Another short chapter, I apologize. I'm just a tad bit too tired to go over this chapter again to see if I can make it any longer. I want to thank everyone again for their reviews!

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Ch. 7 – Suspension

Back in Sacramento, the team was celebrating with the usual case-closed pizza. Rigsby was poking fun at Cho for having turned down a date with a model. Cho could only laugh and slide his face into his hand while Van Pelt shot death glares at Rigsby. Jane walked up to the team and took a slice of pizza.

"Hey where's Lisbon?" Jane asked.

"Oh, she's in her office." Van Pelt pointed at Lisbon's closed door. Lisbon's door was rarely closed, especially when there was pizza waiting for her in the bullpen.

"Still?" Rigsby asked a little shocked.

"Yeah, she seems stressed about something. I figure it's be better just to leave her be for now. She'll be back to her old self once she has a chance to calm down." Cho was worried about her, but he knew that Lisbon could take care of herself.

Jane just kept a weary eye on her door.

A slender woman came in and knocked at Lisbon's door. She whispered something inaudible to her. Shock entered Lisbon's face as she nodded to the woman. She grabbed her coat and was about to leave the bullpen when she called for Jane to follow.

"Going to see the boss-lady?" Jane asked when he finally caught up with Lisbon. She didn't respond to him, she just kept walking towards her destination.

They walked into Sasha's office with her head buried in paperwork, not having noticed the arrival of Jane and Lisbon.

"You wanted to see us, ma'am?"

Sasha finally looked up.

"Ah, yes. Congratulations on yet another closed case. And without having to break any laws in order to catch the culprit."

"Thank you ma'am." Lisbon sounded sincere, but her face showed just how confused she was. She couldn't possibly have sent for them just to congratulate them.

"Yes, but there was a little something that caught my attention. There were charges filed against Mr. Jane one day, and they magically seemed to have disappeared the next."

"Oh yeah, just a misunderstanding! Boris and I patched things up and he dropped it." Jane shrugged, putting on his best act to convince Sasha.

"I highly doubt that, Mr. Jane. Besides, I overheard that it was Agent Lisbon who went and spoke to Boris about the matter." She turned to Lisbon, frowning in disapproval. "What exactly did you say to him?"

"I just tried to explain and apologize for Jane's behavior. Somehow I must have gotten his sympathy and he told me he would drop the charges."

"Nothing else then, hm?" Lisbon felt like Sasha's eyes were burning a hole right through her.

"No ma'am, I was very professional and courteous."

"Well see, part of my problem with this is that you went and spoke with him off-record. How am I to know that you didn't blackmail or threaten him?"

"I didn't—"

"Save it, doll. You need to follow the rules. Everything by the book. And I mean everything. I can't risk even having gossip flying around that an agent isn't following the rules. Now I'm sorry it's had to come to this but--"

"Come to what?"

"You and Mr. Jane are being put on suspension for two weeks."

"You can't do that!"

"Yes, doll, I can. And I did."

"Ms. Clayson, please, don't punish Lisbon. This was my fault." Jane was pleading, he never pleaded.

"Mr. Jane, were you with Agent Lisbon when she met with Boris?"

"Well, no, but--"

"Enough. This isn't a debate. Agent Cho will be put in charge until you come back. Agent Lisbon, please use this time to think about what I said. You're a good agent with a very promising career. I'd hate to see that be ruined."

She waved for the two to leave her office and went right back to her paperwork. Lisbon stood in shock for a few minutes, unsure of what to do. Jane gently touched her arm, hoping he could help but Lisbon tugged away and stormed out of the office.