A/N: Currently on a bit of a break but found the time to finish this chapter (and some decent Wi-Fi) and post it while sitting looking at the beautiful Irish landscape around me. Back home on Tuesday so unlikely there will be another update to any of my other stories until towards the end of next week. But hope you enjoy this one! And the scene with Jane/Lisbon/Mashburn is coming for all of those who asked, I assure you.

Chapter 14 - Let them eat cake

Jane and Cho drove back to Sacramento after interviewing another possible suspect, Cho at the wheel and Jane looking thoughtfully out at the greenery as it whizzed by. Three days now he'd spent reading every face he'd met, picking through the mementos scattered throughout their residences for something that would lead him to discovering Red John's identity. Nothing. He thought by using CBI resources it would hasten the process and he supposed it had in many ways but the feeling of mild euphoria he'd felt days before in coming closer to finding his wife and child's killer was waning. What concerned him more than the interviews he still had to face was a nagging doubt that perhaps he'd already met the man. Perhaps he'd only just interviewed him and didn't see through the mask he wore to the world. That Red John had fooled him once again. He used to think that he'd know him as soon as he saw him, that his instincts would tell him immediately that this person in front of him was him. Now suddenly he wasn't so sure and all the work he'd put in over the past few months may have been for nothing but a list that had ultimately led him nowhere.

It also didn't help his process that he kept finding himself distracted from the task at hand, that he kept catching himself glancing in the direction of Lisbon's office, that he could feel the pull of her, the need to be close to her once again. It had been easy to be angry a year ago. Now he'd returned and was seeing her every day it was becoming increasingly difficult to stop himself from drifting back into familiar patterns, to share a joke with her, to annoy her just for the fun of it. The fact he couldn't give the search for Red John his full attention due to his inability to shut her out of his thoughts did nothing but add to the irritation he felt towards her, as blatantly irrational he knew that was.

"So, what have you been up to this past year?" Cho asked, bringing him out of his maudlin thoughts.

Jane shrugged, still looking out the window, "Not a lot. Did a little travelling up and down the coast."

"Why'd you stay in California?"

Jane turned around to look at him, growing suspicious of Cho's motives for asking, wondering if he'd figured out the reason he'd never left California. If anyone apart from Lisbon had figured it out it would be Cho. "Didn't realise it was crime to do so. I've lived here all my adult life after all."

Cho stared ahead at the road in front of him. "When the dust settled you should have called her to tell her you were okay at least. Sent her a postcard or something."

Jane sighed and rolled his eyes. "As you no doubt are already aware we didn't exactly leave things on speaking terms." He fought back the feeling of guilt that came over him and added quietly, "And she would have found out if anything untoward had happened to me in any case."

"How do you figure?"

Jane pursed his lips in a thin line and cleared his throat. "I made...certain arrangements."

Cho took his eyes off the road for a moment to look at him and frowned. "What kind of arrangements?"

"Arrangements that are none of your business," Jane bit back with, staring out the window again.

Cho shook his head; whatever they were he was sure Lisbon had no knowledge of them either then or now.

Lisbon lay in bed wide awake, her mind replaying the kisses she and Jane had shared an hour ago. He was still a little too weak for them to get carried away with more than what could be considered a mild make out session on her couch but she had felt and reciprocated more passion in their kisses than she ever had in all her life. A smile crept across her face that turned into a grin and for a few minutes nothing mattered more than looking forward to experiencing that sensation again. She heard the bathroom toilet flush and a few minutes later his footsteps on the hallway outside. She watched the door, and, after a moment's hesitation where she saw the shadow of his feet beneath her door, heard a soft tap.

"Come in," she said, a slight tremble to her voice, this entire scenario absolutely surreal.

He stuck his head in the door and grinned at her as he saw her lying in bed, covers pulled up to her chin. "Can't sleep?"

She shook her head. "Not yet. Tonight's made me feel a little off kilter I guess."

He walked towards her bed, barefoot and clad in a pair of pyjamas and sat on its end. He smiled and bit his lip, nodding. "I know that feeling." He asked softly, "You're okay though, right? About us, that is. Haven't changed your mind?"

As the moonlight danced over his skin and she could see the nervousness in his expression she shook her head. Despite her sense of foreboding at whatever lay ahead she knew she had sealed her fate as soon as she had kissed him back earlier that evening. And at this moment in time all she wanted was to hold onto him and explore what a future together would be like. "No. I mean, yes I'm okay, I haven't changed my mind," she replied softly.

His face lit up at her words and she grinned in response. "This is still really weird, though," she laughed, pointing between the two of them.

He nodded and laughed softly. "It is but it won't be for long." He edged up the bed a little closer so he sat beside her, smiling wider as her eyes widened and pupils dilated. He took her hand that lay on top of the covers and kissed her knuckles slowly and gently, his gaze never leaving hers. "Still weird?" he whispered, his eyes dark with intensity.

"Yeah," she breathed. Suddenly she knew what he meant by wooing her as her stomach did a somersault.

He leaned over and kissed her softly on the lips. He pulled back a hair's breath. "How about now?"

She kissed him back tenderly. "Most definitely," she nodded.

He kissed her quickly again before standing up, taking in a breath. "Well, we'll work on it," he smiled, before bending down to kiss her on the forehead and bidding her goodnight.

She listened to the creak of the bed frame next door as he settled in for the night, wondering if his smile was as wide as hers at this very moment. She highly suspected it was.

Lisbon walked into the bullpen, noticing the conference table was brimming with all types of cake. "Whose birthday is it? Elton John's?" she laughed and asked Van Pelt who was eating a piece of what looked like lemon cake.

"Sorry, boss," Rigsby said, his voice muffled by inserting a piece of chocolate cake into his mouth. He swallowed it down and added, "Wedding cake selection. We're a little late in deciding and we've been so busy with the Walker case and-"

"It's fine," Lisbon said brightly. "As long as I can join in the tasting, that is," she smiled. Since Jane had been back the whole team had been flat out helping him interview and research suspects but they had three other murder investigations already ongoing when they took it on and none of her team had left before eight the last few nights. The least she could do was to be an approachable and amiable boss in return and quash down her personal feelings where Jane was concerned and to give them and herself a break from the drama for a few minutes.

"Sure boss," Van Pelt grinned, picking up a piece of cake and handing it to her.

As Lisbon put a piece of lemon cake into her mouth Cho and Jane reappeared after their day spent interviewing. Jane glanced at the table and frowned. "What is this, are the CBI sidelining into opening a bakery? Not enough detective work to keep you all busy?" he barked, barely looking at them as he slumped down on his couch.

Lisbon ate the cake and bit her tongue simultaneously. She replied politely, "So, no luck today then, I take it?"

He shot her a glare in response.

"You lost your touch?" she smiled, partly just to antagonise him for the crack he'd just made. "Normally you'd have things sewn up long before now, Jane. Maybe you've been out of the game too long."

He raised an eyebrow. "Are you trying to bait me, Lisbon? Because I wouldn't advise it the mood I'm in."

They locked eyes on each other, silently challenging the other one to explode first.

The whole team felt the frisson of tension pervade the air. Cho and Rigsby had a bet going to see how long this truce was going to hold and looked at each other, wondering if one of them would collect soon. They had a side bet whether it would be broken by one of them killing/injuring the other (well, Lisbon hurting Jane more specifically) or someone discovering them tearing at each other's clothing in Lisbon's office.

Van Pelt piped up, "We're trying wedding cakes, Jane. Come on, try some. Help us decide. They're really good."

After a few moments Jane took his eyes away from Lisbon's to settle on Van Pelt before perusing the table from his place on the couch. Van Pelt released a breath at feeling the strain in the atmosphere dissipate for the present.

"No point in me trying to help you decide, Van Pelt. I already know which one you're going to go for."

"You do, do you?" she replied, smiling, catching a glimpse of the 'old' Jane again who used to entertain them with mind reading tricks when times were quiet, hoping to see more of how he used to be. "Okay then, Mr. Know-it-all, which one?"

He could see through Van Pelt's attempt to bring him back into the fold but, on a whim and to dispel some of his frustration (and, if he was entirely honest, to prove to both himself and Lisbon that he hadn't lost his ability to read people), he decided to play along. He tapped his index finger to his lips, looking at a spot in the distance before smiling. He took out a pen and paper and wrote something on it, folding the paper and handed it to Van Pelt. "Here you go. Keep hold of it. When you decide on your choice, read it."

The next few minutes were spent with Rigsby, Van Pelt, Cho and Lisbon quietly discussing their favourites out of earshot. Van Pelt announced finally, "Okay, lemon it is." All eyes were on Jane to see his reaction and he merely shrugged. Van Pelt opened the paper and grinned, showing it to the others. "You were right!"

"No need to sound so surprised, Grace," Jane replied casually. "It was hardly a challenge." He looked pointedly at Lisbon. "Seems like I still have some game after all." She shrugged in return, a flicker of a smile on her lips.

"But how did you know?" Rigsby prodded.

Jane smiled fully, suddenly feeling better than he had since he'd come back. "Because it's Grace's favourite of course. At the end of the day the bride always gets her way. More impressive is that I knew it would be a draw until Rigsby caved. Let me tell you who picked what. Van Pelt picked lemon. Cho, carrot. Rigsby went for strawberry and-"

He paused for a moment, licking his lips, his tone softer, "Lisbon went for chocolate, her favourite."

Lisbon met his eyes and blushed furiously as they both recalled another occasion where chocolate cake was concerned.

Lisbon arrived home to find Jane in her kitchen, stirring something on the stove. It was two days since they'd kissed on her couch and she had pushed all thoughts of Red John to the back of her mind. She was just too happy to allow him to spoil things for her and for them now they'd taken this leap forward. He'd already taken away too much from Jane and she was determined he wasn't going to take away his chance at being happy again. Jane was so different to the man she knew years before – markedly lighter, tender, caring, was attempting to be more open. The last thing she wanted was to drag him back down the rabbit hole again when he'd just gotten a new lease of life. His health had improved immensely even though he still got tired quite early in the evening but the dizzy spells seemed to have left him. He was literally coming alive again before her eyes into a happier, more carefree version of himself.

"Hey," she smiled, coming up behind him to see what he was doing.

"Hey yourself," he grinned, turning around and kissing her softly on the lips before he turned back to his sauce.

Jane had been right, the weirdness hadn't lasted all that long and, although kissing each other was still new and wondrous and they hadn't taken any steps further than that thus far, they seemed to fit together into this new dynamic pretty quickly. Of course sharing a house together probably helped.

"How was your day?" he asked and she giggled in response.

He turned his head towards her, raising a quizzical eyebrow, "What's so funny? A clown got murdered?"

She laughed again. "No. It's just you sounded so...I don't know. It sounded like we've been doing this a lot longer than we actually have."

He slipped his arm around her waist and kissed the side of her head, his attention sill focussed on the pot he was stirring. "That's what comes from knowing each other so well already. We didn't have all the awkwardness a new relationship entails. All the getting to know you stuff people have to endure."

"Mmm," she replied, placing her arms around his waist, "Well, I'd say I'm at a disadvantage. You certainly know me a hell of a lot more than I know you."

He nodded thoughtfully. "I wouldn't necessarily agree entirely with that statement but you may have a point. So let's remedy that. For every one thing you tell me that you consider private then I'll tell you two."

She pulled back and grinned, "Really?"

He nodded, "Really." His tone turned softer and he captured her lips again. "I told you, Teresa. When we're like this...when we're here together alone then I give you one hundred percent of me, no holding back."

She smiled, withdrawing her arms to let him concentrate on his cooking. "You're obviously feeling a lot better," she replied quietly, moving to face him with her back to the counter.

"You don't sound too happy about that," he smiled as he added some pepper to his sauce.

She sighed. "Of course I am but it's just-"

"I'm going to be moving out soon. I know. I admit I'm not looking forward to it either."

"Well there's no rush, Jane. You're still not fully recovered."

"Why do you think I haven't mentioned going back to work?"

She frowned and recognised she had been surprised he hadn't pushed her into letting him go back to the office as soon as he was discharged from hospital. It was something the 'old' Jane would have insisted upon.

He continued, "Because then people will see how much I've recuperated and well...there goes my reason for staying here still." He pecked her lips when he heard her sigh in response. "But I'm not gone yet. So let's not think about how we continue this after I move out, let's just have a nice night, shall we?"

She nodded. "Sounds good." She went to the fridge to grab a bottle of water and saw a chocolate cake sitting there. "Jane! Where the hell did that come from?!"

"Where do you think? The fairies brought it? I had it delivered from Marie's for your dessert of course. Just leave me a slice of the sucker for tomorrow when I'm officially off this damn diet regimen you insist I stick to."

"But Marie's don't deliver," she responded, fighting an urge to put a finger through the chocolate frosting as she licked her lips.

He smirked at her, his interest piqued by her battle to resist temptation. "They don't normally deliver but I'm a pretty good customer of theirs with all the apology donuts and bear claws I've had to buy for you and the team over the years when I've upset you for one reason or another. They were only too pleased to deliver it when they discovered I'd escaped death's calling and would be availing of their services in the near future again."

"It does look delicious," she admitted.

"Come on Lisbon, stop fighting against what you really want."

She eyed him with a mixture of amusement and curiosity, unsure of the implication of his words.

"The cake, Lisbon," he grinned. "Try some."

Her eyes lit on it again and she chewed on her bottom lip before she indulged herself finally by drawing her index finger through its side and licking off the icing, closing her eyes as she savoured its cocoa flavoured goodness. Before she opened them Jane's lips found hers, kissing her passionately.

"Mmm. It does taste good," Jane continued, licking her lips for good measure.

Lisbon's eyes popped open and she looked at him reproachfully. "You're not supposed to be eating chocolate cake," she replied, an eyebrow raised.

"I didn't eat a thing," he responded, dragging his finger through the cake and slathering the frosting on her neck. She shuddered at both the coldness on her skin and the sudden intimacy he'd just initiated. Before she had time to answer him he pushed her further against the counter and leaned down, licking off the chocolate icing slowly and sensually.

"Jesus," she whispered, her eyes closed and her fingers gripped to the counter behind her.

He laughed softly against her skin, kissing her neck. "Nope, just me."

She laughed giddily in response. "You're just doing this to taste this damn cake."

He pulled his head from her neck and chuckled. "Of course, what other possible reason could there be? I can't for the life of me comprehend any other at all." He dived in again and captured her lips in a decidedly chocolate fused kiss.