A/N: Loved the differing array of reviews to the last chapter. Think I can safely say that the majority of you still have little/no sympathy for Jane and that you're not tired of those M scenes just yet. I will take all of that into account as I progress...

Chapter 21 – The Hand of Friendship

"I'm sorry Walter, what did you say?"

"Well, I was asking how your fish was but I can see your mind is elsewhere. And not on me. Which I take as a personal affront, Teresa. I'm not used to being ignored, you know." His eyes and smile twinkled at her.

She sighed and tried a smile as she looked around the upscale restaurant. It was early evening but buzzing with the pre theatre crowd. "I'm sorry. It's been a lousy week."

"Hmm. Due the return of a certain flaxen haired consultant I would guess," he smirked.

"No," she replied much too quickly. She breathed out, stabbing her salmon with a fish knife, her shoulders sagging. "Well, you know how he is. He has the propensity for getting well and truly under your skin."

Not to mention into your heart, she added internally.

She had been in two minds whether or not to cancel her evening with Walter due to her frustration with Jane. There was no point in them both having a mediocre night because of it. And it wasn't as if Walter Mashburn would be without a date for a Saturday night for long. But she'd decided that if she was ever going to try to move on from Patrick Jane then she had to make an effort to that effect. To add actions to her words. And an evening out with a friend was as good a starting point as any. She'd do herself no favours by staying at home wallowing in self pity. She'd witnessed Jane do that long enough for both of them.

But she couldn't blame him for all of this, just maybe ninety per cent she thought ruefully. The other ten was of her own making. She knew the character traits of the man long before she fell for him, secrecy and deception were as part of his make up as blond curls and a killer smile. And now they were no longer romantically involved where he'd become much more open towards her she shouldn't have been surprised that he'd revert to old patterns now things between them were on not just shaky but earthquake impacted ground.

Okay, so maybe she was responsible for slightly more than ten per cent. Maybe.

Walter, spearing a piece of fillet mignon, responded chuckling, "Oh believe me I remember what he's like. Cost me a two hundred thousand dollar car first time we met. Not that I minded much." He leaned forward, serious again. "But...well if he upset you, Teresa. Well then that is a different matter entirely."

She smiled then laughed, amused by his unnecessary machismo. "Thanks Walter but I don't need you to help fight my battles with Jane. Believe me you don't want to get in the middle of it."

She paused then added, "But you're quite the smooth and chivalrous operator when you want to be, aren't you?"

"Well, a man doesn't become a billionaire without some charm and wit. Let me know if you change your mind. I've been involved in a little corporate espionage. I can be sneaky if I have to. And know how to get away with it."

She rolled her eyes as he conveniently informed her how much he was worth. She supposed she was used to it impressing the other women he dated. "I'll forget I heard that last part as a Law Enforcement representative."

"All right. I won't interfere. Can I ask you a question that's been rattling around my head, though?" he continued.

She nodded, swallowing a piece of asparagus.

"The reason Patrick left-" he began, pausing when she glared at him bringing up Jane again. He smiled in response, undeterred. "You said you two had a falling out."

"Well," he chuckled, "well, in my experience there's really only one reason I can think of why time hasn't healed the wounds. I've had a fair few ex girlfriends, well wives too, and I can tell by looking at someone when romance has turned sour."

He stopped talking and studied her face. She cocked an eyebrow but kept her facial expression blank, more experienced in concealing her tells since knowing Jane.

He shrugged and went back to his meal, unaffected by her non response. "Anyway, if you ever feel like talking about it I'm an expert in the field of screwing up relationships."

She softened her expression, touched by his self depreciation. "Yeah. We crossed the line," she admitted, lowering her face to her plate to hide her blush.

"And by how it turned out you didn't just cross it, sounds like you high jumped over it."

She raised her eyes to see pure amusement in his features. "Guess you could say that," she smiled.

"Hmm. Well you know what they say, Teresa. Best way to get over someone-"

"You're incorrigible, you know that?" she beamed, shaking her head as he laughed.

She took a deep breath after a moment. "You know what? All I've dealt with this week is coming to terms with him coming back to work. Let's not talk about him anymore. So, where are we off to tonight after this early dinner you insisted upon?" She gestured to her cocktail dress. "And it better be somewhere I don't feel like a fool wearing this at six pm."

"You'll see."

"You don't know this but I hate surprises."

"So you said when I called. But I promise you'll like this one."

The next morning he leaned on the door frame to the kitchen, buttoning his shirt sleeves as he watched her prepare her coffee. From his side view he could see her face set in a frown, her mind elsewhere so she hadn't detected his approach. His smile turned into a mirrored frown as he recalled the night before. While he had been nervous at first he hadn't discerned any hints that Lisbon had been anything less than satisfied with his performance but he couldn't help but think she looked downright depressed this morning. And the fact she'd got up without waking him added another level of doubt.

He began to run over their lovemaking in his mind, every element entrenched in his memory palace (or at least as many as he could fit in when he was lucid enough to do so, some he had been unable to think through never mind have a chance of recollecting in any vivid detail after). While he was certain he needed a little more practice to build up his...ahem...stamina...he was certain given time he'd live up to her perhaps lofty expectations of what she had imagined a mentalist to be like in bed.

His own thoughts elsewhere now he hadn't noticed that she'd turned, only realising she had when she pushed a cup of tea into his hand, her other hand tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she turned away again with a muttered "Morning."

He cleared his throat, returning her greeting. As she stood buttering some toast with her back to him he bit his lip. He wasn't used to feeling this awkward and certainly not with Lisbon. Perhaps this leap forward had been a monumental error. Perhaps they should have waited. "Everything okay?" he asked quietly, a sudden memory of asking his wife the same question on many an occasion she gave him the silent treatment.

"Sure. You?"

He rolled his eyes. Perhaps women weren't so different after all. When she spun round to hand him the toast he caught her eyes, saw anxiety etched in them behind her painted smile. "Do you regret it?" he asked softly, taking the plate and putting it on the counter beside him along with his tea, his eyes searching hers immediately again for a response.

"Do you?" she replied, frowning again.

"Why would you think that?"

She swallowed and her breathing turned a little erratic, her words tumbling out. "Well I thought maybe you might have had second thoughts...that...well that maybe you weren't really ready. Maybe this case pushed you before you were. Maybe I did. And then...well when I turned around you looked worried...so I thought...well I suspected I was right," her words trailed off and she averted her eyes, busying herself with putting some bread in the toaster.

He breathed out a sigh of relief and he came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and kissed her neck softly. His lips a fraction from her ear he whispered, "You know, if we're going to do this then we need to learn how to communicate better. Well, communicate better with words. I'd say we communicate pretty well in some other ways. As we found out last night."

She felt his lips smiling against her neck and she turned in his arms. When she did she was confronted with a grinning Patrick Jane. "You don't regret it?" she asked again.

He kissed her on the lips. "No. I'd have to be mad to, wouldn't I?"

When he'd woken he had felt some guilt over his actions during the night but he supposed that was nothing that wasn't to be expected. The first time having sex with someone else other than his wife was bound to stir up that initial reaction. He was confident it would recede in time. But regret? No, he couldn't regret what had happened. It had been joyous and incredible to feel that closeness with someone again. Someone he loved. Someone he could entrust with his heart again. But a part of him was terrified too, that it also meant he now had someone he could lose again.

She seemed to read his fear and wrapped her arms around him tighter. "Some people say you already are," she smiled.

"Meh," he replied as an end to the conversation and kissed her again.

"Then why did you look worried?" she persevered when he removed his lips from hers.

"Because when I came into the kitchen you looked like you were. I was beginning to doubt my sexual prowess."

"That must have been truly terrifying for a man with an ego like yours," she teased, grinning fully now.

"You have no idea." He took her hand and pulled her back towards the living room, his eyes making his intentions clear. "In fact I think I'm still a little uncertain in that area. Could do with some reassurance in the matter."

As he led her to the stairs he grinned when he noticed she wasn't arguing about him keeping her from the office.

They arrived at work an extremely pleasant and satisfying hour and a half late.

Walter told the limo driver to wait as he walked Lisbon to her door. "So, good surprise then?"

"How did you know I liked the ballet?" she asked. "Not many people do." As far as she knew even Jane hadn't guessed that about her.

"When we drove to dinner the other evening I noticed you look at the poster for the event. Yours eyes lingered on it a little longer than a fleeting glance. For a second you were a little...wistful. It invoked some memories for you. Of your mother, I'm guessing."

She was taken aback at his accurate summary. She wasn't used to someone other than Jane reading a situation so quickly. "I have to say, Walter, I'm...I'm impressed."

He stepped a little closer, "You think Patrick Jane is the only one who can read people? I've made a lot of money doing precisely just that."

"Well I still don't know how you managed to get tickets. It's been sold out for weeks."

"Have I mentioned I'm a billionaire?" he smiled.

Laughing, "I had a lovely evening. I'm glad I made the effort."

His eyes lingered over her. "Well the effort was certainly worthwhile. Have I told you look delectable in that dress? Midnight blue is beautiful on you."

"Yeah, you may have mentioned it once or twice," she replied, rolling her eyes. As his eyes continued to roam over her frame she said plainly, "Walter, I'm not inviting you in. We're not going there again."

He shrugged. "Maybe not tonight. But you should know by now not to say 'never' to me, Teresa. You were wrong last time you said that."

Blushing, "Walter, we agreed we'd be friends, nothing more."

"Well, we are friends, Teresa, aren't we?" he smiled seductively, moving a little closer towards her.

She placed the palms of her hands on his chest to stop his approach. "Why would you even want to go there, Walter? Huh? My head's a mess. Why bother with me when you could have any woman you wanted?"

"Apart from the one standing before me it appears."

He sighed and moved back a step. He laughed softly and shook his head. Quietly, "I seem to have this tendency of falling for women who are in love with someone else."

She wished she could refute his words. "I am sorry if I've misled you otherwise."

Putting on a mask of confidence again he replied, "You didn't. But...well I don't get to meet many normal people in my line of work. People who aren't impressed by my fortune-"

"Oh, don't give me that. You love impressing people with your wealth."

He laughed, nodding his head. "See what I mean? I'm not used to people calling me out on my bullshit. It's bracing."

"Yeah, well with so many years spent dealing with Patrick Jane I seem to have radar for it." Softer, "I'm happy to be your friend, Walter. But no more than that."

"Not one with benefits then, eh?" he tried again.

She shook her head firmly. "Believe me you're better off with your supermodels."

"Hmm. Wouldn't necessarily agree to that but okay, I give up. Just friends then?"

He outstretched his hand in a formal manner. She laughed and shook it. As soon as she did he pulled her towards him suddenly and pressed his lips to hers quickly but firmly before letting go again. Before she had a chance to react he began to chuckle, holding his hands up in surrender when he saw her scowl. "What's the matter? I'm sure that's how friends say good night in France."

She shot him another glare. "Well, I'm quite certain they do not and besides that, we're not in France."

"Wanna fly there tonight and find out for sure?" he smirked.

She rolled her eyes and opened her door. "Goodnight Walter," she sighed wearily. She closed the door behind her before she heard his response.

Cho dropped the file on Lisbon's desk. "Final paperwork for the Jensen case."

She sighed and nodded. "Thanks, Cho. It was a tough one, huh?" she replied, to herself more than to him.

After a second she noticed he was still standing at her desk. "Something else?"

"Jane seems to have settled back in," he stated.

She glanced briefly at the bullpen as he showed Rigsby a card trick, grinning widely as he did so. "Yeah...he's...um...pleased to be back at work I think."

Cho closed the door to her office and crossed his arms across his chest. "You haven't told him about Red John. You said once he was back on his feet you'd tell him."

She began to straighten some things on her desk, looking away from his intense stare. "No I haven't. Not yet," she said quietly.

"You're not going to," he stated.

She raised her head to argue with him and he raised an eyebrow in response, daring her to contradict him. She looked out to the bullpen again and Jane caught her eye as she did so as Rigsby closed his eyes to pick a card from the deck he was holding. He raised his eyebrows almost imperceptibly, a brief but smouldering smile on his lips.

She licked hers automatically in response before turning back to Cho. "He's happy, Cho. For the first time in years he's really happy. He has a new lease of life. A new perspective. How can I mess that up for him? You know what Red John does to him."

"He's only happy because he doesn't know how he was cured. He'd be pissed if he knew it was Red John's doing. Even more so that it was you who begged his interference."

"Exactly my point. So why rock the boat, huh? He's alive, he's happy, he's...he's moving on with his life."

"This isn't like you. You're an honest person-"

"Are you going to tell him?" she interrupted, annoyed he was making her feel more guilt than she did already.

"No. But you'll regret this. If you don't tell him then it's only a matter of time before Red John does."

With that he walked back out of her office. She sat stunned by his parting words for a few seconds, praying he would be proved wrong although the same thought had occurred to her more times than she wanted to admit.

"Everything okay?" Jane asked, popping his head in a few seconds later. "Cho seems even less of his cheery self than usual," he smiled.

"Yeah," she replied, holding up the Jensen case file. "Just the final paperwork on the case." What was another lie, she thought to herself.

He lingered at the door for a moment frowning then shrugged, "Want to grab some lunch?"

"Jane, we were late in already," she blushed. "I can't take time for lunch too."

He peered in a little more. "It was worth it, though, wasn't it?" he whispered.

She smiled under her eyebrows at him. "Hush. Let me get some work done."

He suddenly looked more serious. "Okay. No lunch. But I do need to talk to you about something."

"What is it?" she asked, beginning to update the Jensen case notes on her computer.

He walked in and closed the door, sitting down opposite her. "Time I moved out of your place."

She stopped typing and looked up at him. She knew it was agreed he'd move out as soon as he went back to work but she was surprised at how much the words stung her.

"Teresa, we said that once I was back on my feet-"

"I know. I know," she admitted. "You're right. You're back at work. It's look suspicious if you stayed there any longer. And only a matter of time before Wainwright started asking awkward questions."

It wasn't Wainwright Jane was worried about finding out about their arrangement but he nodded nonetheless. "I know the timing sucks...especially after last night-"

"And this morning," she finished for him.

"Precisely" he grinned.

"At least you'll get a bed to yourself again," she smiled, looking for the silver lining.

"Well, I was just getting used to that little corner you left me. Don't know what I'll do with a whole bed to myself."

"Where will you go?"

Frowning, "Back to my motel, where else?"

She tutted. "God, Jane. That place? Couldn't you move somewhere a little nicer? An apartment maybe?"

"Motel's fine, Lisbon. If I moved somewhere a little more upscale it would attract attention. Besides, it has everything I require. Bed, hot water, tea kettle, etc."

She knew better than to argue with him about it and knew if she did he'd bring up the threat of Red John as a counter argument. And after what had just occurred with Cho she didn't want to think about him any more than she had to.

She sighed then asked, "You need some help to move?"

"No. I got it covered. Rigby's coming over after work to help pack me up again."

A glimmer of a smile she replied, "You mean you just conned him into it by that card trick of yours."

He merely grinned in response.

Jane pulled his car into his parking spot at CBI early Monday morning. He hoped that Lisbon's mood had mellowed after a weekend apart from him. Of course not all of that weekend she'd been alone. Mashburn had taken up some of her time.

He shook his head as he entered the elevator, before nodding amiably to the other early birds, belying the aggravation he felt towards the man now. He had once been amused by him. He'd reminded him a little of the man he was in his single days, how he might have turned out if the circumstances of his life had been different, if he'd been brought up in a home where parents sent their kids to college and not in a trailer taught to con people by cheap gimmicks instead. Now his presence back in his life again (or Lisbon's if he was being precise about it) merely irked him.

And to rub salt into his wounds he'd been the one who had encouraged her to go out with him again, practically pushing the two of them together. Idiot. Like he ever really wanted her to move on from him. He had fooled himself into thinking the best way to stop getting close to her again was to have her date another man when the opportunity presented itself. So she would respect the boundaries of being in a relationship even if he felt himself weakening under her spell.

It had been Saturday morning at five am when a severe lack of sleep had induced some much needed honesty with himself.

He still loved her despite how she'd hurt him. Was still in love with her.

She'd apologised many times since he'd come back for lying to him and he'd blown them all off. Treated her abominably like she was nothing to him. Manipulated her. Lied to her. He didn't know if they would or could ever get back to where they'd been but he wanted to try to be friends with her again at least. He couldn't bear to see that look of coldness from her again. There was so much hurt and pain on both sides to wish for more than that and he wasn't entirely sure if he could get over the sense of betrayal and distrust he still felt. Wasn't sure she could either. But friends he was certain he could do. So he'd decided to start that process with a peace offering of sorts.

With that in mind he broke into her office and lifted the files that lay on top of her desk, open murders that the team had only just began to investigate. He took them back out to the bullpen and sat on his couch with a cup of tea, beginning to make some notes. He would close some cases for her. Mashburn may be able to send her flowers and lavish her with expensive gifts but the way back into Teresa Lisbon's good graces was by solving murders. He smiled widely as he noted an inconsistency in a witness statement. Luckily he was a dab hand at that.

A/N: So, Jane has finally seen the light. Well...kind of. But is Lisbon going to be a pushover even if he solves a murder or two...hmm...And we haven't seen the last of Mashburn either, not quite yet (I know a few of you aren't fans of his character but he's a necessary foil at the moment for Jane so bear with me.)

This chapter turned quite light but there will be darker times ahead for those of you who like the angst. Our favourite couple still have a long way to go. But also some humour too. And I know some of you are wondering about who poisoned Jane in the first place...don't worry, I haven't forgotten about that plot point. It will be revisited in some detail later on.