Homeward Bound

Chapter 3

Madeleine Hightower looked at Patrick Jane and smiled brightly. He was dressed to kill, his three-piece suit immaculate, his hair perfect, megawatt smile gleaming like pure sunshine. He looked fit and rested, full of energy, ready to take every challenge that crossed his way.

How could she resist taking him back?

"Agent Lisbon is not gonna like it", she smirked.

"I know.", Jane stated, smiling like mad.

"Of course, she has no real choice.", Hightower stated," I´m her boss, after all, and you, my friend, will close cases. That´s why we´re here, isn´t it?"

"Of course.", he beamed happily.

Hightower´s smile even deepened, and she shoved a wad of papers towards Jane.

"Sign here, ", she said ,"and welcome back as consultant of CBI´s Serious Crimes Unit. We´re so glad to have you. Our closing rate plummeted considerably since you´ve been gone."

"I thought so.", he chuckled while he signed the papers in all the mandatory places.

Hightower handed him his identification card, and Jane stroked it fondly with his thumb before clipping it on his vest-pocket. Right- it felt right. He sighed comfortably.

Hightower watched him.

"Okay, Mr. Jane," she sighed," let´s go into the lion´s den and tell agent Lisbon that you will join her team- again."

Excitement ran through him like an electric current. He hadn´t seen her in seven months- his yearning was so strong, he felt tears spring to his eyes. He quickly fought them back.

He would see her again. When he followed Hightower out of her office, his heart hummed with joy.

XXMentalistXX

„NO!", she screamed, jumping up from her chair,"No way in hell! I absolutely refuse to work with him! He´s a murderer, Madeleine! A cold-blooded killer! You can´t be serious about this- we can´t just pretend nothing happened and go back to business!"

"Teresa", Hightower stated," you know the facts- yes, he killed Red John in cold blood. But he is not a killer. The court deemed the whole thing a case of justifiable homicide- he´s a free man. And let´s be clear about this: I want him on your team, agent Lisbon. You know what happened to your closing rate after he left the team. He will be working with you- I can´t leave you a choice, I´m sorry."

Lisbon was absolutely livid. Jane, who stood quietly behind Hightower, could hardly suppress his smile. Hell, she was sweet when she was angry. How much he wanted to grab her and kiss her senseless…she would probably kill him. So maybe not a craving he should indulge right now.

She hated his guts with vigor…but she knew when the fight was over. Either she accepted Jane back or left the team herself.

Lisbon glared at him. How dare he to look so damn sexy? He was dressed to perfection in a brand-new three-piece suit that was clearly custom-made, it hugged his body in all the right places. His hair gleamed in the sunlight, his blond curls looking so soft, she yearned to touch them. His megawatt smile came on full force when she looked at him, his lips rosy-pale, so deliciously kissable. She looked at his hands…elegant, delicate hands with long, nimble fingers.

She hated him enough to kill him on the spot.

"Okay", Hightower said when Lisbon remained silent, glaring at her consultant without a further word, "that´s settled, then. I´ll leave you two to- talk."

She turned and left Lisbon´s office, closing the door behind her.

The tension was so strong , Lisbon almost couldn´t breathe. She sat down behind her desk and watched him out of fierce, wary eyes.

"I hate you.", she growled.

"I know.", he answered lightly.

"How could you do that, damn you?"

"You know I had to, Lisbon! I never lied to you. I´ve been clear about this: I find him, I kill him. And I did. You had been warned."

"You shattered the small amount of trust I had in you!"

He was silent for a moment, contemplating her words.

"I know.", he whispered quietly, "And the knowledge kills me."

Lisbon sighed.

"Why did you come back?", she asked .

"I feel at home here.", he stated, looking around at her desk, her couch- and finally at her," It´s where I belong."

"I can´t work with you", she blurted,"I don´t trust you."

"You will.", he said softly.

"NEVER!", she shouted.

Jane leant down until his face was mere inches from hers.

"Listen to me, Lisbon," he growled, his voice low and menacing," I want you. And I know you want me back. So believe me: I will do EVERYTHING to make you mine- no matter what it takes. No matter what you ever thought about my abilities- you have no idea how sexy and charming I can be when the chips are down. Believe me, honey- you don´t stand a chance against me. In the end you will trust me like you never thought possible before. And while I´m at it, I´ll close some cases for you- just to make my lady happy."

He pressed a tiny kiss on her nose and straightened.

Lisbon was too shocked to speak. He grinned triumphantly and went to the door. But before he left her office, he turned and opened another button on his shirt…very slowly, smiling seductively at her.

Now his shirt stood open to the top of his vest, showing quite a bit of his bare skin. Lisbon drudgingly choked a groan.

Jane smiled complacently, winked at her and left her office with a vigorous stride.

Okay, patience is not my strong point, so I´m posting this now…can´t wait to hear what you´re thinking!