A/N: Thank you for the reviews of the last chapter and on my two holiday one shots! Now, on with the story.~Calla
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Sniffing the cylindrical canister in her hand, Lisbon wasn't sure exactly what was in this blend beyond Oolong leaves. It smelled like the typical chai spice blend of star anise, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and a dash of pepper with citrusy overtones. Just what those citrusy overtones were was beyond her. There were lemons without a doubt; but, not your normal supermarket oranges since the scent was off. Maybe tangerines and some exotic orange like Mandarin or Blood. Jane would know. But, she didn't. Whatever it was, the scent was pleasant and the taste equally pleasant she was sure.
Taking another sniff, Lisbon realized she could have stuck to one of the normal teas like Earl Grey or Green and Jane would have been equally happy. She hadn't. She'd thought since he'd given over the whole precious top shelf in his tiny pull out pantry to various blends of both exotic and mainstream teas, she might as well pick one more off the beaten path. Not the white tea blend he kept for her with the cranberries, cherries, and luscious dried rose petals. That was a little on the sissy side for a man. But, one of the more robust blends instead which was exactly what she'd done.
Putting the lid back on the tin of loose tea leaves and returning it to the pantry, Lisbon went about her business of making the perfect cup of tea by pouring hot water over the filled tea strainer. There really wasn't much else to do but stand around waiting. Her coffee was brewing in the pot and Jane's tea was steeping in his cup. In a matter of moments she'd be carrying both drinks over to the table to see what was actually going on. She seriously doubted anything much. They'd spent most of the day futilely trying to crack whatever was on those flash drives they'd discovered without any notable successes.
The originals, not the copies Jane had dutifully allowed Cho to find and turn in. They couldn't risk something getting missed in the duplication so they'd elected to pass the second set of brightly colored electronics on to the Feds instead of the ones they'd initially found. She didn't know how he'd managed to get the information replicated so fast, and she didn't want to know. All that mattered was he had and they seemed flawless. No one had caught onto their ploy and she hoped they didn't. They'd be in a world of hurt if anyone did.
"Anything yet?" Lisbon rested her hand lightly on Jane's shoulder as she leaned over to stare at the computer screen.
While she didn't know exactly what the going on, she knew she was watching a highly specialized program doing what it was created to do. Namely going through the complex motions of decrypting the encrypted information from those flash drives faster than her eye could see. She got the gist of the operations if not the specifics. What she didn't get was how Jane ended up with such a program in his possession…Actually more than one from what she could see…Not considering they weren't the easiest to get your hands on. Not programs of that caliber. They were usually reserved for the government or hackers. That was the part she was scared of. She was clueless and she wasn't about to ask. It was in her best interests not to. Jane had his "special" ways few of which were on the up and up.
Besides, how those programs came to be in his possession in the first place probably had far more to do with deciphering the disk they'd gotten from Bertram's place than with their current case. The one Jane and the FBI were pitting against each other. Right now, her Mentalist had the power; but, things would quickly flip if the Feds ever realized the information he'd promised was basically worthless in its current form. It was in Jane's best interest to get a head start on breaking that code and revealing those names even if he had to keep his discoveries secret until the proper time for unveiling.
Five years really wasn't that long in the big scheme of things.
"What do you think?" Absently patting her hand, Jane motioned towards the screen still looking like so much gobbledygook. "I hope Grace is having better luck."
"She'll let us know if she is." Lisbon hoped she was having better luck, too. "I brought you a cup of tea."
Handing the cup off, Lisbon took her seat across the table from Jane. Their trip to Newark had yielded little beyond the hidden files they were currently working on. Now, they were camping out at his place messing with that cipher when they weren't at the office. In fact, she'd gotten that whole making a bed out of the dinette down to a fine art over the past couple of nights. As much as she'd rather be at her place which was larger, Jane's was safer considering what they were up to for one simple reason: No one really wanted to deal with his booby traps any more.
Not after the first couple of times Abbott's men attempted covertly searching his place while he was working a case. It really hadn't turned out so great for any of the agents involved. They'd all ended up with hefty dry cleaner bills on the up side and a couple of agents had ended up at the Emergency Room on the down if rumors were true. It certainly wasn't worth the repeated aggravation only to come up empty handed. They hadn't found anything criminal as they'd hoped and expected.
Miracle of miracles, it seemed Jane was walking the straight and narrow for however long it lasted. Lisbon wasn't holding her breath on that one. He'd be getting into mischief before she knew it.
He was already showing signs of being the old Jane again. The maverick keeping everyone out of the loop until the last possible second. The very one hoping back up would arrive in time to pull his sorry butt out of the fire before anything bad happened to him. While annoying, this was a Jane she was familiar with and one she could handle. In fact, she knew him well enough to know when to leave him alone because he was up to something. Take that whole Crystal the drug lord caper…She'd seen right through it even if Fischer hadn't…What could she say? It was classic Jane and she could live with him.
The Feds might be another matter.
Maybe she'd give Fischer a hint. Something simple along the lines of it the ring's still on, it isn't a date. He's up to something. Shaking out of her thoughts, Lisbon surveyed her surroundings. All in all, she really didn't mind hanging out in a silver sardine can as long as she was with Jane. It was kind of fun. Besides, she was enjoying the company and the easy camaraderie flowing between them. At the moment, things were actually better than old times. More natural and real than they'd felt in a very long time. Maybe not more real than that day she'd brought Jane socks in solitary and informed him they'd be working together. That was one of those priceless moments never to be repeated. But, close enough.
What mattered the most was she no longer struggled to keep Jane from getting lost in the darkness that was Red John and Jane no longer fought to keep himself tightly locked in that box he'd trapped himself in long before they'd ever met. They were both a lot freer than they'd ever been.
In spite of Abbott, Fischer, and the Feds best efforts to keep them confined.
The only bad thing she could see still going on was Jane was wearing that ring it was long past time he got rid of. Not tossed away or forgotten; nothing so crass. More like removed and put away for safekeeping as all priceless treasures should be. But, she'd never intimate such a thing to him.
It wasn't her place.
"Thanks." Jane took a sip of his tea. "I don't think we're going to hear from Grace any time soon. I don't think Rigsby's letting her work on this much if at all. She's probably sneaking around when he's not looking in the best case scenario."
Jane clearly expected Wayne to run some kind of interference between his wife and them. Lisbon suspected he was right. She also suspected his objections were falling on deaf ears. While her old agent hadn't been overjoyed at the prospect of decrypting a secret government file, his wife had jumped at the chance to test her newest software. Security was their business and this was a prime opportunity to expand their knowledge base.
Besides, Van Pelt thought it might be fun and said as much. Their usual jobs had been on the dull side lately. This was more like the old times they all missed even if Rigsby wouldn't admit it. He was too invested in the tried and true being stable and providing for his family rut to be a risk taker. He'd become a responsible man and she loved him for it. But, they needed a little spark of excitement every now and then or they'd turn into a couple of old fuddy duds before their time. This was just what the doctor ordered. It was nothing too dangerous while still titillating and clandestine. Who could ask for more?
Lisbon smiled at her memories as she caught Jane's weary eye.
"What do you say to calling it a day?" He asked as he turned his laptop off and shut it down. "If we hurry, there's a Poker game starting in about twenty minutes down at Ben's place."
"You've already found a Poker game?" Lisbon's brow rose slightly at her question. "Do they know you cheat?"
"We all cheat." Jane admitted. "I just do it better than the rest."
"And you want me to play a few hands of Poker with a table full of confirmed swindlers like you?" Lisbon fought to keep a straight face. "You've got to be kidding me."
"Yes, Lisbon, I do." Jane agreed. "Unless you're too rusty to rise to the challenge. It has been a few years since you've played."
"That's what you think." Lisbon's tone said she was raring for a fight. "I can cheat with the best of you."
"Really?" Jane's brow rose at her words. "Since when did you start cheating at cards?"
"Since I had three brothers and a Deputy PC who'd give you a run for your money." Lisbon admitted. "A girl's got to do what a girl's got to do. Besides, I play to win. I work too hard to hand my paycheck over to you without putting forth a decent fight."
"Well, well, live and learn." Shaking his head, Jane looked at her with a new level of respect. "Who knew Teresa Lisbon was a card shark?"
"Only when I have to be." She set him straight. "From what you just said, I don't have much choice. Surely you don't expect me to play it straight when no one else is? I'm giving as good as I get and I'm not apologizing."
"I expect nothing less." Dropping a kiss on the top of her head, Jane walked over to his closet to remove their coats leaving a perplexed Lisbon to ponder what all those crazy little touches and pseudo kisses he'd been indulging in for the past few days meant. "While it's not that cold at the moment, the temperature is rapidly dropping. I'd say it'll be fairly nippy before we're done."
"I'd say you're right." Lisbon agreed allowing him to help her into her black leather jacket. "Now, tell me about this Ben and the rest of the players."
"What do you want to know?" Jane asked not sure he was willing to tell her.
"What do you think?" Lisbon asked. "Everything you know."
"Now why would I give up an advantage?" Jane asked as he grabbed a bag containing homemade chips and dip from his favorite deli before locking the door behind them. "You should have to figure it out the way I did."
Silence hung in the air as they walked past several well lit trailers while Lisbon mulled his words.
"Don't worry." Lisbon finally said as Jane maneuvered her onto a path cutting sharply to their right. "I can do that."
"I'm sure you can and it'll be interesting to watch." Jane agreed spotting the well lit luxury RV ahead of them. "I will tell you this much. The guys all have visible tells if you look closely. You're a smart girl. You'll figure them out in the first few minutes."
"That's all I need to know." Lisbon agreed as she straightened her jacket. "Wow, that's a nice place. I'd say your friend Ben has money. Those things don't come cheap." She nodded in the direction of the deceptively plain travel trailer knowing the inside was where all the money went.
That particular RV was upwards of three quarters of a million dollars used at quick sale prices if she didn't miss her guess and probably over a mill sitting on a lot. She didn't want to know what it cost brand new. Not that she knew a lot about RV's anyway. Jane had given her a crash course when they were selecting his Airstream and that brand just happened to be among them. In fact, she knew some of the drivers on the racing circuit owned those coaches which was why she knew an approximate cost for the one she was looking at now. A well known driver had had his coach up for sale and it was very similar to this one. She and Jane had looked it up on the internet.
"Probably." Jane agreed. "We've never really discussed it. He had enough to buy that monster straight off the lot and maintain it for a couple of years so I'd say he's comfortable."
"At the least." Lisbon said. "So, how much to buy in?"
"Don't worry about it." Jane said. "That's already taken care of so the boys know you're coming which puts you at a bit of a disadvantage. They've had a few days to contemplate every possible strategy which you haven't had. However, you're Lisbon so I have every confidence you'll be able to beat a few hicks from the sticks."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence." Lisbon rolled her eyes at Jane's usual eloquence. "Do they know you call them that?"
"Oh, yeah." Jane said. "And I'm the con and the carney. You'll be the cute little thing or Honey Bun or something equally derogatory so get ready for it. It wouldn't be wise to pull out your gun and shoot them. Things could get rather messy if you do."
"Would I do that?" Lisbon asked sweetly already mentally going through the motions of doing just that even if her fantasies would never come to fruition.
"Oh, yeah." Jane said placing his hand on the small of her back. "You would about the time Henry gets on your last nerve. But, don't, it's just his way of breaking your concentration."
"Right." Lisbon said. "Like that's happening in the middle of a Poker game. I don't think so."
"I never said it would." Jane agreed. "I just wanted to give you the heads up the guys can play dirty when the mood strikes."
"So can I." Lisbon said in a dangerous voice. "I learned a lot playing with Bertram and his cronies." Ones whose names were probably on that nefarious list they had yet to unscramble. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought that up."
"Why not?" Jane asked. "We all know some if not all of those people are on that list. We just have to get the proof."
"Yeah, I guess we do." Lisbon said still not wanting to think about it. "I can't believe I sat across the table from the very people who were destroying the CBI from the inside out."
"I can." Jane said softly before knocking on the door. "We knew something was off, just not how high it went."
"I guess we did." Lisbon confirmed. "I never wanted to believe the nightmare was possible."
"Neither did I." Jane agreed speaking to the man who opened the door. "Hey, Ben, long time no see."
Allowing herself to be guided through the door, Lisbon took in the sea of faces staring back at her. Somewhere in the background she heard the door closing behind them and heard the crinkle of plastic as their offering of chips and dip was taken from Jane's hand. Blinking like she'd just emerged from the other side of the rabbit's hole; Lisbon became aware of Jane's hand resting possessively against her waist about the time she decided she could almost smell the testosterone flitting through the room. Even if she couldn't, she could see her escort's reaction to it.
Jane was sending out very clear signals to keep away. As subtle as he was, she couldn't ignore it. She'd worked in the midst of men for too many years to not recognize the signs. Not to mention having three brothers all younger than her. As a result, she'd lived through more than her fair share of pissing contests. She didn't need another one tonight even if it seemed to be exactly what she was getting. Resisting the urge to smack Jane a good one, Lisbon let him remove their jackets and drape them over the dinette bench instead.
"So this is the pretty little thing you said you were bringing?" Ben opened the dip and dumped the tortilla chips in a bowl before adding both to the overflowing snack table. "The lady cop?"
"Teresa Lisbon, former cop, CBI Senior Agent, and Police Chief of Podunk, USA." Jane corrected as he motioned Lisbon towards one of the three vacant seats. "She traded it all in to become a card carrying Fed so I'd say, yes, the pretty little thing is still a lady cop."
From the flair in her eyes, the pretty little thing was about to whip the tar out of one Patrick Jane.
"You don't say?" Ben observed quickly diffusing the situation before sliding into his chair while he watched Jane helping Lisbon off with her jacket. "Interesting."
Slipping onto the couch by Jane, Lisbon took in Ben's appearance with a hint of amusement. While she'd met some characters in her brief time in Texas, she'd yet to get this up close and personal with one who so avidly lived up to that almost comedic stereotypical description from the top of his genuine cowboy hat to the beady eyed armadillo belt buckle to the heels of his very expensive leather cowboy boots. What made it even funnier, there wasn't a person on the face of the earth who'd ever mistake Ben for a native Texan. Not with that Northern accent. He clearly was not. But, he'd embraced the idea of being an adopted son whole heartedly. Goofy dressing habits aside, he was a rather handsome man a little older than Jane if one went for the rustic, fair haired outdoor type.
Unfortunately for the gleam of appreciation in his eyes, she really dug the pretty boy, moody, pain in her ass, genius type sitting beside her. Or, she had for the past few years.
"Since you know Ben, let me introduce the rest of the gang." Jane watched Ben's shuffle just to make sure there wasn't any funny stuff. "The carrot top over there is Auger, he's into commodities whatever that means." Lisbon answered the nice looking redhead's finger wave with one of her own. "Henry over there retired from the Coast Guard a few years ago, Cheyenne owns two, no three, upscale bars around town, and Jamie is just a punk kid living off his Daddy's bankroll. Who knows, maybe he'll grow up one day; but, I'm not holding my breath on that one."
The attractive "kid" who was all of thirty-five if he was a day, surprisingly took Jane's inflammatory jibing with nothing more sinister than a cocky grin and a casually flipped gesture that said it all. Jane being Jane smiled back good naturedly knowing he deserved an appointment in a dark alley at the crack of dawn. But, it was all in fun. They all took pot shots at each other in the hopes of breaking the other's concentration because, to tell the truth of the matter, they were pretty evenly matched in the sneaky cheat department. That was why it was so fun to play each other.
Contrary to popular believe, Jane didn't always win the day.
As for the older, gray haired gentleman, it was easy to believe he'd been in the military given his bearing. The striking dark haired man giving her the too friendly once over was at least a quarter Native American if not more so his nickname was fitting. Not full blooded, but certainly enough to have a very distinctive appearance that showed well in room full of people. He was also used to using his looks as a potent weapon.
Well, it wasn't working on her.
Lifting her cards, Lisbon surreptitiously glanced around the table watching each of her adversaries. Jane hadn't been lying when he'd said the boys had betraying tells. It was taking her all of two minutes into the first hand to spot them all. Well, all except Jane's. She didn't expect to see his anytime soon; but, she'd figure him out before she was done. She might even win a hand or two before the game was over.
Catching Jane's eye, Lisbon smirked back with far more confidence than she was feeling. She doubted she'd last until the end of the evening. Unlike Jane, she stuck to her rules. When she got anywhere near $100 worth of losses, she was calling it a day even if Jane continued to play. Since it wasn't a high stakes game, she should be able to last a few hands before throwing the towel in. She hoped so.
This whole situation looked like fun.
#
"You did well, Lisbon." Jane said as he locked the door behind them.
"Yeah, I did, didn't I?" Lisbon agreed. "I made a lot more than I expected."
"Since you cleaned house, I'd say so." Jane indulged her. "However, I do have a problem with the fact you bowed out before I had a chance to win my money back."
"Hey, I did exactly what I said I was going to do." Lisbon reminded him. "I'd lost over a hundred dollars so I called it a night."
"Yeah, but you won the pot." Jane reminded her. "There must have been a good two grand in there."
"Doesn't matter." Lisbon said. "I stick to my rules. Besides, you guys didn't play but one more hand and you won so stop your grousing."
"Ben said you can play with us any time you'd like." Jane extended the invitation. "The guys really like you."
"I like them." Lisbon agreed. "Just let me know when."
"I'll do that." Jane hung her jacket in the closet before walking back to stand much too close to her. "You smell nice tonight."
"I smell nice tonight?" Lisbon stepped back to give him a strange look. "What brought that on? I smell like I always do. Same scent I've been wearing for years."
Cinnamon and spice, there was nothing new there.
"I've always thought you smelled nice." Jane admitted.
"Just a little nicer tonight?" Lisbon shook her head at how ridiculous he was being. "How can I smell better tonight when I smell the same? That doesn't make sense."
"It doesn't have to." Jane said. "Just know that you do."
Probably largely because he'd spent the past several hours watching other men stare at his Lisbon when they thought neither of them was looking. That was part of the reason she'd won tonight. He couldn't keep his mind on the game. Oh, and she'd not only smelled nice, she'd been particularly pretty staring at her cards with those big emerald eyes and the tip of her tongue sticking out in extreme concentration.
No, she'd been quite lovely in that perky, alert, bright eyed, rabbit on a sugar rush, Lisbony way he so rarely but hoped to see more.
"Whatever." Lisbon said. "You're in a mood tonight."
"I suppose I am." He was in a mood and he was going to act on it.
Leaning forward Jane gave Lisbon a toe curling kiss that, regrettably, didn't last nearly long enough.
"Have you lost your mind?" She asked.
"Hardly." Jane responded. "I've been waiting for the right moment to make my move."
"And you think that moment's now?" Lisbon asked. "What's gotten into you?"
"Nothing." Jane said. "Has the thought crossed your mind I might have wanted to do that for a while now?"
"I can't say that it has." Lisbon answered semi-honestly knowing it wasn't so much that the thought hadn't crossed her mind as it was she'd refused to allow it to.
"Has the thought crossed your mind you've wanted me to do it for nearly as long?" Jane continued as though she hadn't said a thing.
"Nope." Lisbon was lying through her teeth and they both knew it. "I can't say that either."
"Liar." Jane called her on it. "You might be able to lie to yourself; but, you're not lying to me."
"What I'm not doing is playing little Jane games." Lisbon corrected him. "We've been doing it for years and I don't want to play anymore.
And truthfully, I didn't expect you to jump me as soon as we walked through the door. You've never done that before."
That wasn't exactly true either. He had done similar though not exactly the same. It honestly wasn't like Jane had never kissed her before. Not if you counted on the forehead or on the cheek and that rare, meaningless peck near the lips in times of danger. It was more that he'd never kissed her like that…with obvious intent.
"Neither did I." Jane said. "But, I'd like to do it again."
Blinking at him, Lisbon didn't have time to say yeah or nay when he stepped forth to press his lips against hers. Having a what the hell moment, she decided to enjoy it in ways she hadn't the first time around. It had been a long time since a man had touched her much less given her such a passionate kiss. It certainly didn't hurt that man was Jane. Wrapping her hands around his neck, Lisbon rose on her toes to press into a very enjoyable moment she hoped wouldn't end before she was ready.
Breaking their kiss a few moments later, Lisbon decided Jane had the most beautiful eyes. He truly did. That was particularly true when they were stormy and befuddled like they were now. It was a look she hadn't seen often and she found great comfort in the fact Jane could be as confused as she was.
He should be.
He'd just kissed her like there was no tomorrow with the evidence of his other life still in plain sight. Something about that just wasn't right. Or, maybe, it just didn't sit right with her. She knew plenty of women who honestly wouldn't care. But, she did. Seeing that ring made her feel like maybe Jane was considering having his cake and eating it too. That wasn't happening. Not with her. While she'd never ask him to forget Angela and Charlotte Anne; they weren't stepping into a future while he still clung stubbornly to his past.
It wouldn't be fair to either of them and she wasn't going there.
"Call me when you're ready to take this off." Lisbon lightly rubbed the ring on his finger. "We'll talk. Until that happens, this is as far as it goes." Pensively gazing into his eyes, she rose on her tiptoes infusing all the longing in her soul into one last gentle kiss. "I'm going to bed now. We need to rest while we can. Tomorrow's going to be a long day."
As though the case at hand weren't enough, they were on call for the new cases coming into the Bureau and come in they would…More than one…She was sure of it and she was never wrong. Not with that fringe of darkness licking at the periphery of her consciousness. She knew the feeling well. It was one seasoned cops knew well.
To sum things up, she'd say foreboding hung in the air.
"I suppose it will." Jane agreed with her seemingly random observation.
He knew better. When Lisbon made a statement like that, he'd take it to the bank. That sixth sense dedicated cops developed after years of service was firing off and she was rarely wrong. If he had to guess, he'd say they would be busy tomorrow. Very busy and it wouldn't be pretty. He was sure of it.
"Sleep well, Lisbon. I would offer to let you share my bed, quite innocently of course: but, I doubt you'd take me up on ir." Jane tossed the offer out there anyway.
"You'd be right." Lisbon agreed. "Nice try though. The puppy dog eyes are a nice touch. They might work on some things; but, not this. That's so not happening any time soon. Now, get out of here and let me sleep."
Hearing that firm note in her tone, Jane knew there was no reason to push any further. Lisbon wisely wouldn't give in. But, he would.
"I can do that." Jane stepped back to gaze into Lisbon's eyes before glancing briefly at the ring on his finger clearly deep in thought. "Sleep well, My Dear."
"You, too." Lisbon resisted the urge to reconsider.
Turning, Jane headed in the direction of the bathroom knowing he had a few minutes to indulge in his nightly ablutions before Lisbon needed the room.
Watching his retreat towards the back of the trailer, Lisbon removed her bedding from the storage bins under the dinette seat. Lowering the table and pulling the bench pillows in place, she made her bed with practiced ease before hurriedly changing into her warmer pajamas while Jane was otherwise occupied. She wouldn't put it past him to try to sneak a peek.
"All done." Jane said as he strolled into the room to steal one last kiss. "Sure you won't reconsider my offer?"
"Positive." Lisbon said what he expected to hear. "Not with the way we were kissing each other. The cuddling wouldn't stay innocent for long."
There was no reason not to state what they both knew.
"Would that be a bad thing?" Jane asked honestly. "While not my intent, I should hardly think being intimate would be the end of the world for either of us."
"Not the end of the world, no; but, not a smart move either." Lisbon corrected him. "Things are heating up too fast and I don't want us to be just another roll in the hay. I hope you feel the same."
"You would never be just another roll in the hay." Jane agreed.
"That's what I'm afraid of." Lisbon's eyes rolled towards his ring. "But, we both know I can't compete with that." She said quietly. "I'm not willing to try."
Knowing she was right, Jane gave a slight nod before dropping a chaste kiss on her head.
"We'll revisit this." Jane said quietly. "Don't think we won't."
"I know." Lisbon agreed. "Maybe we'll both be ready when we do."
It wasn't necessary to say neither of them was at the moment. Jane still had family issues to resolve and she had issues of her own. Like her failsafe habit of bailing on a relationship before she got in too deep. That wasn't what she wanted with Jane. She wanted to give them a real, fighting chance. She couldn't do that right now.
"Maybe we will." Jane agreed. "Sleep well, Lisbon."
Watching him head for his bed, Lisbon briefly wished things were different before she crawled onto her mattress and settled comfortably under her blankets. Closing her eyes, she contemplated the situation unfolding between them. It wasn't that she was against the idea of drifting into something more with Jane. She wasn't. Not really. It would be different she was sure; but, not necessarily in a bad way. For all of his untamable zaniness, she genuinely liked him for goodness' sake…more than liked him…and she was strongly attracted to him. She had been for years. But, she wasn't a fool and she wasn't asking for trouble. Not the kind coming with getting romantically entangled with Jane.
Not the kind that ended with a shattered heart.
If she thought Bertram, MacAllister, and the demise of the CBI had wreaked havoc on her life, she hadn't seen anything yet. Not where Jane was concerned. If she'd learned one lesson and learned it well over the years of their acquaintance, it was that looks were very deceiving…Especially Jane's placid demeanor…He was anything but the indolent image he projected. She'd learned that the hard way and she wouldn't make the same mistakes their quarry did.
She'd never underestimate Jane or his affect on her equilibrium.
She was far too wise to fall into such a trap even if she was loathed to admit what he'd proven over and over again. That, for her there was nothing more dangerous than tangling with Jane. She'd have given up and left him a long time ago if that weren't true. She'd never have worked so zealously to save him from himself. She sure as hell wouldn't be working for the Feds or still trying to keep his rear out of the frying pan. She'd have kept her old PC job. The pay was better and the hours less. She could have died of boredom for a few years. It wasn't like a decent retirement was that far away.
That wasn't what she'd done.
As much as she hated to admit it, Jane had crooked his little finger and she'd come running. However, that was a two way street. He'd refused to work without her, so technically, the FBI had come running. All she'd done was take them up on their offer which she'd gladly done. Though she'd deny it, she'd had no other choice. She'd been slowly dying and withering away. She missed working with Jane and the unique challenges he'd presented. More than that, she'd missed her friend terribly.
Snuggling down in her bed, Lisbon accepted the ugly truth there was no sense fighting.
Somewhere along the way, her Mentalist had become a guilty addiction she had no intention of breaking.
#
Hopefully, I've gotten the left out words and most blatant typos fixed. Maybe even some of the grammaticals and awkwards sentences with this fifteenth look through on 01/11/13. However, it's not property edited by a long shot; but, this is about as good as we're going to get for fanfic. Thank you for reading in spite of me! :) ~Calla