A/N: Thanks to everyone who tried to console me over Cho's absence in Lisbon's life. Your thoughts on the matter made me smile.

This chapter is dedicated to Phoenixx87 who had a birthday recently. Happy birthday!

Chapter 6

"What did Mead say when you told him his fingerprints were all over the candlesticks?" Lisbon asked Cho as they stood in her office.

Both Jane and Walter sat on her couch staring between her and Cho. She ignored Walter when he raised his hand and Jane as he started pointing at Walter to indicate that his friend had something to say. They were like two kindergartener's waiting for their teacher's attention. She was grateful when Cho also elected to ignore them. Good ol' Cho.

"He said the candlesticks were a gift for Christmas last year. That Veronica James had asked for them," Cho responded in his typical cool voice.

She leaned against her desk as Walter started waving his hand. "I suppose he had motive for killing Max James if he was sleeping with Veronica, but we can't prove that he was and it doesn't explain why he'd kill Veronica."

Walter turned to Jane. "Is she intentionally ignoring me?" he asked Jane.

"What do you want me to do?" Cho asked Lisbon.

Jane looked at Walter. "Meh. She's made at us," he said shrugging.

Lisbon furrowed her brow as she thought over her options. "We're going to have to cut him loose soon."

Jane continued, "It's too bad, because you have some insightful information, don't you Walter?"

Lisbon clenched her jaw.

Walter nodded. "I do, in fact. At least I think I do."

"All right, enough," Lisbon said turning to the two men, who both sat with their legs crossed toward her desk. "What is it Walter?"

"Harold was in love with Veronica…" Walter started.

She rolled her eyes. "Jane already guessed the two were having an affair."

Jane raised a hand. "Lisbon, he hasn't finished yet."

She glared at Jane, then returned her attention to Walter.

Walter smiled at Jane. "Thank you," he said, before looking back at Lisbon with a cheeky grin. "Veronica would never have cheated on Max James; she was crazy, head of her heels in love with him. And I doubt that he would've killed Max—Max was the brains of the company. Without him, it's not likely that Harold will be able to hold his own, and he knows it. I don't think he has anything to do with either murder."

Jane looked away from Walter and at his hands. "If he were going to kill someone, how would you guess he'd go about it?"

Lisbon glanced over at Cho who sighed.

Walter looked up, thinking about it. "A gun probably."

"Poisoning?" Jane asked.

Walter shook his head. "No, that would require some forethought, and I just don't think Harold would be a "premeditated murder" kind of guy. He'd be a "in the moment" kind of killer."

Jane looked at Lisbon. "There you have it."

Cho addressed Jane, "That goes against everything you accused Mead of yesterday."

"I was trying to feel him out," Jane said, "I didn't think he was responsible for the deaths. I did learn that he was in love with Veronica and that he was a hot head," he pointed at Walter, "backing up Walter's story."

"So what was the point of keeping him in holding?" Lisbon asked.

"I was hoping the real killer would relax, make a mistake once they'd heard we'd made an arrest," Jane said.

Lisbon fought the urge to rub the bridge of her nose.

"Wait," Walter interjected quickly, "were Max and Veronica poisoned?"

Jane nodded.

"That's curious," Walter said.

Lisbon pulled away from her desk as everyone looked at Walter. "How so?"

"It's nothing probably, but I do recall, too many years ago to count, Veronica telling Max that she would poison him if he ever cheated on her." He looked from Lisbon to Jane. "It was in jest, but I remember thinking then that she really would do it."

A huge grin spread across Jane's face.

"What do you want me to do, Boss?" Cho asked.

Jane stood up. "Hold him for another night…" Cho looked at Jane and glared. Jane sobered, then looked at Lisbon. "Please, Teresa. I want to speak to Max's girlfriend, other girlfriend before we release him."

Lisbon looked at him and saw that he was pleading with her. It was something she hadn't seen often. She opened her mouth to answer when her phone rang. She pulled her eyes away and glared at it, then shook her head and picked it up with an irritated, "hello."

"Agent Lisbon, is this a bad time?" the voice of Laroche asked.

"No, what can I do for you?" she replied, keeping her eyes firmly on her desk.

She heard him clear his throat. "I'd like to see you in my office immediately."

She squeezed her eyes shut briefly. "Yes sir." She hung up the phone and looked at Cho.

"Was that Laroche," Cho asked.

"Yes," she said. "How'd you know?"

"He called me in earlier today," Cho informed her. "He wanted an update on the case."

She nodded. "Swell. I want you to hold Mead until tomorrow. And arrange for Celia Montrose to come in in the morning. Make it seem like she's doing us a favor and if she asks imply that Mead has been arrested for the murders."

"Lisbon," Jane's voice said happily, "you read my mind."

She ignored him and looked at Walter. "Walter, you can go. I don't think we'll be needing you anymore today."

He nodded. "I'll give you a call later?"

She shrugged. "Sure," she said less than enthusiastically, before exiting her office.

When she reached Laroche's office she took a deep breath before knocking and stepping inside.

"Agent Lisbon," Laroche said glancing up from his paper work. "Please, have a seat." She sat in the chair across from him and waited as he finished what he was doing. "I had agent Cho in here earlier today while you were out with Jane and Walter Mashburn."

She folded her hands in her lap. "Yes," she said, not wanting to offer more than what was necessary. If he wanted her to talk he'd have to draw it out of her.

"He gave me a report on Jane's first day back," Laroche said as he leaned back in his chair.

She stared blankly at him.

He continued, "He believes that Jane is doing well so far, but that his overall effectiveness, as far as the team is concerned, would be better judged by you."

She wondered if Cho would've been that forthcoming with her, if he would've told her he thought Jane was doing well. Then again, as far as she could tell, he was doing well, irritating her to no end, but doing well. She even had a feeling that he'd already pegged the killer. "Was that a question?" she asked.

Laroche smiled. "If it need be."

"I have no complaints against Mr. Jane at this point," she said and meant it as long as she was speaking only professionally.

"Mr. Jane?" Laroche smiled, leaned forward and placed his hands on his desk. "I got a call from Max James' father yesterday; Senator James?"

"Yes, I know who he is."

"He's apparently very displeased with the treatment of Harold Mead, said he couldn't possibly be involved and demands that he be released immediately."

Teresa could feel her face heating up. "Well we believe otherwise. Further we wouldn't have arrested him if he hadn't punched Jane." There wasn't much that bugged her more than outsiders dictating how she should handle her investigations.

"Jane is good for our closure rate which is why I allowed him a chance back with the team, but it hasn't even been twenty-four hours and he's already getting complaints from very wealthy, very influential people," Laroche explained.

"You've worked with Jane before, that's part of the territory," she said effecting calm even though she was anything but.

"After what happened with Red John, even with a year's distance between the matter, Jane can't afford to be getting complaints from Senators," Laroche said.

She felt her stomach jump and stood up. "If they complain again, let them know that it was Jane who discovered Veronica had been poisoned. I'm sure her cause of death would have been marked as otherwise had it not been for Jane, and her murder may have gone unsolved. And as for the other thing," she took a deep breath trying to calm herself, "I think I've already made my thoughts on the matter very clear."

"Yes, I am aware that you believe Jane's actions in the Red John matter were heroic, but that doesn't change the fact that he acted selfishly…"

"Selfishly?" she spat. "He saved my life, Rigsby's life and no doubt countless lives of future victims." She raised her hand for emphasis.

Laroche sat a little taller. "He stabbed a man repeatedly after he was down and no longer a threat."

"Yes. The man who killed his wife and child." She turned from Laroche, then stopped and looked back at him. "Jane is an asset to the CBI, always has been, and I would like for him to stay on my team permanently."

Laroche gave her an appraising stare, then nodded. "If you think that's best."

"I do, now if you'll excuse me," she signaled toward the door.

He raised a hand indicating that it was all right with him if she left.

Jane watched Lisbon duck out of Laroche's office from his hiding spot, and waited a moment before following her. His heart had clenched upon hearing her defend him to Laroche, especially about Red John. Laroche had been right after all, but she had gotten down right defensive at the mere suggestion that he hadn't been one-hundred percent justified in his actions. A year later and she was still holding to the same ideals, even though she was furious with him and hurt now. It made him love her more.

He followed at a distance and watched as she decided not to go right back to the bullpen. He knew she'd decided to go to her car instead, go for a drive to cool down before returning. He knew she'd want to get away, he'd seen her do it before, right after Red John. He took the stairs, and beat her to her car.

He leaned against the S.U.V. and a moment later heard her heels on the concrete floor of the garage making her way in his direction. His heart jumped in his chest. She came around the end and jumped when she saw him.

"What are you doing here?" she snapped.

He folded his arms over his chest. "I followed you to Laroche's office. I heard what you said."

She blushed and looked at the ground, but when she spoke, she used her boss voice. "I meant every word I said, but that doesn't mean that you and I are going to be together."

He pulled away from the vehicle hands raised imploringly. "You have been avoiding me, more or less making it clear that you want me gone since Saturday. If you really wanted me gone, Teresa, that was your chance."

She crossed her arms in front of her chest. "You're good for the team. Close cases."

He smiled and took a couple of slow steps toward her, dropping his hands to his sides. "I've heard you say that before," he said.

She nodded. "I know you have," she said in a condescending tone. "Because it's true."

"You don't really think that you and I could have a merely professional relationship now, do you?" he asked taking another small step toward her.

She raised her chin. "Actually, I do. I have self-respect, Jane, and I intend to keep it in tack."

His brow furrowed. "Teresa, a year is a long time, but don't you think you're taking this punishing me thing a little too far?"

She rolled her eyes. "Oh please. You are such a man. This has actually very little to do with the year and I think you know that."

He gave her a questioning glance. "Enlighten me."

She sighed loudly. "I'm not stupid Jane," she snapped. "As a matter of fact I'm quite smart and in case you didn't know, a highly respected and successful agent."

He took another step forward and was now close enough to touch her. She barely noticed and he realized that she must be a lot more upset than he'd originally realized to have not noticed his proximity. "I never refuted any of that. As a matter of fact, those qualities are a mere sampling of things I love about you."

She uncrossed her arms and rested them on her hips. "Then why do persist in this manner? Why do you insist on torturing me?"

He smiled lightly, resisting the urge to smooth her wrinkled brow. "I'm not torturing you, you're doing that to yourself, in an attempt to punish me."

"Why would I do that?" she snapped.

"I don't know," he said in puzzlement. "The only thing I know for sure is that you love me, Teresa. I am more convinced now, than I was before. Why are you making this so difficult?" She pursed her lips. "You know, this cocky Neanderthal behavior may be popular in movies, but in real life it's irritating."

"I'm not being cocky, I am simply stating the truth," he said taking the final step into her personal space whilst trying not to spook her away, "but if you want Neanderthal behavior." He reached out, grabbed her arms and pushed her against the car, pinning her with his own body. He saw her eyes widen in surprise and heard a humph of air leave her lungs as her body hit the S.U.V.

Their faces were mere inches apart.

"Jane," she said squirming against his hold. "Let me go."

He leaned forward and rubbed his cheek slowly across hers and stopped when his lips were pressed against her ear. He was pleased when she froze and her breathing became audible. "Teresa," he whispered, his lips moving against her ear, "it's very important to me that I have your attention right now, because what I am about to tell you is very important. Nod if you understand me."

He felt a shiver go through her body as he released her arms from his grasp and slid them up behind her back, firmly securing her against him. A moment of hesitation later and she nodded.

He smiled against her cheek. "Good." He inhaled the fresh smell of her hair, savoring the closeness, the feel of her pressed against him and the fact that she had finally stopped fighting him, even if only for a moment. He closed his eyes. "I came back for you, just as I said I would. I've missed you more than I could ever hope to convey to you. I want to be with you, and I know you want to be with me." He pulled back and looked down at her, making eye contact. She was flushed and her eyes were brimming with tears. "I love you. Do you believe me? I love you."

A tear slid down her cheek as she nodded again.

"And you love me?" He said it in a way that would make her understand that he was asking her to say it.

"Yes," she whispered. "I do."

He smiled and leaned forward, intent on kissing her, but stopped when she stiffened in his hold.

"Please, don't," she pleaded, lowering her face from his.

He pulled back, his smile dropped and he brought his hands from behind her back, placing then on her face. More tears spilled down her cheeks. "What is it?"

She put her hands on his chest. "Sometimes love isn't enough."

He felt his brow furrow. "Of course it is. If it's not, then this whole last year, the time we've spent apart, has meant nothing. It's all been a cruel joke."

Her sudden change in countenance from sad and wistful to hard and angry startled him almost as much as her next words.

"Tell that to Ashley," she shoved against his chest, and was in the S.U.V., doors locked, and backing out before her words had fully registered. He barely stepped back in time as she turned the car, and nearly hit him in her haste to leave. He swallowed thickly.

Six Months Ago

Lisbon made her way from her parking lot to her front door, dragging the whole way from exhaustion. She and the team had just spent the last week and a half flying all over California, and staying in one motel after the next. At one point she had started to worry that they wouldn't have the case solved before her next planned call with Jane. That thought had motivated her just enough to get solved two days before. It'd been an answer to her prayers.

She let herself into her apartment, locked up, and only moments later was stepping into a nice warm shower. She stuck her head under the stream and let the hot water relax her tense muscles and soothe away her headache.

She realized that if they hadn't finished the case in time, she could've asked Jane for help. He'd given her extremely helpful advice over the phone on several occasions, but she really wanted to talk to him without any cases pressing down on her mind. She wanted him all to herself, even if it was a little selfish of her and even if it was only a phone call.

She gotten postcards since his last call, but she missed the sound of his voice and could feel the seeds of despair clawing their way into her daily life. She need to hear his voice, to know he was all right, to hear about his adventures, and she knew she'd be lying if she wasn't excited for the moment he'd tell her how much he was missing her, like he had last time. She missed him so much it hurt at times, and it helped a little knowing he felt the same way.

After her muscles had relaxed she made quick work of getting through her shower routine. Once totally bathed, she got out of her shower, dried off, put on a jersey and got into her bed. She was so exhausted, it hurt a little. Just another pain to add to the pile that seemed to be growing in Jane's absence.

It made her hate politics, the media and even the CBI a little, for their part in Jane's hasty departure. He'd never really told her why he was leaving, a brief synopsis was his only explanation, but she knew why. He wanted to protect her and the team from his reputation. If only he could accept that she didn't care about that, that the team didn't care about that. That she'd been dealing with his reputation "blackening hers" since he'd first joined the team. It was all nonsense anyway. Jane was a hero, now if only she could convince him and a lot of other people of that as well.

She could feel sleep, blissful, glorious sleep, taking her over when her phone rang. It took her a second to register what the sound was and when she did she snapped awake and reached for her cell which she had placed on her bedside table earlier. She squinted at the caller I.D., but it took a moment for her bleary eyes to focus. When Patrick Jane came into view, she jerked into a sitting position and answered.

"Hello," she said in a decidedly sleepy tone. She heard some muffling sounds, like his phone was being smothered by something. "Jane! Jane!" She didn't really think he'd be able to hear her, but suddenly couldn't bare the idea of hanging up until she heard his voice say her name. She knew it was likely he'd notice, he'd probably butt dialed her, but she couldn't help herself. She was desperate.

She tried shoving the phone harder against her ear in hopes of hearing him better and was startled when she heard a woman chuckle, followed by a long moan that could be none other than Jane's. She stopped breathing.

"You are amazing, Ashley," came Jane's muffled voice. She heard another feminine giggle and strained to hear what the woman was saying. All she caught was "more?"

She waited for Jane's response, but all that came was a keening wail from Jane, followed by a noise that sounded like something was crashing, like a person knocking into furniture, or a wall.

She heard an ecstatic yelp from a woman, followed by, "Oh, Patrick."

"No...no, don't, don't touch it," she heard Jane plead in a breathless voice. "Look at me Ashley. I just need a minute."

She sucked in a breath as the woman started to speak, but suddenly realized she wasn't listening anymore, that all she could hear was a ringing in her ears. She lowered her phone and hung up.

A/N: Thanks for reading. Reviews are better than Christmas presents...especially when you're an adult. Haha!

Anonymous Reviews:

Guest: I'm so glad you liked it. Thanks for the review!

Ilovetea: Wow, what a review thank you! I'm glad you liked Jane and Mashburn's interactions. And David of course. Even if he was short lived. Haha. Thanks so much for your review!

Guest: I am so glad that you are enjoying how I am writing Teresa, Jane and Walter. It's always a little nerve-wrecking writing stuff like this, so it makes me happy you approve. Thank you for your review!

Guest: I'm so glad that you're liking Walter an Jane's interactions. I loved them on the show, so it's nice to be told I'm doing them justice. Thank you!