A/N: Here is the tag to 6x15 I mentioned the last chapter. It's not at all how I imagined it. I hope you still like it.

(In case any of you are also following my multi-chapter story, i'm so sorry that I still haven't updated it. My current writer's block in combination with limited time available for writing keeps me from finishing the story. I hoped that this tag might at least free me of my writer's block and considering that I wrote something, for the first time in days or even weeks…I'm hopeful that I'll be able to work on the next chapter for "A trace of green" tomorrow evening.)

As always, reviews are very much appreciated, also critical ones.

Confiscated

the end of 6x15…

"Well, clearly, you can't, because I am sorry." Jane insisted.

Lisbon looked at him. "I can tell just by looking at you."

"But you can't see what I'm feeling"

…

Jane held the door open for her, studying her silently as she walked beside him. He'd tried to sound casually, but her words still stung. Was she being serious? Could she really think that he wasn't sorry? He had meant it. It pained him to think that she'd been scared, but he'd only tried to protect her from Abbott, she needed to understand that. All in all, he didn't regret what he'd done. They'd saved Grace after all, but he was sorry that he'd worried her by keeping her in the dark.

He guessed that it all boiled down to their different understandings of the word sorry. He sincerely was sorry for the pain he caused her, but that didn't mean that he wouldn't do exactly the same again, if he had to. He'd long suspected that for Lisbon an apology needed to be more than that. She wanted to hear from him that he would decide otherwise, that he would be open about everything the next time…and he just couldn't promise her that. His first priority was and had always been to keep her out of harms way… at least as much as possible. He tried not to think too much about all the times his need for revenge had hurt her in the past. Similar to the current situation, he would do most of it again. It had been necessary steps on his way to catching and killing Red John, but he also felt immensely sorry for the pain he'd caused her on so numerous occasions.

He'd hoped that he would be able to make it up to her, now that he'd been given a second chance to be part of her life. This time free of the demons of his past; or at least as free as it could get. It slowly dawned on him, that he hadn't done a particularly good job on that front since his return.

Lisbon eyed Jane as they walked in silence. He'd become suspiciously quiet, which wasn't a good sign. He and Rigsby had almost single-handedly saved Grace, she'd expected him to be more cheerful. Instead he seemed gloomy all of a sudden, as if a shadow had passed over him. It was something she'd noted the last weeks, that he occasionally seemed overcome by sadness, or rather reflectiveness.

He'd always deflected her inqueries in those situations, usually by teasing her or at least moving the discussion into a lighter area. She didn't expect it to be any different this time, which didn't stop her from trying nevertheless.

"Jane?"

To be sure, a grin spread across his face as he looked at her. A grin that might have fooled many, but not her. "It just occurred to me, that I was right after all."

"Right about what?" Lisbon asked him, slightly confused.

"I was right," Jane repeated. "Haibach was coming after me."

Lisbon rolled her eyes at him.

"He targeted all of us, not just you."

Jane didn't deny her that, but he also couldn't let it stand without having the last word.

"That might be true, but I was the main target. It was me, he wanted to hurt most." He paused for a moment, his voice more serious as he continued. "It was my fault, in the end, as I'd suspected."

Lisbon punched him on the arm - hard.

"Ouh…" he winced, rubbing his arm.

"Haibach coming after you doesn't make this your fault," she said sternly, "When will that finally get into that stubborn head of yours."

"I think I got it now," he said, sounding subdued; Lisbon didn't believe him, but it seemed pointless to argue any further.

He still hold on to his arm, and she felt slightly bad for the way she'd hit him - even though he had deserved it.

"Sorry," she murmured, motioning towards his arm.

Jane lowered his hand slowly. For a moment he pondered whether that had been a sorry more following his, or her definition of the word. He half suspected that for once, she used it in his manner. He didn't dare to test his theory though by asking her, because a confirmation of his suspicion would likely result in another punch and he wasn't to keen on that. He didn't really know why he mentioned the topic at all. It just had been the first thing that came to his mind, when Lisbon caught him deep in thoughts.

They reached the limousine and Jane grinned, as he noted Lisbon shaking her head as she saw it. "I still can't believe you stole a car and left the lawyer on the side of the road."

Jane leaned against the the car.

"I didn't steal a car", he corrected her. "I confiscated it, I'm with the FBI, after all."

Lisbon snorted. "First of all, you're just an FBI consultant, and second, I don't think your little stunt was authorised - which makes this, " she pointed at the car, "a theft and nothing else. Not even talking about the kidnapping."

"Meh, " Jane waived his hands, "minor quibbles. Besides, I'm pretty sure in Abbott's report it will be authorised."

A smile ghosted across Lisbon's face. "Yeah, I guess you might be right about that."

She was sure that Abbott wouldn't let Jane get into troubles. He'd cover his back, even more so because everything had ended well.

"I'm glad I don't have to write that report," she said with a shudder. She could only imagine what a struggle it would be to make something more or less legal out of it. She'd had her fair share of dealing with those kind of situations in the past.

Jane thoughts seemed to have wandered in a similar direction.

"Do you miss it sometimes" he asked her, "writing the reports? " She stared at him in disbelief, why on earth would anyone miss those reports? He paused, likely sensing her confusion and then added, "I mean, do you miss being the one in charge?"

Lisbon shrugged. "I don't know; not really." She hadn't given this much thought. After her time as a small-town sheriff, the FBI had seemed like everything she'd hoped for, especially because she hadn't believed to be ever given such a position again.

"No," she finally said with more conviction. "I don't miss it. It is nice not to have all the responsibility for once." At least for the moment she was content with what she was doing. She grinned at him, remembering the first part of his question, "And I definitely don't miss having to fill out all the paperwork."

He seemed relieved; which was odd and got her thinking.

"I'm glad to hear that, " he said softly.

It struck her, that she actually never had thanked him for his role in the acquisition of her new job. It hadn't even crossed her mind until that moment. It almost scared her; it seemed remarkably rude and unusual for her. It was another indication of how many things had gone wrong since she returned to work with Jane. Somehow they both had struggled with finding themselves suddenly working alongside each other again…or no maybe that wasn't the truth. She'd been the one struggling, she had kept him at a distance ever since they worked their first case together. She swallowed, feeling very guilty and almost sick all of a sudden. She couldn't really understand why she'd been so harsh with him sometimes. She loved to work with him again, to having him back in her life. God, she'd missed him so much, sometimes it had felt as if his letters had been the one thing keeping her going. The more it pained her to realise, that she never told him as much. And somehow she still couldn't, something was keeping her back, but she at least could try to make small steps towards the truth.

"Thank you," she said quietly, "for giving me the opportunity to work for the FBI."

Jane seemed taken aback by her words. Lisbon felt slightly embarassed, which in turn annoyed her exceedingly. Why on earth had she to struggle she so much when it came to doing something as simple as telling him how thankful she was, or how much he meant to her.

Jane didn't seem to notice how flustered she was, or he chose to ignore it, for her sake, which was more likely.

"It was the least I could do," he said sincere, and then added, lowering his gaze. "I was the one costing you your former job, after all."

And there they were again. Lisbon sighed.

"You know," she said, "I should punch you again for that."

He chuckled, which elicited a smile from her too. Lisbon considered for a moment, telling him again that not everything was his fault, but she decided against it. He knew her opinion very well and if she didn't manage to convince him up to now, repeating it another time wouldn't change that. Instead she opted for something that would surprise him - hell, she even surprised herself with it.

"I'm glad that we're here again," she began, her voice laced with a faint tremor. "Despite everything that happened, we're working together again and I'm thankful for it. There was a time when I feared I might never see you again." His eyes were transfixed on her, making the next words even harder.

"It just wasn't the same without you."

He didn't reply. instead he hugged her. For the fraction of a second Lisbon was surprised, but then she embraced him in turn; holding on fiercely. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She could hear and feel that he did the same, which made her smile. It seemed they both were more emotional than usual. Well, they always could blame it on Jane's brush with death. The thought momentarily took her breath away. It had been close; not just for Grace and Wayne, but also for him, too close.

He didn't let go of her and Lisbon didn't mind. It was the first time he was as close to her since they day he returned from South America. It almost felt symbolic, mirroring their reunion. Maybe it was time to forget everything thad had gone wrong afterwards and start anew.

Jane slowly let go of Lisbon and stepped back. He didn't know what had come over him, but he didn't regret it.

Lisbon cleared her throat. "We should get going," she said slightly flustered, "it's a long drive."

Jane nodded, reaching for the keys in his pocket. He felt slightly lightheaded, which was partly due to what just had happened, but also a consequence of not having gotten nearly enough sleep over the last few days.

"Do you want to drive?" he asked her. "We both know how much you despise my driving abilities."

Lisbon studied him for a moment and he suspected that she saw through his little pretence. She snatched the keys out of his hands. "Well that was easy. I was afraid I might have to fight you for the keys." Jane grinned while he walked around the car and got into the passenger seat.

"I know when I've lost the battle."

Lisbon started the engine and Jane leaned back against his chair, yawning. "Besides, I've had enough adrenaline for a while." He flexed his right hand with five very much intact fingers.

"You could say that," Lisbon murmured as she pulled the car out of the parking lot.

After a moment she added, "I wonder what it is with you and people trying to cut off your fingers. It was the third tine, wasn't it? What's so special about them?"

Jane turned his head towards her, grinning.

"Yes it was and to the last question…Well, "he said in a low voice, "wouldn't you like to know."

Lisbon faced him, confusion rapidly being replaced by an endearing blush. She laughed, but he could hear the slight nervousness, which made him grin even more. For the first time in many weeks he felt completely and utterly at ease. She was here with him and the strange awkwardness that had accompanied many of their interactions the last few weeks was fading rapidly. It would be okay; they would be okay.