After that breakfast in the cafe, they had headed home quite silently. It was still very tense between the two of them, but they had avoided more arguing, which was for both a relief. Jane didn't ask for more explanation to her injuries and said nothing about the guy he saw.

At her home, Jane wanted to share the day with her, spend time together, like he wanted to before Michele's death, but she had turned that proposition down requiring time for herself. Defeated Jane had nothing left to do but go to the office, mainly to take time to consider a change of future. They had hugged emotionally before his departure, leaving then Lisbon alone at her place.

Lisbon knew exactly what she wanted to do from the rest of her day and that time she was even invited to do it. She left her home again just before lunch time, somehow happier than she had been the last days.

At the FBI office Jane troubled and angry was sitting on his couch with his blue cup in hand. He was angry that Lisbon hadn't say all the truth about her accident. Sure she could have meet a wall, but come on how do you meet a wall like this? And why did she keep it a secret? Right, himself hadn't been very understanding with her, while yelling, but for his defense she deliberately misled him... And that man, he couldn't take him out of his mind. Did he had something to do with her injuries? They had made it after so many years, the were finally a couple, sharing a life together and now this? Another Pike in the picture? Did she wanted to leave him? Did she yearned for a less painful and complicated love? All those question were whirling in his head and he was glad to be seated, otherwise he would have fallen from dizziness and sorrow. Laying down, he closed his eyes trying to regain healthier and calmer thoughts.

Cho arrived an hour later with a new case. It was somehow welcome, tearing him away from his torment, but he was not sure to be able to be at his best. The crime scene was about an hour away from Austin in Pace Bend Park. A scout guide had been found dead not far away from the girl scout camp. Fortunately the last scout girls group had left before finding out, and the housekeeper in charge had found the poor woman badly beaten up and probably strangled. It was a sight which Jane never got use to and with the last even couldn't look at anymore. Death, corpse, killers, that had to stop before he would became really sick. The bile was rising up to his throat and he got lucky not to puke directly on the victim nor on Cho when he turned around. Instead he headed slowly away from the crime scene, leaving his colleague speaking to the rangers. Distant enough not to be seen, he kneeled down, breathing slowly like he did on the first crime scene he went to with Lisbon. He had felt lightheaded and sick, before all this work became a habit. Now he felt like going backwards, starting from scratch. That was not good at all, especially taking his relationship with Lisbon in count. Things had to changed and if she would be unwilling to make a radical move he had to do his. Though the questions remained: would a change in his life give Lisbon her place even if she would work with the FBI, and would she be willing to accept that change... For the time being he had to do his move and for it, he needed time and space. A few days traveling in his Airstream would surely do him good, but he didn't know if he could leave Lisbon, especially with a 'beau' in the picture, her injuries and her breakdown... Why was everything so complicated those days... At least he didn't have to worry about Lisbon's safety at work.

In the meantime Lisbon had regained the three floor house she had discovered a day earlier. This time she crossed the front yard, greeted some teenagers there and entered the house by the main door. Something was definitively waiting for her. She was welcomed by the man she shared a coffee with the same morning.

.-.-.-.-.-.

NB: It's a short chapter... I would really like to develop some cases facts but I'm limited in that theme and it's not the pivoting point of my story, so I won't get very far there. Still hope it's not too slow...!

Thank you for your reviews! I'm flattered that you like my story. I know it's a bit angsty but love is still here...

Reviews & improvements tips are always welcome!