A/N: Thank you SO much for all the reviews last chapter. MUCH LOVE! Hope y'all enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 13

Patrick sat, staring into space upon Lisbon's office couch, with Lisbon's hand slipped inside his. After a few moments, he snapped out of his trance-like state and looked around at the dainty woman sat beside him.

'I'm sorry.'

'For what?'

'What I said to you at the hospital.'

'Wait...that isn't what you're upset about is it?'

'No...but I need to say it.'

Lisbon nodded slowly.

'I didn't mean to be so blunt and stupid as I was.'

'Well, you don't love me, do you?' Lisbon smiled slightly, looking at their intertwined hands, 'So it wasn't as if you should have said anything else.'

Patrick simply stared at her.

After a few moments, looking into Patrick's eyes, Lisbon's face was suddenly straight as a ruler. 'Wait...'

Patrick remained silent, switching his view to his lap.

'What...why didn't...' Lisbon wasn't sure what to say. She was completely lost for words. A lump was forming in her throat.

'You love me?'

'Maybe...' he murmured indecipherably.

'What?'

Patrick's heart was pummelling in his chest, threatening to leap out and run away. By doing this...he was actually moving on from his family. He was admitting that he could actually be happy with someone new. It was scary as hell...what he was doing right now. And maybe he should have thought out his replies a little better, because he had no idea what to say now. The brilliant charmer had no idea what to say to the woman he loved. He felt like a school boy, blushing madly in the school yard, stood in front of the girl he had always had a crush on.

'I think I love you, Teresa.'

Lisbon swallowed hard. Her breathing was speeding a mile a minute. Or maybe a mile a second would be a more fitting description.

'You...love me?'

'I think so...'

Patrick looked up at her, his piercing green eyes penetrating hers; searching for something he wasn't sure what. He slowly brought his hand to her cheek, causing Lisbon to swallow hard.

He couldn't remember how long ago it had been when he had last done this. As he stared into Lisbon's eyes, it was like he had forgotten how to do it, and was having his first kiss again. He tried to level out his breathing, but he couldn't seem to stop each breath coming out raggedy. He leant forward gradually, so very achingly slowly. Butterflies rammed the walls of his stomach, fighting to be free. The lump forming in his throat was almost choking him as they came within millimetres of each other.

Lisbon's hurried breath washed over his face in warm waves. Her eyes were hooded as Patrick drew closer. She now longed for the contact that would surely come. She drew in a sharp breath as Patrick's soft lips brushed gently over hers. Her eyelids fluttered closed. She pressed her lips more firmly onto his. The pace wasn't fast, but it didn't need to be. Lisbon's hands travelled to Patrick's neck, resting tenderly either side, tugging him in gently. She realised how much this meant for Patrick. To be moving on from his family, his wife, was a huge step. And she appreciated that. And she was honoured that she obviously meant enough to him to be the one that he would move on to.

Lisbon pulled away gently, looking carefully into Patrick's eyes.

'I think I love you too...' she murmured, completely forgetting every ounce of work composure that she should have. Not getting romantically involved with colleagues and all that...straight out the window.

'You sure you're ready to move on?' she asked, just to check he wasn't going to regret it later on.

Patrick looked down at his hand for a moment, at the band of gold that bound him to his wife. He shakily brought his thumb and index finger to trap it and pull it off. He took Lisbon's hand in his own and turned it over, palm up, placing the ring square in the centre. Closing her fingers round it, he brought his gaze back to Lisbon.

'I can't wear it forever.'

Lisbon looked slightly shocked as she looked down at her enclosed fist.

'Have it. Know that you're the one I want now.'

She looked speechlessly up at Patrick, nodding shakily.

Patrick kissed the corner of her mouth softly.

Smiling carefully, he pulled himself off of the couch and left the office, new fire filling his heart. With a strong stride he made his way back to the interrogation room. He pushed the door open without hesitation.

'You know what?' he told Bliss, who turned to look at him, 'I don't care if you don't help us, because we're gonna catch Timothy without you. We're gonna lock him up to rot in a cell for the rest of his life, and I'll do my best to get you for obstruction as well. So there. You pitiful, snake.' Patrick finished.

Bliss' eyebrows creased together.

Patrick turned to leave, but paused, twirling round again and marching meaningfully back in. Reaching across the table, he tweaked Bliss on the nose with a satisfied nod, causing her to flinch back with a fiery, burning glare. He made his triumphant exit and slammed the door behind him.

Returning the Lisbon's office, he plonked himself down on the couch again. He saw that she was still staring at his ring, nestled carefully the centre of her palm.

'I just had to sort something out...' he told her, 'You alright?'

She nodded, seemingly still speechless.

Bringing his hand to her cheek, he kissed her forehead feather light.

'What about work?' she asked him, her brows crumpling together slightly.

'What about work?'

'Um...we're not s'posed to have relationships with colleagues?' she told him, looking apprehensive.

'Meh. Rules,' he dismissed the subject with a wave of his hand.

Lisbon still looked uncertain.

'Well, if you're that bothered about it,' he looked into her big green orbs, 'You can think of it as a friendship...with benefits.'

A smile tugged at the corner of Lisbon's mouth.

'Ok,' she murmured, liking Patrick's proposition, 'But why are you suddenly all happy and ok about it though?' she asked, noting the change in behaviour since he'd re-entered the room.

'I wasn't all happy and ok with it?'

'No. You were like a mouse before you left the room,' Lisbon smiled, 'You were nervous.'

'And?' Patrick answered bluntly.

'Don't worry.'

Patrick narrowed his eyes at her, wondering what she was getting at, but the only reply he got was her lips pressing on his.

Rigsby approached Lisbon's office with a case file tucked underneath his arm, licking his fingers free of the grease from the portion of chips he'd devoured while working. His hand landed on the door and he almost pushed down...until he saw through the crack in the blinds. He shifted himself to gain a better view and his eyes widened. His hand recoiled from the handle. He could feel himself blushing as he watched his boss and his colleague, their lips grazing over each other's.

He never thought he'd see the day when Lisbon would break the rules. Or, indeed, the day when the two concerned people would be kissing each other. His eyebrows raised and he back away, scratching the back of his neck. He guessed telling Lisbon about the important breakthrough he'd made, tracing the call that Bliss had made before they burst through the door, would have to wait.

Cho and Van Pelt watched the forensics team order the burnt wreckage of the Red John car to be towed from its place on the bank. They would have to wait for the vehicle to finish being processed before they could do much more. They would have to go back to the CBI to see if Rigsby had found anything else out. They lingered just behind the crime scene tape until the car had been loaded up onto the truck and began to disappear towards the PD.

Cho looked over at Van Pelt as the wind whipped her long red hair loose of its once neat ponytail. She nodded towards the SUV, trying and failing to bring her hair back under control. Just as the younger agent clambered into the driving seat, her phone started ringing noisily, the tinny speakers causing pain to human ears. Unclipping it from her belt and shuffling into the seat properly at the same time, she flipped the phone open and held it up to her ear.

'Rigsby? ...ok...thanks...bye.'

Cho looked expectantly at Van Pelt once his seat belt was securely clipped in.

'Rigsby traced the call that Red John's mom made before we caught her. Found a mobile.'

Cho nodded. 'Where did it trace to?'

'A gas station near the Matthews' house.'

Cho nodded again. 'Let's go then.'

Van Pelt keyed the ignition and pushed her foot down on the accelerator steadily, pulling away from the now empty scene.

Half an hour later, Patrick stepped outside Lisbon's office, quietly shutting the door behind him. (This time wasn't all spent on kissing Lisbon, you understand). He looked downwards, checking the tell-tale tan line that encompassed his ring finger. It felt strange, not having his wedding ring on there anymore, but at the same time, it felt so liberating...

The corner of his mouth twitched with a smile. He briefly looked over his shoulder, the smile widening. Rubbing the pale band of skin on his finger with his other thumb and index finger, he made his way towards his own couch with a spring in his step.

Patrick barely noticed when Rigsby gave him a look as he happily landed on the soft brown leather and nestled his head onto the armrest.

'Uh...Jane?'

Patrick sighed happily, closing his eyes and folding his arms across his chest. 'Yes, my dear Rigsby?'

Rigsby held a breath, unaware of how to proceed. He was beginning to doubt his good sense in starting this conversation.

'You rang?' Patrick tried again.

'Uh...where were you? Just now?' He knew full well where Patrick had been, but he wanted to know how Patrick would answer.

'Talking with Lisbon. Why?'

'Oh, no reason. Just...wondering.'

Patrick's eyes opened and narrowed. He sat up again, looking at Rigsby.

'Why the pause?'

'What pause?' Rigsby asked innocently.

'The pause between 'just' and 'wondering'.'

'There was a pause?'

'Yes...'

'Oh.'

'Rigsby. What's wrong with you?'

Rigsby looked around himself. 'There's something wrong with me?'

'Yes. You're very...tense.' Patrick narrowed his eyes at him.

'Am I?'

'Yes.'

'Oh...'

'Tell me.'

'Tell you what?'

'Tell me what's wrong with you.'

'Nothing's wrong with me.'

Patrick stared expectantly at the agent.

Rigsby took a deep breath in. 'OkIsawyouandLisbonkissing!' He blurted.

'I'm sorry? Could you repeat that? But this time, with actual words.'

Rigsby grimaced. 'I saw you.'

'You...saw me?'

Rigsby nodded stiffly.

'Well I'm not exactly hidi-' Patrick suddenly realised what Rigsby meant. 'You...saw me?'

Rigsby nodded again.

'Uh...' Patrick started.

'Seriously, man...what happened?' Rigsby asked nervously.

'Uh...that's none of your business,' Patrick answered, slowly descending back onto the couch.

Rigsby peered over his desk. '...Where's your ring?'

'And...neither is that.'

'But you know you can't have relationships inside the team, right?'

'Yes.'

'So what...'

'Shush, Rigsby.' Patrick closed his eyes and descended into as believable a sleep as possible.

'Jane!' Rigsby yelled under his breath, glancing sideways as Minelli walked past the bull pen.

But it was clear that Patrick wasn't going to reply. He sank into his seat again with a huff, but he was far too distracted now to do anything work related.

Cho and Van Pelt dropped out of the SUV onto the sun-hardened ground outside the gas station. They searched left and right for anything that would give them answers. A few dusty old motors were parked beside the shop, and a single shiny silver jeep rested beside a fuel pump. It seemed quiet enough for tumbleweed to skip across the scene before them, yet none ever did. And no evidence immediately came to pass.

Cho began to stride across the station towards the shop, and Van Pelt soon followed behind, trying to shield her eyes from the dust and grit flying upwards from the cracked ground. A strong smell of petrol filled their nostrils as they passed the faded, old fuel pumps. The driver of the jeep exited the shop, a small bell ringing as the door opened. Cho caught the door and slid inside, away from the flying dust. He held it open for Van Pelt to follow, but she never did catch it. He looked around, searching round the pumps and checking by the SUV. Eventually his eyes came to rest on the red head agent, who was stood staring at the ground, her hand resting on her gun holster. Cho's eyes narrowed and he briefly glanced at the shop keep before stepping outside again and walking to Van Pelt's side.

'What is it?'

'Look...' she pointed at the ground before her, and Cho finally noticed it.

He stared, wordlessly, at the Red John smiley that stained the dirt covered ground in rapidly drying petrol.

'There's no other sign of Red John, is there?' Van Pelt asked worriedly, her eyebrows knitting together.

Cho shook his head, knowing exactly what she meant.

'Then why did he leave this here?' Van Pelt looked round at Cho.

'Hey, boss,' Rigsby greeted, walking into Lisbon's office and shutting the door behind him.

'Rigsby.'

Lisbon looked up from her desk watched him suspiciously.

'What is it?'

'Uh...you and Jane.'

'What about me and Jane?' Lisbon asked innocently.

'I...um...saw you. In here.' Rigsby pointed at the floor beneath his feet.

'It has been known for me and Jane to share the same space at a given time...what's your point?'

'No. I saw you! You know...kissing?' Rigsby hushed the last word, his cheeks burning slightly.

'Kissing?' Lisbon laughed, 'Me and Jane? Kissing?'

'Yeah...'

'Why would I do that?'

'I don't know...but you were doing it!'

Lisbon narrowed her eyes at Rigsby.

'What?'

Rigsby laughed nervously, 'You were kissing Jane. Why?'

'I wasn't kissing Jane.'

'Yes you were,' Rigsby narrowed his eyes.

'No...I wasn't.'

'Yes you were!'

'No I wasn't.'

'Yes... Oh, never mind...' Rigsby gave up, putting his hands on his hips and swiftly leaving the office.

Van Pelt and Cho stood over the rapidly disintegrating smiley, as if something might just magically appear that would provide all the answers. And when it seemed that nothing would, Van Pelt suddenly spotted something on top of the faded fuel pump from which the smiley had obviously been drawn.

'Look...' she pointed to a piece of paper weighted underneath a small rock. Cho approached behind her as she pulled the stained scrap out and began to unfold it.

'Don't look round...' Van Pelt read the scrawled message. 'What does tha-'

Cho suddenly fell like a dead weight behind her with a soft grunt of pain.

Van Pelt swirled on the spot, her ponytail flying around after her and swishing across her neck, right into the sights of a dull carbon steel gun barrel.

'Don't. Move.'

A/N: RAWR. whatever could happen to our poor Van Pelt? Reviewsies pwease! :D