Hey everybody! Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed! I really appreciate it! (And a small note to Lucy: Thank you so much, and I understood perfectly)

Alas, my fast updating can't continue forever. I'm going to be a little slower from now on, I actually have things to do ;P but I'll update as fast as I can. As usual, I hope you enjoy, and please reivew!

Scarlet Fever

It was Monday morning and Jane and Lisbon were in Jane's car, driving to Los Angeles in order to catch their flight. Since their wedding was supposed to be in LA, they had to drive there and then board a plane to Rosemont before arriving at their hotel. They were both anxious to get to the busy airport so they could sweep all this awkwardness under the rug and slip into their easy routine that they had recently picked up. But for now, you could cut the air with a knife it was so thick with tension.

"Teresa, you really need to relax, I'm not going to bite, hard." Jane said with a grin.

"What? I'm relaxed, I'm so relaxed it's a miracle I'm still awake, Patrick," Lisbon lied, putting emphasis on his name to let him know that she didn't miss his use of her given name. Their previous day had led to some awkward situations. They had to work on their alternative means of deception. Honestly, how could anyone expect her to focus on selling the story when Patrick's body was surrounding hers, his body like sweet flames against her skin? They eventually got it though; they found their rhythm and a way to move against each other, touching but not quite. It really was no wonder that her body was still humming hours later.

"My dear, it is so clearly obvious from your body language that you are anything but relaxed. You're fidgeting, tapping your fingernails and you can't look me in the eye. Not to mention that you are as sitting as far as is physically possible from me while still in your seat. Really my darling, it's not usually encountered, a woman who doesn't want to be near her husband on their honeymoon. Not unheard of," Jane added with a shrug, "But unusual."

Lisbon noticed the terms of endearment that Jane was using, and found that she liked them, despite herself. She usually did not appreciate being called 'dear' or 'honey' as she was neither an animal nor food. But when Jane said it, it didn't feel patronizing or condescending at all. It felt, well it felt like she was loved. Lisbon, who had not experienced this feeling often, found herself thoroughly enjoying feeling loved.

Jane was indeed making her nervous with all the emotions he was stirring inside her; feelings that she fought everyday to keep down. So she decided to turn the tables on him. She shifted in her seat so that she was right on the edge, facing Jane and started trailing her fingers up and down his arm in lazy patterns. She felt that he needed a healthy dose of his own medicine.

"Is this better?" Lisbon whispered huskily in his ear. To her satisfaction, he noticeably tensed at her sudden move. She could see that she was making him nervous, just as she had been moments ago, just as she was now, if she was being honest.

Jane visibly gulped at her close proximity. He had just been trying to get Lisbon to loosen up a bit, and that is exactly what happened. But, like most of his plans, it wasn't quite what he expected.

"I'm afraid, my dear, that if you don't stop, we may very well end up drifting into oncoming traffic." Jane said with a small chuckle. He could get used to teasing Lisbon whilst driving to a hotel for a break from real life. He could get used to talking to her about anything and everything, just enjoying her company. He could get used to kissing her shamelessly without objection, without resistance, without fear.

But Jane immediately locked down these thoughts for they were drifting into dangerous territory. Who was he kidding? He'd been in dangerous territory the second they sat in the car. It didn't help that she smelled like cinnamon and was wearing casual clothes, a lovely green summer dress that matched her eyes perfectly. His self-restraint astounded him; he was surprised that he hadn't pulled over multiple times to show her exactly what he thought of her ensemble.

"Patrick?" Lisbon asked tentatively, as if she wasn't sure he'd answer.

"Yes, Teresa?" Jane said, curious as to what she could possibly ask that would require the unspoken permission that he'd just given.

"Are you going to be someone else for this trip? I mean not just your name, but are you going to change your personality for this assignment?" Lisbon asked.

"I should think not. If I need to put on a charade, well more of a charade than I normally do, I'll be more likely to mess up, now won't I? And besides, it feels good to let loose once in a while" Jane said, stopping abruptly when he realized what he had just inadvertently revealed.

Lisbon always knew that Jane's cheery façade was just that, a façade, but was shocked to hear him openly admit it. Judging from the way he visibly clammed up, so was he. Lisbon didn't want him to shut her out. She'd been trying to get him to slowly open up to her since her started working with her. If anyone asked, she would simply say that it was only so he'd tell her when he had a plan, he'd let her in on it. But she knew that she just wanted him to be able to confide in her, to find healing in her and in turn, to confide in him. So she decided to share something about herself in return for his slip of the tongue.

"I know what you mean. It's tiring keeping up fronts." Lisbon offered.

"What do you know about fronts?" Jane asked, surprised that the fierce Agent Lisbon who didn't mix professional and personal lives, was willingly giving him a piece of information about herself. "I thought you were more of a what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of woman."

"Do you really think that I'm always the cool and collected no-nonsense force of nature that I am on the job?" Lisbon asked with a smile.

"Well… not all the time" Jane said sheepishly.

"Well I guess your mentalist abilities need some tuning up then." Lisbon said with a smile. "After work, I love nothing better than just to relax and let loose."

"Well then, I'll have to keep that in mind" Jane said jokingly.

"But if you tell anyone at work what I just told you, I will not hesitate to throw the contents of my office at you." Lisbon said, laughing.

In that moment, Jane thought that there was nothing more lovely than the sound of her laughter. He was practically drowning in her musical care-free laugh. He found himself unable to resist joining in, her laughing proving to be contagious. When their laughter died down, he found himself wondering why she didn't share this playful side of her more often. Only then, did he realize that she did, if only subtly. Her teasing and occasional jokes were her way of letting the repressed side of her character come to light.

For the first time since they had gotten their assignment, Jane was genuinely looking forward to it. It would make for awkward situations during and most certainly afterwards, but he was finally going to get a look into the woman that was Teresa instead of solely Agent Lisbon. He couldn't wait to start. He also wouldn't mind kissing those luscious lips of hers, but that was a different matter all together. Or was it? Weren't they both motivated by his feelings for the tiny woman beside him?

This lead him to thoughts of what she meant to him, and if his feelings would be enough. Would they be enough to make up for his past, for his present, for his future? His past mistakes, the ones that cost him his family, the ones that cost him her patience, the ones that cost him Lisbon's trust time and time again. Would his feelings be enough to make up for his dedication to revenge? And how could they possibly make up for the fact that he was going to break her heart when he killed or was killed by Red John. These thoughts plagued him and he engrossed himself in debates on what was most important to him, Red John or Lisbon for the rest of the car ride.

Lisbon noticed Jane's silence and wondered for a second if she had crossed some sort of boundary, if she had said something wrong. But one glance at him told her everything she needed to know. He was caught up in thoughts of his own and would be for a while. With this in mind, Lisbon retreated into herself as well, thinking of all the reasons she shouldn't be falling for her consultant.

When they arrived at the airport, Lisbon had only succeeded in realizing that all those reasons she shouldn't fall for her consultant, were the very reasons she already had.

xxxx

Jane and Lisbon had arrived in the terminal, and were waiting for them to announce that their plane was boarding. When their wish was finally granted, Jane and Lisbon were deep in debate about which Christmas movie was the greatest.

"Die Hard does not count as a Christmas movie, dear" Jane said.

"For the last time, it does! It is set during Christmas, at a Christmas party no less," Lisbon countered.

"It's about terrorists threatening to blow up a building," Jane insisted. "That is most definitely not the plot of a Christmas movie."

"It reinforces the spirit of family and protection. It shows one man doing whatever it takes to save his wife and others so that everyone can have a Merry Christmas." Lisbon stated.

"You only like it because Bruce Willis is in it." Jane joked.

"He is a great incentive to watch, but I stand by my point." Lisbon said, stubborn as ever.

"All right, you can have this one" Jane said, looking into her eyes lovingly.

As they boarded the plane, Jane was reminded of the fact that despite all the love-filled gazes and stolen kisses, once this week was over, they'd go back to normal; neither one believing that their love for the other was, in fact, reciprocated.

So... did you like it? Let me know your thoughts! :D Until next time!