Okay, I already posted this chapter but I wasn't too happy with it. So I changed a bit of it. But I also added on a part at the end for all of you who have already read this chapter. So I hope that you'll read it, and let me know what you think of it. :D

Scarlet Fever

Lisbon awoke to feather-light kisses trailed all over her jaw, neck and torso. She blinked her sleepy eyes and was met with the sight of Jane's smiling face. It was a lovely thing to wake up to, and she showed him as much. She met his lips with her own, giving his lips a new target. She kissed him hungrily, reminding them both that their activities last night had left them begging for more. She flipped them over and moved to straddle Jane when he pulled away. He stroked her hair, brushing it away from her face as she gazed down at him. As she looked into his eyes, Lisbon saw such unguarded emotion that she was momentarily stunned. He didn't normally let her see him, all of him, in this way and she found herself liking it. She could see his desire, his want, his reluctance, his grief, his love. She didn't know what fuelled these emotions and naturally assumed that his body was reacting to hers but he didn't want her, he wanted his wife, hence the reluctance, grief and love. This is why she moved to get off of him, she couldn't take anymore of this, she wanted him, yes, but she wanted all of him. She wanted him to love her and put her first. But she knew that wouldn't happen so she got a hold of herself and went into the bathroom.

When Jane opened himself up, he saw that she had misunderstood what he was trying to show her. He had been trying to wordlessly convey his love for her, but she thought that the love he showed was for his wife. He did love his wife, but being with Lisbon this week had forced him to think about things he normally pushed aside. He knew that he would never stop loving his wife, but he also knew that the way he loved Lisbon was different but by no means less powerful. He just had to find a way to show her that.

Jane followed Lisbon into the bathroom, kissing her shoulder to let her know he was behind her. She was going to have a shower and he decided that the shower would probably be a good place to talk, considering all the noise it made. He thought that if they whispered, maybe they could finally voice their feelings and have a real conversation, no pretences or walls to hide behind. It was a good idea…in theory.

"Teresa, I think we need to talk, about things, important things." Jane said. He was having trouble keeping his hands off of her under the spray of the shower and had encircled her waist with his arms while kissing her neck.

"Not now Patrick, please." Lisbon said. She didn't want him poking around her brain; it was messy enough as it was. She could barely control herself with him standing so close, peppering her neck with kisses from behind.

"But this is the only place we can talk, for real." Jane whispered against her skin. "There are so many things we need to say, so many things you need to hear."

"I can't, I can't deal with this right now. Not now." Lisbon said. She didn't want to hear him confront her about what she'd said to him the day before, and she didn't want to lie about loving him. She knew that she would have to, she wasn't going to burden the married man, but she was selfish and wanted to push it off until a later date.

Lisbon washed her hair and her body as fast as she could. She'd meant it when she said she loved him and one look in his eyes told her that he knew. Now everything was ruined, why did she say it? Why had she been so stupid? He was still married to his wife in every way that counted and she was just his boss. She didn't even want to think about what going into work everyday would be like. She'd made such a fool out of herself.

Jane was surprised by Lisbon's actions, hurrying through her shower and practically running away from him. When she'd looked in his eyes right before she left, he could see that she was embarrassed and ashamed. He could see that she knew that he knew she loved him but he could also see that she thought that was a very bad thing. He knew that he wouldn't get another chance during this assignment to talk to her about it and she would avoid him as best she could afterwards. He needed a plan, and normally he was a master of making plans. But Lisbon had a way of messing up his thoughts, he couldn't think straight when it came to her and he didn't want to mess it up anymore than he already had.

xxxx

Lisbon was lying on a towel next to Jane on the beach. Their earlier argument of sorts still weighed heavily on their shoulders but neither made the move to confront the issue. Instead, they both put on a smiling face and acted as if it was alright, not fooling the other, much less themselves. Lisbon knew that she'd have to talk to Jane about it sometime but she desperately hoped that that sometime would be far, far away. She needed to think of an excuse for her words, for her behaviour. But a part of her didn't want to have to lie, a part of her just wanted to tell him and have him love her back. It was silly, but that part of her kept her from coming up with excuses to be prepared with.

Jane looked over at Lisbon, she was reading a book and looked completely enraptured by it but Jane knew better. He knew that she was using it as a shield, that she was very guarded right now. But they were at a beach for crying out loud! He decided to make it his personal mission for that day to cheer her up and get her to relax. And what was more relaxing than a swim in the lake?

Lisbon looked up from her book and saw that Jane was no longer at her side. She was slightly alarmed when she realized she had no clue where he could have gone but her alarm was suddenly elevated when she felt two strong arms lifting her off the ground. She let out a very un-Lisbon-like yelp and turned her head to see her attacker. She was met with Jane's smiling face merely an inch from her own. He gave her a quick kiss on the lips and then before she knew what was happening, he was running into the water. She squealed with delight when the waves washed over her body. She absolutely loved the water and Jane knew that it would cheer her up. She let herself forget about their morning for the time being and simply enjoyed swimming with Jane.

"That's better." Jane said with a triumphant smile.

"What's better?" Lisbon asked.

"You're smiling again." Jane said. "I'm sorry about this morning; I didn't mean to upset you."

"It's alright; let's just forget about it, okay?" Lisbon said. Then she saw the disappointment in Jane's eyes and she added "For now at least."

"Sounds good to me." Jane said, splashing her with water.

"Patrick?" Lisbon asked tentatively.

"Yes sweetheart?" Jane answered.

"Have you thought about what happens after our stay here?" Lisbon asked. She was careful to phrase her question so that only Jane would know what she meant.

"I have, yes." Jane answered. "But I haven't thought of any scenario that I like."

"Why not?" Lisbon asked, curious. Jane leaned towards Lisbon and kissed her neck.

"Because in none of them am I able to do this." Jane whispered. He quickly captured her lips in a heated kiss before she could respond. He wanted her to think over what he said so he decided a change of topic, or rather activity, would allow her to do so. He licked her bottom lip with his tongue, tracing the outline and begged for entrance to her delicious mouth. She gave it without a second's thought, kissing him back greedily.

Lisbon was distracted by the kiss for the time being; it felt more real than any of the kisses they had shared so far. But Lisbon was confused at his words, what was he doing? She didn't like him messing with her feelings and that was exactly what he was doing. She knew that he didn't love her, their moment this morning before she bolted for the bathroom showed her that much. Then why was he saying such things? Why was he pulling her heart in every direction, forcing it to bend and break? She desperately wished that he would just stop his games and let her get back to avoiding and denying her feelings for him.

"We should probably head back." Lisbon said, breaking the kiss. "We don't want to be late for dinner."

One look in Lisbon's eyes told Jane that he hadn't fixed anything; in fact, he had just made it worse. How could he have been so stupid, thinking that a kiss would make it all better? He knew that there was no way that she was going to believe him here, when every word that left his lips had double-meaning. He would have to be patient with her and settle for talking to her straight out when everything was over and done with. It pained him to see her confusion, hurt, and longing in her eyes. But he needed to keep their cover so he put a smile on his face and acted like he wasn't breaking the heart of the woman he loved, cherished, adored.

"I'm tempted to skip dinner and go straight for dessert." Jane said, going in for another kiss. This earned a playful slap on the arm from Lisbon but she kissed him back with fervour.

"As great as that sounds, we really have to go to dinner. We're going to a nice restaurant tonight, we have reservations and everything." Lisbon said.

"Well, let's just hope you still have room for dessert. I do love my dessert." Jane said.

xxxx

In the woods beside the beach there was a cabin. In this cabin was an angry woman with the most up-to-date surveillance equipment set up watching the darling couple from afar. She had an undetectable camera in every place the couple had been or were going to go. She was currently watching the couple using his high-tech binoculars since she didn't have a camera focusing on the lake. She was far enough away that she could only see the newly-weds having a great time on the beach, teasing and playing with each other. She didn't see their eyes, those eyes that were filled with conflicting emotions that would give them away. No, she thought that she had found her perfect target.

She may have missed the signs revealing that the couple in question weren't newly-weds at all, but she did not miss the movements of Agent Gray's team. She knew that the CBI was watching the couple to try to protect them and bring her to justice. She laughed at how they thought they had the upper hand in this. They wouldn't catch her; she would make sure of that. It was inconvenient but she would have to change her strategy and strike when the CBI wasn't expecting it. Yes, she was looking forward to killing this couple, and since she was already changing the timing of her plan, why not make it interesting?

So, I like it better, how about you? I realized that I should probably get back to the whole serial killer aspect of the story (after some lovely reviewers mentioned it :p) so thanks to everyone who reviewed this chapter before I re-did it :S But yes, thanks. And please review this new and improved chapter. :D