Teresa woke on Monday morning at 6:30, her usual time on a work day. The bed beside her was empty, which wasn't entirely unexpected. She got up to avoid falling asleep again. She had to get to work after all. Opening the bedroom door, she could hear some sounds from the lower level, indicating that Patrick was still in her apartment at least. She went to the bathroom and took her usual morning shower, fixed her hair and dressed. She made her way downstairs forty minutes later, where she found her consultant fully dressed in one of his three-piece-suits sitting on the couch with his obligatory cup of tea reading the paper.

"Morning, Lisbon." He greeted her warmly. "Did you sleep well?" He looked up from his reading.

"You look like crap, Patrick," she said alarmed. He was pale and the bags under his bloodshot eyes were especially prominent today. All in all he looked sick and tired.

"Gee, thanks. YOU look lovely, my dear. Your breakfast is on the kitchen counter. You should hurry up a bit, or Van Pelt might make it to the office before you for once. Imagine the horror," he teased her.

"You won't be going to work today," she decided.

"Nonsense, Lisbon. Where else would I go? Work'll be a good distraction and I can just as well snooze a bit on my couch there. I have absolutely no intention to sit around here alone moping. I'd like to hitch a ride though, if that's alright with you," he answered.

"Yes, of course. I still don't like it though," she huffed, but made her way to the kitchen, where she found french toast and coffee waiting for her. How he'd done that handicapped as he was, she didn't know. The lingering smell of chocolate told her he'd obviously even managed to finish the truffles for Grace somehow. She rolled her eyes. She hoped he'd at least gotten a few hours of sleep.

The breakfast was devoured quickly and she drank two cups of coffee before she returned to the living room ten minutes later. "I'm ready to go now," she announced.

"Eating that fast isn't healthy, Teresa. There was no need to gorge on your food like that," he scolded her lightly.

"Don't you tell me anything about being healthy, Jane. Pot, kettle, black is all I'm saying. Come on now. We need to leave if we want to beat Grace."

He chuckled.

She grabbed her briefcase and jacket and opened the door. Patrick followed her out. They drove to the CBI HQ in silence.


They entered the building and the lift together still keeping their comfortable silence. But when he reached out to press the button for their floor with his left hand, Teresa realized that he wore his wedding band. She felt a sudden sting of jealousy and looked pointedly from his ring finger to his eyes.

Fortunately they were alone in the lift with the doors closed, so she didn't mind the peck on the lips she got from him. "Teresa, please. Don't be jealous. I just put it on, so people wouldn't get suspicious. It would be rather obvious that something has changed drastically, if I came to work all of a sudden without it. I'm actually doing this for your sake. You don't want people to find out about us after all," he explained gently.

Seeing her lingering unease and need to clear the matter up, he pushed the button that would halt the lift temporarily without alarming the whole building. Most of the time the old elevator was a subject of constant irritation to the people working at the place, but sometimes there were certain advantages to good old engineering.

She cast him a thankful look. "You're right. That was stupid of me. And I really don't want to be jealous. Sorry. I mean, how low is that? She's, I mean, she's gone and I'm still jealous, and, and I have you, while she can't." Teresa lowered her head shamefully. "Sorry, it sounds even worse, when I say it out loud. God, I'm really ashamed. Sorry, Patrick," she said sheepishly.

"Nah, you're just a bit insecure. I understand that. But you're the one who claims I have that overly big heart. So why don't you trust me that there's enough room in it for the both of you? My feelings for you are just as real and run just as deep," he reassured her.

Teresa was really touched and calmed by his words. So she pressed the button that restarted the elevator with a small smile on her lips. "Thank you, Patrick. That was really sweet. Sorry, I know: one of the forbidden words…" She cupped his cheek gently, stroking it for a moment.

She'd just stopped, when they reached the right floor and the lift doors opened. They entered the bullpen together. While she proceeded to her office, he made a beeline for his couch.


One after the other, the rest of the team arrived as well.

It turned out to be a slow going day with no new case. Jane just lay on his couch, his eyes closed almost all the time, hardly uttering a single word. Cho, Rigsby and Van Pelt exchanged quite a few worried glances. The unusual behavior of their consultant giving them reason for concern. They just hoped, he wasn't up to any mischief or planning a major con.

Their disquiet was even more enhanced when a SacPD officer entered the bullpen at around eleven asking for Jane.

"What did he do this time?" Rigsby mumbled.

Patrick got up from his resting place and went over to the cop, greeting the man politely. "Ah, Officer Keen. Good morning. Thanks for coming by. If you would follow me to our conference room?"

They left together.

"This can't be anything good," Rigsby said with worry in his voice. "Should we inform the boss?"

"I think, we should," Van Pelt answered. "Jane obviously expected that cop to come by. That isn't exactly reassuring."

"I'll go talk to to her," Cho offered and left to do so immediately.


He knocked on Lisbon's office door. "Come in," Teresa called. She looked up from her work. "Ah, Cho, morning. What can I do for you?"

"A cop from SacPD is talking to Jane. Thought you should know, boss," Cho explained in his usual laconic way.

"Ah yes. That was to be expected. Thank you for informing me," she answered, already turning her attention back to her work.

"Boss? Why would a uniform need to talk to Jane? Shouldn't we be worried?" Cho inquired, slightly unsettled by Lisbon's obvious disregard of the peculiar situation. "He was behaving strangely all morning. Hardly said a word. And frankly, he looks like shit."

Lisbon motioned for her second in command to take a seat in front of her desk. Some explanation was needed. Cho sat down and looked at her intently.

"Jane was involved in some kind of altercation yesterday. A man with a knife attacked him. Fortunately, he got out of the way in time and only received an ugly slash on his arm instead of a stab to the stomach. SacPD is handling the case," she clarified.

"Jane provoked someone into stabbing him?" Cho raised his eyebrows.

She shook her head. "No, actually, it was completely unprovoked. The man sneak attacked him."

"You were with him at the time," Cho concluded.

She nodded.

"Is he alright?"

"As alright as can be, I guess," Lisbon replied.

"He's living with you, isn't he?"

"Yes, he is. He needed a place to stay. I offered him my guest room two weeks ago," she explained.

"I understand. I'm happy for you," Cho stated, getting up, turning to leave.

"Cho?"

"Yes, boss?" he replied, facing her again.

"How…?" she asked, her eyes wide and questioning.

"The way you talk about him. Something's changed since Friday," he stated.

"Is it that obvious? Damn!" she grumbled. "Don't tell the others, please."

Cho examined her with serious eyes. "No, I just know you well. I won't tell anyone." As an afterthought he added carefully, "Don't let him hurt you, Teresa."

She smiled and shook her head. "He won't hurt me, Kimball. Thanks for your concern."

Cho nodded and left.

"Ah, Cho?" she called out after him.

He took a step back inside her office.

"Could you please let me know when that SacPD officer is finished with Jane? I would like to have a word with him before he leaves," Lisbon requested. "Or even better, just send him to me."

"Sure thing, boss."


About twenty minutes later, another knock disrupted her concentration. "Come in," she called.

"Officer Keen, welcome to the CBI. Thanks for coming. Could I please have a word with you? Come on in, take a seat." She motioned him through the door. "Do you want something to drink?" Lisbon asked.

The cop took a seat in front of her but declined her other offer. "Mr. Jane already supplied me with both coffee and water. What can I do for you, Agent Lisbon?"

"I just wanted to know where the case is going. Well, as much as you are at liberty to share of course," she explained.

"Actually, there isn't that much to say. Alexander Jane has been in front of a custodial judge already this morning. He'll be kept in pre-trial custody without bail. The judge deemed him a flight risk. The DA is going to press charges for attempted felony mayhem." He paused to let the information sink in. "And your consultant is really something else. You weren't lying when you said he has an extraordinary memory. He could recall the conversation with his father word for word. And the rest of his recount was incredibly detailed as well. A perfect witness, that man. A pity his father is such a nasty piece of work."

Teresa couldn't agree more with the last statement. "Thank you for the information. You have been very obliging, Officer. I appreciate that."

"Oh, I understand. Jane's been your partner for years, from what I've gathered. It's normal to care. I'm glad I could help. But if I may ask: what's the guy doing at work today? He doesn't look too well," Keen asked while getting up.

"He's as stubborn as a mule. Insisted on coming to work. Believe me, I tried…" she explained, exasperation clearly visible. "Thanks for your time. I'll see you out."

They left her office together and she accompanied him to the lift. "Have a nice day, Officer Keen," she said in parting.

"I'll keep you informed if anything major should come up, Agent Lisbon," the cop offered just before the lift doors closed.


Lisbon went back to the bullpen and halted a foot from the couch. "Jane? My office. Now," she demanded.

The consultant opened his eyes, raised his brows in question, and got up to follow her.

When they were inside her office, she closed the door and led him to the sofa, motioning for him to take a seat. She sat right beside him. "How are you holding up, Patrick? Was the interview with Keen alright?" she inquired gently.

"I'm fine. Stop worrying. And my talk with Keen went well enough I suppose," he answered calmly.

"Did he tell you about the case's development?" she asked.

"No," he replied. Squinching up his face in irritation he continued, "And I didn't ask. I should have though. I guess I'm a bit off my game today. Did he tell you something?"

She nodded. "Yes. This is most certainly going to court, Patrick. The DA's actually going for attempted felony mayhem." She let that sink in a moment. Looking him straight in the eyes, she continued, "We are talking about serious prison time here. If they rate it as an attack on a member of law enforcement as well, we are looking at seven or eight years. If not, he might get off with five."

"Damn." Jane sighed heavily. "I'm not looking forward to this, Teresa. I don't know if I'm ready for any of this." He looked down at his lap. "What about a deal?"

She took his left hand between hers and drew circles on the back with her thumb. "I don't know, Patrick. I'll try to find out if there's a possibility for that. But are you sure Alex would be willing to accept a deal? He might prefer to drag you along into court."

"You are probably right. That would be his style. He might want me to go down with him. You know, I haven't always been the most law abiding citizen." He tried to sound hopeful when he continued, " But we should give it a try. Eight years in a cell is a long time for a roamer like him." He looked up at her, his distress shining from his eyes. "I… I don't know how to deal with this right now. Would it be alright for me to leave all these difficult decisions in your capable hands for the time being, Teresa?"

"Of course, Patrick. I'll take care of this. And of you, okay?" she assured him, one hand caressing his cheek for a short moment.

"Thanks. I really appreciate that, my dear. I know I can trust you to make the best decisions." He paused and collected himself. His expression lost a bit of the worry. "On another topic. Could it be possible that Cho knows about the changed status of our relstionship? He gave me the most peculiar look when I came out of my interview with Keen," Jane said.

She nodded. "The man seems to get nearly as perceptive as you these days, I swear. He called me out on it when he informed me of Keen's visit. I wouldn't be surprised if you received a 'friendly' threat from him soon. He is a bit protective of me."

Jane chuckled. "That he is, our dear Cho. I can handle him. No problem. I have no intention of harming you after all, so there's nothing to be afraid of." He paused and turned serious again. "And if I did indeed harm you, I'm sure I'd deserve whatever Kimball comes up with."

"I wouldn't allow him to hurt you too badly anyway, Jane," she answered fondly. "Now, how about getting some lunch? And for your information: I took the liberty and got you an appointment with CBI's Medical Officer at three o'clock today."

"Traitor," he whined. "Selling me out to a doctor like that. Honestly woman."

"I happen to like your arm and want to put it to good use in the future as well. Therefore I would hate for it to rot off, just because you can't be bothered to follow your doctor's instructions. Sometimes you really need a keeper, imp. I guess that's my job now." She cast an intent look through her office windows and when she deemed the coast clear, she pressed a sweet little kiss on his pouting lips. "Come on, Patrick. Lunch."


TBC

Well, Cho figured it out. How long will it take for the rest of the team?

A/N: I'd like to take the chance and thank my beta 'firstdown' once again. She's doing a great job in my humble opinion. I hope, you agree.

As usual, I really like to hear from you. I promise, I'll answer all reviews (well not the ones from guests, for obvious reasons...) and you're also welcome to ask questions.