Ok, I'll admit. This has gone very much downhill. I'm going to finish it during my holidays and then hope for the best. It isn't my best work, but it will have to do.

I've been reading about, and it seems Cho doesn't often get the girl.

Oh- Merry Christmas to those who celebrate. :)

That night, Alice dozed on the couch, after directing Lisbon's weak form to her bed. Lisbon awoke to the smell of fresh coffee and bacon, and padded through to see Alice whistling at the stove.

"What's that song? I recognise it." She asked from the doorway.

Alice poured her a mug of coffee from the pot and pushed it down the counter towards her, followed by a bacon sandwich.

"Loch Lomand." Lisbon peered at the sandwich. "You need your strength."

Lisbon scoffed. "Where's yours?" She took a bite and washed it down with the black coffee.

"I have an appointment later. Best if I don't eat." She grimaced, taking a sip of her cup.

"What're you drinking?" Lisbon noticed the full pot of coffee.

"Tea. It's better for you. Never thought you'd have any though. I almost brought my own." She chuckled, empting her tea cup.

Lisbon smiled behind her mug, hiding her memory of buying different teas just in case Jane finally took her up on the offer of crashing on the sofa. Not that she'd ever tell him that.

"So when you heading to work?"

"About 20 minutes." She brushed her hands on her pyjama bottoms and put her plate and mug in the sink. "Why?"

"I want to come with you. You said work's slow, so you won't mind me tagging along." Alice tried a charm smile, with the puppy dog look.

"No! You are not meeting the team!"

"Why not?"

"Because." She whined.

"I'm going. C'mon. It's my home too." Alice pouted.

"No-one there knows you any more."

"What about Jason?"

"In narcotics?"

"Yeah. He's still there. That man kept in touch. Sent me cards and everything." Alice winked.

"Get dressed." Lisbon rolled her eyes, and jumped into the shower.

Van Pelt rushed into the office, dumping her paperwork on her desk and booting up her computer. She panted from her run up the stairs, after cursing the malfunctioning lift. Brushing hair out her eyes, she perched on her chair, frantic eyes searching for Cho. He nodded at her from behind a novel, and she relaxed at this indication she wasn't late. No matter how much to admired her senior agent, she knew never to get on her wrong side, or you'll end up with no head. Or if you're Jane, you were most likely to lose something far more precious.

Van Pelt smirked slightly, seeing Rigsby out of the corner of her eye, their organised arrival turning out perfect. He held a tray of coffees in one hand, a paper bag of breakfast in the other and a stack of case files under his arm. He offered their coffees with a small smile before tucking into his pastry.

Cho just rolled his eyes at their blatant act.

"Everyone..." Lisbon rounded the corner, Alice in tow. "This is Alice Mitchell."

Cho stood.

"Hi." She smiled, and shook Van Pelt's hand, followed by Rigsby's as Lisbon made introductions. Cho approached slowly, a smile tugging at his usually straight face.

"Cho, you remember Alice, right?" Lisbon joked, stepping away as Cho embraced her in a short hug.

"Hey Mitch." He said quietly, sweeping away a small strand of hair from her face. Van Pelt raised an eyebrow, and Alice's cheeks quickly tinged a light pink.

"So..." Alice regained some composure and clapped her hands together joyfully. "How has everyone been?" She laughed. "Any new cases?"

"Nothing in particular. We've been sitting with paperwork all week." Rigsby sighed mournfully.

"Where's Jane?" Lisbon asked.

"Kitchen. Making tea." Van Pelt said.

And before the team could blink, Alice was away, dashing into the little kitchenette.

"Alice!" Lisbon ran after to her, dodging the copy boy on her way.

She didn't exactly get there on time.

By the time Lisbon skidded around the corner, Alice was leaning casually against the counter, Jane by her side.

"Good morning, my dear." Jane smiled, and Alice giggled quietly.

"You weren't kidding were you Teresa?" Alice grinned cheekily.

"Depends what she told you." Jane smirked, taking a sip of his tea and straightening his waistcoat.

"Oh. She told me so much." Both blondes fixed Lisbon with bright, laughing eyes, leaning, arms crossed against the counter.

"I give up." She muttered as she left, rubbing her eyes and praying for her sanity with both of them around.

"You know her?" Rigsby muttered to Cho, a mouthful of cream filled pastry.

"She worked here before you and Van Pelt." Cho said, barely looking up from his file, his feet firmly propped up onto another chair.

Rigsby grunted in response. "Seems nice."

"She is. She's the real reason Lisbon can deal with Jane. Mitch is just as bad when it comes to tricks. She faked a fight with someone in court so she wouldn't have to testify against a friend."

"Why didn't she just refuse?" Van Pelt inquired.

"Because my career would be in jeopardy. " Alice said sneaking up behind Grace, who jumped slightly. "And that's no fun."

There's a small flicker behind her eyes that Cho barely catches, but the small reassuring smile he sends her is enough to bring back the spark.

Or what was left anyway.

"Shouldn't you all be working?" She said, a perfectly shaped eyebrow raised.

Rigsby and Van Pelt turned guiltily back to their work, and Cho slunk off into the kitchenette for a coffee.

Alice turned to Jane, who was leaning against the nearby door frame, and asked if she could use his desk. He directed her with a graceful sweep of the hand, and she settled down, shuffling what little papers she brought in her handbag.

When all order had returned, any outsider would have assumed she was a part of the team.

"How long have you known Lisbon?" Jane mumbled from his trademark spot, still staring at the ceiling.

"10 years." She didn't even look up from her work. "I met her in San Fran. Bosco too."

"Is that why you're here?" Jane peered through one eye, studying her profile at the desk.

"Guess so." Her hair fell over her face, the loose curls almost hitting the surface. Her hand moved swiftly across paper, stylish glasses perched on the bridge of her nose. Jane watched as she chewed the end of her pen lightly, or twirled it around her thumb when she was thinking.

Her eyes weren't visible, or Jane might have seen the redness lining her lids, badly covered with makeup.

They were silent for a long time before Lisbon emerged, a genuine smile gracing her face when she saw Alice's form.

"Lunch?" She directed the question to the whole team, and Rigsby shot up and grabbed his jacket. The rest took their time, and Alice excused herself.

"Any leads?" Lisbon asked when they were all gathered.

"I cross checked the names of the employees at the National Bank and the VIPs at the party." Van Pelt.

"I spoke to the victims mother, who claims she was dating a man called David Condie. He has a long list of felonies under his belt. Fraud, tax evasion. Murder or not, this guy's going to jail." Rigsby.

"If we find him." Cho.

"We'll find him." Lisbon looked around the bullpen. "How long has Alice been gone?"

"15 minutes." Van Pelt said quietly.

Lisbon swore under her breath, and took off for the bathrooms, Van Pelt on her heels.