Patrick had stuck his nose in where it didn't belong. Again. This time, the consequences included dragging the serious crimes unit into an art squad investigation. And the ensuing 'Jane plan' would require every last ounce of his biofeedback skills, willpower, and self-control.

"So, you volunteered us to help with the case?" Kim asked, incredulously. Like they didn't have enough to do already?

"I decide what cases we take on." Abbott corrected.

Jane shrugged, quite proud of himself. He didn't see what the big deal was. And why was Kim being so agent-y today? Plus, he was bored with murderers. Art seemed much more interesting, and the subject matter was much more palatable than so many corpses.

"Well, I was just being neighborly, and the art squad seemed all for it."

"Of course, they were." Fischer rolled her eyes with familiarity. Her man was always so very sure of himself. It was endearing yet funny at the same time.

Jane couldn't help but notice how Lisbon-like Kim's tone was, just then. He defended: "Apparently, they've been chasing this group for years with no luck."

"What do you know about catching art thieves?" Abbott challenged.

"Nothing at all - that's why it will be fun!" Patrick grinned his biggest, most confident smile, eyes begging for permission to take this on.

"OK we'll take it." Abbott decided, convinced that Jane could pull it off. Plus, he couldn't help thinking how great it would feel to flex a bit, once his team had saved the day. "Fischer, get ahold of Agent Pike and the art squad - get them up to speed on this thing. We'll show them how it's done."

Kim smiled big as she introduced Marcus Pike, from the art theft division, to the serious crimes team. Lisbon walked in with her coffee during the introduction, drawing the man's attention immediately.

After some conversation amongst the gathered agents, including a couple of exchanges between Teresa and Marcus, on what may or may not be workable angles, Jane broke in to announce what he thought was an obviously superior plan.

"You already have a plan?" Lisbon stated with underlying sarcasm.

"Well as you know, Agent Lisbon, the key to a good con is making the mark feel that he's in control."

With disdain, Lisbon noticed that Kim seemed to be hanging on Jane's every word. Teresa was usually entertained when Jane amazed new people, but she was not particularly enjoying this view of Fischer glowing at him like she was.

"You can lead a man anywhere as long as he thinks he's driving."

Pike was also hooked by Jane's pitch: "So, how do we do that?"

The game was afoot, with Jane elaborating just enough coded quickspeak to get the go ahead, whilst preserving the details and assumed outcomes for himself.

"I don't know what any of that means." Pike chuckled, after Jane had finished his pattering sales pitch, full of mumbo-jumbo that only he could make sense of.

"You'll get used to it." Lisbon smiled, as if officially letting Marcus into the inner-circle of agents who had seen Jane in action. Teresa couldn't help but think what a welcome distraction this agent was, after the whole Kim thing.

Jane beamed a proud smile at Teresa's comment to agent Pike, glad to have someone new to impress; Completely oblivious to the unsteadying turn his life was about to take.

In the course of preparation, Pike took Lisbon and Jane to tour an art-specific evidence room. "You said you needed some art for this plan? We've got art!" Pike announced with enthusiasm, arms wide, as if presenting the showcase on a game show.

Lisbon was impressed - with the art, and also, apparently, with Pike. Stars were in her eyes at all the beauty in the space, and at the agent's sincere eyes and easygoing nature.

"Where does all this stuff come from?" she asked, with all the wonder of Aladdin meeting a genie.

Pike explained that their team sometimes held on to recovered pieces, in hopes of using them to lure thieves into giving up even bigger hauls of stolen artwork.

"And nobody knows about it?!" Teresa's jaw was hanging open with surprise.

"Well, we keep a pretty tight lid. It's like our own secret museum!" he said proudly, with a sly grin.

"Impressive!" Teresa said honestly. "So do you bring dates here?" She added, under her breath, with a flirtatious wiggle of her eyebrows.

"No," Pike responded, then added, with mischievous eyes, "okay, just once or twice."

Lisbon sparkled a smile to Agent Pike's teasing, fanning the flames of their obvious chemistry.

The connection was obvious to Jane, as well. He interrupted immediately, injecting his sparkling showman personality into the mix, expertly shifting the mood to the business at hand.

"Fantastic! Gorgeous!" Jane gestured to the bedazzled archive. "I love you, Agent Pike; this is everything we need! I'm gonna make a list. We should be ready to roll in about a week."

Pike spoke carefully, not wanting to embarrass Patrick about what he saw as his obvious naïveté, "Well, I don't want to second-guess you, Mr. Jane but if you wanna use these paintings as bait, the guy heading up this crew knows everything about this art, and he'll know that it's stolen."

"Yes," Jane answered smugly, "that's the point."

The consultant turned and walked away, quite satisfied at having left Pike speechless, and confused. Sure, Jane had planned to disallow himself from pursuing Lisbon, but that didn't mean he was going to let just anyone else chase her - at least not without some stress-testing. He would need to do quality checks on this Agent Pike, to make sure he was good enough for his dearest Teresa.

Ever the man of mystery, Jane didn't even bother to show up at the briefing the next day. Abbott, Fischer, Lisbon, and Cho were visited instead by Jason Wylie, carrying a bouquet of shopping bags and a note from Jane.

With all the excitement of a kindergartner at show and tell, Wylie dutifully ran down the plan, handing out roles, costumes, and tips.

"Lisbon is playing the inside man… erm... The inside woman, with Jane."

Wylie proceeded to hand Teresa a sky-blue dress that was roughly the size of a napkin. Had he been present, Jane would have loved the astounded look the garment produced on his partner's face.

"It's a bit much, isn't it?" Lisbon's eyes were saucers.

Kim's expression showed that she agreed. If Patrick was 'so into her,' as he often said when they were alone, why did he choose Lisbon for his partner in this con? And especially in such a sexy dress?

Lisbon was still feeling self-conscious about her costume as Jason handed Fischer a bag containing a skin-tight, leopard print bodysuit, and told her she was playing the role of "The Face."

"You thought that dress was a bit much, Teresa?" Kim gawked at the leopard print, wondering what her man had been watching on TV lately, with these outfits he'd chosen for the women.

Undeterred, Jason finished up the presentation: "Then, Jane and Lisbon take over."

Wylie grinned wide, happy for successfully getting through each of Jane's bullet points, and proud to be entrusted by Jane to do so. The team looked awkwardly at one another, wondering what in the world this plan could entail, while Wylie offered a parting shot:

"And then the fun really starts!" Jason sparkled, despite the looks of fear and curiosity from his colleagues around the table. "That's a direct quote!" he reported with glee.

In the hours before the scam, Jane gathered the team, to reveal more details about the plan.

Patrick was playing a wealthy art collector and thief. Lisbon was portraying his girlfriend. Fischer had looked hurt at that reveal, but when he whispered in her ear how he needed her, the most beautiful agent on the team, to portray a special role, she perked back up, glimmering into his gaze with adoration and gratitude. He had no idea how he would control his heart once he caught sight of Teresa in the elegantly slinky party dress he'd chosen as her costume. But, he reasoned, he knew what he was doing.

Jane had planned the con this way intentionally. What she'd said to him on the plane from New York, about not being in her life for two years… about not knowing what was best for her because he'd never bothered to ask... She was right. He had been creating a one-sided reality on that island. He had guessed wrong about where they stood now. He seemed to cause her pain at every turn. He had decided on the plane, as she sat beside him, seething, that he needed to step away, for her own good, no matter what his heart said. His usually unshakable instincts were unusually off, where Lisbon was concerned. He needed to stop pulling her down… stop ruining her life… stop breaking the heart he had hoped to one day hold. And, since he could no longer allow himself to pursue Teresa, he'd decided this chance to 'play house' with her would be a manageable replacement fantasy.

Meanwhile, Lisbon was rather enjoying the attention she'd been getting from Agent Pike. It was a welcome distraction from her heartache over Jane's obsession with Kim. She remembered Grace's words "maybe someone new will enter your life." and wondered if he was that someone?

With the time getting close, the team members all got dressed for the play, while Wylie and Pike supervised the going's on via audio/video links from the bullpen.

Abbott hooked the mark, art thief Aaron Pulaski, at a local bar, as Pike watched the surveillance feed with Wylie. Proud to be seen as one of Jane's trusted team members, Jason was happy to share the consultant's reasoning for some of the moves they saw onscreen, airily walking Marcus through the gag. On cue, Wylie sent Cho the 'go signal,' starting phase two with Kimball stirring up some trouble at the bar, leading Abbott to offer the thief a ride to someplace new - with free drinks.

Dennis pulled up to a white, modern, minimalist castle-of-a-house, and turned off the car.

The two men walked to the front door, where they were greeted by an elegantly-wrapped Teresa Lisbon. She waited until after they'd passed to tug on her dress uncomfortably, her more 'low-maintenance' personality slipping through once the mark was out of sight.

Jane was ridiculously chic in his artsy scarf as he welcomed Dennis and his new friend, Aaron.

"You can relax, make yourself at home, have a drink…"

"Oh, oh, oh, isn't he fabulous? Such a mean face." Lisbon pouted at Aaron, determined to stay in character, continuing her flirty teases until the ruffian sprouted an amused smile. "Yeah, there it is." She growled, overplaying her role as chanteuse.

"Down girl!" Jane responded through a perma-grin, as Aaron wandered into the party, eyes lingering on Lisbon as he passed.

Jane took Teresa aside once they were alone, "You're doing very well… just a little big." Jane offered, somewhat patronizingly.

"Really?"

"Yeah. Try a little less Joan Crawford and a little more Barbara Stanwyck."

"I don't even know what that means." Teresa complained. "I can't walk in these shoes and you're giving me acting tips?!"

Jane successfully kept from laughing. She was so adorable when she was flustered. "Just stay upright and keep smiling."

"I can't breathe in this dress." Lisbon muttered.

"And I can't breathe at the sight of you in that dress." Patrick managed to not say.

Back at headquarters, Pike and Wylie were observing, and sharing a take-out dinner.

Pike was absolutely taken by the sight of Lisbon in her party dress, and had been enjoying having a front row seat for the action.

"So, what's the story with Jane and Lisbon?" he asked the tech specialist, "Are they in a relationship? A couple?"

"No," Wylie answered, waving off the idea. "I used to think so but they're not… I don't think…"

Clear as mud, Pike thought, with a chuckle.

Kim had been keeping an eye on the progress inside, via a mobile video link Wylie had provided. She had not been enjoying the lingering looks she'd seen from Patrick every time Teresa was nearby. She was more than ready to make her grand entrance, as she pranced through the front door with a flourish.

"You're like a damn fire hazard walking around here!" Pulaski exclaimed, catching his first glimpse of Fischer in her form-fitting leopard print.

Jane's eyes turned to the noise and his jaw dropped at the sight of Kim. It was the least agent-y she'd looked, maybe ever. More like European supermodel, he gaped.

Lisbon pretended not to care, as she saw the warm glow in his smile, and the mad twinkle in his eyes. Perfect, she thought sarcastically. She had been so nervous about pulling off the outfit she had to wear, that she hadn't had the time to think of how painful it might be, seeing Jane drool over Kim - and from such a close-up position. Playing the girlfriend meant having an even greater view of the flirtations she'd been nauseous about for the past several weeks.

Kim played her role to perfection, Jane thought, as he walked in on her and Aaron, seemingly about to make out in the main bedroom, as scripted.

"When I said make yourselves at home, this is not exactly what I meant…" He said, with a look of mildly insulted disappointment. "Um…" he spoke directly to Pulaski, "That's my bed."

"Sorry man. You see a chance like this you take it!"

Keeping up appearances, Patrick shook his head shamefully, trying not to grin, as Fischer started toward the stairs, with the cowering gait of a teen caught at make-out point.

"Kim? Really? You have no self-control. Out!"

"Sorry boss!" She secretly winked as she passed by, intentionally brushing against Jane as she did.

"Anything that moves…" Jane said to the thief who remained, rolling his eyes in mock incredulity.

No sooner had Kim left, than Pulaski noticed the Van Gogh hanging on the wall.

"Fake." Patrick glimmered. "They're all fakes."

"You don't say…" Aaron muttered, knowing it was a lie and falling squarely into Jane's trap.

As the party wound down, Pulaski called one of his crew about the art, beginning the process of planning a heist, as expected.

Playing the gracious hostess, Lisbon walked Kim to the door.

"Thanks for the party. I had a great time!" Kim said with gusto.

"You get her home safe!" Lisbon said to the driver. Or get her to Timbuktu. She said only to herself.

After everyone had gone, Teresa climbed the spiral staircase calling for Jane.

"Patrick? You up there? Everyone's gone!"

As she rounded the corner at the top step, she was caught off-guard by a man who was not Patrick. True to plan, Aaron Pulaski and one of his crew were carefully checking out the most-definitely-real Van Gogh, hanging in the bedroom.

"Oh!" Patrick entered, just behind, feigning surprise at seeing the new guest, "I keep finding strangers in my bedroom. I guess it was a good party!" He said jovially, attempting to casually break the tension, like a good host should. "Are you alright Teresa?"

"I am now that you're here." She glimmered truthfully as she sensually leaned into him, hoping her partner would simply assume she'd been working on her acting skills throughout the night. "He wants to know about the painting."

"It's fake." Patrick dismissed, his biofeedback working overtime to also dismiss the arousing sensation of Lisbon rubbing up against him in such a way.

His comment set off a heated discussion, ending with Patrick's agreement that he and his beloved Teresa would meet with Edwin McKay, the top man in Pulaski's crew, the next day.

The introductions were immediately tense, as McKay started with a threat, telling Patrick that Texas was 'his territory' where fine art was concerned.

"You might want to think twice about that." Jane said, arrogantly.

McKay balked at Patrick's attitude, and began prodding him about his sudden appearance on the scene. "Wonder what has brought you to town all of the sudden? Let me guess… 'Violets?'"

Of course, Jane smiled, Manet's masterpiece 'Bouquet of Violets' was on loan to the University of Texas' art museum. They had researched that.

Patrick, careful to stay in character, took a moment to share a love story. He hoped it would both show McKay that he knew his art, while also relieving some of the pressure in his own heart at being so near to Teresa in a skin-tight black and white tank dress, without tipping her off about his sincere affections toward her.

"Ah, Violets… it's the very symbol of forbidden love." Something in his tone caught Lisbon's attention. "Manet painted it in reference to another painting, representing his brother's wife. He couldn't tell her that he loved her, so he expressed his feelings in a different way… by painting."

Teresa felt the air around her grow suddenly thick and heavy. Was this Jane speaking in code? Could he possibly be talking about his feelings for her? She replayed the soliloquy in her mind the whole drive back to the mansion, analyzing every word of it.

The tense spell of forbidden romance was broken once they arrived, as McKay laid down an ultimatum. "Well, Patrick, either you and Teresa can cut me in on the Violets heist, or I can just hurt both of you, badly."

Patrick turned to Teresa with a flourish, "What do you say darling, are we gonna cut this thug in on our plan?"

"It's better than him hurting us badly." Lisbon growled.

"Welcome to the team." Jane smiled wide, shaking McKay's hand.

At the end of day two, all the pieces were in place for the final trap. The house was dark as Lisbon tiptoed down the staircase, barefoot, in a thigh-length, red, silky sleeping shirt, looking for any snacks that may have been left over from the previous night's party. She hadn't been eating very much, what with the restrictive clothing her role had required for this operation.

Wonder if Kim is starving too? She pondered.

Then she wondered where Jane had gone. Was he huddled together with Fischer in some hidden guest room? She hated that her heart was being held prisoner by thoughts and worries that seemed more fitting for an adolescent girl than an adult FBI agent. Teresa rolled her eyes at both her state of mind and at the lack of food in the kitchen. But that frustrated reaction didn't change the reality of either of those two things. Her stomach continued grumbling and her mind kept spinning, unfettered.

Why had Jane even bothered with planning it so that she was his supposed girlfriend? It would have been just as easy to cast Kim in that role - plus it would have avoided all the secrecy Fischer and Jane were required to keep up during the con, sending clandestine sexy looks back and forth throughout the evening, seeming to enjoy the danger of it all.

Teresa froze when a possible explanation popped into her exhausted head. Maybe she had angered him even more than she'd thought with her airplane tirade weeks ago? Maybe this was meant as some sort of torturous payback for the venom she'd spewed at him that day? She wished she could take it all back. It had just been her frustration coming through in those words. And in their past, he would have seen that.

Whatever the reason, it seemed clear that they were barely even friends these days. She so missed being the recipient of Patrick's caring glances. He'd never admitted it, but there were many times during their partnership when she could've sworn she'd seen something extra when he looked at her, or heard words from his lips that seemed to carry a double meaning, if she'd just looked between the lines.

She had gotten a captivating taste of them being a couple during the fake party, but any hopes of that becoming reality had been subsequently dashed by seeing how Kim smoldered at Jane all night. And the warm smile he sent back to his island catch was even harder to take. She thought she may have heard her partner aim a little smolder at her that very day, as he spoke to McKay about the Violets story, but this was Jane. He was a great actor and could have just been expertly playing the character he'd created for himself. Even that possibility, though, didn't keep her from bestowing one small, private, loving gesture on him as she meandered her way back to the staircase.

In the living room, the moonlight shone through the front window, revealing a softly-lit image. She smiled sweetly as she recognized Patrick, sleeping on the couch - a familiar sight that warmed her heart thoroughly. In that short moment, it seemed that no one existed in the quiet world except the two of them. Tenderly, she covered his slumbering frame with a woven blanket from the back of the chair, with loving care, and a melancholy smile. She tucked the fabric around him and breathed-in his familiar scent. With an ache in her heart, she wondered if it would be her last opportunity. Lisbon took one more moment to admire this man she'd shared most of her life with for countless years, then exhaled any remaining expectations and silently made her way back upstairs.

She couldn't sleep from hunger, so called to check in with Agent Pike via the phone in the main bedroom. The conversation lifted her mood considerably.

"This is Pike."

"Hey it's Lisbon. Just checking in before I go to bed."

"OK. Well, we shut down the inside cameras so you don't have to worry about any more prying eyes. And just so you know, there's someone outside the house. We're guessing it's another one of McKay's crew."

"Oh, that's gonna make me sleep better." She snorted with a typical amount of sarcasm.

"No, we've got eyes on him. Don't worry, you're safe. I wouldn't lie to you."

"That's a nice change of pace. I feel like everything I've done today is a lie."

"You were… you were real good."

"I learned from the best! But I'm starving- there's nothing to eat in this house."

"It's a shame! There's a pretty good diner just down the street from you - biscuits and gravy. If that's your thing."

"Not really."

"What about pancakes?"

"I could go for some pancakes."

"They have about six kinds! Chocolate-chip, banana - all the good stuff."

"Now you're just trying to torture me!"

"Maybe just a little bit!" He chuckled. "I'll have some sent over for you."

The flirting continued for a few minutes until the two said goodnight.

As she sat alone on the lavishly comfortable bed, she grinned - replaying the last part of the conversation in her head: She had made an offhand comment into the handset about being hungry, and Agent Pike had offered to bring her some pancakes. No tricks, no teasing, just an upfront, simple solution - with a side of tall, dark, and handsome.

The more Teresa thought about Marcus Pike, the more he checked off nearly every box on her 'great guy' list. She ignored the voice in her mind that pointed out how long it had been since she'd updated that list, and how utterly safe and boring she'd been back in college when she'd first created it. Still, Marcus was a solid, good-looking, open, and honest man. Lisbon had almost convinced herself that they were a great match, and that she'd had her fill of crazy madcap adventures. But her heart still longed deeply, albeit distantly, for Jane.

In the aftermath of the party con, Jane had to admit that Kim was perfectly gorgeous as 'The Face,' and he had happily returned a warm smile to all of her adoring glances throughout the gag. He was quite proud of his plan, and had enjoyed being undercover with their relationship during the party - it added an extra layer of fun and excitement.

But his heart had pounded harder than ever at the sight of his Lisbon in that black and white dress from day two. He had not struggled so hard against his heart's wish in ages. Why couldn't he be the man Teresa deserved? He'd noticed a layer of perspiration on his upper lip at one point during the opening party, as he allowed himself a moment to fully admire his partner from afar. But he'd quickly brushed it away when Kim surprised him, wrapping her arms around his waist from behind, on the sly, out of sight of the players involved.

He thought he'd seen a blush on Lisbon as they caught each others eyes from across the crowded room that first night. She had reacted to his Violets story, on day two, in a way that suggested she may have seen right through his coded words. And he suspected she was the one who had warmed him with a blanket as he slept on the couch at the end of that same day. But then she'd gone and had pancakes with Marcus Pike. And the two had plans to see each other again. His plan was working.

With a painfully deep sigh, Patrick told himself it was for the best. Teresa deserved someone solid, like Pike. He could adjust to life without her. He would be able to focus his affections on Kim, and convince himself that she was his first choice. It would be best for everyone involved. Well, everyone but him, that is. But of the quartet, he was the least deserving of happiness, so this future was a just one, in his estimation.

(A/N: thanks for hanging in there, friends! A bit less anguish for Lisbon now that Pike's here. Couple more chapters of conflicted Jisbon hearts, then a short chapter that pulls back the bowstring of tension, setting up the launch into fluff for final two!)