A/N: I've been out of town a few days, mostly without internet access, but I did have my computer and was able to tap out this chapter. I'll get to your reviews of chapter eight very soon. I'm also working on the tag to "Blood and Sand," so I'll hopefully get that up tomorrow sometime, or Sunday at the latest. Until then, please enjoy…

Chapter 9

"Hey, Ray," Jane called through the door of his bathroom cell. "There's a call for you!"

He turned the ringer all the way up on Ray's phone and looked down at the caller ID. "Someone named…Ashley?"

Ray's voice boomed even from down the hall. "What? Where's my-? What the hell-?"

Jane answered the phone, continuing to speak unnaturally loudly. "Oh, hi, Ashley. No, Ray's not available. I think he had a long night, last night, maybe had a bit too much to drink. Wine, women, and song and all that. Who am I? Well—"

There was a frantic, shuffling sound outside the bathroom, and Jane figured Ray had realized that a) his cell phone was missing, and b)he forgot where the bathroom key was.

"Shut the hell up about last night, man! You don't know shit!" Ray was yelling, having found the key and fumbling to open the archaic lock. The door finally swung open, and the giant barreled in like a charging bull.

"Well, what do you know, Ashley—here he is—"

Jane tossed the phone to Ray and ducked right before the man swung a massive arm. Ray dropped the phone, picked it up, and crammed it to his ear. Jane could hear the woman yelling through the mouthpiece. Ray's world seemed to narrow down to Ashley's voice for the split second that Jane needed to escape the bathroom. In Ray's haste, he hadn't removed the key from the lock, so Jane promptly shut the door behind him, locking it with a flourish.

Jane brushed his hands together in satisfaction, pocketing the key just as Ray began pounding furiously on the door .

"Trust me, Ray," he called over the swearing. "An angry grizzly bear couldn't get through that door. Oh, and…say good-bye to Ashley for me, would ya? She sounds like a lovely girl!"

His words were punctuated by another spate of hammering fists and threatening expletives.

Jane, unconcerned, moseyed down the hall toward the kitchen, wondering if Mama Edmonds had left any tea in the cupboard.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Lisbon instructed Parker to cut the sirens right before they turned down the county road leading to Clive's home. No need to alert Ray if they could avoid it, although she remembered how loud cars sounded on the gravel road. She had borrowed the patrolman's cell phone, and directed Cho as best she could on how to reach the place. In the meantime, she'd gotten Ray's cell number and continually redialed it, getting only voicemail. This was incredibly worrisome to her. She sat in the passenger's side of the patrol car, anxious and fidgety.

When the old farmhouse came into view, her heart leapt, then took flight when she saw Jane moving back and forth on the rickety porch swing, one arm resting on the back, the other blithely holding a flowered teacup. Before the car had completely stopped, Lisbon opened the door, nearly stumbling on the gravel in her high heels as she got out. She righted herself and looked up at Jane again, whose beatific smile completely belied what they'd been through the past twenty-four hours.

Lisbon gripped her Glock, her cop instincts causing her to search her surroundings before her eyes alighted again on the bemused consultant, who'd been carefully watching her from the moment the car turned into the drive. When she realized his scrutiny, Lisbon relaxed her features into an expression of casual interest and walked to the porch, pausing at the foot of the steps. Jane's smile widened as their eyes met, and Lisbon felt a grateful warmth spreading through her veins.

"Well, you don't look like a giant broke your neck," she said dryly. "How the hell did you manage that?"

Jane shrugged. "When slaying dragons, dear Lisbon, you must first find their weakness. Our friend Ray's is for a fair maiden named Ashley."

She cocked her head, as if anything he said was supposed to make sense. She'd likely find out the details later, when he felt more inclined to brag about them.

"Where's Ray now?" she asked. "Not bludgeoned to death with a shard of porcelain, I assume."

"Nah. You'll find him in the bathroom, pathetically begging Ashley to forgive him for his wild night of debauchery."

Parker joined Lisbon and looked askance up at Jane. She made polite introductions.

"You say the perp is trapped in a bathroom?" asked Parker.

"Yep," replied Jane. He watched Parker's hand drop to his holstered weapon.
"Given the size of the guy, you'll probably need an elephant gun," said Jane helpfully. "I wouldn't open that door without one, or at least more back-up."

Parker looked suspiciously from Jane to Lisbon. "Seriously?"

"Seriously," Lisbon confirmed. "My team should be here in about an hour. It won't hurt Ray to stew in the bathroom a little while longer."

"He might even come to like it in there," added Jane with a grin, deliberately avoiding Lisbon's flushing face. She cleared her throat and turned to Parker again.

"If you need to get back to the other scene on the highway, we'll be all right here."

He looked a bit uncertain of that, but, given the lack of action at this location, he felt a little anxious to return to his colleagues.

"Okay, if you're sure."

Lisbon held up her gun. "I'm sure. May I borrow your phone though?"

"Of course." He handed it back to her. "I'll have my car radio. CHP can contact me if you change your mind."

"Thanks, Officer. And thanks for the ride."

"No problem ma'am." He tipped his trooper's hat at her, and nodded good-bye to Jane.

They watched him leave before Lisbon climbed the stairs and sat beside Jane on the swing, setting her gun carefully on the small table beside it.

"Other scene?" Jane inquired, holding his tea out to Lisbon. She was thirsty, and took an appreciative sip.

"Yes, where Clive learned a good lesson on the merits of wearing seatbelts." Like her, he didn't bother asking for specifics, figuring they'd be repeating them enough to everyone else in the hours to come. He turned to her now, all pretense of casualness gone as he let the relief wash over him and touch his blue-green eyes. He reached up to smooth her hair away from her face, when she suddenly cringed and let out a small gasp. It was then that he noticed the bandage near her hairline, hidden before by her hair.

"What the hell happened?" he asked softly, but there was anger and danger in the gruffness of his tone as his gaze zeroed in on her injury.

"I smacked my head into your steering wheel. You know, you should really consider retrofitting that contraption with more modern conveniences, like air bags."

He pressed his warm lips against her forehead, closing his eyes against the unexpected sensation of fear and pain. He realized that now that he'd allowed himself to be close to her, he would always be afraid of losing her. It was just a byproduct of his past experience, and he knew instinctively that as long as they were together, these feelings would never leave him.

"I'm sorry," he breathed, his herbal scented breath fanning her face. He gathered her into his arms, mindless of the tea that sloshed a little in the cup she held. "I'm sorry for all of it."

"It's okay," she told him, truly meaning it now. She shouldn't be surprised that once again, she'd forgiven him everything. It was so very hard to stay mad at such a wonderful, endearing man. "I'm all right. We both made it out of this alive."

He chuckled lightly and kissed her cheek.

"Hey!" came a plaintive cry from the vicinity of the bathroom. "Get me the fuck out of here, you crazy bastard!"

"Don't you just love nature, Lisbon?" he asked, settling them both against the back of the swing, his arm around her. "The smell of the burnt rice patties, the call of the wild loon…"

Lisbon laid took another sip of his tea and handed it back to him before laying her head comfortably upon his shoulder.

"Yes, it's very nice," she said drowsily, "if a little on the loud side…"

"Lisbon," he inquired a moment later, just as she was beginning to doze from the rhythm of the swaying swing.

"Hmm?"

"Where's my car?"

Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Rigsby and Van Pelt arrived at Clive Edmonds's home an hour later in the CBI SUV, while Cho followed in the familiar blue Citroen. It now lacked a tail pipe, so it could probably be heard in the next county. Jane came down the steps at a near run only to stand and stare at the damaged rear end of his beloved car. His hand went first to his forehead, then covered his mouth in horror as Cho disembarked to stand by him while he assessed the damage.

"It looks worse than it is," said Cho, trying in his inimitable way to console him.

"What? How?" Jane gestured helplessly at the Citroen. "It's buckled up like a goddamn accordion!"

Lisbon moved sheepishly beside him. "I'm really sorry, but it wasn't my fault, I swear. That stupid CHP car was following way too close…"

"Boss," Van Pelt began tentatively, taking her place with the team. "Excuse me, but I thought you'd like to know Clive Edmonds was transported to Colusa Regional. He's got a dislocated shoulder, a concussion, and he needs ten stitches in his chin. You really tore him up," she finished with admiration.

Lisbon only had eyes for Jane, who was now circling the car in dismay. His hands lovingly coasted down the the sides of the vehicle, then the hood, as if searching for additional injuries. Every once in awhile he'd make a strange humming noise, almost like he was crooning to a baby.

"I know a guy who can fix that," Rigsby told Jane helpfully.

"Thanks, Van Pelt," Lisbon finally replied. "Edmonds's accomplice is locked in the bathroom. You, Rigsby and Cho—go let him out. Keep back from the door when you do, all weapons at the ready. This guy is a monster. Jane," she called. "You have the key?"

He handed it absently to Cho.

"Nice dress," said Cho to Lisbon, before pulling out his sidearm and heading for the house.

"Yeah," Rigsby concurred in passing. "My grandmother has one just like it."

Lisbon's eyes narrowed, unsure whether the men meant to be insulting. "It's not mine," she said defensively, but they were already inside the front door.

"Men," Van Pelt said, rolling her eyes. She followed after her colleagues to obey her boss's command.

Jane was standing again behind the Citroen, seemingly calculating the cost of the damages. She touched his arm.

"Look, I'll pay to have this fixed," she said, mentally calculating in her own mind whether she'd really be able to afford such an offer.

"That's all right, Lisbon," he said on a sigh. "Insurance should pay. I've got full coverage."

"On this thing?" she truly didn't intend to sound so incredulous; it had just slipped out.

"Yes, of course," he said defensively. "It's a classic."

The sound of the team yelling, scuffling, and ordering Ray about interrupted them, and a few minutes later, they emerged with the struggling giant, securely handcuffed, Cho and Rigsby on either side of him. Van Pelt brought up the rear, her gun at his back. Lisbon noted that Rigsby was rubbing his reddened jaw with one hand.

"You okay?" she asked.

"Yeah. Gigantor here clipped me."

"Told ya," Lisbon said, trying to hide her amusement. She thought it was Karma after that grandmother remark he'd made earlier. "Read the man his rights."

Captain Adams arrived at the scene just in time to lead Ray to his patrol car, but when Ray caught sight of Jane, he strained against his bonds and his captors, attempting to make a run at the man who'd apparently permanently damaged his love life.

"I oughta kill you, you meddling sonofabitch!"

"Ah ah ah," Jane chided. "You don't need threats of bodily harm added to your long list of charges. You think Ashley is unforgiving—try Judge Hildred."

"I'll show you bodily harm—" he began, fighting futilely against Cho's hold. The more diminutive man was nearly as strong as Ray himself, however, and managed to maintain control of the gyrating giant.

"Shut up and get in there," Rigsby said, pushing the big man's head down roughly to shove him in the back of the police car. He slammed the door in childish satisfaction.

"I found your other dress in the bathroom," said Van Pelt softly near Lisbon's ear.

She nodded in gratitude, repossessing the more tasteful black garment.

"Thanks, but I suppose Mama Edmonds's dress is actually more appropriate for court. Hopefully I'll get a chance to stop and get something else to wear on the way to San Francisco."

"Lisbon—" Jane began, his attention falling away from his damaged vehicle.

"I called the DA in San Francisco. He's asking the judge to postpone Bonnie's hearing until I get there."

"You're not seriously going to speak for her," Jane asked in disbelief.

"I'm thinking of the baby," she said quietly. "With both his parents in prison, who'd take care of him? Society doesn't need another child possibly lost in the system."

"Maybe Bonnie's husband might take him," Jane suggested.

"Another man's child?" Lisbon raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Doubtful."

The team looked at each other in confusion. All they knew was Lisbon and Jane had been held against their will by the guy Jane had paid to go out with her.

"I'll explain everything later, I promise," said Lisbon to her team. "So, who's taking me to San Francisco?"

Jane grinned suddenly, shaking his head at this kindhearted woman, who was willing to go to bat for a child she didn't even know. A swell of emotion that he was unwilling to identify filled his heart.

"I'll take you," said Jane softly.

Lisbon looked dubiously at Jane's half-wrecked car. "You think it will make it?"

"She's nothing if not resilient, Lisbon. She won't purr as sweetly as she usually does, but I'll get you there."

"You need backup, Boss?" asked Rigsby, equally worried about the safety of her transportation.

"Nah, thanks, guys. But I think Jane can handle it. Besides," she smirked, "he owes me. See you back at HQ."

Jane opened the passenger door for her, then got behind the wheel. He started the engine, cringing at the monstrous racket coming from the rear.

"I think we're even now," he told her in annoyance as he drove away. As they pulled out of sight of the others, Lisbon put her hand on his thigh. He glanced down at her caress, then back up to her shining eyes.

"Is there nothing I can do to make this up to you later?" she asked enticingly.

A sensual grin slowly spread across his face. "It's a long drive to San Francisco," he told her. "I'll probably think of something."

A/N: One more chapter to go! Hope you liked this installment. Please be so kind as to let me know what you think!