Author's notes: What a great episode and what a looonnng week it's going to be. Hope you this chapter will help you to unwind your fingers and start breathing again. Thanks to all reviewers and followers and faves, I'm glad you approve of where the story is going. Feed back always welcome, I love hearing from you.

Lisbon made a couple of stops on her way home but the nature program was still in progress when she walked back into her apartment. Jane was laid on her couch, he looked up as she entered the room.

"The wanderer returns."

"He spies the bags in her arms.

"You abandoned me to go shopping?"

"Yea."

She drops the bags on top of him.

"They're for you. Now get yourself off the couch we have some packing to do."

Jane looks at her incredulously and swings his legs around, causing the bags to fall unceremoniously on to the floor.

"Packing? Are we going somewhere?"

"I figured you must be fed up with the indoors by now and that a little fresh air would do you the world of good."

"We're not camping are we, I hate camping. I can sleep very well on a floor, but it's the insects, that share it with you, that puts me off."

He shudders

"Yuck!"

"Honestly Jane, have I ever seemed like the camping type to you?"

Jane looks her up and down and breaks in to devilish smile.

"I can see you in the guide uniform, making fire and putting up tents...or at least yelling at others to do it."

"As it happens I was too busy for such things as guides and the only people I've ever yelled at, on a regular basis, are my brothers and you! Now are you going to get up off that couch or do I need to pull a gun on you."

Jane holds his hands up in the universal sign of surrender.

"Kidnapping now. My my my, you are surprising me today Lisbon."

"I'm going to find you a bag to pack your clothes in. Have a look in the bags and try them on. Hopefully I bought the right size."

Lisbon heads towards her bedroom, leaving a bemused Jane. This is an unexpected, but welcome, very welcome, turn of events. The idea of going away somewhere and getting some fresh air, causes a flutter of excitement in the bottom of Jane's stomach that he's not felt for a long while. He picks up his bags and takes them into his bedroom where he empties the contents on his bed. Lisbon has been clothes shopping for him. He holds up a white button down shirt in a casual cut. It has short sleeves with a faint blue line running through the fabric. He likes what he sees. He removes the shirt he's wearing and tries it on. it fits perfectly. He picks up something in a light blue colour, that look like they could be trousers. He's right, they're of a light brushed fabric that feels soft and comfortable when he puts them on. They are a fraction too big, but, a belt will correct the problem. He removes the one from his discarded pants and after fastening it he looks at himself in the mirror.

"Let's have twirl."

At the sound of her voice he can see her in the mirror and he gives her reflection a bow.

"Good work Lisbon. Kept it classic, I approve."

Lisbon approves as well. She'd been very nervous about her purchases, it's been a very long time since she shopped for a man. And since she's only ever seen Jane in his three-piece suits, it made the job even more fraught. After half an hour of indecision, and the beginnings of a headache, she decided that classic was the safest option to take. And it was only a few outfits, if he didn't like them he could buy something else to replace them. Looking at him through the mirror, she can see she did good, she did very good.

"Here's you're bag, we can go shopping for more clothes later."

Jane's eyes sweep over the pile of clothes on the bed.

"There's enough here for five days, how long are we going for?"

"As long as it takes Jane."

Jane looks at her surprised.

"What about work You've only just returned after a week's holiday."

Lisbon puts her hands in her pockets and rocks back on to her heels.

"I've put in for a leave of absence, I'm owed a lot of time."

Jane moves closer to her, concern on his face.

"Lisbon, I'm really grateful, but you shouldn't have done that. I'm certain I can figure this all out. You don't have to give up work."

"I haven't given up work Jane, it's just a break. A break I think we both need. Since leaving Bertram's office I feel like the world has lifted from my shoulders. I'm excited about it. I think this won't just be good for you."

Jane searches her face for any tell of a lie. He finds none and breaks into a smile.

"I can't deny that I'm sick of looking at four walls, but I can't promise anything, but, you just, might be on to something. An excellent idea."

Jane's excitement warms Lisbon.

"I'm glad you approve. Now get packing, make sure you don't forget anything."

"Yes Mom."

Jane looks at the contents of his bag, mentally going through everything he needs and checks that they are all inside. He zips it up and sits down on the bed. He stares at himself in the mirror. He normally sees a man in dark colours, his body tightly wrapped in vest as if trying to hold in the emotions he's afraid to acknowledge,never mind deal with. A man, afraid of the world that is now his reality, without his wife and child. The vest holding that world under lock and key as he exacts his revenge. The man looking back at him, dressed in pale colours and casual clothes, looks like a man who's confident in himself, happy with the world, and his place within it. He lets out a sigh. He hopes one day that stranger will be him, that he will be comfortable with his new world. Can he really release all that's been locked up for so long, and if he does, can he survive it.

Lisbon is back at the door of his room, holding her bag in her hand. She looks at the man sitting on the bed, staring at the mirror his arms wrapped tightly around himself, fear in his eyes. The excitement gone. She lets out a sigh. She can't fool herself that this will be an easy fix, but it has to work, it has to!