Chapter 30 – Breaking Point

"Get back together?" Jane repeated back to her, a crinkle appearing between his eyes. "I'm assuming you mean for show."

Lisbon rolled her eyes at him. "Of course, what else?"

He muttered quietly, "Yes, for real would be ludicrous indeed." Louder, "But not by much, Lisbon."

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair as he contemplated her plan.

"I know it's dangerous, Jane. But anymore than waiting for him to make his next move?" she continued. "At least this way we would be in some kind of control. He'd have to adapt, maybe change what he's planning next. Or if not that then jump ahead a few moves."

He sipped his tea and sat back at the table. "I don't know, Lisbon. If by doing this it makes him shorten his timescales then it means he'll come after us...well more likely come after you first...a whole lot faster than he's currently intending."

"Exactly. If it saves another innocent person getting caught in the crossfire before that then I say we do it."

He studied her as she stood over him, fire in her eyes to match the one in her belly. Her bravery never ceased to amaze him and terrify him in equal measure. "Look, let's not make any hasty decisions about this-"

"Yeah, like you've never done that where he's concerned."

"That was when I only had myself to worry about," he argued as his voice rose. He took a calming breath. "Let's see what happens in the morning with this case. Sleep on it before we decide on this course of action."

"You know as well as I do that there won't be any loose ends here, Jane."

He stood up and sighed. "God, you're infuriating sometimes with your lack of patience. I'm just asking you to wait a night, Lisbon. Okay? Can you do that? Even if I said yes right away, what's your plan? Drag me out of here in the middle of the night and make out with me in the parking lot to get your point across?"

She blushed as her thoughts tuned to his last words. It was one thing suggesting they try to rattle Red John by doing this; it would be another matter entirely to follow it through for real. Her mind was already screwed up with how she felt about him since he'd returned never mind throwing a 'fake' relationship into her jumbled feelings. She would have to compartmentalise like she never had before to tread the potential minefield in front of her.

"Fine," she said, averting her eyes for a moment. She turned her attention back to him. Soberly and determinedly, "But if there are no leads after we investigate here then we are agreed?"

He smiled softly at her attempt to distance herself from sounding in any way emotional. To treat this agreement like some kind of business transaction. "Do I have a choice in the matter?" he smirked. "It appears you're going to ravish me in the bullpen as soon as we get back to Sacramento whether I agree or not."

"Very funny," she deadpanned.

"Well a man can live in hope," he smiled.

It had been relatively easy teasing her about pretending to be in a relationship before they'd investigated the murders in Florida. He'd distanced himself from what she wanted to do and hoped they'd find a clue that would mean they would need to reconsider her plan and change it to another one.

But flying back to Sacramento with no new leads to speak of and only time to dwell on and come to terms with the risk they were taking in provoking Red John he found himself downright agitated. But he knew better than to talk her out of it if it meant one less life lost by the killer's hand. In theory, it could be just the plan to make him act rashly and show his hand too soon, to display a chink in his armour. Currently Jane didn't have a better one so they were stuck with it. He'd also promised to share all his Red John findings with her once they were back in Sacramento, another task he was not exactly eagerly anticipating.

He watched her across the aisle as she stared out the window, her face set in a determined grimace. If she were a nail biter she would have been down to the cuticles by now if her stiff posture was anything to go by. He thought for a moment then began to smile. If they were on a suicide mission he might as well have a little fun with her before they met their ends. Not to mention he needed to make this plan of hers more tenable if they were going to have any chance of increasing its odds of success. A spare seat lay beside her and he shuffled into it as she stared out to the clouds to her left, attracting her attention as he did so.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked as she turned her head.

"Yes," she said irritably. "So quit asking me every hour."

He sighed and leaned his head back on the headrest for a moment. "Okay. Then if that's the case you better improve your acting skills so we have any chance of pulling this off."

She pulled her head back. "Excuse me?" she glared.

He looked at her pointedly. "Precisely my point. If you're going to make believe that you are in love with me then you need to do better job than look at me like I'm something you've trodden in."

She reddened and said quietly but firmly, "We're not in Sacramento yet. I don't need to pretend anything just yet."

He rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Well no offence but you could use the practice."

"You've been the one treating me like a piece of dirt since you came back!"

Her raised voice caught the attention of a child in the seat in front of him. Jane signalled him to sit back down.

"Not lately," he smiled, a trace of seduction in his tone that made her blush again. Serious again, "One thing before I agree to this," he told her. "We tell no one this is a ruse. As far as everyone else is concerned we've been struck by cupid's arrow."

"But-"

"No buts Teresa. No one."

"We have to tell the team, they'd know something was up after the way we've been acting towards each other."

He stared at her as he considered her point. "Okay, but no one else. With your acting skills we might need the back up to sell it to be honest."

"I swear to god, if you critique my acting ability once more-"

"Well that's a lovely way to talk to your boyfriend," he stated as he got out of his seat. He pecked her quickly on the lips, shocking her into silence. "And please try not to look like a goldfish when I do that."

"So, you're back together?" Van Pelt smiled as they flooded into Lisbon's office after returning to Sacramento.

"No. Just a pretence," Lisbon stated. Jane stood behind her with his hands in his pockets, a slight smirk on his lips.

"To catch Red John," Rigsby confirmed.

"Yes."

"How will this catch him?" Cho asked.

Lisbon looked to Jane behind her and he shrugged. She glared at him and said to the others, "Well we're not sure exactly. We're hoping-"

Jane interjected, "We're hoping he makes contact with one of us, more likely Lisbon as they've well...communicated through the CBI before as we all know." He glanced at Van Pelt quickly who looked to her feet. He smiled at her, "It's okay, Van Pelt, I'm moving on," he added. "Forgive and forget and all that."

"Why not you?" Cho asked him.

"He's more likely to communicate through Lisbon to make sure this is on the level as he knows I'm more capable of deception than she is." He paused as Lisbon focused on the desk in front of her, the last word reminding her of her own. He added with a smile, "Well, normally. Only under exceptional circumstances does she become cunning like a fox."

"Thanks," she said after her team filed out. "For putting on that show in front of the team. To give them confidence that we haven't lost our minds. I know you're still a little upset by what I did-"

"Well I'm not entirely sure we haven't lost our minds but there's no point worrying them about it. And like I said, forgive and forget and all that-"

"And you're so good at that," she remarked with a smile.

"I'm trying now," he replied with a smile of his own. "You might want to give it a go yourself sometime."

She ignored his comment about forgiving him for leaving her and instead she got up from her desk and opened the filing cabinet to file some paperwork. "So, how long do you think it'll take word to spread about us? The team will start spreading rumours and I'll tell Wainwright when he gets back from his meeting at the Capitol-"

"Meh. Sounds like a long winded approach to me."

She took a folder out of the cabinet and began perusing it. "Hmm? You have something else in mind?" she said absentmindedly as she read a file.

"I think if we're going to do this then we're better cutting to the chase. Starting off with a bang as it were."

"Oh, like wha-"

Her words were cut off by Jane suddenly spinning her towards him and his lips finding hers in a searing kiss. She opened her eyes in shock and he smiled through it as her folder fell to the floor and its contents fell out. His arms circled her waist and he moaned. "Kiss me back," he urged her as he opened one eye and glanced into the bullpen, noticing their kiss was beginning to grab some attention.

"I'm going to murder you," she mouthed against his mouth only for Jane to plunge his tongue inside hers.

"Get in line," he grinned, unapologetic.

She smiled before kissing him back just as ferociously then pushed on his chest and disengaged her mouth. Her arms were around his neck as they both panted for air afterwards. "Did anyone notice?" she asked.

She was was not prone to public displays of affection and especially not in work but a thrill shot through her body when he kissed her for everyone to see. They'd spent so long living in the shadows when they were a couple this new openness (even if it was for show) felt dangerous and exciting.

Jane grinned. "Ron just dropped a file box on his foot."

She giggled, "Really?"

He laughed, "I better watch my back. He's always had a crush on you."

"Yeah, right," she replied, rolling her eyes. Then she realised they were still in a tight embrace and blushed. It had been so easy to fall back into his arms just then and share a joke. Even in the dire circumstances they were in he had brightened her mood and made her forget what they were actually trying to accomplish for a moment. This was going to prove more difficult than she imagined. It seemed an impossible situation. How was she supposed to keep her distance emotionally but physically get closer again to him?

She extricated herself from him and shot him a wary glance. "Jane-" she said seriously. "We can't allow ourselves to get carried away with-"

"I know," he finished for her, looking equally as worried. "It's supposed to be an act."

"What are you doing?" Lisbon laughed as Jane donned an apron he'd brought with him and began to unload flour and eggs from brown paper grocery bags onto her kitchen counter.

"We are making fresh pasta, my dear," he stated proudly as he uncovered a silver pasta making machine with the flourish of a magician.

She pulled off the price tag from the back of his apron. "Uh. No. We are not," she stated with a smile. "I am having a beer and watching the game. You are free to make whatever you like, though."

She kissed him on the cheek as she opened the fridge and took out a bottle of beer, twisting off the bottle cap.

"Oh, come on Lisbon, you'll have fun."

She raised a sceptical eyebrow. "More than relaxing and watching the game? Somehow I doubt it-"

"It won't take that long. A half hour, forty five minutes tops."

She opened the cupboard beside her and presented him with a bag of dried spaghetti. "Three minutes, tops. And a whole lot less mess and washing up."

He rolled his eyes. "It's a teachable moment, Lisbon," he smiled, taking the bag of pasta from her and depositing it in the trash. As she gaped at him throwing good food away he captured her lips in a kiss. "Come on, I'll make it fun for you," he said, kissing her again with a waggle of his eyebrows. "I promise."

"And there are the two words I have nightmares about," she laughed. As she was about to acquiesce her cell phone sounded and Jane sighed. "Looks like fresh pasta will have to wait for another night."

"And baseball," she said with an eye roll as she answered her cell.

As Jane was removing his apron he saw her expression turn from amused to worried within seconds, her eyes darting to his face as she listened to the call. He felt his stomach flip flop and breathing quicken before she got off the call.

"Red John?" he said, more of a statement than a question as she hung up.

She nodded as she paled. "Yeah, body found in an abandoned factory on outskirts of Sacramento."

"Okay," he nodded. "We better go," he added quietly.

"Are you-?" she began.

"I'm fine," he said, although his voice was weak. He cleared his throat when he saw her furrow her brow further. He took a breath. "Well, I'm as okay as I ever am with one of these," he added with a soft smile. He kissed her gently. "We knew he'd be back sooner or later, Teresa."

As she approached the crime scene black and whites with flashing lights and black SUVs had already parked in the lot of the nondescript two storey concrete monstrosity. She saw Wainwright talk to one of the officers and Cho moved towards her as she got out of her car. For once Jane had got stuck at a traffic light behind her in his own vehicle so she arrived before him. "Hey Cho," she said with a frown. "What have we got?"

"Jane on his way?"

She nodded, "Yeah, shouldn't be long."

"You need to tell him the truth about Red John before he goes in there," he said as he nodded to the building behind him.

"Wh-at?" she stammered although in her heart she was far from shocked. She knew whose body was most likely inside before she asked the next question. "It's Irvine Miller, isn't it?"

"Looks like it."

She glanced at the building in front of her as Cho nodded towards Jane's car's headlights in the other direction before he walked away from her again.

She took a deep breath as Jane exited his vehicle. His frown deepened as he walked towards her. "Everything okay?"

"Uh...no...it...well it appears it's Irvine Miller."

Jane's eyes widened momentarily. "Oh? Well that's interesting." He thought for a moment then smiled at her. "Let's take a looksie then, shall we?"

She touched his forearm, stopping him in his tracks. "Maybe I...maybe you don't need to see this one. I mean...he almost killed you, Jane."

He frowned at her again. "Well I'd say that gives me all the more reason to make sure he's dead, wouldn't you say?"

"You don't seem surprised. That Red John did this."

He shrugged and put his hands in his pockets, shivering as a few droplets of rain fell on him. "To be honest I'm not. Nothing he'd hate more than for someone else to kill me, Lisbon, even unintentionally. Obviously he found out about this Miller person somehow and murdered him. The only thing I am surprised about is why it's taken him so long. Perhaps he was tracking my investigation somehow. Do we know how long Miller's been dead?"

"Uh...no...haven't spoken to anyone yet about it." Perhaps there was a way to avoid telling him the truth after all, that this would close down the investigation he had been heading and they could move on with their lives. That Red John had done her another favour. Her guts contracted at how much of a coward she was being for once in her life. In actually hoping a serial killer would save her from revealing the truth.

"Lisbon, are you all right?" Jane asked, concern evident as he lowered his face to look in her eyes. "I'm going to deal with this, okay? I'll do everything I can not to shut you out. You don't need to look so worried." He glanced around quickly before he squeezed her hand affectionately then strode purposefully towards the entrance to the factory. Lisbon stood on the spot for a few moments as the warmth from his hand dispersed as a heavy drizzle began to fall. She quickly sprinted off after him.

Jane heard Partridge's voice before he entered the office the body had been found in and rolled his eyes at the ghoul's excitement as he spoke to the photographer.

"Jane!" he exclaimed when he saw him at the door. "Well this is a strange one even for Red John."

Jane ignored him and surveyed the office. Dust ridden apart from the dead body strewn on the desk that was wrapped in clear plastic wrapping. He glanced up at the obligatory red face facing the door and frowned, the blood was dry and was more brown than red. "This has been here a while," he stated.

"Yeah, I'm guessing same time as this guy was killed," Partridge observed.

Lisbon, who had just appeared at the doorway, approached the body that appeared a relatively recent kill and not one of some months as the bloody face suggested. Partridge saw her look of confusion and tapped the man's leg violently with a pen. Instead of soft tissue the pen bounced off his leg. "He was frozen," she stated quietly, only seeing the man's face set in a contorted expression now she was closer to him, the knife wounds on his torso and neck set in etched red lines. Partridge laughed, "Yep, still is, need to wait a few hours for him to thaw out before I get anything."

"Then why are you here?" Jane bit back with sharply. "Go," he ordered him.

Partridge stammered, "I'm-"

"You've had your look; that should be enough of a thrill to keep you warm tonight. Now get out."

Partridge looked at Lisbon for support but she shrugged. "Give us a few minutes."

"Jerk!'" he muttered under his breath as he looked sideways at Jane. Nevertheless he shuffled out of the room taking his photographer with him.

"Why would he freeze him?" Jane asked as came to stand beside her. "This doesn't make any sense."

"Well if he'd left him here for a few months then maggots, blowflys-"

"Yes," Jane cut in as he made a face. "I understand the implications of what happens when a body is left to decompose out in the open but why kill him and freeze him in the first place? Why decide to unveil him now? By the way, how was he found at all?" Jane glanced around the desolate office. "Doesn't look like this place has been used in years."

"I just checked with Cho, anonymous caller."

"Naturally. It's puzzling, though, isn't it?" he said quietly as he stared at the man in front of him. Just then his cell phone beeped, alerting him to a text message. Jane fished it out of his pocket and frowned. "Speaking of anonymous callers," he muttered as he brought the text up on screen. He showed it to Lisbon.

She read the words out loud. "Check the glovebox in his car."

Jane tilted his head to the side, "It appears we're on a treasure hunt."

Jane put his phone away and began to walk away briskly. Lisbon's heart hammered in her chest but she was incapable of speech and followed him blindly after a few moments. She caught up with him at Irvine's car asking the officers there if keys had been found for it. From what she witnessed none had been located so far. She splashed in the small puddles that had been formed as she came to face him as he was taking out his lockpick set.

"Jane, let someone else look in there. Wait until the keys are found," she uttered as she began to panic openly. "For all you know there could be a bomb in there. This could be a trap set by Red John!" She was trying everything she could to dissuade him from opening the door. She knew in her gut there wasn't a literal bomb inside but that something just as explosive lay there.

He stopped what he was about to do and looked at her, a baffled expression on his face. "A bomb?! Not his style, Lisbon. You know that." He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder before he hunched down and worked the lock. "Going to catch cold with this rain," he mumbled before grinning as the lock mechanism made a clicking noise. "Et voila!" he exclaimed as he opened the car door.

"Fingerprints!" she said after he sat sideways on the seat and was about to open the catch on the glove compartment. He rolled his eyes but took out his handkerchief as he pulled it open. A single white envelope lay inside. Lisbon licked her lips as she saw him frown at it in his hands. "What...What is it?" she stuttered.

He didn't speak for a few moments as he stared at it, his frown deepening. Eventually after what felt like an eternity to her he gazed back up at her and turned it in his hands for her to see the front of it."It's for you." Her name and a red smiley face beside it appeared before her.

She swallowed and blinked rapidly, catching raindrops as she did so and wiping them from her face. He stood back up to face her, now oblivious to the rain that had become more incessant. She reached out to take it but he held it back from her and shook his head. "Why would Red John send you a message?" His visage was troubled, a mixture of concern and distrust evident.

"I-I don't know," she stammered.

He narrowed his eyes at her. "You're lying."

She shook her head. "Please just leave it, Jane."

Anger began to enter his features as his eyes darkened. "You know I can't do that." His voice was calm yet cold.

They stared at each other for a few moments as she licked her lips and he held her gaze. When she made no attempt to speak he began to open the envelope. As the seal was opened so was her fate she thought ruefully. He pulled out a single piece of paper and frowned again. Like he had done with the envelope he turned it around, its ink staining as rain fell on it. She closed her eyes briefly and a tear joined her already rain soaked face as she read the words.

Two lines were typed on it in capital letters.

TIME'S UP, TERESA.

TIME TO SEE WHICH ONE OF US KNOWS PATRICK BETTER.

"What does he mean?" Jane asked sharply.

"Jane, I can explain. Let's get out of here, go back to my place-"

"No. You'll tell me now. What the hell have you got yourself involved in?!" His voice grew louder. "What does he mean?!"

She took a deep breath and nodded. Quietly, "Your cure. Red John was the one who procured it."

"What? What do you mean?" he bit back with.

She licked her lips nervously. Even with the rain pelting down they were suddenly dry as a bone. She pushed her shoulders back, part of her relieved the whole damn charade was over with. "He must have found out that Miller was the one who poisoned Norris, caught him and got the antidote off him before killing him." She stumbled over her next words. "I never asked him to kill Miller, just-"

"What?!" Jane exploded, earning looks from some others at the scene. He took her arm and pulled her away from the other cops into a dry corner under a porch at the main entrance to the factory. He swept his hands through his hair, pinning it back from his face as he paced for a second in silence. She did likewise with her own locks, shivering slightly from both cold and Jane's looks towards her.

"You asked him for his help?" he said finally "You went to him of all people?! That's how I was cured?!"

"You were going to die, Jane! I-I was desperate."

He looked at her with disdain. "Clearly." He paused, narrowed his eyes at her. "You met him? You know who he is?"

"No, of course not. It was all done online, Grace helped, and then I just went to a pick up spot-"

"Grace knows about this too! Then I assume Rigsby and Cho are also aware," he said brusquely.

"Well...yes...but-"

"I see. Nice to know you have such a solid and loyal team, Lisbon," he stated coldly. "To you that is."

"Jane-"

"I don't want to hear it. Whatever your excuse is I don't want to hear it."

"Okay," she mumbled, "I'll let you cool down, we can talk in a day or so-"

"What did he mean by him asking who knows me better? You or him."

She pulled her jacket around her for warmth. "Jane, that doesn't matter. He's just trying to mess with you. With us. With what we have," she said quietly.

She went to take his hand and he flinched away immediately, daggers in his eyes again. His voice was as calm as she ever heard it. And as emotionless. "I'd say that ship has sailed. Hang on, are you saying he knows about us? All this time and he's known about us the entire time we've been together? The one thing I've been worried sick about?"

Sheepishly, "I've suspected so, yes."

Eyes wide, "Why?" he pressed. "How?"

When she didn't answer but he saw the shame in her eyes he took a ragged breath. He was barely aware he was talking as the words toppled out. "It was what he wanted. This whole...relationship between us...it was what he wanted." He shook his head as a tear dropped to his cheek. He whispered, "Is that what his price was for curing me? Teresa, tell me you're not one...tell me you don't work for him-"

"Of course I don't! How could you even think that!" she yelled, willing him to see the truth in her eyes as she stood facing him.

He narrowed his eyes for a moment and let go of a breath of utter relief. But any respite he displayed was soon replaced by barely concealed hostility again. "But it was what he wanted, wasn't it? You and I together? That was his plan. One of his reasons for curing me. And you knew that from the outset."

She swallowed and nodded slowly. "He said he thought it was time for you to move on."

He stared at her and then shook his head slowly, looking at her like he never knew her at all. "How could you lie to me about something like this?" he breathed, his voice cracking as tears fell on his cheeks.

Her own tears followed, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I didn't tell you right away. That's what he meant. He said if I told you he helped you that you'd disown me. But I said I knew you better. But then I-I panicked. And then we got together and everything got mixed up and...we can work through this, Jane. Please. Let's just-"

"No," he interrupted callously as he took a long breath and sniffed, wiping the tears from his eyes. He shook his head at her, pure contempt in his expression.

"Jane, I didn't get into this relationship because he wanted it. I did it...we did it because we fell in love," she argued. "I did it in spite of him wanting it."

He laughed humourlessly. "You really think that makes your lying about it any better? Whatever your reasoning it's over now," he stated. "How can I be with someone I can't trust? Who lied to me about this of all things? Who colluded with-"

He shook his head again and began to walk towards his car as his temper began to shatter again. She ran after him. "Jane, wait! Please!"

He stopped at his car door and shot her a final glance. Despondently, "I can barely look at you, Lisbon. This isn't something you'll be able to fix."

"You're letting him win by doing this," she said in a murmur as she realised he was running away.

He shrugged, his face a picture of ambivalence. "Haven't you learnt by now? He always wins. Only this time you helped him do it," he remarked impersonally. He added, "It's game over this time though. I'm done with all of it. With you, this city and with him. He was right about one thing. It is time to move on. Alone."

A/N: Thank you once again for all the wonderful support for this story. The last segment was the final part of the 'past' portion of the story. Some of what happened to Jane and Lisbon will be referred to again while they were apart but it will form part of the 'present' storyline. I hope that makes sense! And I tried to inject some lightness into the present storyline in this chapter to counteract some of the pain in the past. Feel free to read the start again if it's left you too depressed! There is still action, case solving and romance to come...