A/N: Sorry for the wait. My cousin had her tonsils out and I've been staying with her to help her and her boys while she recovers. I meant to work on this while I was with her, but she's watching the show for the first time all the way through and I stupidly forgot to bring my box sets with me. We ended up watching on my computer. Haha. I figured you'd forgive me since it's late for a good cause-turning someone else into a life long fan. ;)

Also a big thank you to Phoenixx2812 for the awesome cover she made for this story. If you haven't already found her story, Endgame, check it out. It's brilliant. You won't be sorry you did.

Finally, I just wanted to say a thank you to everyone who has reviewed. Your reviews are awesome and encourage me to keep going, so thank you! I normally respond to them all, but life has been crazy busy. Regardless I want you all to know how much they are appreciated and I'll do my best to respond from here on out.

Chapter 4

It'd been years since Jane had sat under a cabana, in swim trunks nonetheless, and he had to admit it was nice. The cabana was large and sat back and away from the pool and was sectioned off for privacy. It had a large screen t.v. and bed directly under the cabana and just outside of it was two very large lounge chairs, each big enough to comfortably fit two people.

The pool looked refreshing and inviting and if it hadn't been for his sprained ankle he would have happily gone for a swim. As it was he sat with his foot propped up and a computer on his lap. He felt somewhat content, however, to be soaking in the sun, even if he had to pretend he was a businessman. It was really no stretch for him, acting like a successful businessman, but he had to admit that even pretending was boring. At least the subject material on the computer wasn't bland.

The computer served two functions. First it made it easy for Jane to appear as though he were a hard working and second it had been set up to give him the hotel camera's view of the lobby, bar and the top floor—his floor, which also happened to be the floor that one of the men Jane had seen with Jacob Brown last night was staying on. The man still hadn't been identified, but he figured he must be important as he was frequently deferred to and given his choice of any of the three call girls to take to his room that night.

He had been glad that at that point, around three in the morning, Lisbon had fallen fast asleep in his room. The girl the man had chosen was the youngest and he had seen Lisbon visibly bristle when they realized earlier that the girl couldn't have been more than twenty-two at the best. An hour later Cho had gone to his room leaving Jane to watch the cameras alone.

He figured it was only fair since he hardly ever slept anyway and because he'd already had a nap. It ended up being a lot more difficult than he thought though. The hotel was dead and the thought of Lisbon's peek-a-boo bra and red lipstick made it really hard for him to focus. It was around nine when he'd seen the young call girl come out of the man's suite in a swimsuit.

He'd woken Cho, yelled into his room that it was his turn to watch the cameras, and then had happily wheeled back to his room to wake Lisbon. She had fallen asleep fully dressed and on top of the covers. He'd felt a pang of guilt that he hadn't checked on her earlier that night. Frustrated with himself that he'd not made sure she had something comfortable to sleep in and that the covers were pulled up over her sleeping form. He tried to make up for it by sitting on the edge of the bed and waking her slowly with soft kisses.

She'd mumbled into his mouth, but had eventually returned his kisses with much more fervor than he'd originally intended. She'd pulled him flush against her chest and had run her fingers through his hair. It'd been the first time he'd ever woken her and he immediately decided he'd have to wake her this way every day. This idea became more appealing when she'd started unbuttoning his vest and shirt.

If it hadn't been for his blasted foot getting twisted when he'd lifted himself away from her so she could push his shirt off, they might still be in bed right now. He felt himself groan deep in his throat at the thought and had to shift on his lounger that had suddenly become very uncomfortable. If her sudden realization of where they were and who was in the other room hadn't killed the mood, he was sure his yelp of pain had.

He looked around the pool and spotted the call girl that had left his floor mate's room earlier sitting in a cabana adjacent to his. She'd been sunbathing most the morning, but was now wrapping a sarong around her waist as she made her way to the bar. Jane cringed. It wasn't even noon yet and she was already on her fifth drink.

He looked down at his laptop and searched for Teresa, and was disappointed that she wasn't on her way yet. He had given her some of the money from their allowance and had sent her down to a store in the lobby to buy a swimsuit. She hadn't been crazy about the idea, but when he'd explained his reasoning to her she'd reluctantly agreed.

He scanned the pool area one more time and decided to go talk to the girl now. He shut the small laptop and grabbed the crutch that Cho had procured for him from the receptionist, before hobbling over to the bar. The girl sat quietly, staring resignedly at a fruity concoction the bartender had given her.

Jane sat on the barstool two down from her, leaned his crutches against the counter, and ordered a piña colada. After ordering he turned and faced her in his chair. "Hello there," he said with a smile.

She startled, then composed herself and looked in his direction.

Jane spoke again before she could. "What kind of drink do you have there? It looks good."

She snorted. "'What kind of drink?' Well, that's a first."

Jane held his smile firmly in place even as his throat dropped to his stomach. Horrific would be the perfect word to describe the fact that she immediately assumed he was making a pass at her.

He played dumb. "What do you mean 'a first'?"

She looked down at her drink again, rueful smile in place, and shook her head. "When a man like you talks to a girl like me—in this hotel, it's because he's looking for company." She swiveled her straw around in her drink. "But as of last night I am exclusive."

"I'm not looking for company."

A predatory smile crossed her face and she turned in his direction, slowly crossing her legs for his perusal. "Well then, what can I do for you?"

This was a girl who knew how to work it. She was tall and thin, but healthy, with long brown hair that went to the small of her back and light green eyes. She wore a lime green swimsuit and had a beautiful smile, but it wasn't real.

"So you're not a guest then?" he asked.

Her smile held, but her eyes darkened somewhat. "No, but I'm staying with a guest."

"Yes, the man you're staying with, he looks very familiar," Jane said just before the bartender dropped off his drink. Jane told him to bill it to his room and the bartender left.

She flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Jason Gibbs, he's Jacob Brown's business partner."

"Jacob Brown? As in the man who owns this hotel?"

She nodded. "That's right."

Jane looked in the direction of the bartender, and once he was sure the man couldn't hear he leaned toward the girl and whispered conspiratorially. "So, how does it work for you call girls then?" he asked. "Does he bring you in for all the guests or just the special ones?"

She chuckled. It was forced. "I guess you could say just the special ones."

Jane nodded, leaned back, and pretended to mull this over a little.

She spoke after a moment. "Are you sure you're not looking for company?"

Jane stayed facing forward, but turned his head in her direction and smirked. "Me? Oh, no. I don't pay for sex."

"Oh please," she mocked, "that's an old-fashioned idea if ever I heard one—every man pays for sex, in one way or other, at least once in his life."

Jane felt the urge to break cover and explain just how wrong she was. He'd never once received sex as compensation for anything. Not for money, or good behavior, or even for cooking a mouthwatering meal. He'd learned at a young age to be careful what you trade for, and that, above all, included sex. He forced down his frustration for her. "If that's the case then I feel compelled to tell you that I'm sure I couldn't afford you."

She sat a little taller, almost preening. "You couldn't afford me."

"What's your name?" he asked.

"Allie, and yours?"

"I'm Patrick." He faced her again. "Tell me, Allie, what's a beautiful girl like you doing with a man like that?"

"A wealthy man like that…," she told him in a very quiet voice.

"I'm sure there are other men who are just as wealthy if not more and probably a lot better in bed than Gibbs," he told her with a flirtatious smirk. He left out that there were also men out there closer to her age, who would treat her right and love her.

She laughed out loud. "Is that so?"

"Yes, it is," he said becoming very serious.

Her face fell and there was an awkward moment of silence before she spoke again. "I probably shouldn't be talking to you." At that she stood up.

"Please, don't leave on my account," Jane said.

She grabbed a napkin and wrote something on it before handing it to him. "This is the number for my agency, if you change your mind while you're here." She was back in work mode. "It was interesting meeting you, Patrick," she said his name in a flirty tone.

"Likewise Allie," he replied as she started to leave. "Oh, wait," he called after her. She turned and looked at him, one brow raised. "You never told me what your drink was?"

She let out a surprised chuckle. "It's a strawberry daiquiri."

After ordering a strawberry daiquiri for himself Jane headed back to his cabana, carrying the drinks in one hand and holding the crutch for support with the other. It was slow going, but he didn't mind using the time to think. He was glad that he had a name to give Wiley for the unidentified man, and was already forming a plan to help Allie get away from this life. He knew he'd have to keep that to himself and Lisbon, because the last thing the Director of the FBI, Don's teams, or Abbott would care about during this case, with five dead cops to avenge, was the life of a young girl.

He was deep in thought when he approached his cabana and saw a shapely pair of legs in platform high heels lying on one of the loungers out front of his cabana. The closer he got the more was reveled up to a curvy torso and chest, covered in a black halter top bathing suit, long brown locks of hair that covered attractive shoulders and a large black hat that looked just like the one Lisbon had worn the day they'd arrested Avery Shultz in Houston for the murder of Charles Whitaker.

A painful and persistent thumping in his chest nearly caused him to spill both his strawberry daiquiri and Lisbon's piña colada, as he limped awkwardly closer. Lisbon looked up and gave him a nervous smile just as he was about to round the front of the cabana. She saw his plight and quickly got up to meet him. He was pleased to see her eyes roam over his chest before she looked anywhere but…

She was a vision. Sure he'd seen her in cute little dresses and he had been teasing her a lot lately with innuendos and strong undercurrent of desire, he hadn't actually gotten as far as picturing her with so little clothes on. He supposed he was so overwhelmed by the fact that he even got to hold her or kiss her, lie next to her on a bed, that his brain hadn't quite gotten that far yet. Which was weird because he'd definitely thought, in passing, about having sex with her—especially when she'd been pushing his shirt off this morning. The reality that was Lisbon, however, was much more powerful than anything his clearly pathetic brain had dreamt up for him.

She stopped in front of him and reached out. "Jane…" she started.

"I'm going to marry you," he said vehemently, cutting her off before she could finish her thought. She blushed crimson from head to toe and her outstretched hands dropped.

"We have company," she said, nodding over her shoulder.

He looked behind her and into the cabana just as Abbott stepped out from its cover, followed by Marcus Pike. Pike swallowed hard and stuck his hands in his suit pockets.

"Jane," Pike said.

Jane's brow furrowed. "Pike?"

Both Abbott and Pike were dressed in nice business suits and Pike was even carrying a suitcase.

Abbott looked around the pool area, then between the two men and nodded back under the cabana where there were walls and more privacy. "Let's talk in there."

Pike shot a pained glance in Lisbon's direction before he lead the way back into the cabana. Abbott quirked an eyebrow at Jane, before following Pike. Jane looked down at Lisbon and handed her the piña colada he'd brought her. She took it as he knew she would, because it would give her something to focus on other than him and Pike, then he sat his own drink down on the bar. He was pleasantly surprised when she grabbed his arm and helped support his weight, despite the fact that he had a crutch, and that Pike was there.

He had to fight every instinct in him to keep a hold of her once they were inside and she stepped out of his reach. He wanted to stake his claim, but he knew he couldn't do that to her. This had to be hard enough as it was and he'd already, even if unwittingly, made it worse after blurting out his desire to marry her after giving her what he was sure was a very lustful gaze from head to toe and back again.

"Agent Pike was kind enough to offer his services for this case…" Abbott started.

Jane wasn't happy with this turn of events, but could see the logic in it. "No need to explain Dennis. It makes perfect sense. We needed more men and we can safely assume that most agents in D.C. have had their covers blown already. Pike is new in town, which means his identity is more than likely still safely anonymous."

Jane tried to ignore the fact that Lisbon's attention was torn between him and Pike, that Pike was clearly determined to at some point try and change her mind, and that he was actually worried that Pike might succeed.

Pike made eye contact with him. "Thank you for doing this, Jane," he said sincerely. "I honestly wasn't sure you would, but after seeing how you solved the Hennigan case for my team in Austin and after hearing Teresa go on about what a good man you were I hoped you would. These agents deserve justice."

Jane saw Lisbon look pointedly at her drink before biting on her straw. He hadn't wanted to take this case, had been mandated here by Abbott. And for once as much as he would've liked to own up to being a good man, because Lisbon had said he was, he knew what she needed more was for him to be honest.

"I wish I could say I was here because I wanted to help, but I can't." He rubbed thumb over the side of his index finger and looked at the ground for a moment. "I'm here because this is where the job brought me. Still, I can promise I'll do my best to catch the people responsible. As a matter-of-fact I should be working right now and you should probably be relieving Cho." He turned to Lisbon. "You want to take Pike and Abbott up to the room?"

She swallowed thickly, but nodded. "You don't want to come up to?" She gave him a curious look, then realized who else was there and explained for their benefit. "Won't anyone watching think it's suspicious that the men you're supposed to be conducting business with are up in your room while you're down here at the pool?"

Jane held back a smile. He'd known exactly what she'd been thinking, but preening over how smart and cute she was right now would get him a punch in the nose. "I just need to make a reservation in the restaurant, then I'll head up."

Lisbon nodded then handed Jane her drink and started toward the front of the cabana and Pike made to follow when Abbott spoke. "I'll be up in a minute, Lisbon," Abbott said. "I need to speak with Jane."

She looked at Jane quickly and he tried to give her a reassuring smile. She smiled back, but it didn't reach her eyes, then looked at Abbott. "Yes sir."

Jane swallowed thickly then spoke again, stopping them both Lisbon and Pike once more. "Take his arm," Jane instructed. He saw a moment of hesitation in Lisbon's green eyes, before she grabbed Pike's arm and led him out of the cabana. He purposely avoided looking at Pike, by setting the piña colada down on the table next to the lounger.

He didn't look up again until they were out of earshot. When he did look up he felt decidedly ill as he watched Lisbon escort Pike around the pool, laughing coyly and flipping her hair over her shoulder as they went. The moment she was out of sight he turned on Abbott. "You gonna give me a lecture now? Remind me that we're on a case and that I need to keep my head in the game?"

"No need. You just did it for me," Abbott said with a smirk. He moved to the bar where Jane had sat his strawberry daiquiri and picked it up. He moved to one of loungers and sat down before taking a swig of Jane's drink. "This is delicious, what is it?"

"Strawberry daiquiri," Jane frowned as he looked down at Lisbon's drink on the table.

Abbott took another swig. "Have a seat, Jane," he pointed to lounger next to Jane.

Jane rolled back on his good heel, then after having a thought made his way back into the cabana on his crutch to grab the laptop he'd left there, before returning to take the seat across from Abbott. As much as he hated to admit it, he was curious about what the man was up to.

"Any guesses on what this is about?" Abbott asked.

"Either you have a concern about the case or you're interested in giving Pike another shot at Lisbon," Jane grumbled at the same time he opened the laptop.

Abbott raised his brows. "I don't have a problem with how you're handling the case—so far."

Jane looked up from the computer and scowled at Abbott.

"Relax, Patrick," Abbott said before Jane could protest. "My intention wasn't to give Pike another shot. If I thought the man had a chance I'd have gone with them. As far as I'm concerned the only person keeping you in line and working is Lisbon. I like you Jane, but not enough to interfere in your love life. My involvement was strictly a professional necessity."

Jane shrugged. He'd figured that was the case from the start. "So why send them up alone?" he asked and watched Abbott's face. "Ah, you think Lisbon needs to test her mettle."

"She's still beating herself up about it, and they are bound to be alone at some point during this case, maybe even more than once," Abbott sat the drink down and leaned forward resting his elbows on his knees. "And that man is head over heels in love with her. The sooner she shuts him down, the better and easier it'll be throughout the duration of this case."

Jane glanced down at the screens just in time to see Lisbon and Pike step onto the elevator. Lisbon was still playing the role of call girl and his gut clenched when he watched Pike's arm go around her back.

Jane looked back at Abbott's amused face and was equally angry and impressed with the man's thought process. Angry that he'd put Lisbon in such an uncomfortable situation and impressed because he knew Abbott was right, provided Lisbon had really given herself to being in a relationship with him a hundred percent. He'd spent almost every waking moment with her since they'd first kissed and while he felt confident that she was happy with him, he'd remembered hearing her cry in the shower the night they'd gotten home from Florida after having called Pike to break things off.

She had really cared about Pike, loved him, and no doubt hated herself for the hurt she'd caused. If nothing else came out of them working on this case, Jane was certain that Lisbon would be making some life changing decisions that would no doubt affect not only her, but him and Pike as well.

He lifted his drink and took a sip, as he watched Pike lower his hand to the small of Lisbon's bare back and guide her from the elevator and to the presidential suite. He cringed at the super sweet coconuty flavor of the piña colada, remembering he'd never liked them. That had never been his drink. It was Lisbon's. "I hope you're right," Jane told him the moment the door closed, blocking his view of his torment.

"She loves you," Abbott said in an assuring voice.

"She loves Pike," Jane mumbled taking a long pull of Lisbon's drink. He slammed the laptop closed again.

Abbott chuckled. "Well then, why don't you just do us all a favor and marry her. Even without your little outburst, a moment ago, it's clear that's what you want."

"I shouldn't even say the word marriage around her. Commitment scares her," Jane said as he sat the now empty glass down on the ground next to the foot of the lounger.

"No it doesn't," Abbott said with a perplexed expression.

Jane looked up and scrunched his brow at being second guessed. "You don't know her past relationships."

"She was ready to move to D.C. with Pike," Abbott stood up and buttoned his suit coat. "And she stayed with you for years despite the hell you, undoubtedly, put her through."

"Hey…"

"I've only worked with you for a year, and trust me, you're no picnic," Abbott said. "If over ten years of working with you isn't a commitment, then I don't know what is. And now she's in love with you. I'm sure you'll be fine. Now let's go. I'm starved and want to order room service."

Jane scrutinized Abbott's face, and with a painful lurch in his gut he realized Abbott's true intention. "No, you don't want to leave Lisbon and Pike alone too long." Jane stood up and grabbed his crutch. Come to think of it, he didn't want to leave them alone too long either.

"I just don't think it'd be best to press our luck," Abbott confessed in a completely non-repentant tone. "Let's go."

A/N: I'd love to know what you thought of the chapter. Thanks for reading!