A/N: Here we again with a brand new chapter! This one is a little fluffier, trust me.

Disclaimer: Nothing is mine.

'Light years away'

Chapter 9

"Human trafficking?" Cho asked, looking at the screen again.

"Pike was trying to get Lisbon to cross the border to work there." God only knows what she would have to do there.

"I, uh…" Cho blinked, visibly shaken. "I'm gonna have to ask Abbott."

Fortunately, said man was close by, and he came immediately.

He too simply stared at the screen.

"Is this real?"

"I wouldn't be showing you if it wasn't."

And then he started calling people, telling them about what Jane had found.

He still couldn't believe what Pike had been planning. He hadn't expected him to be that kind of man, but apparently, he was exactly that kind.

Apparently, Jane just come closer to getting Lisbon out.

~…~

It took him longer that he'd thought to appeal to her case. Six months later, the court still hadn't started reinvestigating, and with every day they didn't investigate, Lisbon became worse.

He had started visiting her at least once a week, but it was usually once every two days.

"Hey," she started now, yet still whispering. He doubted he would ever hear her voice at full capacity.

"Hey."

"How are you?"

"I should be asking you," he replied. She cracked a little smile. He felt his heart warm.

"I'm fine," she said. "Just… so tired. They really need to get me out fast, Jane. I won't last for much longer."

"I know, Lisbon. I'm working on it."

And then they fell into a comfortable silence, watching each other intently.

He hadn't told her what they had found on Pike's computer. He felt she wouldn't be able to take the information that Pike had meant to make her work as a prostitute in Mexico. All he told her was that they had found a lead and they would try and chase it. She hadn't asked what the lead was, anyway. He knew he would probably never tell her.

"Jane?"

"Hmm?"
"Are you even sleeping?"

He frowned, but then just sighed.

"No."

She looked him in the eye.

"Why not?"

"Because you're here and I'm there."

She was confused now.

"You can't sleep without me?"

He nodded.

"Why?"

"Didn't anyone ever tell you that 'why' questions are the hardest questions to answer?"

"Jane…"

He sighed again.

"I can't live with the fact that I got away with murdering someone in cold blood, but you have to go to prison for so long for merely defending yourself. I pushed you into his arms, Lisbon. And you wanted – loved – to be with him, because he gave you the attention you craved. I never gave you that attention. I should have. I should have cherished you, treasured you. Loved you. But because of my own stupidness, I never did that."

She reached out and covered his hand, even though it was difficult for her to move her hands because of the cuffs, and because of the guard outside. She didn't stop her, though.

"You were protecting yourself, and me. I understand it, completely."

"If I had given you that attention, you wouldn't have started dating Pike and ultimately wouldn't be here."

"You need to stop blaming yourself for all the bad things that happen around you. This," she said, shaking her cuffs so they made a rattling sound, "is not your fault."

Only now did he realize she was talking out loud and not whispering, like she'd done for months now. He didn't know how to feel about that, to be honest.

"Lisbon… you know I bought your house, right?"

"No?" He didn't like the subject change either, but it was kind of effective anyway. "You did? Wow."

"They were going to sell it. I couldn't let that happen. It's your house. Not theirs."

"You didn't need to do that, Jane. I won't be out in thirty-five years anyway."

He huffed. "Not if it's up to me."

She rolled her eyes. His heart! What was it doing?

"You go home and sleep some, okay? I won't be your mother on this, I just want you to sleep."

He nodded. "I will try. See you."

She smiled softly at him, before they parted ways.

~…~

He suddenly realized that she had killed Pike in this house, in this very room. He realized she would never want to sleep here ever again.

He kept the house, simply because of the principle matter, but he didn't sleep in it anymore, like he had done for months. As a result, he started looking for houses to live in around the neighborhood, and suddenly found himself looking at family houses. Just in case, he told himself.

He hoped she would love it. Hopefully, he would soon be able to show it to her.

A/N: Let me know what you think, please!