Author's Note: Thanks so much to all of you who sent me condolences and hugs in your reviews of the last chapter. Big hugs to you! I will try to keep the rest of the story more lighthearted, since I think we all need that right now. The more spoilers I read, the more I'm convinced of it!

Chapter 8: Trickery

Monday morning, Jane and Lisbon walked into the office, expecting to be the first ones there. But Fischer was waiting in the bullpen, sitting on Jane's couch. He immediately began thinking about ways to teach her it was off limits, but Lisbon took care of it for him.

"Agent Fischer," she said pleasantly. "You have your choice of Rigsby's or Van Pelt's desk. Rigsby's might be better, since you'll be working with Cho."

"Great." Fischer smiled at them. "How was your weekend?"

Jane cut Lisbon off. "Lisbon never tells us about her rare vacations. But doesn't she have a satisfied sort of glow about her this morning?"

Lisbon's glare could have cut through steel. Fischer wisely changed the subject and asked, "Did you have a productive weekend, Mr. Jane?"

"It was very productive. And parts of it were unexpectedly enjoyable," he replied. "How was yours?"

"It was nice. I had fun with some friends on Saturday, and then did chores and errands Sunday. One of which was reading the CBI employee handbook." She turned to Lisbon. "So I'm familiar with the regulations now."

"Great," Lisbon said. "Maybe you can inform Jane of a few of them sometime."

Jane grinned. "I know them, Lisbon. I just choose not to bow to a set of arbitrary rules rather than use my own judgment."

She rolled her eyes at him. "Considering some of the situations your judgment has gotten you into, maybe you should try following the regulations. You know, as an experiment. Or maybe just to mess with people's minds."

"Thank you, Lisbon. That gives me a great idea for April Fools' Day." He grinned rather foolishly at her.

"I look forward to that," she retorted. "It'll make a nice change from you egging Rigsby on to pull stupid pranks."

"Someone needs her coffee," he smirked.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "I was running late and didn't have time to stop," she said, not adding aloud that he was the one who'd made her late.

"Then allow me to go and fetch you some. Agent Fischer, would you like anything?" Jane added graciously.

"I'd love a coffee. Maybe I could go with you, learn the area?" she suggested.

"Sure, why not? I know Cho's order. Your usual, Lisbon? Or a latte, perhaps? You seem to have burned off quite a few calories this weekend."

"Keep speculating about my personal life, and I'll work off a few more disposing of your corpse," she threatened.

He chuckled. "Your usual it is. Come along, Fischer. I'll show you where CBI agents go when they need real coffee instead of whatever it is they brew in the break room."

"Behave, Jane," Lisbon called after them.

Fischer chuckled as they got in the elevator. "She really doesn't trust you, does she?"

"Meh. She just worries. She'd microchip me if I'd agree to it."

"You don't seem to mind."

He shrugged. "I can't honestly say I haven't given her reason to worry in the past. Besides, it's nice to know someone cares."

She was quiet as they left the building and headed for the coffee cart. "You led a lonely life while you were hunting Red John, didn't you?"

"Yes." Except he really hadn't, because Lisbon had been with him, never more than a phone call away. He just hadn't always let himself appreciate that.

"Now that he's gone, do you ever think about dating again? I mean, Agents Rigsby and Van Pelt got together, and Agent Lisbon's getting married. It seems a shame for you to stay lonely."

He was careful not to meet her gaze. "No. I won't be dating again. I found the woman I'm supposed to be with. Anyone else would just be second best."

Fischer nodded. "Your wife. But I imagine you could find plenty of women who would accept not being the love of your life, as long as they were a love in your life."

Jane grimaced. "That wouldn't be fair to them or to me. No. I'm done dating."

"That's a shame," she said, sounding regretful.

"Maybe, but that's the way it is," he replied as they reached the cart. He put in his two orders, and Fischer gave hers. Jane decided to spring for all three, since she was providing him with amusement.

On their way back, Fischer said, "There are rumors going around that you and Agent Lisbon were lovers."

"There are a lot of active imaginations at CBI. It was bad enough that Red John knew I cared about Lisbon; sleeping with her would have made her even more of a target than she was." Jane let his expression go grim.

"And then she found somebody else," Fischer guessed.

"He's a smart man. He swept her off her feet in the euphoria of Red John's death." Even though he hadn't planned it that way, he was glad he'd given her the ring and clarified where he stood before he left. If he'd just run off like he'd wanted, she would have had an even worse time while he was gone. Or maybe she really would have found someone else.

"Who is this mystery man? Someone she was already seeing, I assume." Fischer tried to sound merely curious, but he could hear how much she wanted to know.

"Nobody important. If you ask me, a woman who once dated Walter Mashburn could have done better." He put a little jealous edge on his tone.

"The billionaire? Really?"

"Oh, yes. She really made an impression on him. But he was too shallow for her." He couldn't keep the pride out of his voice.

Fischer smiled. "You're sweet on her, aren't you?"

Jane gave a wistful smile. "There's not a woman in the world who's her equal. I very much want for her to be happy. And her fiancé makes her happy. I'll never do anything to interfere with that."

Fischer gave him a curious look. "Kind of a tragic hero, aren't you, Mr. Jane?"

"Oh, drop the 'mister.' You're part of the team now. And I'm not any kind of hero. Just ask Cho or Lisbon." He was relieved when they entered the building and reached the line to pass through security. Cho was two places ahead of them, so Jane passed his coffee to him.

"Thanks," Cho said. He nodded at the cup still in Jane's hand. "Pissed the boss off already?"

Jane chuckled. "Not much. But if she doesn't get her caffeine, she'll be looking for someone to take it out on. I'd rather it not be me."

"Find a sense of self preservation in the back of your closet?" Cho inquired.

"Never fear. I intend to keep making things interesting," Jane assured him.

When they got upstairs, Lisbon came out to meet them and claim her coffee. Cho frowned at her. "You okay, boss?'

"Sure. Why?' she asked.

"You're walking funny. Did you sprain something this weekend?"

Lisbon turned bright red, and Jane bit down on his tongue to keep from saying anything that would get him killed on the spot. Which was pretty much anything at all.

"I'm fine," she finally managed to say, before turning and going back to her office.

Fischer said, "Well. I guess the sexy weekend was pretty sexy after all."

"Don't let her hear you say that," Jane advised. He couldn't resist adding, "That does improve my opinion of her fiancé, though."

Cho said, "I just hope she doesn't need to chase down a suspect today, or he'll never hear the end of it."

"True," Jane mused.

Cho looked at Fischer. "How about you look over a few of our open cases? Fresh eyes might help."

"I'd love to," Fischer said.

Jane put in, "If you develop any theories, let me know. I'm always happy to serve as a sounding board before you take an idea to Lisbon."

"Yeah," Cho said. "Jane's our strategist. Saves time if he comes up with a plan before we take it to Lisbon."

Jane was pleased he didn't need to coax Cho on board with hazing the newbie. But then, Cho had been around the entire time the FBI was harassing Lisbon, so it wasn't surprising he was looking for payback.

"Good to know," Fischer said.

mmm

They caught a case midday. After the trip out to view the body, in a gorgeous state park, Jane was amused that Lisbon sent Fischer with Cho to interview the people at the campsite nearby while taking him to visit the family. She was obviously suspicious of him but not Cho. Jane pondered ways he could pin everything on Cho, but then discarded the idea. He wouldn't repay Cho's loyalty with betrayal.

He wished he had some idea of how long this exchange program was supposed to last. But it seemed to be open ended, which meant he couldn't time some big scam so that they wouldn't have to work with a humiliated Fischer. And he truly did not want to make things harder for Lisbon, or Cho for that matter.

Of course, if the purpose of this program was to sniff out Red John allies, maybe the best thing to do was to achieve that so things could go back to normal. The problem was, he was almost sure Lisbon and Cho had cleaned up the CBI already. The real problem was the rest of the network, hidden away in agencies where they had the scope to do more damage. Like the FBI.

The other problem was that eventually Fischer was going to find out that he was the mystery man engaged to Lisbon. Once the FBI found out, the AG would probably take action to separate them. Jane had been pondering what he would do when that happened. Maybe he'd let the FBI coerce him into working for them in their ridiculous program and send Rigsby back to support Lisbon. Or maybe he'd just retire.

Well, in the short term, he could at least have a little fun. He'd lifted Fischer's badge off her during their coffee run and was looking forward to seeing what would happen when she realized it.

Lisbon was annoyed with him for being distracted during their interview, and she didn't even wait until they were back in the car before calling him on it. "What's with you? You were barely paying attention in there."

"None of them did it," he shrugged as they got in the car. "It was obvious. I devoted my considerable problem-solving skills to other matters."

"Oh? And what problems did you solve?" she retorted, slamming her door closed.

"Nothing yet, but I discarded quite a few impractical solutions, which is a necessary part of the process."

Lisbon started the car. "What's going on in that head of yours?" Then something occurred to her, and she gentled her tone. "Are you thinking about the house?"

"Hm? Oh. No. My eyes are firmly fixed on the future," he replied. "I was thinking we can't have our engagement party while Fischer is sniffing around. Unless of course we disguise it as a sort of reception for Rigsby and Van Pelt." He liked the idea of everyone but Fischer knowing what the party was really about.

Lisbon grimaced. He knew she was already regretting having started this deception, but she was well and truly trapped now. "Can we keep the lying about our engagement to a minimum?"

"Fine. But she's going to find out sooner or later. I haven't been able to come up with a solution for that problem yet, but I'm working on it."

"The solution is that one of us has to go work someplace else. If you won't go to the FBI, maybe I should. If they'll even have me."

She sounded tired, and he glanced at her in concern. "That makes no sense. You care about staying at the CBI; I don't. If one of us has to leave, I'll go."

"But what would you do?" She frowned.

"I don't know. Something fun, I hope." He reached for her hand. "Teresa, I came back for you. Not the CBI. I took this job again to make sure you would be okay. But it's never been important to me in its own right. If we can't work together and get married, then I'll quit."

She was quiet as she drove, and he didn't like the anxious look in her eyes.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

"You won't...go back to conning people, will you?"

He squeezed her hand. "No, sweetheart. Not while I have you in my life."

She cast a quick glance at him. "I see. So I have to stay with you for the good of society."

He chuckled. "You can tell your brothers that."

"Nice. I'll wait until they all stop believing I'm pregnant."

"Is that why you aren't in a hurry to set a date? To prove we don't have to get married?" He was relieved to have an explanation other than secret doubts for her reluctance to name the day she would marry him.

"I know it's silly," she sighed.

"Usually I love it when you're silly, but in this case I have to admit I'm not wild about it. But I'm glad to know you're not getting cold feet."

"You pick now not to know what I'm thinking?" she exclaimed, shaking her head.

"Even I'm not infallible. Especially if there's a possibility the answer might not be the one I want."

She smiled. "It's nice to know I'm not the only one who can be insecure."

"You have absolutely no reason to be insecure, ever," he told her firmly.

"Thanks. And neither do you." She squeezed his hand, then let go so she could make a turn.

mmm

The day was nearly over before Jane decided to put Fischer out of her increasing misery. She'd ransacked the place looking for her badge after she and Cho returned, to no avail. When Lisbon came out of her office to see what was up, Fischer regarded her nervously.

"Is something wrong, Agent Fischer?" Lisbon asked.

"I...I can't seem to find my badge," Fischer admitted. "I know I had it this morning."

Lisbon looked at the desk behind Fischer. "Isn't that it there?"

Jane congratulated himself on looking completely innocent as Fischer gaped at the badge, then pounced on it. "Yes! Um. So I guess everything's okay," Fischer said, perplexed but relieved.

"Good. See you tomorrow," Lisbon said pleasantly.

"Good night," Fischer said, making a hasty departure.

Lisbon pointed at Jane. "You. No more practical jokes." Then she turned to Cho. "And you. No more letting him."

"Right," Cho said. "Good night, Boss. Jane." He made his escape.

Lisbon regarded Jane with exasperation. "What did I tell you about playing nice?"

He grinned. "Oh, please. That was harmless. But if it will make you feel better, you can take me home and punish me. I'm due a sound spanking."

"Hush," she said, blushing delightfully. "But you can make it up to me by cooking me a good meal. And telling me who the killer is."

"The first I can do. The second is going to take me a while to figure out."

"Really? You're losing your touch," she teased. "Or is this case too pedestrian and banal to hold your interest?"

"It is," he said, "but in this case I'm more distractible than usual. There's this pretty girl, you see, and I'm almost sure she likes me."

She rolled her eyes as they headed for her office. "Who? Fischer? Is that why you stole her badge, because it's the adult equivalent of pulling her pigtails?"

"I will definitely not be pulling her pigtails. But you shouldn't feel bad for her. She practically asked me out this morning."

"Oh, she did not."

"She called me a tragic hero." Jane enjoyed the flummoxed look on Lisbon's face for a moment before she burst into laughter. He waited for her to get herself back under control, then added, "She feels bad for me because I'm determined not to date again and she's convinced I'm sweet on you."

"And she will stop feeling bad for you the minute she finds out the reason you're not dating anymore," Lisbon retorted.

"You're not jealous?"

"Why should I be? You're the one who's accountable to me, and you're not interested. Now if I find out you actually asked her out, we'll have a problem." Lisbon went back to work, doing a passable job of looking uninterested.

He chuckled. "No need to worry about that, my dear. I know perfectly well how lucky I am that you still have anything to do with me at all. I won't make you regret it."

"Good," she muttered. A moment later, she glanced up at him and gave him a mischievous grin, his favorite of her expressions. "Or I might have to spank you after all."

He grinned back, then leaned back on the couch and settled in for a nap.

mmm

The next morning, Lisbon insisted that they drive to work in separate cars, so Jane was by himself when Fischer called to him just outside the door to the building.

"Good morning, Agent Fischer," he replied, smiling. "Any thoughts about the case? I often find a good night's sleep does wonders for the cognitive processes."

"No thoughts about the case, no. But I did figure something else out," she replied. "Is there somewhere we can talk where we won't be overheard?"

Had she twigged to a member of the conspiracy already? Not possible, he thought. But maybe she thought she had. He hoped it was someone he wouldn't mind messing with, because this could really make his week. "Sure. I'll show you my favorite park bench."

He led her to the nearby Capitol grounds and settled in the bench with the best view. Fischer sat down beside him, looking nervous. No, he corrected himself, anticipatory. This should be good.

"I found out who Agent Lisbon's fiancé is," she announced.

Jane managed to confine his reaction to raised eyebrows. "That was fast. But I'm a little confused about why you feel the need to tell me, since I already know who he is."

"Of course you do. Because it's you." She folded her arms.

He laughed. "What, you actually think the reasonable, law-abiding Agent Lisbon would agree to marry a con artist?"

"I think she'd agree to marry the man she's stuck by for ten years, despite all the crap he's pulled."

"You're confusing loyalty with love."

"No, I'm sure they both played a role," she replied. "The day Red John was killed, you went home with her. You left her apartment the next morning and went on your little vacation. Then when you come back, suddenly she's engaged."

He wondered whether it was worth sticking to the con at this point. Probably not. "True. But as Lisbon is continually telling me, you can't build a case from strictly circumstantial evidence."

"You went home with her last night, too."

Dropping his nonchalant facade, he turned to face Fischer. "You were following us? Why?" he demanded.

"Your assessment of Agent Lisbon is only valid if you can take an objective view of her. Obviously that's not the case."
"Show me a person who can be objective about someone they've worked with for ten years and I'll show you a robot," Jane scoffed. "You had to know my assessment of her isn't objective. But I'd argue it's better informed than anyone else's."

"Not if you're blinded by love."

"I'm never blinded by anything."

"But you don't deny you love her."

"I deny that it's any of your business." He took a breath and tried to calm down.

"Sorry, but the FBI says otherwise. For one thing, as lax as the CBI has been lately with its personnel policies, she can be fired for being involved with someone under her supervision."

"You have absolutely no evidence that anything happened last night other than my crashing on her couch because I haven't found an apartment yet," he retorted.

"No, but I bet the Professional Standards Unit could turn something up. Do you think she'd lie under direct questioning?" Fischer eyed him with an interrogator's glare, reminding him that she wasn't a rookie.

Jane thought about whether LaRoche could be convinced to turn a blind eye. He was pretty sure he could, but it would all be pointless, because Lisbon was not going to lie under formal questioning. "She doesn't need to. I'll quit, the minute we're back in the building, and the problem is solved. Is that what you wanted?"

"No. And just because you quit doesn't mean Lisbon's off the hook. She still committed a breach of the CBI's professional standards, knowingly and repeatedly."

"Then what do you want?" Jane demanded, though he already knew.

"Come work with me, help me ferret out the moles in the FBI."

"I thought you were looking for moles in the CBI."

"The ones in the FBI pose a much greater threat."

"For you, maybe. Right now they're not bothering me. Why should I put myself in that situation?" he asked.

"Because if you do, nobody will care that you're shacking up with Agent Lisbon. You can even marry her if you like."

He bristled at her tone, but kept his own even. "I don't need your permission. And I don't like blackmail."

"You've certainly used it often enough," Fischer said, giving him a little smile. "Come on, Jane. We both know where this is going to end up. You aren't going to sacrifice Lisbon's career just because you're pissed off at me."

"I wouldn't be so sure. Maybe she's ready for a change too. Maybe we're secretly planning to move to Florida."

Fischer rolled her eyes. "Fine. Talk it over with her. I won't take any action until the end of the day."

She got up and walked off, just as Jane's phone buzzed with a text. It was Lisbon, demanding to know where he was.

Come join me on our bench, he texted back. Things to discuss.

If this is about the case, just tell me, she texted back. Obviously she hadn't drunk her second cup of coffee yet.

He pondered how to respond, and then decided not to. His silence would move her to action very effectively, he knew. She'd be here in under five minutes.

He strolled over to the coffee cart and ordered the biggest, sweetest coffee they offered. They were both going to need it.