A/N: For the first time ever (and hopefully the last) I haven't had time to respond to all your lovely reviews for this story as I believe you'd rather have my time spent writing another chapter than getting my thanks individually. Please know that I am immensely touched by them and would probably have lost interest in continuing to write without them, they really do spur me on. So a big blanket thanks to (and I apologise if I've left anyone out): Nelapl, Brooklyn79, Azucar, Ozzie13, LouiseKurylo, MartyMc49, Florale, OTHGirl24, thorntons, Ana, Clover81, Spitfire303, CrazerCat, Cleo, HannaWger, Guest and 1832TeaQL. And I apologise to all those who've abandoned their diets at the mention of chocolate cake in the last chapter!

Chapter 15 – Manipulation & Mattresses

Lisbon walked back into her office, a little unnerved by the incident with the chocolate cake. The memory of his tongue against her neck had made her skin surge with heat and stomach clench while providing Patrick Jane with plenty of indication that she was far from over him. It aggravated her no end that he could still have this affect on her over a year later. But she was a little gratified that he hadn't looked entirely unaffected by the memory either. She took a deep breath and pulled a file from the corner of her desk, hoping a gambit she had instigated before Jane's arrival back into the bullpen would pay off shortly.

A few minutes later Jane stormed through the door without knocking. "Van Pelt told me you've taken her off background checking Janet's clients," he said accusingly.

Well that peace didn't last long, was her first thought. But at least it appeared her plan was set in motion was her second.

She glanced up from the file, "Well please come on in, Jane," she replied, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

She put her head back to the paperwork in front of her, her voice neutral again. "Just for now. We have three other cases that need her attention and the rest of the team's. You have enough people you still want to interview that she's already checked. When you've done that then I'll consider reassigning her back again. She has other work in the meantime."

He frowned, opening and closing his mouth for a second. He had never had to negotiate for resources to help him before and he tensed at her using her position as team leader to her advantage and his detriment. He was supposed to be the manipulator, not her.

Lisbon looked up, smiled a little at his obviously shocked demeanour. "What? Did you expect me to drop every other case and prioritise the one you were more interested in instead?"

"Wainwright promised-"

"He promised you'd work the Walker case. You are working it, right? Despite the lack of progress."

He came a few steps closer, annoyance in his tone, ignoring her dig, the second one in minutes. "You know I need those background checks run. There could be a more viable suspect I'm not even aware of yet."

She leaned back in her chair, enjoying having some power. She wasn't one to normally flex it but seeing him try to stay in control was priceless. "Then I suggest you learn how to use a computer," she smiled.

He gaped again. "What the hell are you playing at, Lisbon? You would never..." he calmed his breathing, lowered his tone, shaking his head. "This isn't how you operate."

"Yeah, well things change."

He breathed deeply, thinking hard before suddenly comprehending her thought process. He smiled wryly. He had to admit she was often smarter than he acknowledged at times. Or perhaps he'd just tried to forget that aspect to her personality as it fascinated him so much when she sparred with him intellectually.

"Where are the files for the other cases?" he asked calmly.

She feigned confusion. "Sorry?"

He came a step nearer, looked directly in her eyes from the other side of the desk. "The other files. For these so called more urgent cases."

She raised a quizzical eyebrow. "I thought you said you wouldn't work on any other cases except Janet Walker's."

He sighed and gave her a knowing look that he had seen though her ploy to get his help on other cases. "You want my help or not?"

She shrugged, passing him some files from her desk. "If you want to see if you can find any inconsistencies in the witness statements then I won't stop you."

Taking the files with him he paused at the doorway. Her head was already back down, pretending to concentrate on a piece of paper in front of her but stifling a smile.

"Nice job," he said softly, amusement in his features.

She looked back in his direction. "I haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about."

"Well of course you don't," he smiled, leaving her office.

A grin spread across her face when his back was out of view. She had almost forgotten the rare delight in getting one over on Patrick Jane.

They ate dinner, laughing and occasionally flirting, Lisbon filling Jane in on the day's events. Even though she was describing a murder, she couldn't stop smiling and from Jane's almost constant grin told her he felt the same. He grasped her hand across the table, his fingers rolling over her knuckles as they finished their meal.

"I'm afraid I have a complaint about the accommodation in this fine establishment," he said, his tone serious but his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Oh?" she smiled, "is that so?"

"Mmm."

She detected a hint of nervousness as he swallowed slightly, his tongue running over his lips to moisten them. It was so rare she ever saw him without an air of confidence she frowned, nodding for him to go on.

He took a deep breath and smiled again. "Well, that mattress in your spare room is a tad...uh...lumpy."

Her eyes widened and he laughed softly. "Is it that much of a surprise to you that I'd like to sleep with you?"

She blanched, unable to catch a breath for a moment. She knew they were on this path since they'd kissed but was she really about to have sex with Patrick Jane? As far she knew it was the first time he'd be with a woman since his wife. It was a hell of a responsibility. And she wasn't entirely sure if either of them were ready for it. She was confident enough in her sexual prowess in the bedroom but this wouldn't just be some guy she picked up or dated a few times that she could easily push away from afterwards. It was Jane. The act of making love, of seeing each other at their most naked, both literally and figuratively, would be a hugely significant act for both of them.

He laughed again, blushing slightly. "I'm actually not talking about sex, Lisbon." He eyed her seductively for a moment, his eyes dark. "Not just yet, at least." He added, "Just sleeping beside you, in its most literal sense."

He picked up their plates, carried them over to the sink, his tone now utterly conversational. "You know I could never understand that turn of phrase? Sleeping together. When the opposite is actually the case." He turned around and winked at her, still sitting in silence at the table. "Or at least it should be if it's done right."

She came to stand beside him, drying the dishes as he washed them. "You are permitted to say 'no', Lisbon," he added when she hadn't yet spoken, as he scrubbed a plate with a scouring pad.

She nodded, chewing on her bottom lip as she dried the plate when he passed it to her.

He continued, "And of course you know that and would be only too forthright in telling me if that was your response. But the fact you haven't means you want to but are concerned about it. About what it means if we do." He went to pass her a glass but held it in his hand for a moment so she had to look at him. His voice dipped. "I'm nervous too, Teresa. Even if all we do is sleep in the same bed it's...it's by far the most intimate thing I've done with someone for a very long time."

She could see the apprehension etched in his face, some guilt in his expression. She finally spoke. "This is all happening so fast, Jane."

He smiled, laughing softly. "Yeah, it's not like we haven't known each other for years."

She rolled her eyes, "You know this is different. I mean, we hadn't even kissed until last week and now..."

He dried his hands on the tea towel she held and put his arms around her waist. "Now, I'm living here, albeit temporarily. But I really am only talking about sleeping tonight, though."

She clasped her hands behind his back. "Why is it so important to you?"

He shrugged, kissed her quickly. "Because I'd like to know what it feels like. To fall asleep with you beside me. To wake up next to you. Just...just to feel close to you."

She smiled lightly. "I should warn you I'm a bit of a bed hogger."

He grinned. "Well, I've been used to a door for a bed in the CBI attic so I don't require much space fortunately."

"At least I know you don't snore."

"Nor do you although you do have a tendency to mumble in your sleep. And drool occasionally."

She swatted his arm. "I do not!"

He laughed softly before kissing her again. "So," he said tenderly, "shall we turn in, my dear?"

Jane came back into her office an hour later and placed the files she'd given him earlier on her desk. "I've made some notes. Some leads for you and the team to follow up."

She nodded, opening the top file. "You think the brother-in-law was lying?" she asked.

He nodded, taking a seat opposite, crossing one leg over the other, getting comfortable. "His alibi is flimsy at best. My best guess is his girlfriend is covering for him. She probably knows he's a killer but is too needy and protective of him to give him up right away. If you lean on her and apply the right pressure I'm sure she'll cave."

"Sounds right up your alley," Lisbon commented, locking eyes with him.

He rolled his in return. "Haven't I made concession enough by helping you this past hour?"

"You're a consultant. You're paid to help with any cases you're assigned. You're not supposed to pick and choose."

"Yet that was the basis of my signing up again. And the payment for my services is at best pitiful in any case. Would hardly call it payment at all."

She sighed heavily, rubbing the sudden pain searing across her forehead. "Fine. We'll deal with it. I'll get Van Pelt to begin the rest of the background checks for your case in the morning."

"You could just have asked me straight out for my help earlier than stoop to subterfuge and blackmail."

She closed the file, digging out some headache tablets from her drawer. "Yeah, and what would your response have been, I wonder," she muttered under her breath.

As she washed the pills down with cold black coffee she grimaced.

"You still drink too much of that dreadful stuff," he said, watching her every move. "That's what brings on your headaches, you know."

"Yeah, you've told me that a hundred times, Jane. And I've told you I need the coffee to get rid of my headaches."

"That's because you're addicted to the stuff, Lisbon. If you cut down slowly your headaches would stop."

She raised an eyebrow, smiling faintly. "With you back working here? Are you kidding me?"

He looked down to his lap, trying to hold back a smile. He had almost forgotten what fun bickering with her over her coffee intake was like. He shook his head slowly, standing up and sighed. "Bring the girlfriend in tomorrow morning, first thing. I'll interview her before I go talk to more of Janet's client list."

As Jane went to the spare room to get changed for the night Lisbon delved through her nightwear drawer. As well as some large football jerseys there was an emerald green satin chemise that her niece Annie had bought for her the Christmas before. 'In case you ever get that consultant you're crazy about in your bed, Aunt Reese' she had teased her. Lisbon's brothers had joined in and she was as scarlet as Rudolph's nose in a matter of seconds. Her hands hovered over it before rolling her eyes and pushing it to the back of the drawer, pulling out a jersey instead and some sleep shorts. She didn't normally bother wear anything but panties underneath her jersey but this was not exactly going to be a normal night's sleep. She bundled them along with a clean set of panties under her arm and went into the adjoining bathroom to get changed. As she threw her jeans, top and underwear in the washing hamper she felt her legs, hairs pricking her fingertips. "Oh, sheep dip," she muttered, pulling out a razor and filling the sink with hot water. Even if she wasn't going to have sex with him she didn't want him to witness her porcupine legs this early on.

She heard a light knock on the bedroom door and Jane call out her name.

"Come on in, just getting changed in the bathroom." She hoped her tone sounded breezy. She nicked herself with her razor trying to do the job too quickly. "Damn it."

"Everything okay in there?" Jane asked at the door.

"Yes!" she snapped before attempting a more casual tone. "Just...just make yourself comfortable. I'll be out in a minute."

"Does that mean get into bed or is that a euphemism for something else? I'm a little out of practice where bedroom etiquette is concerned," he replied, amusement in his tone.

"Just get into bed, Jane," she growled.

She looked in the mirror, flushing after those words came out, her heart racing. She heard him chuckling, his voice more distant as he had evidently taken her at her word. "Still so bossy."

A few minutes later she came out of the bathroom, turning off the light behind her. Jane was lying on the opposite side of the bed to hers, a lamp illuminating his features as he browsed through a celebrity gossip magazine. Sheep dip again, she thought, having forgotten she hadn't hidden it from his view. When she had a gruelling day sometimes all she liked was to sit and read nonsense about celebrities with more money than sense and berate them and their lifestyles while working her way through a tub of ice cream.

She approached the bed and his eyes took in her appearance from head to toe. He smiled, lingering his look a little over her legs. Silently he moved the covers away so she could get in and brought his eyes back to his magazine. "Kim Kardashian seems to feature in every article. Who is she anyway?"

She giggled, his question having the affect of cutting the tension in the air. As she supposed he had intended.

"A woman with a big butt and an even bigger bank balance to boot."

He nodded, "Nice alliteration. It is hefty, that's for sure," he replied, taking a closer look at a photograph on the page in front of him.

"Would you like me to cut that out for you?"

He grinned at her, placing the magazine on the floor beside him. "No. I'm more than happy with the one I see in front of me every day, thank you all the same."

She blushed and lay on her side, pulling the covers up to her waist. He turned off the light and lay down beside her, his face opposite hers. He smiled again. "Don't tell Rigsby, though. He'd clobber me looking at Van Pelt that way."

She went to whack him on the arm but he quickly took her hand instead, kissing its palm before holding it against his chest and softly caressing it. "You okay?" he asked gently.

She nodded. "Yeah, you?"

"Better than I thought I might be," he admitted. "It's difficult though. Trying to move on with my life. It's...it's taking some effort."

She blinked rapidly. He had seemed to be coping with this change in their status better than she had been. "I thought you were taking it all in your stride."

He shook his head. "Well, I'm a pretty good actor. And sometimes it is fine. Most of the time. Great, in fact. But..." He licked his lips nervously. "But it's hard stopping the guilt take over. That I'm here with you, and..." his voice trailed off, breaking a little.

"And they're not," she finished for him.

He nodded. "I know they'd prefer this for me than the life I've been leading but...it doesn't seem fair that I've been given a second chance."

"You know what I think wouldn't be fair?"

He shook his head.

"That you'd squander it now you have been."

He smiled and kissed the hand in his. He leaned over and kissed her deeply, pulling her towards him. Her hand weaved through his hair as she kissed him back and he sighed contentedly. "God, that feels nice," he whispered, drawing his arm around her shoulders and pulling her head to lie on his chest. He closed his eyes as she continued to run one hand through his curls soothingly and the other still intertwined in his against his heart. Before long they were both sound asleep.

A/N: So no sexytimes yet but they are coming I assure you. Thanks again for all your lovely support!