A/N: Ok, so I LIED. This isn't the final chapter. Yeah, never take note of what I say if it's to do with planning. Because my planning always fails. XD
And THANK YOU SO MUCH all of my reviewers who have been truly epic and got me to 100 reviews. Well, 104... THANK YHOOOO! It's quite exciting really. Love y'all. I offer you all pancakes and cookies. :D
Enjoy the new chapter...

Chapter 16

Teresa Lisbon had refused to get all broken up and teary about Red John's involvement with her brother's death. She had dragged herself down one dark hole, she wasn't about to let herself into another one. She already felt weakened because of how she had behaved in front of, and to Patrick when she first heard the news, and she didn't want to go down that path again. And so when they received a new case two days later, Lisbon was relieved. She was just about to leave the office, her badge clipped on and her glock securely put away inside it's holster, when Patrick came tottering in, not knocking as usual.

'Lisbon.' He said bluntly.

'Yes, Jane?'

'Um...'

'What? Spit it out, we've got a new case and I need to get there pronto.'

Patrick's brows creased, about to ask his question, but then seemed to think of something else.

'Why do you still call me Jane?'

Lisbon looked up at him. 'We're at work.'

'Even when we're out of work. I mean...are we still...?'

'It's just force of habit.'

'You didn't answer the second part.'

'...Look, this can wait. I've got a crime scene to attend.'

'No it can't. The crime scene can wait. The universe won't implode if you're a little late.'

'The sheriff will though...'

'And?'

Lisbon breathed out heavily, leaning on her desk with one hand.

'Ok. I'm sorry I haven't seemed to have taken much notice of you recently...I'm just a bit distracted...would dinner tonight make you happy?'

Patrick smiled. 'Yes it would.'

'And I'll make sure I call you Patrick.'

Patrick's smile widened.

'Now can we go?' Lisbon asked impatiently.

Patrick stood back, holding the door open and offered for Lisbon to walk out with a grand gesture of the hand.

'An officer called it in about half an hour ago. Female victim. Homicide. The engine was still running when they found her. Coroner says she's been dead around two hours.'

Lisbon walked beside the sheriff, Patrick trailing closely behind. They walked underneath the black and yellow crime scene tape threaded around the area.

Before them, on a quiet Sacramento road, was a Jaguar XJ convertible, its roof down, revealing a young dark haired woman slouched over, her head resting on the steering wheel. Give the scene a fleeting glance, and it would have just looked like a crash, but on closer inspection, one could see a bullet hole perfectly central in the back of her neck. Her hair was tangled around the wound, matted with congealed blood.

'Do we know who she is?' Lisbon asked, taking in the scene carefully at the same time.

'No. We waited for you lot to arrive before we moved anything. There might be an ID in the purse.'

'Ok...' Lisbon pulled on a pair of latex gloves and started looking inside the vehicle.

'Seems she was shot from the back seat,' the sheriff added.

'Well, how did she not see the attacker then? Before she got in the car. It's a convertible,' Patrick stated. 'I mean, you'd have to be blind to not see someone crouching in the back of your car when the roof's down.'

The sheriff looked blankly at him and shrugged.

Patrick turned his attention back to the convertible, noting a receipt on the floor of the car from a gas station. 7:25am. Only half an hour before the murder. She obviously came from the gas station, so the attacker couldn't have been in the car before she left the house. Or she'd have been killed already. He would have said that she was shot from outside, which would make more sense, but her head was positioned straight on, and the blood spatter was directly in front of her, on the inside of the windscreen.

He watched Lisbon pick up the scattered remnants of the victim's purse and search through for an ID, turning up nothing.

He noted how the victim had smooth, soft skin. Probably attended a spa regularly.

'No ID, but there's a membership card for Dalton's Health Spa,' Lisbon announced, 'Kelly Lutsch.'

A smile flickered across Patrick's face.

He noted the victim's clothes; a smooth white blouse, skimpy grey waistcoat and designer jeans. She was a middle class girl, but she did well for herself, and liked to treat herself on the odd occasion. The small bag of chocolate just visible inside the car door was a bit more proof of that.

The car was probably a present from a well off father, or maybe just another treat. She looked like the kind of person who, if she wanted something, she would work hard to get it.

Patrick suddenly looked up and started to walk away, back to the SUV.

'Where are you going?' Lisbon asked, the purse held before her.

'I'm bored.'

'You can't leave.'

'Well I could, if I really wanted to...but no, I think I'll take a nap.'

Lisbon rolled her eyes, 'Suit yourself.'

'Don't worry, I will...'

The sheriff eyed Patrick suspiciously as the blonde haired consultant threw the crime scene tape above his head and clambered back into the dark SUV, slamming the door behind him.

Twenty minutes later, Patrick could feel someone's eyes burning into his skull.

'What?' he murmured, his eyes still closed.

'What was that about?'

'What was what about?'

'I think I'll take a nap?'

'What? I wanted a nap.' Patrick opened one eye to see Lisbon looking at him suspiciously.

'Yeah right. At 10:30 in the morning, in the middle of surveying a crime scene, which makes no real sense. It's the perfect puzzle. Why are you sat in here? '

Patrick sat up, ruffling his hair loosely with one hand.

'I don't know. I don't feel like looking at crime scenes.'

'Well, if I stopped my job whenever I didn't feel like it, we wouldn't get very many crimes solved.'

Patrick simply stared over at Lisbon for a moment, seeming to weigh something up.

'I don't know what I'm doing.'

Truth be told, Patrick didn't really know what he was doing at all since Red John had been caught. He knew he couldn't leave the job, because Lisbon was there, and he truly had nothing else to do, but at the same time, he didn't feel like he could actually benefit anymore.

'This is about Red John, isn't it?'

'No.'

'You're lying.'

'No I'm not.'

'If you want a relationship, Jane, I would appreciate it if you'd actually tell me the truth.'

'So would I.'

Lisbon paused, narrowing her eyes. 'What's that supposed to mean?'

Patrick raised his eyebrows and shrugged loosely, looking out the window.

'Oh, for goodness sake Jane. Are you still hung up on the fact that I won't go all weepy and angry over Red John?'

Patrick looked back at her again. 'Well, if you'd actually tell me why you're not, then maybe I'd be able to drop it.'

'I told you. Who killed my brother doesn't matt-'

'No, the real reason Lisbon.'

'It's no big deal, Jane. Why do you even care?'

'Because I love you? And I care about whether you're happy or not?'

Lisbon sighed, admitting defeat. 'Look, the only reason I'm trying to ignore it, is because I don't want to end up like I did when I first found out he was killed, alright? I didn't recognise myself, and I don't want to get myself into that hole again.'

Patrick nodded solemnly. 'Ok.'

'Yes. So now you can tell me what's wrong with you.'

Patrick considered a moment. 'Yes. It is Red John,' he confessed, 'I don't know... He's in jail, but nothing feels any different.'

Lisbon nodded. 'Sorry...' she murmured.

Patrick shrugged. 'I don't know what was supposed to happen when we got him...'

'Well...we've got him. And that's the point, yeah?'

Patrick smiled softly. 'Yeah.'

'And what about...us? Don't I mean something different now?' Lisbon knew it wasn't all about her, but she thought that at least a small part should feel different now that they were falling into a relationship.

'You?' Patrick murmured with a brief smile. 'You can join me in the backseat.'

'What?'

'You heard,' Patrick smiled, patting the seat beside him.

'Why?'

'Because it would make me happy.'

'You know. For a moment there I thought we were actually having a serious conversation.'

'Really? Hmm...'

Lisbon rolled her eyes.

'Come on,' Patrick encouraged, motioning towards the seat again.

'Someone will see.'

'Nahh...seat. Now.'

Lisbon considered for a moment before she sucked in a breath and gave in, clambering out of the driver's seat and manoeuvring round to the passenger door. She opened it on a grinning Patrick and pulled herself up, plonking herself on the seat he had offered.

'What am I doing back here?' she questioned.

'I don't know. What are you doing back here?'

Lisbon eyed Patrick suspiciously, turning to get out again, if not for Patrick's arms threading around her waist and pulling her back.

'Jane!' she cried.

Patrick turned in his seat and pulled his leg up, resting Lisbon against himself and clasping his hands around her waist, trapping her. He rested his head on her shoulder.

'Wha-'

'Shush. I want to tell you something.'

Lisbon fell silent, feeling Patrick's warm breath spilling over her neck.

'You mean so much more to me now. And I think you're who's keeping me sane,' he murmured in her ear, 'Reasonably,' he added, a smirk flitting across his face. 'Thank you, Lisbon. And thank you for stopping me from hurting Red John...'

Lisbon's heart pounded in her chest, awaiting the moment when someone would walk past the SUV and see them. But despite this, she couldn't seem to stop her head falling softly to the side as Patrick administered soft kisses to the base of her neck.

'Patrick...' she whined, trying to break through the sweet drowsiness that was falling over her. She could hear herself, telling herself to wriggle out of Patrick's embrace and get out of the car again, but she couldn't get her limbs to do the necessary work. She could feel his lips moving up her neck and towards her jaw.

'Jane!' his name came out quiet as a mouse as the breath caught in her throat, 'Stop it...' she whispered. But even as she muttered the words to stop, she felt her head turn towards him. She cursed herself for it. But as Patrick's kisses continued along her jaw line, she almost forgot to breathe. It had been a long time since she'd felt someone kiss her. And it felt like a drug. Her muscles were so weak and achy that she couldn't move. She groaned softly as Patrick's lips hovered at the corner of her mouth, hating herself for falling for his sweet kisses. At work. Patrick pressed another to the soft skin, ready to take her lips...if she would just bring her head round a little more...

Lisbon's eyes fluttered closed and she took a quiet breath. She felt Patrick's nose nuzzle at her cheek, and she couldn't keep herself away from him any longer. Her head fell fully and Patrick took her lips. Carefully, steadily, without words, telling her what she now meant to him.

'You idi-' Lisbon tried to tell herself, but she managed to cut her own thoughts off with a soft moan.

Patrick's arms tightened fractionally around Lisbon's waist. He knew he had to control himself from going too far. After all, they were in the back of the SUV. At work. But Lisbon's lips tasted so good...

So when he finally brought himself to tug away from her, he almost immediately wanted to bring the contact back...but Lisbon turned her head away. She cleared her throat softly, running her fingers delicately over Patrick's hands as they lay around her small waist.

'Um...later? Ok?'

Patrick nodded slowly, pressing his lips against the corner of her jaw before she pulled out of his arms.

Once out of the door, Lisbon straightened out her blouse and cleared her throat again. She could feel her cheeks burn slightly as an officer walked past her. She pulled the driver's door open and pushed herself up into the leathery black seat, thankful to be out of the view of others when her cheeks felt like they were on fire. Composing herself for a couple more seconds before extracting the car keys from her jacket, which lay across the seat next to her, she keyed the ignition and brought the engine roaring to life. She jumped slightly as Patrick's fingers landed lightly on her shoulder blade.

Sam Bosco was checked out of the General Hospital at midday. He breathed in the warm air outside the entrance. After a few days in hospital, he was all too ready to be outside those bleached and scrubbed walls again, where the fresh air and the good food resided. His eyes resting on Mandy, stood by their car, a smile slipped across Bosco's face and he made his way forward, a small limp left in his leg. The doctors said it would fix itself soon enough. He pulled his wife into his arms and held her tight.

'Hey,' he murmured.

'Hey,' Mandy replied, holding Bosco back to look at him, 'Honestly...the mess you get yourself into.' A smile flickered across her lips.

Bosco grinned sheepishly. 'We caught a serial killer though.'

Mandy nodded. 'Come on. Let's get you home.'

'Sounds like an idea...y'know, my leg really hurts...'

'Ok, I'll let you off the diet for today. Today only.'

Bosco grinned with approval.

Patrick stood before the full length mirror in his almost bare bedroom that evening, pulling on a clean white shirt and black slacks, accompanied by a black jacket. The suit that now adorned his body had not done so for years. He couldn't even remember the last time he had brought it out of his closet. But it still fitted perfectly. He loosened two top buttons on his shirt and did up the jacket. He examined the suit for a few moments before breathing out heavily and finding his keys, phone and wallet on the mattress behind him, where he'd thrown them. He safely stowed them in his jacket pockets.

Patrick made his way for the door, but paused in step, spinning on his heel and meeting gazes with the fading smiley that loomed over the mattress. Before, the simple drawing had seemed to thicken the air in the room, almost chokingly so, but now, it was nothing. It didn't matter anymore.

A shadowy smile flitted across Patrick's face as he turned out of the room and shut the door quietly behind him.

Lisbon stood in her ensuite bathroom, fashioning a knee length emerald satin dress. After applying a little foundation and a touch of concealer, she stood back and studied her appearance. Her dark hair rested gently on her shoulders, curled and bouncy. The dress was simple halter neck that fitted perfectly around her. Once she was sure she was satisfied, Lisbon turned and walked back into the bedroom, collecting a pair of small heels from underneath the bed.

She saw the broken mirror momentarily. She needed a new one...

Collecting everything she needed, Lisbon went downstairs and stopped by the door. She hopped on the spot as she put her shoes on. She took a deep breath. It was her first date in a long time, with a man who was on his first date in a long time. Well, at least they could sympathise with each other. A small smile flickered across her lips as she finished her shoes and pulled a soft cardigan over her shoulders. Flinging the door open, she stepped out and felt the cool evening air cover her. She surveyed the car park and saw Patrick's little blue Citroen DS 21 waiting for her. Patrick stood ready by the driver's door with a smile on his face as he saw Lisbon step out of the apartment. The last traces of sunlight bathed them both in a soft orange glow as they met in the car park.

'Hey,' Lisbon greeted with a smile, 'I like the suit. It looks good.'

Patrick smiled. 'You don't scrub up bad either.'

He narrowly ducked a playful swipe as he skipped round to the passenger door and opened it wide for her.

Lisbon clambered in, careful to pull her dress away from the door as it shut. Soon, she was accompanied by Patrick.

'So where are we going? Considering I was the one who suggested dinner...'

Patrick looked over at her and tapped his nose.

A/N: Ok, so that was a really randomly done chapter, but I realised I'd kinda forgotten about Bosco, so I stuck him again ^_^
Reviewsies for me? Much love x