After temporarily putting his worries about Dennis Abbott to the back of his mind, Patrick set out to make good on his promise to Lisbon; washing her gorgeously thick mane with loving care, slowly and deliberately, bringing to life her part of the dolphin-day fantasy and soaking-in every second of the experience. From Teresa's reactions to his every touch, it seemed that she was enjoying the fantasy-come-true at least as much as he was - maybe more so.

As the couple were pleasurably patting one another dry, the ranch phone began to ring.

"I'll go. You take your time, my dear," Jane rumbled warmly as he wrapped Lisbon in a fluffy robe. "Wouldn't want you to lose the sense of peace that's currently emanating from your every pore, thanks to my expert skills in the shower," Patrick winked, barely dodging the playful punch his partner threw, at his typically overconfident - though not entirely false - claims. The energy he put into ducking Lisbon's punch propelled him into the kitchen more quickly; he answered the phone on only the third ring:

"Bluebird Ranch - Paddy speaking!"

"Um… yes… it's Hannigan," Franklin's voice sounded nervous. Jane couldn't tell if something was wrong, or if his friend was simply amped up from the chance to use his official code name.

"Hannigan! How goes it at the resort?"

"The FBI man sent something for you. Some official looking paperwork has been faxed to the hotel."

"That is excellent news, Franklin - thanks for calling! We'll be over in a couple hours or so. Can you reserve a cabana, too?"

"Of course, Señor Jane! Also, I parked a car at the top of the ranch road for you. My parents don't drive anymore, and I thought you might like the option for transport with your friend Miss Lisbon, since the FBI have flown home."

"Thanks so much Frankl- oh… sorry… Hannigan!"

"De nada!" Franklin laughed as he said goodbye.

Jane clicked the phone into its holder and called out to Lisbon: "Honey, our paperwork is ready at the hotel! Time to pack up for a celebratory day at the beach!"

Teresa padded in from the bedroom, still snuggled in her robe, eyeing her partner carefully. "Honey?!" She raised an eyebrow as she awaited his explanation.

Jane burst into adoring laughter, pulling her into a warm hug. "Sorry, it just came out. Our current activities have felt so blissfully domestic that I allowed myself to slip into a daydream."

She squeezed him a little tighter. "What kind of daydream?"

"Oh, you know… the good kind," he winked cryptically before pressing a kiss onto the top of her head and walking swiftly to the bedroom to change for their beach day.

Rolling her eyes at his enigmatic tease, Teresa followed, to get herself dressed in the 'beach disguise' she knew he adored.

It was late afternoon when the two lovers returned to the ranch from their day trip to the resort hotel and beach, with the signed FBI contract in hand. Upon reading, to ensure all their demands had been met, they learned they would have two weeks to tie up any loose ends on the island and in Sacramento before reporting to Austin. On arrival, there would be a brief orientation and the typical amount of paperwork for clearances, etcetera; otherwise, they should expect to work cases immediately.

As they walked in, through the doors of their temporary retreat, the two were blissfully relaxed after a surprise spa add-on that Franklin had arranged at their beachside cabana. Tranquil though he was, Patrick immediately threw his open suitcase onto the bed and started packing up his things from the ranch hideaway; still hoping that he could manage to purchase and remodel the place someday. It had surely served them well on this mission, and he smiled wide as he imagined revisiting the happy memories of the natural pool for years to come, if he could pull it off. But, with only two weeks to transition into the FBI, Jane had some more pressing plans for his remaining free time with Teresa:

First, the couple bid a fond goodbye to the island, with a day of leisure. They started the very next morning, with a short road trip to the southernmost shore, to climb to the top of one of the two lighthouses that bookended the country.

When they had climbed to the top, Teresa's face was suddenly aglow with awe, at the natural wonders before her. "The view is amazing from up here!"

"Yes, it is," Jane sparkled, making it clear that the view he was referring to had more to do with the beautiful woman standing beside him and less to do with the impressive seascape vista that transfixed his partner. He could never get enough of her adorable face - especially when it was so full of wonder.

Feeling a bit shy, blushing at his flirtatious hinting, Teresa rewarded him with a sweet kiss and a warm hug, before noticing a flash of color in the periphery. "Ooh! What's that over there?" She pointed to their extreme left, along the near coastline.

"I think that's Baby Beach," he squinted to focus. "So called, because the shallows stretch out quite far there. It also makes it a wonderful place to kite surf - since it's easy to stand on the sandy bottom, while situating the kite, and just as easy to step onto your board for takeoff once the wind fills it," he grinned with familiarity, as if he'd tried it himself at some point.

"They're just beautiful to watch! Can we get over there from here?"

"Absolutely! It's a fairly short walk from the base of the lighthouse."

"Let's go!" Lisbon shuffled to the spiral descent with giddy excitement, leaving Jane to follow, with a wide grin of delight on his face. Without even trying, he'd managed to have another wish come true; he had always wanted to share the beauty of the colorful kites with her, and now the chance had practically fallen in his lap without his even needing to ask.

As they meandered across the sand toward the kite surfers, Jane took great care in whispering a series of sweet things to his beloved partner, for in case the FBI plan didn't work out after all, or in case Dennis was faking - at least she'd know exactly what she meant to him. He couldn't hide the amazed joy on his face as they neared Baby Beach. Patrick hadn't shared the story with her yet, but this beach was one of the places where he'd mistakenly thought he had seen her in a crowd one day. The strand had been full, for a festival of kite surfing. In the throngs of attendees, he could've sworn he'd seen her petite frame and dark hair, lounging to the side of the action; then again, jogging past the scene along the makeshift boardwalk. He'd been wrong then, but today he gently held her hand, their fingers intertwined, as they walked across to the sheltered beach. The sky was decorated with proof of the dozens of kite-surfers who were just offshore. Jane delighted fully in watching his favorite cop's eyes widen and her lips stretch into the most gorgeous smile as she caught her first closeup sight of the multicolored silks gracing the vibrant blues of the tropical sky.

"Wow," was all she could manage at the idyllic sight.

"I agree. The kites are beautiful… And the sport is also quite fun! I think you'd like it, Lisbon!"

She gave him a quick side eye. "There is no way you're talking me into trying this today," her face made it clear that he'd regret it if he tried.

Tickled by her reaction, he chuckled: "I didn't mean right now, Lisbon. I meant maybe someday in the future… You know, when we come for a vacation or something."

"I see. Well, in that case, there's a chance I might actually try it," her cheeks dimpled as she grinned.

Patrick's enjoyment of their repartee was interrupted by his growling stomach. "Are you hungry, Lisbon?"

She shrugged, "I could eat."

"I know a fun little snack bar! Take one more look at the kites, love, then we'll head back to the car."

Lisbon took in a breath of deliciously salty air as she parted ways with the beautiful kites, snapping a couple of photos for souvenirs of this magical morning.

Jane had mentioned a snack bar, after claiming to be hungry back on the beach. But they had been driving for longer than Teresa had anticipated, and they were now deep in the middle of seemingly nowhere, amongst tons of sandy cacti, with no destination in sight.

"Jane, where the hell are we?" She asked with irritation, beginning to feel actually quite hungry and not at all amused to have taken the scenic route to this snack bar he spoke of.

"Patience, woman… you just need to have patience…" he chided, to her visible annoyance.

Just as Lisbon was pondering the idea of leaping from the car to take her chances on foot, Jane turned onto a long, dusty driveway with a huge sign reading: 'Donkey Sanctuary.' Teresa's eyes got big; she'd totally thought he was joking when he'd threatened to take her there, in response to her jibe about not having gotten her a pony to go with the ranch. She had assumed he'd made the whole thing up, and was infinitely surprised to see that such a place actually existed on the island.

Shortly, they parked, and followed the marked path to the entrance gate. Patrick slipped a few bills into the donations box as they passed through the redundant fences that kept the donkeys safely inside. A quick look around revealed a sandy lot, featuring a dozen or more of the adorably stubborn equines, and a themed gift and snack shop.

"So, this 'fun little snack bar' is in a Donkey Sanctuary?!" Lisbon erupted with disbelief.

Feigning indignation and hurt, Jane defended, "The donkeys are cute! I thought you'd like them!" He complained with disappointment, before becoming more pragmatic: "But I can see that your hunger is clouding your mood, my dear, so let's get you up to the food counter right away."

As he led her to the small visitors' center, their path was suddenly blocked by a curious donkey, hoping for a handful of feed.

Lisbon froze, displaying her typical levels of discomfort with being so close to a wild animal. "Does it bite?"

"He's just being friendly because he hopes you have some of this," Jane held out a handful of food pellets that he'd just bought from a nearby dispenser. "Do you want to feed him, or shall I?"

Still nervous, Teresa asked him to please do the feeding. In seconds, the pellets scattered in front of the animal, distracting him with the snack long enough for Patrick and Teresa to slip past.

At the food counter, the couple enjoyed a burger and fries, along with a shared chocolate milkshake, complete with two straws.

"I'm impressed, Lisbon," Jane said, with a mischievous glint in his eye.

"Impressed how?"

"We've been on-site at a donkey sanctuary for a full twenty minutes and not once have you called me an ass!" He laughed freely for the entirety of Teresa's exaggerated eye rolling.

"Very funny! … Ass." She said, sparkling with her own flash of mischief, and sending her partner rolling into more laughter.

After slurping the last of the milkshake, the two wandered out to the donkey viewing area.

"Want to go behind the fence? You can get up close and even pet them if you want?" Jane asked, hopefully, but knowing her answer already.

"Are you seriously asking me that?" She shot him one of those sarcastic looks he loved so much.

"Lisbon, look!" Jane lit up with delighted surprise. "It's a peacock! Do you see the peacock?!"

She loved it when he got like this. In so many ways he was innocently childlike. She wondered if it was because of the way he'd been sort of cheated out of having an actual childhood? Whatever the reason, she was momentarily so overwhelmed with love for the man she almost couldn't take it. "Yes, Patrick, I see it! He is beautiful!"

The partners both gasped with surprise when the glorious bird suddenly fluttered from the sandy ground up to the rooftop of one of the food huts.

"Wow! You don't usually see that in Chicago!" He nudged.

Teresa laughed "No, you do not!"

"Daddy, can I feed a donkey?" A child voice interrupted. The small girl jumped in surprise when Jane turned around. She had been distracted, and from behind, she thought Jane was her father. Before her big eyes got tearful, her actual dad scooped her up with embarrassed apology.

"Sorry bout that!" The man smiled.

The couple chuckled and waved, reassuring the man.

Jane grew quiet for a moment as they watched the father and daughter feeding donkeys. Lisbon intuitively wrapped an arm around his waist, pulling him close; she imagined the scene may be a hard one for him.

"I love you, Patrick," she hummed, watching him closely in concern.

His eyes broke from the father/daughter scene to look thankfully at his partner, turning to wrap her in a warm embrace. "Thank you, Teresa. I love you so much, my dear."

"You okay?" Her eyes searched his.

He sniffed, with a downward glance. "I'll be fine, dear. It's just that when I heard a little girl's voice calling me 'Daddy,' I just… well... it's been a while since that has happened, and it dredged up some memories. Wonderful memories, really… but also reminders of what I've lost…"

Lisbon moved her hands to cradle his face, in sympathy and support. "I'm so sorry, Patrick."

"I'll be fine, really… once my mind processes back around to the grateful thoughts about what I have now… or rather who," he smiled adoringly.

Teresa wrapped her arms around him fully and held tight for a long while, before determining to lighten his mood: "Jane?"

"Yes, my dear?"

"Do you want to feed the donkeys?"

"I would love to, Lisbon."

"And Jane?"

"Hmm?"

"Would you like to feed them on the other side of the fence?"

The biggest Jane-grin grew slowly until it overpowered the look of delighted shock on the consultant's face. "Are you sure?!"

"Absolutely, let's jump the fence and feed some donkeys!"

With glee, Patrick got two bowls of feed from the attendant, and spent the last few minutes of their visit in a crowd of donkeys with his brave, yet adorably skittish partner.

Later that night, they revisited the natural pool just as the sun was getting low. With the tourists long gone for the day, the lovebirds enjoyed complete privacy; cuddling close together, waist deep in the salty waters of the pool. Jane was grateful they'd arrived in time to share the sunset tonight. Inspired by the beauty in the skies, and invigorated by the chill of the water at twilight, Lisbon was pressing against her breathtaking partner, pinning his back against the near cliff wall, whispering suggestively in his ear - causing goosebumps to form on every inch of his skin.

"I'll need those ridiculous water shoes for what I have planned for you, Patrick."

"Mmmm, my dear… your confidence in your fitness must be improving?" He sparkled immensely, delighting fully in the retaliatory poke to his ribs, and the hungry kisses that followed. With a wink, Patrick procured the water shoes from behind his back, as if by magic. After a brief moment of stunned amazement, Teresa quickly donned the shoes, and used their grippy soles to gain the leverage she needed to bring them both to the celebratory release they each desired and deserved.

Clinging to his partner breathlessly, completely in awe of what had just transpired under the glorious pink and purple skies of the island sunset, Jane murmured closely, "My dearest Lisbon, you've reached a new high for case-closed celebrations with this little jaunt."

Giggling with the intoxication of loving her gorgeous Jane in such an exhilaratingly risky location, Teresa bubbled: "Thank you, Patrick. I was quite proud of myself, for it."

"Mmmm…" he paused for a deep, loving kiss, "as well you should be, my love."

"I admit that I've grown quite attached to this island, and especially to this pool," Lisbon shared.

"Is that so?"

"It most definitely is," she breathed the most contended sigh.

"Well in that case, you might be interested to know that I've been considering the possibility of purchasing the abandoned ranch - finally renovating it to modern standards."

"Really?!" Teresa lit up with excitement at the possibility.

"Really! My hope is that I… well… we could use it as a vacation home - if I can ever convince you to take breaks from work, that is…"

"Very funny," she swatted his bare arm.

"Ow!" Jane whined quickly before continuing, "and Franklin can find a realtor to rent it out during the other months. Then we could maybe make this swim an annual event?"

"I like the sound of that… Patrick," she made a point of whispering his name in the most sensual and arousing way, steeling her partner's resolve to make the ranch remodel a reality; in fact, he was busily crafting a business plan and a blueprint in his head the whole time he and Lisbon were walking home.

The next morning, as Patrick lay awake, cradling his favorite sleepyhead princess in his arms, his mind was hard at work with the next part of his two-week transition plan: California.

They would need to move Lisbon's stuff from her Sacramento apartment and he needed to finally deal with the Malibu house. He had a plan in the works already, with help from the Rigsbys, the house-sitting carnies, and Mrs. Oranjestad, to throw Teresa a small goodbye party; hopefully allowing her some closure on what had thus far been her glory days. Her partner knew without doubt though that her best days were yet to come… that their best days together were yet to come.

"Whatcha thinkin about, gorgeous?" The sleepy princess yawned.

"Mmm… just thinking about how wonderful it's gonna be, being partners again… And how amazing this feels right now, holding you in my arms, Teresa. I am such a lucky bastard," he gave her a squeeze to punctuate the sentiment.

Snuggling closer into him, Lisbon murmured, "Mmm… this does feel amazing, love… you are so incredibly warm," she paused for a deep breath, then held his gaze intently. "I'm the lucky one, Patrick… I must've dreamed of waking up with you like this dozens of times when you were gone. I've thanked God every day since we reconnected here. I can't wait to work with you beside me again, love."

With great effort, the partners forced themselves out of bed, finished their packing, and met Franklin at the top of the stone path for a ride to the airport. Teresa was relieved to find the friendly dog was the one riding in the bed of the truck this time. Jane chattered happily about his plans for the ranch. Franklin looked pleased to hear it.

After a long goodbye to his trusted island friend, Jane grabbed their bags from the back of Franklin's truck, and walked with Lisbon into the airport. As they waited in the check-in line, he noted a decidedly melancholy vibe surrounding his love. "Penny for your thoughts, Lisbon?"

Smiling quickly, she assured him, "just the usual end of vacation blues, I guess."

He shot her a look that showed he was unconvinced.

Teresa sighed heavily. "Okay fine… I admit that, despite being absolutely ecstatic about our new start together, I'm also a little bit sad."

"A little bit?" His eyebrows prodded her to not hold back her feelings from him.

Wiping quickly at a stray tear, rolling her eyes in embarrassment at her emotional state, she tried again: "Okay, maybe a lot sad," she sniffled, working hard to suppress the trembles she was feeling as the gates of honestly flew open.

Jane wrapped a compassionate arm around her, and peered into her shiny eyes. "Why are you maybe a lot sad, my dear?" He asked gently.

"It's just… everything is hitting me all at once today: The way the CBI just seemed to crumble - I really loved that job, and those people; The fact that I'm leaving my apartment - I've loved that place from the moment my realtor gave me the tour over a decade ago; And…" she sniffled, crying a little more, "I have no idea how I'm going to break the news to Mrs. O…" Lisbon ducked her face into his shoulder, taking comfort in his supportive embrace.

"Beautiful Teresa, it's completely understandable that these feelings are haunting you loudly today. We're at the precipice of a tremendous change in both our lives - and on multiple levels too."

"I just don't want you to think that I… I'm not having second thoughts about anything, and I truly love you, Jane," she buried her face again, and squeezed him more tightly.

He let go of the suitcase handle he'd been holding and wrapped both arms fully around his tearful partner. "Of course, love… I never once suspected that you had changed your mind, and I'm deeply sorry that our joyful new beginning requires you to uproot in such a way. Allow your feelings to process, my dear. Don't let worries about what I'm thinking crowd your heart, Teresa. There is nothing to worry about, on that front. I love you, and am glad to absorb any tears you need to release on our flights today - and at any time in our future when you may need a shoulder to cry on."

Still clinging to him, Lisbon sniffled gratefully: "I don't deserve you, Patrick."

"You deserve far better, my dear. But I am at your service, love."

Teresa dabbed at her eyes with her sleeves, chuckling at her partner's typically self-deprecating comment - just in time for the airline agent to call them up to the check-in desk. She shook her head quickly, determined to remain on an even keel for at least the length of time required to check their bags and obtain boarding passes. She glanced at Jane as they stepped forward, taking immense comfort in his warm smile. Things were going to be okay; she had successfully saved her favorite carny boy from a life sentence with the FBI, and no matter what the future held, they would be together.

"So! We're flying to Sacramento today, are we?" The agent chirped.

Jane took one more look at Lisbon, relieved to see contentment in her eyes. "Yes, we are!" He enthused, looking forward to seeing that contentment change to joyful surprise once she got a load of the guest list for the going away party he had planned.