A/N: WOW I'm overwhelmed by all your lovely reviews! Thank you SO much! Here's the next chapter :) Thanks to Idan for betaing!

I hope you guys enjoy and I apologiye in advance ;) You'll see later for what exactly haha :D

(10)

She was expecting him to be on time, but the knock on the front door still startled her. Lisbon emptied her cup of coffee, hoping it would calm her down a little bit for the conversation she so dreaded.

She'd made Annie promise to stay up in her room until she was finished with Jane. Marcus wouldn't be home before 7 pm, because he was meeting Gina for dinner. When he came back he'd be expecting her answer and also her telling him she loved him. She could do it. She was sure she could do it until the moment she opened the door and Patrick Jane was standing in front of her in a fresh navy blue suit with a turquoise patterned island shirt. His hair was disheveled by the wind, his hands were tucked in his pants pockets and his charming smile made her swallow. Okay, maybe this was going to be harder than she first thought it would be.

Lisbon stared at him for a little less than a minute, until Jane made a gesture requesting to be let inside. Yeah… right… she didn't want this conversation to be held on the door step. "Thanks for coming. Come in."

She closed the door behind him, while he politely waited for her to offer him a seat. Damn, this was already awkward.

"Uh… would you like to sit down on the couch?" Awkwardly, she pointed at the couch in the living room.

"Yes thank you. How are you feeling?" Jane turned toward her, his facial expression concerned. He must be really worried about her.

"Just a little neck pain. I think I've got some whiplash… Nothing serious though."

"Every injury of yours should be taken seriously. Have you been to the doctor?" His hand twitched, like he wanted to touch her but had to restrain himself.

"I'm fine. I took some painkillers this morning. If I take one every six hours, it should be fine by tomorrow."

Jane sat down on the couch, waiting for her to sit down next to him. She chose the seat next to it instead, so she was almost sitting opposite to him. A little distance would be better if she wanted to concentrate.

"Thank you for coming, Jane. I… I wanted to talk to you." The thing was, she just didn't know how to start.

"You said so in your text. So… what's this all about?" Of course he knew what this conversation was about. She could see it in his eyes.

Lisbon took a deep breath. "I need you to stop."

"Stop what?"

"Stop doing this. You know what I'm talking about, Jane."

"Actually I don't," he answered. "I didn't do anything."

"You didn't do anything? Are you serious?" she gasped angrily. He couldn't be serious, could he? "You… it's all your fault. You started it and you ruined everything."

"I'm not the one who ran off to another state with a guy I barely know, accepting his proposal after what? Three months? I'm not the one who's feeling trapped because I can't make my own decisions anymore."

"Oh, I am still making my own decisions! You're the one who screwed it up, Jane. You're the one who ran off to Venezuela for two years, then came back, made me move across the whole country to work with you and when everything was back as it was before didn't do anything. You pretended like nothing had happened. You're the one who dragged us all to Miami because of a stupid cold case. You're the one who lied to me when all I ever wanted from you was the truth, Jane!" After she finished her speech, she realized she'd jumped off her seat.

"So in response to all of this, you decide to run off with the next best man who comes your way?" Jane raised an eyebrow.

"Marcus is a good man! He's always been honest with me. Which is not something I can say when it comes to you," Lisbon admitted sadly.

"I was honest with you when it came to the important things, Teresa."

"Oh don't you Teresa me!"

"I told you I set all of that up because I didn't want you to leave," he finally said, standing up. Now they were face to face again.

"You don't give a damn about what I want or need, Jane. I'm just a convenience for you. It's always about you."

"That's not true," he protested. "I wanted to let you make your own decisions, but it hurts me to see you're going through with all of this without really wanting to. This whole wedding is a farce, we both know that. Marcus' sister is organizing everything and you didn't even have a wedding dress a few hours ago until you called one of your sisters-in-law to ask if she could lend you hers."

"I was busy and didn't have the time to go and buy one."

"Yeah, sure," Jane mumbled and waved at her.

Lisbon balled her hands to fists. "I don't see how this is any of your business."

"I'm making it my business, because I don't want you to make a mistake. You don't love Marcus or we wouldn't be having this talk here."

"How dare you Jane. Marcus is the right man for me. He's stable, dependable, honest…"

"Teresa." They looked at each other, each of them breathing heavily. "I know he is a good man. But is he the right man? Where do you picture each other in twenty years?"

"That's none of your business, Jane. I just want you to stay out of my life, to let me make my own decisions and to not question everything I do. Hell I somehow thought we could still be friends after all, but seeing how this conversation is going, I'm really starting to doubt that."

Jane looked hurt, more than hurt by this statement. He swallowed hard, his eyes going to the floor. Was it really over? Did she really want to break off their friendship after everything they've been through? He looked at her, saw the tears sparkling in her eyes. She probably felt trapped. This wasn't easy for her either.

"I just want to be happy, Jane. Marcus is my best chance at that."

He took a deep breath and nodded. If he'd been a less selfish man, he'd have just accepted her decision and left, but he wasn't. There was one more thing he had to say, one more ace he could play. His last ace, the one you went all in for, the one where there was no turning back once it was out in the open. It scared him to do it, to finally take the step he should have taken a long time ago, but this was his last chance.

"Teresa, I…"

"Jane, please don't."

"Please hear me out. Hear me out and when I'm finished if you still want me to leave, I will. I will book the next available flight out of the country and promise to never bother you again." He waited until she nodded, then took a deep breath.

"First of all, you're right. I'm a reckless, selfish bastard and I don't deserve your friendship after everything I did. When I came back from Venezuela, I wanted to wait until everything was back to normal. I wanted us to get used to the new team, for you to settle in down in Texas. But then everything was okay and I got comfortable with how things were, so somehow I missed my chance although I knew you were waiting for me to make a move."

She wanted to protest but he held his hand up.

"Please let me talk. Then there was the Violets case and I decided to slowly take steps in the right direction. But then Pike came along and somehow interfered with my plans. The thing with the two of you happened so fast, I couldn't stop it. I could only sit there and watch. I wanted to be happy for you. I wanted to be happy you found a good man who loves you and who deserves you. Honestly, if I were less selfish, I'd have wished the two of you good luck and let you move on.

"I'm not a selfless man though. When I realized you were serious, I came up with this stupid plan in Miami. Oh don't give me that look; I can admit when I did something stupid. Anyway, like I said, I just didn't want you to leave. I need you, Teresa. I need you." He stepped closer to her, relieved when she didn't move away.

"You're right, I have forgotten how to act like a normal human being. And I play games and I lie and I trick people. I'm not proud of that, but I do it to avoid the truth of how I really feel about you."

"Jane…"

"No. No please, I need you to hear this. I'm terrified of letting anyone close to me, because every time I did, someone got hurt in the end. You should know, because most of the time it was you. The truth is, despite everything I've done to you, I can't imagine being without you. These past six months have been hell for me, because I wasn't able to see you, to bring you coffee, to make you smile. I love you, Teresa. I love you and it scares me, but it is the truth."

He stepped one step closer, so their bodies were almost touching. It broke his heart when he saw she was crying. "I know I should have told you sooner. I know this is all my fault. But you needed to hear this, because you deserve to know the truth before you make your next life-changing decision. I love you, Teresa."

Neither of them knew who made the first move, but when their lips met, it was like all the emotion from the past few months came crashing down on them. Jane held her head with both his hands, so careful like it was the most fragile thing he ever touched. It was nothing more than a short brush of lips and a gasp, when Lisbon put her hands on his chest, pushing him softly away.

"I can't, Jane. It's too late…"

"Don't say that, Teresa, please, I…"

She shook her head, tears running down her cheeks. "That one night you called me, Jane. You left a message on my voicemail telling me how me leaving was a betrayal. That you hate me for leaving you, for trying to be happy. You told me I am a coward and all I ever did was run when people got too close to me. "

"Teresa, I was drunk. I didn't know what I was saying. I was angry, I was sad, I was…"

"But so was I Jane. If you had told me sooner, maybe I would have changed my mind. You're not the only one whose heart was at stake, Jane. And you broke mine, multiple times."

"I know. I know and I'm so sorry, Teresa," Jane whispered. He reached out to touch her cheek and she let him. The lump in his throat became bigger and bigger. Now he had trouble holding back his tears, too. "I'm so sorry for what I did and said, but please… please all I'm asking for is one last chance. I know I don't deserve it, but… You're the only one who's never given up on me. You always stood behind me, you always had my back. One word and you could destroy me."

She shook her head. "I can't. It's too late, Jane. It's over." Her voice was thick with tears.

He looked at her, shocked she was telling him the truth. His heart race increased and he started to panic. "Please don't say that, please, Teresa."

"I need you to leave, Patrick." She finally managed to turn around and walk over to the door. "Please."

Jane just stood there, heartbroken. It was over. Once again he'd been too late. He walked over to her, to the door, brushing her hand in his movements. "I love you Teresa. Please never forget that. Goodbye." She couldn't look him in the eye while he said it, otherwise she might have changed her mind. It was all too much for her.

She watched him step outside in the cold Chicago weather. He was shaking, but not because he was freezing, because he was crying. Before she could see him turn around, she closed the door and sank down on her knees, sobbing violently.

When she'd texted him and asked him to come over for a talk she knew it wouldn't be easy, but she'd never expected it to be this hard. He loved her. He'd told her he loved her. The thought of his words made her cry even harder. Well, it was all over now. Jane was leaving and she was going to marry Pike tomorrow.

She didn't know how long she sat in front of the door, crying about the friend she'd lost and life she would be starting tomorrow. His words still echoed in her head and they would continue to do so for a long time after.

A hand touched her shoulder and made her flinch. Annie was kneeling beside her, her expression worried. "Reese, are you okay?"

She shook her head. "No, no I'm not…"

Without another word, Annie sat down next to her aunt, pulling her against her. "I'm so sorry, Aunt Reese. I'm sorry."

Lisbon didn't say anything; she just continued to cry.

Xxxxx

When Marcus came back from his dinner with Gina, he was afraid to ask for Lisbon's answer. He loved her more than anything, but did she love him back? She had feelings for him, he could tell, but slowly he started to wonder if everything between the two of them had happened a little bit too fast in the end.

This is not the time for second thoughts, man! he told himself when he entered the house with the key she'd given him. Be a man and ask her for the answer.

The living-room was empty except for Annie, who was sitting on the couch reading one of her textbooks. She looked up and gave him a short smile before her eyes turned back to the pages. Pike had a feeling Annie didn't like him quite as much as he wanted her to. She was almost as mysterious as her aunt. What was it with these Lisbon women?

"Hey Annie. I see you're very hard-working." Oh, what a conversation bummer. On the other hand, what did you talk about with a teenager?

"Well since a serial killer is running around and I'm not allowed to leave the house without protection, I'm stuck here and can't go to school. I have to catch up with the coursework somehow," she answered, annoyed.

"Well then I don't want to interrupt you any further. Do you know where Teresa is?"

"She's upstairs." Hopefully she showered and got rid of the hints that she'd been crying over Patrick Jane, Annie added in her thoughts. She still couldn't believe that her aunt could turn down someone like Jane.

Yes, he was annoying and exhausting, but he was cool and he loved her. She'd heard part of their conversation, because with all the yelling going on downstairs, it'd been too hard to concentrate on studying. She'd never admit openly that she'd just been too curious.

Jane had fucked it up and so had her aunt. Perhaps it would have been better if she'd locked the two of them down in the basement and waited until Aunt Reese either killed him or made love to him.

Annie made a disgusted face at the thought of Jane and her aunt having sex in the basement.

"You okay?" Pike asked, concerned.

She looked up, her face flushing. She really shouldn't think such thoughts while her aunt's fiancé was standing in front of her. "Uuuuh… yeah. I was just thinking. Night Marcus. I'll see you tomorrow at the wedding."

"Good night, Annie." He walked toward the stairs, then suddenly turned around. "Listen… if you ever want to come and visit Teresa and me in D.C., you're very welcome to do so. We could show you the FBI headquarters and who knows, if you like it, we could maybe arrange an internship somehow if you need one for college."

Annie looked up, honestly surprised by Pike's offer. "That'd be cool. Thanks."

They smiled at each other and Pike made his way upstairs. Annie watched him, thinking that maybe, just maybe he wasn't so bad.

Xxxxx

Lisbon had been waiting for the knock on her bedroom door. She'd showered and given herself a pep talk that she'd done the right thing. Also, she'd practiced saying "I love you, Marcus" in front of the mirror, hoping it would sound sincere.

"Yeah, come in," she called nervously.

Marcus opened the door and smiled at her. "Hey."

"Hey," she repeated, her fingers playing with the ends of the blanket on her bed. "How'd it go with Gina?"

"Good... she's good. A little scared because of what's going on with the murders, but otherwise she's okay. She's... waiting for me to call."

Lisbon nodded, knowing what he was referring to. She took a deep breath, got up and walked over to him. He let her take his hand, an insecure smile on his face.

"I... I love... you. Marcus. And I... want to be with you. I'm sorry it took me so long to say it."

"Oh Teresa," he whispered, leaning down to kiss her sweet lips. "Thank you... Thank you for telling me. I want to be with you, too. I want to marry you and I want you to be my wife. I love you."

They smiled at each other and kissed once again, before Pike wrapped his strong arms around her small frame. She buried her face in his shoulder, silently repeating her "don't cry, don't cry, don't cry" mantra. She'd made a decision and she was going to live with it now. Teresa Lisbon had to finally stop running away.

"Shhh, don't cry, baby. I know this is all so overwhelming. Believe me, Vegas is starting to sound better every minute."

Carefully, he guided her over to the bed, where he started to untie the belt of her bath robe. "You're so perfect," he whispered into her ear, kissing her throat.

Lisbon sighed, making it sound like it was pleasure rather than resignation. She opened the buttons of his shirt, but then made him stop when his cold hands cupped her ass. "I believe you owe Gina a call, or she won't be able to sleep for the rest of the night."

Pike sighed, giving her his best puppy dog look. She bit her lip, trying not to think about Jane and how he managed to get nearly everything when he gave her that specific look. "Go and make your call, I'll be waiting here."

He did as he was asked, knowing when he came back, she'd be waiting for him. Because she loved him.

Xxxxx

Jane woke up in his dark hotel room the next morning, hung over from his trip to the bar last night. Damn, he should quit drinking away his problems because when you were in your mid-forties a hangover was more of a pain in the ass than when you were 22.

The banging in his head didn't stop, and it took him some time to realize it wasn't actually the headache, but someone vehemently knocking on his door.

"I'm comin'... Comin'..." He got up, feeling sick for a minute until his stomach settled down once again. Slowly, he made his way over to the door.

"You look like shit," Cho commented when Jane finally let him in.

"Never been better," the blond consultant mumbled, closing his eyes at the bright light in the hallway.

"Fischer and I are off to the wedding. Just wanted to see if you're o.k."

"That's very nice of you my friend. I'm okay... Just a little headache." He tried to smile, but it turned out to be more of a grimace.

"Yeah, I see. I'll see you later, Jane. We're still on call if we get another murder, so don't shut your phone off..."

"Yeah yeah..." He was about to close the door when Cho held it open with one hand.

"Jane?"

"Yes?"

"You're an idiot."

"How about you tell me something I don't already know," he grumbled, before he shut the door in the Agent's face.

He slept for another hour before he found the strength to get up and open the curtains. The light was still giving him a headache, but he didn't dare to take a painkiller when he thought about all the alcohol he'd had last night.

Slowly, very slowly, he took a walk to the bathroom to make himself look a little more presentable. Then he made a call to the cab company and threw the few belongings he'd taken with him in his bag.

There was nothing more holding him here, so why should he stay? For a second he wondered if he should just end his life, but that was the coward's way out. He had to live with the pain and shame of losing the woman he loved for the second time.

There was nothing more to say, no more aces to play. Pike had won. He had lost. Now it was time to go.

The cab took a little longer than fifteen minutes to get to his motel. He threw the bag on the back row seat next to him. "To the airport please."

The cab driver eyed him through the rear view mirror before he drove off.

Sighing, Jane thought about where he should go. Was he even allowed to leave the country? He still had this stupid contract with the FBI, and who knew what Abbott would do if he found out about him leaving. Well, he had to try at least. Maybe he could go back to his little island in Venezuela... or any other island which would be his paradise and personal hell at the same time.

Jane was so lost in thought he almost didn't feel his phone vibrating in his pocket. Confused at the caller ID, he picked it up. "Annie?"

"Jane..." a voice on the other end whispered. "Help..." Then the line went dead.

He stared at the phone in shock, wondering what all of this was about. Was she in trouble or was she just trying to stop the wedding... no. Annie would never do that. Something was dead wrong.

"We have a change of plan," he announced and gave the cab driver the address of Tommy Lisbon's house. "And we need to hurry."

The cab driver made a u-turn, smiling at the challenge he'd just been given.