Warning: Sex and angst - so basically the usual...
She found Patrick in exactly the same position she'd left him in. Deciding to get a bit more comfortable she shed her pants and blazer. "Patrick, wouldn't you be more comfy without your suit?"
He sat up, got out of his jacket and rolled up the arms of his shirt, but that was apparently the amount of casual he was ready to allow himself.
"You do know that your pants are dirty and that there're actually several holes in it from your struggle?" she inquired carefully.
He looked at her in astonishment and then lowered his eyes inspecting his clothes. It became glaringly obvious to her that he hadn't been aware of it and was embarrassed about it, now that the state of his suit reminded him of the mortifying show he'd given everyone. "Shit," was his only comment before he removed his pants forcefully and chucked them away in disgust and frustration.
"I hate this. I feel like a caged animal subjected to a never-ending series of sick psycho games or something," he ranted a moment later. "It's getting too much, Teresa. I can't deal with all of this. I just can't. I want it to stop." With a broken voice he added, "Please make it stop."
"You know, I can't. I wish, I could," she said quietly.
She crawled up on the bed, propped herself up against the headboard so she sat behind him and pulled his back against her chest. Her arms circled his waist and her hands engaged into calming strokes on his front. He relaxed into her, his head fell back and came to rest on her shoulder. She pecked his cheek.
"I can't stop it, but I'll do everything in my power to share the burden, Patrick," she whispered in his ear. "We'll get through this. Together. And when it's over we'll finally be rid of that monster once and for all. I'm more than ready for this to end and so are you. It won't be long now, love."
"I hope you're right, Teresa, because I feel like I've finally reached the end of my capacity for suffering. It's really getting too much," he said meekly. "If it wasn't for your support, I wouldn't be able to cope at all. Thanks."
One of her hands wandered up and wound up buried in his hair. "You're very welcome. But there's no need to thank me, Patrick. That's what partners do."
He turned his head a bit and pressed his lips against her cheek. "Thanks anyway. For being my partner."
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
They stayed more or less in this position and shared a companionable silence for several hours. Both were deeply lost in their thoughts trying to make sense of the last days' events and all the emotions and problems connected to them.
Lisbon fell asleep at some point while Jane's mind was still working in high gear to come to terms with the chaos that had invaded it lately. Putting things into perspective and ultimately into their right place in his memory palace was his usual way of dealing with any given situation including problems and now he finally had some hours of peace and quiet to sort himself out while feeling safe and cared for in his lover's arms.
He'd already started to do some soul-searching last night but had been interrupted first by Madeleine then by Teresa, hence he'd been unable to make any real headway. Now after five hours of peace and quiet he felt utterly exhausted mentally but was in a much better state of mind all the same.
A glance to the clock on the nightstand revealed that it was already after 3.30 in the afternoon. Carefully as not to disturb her he slipped out of Teresa's arms. He was in dire need of first the restroom and then a cup of tea. And he knew his girlfriend would crave coffee the minute she woke up.
When he came back about fifteen minutes later with two steaming mugs she was already up and talking on her phone. The genuine happy smile he saw on her face told him that she had gotten some good news for once. He only caught the tail-end of the conversation but he gathered that she was obviously speaking with Cho and wanted him to invite someone to join them tonight which could only mean that they were about to get an additional ally, someone Lisbon trusted implicitly judging from her whole demeanor.
With these clues Jane was able to narrow down the list of possible dinner guests to a very select few. When his two teammates started to concoct a plan which involved Hightower and Rigsby delivering the invitation in person, it told the consultant that whoever was to join them was in a high-up position – and was a male. And considering that they hadn't had said person on the radar before, he hadn't been in office for long.
Teresa hung up the phone, grabbed the coffee Patrick was handing her and smiled. "Good news!" she said happily.
"Absolutely," Patrick replied. "Having Minelli back as CBI director is indeed splendid news."
She almost spit out a mouthful of coffee but managed to swallow before she stared at him with open-mouthed shock. "How the hell could you know that? Cho only got the news a few minutes ago. You couldn't possibly have talked with anyone."
He smiled merrily. "You told me. Just now. I only made an educated guess, but your reaction confirmed it rather spectacularly I must say."
"You're really creepy sometimes, Jane. And you just spoilt yet another surprise. Damn smartass," she whined.
Patrick pulled her closer and kissed her pouting lips. "Argh, you taste of coffee," he complained. "Sorry for taking the wind out of your sails, my dear. But as I love the challenge of figuring out things on my own much more than a measly surprise, I prefer it that way."
"It's still creepy. You barely had any information. Just my half of the last part of a phone call." She shook her head both in consternation and awe and poked him in the chest for emphasis.
"Obviously it was enough. But let's not focus on that, let's look on the bright side. We'll get some real official support now. That's great. Virgil will do everything in his power to keep you safe. I'd actually thought of contacting him before but without an official position as his back-up I didn't want to drag him into this mess."
The genuine smile reappeared on her face. "Yeah, it's great to have him on board again. I've missed him. He's only acting director by the way. I don't think, he wants to come out of his retirement long-term. But we'll find out tonight. At least I hope so."
"Maybe he'll bring May. Would be nice to see how she's doing. And I sincerely hope that Virgil doesn't cop out again when he realizes how dire the situation really is." He stepped closer, kissed her again and looked at her very sincerely afterwards. "I haven't entirely forgiven him for abandoning you after Bosco," he admitted, one hand cupping her cheek gently. "But I can be quite the coward myself, so I'll cut him some slack. And he came through in the end when I asked him for J. J.'s famous list."
"Considering that you hooked him up with the woman he's fallen in love with, I'd say he owes you one," Teresa said with a grin. "I'm sure, you knew immediately that those two would hit it off. Come to think of it: with your abilities you'd be the perfect match-maker."
"Yeah. Maybe I should try to find Erica Flynn and start 'Jane's Lonely Hearts Club' with her."
Predictably that earned him a glare and a punch. "You do have very dubious taste in women, Jane," she huffed.
"Absolutely," he agreed in a whisper against her lips, before he closed the last gap.
At first she returned the kiss but came to her senses fast. She stepped back from him and sent daggers at him with her eyes.
"Ah, come on, Lisbon. Don't tell me, you're jealous of that black widow. I admit that she was fascinating. Very smart. And first and foremost a delightful challenge, strictly intellectually speaking of course."
"Intellectually speaking my ass, Jane. You were attracted to her. Don't even try to deny it." She finished her coffee and put the mug down on the night table with a bang.
He took a calming breath. "Teresa, please. This is beneath you."
"Don't patronize me," she barked.
Jane lifted his arms in a placating gesture, nearly spilling his tea in the process. "I apologize. I shouldn't have brought her up. But as she obviously is a sour spot between us, I'll gladly come clean about everything pertaining my involvement with her. What do you want to know?"
"Were you in on her escape plan?" she asked anxiously.
"Of course not. Even if it pains me to admit it, she played me. Oh, I expected her to try something, I won't deny it. And I even admit that I was kind of curious about what she'd come up with. But I would've never assisted a killer like that. Why would I do everything in my power to expose her and put her in jail first, just to help her escape later?" he explained calmly.
"Because you're only in it for the challenge of the chase," she accused him.
"Damn it, Lisbon. You know that's not true. My moral code might not be as black and white as yours but surely you don't think, I'd condone murder just because the killer happens to be an attractive, cunning woman?" he inquired with real hurt clouding his voice.
"So now you admit that you find her attractive?" Lisbon glared at him angrily.
"Teresa, for heaven's sake! Of course she is attractive. I never claimed differently. And exactly because she was so completely off limits and forbidden I allowed myself to indulge a little. I wasn't ready for anything real but I'm still a red-blooded male," he confessed. "She challenged me intellectually and she is an attractive, charming sociopath," he went on to clarify. With a deep, suffering sigh he continued, "What else can I say: I did enjoy her company, yes. But I love YOU. Just as I loved you back then, and just as I loved you while I had sex with Lorelei. Get the hell over it."
He'd shocked her out of her jealous mood with his harsh words and she had to admit that she was acting a bit like a bitch. She hadn't been in a relationship with him at the time and she had had absolutely no claim on him. And besides she knew he loved her.
Maybe that whole Hightower fiasco had affected her more than she had thought. But there was still one nagging thought she wanted him to clarify before she could put the stupid Flynn case to rest. "Did you sleep with her too?" she asked quietly, not able to stop a bit of pain to creep into her tone.
Patrick took another deep breath to compose himself. He took a last sip from his tea and put the empty mug down on the night table to join Teresa's. He had absolutely no intention of fighting with his girlfriend and this was getting ridiculous. He'd had no idea, she was so insecure that she'd question his past actions and his words like that. With as calm a voice as he could muster he replied, "I didn't lie when I told you that there have only ever been three women I've been intimate with. You are one of them - Erica Flynn is most certainly not. And not for lack of opportunity but because I declined. Though for the sake of honesty: we did share a kiss."
He was suddenly pulled into a hug. "I'm sorry, I caused such a scene, Patrick. I… It's probably the whole thing with Madeleine taking its toll on me. I… It's made me realize just how lucky I am to have you."
Jane returned the embrace and buried his nose in her hair, breathing in her scent with contentment. "Don't be ridiculous. I'm the lucky one."
She looked up at him with a happy grin. "Guess, we're both lucky to have each other."
"That we are, my dear, that we are." He lowered his face and their lips met in a long, deep kiss.
They ended up on the bed naked where they engaged in a session of slow love-making. After their two rather short and fierce joinings last night and this morning they now took their time exploring and arousing each other. And they would've liked to protract the act even more, but knew, they wouldn't be alone in the house for that much longer.
Afterwards they took a shower together, just to insert another quickie there, so it was already after five when they stood in their temporary bedroom with Patrick frantically searching for something to wear besides his damaged pants and dirty jacket. "Teresa? Didn't you pack another suit for me? I can't find anything useful in our bag."
"No, sorry. I didn't expect you to need another one so soon. You usually wear the same one a few days at a time and you have a change of clothes at the office."
He sighed. "Wonderful. Just wonderful. And I can't even ask Cho to bring one along from the office because I actually don't have one there at the moment. It's at the dry-cleaners. Remember? I told you I delivered a bunch of our stuff there last week. And I haven't had a chance to get it back yet."
She came over to him. "I did pack your new jeans though, so it's not like you don't have anything to wear."
"My jeans?" He shook his head. "Why the hell did you pack that but not another suit?"
"Because I wanted you to have something comfy. And I happen to like the sight of you in jeans."
"And by your claim they show off my so called assets especially well." He snorted. She nodded happily. "Splendid. Just the thing to dangle in front of a besotted female," was his sarcastic comment.
She looked a bit sheepish. "Okay, maybe not exactly ideal right now, but we wanted to confront the whole matter head on anyway, didn't we?" she said stubbornly.
He pecked her nose. "Very cunning plan, my dear," he teased her, deciding to try and see the humor in the situation.
"You know I didn't plan it like that."
"No, but don't tell me you didn't intend to persuade me to wear something casual in front of the team."
She looked even more sheepish. "Yeah, well. But I couldn't have possibly known, you'd destroy your suit-pants. I only wanted you to have the opportunity, not force your hand."
He feigned a suffering expression. "I guess, it can't be helped now - jeans it is." He grabbed them and put them on to her delight. "And because running around in only boxers was what got me into trouble in the first place."
"I'd rather say, it got Madeleine into trouble." She snickered.
He pulled her into his still bare chest and devoured her mouth. "Devious woman," he groaned a minute later. Then he stepped back to their bag. With raised brows he held up his newly bought hoodie jacket and cast her a pointed look. "You went all-out with the casual look, I see."
She blushed a little. "In my defense: I packed right after I had discovered that a serial killer had compromised our home. Considering the state YOU were in at the time, I'd say, I did a rather good job."
"Touché. You got me there. I admit defeat." He dressed in an emerald green t-shirt she'd picked out for him at the mall – 'had it really only been six days ago?', flashed through his head - and put on the black hoodie jacket as well. "You up to helping me with dinner preparations, Teresa?"
She cast him a very appreciative glance. "You look good enough to eat," she stated. "I'd rather have you than dinner." And with that she grabbed him by the front of his jacket and pulled him into another passionate kiss, her hands immediately finding his jeans clad behind to squeeze it.
"Geez, woman. You're insatiable today," he groaned after she'd released him again.
"Are you complaining?"
"Not at all. But maybe we should save no. 4 until later tonight. The others will be here soon and, well…" He eyed her slightly uncomfortably.
She giggled rather un-Lisbon-ish. "Shit. Since when have you turned into the voice of reason in this relationship, imp?"
"Since you put a pair of jeans into our bag that has aphrodisiacal powers over you. And besides, I firmly believe I've already provided more than my share of entertainment for the other occupants of this house during the last 24 hours," he joked. But with a bit more seriousness he added, "And to be honest: I feel rather exposed and humiliated as it is, what with my lack of self-control both last night and this morning."
She cupped his cheeks and looked him in the eyes warmly. "Don't, Patrick. You had every right to release some tension. No one will think any less of you for it. We all understand the immense pressure you're under at the moment."
"Well, in that case: we're all stressed out. But usually I have more control than that. And I can't say, I'm all that comfortable with my embarrassing outbursts."
"I'd like to think that it's caused exactly by the fact that you're actually starting to be more comfortable showing your true feelings in front of your friends. It's a good thing. And it isn't healthy to repress your emotions all the time."
"Pot, kettle, black," he replied with a wink.
"Yeah, okay. I'm not really that forthcoming either. But your bad example teaches me perfectly just how unhealthy that kind of behavior is," she retorted snootily.
He smirked and pecked her nose. "Alright. I'll try to consider this whole mess a teaching moment for the both of us then. And now let's head down to the kitchen." He grabbed her hand and dragged her along with him.
Ninety minutes later there was a big commotion in the entrance hall with the arrival of both their usual slumber party, LaRoche, and re-instated CBI Director Minelli plus his partner May. Lisbon greeted them and announced that dinner would be ready soon while Jane stayed in the kitchen – both to tend to the food and because he dreaded to meet Hightower and the witnesses of his earlier meltdown.
The reunion with Virgil was a warm and heartfelt one for Teresa. He hugged her and even pecked her on the cheek before he released her again and inspected her critically. "You look especially lovely and relaxed today, my dear. I didn't expect that after all the collusiveness from your teammates and Mrs. Hightower about some dire situation you're facing right now."
"That would be Jane's doing," Cho provided dryly.
Minelli furrowed his brows. "Well, that's a first. He's usually the one to cause Teresa the stress." He cast a skeptical look around. "Where is the sly fox by the way?"
"In the kitchen," Lisbon replied with a smile. "He's our resident chef."
Virgil sighed theatrically. "And here I had been looking forward to a fabulous dinner with my favorite team to celebrate my re-instatement."
"Then you've definitely chosen the right place to be," Rigsby provided with a happy grin.
Hightower decided to take over as the host at that point and asked everybody into the living room. The big dinner table had already been laid for nine and as Jane had just called for Teresa to help with serving the first course, they sat down around it immediately. Rigsby went with Lisbon to help and they came back with two plates each containing salad, set one serving in front of four of their party and went back for more. When everybody had a plate Teresa announced that according to their regrettably absent chef they were having garden salad with goat cheese au gratin and fig preserves.
"Why isn't he joining us?" Minelli asked.
"He's busy with the main course or so he says," Lisbon explained, the little furrow between her eyes giving away her slight irritation.
Any further inquiries stopped when everybody had gotten their first taste. "Mmh," the old-new CBI director moaned. "This is absolutely divine! Who would've thought, the sly bastard could cook like that?"
"Told ya so," Rigsby said smugly.
When everyone had devoured the appetizer the conversation moved to more serious matters and bit by bit Minelli was brought up-to-date on the state of affairs. In the end he was completely speechless and dumbfounded, though they'd yet to divulge the more personal aspects of the situation to him.
That's when Jane's distant voice announced the main course to be ready for serving and with an eye roll Lisbon went back to the kitchen. "Are you willing join us now, wimp, or are you planning to continue hiding in here?" she scolded him. "Rigsby has already seen you in jeans and didn't die from shock. Okay, he gaped for a while, but putting a slice of cucumber in his mouth cured him right away."
Patrick looked more than sheepish. "It's not really about the clothes," he admitted. "I'm ashamed, Teresa. Of my behavior this morning."
"It'll only get worse the longer you delay it. And it's only in your head anyway. No one out there thinks any less of you, let alone will poke fun at you for it. Now help me carry that delicious smelling stuff over to the table and eat with us," she demanded.
"I'm not hungry anyway," he murmured in a last attempt to convince her to leave him alone.
She snorted. "That was really pathetic, Jane, and totally unconvincing. You haven't eaten since breakfast. I can actually hear your stomach growling. And now suck it up."
"Alright, you win." He admitted defeat, reached for a large bowl and motioned for her to take a huge platter which held an impressive pile of a meat dish.
Together they entered the living room and were met by several gasps, which Jane stoically decided related to the food they were bringing with them. Without his usual fuss and showing off he sat the bowl in the middle of the table, took his seat to Lisbon's right and simply said, "Hi, Virgil, May. Chicken saltimbocca and asparagus risotto," before he lowered his head and inspected the plate in front of him.
"Geez!" Lisbon exclaimed, rolling her eyes in exasperation. "Everybody: yes, Jane's really wearing jeans and it's my fault if you want to call it that and no, hell hasn't frozen over yet. And he's ashamed of a certain little incident this morning, which personally I don't think he has any reason to, but kind of understand." She squeezed her boyfriend's hand gently under the table. "So can we get back to the really important things now? And with that I mean the food of course. We can talk about all the serious stuff afterwards."
Consenting noises and nods followed and they all digged in. The rest of the meal which also consisted of ice cream and fruit salad as the last course was accompanied by small-talk and catching up. Virgil and May related a few tales about the jouneys they'd went on and the CBI agents informed him and Hightower of the latest gossip at the bureau.
Over coffee they slowly returned back to the more serious matters when Minelli asked, "There's just one thing I don't really understand about this whole Red John situation."
"What? Only one?" Jane interjected sarcastically.
The older man ignored his comment and continued, "Why is he suddenly so determined to go after Agent Lisbon? She's been leading the investigation for so long now and Bertram was actually her boss for years. So why the increased interest?"
"That would be my fault," Jane admitted sadly.
"Shut up, Jane," Teresa scolded him. "Virgil? There's something else you should be made aware of. Well, several things, but let's start with this one: Patrick and I are together. I mean in a romantic relationship."
The CBI director groaned. "Oh, Teresa, really?" She nodded with a smile but he only furrowed his brow. "How could you? I know that you've always been attracted to him but I trusted, you'd have more sense than that. You know that one's nothing but trouble. With a capital T." He shook his head in dismay. "I knew, it was a mistake to have you work with him."
Patrick got up under the pretext of clearing the table, but those knowing him well could see the hurt in his eyes. While heading for the kitchen he said seemingly unfazed, "You're right of course. But what was she to do? First you hired that miserable charlatan to work with her and then you abandoned her when the going got too tough for your liking and left her to his dubious influence. So thank yourself for her downfall, Director Minelli." And with that parting shot he left.
"How could you say something like that?" Lisbon hissed in Minelli's direction. "It's none of your business whom I date and I won't allow you to speak like that about the man I love. Don't you ever dare to hurt him again."
The old man looked thoroughly chastised. "Sorry, I didn't mean it quite like that. I know, he's essentially a good man. I wouldn't have hired him otherwise. But he carries so much baggage, Teresa, and I always wanted for you to find someone to make you happy."
"But he makes me happy! More than you'll ever understand. He's the best thing that's ever happened to me and I love him with all my heart. And fortunately he returns my feelings." Pure happiness took over her face for a moment before she turned serious again. "So he has a difficult past. Tough luck. Mine wasn't all sunshine and roses either." She looked determined and stubborn. "We deal with it – together." Her eyes were shining with love again when she continued her rant which generate a slightly weird mix of emotions on her face. "And I love him just the way he is. We all have our flaws and I'm happy to say that after nine years of working together I know his very well and know how to handle him, thank you very much. And incidentally he's always had my back. Maybe not always in a very conventional way, but where it counted. I love him and I trust him."
"Alright, Teresa. I see that I've made a mistake doubting your decision. I mean, earlier when you greeted us I could see immediately that something in your life has changed for the better. And if that's Jane's doing, who am I to question the matter? I am truly sorry," Virgil admitted meekly.
"Well, tell him, not me," Lisbon demanded, still rather miffed at her former mentor. "He certainly didn't deserve your insults."
Minelli got up with a nod. "You're right of course. I'll go and find him. Please excuse me."
The others exchanged some more information about the state of affairs at both the CBI and City Hall while they waited for the two men to return. About half an hour later they reappeared together obviously engaged in an intense but friendly discussion. Virgil's hand squeezed Patrick's shoulder in an almost fatherly looking way and the consultant was recounting something to him wildly gesticulating with his arms for dramatic effect.
The old/new CBI director was grinning indulgently at the blond man who was clearly entertaining him with a totally outrageous tale of some kind. "I don't know how, but I swear there was real honest to god grass growing on his back. We could even hide our Easter Eggs in it the following year," Jane told him eagerly.
Minelli shook his head, an amused expression on his face. "That's the most preposterous story I've ever heard, Patrick. But I'll grant you points for creativity." Wrinkling his nose he added, "And I doubt, I'll be able to ever eat asparagus again with the same gusto."
"Then I've accomplished my mission. Let this be a warning to you not to take food lightly again, Virgil," Jane instructed him with a wagging forefinger.
The older man chuckled and patted him on the back.
This was unfortunately the last really funny tale Minelli would hear that evening because after the two had taken their seats again, the conversation turned inevitably back to Red John. The director was informed of the familial relationship Jane shared with California's most notorious serial killer and got to know all the facts they'd managed to gather about Gale Bertram or rather Joseph Earl.
With every detail Virgil got, he felt worse about his own hurtful words against Patrick. The other man had forgiven him and they'd come to an agreement. Yes, Minelli had even kind of given Jane his blessing for his relationship with agent Lisbon – not that they needed it, but he'd always felt a bit paternal when it came to Teresa. But first now in light of all the devastating revelations the consultant had been bombarded with lately, Minelli started to fully understand why the woman had been so fiercely protective of her boyfriend.
"Well, I must say, this is all a real mess. I already regret letting myself be cajoled into coming out of retirement," the new director stated with a sigh. Jane sent him a warning glare and Minelli held his hands up in an appeasing way. "No, don't worry, Patrick. I know, I don't have the best track record in your eyes when it comes to seeing things through, but I was just expressing an honest notion. This time I will do what needs to be done, I promise you that. You'll have all the support I can offer and I'll try my best to deal with the fall-out as well when it comes to it. If May approves, that is." He addressed his partner directly, "Darling, I know, this has all been shocking and even frightening, but I feel it's my duty to help. What do you think?"
May Walters sat up straighter. She hadn't had much part in the Red John related conversation so far, but she'd been an avid listener. Ever since her first meeting with Patrick she'd felt a real bond with him, even if the man had only participated in the support group on an undercover mission. He might've pretended, but his pain had been all too real when he'd spoken about his addiction. It had touched her. And he'd been very kind and understanding with her, even brought her together with Virgil.
Until she'd met Patrick, she'd firmly believed the time she'd spent with Benjamin would remain the best of her life even though the man had been firmly lost to his Christmas and Santa mania. Now three years later she knew that wasn't the case. She'd never been happier than since that fateful day at the beach when Patrick had introduced her to and set her up with Virgil Minelli. Now they finally had the chance to give something back to the man who'd brought them so much happiness and even if the whole matter sounded horribly scary and dangerous she would back her lover 100 percent.
"Go for it," she said firmly. "We owe it to Patrick and on a greater scale, to the people of California."
Jane shook his head. "You don't owe me anything, May. Please don't think that for a minute. If you want to support this, do it for the right reasons. Because it's the right thing to do. Not for me. I'm certainly not worth the risk."
"Nonsense, Patrick. Of course you're worth the risk," Virgil objected. "And besides, it's not about you. Well, not entirely. The bastard is going after Teresa and he's destroyed so many lives already. This has to end, once and for all. I was responsible for giving the case to Agent Lisbon and her team in the first place. It's only consequential that I'll be there when the monster is finally slain."
"Welcome to our merry little band of conspirators then, old man," Jane told him with a wink, reminding Minelli of another conversation they'd shared three years ago on a pier, about cheap whisky, fish and bait, and a retiree suffering from depression.
Virgil saluted him with a grin and mocked him, "Wouldn't want to be anywhere else, Mr. Paranoia."
After that little exchange they discussed possible next steps for a while, before they let the evening wind down on a cozier note with some small-talk.
TBC
A/N: As you can see, they're all coming back... the good old CBI times - how I long for them sometimes! As this is my story, I can just make them reappear. Isn't that great? But Team Heller does a bit of the same at the moment, so I'm in the best of companies. No Bret Stiles in this fic though (can't afford Malcom McDowell's pay. Keeping Simon and Robin around is expensive enough...).
I'd love to hear your opinions. Drop me a line if you want. I'd appreciate it.
