Author's notes: Red John is almost upon us. Hope this helps fill in a little bit of time. Thanks for everyone who has sent me a review and followed and fave'd the story. Your support is greatly appreciated and helps spur me on.

Lisbon sets her case on top of her bed and looks around her hotel room. She corrects herself, it's not a hotel room, it's a small suite, decorated in simple relaxing colours and furniture. It looks a great place to start healing. Their departure was delayed as they hammered out the details of their trip. There weren't many of them, which Lisbon finds disconcerting, but, she finally had to agree with Jane that it would take too long to make every decision of where they would go. She'd pointed out that they could get cheaper hotel rates by booking in advance, Jane just waved this off saying that he would pay all the hotel costs. She had, of course, protested that she could pay her own way. Jane held his hands up in mock surrender,

"Calm down woman, I wasn't offering to pay for the whole trip, but I do have more money than you, which I don't use very often."

"The trip was my idea and I'm not having you pay for me."

Jane stood, tapping his finger on his lips, then held up his hand in triumph.

"I've got the solution."

"Can't wait to hear it."

"What percentage of the money you have in the bank are you willing to donate to this trip?"

"Percentages? Really Jane."

"Just stay with me. You can just make it an estimated round figure. Just write it down and hand it to me."

She did some quick sums in her head. This was a difficult question as she didn't have any idea how long the trip would take. She decided on a couple of months and maybe three, she calculated how much she needed for bills until she would have a pay check again. As to how much she was willing to spend on her friend,s recovery was easy, everything she had left. She wrote down a number and gave it to Jane.

Jane looked at it and raised his eyebrows while letting out a small whistle.

"I'm touched Lisbon. Now I will match that percentage, wouldn't you say that was fair?"

Lisbon suddenly got the feeling she has been had, but it did sound fair. She nods slowly.

"Good, now I'm going to write down in round figures, how much money I will be contributing."

Jane adds his figure to the piece of paper and hands it back. She opens it and can't believe what she's reading. Surely he's but too many noughts on by mistake.

"I assure you Lisbon that is the correct figure. Now, are you going to let me pay for the hotel rooms?, You can pay for the gas and we will share the meals. I am a man of simple tastes these days, but I want to treat you to nice hotel rooms, as a thank you for all you've done for me. Please Lisbon."

She'd been maneuvered into a position, where she couldn't really argue and he looked so sincere in his pleadings that she had relented and money negotiations were ended. Next came where they would start their trip. It was decided it couldn't be too far away, as it was late afternoon already. As they looked at a map, Jane had pointed out Half Moon Bay.

"Do you remember driving through that place on a case six months ago. There was a pretty restaurant that caught your attention, something to do with the name I think."

Lisbon's shocked, not that he'd remembered, as the man remembered nearly everything, but, she hadn't said a word about it. It was the name, it was the same as a restaurant her family used to frequent whenever her parents could treat their family to a meal out. Once her Mother died, they never ate there again, but when she'd seen the sign, wonderful, poignant memories, of happier times had almost overwhelmed her. She hadn't said anything, partly because she couldn't trust herself to speak, and because the car had been full, as they made their way to a crime scene. She'd been lost in memories for a moment when Rigsby had interrupted her thoughts with some benign question. She had said that they didn't have to go there on her account. Jane folded up the map and declared that it was as good a reason as any and it was by the beach so he was happy. Lisbon went to her neighbours to let them know that she was going out of town, and she didn't know how long and would they keep an eye on the place. Jane loaded up the car and they were on their way. Lisbon did the first driving duties as she could see that Jane was getting tired and he'd slept for most of the journey. It took a little longer than they'd anticipated because of an accident, but, they pulled up in front of a hotel that looked over the beach, and Jane declared it as the perfect place to stay.

Lisbon hung up clothes she would wear tomorrow and clothes to change in to after a shower. When she felt refreshed and presentable for dinner she went to Jane's room, which was next to her's and knocked on the door. She heard him shout from within and she opened the door. Jane was sitting out on the balcony that overlooked the ocean. She walked over to him and took the other chair.

"Isn't this breathtaking Lisbon?"

She looks at the deep blue sea reflecting the cloudless sky, with light dancing off the gentle waves like they were made of little diamonds.

"Yes, it's beautiful Jane."

"When I was travelling with the carnival, I loved it when it was time for the beach tour. We only did it every couple of years but it was the nearest thing I got to a holiday. One summer we had a long term contract at a beach in San Louis Obispo. I befriended a crazy man, who spent every hour of the day on the beach building these amazing sand castles. He could make the most elaborate creations only for them to be washed away by the tide. He would return the next day, kick down what was left and start all over again. Will you make a sandcastle with me Lisbon?"

Lisbon's taken aback by the unexpected request, she's never made a sandcastle in her life before.

"Don't worry Lisbon I'll teach you?"

"Jane I hate it that you read me all the time."

Jane shrugs.

"I don't, you surprised me with this trip idea. Just sometimes you're an open book to me."

Lisbon scowls at him. Jane places his hands on the arms of the chair and stands up. He holds his hand out to Lisbon, smiling broadly

"Come my dear, let's find that restaurant of yours and have an early dinner, so we have plenty of time to make that sandcastle before the tide comes in."