.

"Thanks, Jane." Lisbon accepted the cup satisfied it was the right shade of café au lait with a hint of sweetness to counter the bitter.

Resuming his seat and taking the next to the last bite of egg, Jane smirked at the thought Lisbon would be calling him "Jane" in the midst of passion. Not that he really cared. He'd probably call her "Lisbon." They'd been doing the cop thing a little too long. It was bound to bleed into their personal life. Who was he kidding? It already did.

"Well, Teresa." Jane deliberately tested her name against his tongue again and found he liked it. "This is nice and all; but, I've got to get a move on."

"I thought we were riding in to work together." Well, arriving at the same time as Jane would be driving his car and she would be driving hers.

They'd be meeting in the parking lot deliberately instead of accidentally as they'd done so many times in the past. Walking into the CBI together was one of the things fueling the rumor mill over the years. None of it had been intentional. They'd just happened to arrive at the same time whether by serendipity or because Lisbon had called Jane with orders to meet her at the office ASAP if he knew what was good for him. It didn't really matter the cause. Today their arrival would have been planned.

"It wouldn't do to arrive together, Lisbon. I'm afraid our demeanor wouldn't bet the same as it's always been and I don't think either of us is ready to fuel the flames. There are enough rumors out there we're having hot monkey sex without Kapowski figuring out when we actually do. You know she's got an "If They Aren't Already Doing It – They Will Be Soon" pool going and has had for a number of years. I think the kitty's up to a couple of grand." Jane reminded Lisbon before smiling as she mouthed exactly what she thought of Lori Kapowski and her stupid pool in a two word phrase. "Besides, my suit smells pleasantly of Lisbon in ways no one getting close to me could possibly miss." He smelled enough so if he had his druthers, he wouldn't change.

"Then by all means change. I'll meet you at the office and don't be late." As much as she didn't want him to go, she saw the wisdom of his words.

Lisbon watched Jane rise to his feet and followed suit. In a few seconds he'd be grabbing his jacket and walking out that door. She didn't want him to go; but she'd let him.

Though their relationship had changed, was changing, they'd agreed to keep up appearances. It wouldn't do to invite flack from the higher ups this early in their relationship. Once they'd navigated the ins and outs of a change in status would be a different matter. Neither was particularly worried they would weather the storm. They'd done so many times before. But in the early days, it wasn't wise. Lisbon had seen too many relationships go the way of the wind under the scrutiny and pressure of a place like the CBI.

"Well, I'm gone. I'll see you soon." Jane stood with his back against her front door.

Lisbon blinked at him stupidly wondering where the sudden awkwardness had come from. The awkwardness they were both obviously feeling. It wasn't like they hadn't been through this moment before. Jane had been over to her place many times over the years and he'd left many times. There'd been nothing to it. Yeah, right; but, they hadn't been dating then. There hadn't been all of this sexual tension roiling between them. Well, maybe there was; but, they hadn't acknowledged it. Now that they were, everything felt different and strange.

"Yeah, I guess you will." Lisbon bounced from one foot to the other. "Jane, just kiss me and go."

She sure as heck wasn't kissing him. No way. Rumpled Jane was looking way too fine. She was having a hard enough time not making like a frisky kitten and crawling up his leg as it was. As for her, Jane didn't seem to have a problem with porcupines from that gleam in his eyes and her morning breath smelled like coffee now…So what was the problem?

Uh, maybe the problem was Jane was kissing her all right; but, it sure didn't feel like he had any intentions of going home any time soon. Not with her back against the wall and her legs wrapped around his hips. Not with her tank long gone and strong, masculine hands roving teasingly over her breasts in wicked ways they'd never done. Not with her fingers unbuttoning his shirt and her palms sliding over a surprisingly firm abdomen savoring every ridge.

Fighting the urge to roam ever lower, Lisbon acknowledged it would take but a covert move or two to have him inside her which she didn't think either of them would truly mind. But, they didn't have time. There was a file on her desk and a team in the bull pen who would definitely notice if she and Jane were unaccustomedly late to work. Especially with the higher ups breathing down their necks.

Lisbon sighed as she felt Jane disentangling her legs from around his hips. He'd reached the same conclusion she had and decided it was time to end the madness before they went too far. Neither of them wanted to hastily do something they'd both regret in the heat of the moment. Watching Jane tuck his shirt in and smooth his hair, Lisbon kept reminding herself first times were meant to be special and coupling against her door before work would be anything but. Jane seemed to feel the same and she'd respect that even though a part of her was screaming for her to seduce him and seduce him now. Lisbon calmly put a throttle on that perverse shout in her head.

"Soon, Lisbon, very soon." Jane gave her a peck as he rolled around the door pulling it shut behind him not needing to see the confirmation in her eyes.

Resisting the urge to lean against the door for a few moments to catch his breath, Jane headed for his car with his thoughts on Lisbon instead. He knew exactly what was happening on the other side of that door. Lisbon was standing there with her fingers against her swollen lips as she reflexively pull her tank top down. In a matter of moments she'd bound up those steps with a bounce in her step that hadn't been there. If he didn't miss his guess, she'd be opening the shower door right about now. Jane didn't doubt the picture in his mind at all. If there was one thing he knew and knew well, it was his Lisbon. He always had.

#

Removing his shirt and hanging it in the closet, Jane decided it would be a while before he sent that one to the cleaners. Maybe not until he had one or two more so delightfully scented. It wasn't like he didn't have more where that came from. Padding into the shower he decided staying over at Lisbon's last night hadn't been the smartest idea he'd ever had.

He'd spent most of the night trying to forget she was just upstairs and that she probably wouldn't kick him out if he slipped into bed with her. If he'd been convinced neither of them would have tried to take it farther, he might have tried it. When they finally went there, which would be admittedly sooner than later, he didn't intend being confronted by an alarm clock at an inopportune moment. That wouldn't do. It wouldn't do at all.

Striding into his bathroom, Jane turned on the shower and resisted the urge to indulge in those bottles he'd stocked for a certain dark haired lady cop. He was trying to wash Lisbon's scent off of him. Not slather her scent on. Pouring shampoo in his hands, he ran his fingers through the curls most women only wished they could touch. While he wouldn't mind smelling of cinnamon goodness, Kapowski would have a field day. Now wasn't the time for that. She'd get her opportunity in due time. They were bound to get busted before everything was said and done. He was almost looking forward to the day when they wouldn't have to hide any more. Not that there was much to hide at the moment.

Exiting the shower, Jane made short work of toweling off, drying his hair, and grabbing socks and underwear before walking over to his closet to select his attire for the day. Choosing a smokey colored three piece suit, a silvery blue shirt, and a coordinating tie in swirling shades of ice blue, black, and steel gray, he glanced at the clock realizing he'd spent longer in his shower than he should have daydreaming about his boss. He couldn't help indulging in photographic replays of every delectable response of her body to his touch. Lisbon had made sounds he'd only imagined her making. Adjusting himself, Jane decided it was time to put a halt to thoughts that were making him very uncomfortable.

Hastily pulling on his pants and buttoning his shirt, he needed to get a move on. It wouldn't do to keep Lisbon waiting. Dating or not, she wasn't about to start cutting him any more slack than she already did. He'd have to work on that. There were always ways around everything.

#

Sitting at her desk, Lisbon glanced through her window wondering where Jane was. He should have gotten here about the time she had. Even if he spent longer selecting his clothes than he normally did. She'd done exactly the same so he didn't have any excuse. Not that she would admit it; but, she knew the hunter green silk blouse she was wearing was one of his favorites. Her makeup was a little brighter and she'd curled her hair in the way he liked. Jane wouldn't miss the message she was sending.

The one saying she'd enjoyed their date and she'd enjoyed this morning even more. Halting her runaway thoughts, Lisbon refused to go there. She'd wasted the whole morning imagining exactly what Jane looked like under all those clothes. Between that kiss in her bathroom and the one against her foyer wall, she had a pretty darn good idea from touch alone and she had nothing to complain about. Breath catching at the visual flooding her mind, Lisbon forced her mind back to the file on her desk and her computer screen. She did not have time for such salacious meanderings or for the revealing predatory expression lighting her face.

They were working seven days a week on their newest case. A case no one wanted and everyone believed had connections somewhere, somehow, to their favorite serial killer. They didn't have concrete proof it was…no repulsive smiley faces had yet to appear…nor did they have concrete proof it wasn't. The killer was still too ambiguous.

Jane was sure someone had missed something in the handling of the case before it crossed Lisbon's desk. He was probably right. Her gut said there was a miniscule smiley face somewhere someone had overlooked. The whole creepy Stiles encounter seemed to underscore that fact.

Lisbon couldn't help wondering what he knew they didn't. He'd intimated that very thing last night as he had on prior occasions. She wished she could pick his brain or at least force his cooperation; but, she couldn't. She had no just cause. Just a Jane hunch and, in her opinion, that was saying a lot. Unfortunately, her bosses didn't always feel the same. This was one of those times.

Speaking of Jane, there he was slinking around the corner towards the attic hoping she wouldn't notice. Well, she'd noticed. No one else wore quite that color of suit or had quite that shade of hair. Closing her file, Lisbon rose to her feet and headed out the door. She had a bone to pick with the man. He was over an hour late.

Taking a detour by the break room, Lisbon made the familiar blue cup of tea before refilling her cup with coffee. She'd bring a peace offering before she tore him a new one. Jane might think their changing relationship entitled him to special treatment. That the way he'd made her sing this morning changed everything. He was about to learn nothing could be further from the truth. Business and personal did n ot mix in her universe and they never would. It was all business now and that meant she was the boss. When she told him to be at the office at a reasonable hour, she meant it as he was about to find out.