HEYY YOUU GUYYS! (bless those of you who get the reference) But anyway I know I kinda just disappeared for a really long time. I've been busy...with things. But fear not, because I've come bearing extra long chapters ;) I hope you all really like it and your Jisbon quota is filled. (we really have to do something about their shipper name) Well here you go, enjoy.

She crossed her arms. "It's not funny! I have to actually exercise so I don't look like some sort of blob, and you..." She huffed in exasperation.

Smiling, he crossed his arms and waited for her to finish.

"It's just..not.." She contemplated her word choice, "...fair."

Her pout made him chuckle. "Ok. First of all, it's very funny. Second, how do you know I don't work out?"

She gave him an unimpressed I've-seen-you-try-to-lift-weights-who-are-you-trying-to-fool kind of look. (Which he completely ignored.)

"And third... I think maybe you're just a tad jealous."

"Jealous, really?" Was he serious?

"Just a tad."

She rolled her eyes and hid a smile. "You wish. Now, use those stupid muscles and help me clean up the rest of this mess." She threw him a wet cloth. "Which was primarily your fault by the way."

Only then did he notice that the kitchen was still recovering from battle. Though most of the work had been done, there were still dishes to wash and countertops to clean.

"I guess I did kind of bail on you, didn't I?" He'd been so tied up in his conversation with Hightower and Nathan that he completely forgot about cleaning up.

"A little." But he could tell she didn't really care. "What took you so long anyway? You were gone for like 15 minutes."

"Well, I talked with Hightower, which went better than you think, I can assure you."

"Well the sky's not falling and war hasn't broken out, so yea."

He laughed. "Yet."

"Oh, how reassuring." she deadpanned.

"Well, the conversation isn't exactly over, and we still have to... iron out a few details. But it'll work out." He saw her unsure expression. "It will."

"Mhmm. And what details would these be?

"...I wouldn't want to bore you." Telling her about it would just put her more on edge then she already was.

"...ok." She decided not to push it. "At least tell me if she said anything about the case."

"Just that she wants it closed." (very soon...like yesterday soon.) "So I told her we'd go in today."

Damn, she hated working on Saturdays. "And did you also tell her we would be bringing along the victim's 5 year old son?"

"I did." He said with a sort of pride.

Oh, this should be good. "And she agreed?"

"Of course...well, not verbally..."

You were on the phone Jane, what other way is there?"

He thought back to his conversation with Hightower..

**"...Let me keep him around for the case. He's a good kid."

"Jane-"

"Please?"

She could already feel herself giving in. "...You know after you solve this case you're suspended right?"

"Thank you."

" I never said yes."

"You didn't have to."

"And i already regret it."**

How could he put this? "She's ...aware of the situation."

Jane had a way of twisting the truth, and she knew it. "...So in other words, she knows he coming but she's not happy about it."

"...Isn't that what I just said?"

"Barely."

She was about to grab a dirty dish from the sink, but he stopped her.

"Maybe I should do the dishes."

"Uh, why?"

He took her bandaged finger and brought it up to her eye level, making his point.

"Because if I don't, you might not have any fingers left, my dear."

Having no comeback, she mimicked his words and surrendered the plate. My dear. She hated it when he said that. I mean, she loved it, but she hated it. The way he said it could be so condescending at times and then again so genuine.

He started washing while she dried and put away. After a brief moment, he asked,

"How is it by the way? Your finger I mean." He noticed it had started to bleed through the gauze.

It stung.

"It's fine." Her voice cracked, and she knew she gave herself away.

He raised a brow, "Your pants are on fire."

"Don't look at my pants."

He smiled, "I still think it might need stitches." The woman could be so damn stubborn.

"You might need stitches if you keep bugging me. It's fine, seriously."

He raised his hands in defeat. "Ok, i'll stop... but you have to let me make it up to you." He still felt bad for leaving her alone to clean up his mess, and as a result, hurting herself.

"Jane, that's really not necessary. Just help me with the rest of this." She turned back to face the counter.

He took her by the shoulders and spun her back towards him. "Please?"

She was about to protest seeing as how this was in no way his fault. For God sakes it was a finger, not a limb! But she knew he'd fabricate some abstract explanation making it all his fault anyway.

She gave him a last pleading look, hoping he'd just forget about it.

"Is that a yes?"

She sighed, "...Fine. But within reason!"

His face lit up.

She was gonna regret this, but "How exactly do you plan on making it up to me?"

He shrugged, "I don't know yet. I was thinking something along the lines of jewelry. Something sparkly, big, something you'd never wear...a diamond necklace perhaps."

Opportunities to spoil Lisbon, such as this, didn't come around often enough for him not to take advantage when he could. Not that he actually needed a reason to buy her nice things, but it seemed more justifiable when he did. Plus, she deserved it more than anyone.

A diamond necklace? Was he insane?! She was thinking something more along the lines of an ice cream cone. "That sounds wonderful, and everything, but please God no."

His face fell immediately. "Why not?" He already had one in mind. There was a shop on 5th with this amazing little-

"What do you mean why not? Jane, how is an expensive, sparkly, necklace going to make my finger feel better?"

"Lisbon," he said with a mock serious tone, "This isn't about you, this is about me, buying you something, so I feel better!"

She bit back a smirk, but the look on his face made her break and she started laughing. He couldn't help but crack a smile, her laughter was always so contagious.

She looked at him with smiling eyes, knowing he was still waiting for an answer of some sort.

"I have jewelry." She said, as if it was a reasonable excuse.

He looked at her with an unimpressed expression."That's a horrible argument."

She smiled, "Yea, well thats why I'm not a lawyer."

Lisbon wasn't one for accessories. He's known her long enough for that to be clear. She wore her golden cross, and once in a while (if he was lucky) he'd catch her wearing diamond studs. It's understandable of course, she's constantly tackling locked doors and huge suspects. Things like hoop earrings and dangling bracelets could get in the way. It just wasn't practical. Though practicality was never really his strong suit.

He looked like he was about to retort, but she stopped him before he could get a word out.

"Jane, I appreciate it. Honestly, I do. But the last time you bought me jewelry I ended up giving it back, and you ended up donating it to charity." she pleaded with him to understand.

She had a point. I mean, she never spoiled herself, so he tried to as much as he could. But if he got her what he had originally planned to, it would be way too flashy, and she probably wouldn't be able to use it much.

"It doesn't have to be a necklace you know, it could be a bracelet instead." he stated lamely, in a last attempt to change her mind. He knew it was ultimately a lost cause.

She tilted her head giving him a pointed look in response.

"Fine, no gifts. But the next time you almost cut your finger off, i'm getting you whatever the hell I want." He warned teasingly.

"Deal." That had to be the best "threat" she's received in the history of...ever. They had continued cleaning for the better half of a minute when she spoke again. "You have to put a dollar in the swear jar."

He pretended to mull it over, "mm...no I don't."

"But you said h-"

He shrugged, "I'm allowed."

"Because...?"

Her frustration left a hint of a smirk on his face, "Because, my dear, unlike you I don't have a swearing problem, I just needed to make a point."

"...Well thats a double standard if I've ever heard one." she mumbled, returning the last dish to its rightful place.

He smiled fully now, "I think someones going through withdrawal."

She shook her head "Shut up."

"Careful now, don't relapse."

The punch he received on his arm was expected.

With the kitchen finally clean, they sat in a comfortable silence. A rarity nowadays with everything thats been going on. Jane focused his attention back on Lisbon. (Not that it strayed too far)

"Im curious though, This jewelry you claim to have-" He knew she had some for special occasions, but he hadn't seen any jewelry boxes when he was in her room earlier.

"Oh it's there...It's just put away." She might not have 1000 dollar rings, but any jewelry she did have that was important to her, she kept where no one would find it.

"Oh really?" he asked challengingly. "Where?"

"In a place." she stated plainly.

He was interested now. What was the big deal about this hiding spot? "If i can guess where-"

"You won't." If she could put her confidence in one thing, it was that.

"Well since you seem so sure, would you be up for a little...wager?"

She raised her brow, "As in a bet?" cause she was so not going there with Jane.

"Not a bet per se, more like an agreement."

Pfft, agreement my ass, "No."

The woman could be a kill joy sometimes. She just needed a little encouragement. "Don't you at least wanna know what I was going to say?"

"No."

Wait for it...

"Ok yes, what is it?"

That's more like it! "Well, since you're so adamant that I won't find it, if I do guess where this infamous hiding spot is, you have to give me something."

"And that would be?" she asked curiously.

He thought about it for a while, "...your sock."

It was times like this that she wondered if Jane was mentally stable. "My sock?" From a diamond necklace... to a sock. Only Jane.

"Yes."

"...I don't get it, is that like a metaphor for something or..?"

He chuckled. "No. If i guess correctly, which I will, then you have to give me one of your socks. No more, no less, whenever and if ever I ask for it."

She bit back her laughter. What kind of an 'agreement' was that? "Ok. Can I ask why?"

"Because, if asked for at the right time, it can be incredibly inconvenient. For you, not for me."

Now she saw his game. He could ask for it at any time. During a briefing, at a crime scene, in the car, the list went on. But still, how bad could it be?

"Ok, and if you lose (which you will), what do i get?"

He didn't even hesitate, "Anything you want."

"...Anything?" She asked, almost seductively. If he didn't know any better, he would have swore he saw her throw a wink in the mix.

He nodded cooly. What was he getting himself into? He smirked at the thought.

She came slightly closer, and he dropped his head down to her level, waiting intently for her request.

"...A tub of Ben n Jerry's...and I don't have to share."

He laughed. "You're surprisingly easy to please, you know."

"What can I say, i'm a simple woman."

(Actually, she was one of the most complex people he knew) "Fair enough, you're on."

Lisbon got up to stand on one side of the counter while Jane sat down on the other side so that they were facing each other.

Lisbon spoke again, "You know, all this is irrelevant, seeing as how you'll never guess where it is."

He shook his head,"Over confidence blurs out the risk. -Toba Beta."

Would the man never run out of quotes? "Beta, shmeta, are you going to guess or not?"

He laced his fingers and looked straight into her eyes.

"Eager to lose, are we?"

"We'll see."

Lisbon always loved to watch him guess. It was like she could see the gears in his head turning. How he quickly used the tiniest details and would somehow make them relevant. It must be hell inside his head. Brilliant, complicated hell.

"Am I allowed one question?"

Sometimes one question was one too many, especially if Jane was asking it. But she'd take her chances. "Sure."

"Great. Where's the hiding spot?"

She rolled her eyes. "Nice try."

He smiled. "Worth a shot. Favorite pizza toppings then?"

Well that caught her off guard. "Uh, pepperoni, bacon and meatballs, but how is that helpful?"

"It's not. Just good to know... And meat-lover, really? I always pegged you for vegetarian..."

She shrugged her shoulders.

"Huh.." He cleared his throat.

"Ok, If I were Lisbon's jewelry, where would I be?" He bit his lip. "Well, for starters you don't have an actual safe, that would be way too obvious. You don't have a safety deposit box either, I mean you do, but not for jewelry."

Her lack of a reaction told him he was right. "You feel more secure when things are close to you, like your gun and your wallet, but not too close that you'd have it on you at all times, for fear of loosing it of course. Meaning, it's in your house somewhere... How am I doing so far?"

"I'm not saying a word." (because he was way too good at this.)

But her eyes gave her away, as usual.

"Fair enough. Where was I... the house? Right, so considering the amount of robbery cases you've worked on, you wouldn't even think to hide it in your room, being the first place someone would look. Not the living room, since there's no actual place to hide it, which leaves the kitchen, bathroom and spare room." He paused. "We can rule out the spare room right off the bat. And the-"

"Wait, why not the spare room?"

He waved the idea off with his hand. "Too impersonal. You don't go in there often enough to notice if anything was actually missing."

She rolled her eyes, "Continue."

He grinned. "We've been in the kitchen this whole time, and not once have you even flinched when I mentioned it, so not the kitchen. If it were hidden in here, you would have given it away by now. Therefore, the only reasonable place left is the bathroom." He tapped his finger to his lips in deep thought. "Hmm...you'd stash it in something small, somewhere no one would think to look. Hiding in plain sight, really."

Oh crap, he knows.

"Which means its either in an empty shampoo bottle, or..."

"...Or what?"

"Or a box of Tampo-"

She quickly put her hand over his mouth "OKAY, I think we're done here."

"So I win then?" he asked, his voiced muffled by her hand.

She lowered her hand and answered begrudgingly, "Yes, you win." He had just explained his whole thought process to her and she still didn't understand how he did it.

"You know, i'm hurt that you would even doubt me after all this time."

"Yea, that huge smile has "hurt" written all over it."

He ignored her, "It's all about the power of deduction, Lisbon. That, and common sense."

"Common sense my ass, I don't know how, but you cheated. No ones ever found my good jewelry."

"Tsk tsk Teresa, Ye of little faith. I won fair and square, and you know it! ...Don't get me wrong, it's a fantastic hiding spot, last place i'd look if I didn't know any better." Seriously, the hiding spot was genius.

"Oh clearly. You only got it on your first try."

"Well yea, but that's because I know you. I know how you think and how you work, and I know that you keep what's important close to you."

Suddenly she was aware of how close they were. Their faces were only a foot apart, if even.

"And if i didn't know all that, then i'd have never guessed correctly."

"Yea, well if my jewelry goes missing, i'll know who took it."

He smiled. The clock on the microwave caught his eye, 11:15. "We should probably get ready, I said we'd be in by 12:30 the latest. I'll get Nathan ready so you can shower first."

"Ok, I'll be down in 15 minutes, tops." She said, as she jogged up the stairs.

"Hey Lisbon?"

She turned back around, already at the top. "Yeah?"

"I'll still get you Ben n Jerry's if you want."

She glared at him and continued on her way. "I don't want your ice cream pity!"

Sooo, what did ya think? Please review!...or don't, i'm not the boss of you. (But forreal I love it when you guys give me feedback) Thank you for waiting so damn long for this chapter. Many apologies. Oh and remember I always take suggestions for my next chapter, so share your thoughts! Later!

-sleepyhead13