A/N: I'm finally back after a way too long hiatus (with a bit of a monster chapter). I hope, you haven't given up on me and this story yet. I had to prioritize some other matters in my life for a while but I want you to know that I'm not a quitter and that this baby is very important to me and I will continue and finish it. I won't make empty promises about quick updates though. I hope, you'll bear with me anyway. Thanks for your support and all the wonderful feedback.

This Is Not A Drill – Forty-Three

The Lisbon siblings spent a great weekend together, no awkwardness anymore but open happiness at finally being able to enjoy each other's company again. Lisbon would have gladly given Stan the money he needed as a gift but Jane convinced her to make it a loan instead, sensing that accepting such a sum from his sister would go against Stan's sense of pride. So she (and Jane who provided most of the money) offered her oldest brother an interest-free loan with an open duration which he gratefully agreed to.

Otherwise, Jane made himself scarce to give the siblings as much time together as possible. He went to the university library to look at some of the works he had found in the omnibus professor Barnes had given him and collected ideas for his thesis.

Abbott also called him in to headquarters on Sunday afternoon to meet a delegation from DC. While the interviews with the spies and the preparations for their trials were still taking place in Austin for the time being, many important people and other agencies had a legitimate interest in the case and were allowed to assist with their experts.

Arriving on Sunday was amongst others the secretary of justice who wanted first hand insight into the whole affair since he had been the one ultimately politically responsible for the mission. He was especially eager to meet Jane and thus the supervising agent had asked his consultant to come by – somewhat reluctantly. One never knew what would happen when Jane encountered politicians after all.

Surprisingly, Jane and Secretary Rosewood hit it off right away. No diplomatic wish-wash was exchanged between those two. The politician showed an open interest in and barely hidden curiosity about this most unusual FBI employee and the consultant rewarded that by being his most charming self. The secretary had a good sense of humor too and within minutes Abbott was walking behind two bantering men, shaking his head in amusement. The development suited him especially well because he had an agenda concerning both the politician and his consultant. It increased the chances of success enormously.

After Rosewood had been brought up to speed on the case, a meeting had been called to discuss where the trials should take place. They were joined by local authorities in the fishbowl. The politician from DC wanted the attorney general to head the prosecution but since most of the spying operation had occurred in Texas, the just recently instated Texan state attorney general, a Mr. Plicksworth, insisted that it fell into his jurisdiction.

He was present at the meeting too and was someone Jane took an instant dislike to. While he could understand that this was a career making case and to head it would mean a lot of prestige, even he as a measly FBI consultant could understand that espionage against the United States was far bigger than Texas. Besides, the investigation had been initiated by the authorities in DC and the FBI was a federal agency, not a state bureau. So he listened for a while to the increasingly heated debate and amused himself by exchanging exasperated glances with Abbott. But when it got too tedious, the consultant interrupted the Texan attorney and inquired with fake sweetness whether the man's insistence to take on a case far beyond him might be due to the unfortunate disproportion in his nether region, earning him some disbelieving looks.

"Did you really just say what I think you said?" the Texan AG asked, head a deep red, eyes spitting fire.

Jane smirked. "That depends. Have you been diagnosed with amblyacousia also known as a hardness of hearing? If not," he went on cheerfully, "then yes, I did." He chuckled. "You know, usually I'd say, size isn't everything – well, from what I have heard at least. But in this case, even upstanding Texas is obviously way too small to handle the depth required by this case."

"So, you weren't insulting me personally?" Plicksworth inquired skeptically.

"That's for you to decide. I mean, did I?" Jane chuckled again, sending knowing glances to the other people present. Even the AG's aide had a hard time hiding her amusement.

The Texan attorney jumped up from his chair. "This is outrageous! I demand, this, this… obnoxious person to be removed from the case immediately. I will not deal with the likes of him. Who is he anyway? Why is such an immature paper-shuffler present at an important meeting? He's not even an agent, is he? A consultant? What does that even mean? Waste of tax-payers money, that's what it is. I will not stand for this. You, Mister, you just lost your job."

"See?" Jane retorted merrily, "That's why you better leave it to DC, Mister, ahem, Mister, was it Pricksmurf? Sorry, I'm bad with names," he punned, face looking eerily like the smug adolescent his joke would have been worthy of. "Anyway," he continued, "If you were up for this," he winked, "You would know that I'm one of the main witnesses for the prosecution. If you can't work with me, which seems pretty obvious, doesn't it? Well, if you can't, then this is definitely out of your league. Which, may I add, is what I pointed out to you before. Thank you for confirming to everyone here that DC is best suited to handle this. Now we can finally move on to more important things. I don't think, you're needed here anymore," Jane dismissed the beet-red man with a lazy wave of his hand, indicating the door.

"I…I… This is inacceptable," Plicksworth snapped. "This whole meeting is an affront. This is Austin. This falls into my jurisdiction. I have a right to be informed of what's going on. And yet I'm forced to talk with inferior FBI employees and second-rate bureaucrats from DC." The secretary of justice raised his brow at that while Jane snorted.

Unperturbed by their reactions, the Texan attorney general went on, "And not even the lead agent on the case could be bothered to join." He took a breath, head an even deeper red, before he continued in his angry ramblings. "Where is this… this Lisbon guy? He's supposed to have been the one in charge of arresting these spies. Why isn't he here to report to me? Just because it's Sunday? Doesn't the severity of this case ask for a bit more professionalism? I expect Texan law enforcement officers to have better work ethics than this! And to show some respect towards their betters. Instead of talking to Mr. Lisbon, I have to put up with that… that impertinent, useless consultant."

Jane's eyes had gained a dangerous glint that alarmed Abbott. The supervising agent was quite annoyed himself, but his consultant looked like he was ready to annihilate Plicksworth. He could understand the sentiment but this was still the Texan AG and someone the FBI might be required to work with again in the future. So when Jane opened his mouth, Abbott held up his hand to stop him and chimed in. "Let me," he said in a soothing tone.

"But…" Jane started to protest.

"Patrick," Abbott implored, "Please let me handle this." Jane released a deep breath and indicated his acceptance with a tiny nod. "Thanks," the dark-skinned agent acknowledged his friend's acquiescence.

"Mr. Plicksworth," Abbott went on in a tone devoid of all the warmth it had contained while talking to Jane, "sit down again and let's talk like civilized people." When the other man had followed that order reluctantly, Abbott continued firmly, "I must say, I am a bit surprised by your accusations. You spoke about respect yet you obviously couldn't even be bothered to read the initial reports you received on Wednesday concerning the arrests we made almost a week ago. You seem completely unprepared for this meeting yet you insist that you're the most competent to handle the case."

He sent his most admonishing glare in the AG's direction before he continued, voice containing the full force of his authority, "I understand that starting a new job can be rather challenging, especially when one bit off more than one can chew. But your complete lack of professionalism is a tad disconcerting and I hope, it is not a reflection of how you're intending to carry out your office. For the sake of our future cooperation I will give you the benefit of the doubt for now."

Plicksworth's expression showed still traces of his previous anger but it was now mixed with open-mouthed astonishment. It was not a good look. Rather like a fish out of water, Jane thought. Something ugly, like a monkfish, he ungraciously added in his head and started a search for pictures of this species on his cell phone that he planned to entertain his girlfriend with.

"I… I…" the Texan AG stammered, but he was interrupted by Abbott before he could form a whole sentence.

"I was not finished yet," the supervising agent admonished him. "Since you neglected to acquire even the most basic information, I'll be kind enough to recap some of the main facts for you to lessen your ignorance. First of all, as the reports you received indicate, Agent Lisbon who played an instrumental part not only in the arrests we made on Monday but also in the whole undercover mission preceding it, is not with us today because she was unfortunately hit by a bullet during the operation to apprehend the spies which she had headed. Thus she is currently recuperating from the gunshot wound she received in the line of duty and from the surgery necessary to restore her health."

Abbott made a pregnant pause, then, in an even more severe voice, he added, "I must insist that you refrain from slandering the name of one of the FBI's finest agents. Teresa Lisbon is an exemplary officer who, through this mission with which we eliminated a threat to national security and on innumerable other occasions, has contributed immensely to the enhanced safety of this fine country and its citizens, including your own."

"I was not… had not been… informed…" Plicksworth tried to defend himself helplessly.

"Hush," Abbott interrupted him. He had seen Jane looking up from his phone which he had been busy with the last couple of minutes with a gleeful grin playing on his lips that had stirred the agent's curiosity. Now the consultant seemed just about ready to intervene again and his irritated expression did not bode well either. "Let's not dig the hole any deeper, shall we?" he inquired pointedly in Plicksworth's direction. "Ignorance is not always bliss. I hope, we can agree on that. And to round this off: even though Agent Lisbon regrettably couldn't make it today due to her injury, her partner and the most crucial member of this operation is here with us and only too happy to offer his insight if required. Isn't that so, Mr. Jane?"

"Why certainly!" the consultant replied. "I think, I already did. Actually, I'd have quite a bit of insight to offer right now too."

Abbott chuckled. "I'm sure you do, Patrick. But I'd be grateful if you could hold your horses a while longer."

Jane winked. "I'll keep them in the stable for you, Dennis." A bit more seriously he added, "And for Lisbon."

The supervising agent patted his consultant on the back. "Thanks. I appreciate it. As would she, if she was here."

At that point Rosewood, the secretary of justice, rose to speak. He'd been watching things unfold in quiet amusement and sometimes complete disbelief, bordering on true anger. "I must say, this has been most unusual. In many respects. And very enlightening too. Not that it was ever any real issue where those traitors will stand trial. This case has never been a Texan one. But I was willing to let you, Mr. Plicksworth, present your concerns. To a point. Yes, the spies operated from Texan soil and used the University of Texas to distribute sensitive intelligence. But the information leaked was of national and even international importance."

He cleared his throat. "Furthermore," he went on, "it was our secret services that discovered the existence of this network and located it. Every aspect of this operation went directly through DC and it was my department that authorized Supervising Agent Abbott to lead this mission. And his unit was chosen for this job because of Mr. Jane's unique abilities." He cast a knowing look in the direction of the consultant, an amused smile playing on his lips.

Rosewood turned serious again, hard eyes directed at Plicksworth. "None of this you seem to even know, let alone understand. You want this case yet you're obviously unable to comprehend neither its significance nor the enormity of what this FBI unit has accomplished in solving it. And, what's even worse, you obviously don't even have the good sense to surround yourself with a staff competent enough to prevent you from committing such blunders. So I have to ask you to leave this meeting because I don't feel like sensitive information is safe with you. And as fair warning: I'll initiate an investigation into your appointment. That job is obviously out of your league and I have to wonder how you got into this position."

Plicksworth's face had turned a dark-red color. "This is an outrage! I won't be sent from this room like an unruly child. This is unacceptable. I…I…"

Through the glass walls of the fishbowl Abbott waved to a couple of agents who had been positioned outside, indicating for them to enter. "Please escort the Attorney General, Mr. Plicksworth here, and his aide out of the building. His business with the FBI is concluded," he told the two rather imposing G-men.

They went to stand next to the still sitting and very enraged jurist in an intimidating fashion which did not fail in its intended effect: still ranting and railing the Texan AG stood up. "You… You can't just throw me out like some common criminal," he complained.

"Nope," Jane quipped. "Those we usually rather keep here, you know? It would be kind of counterproductive to use the good tax payers' money on catching them, only to throw them out again. That would be more the job of incompetent attorneys."

"You!" Plicksworth ranted on his way out the door, pointing his finger at Jane, "You are a terrible nuisance."

Jane nodded cheerfully. "Absolutely. A pain in the proverbial. A nag. A vexation. The squeaky wheel…"

"You've made your point, Jane," Abbott chimed in. "He's had enough, don't you think?"

"Meh." Jane shrugged.

Abbott chuckled, amusement twinkling in his eyes. "I know, he committed the ultimate sin. But he's gotten all the humiliation he can take today – and then some. I think, I might have gotten carried away a bit myself. Won't be easy if we ever have to work with him again."

"The ultimate sin?" Rosewood asked.

The supervising agent nodded. "Yes. He insulted Agent Lisbon."

"Oh." The secretary of justice exchanged a knowing look with Abbott.

Their meeting concluded not long after that. Abbott and Rosewood planned to get together again later for an informal dinner which Jane asked to be excused from. "Of course, Patrick. You go home and take care of your partner," his boss replied. "I expect she's doing okay?"

Jane nodded. "Yes, she's getting better every day. Tomorrow, she'll start with physiotherapy and the stitches will be taken out on Wednesday. Two of her brothers have been visiting for the weekend which was a real boost to her spirits. Now I have to make sure, they didn't exhaust her too much. And I have to feed them. You have no idea what three Lisbons can put away," he explained with a fond expression.

Abbott chuckled. "Give her my best, will you?"

"Of course. As you probably surmised, she asked me to apologize for her absence today." Jane rolled his eyes, but the fondness never left his face.

"I hope to meet the both of you in DC soon," Rosewood chimed in. "You can expect some kind of invitation as soon as Agent Lisbon is fit for duty again. It will be a pleasure to receive you."

"Ah, to DC again. Well, why not? Would you do me a favor, Mr. Rosewood? Please tell your colleague, Mr. Rossello, that I enjoyed his cousin's cuisine very much. I had a very pleasant encounter with Francis at a dinner party a few months ago and he recommended his cousin's trattoria."

Understanding dawned on Rosewood's face. "I can't believe, I didn't make the connection right away," he scolded himself. "You are, of course, that Aussie expert on second-chance education that our secretary of education couldn't stop talking about. I personally approved your appearance at that conference and yet I didn't realize who Francis was talking about. Geez! Seems like I need to read deeper into the case files myself." He shook his head. "I must say, you got to adopt quite a few identities in the course of this mission. Student, expert on adult education, reporter… Did you actually develop that study program too or did you only pose as its creator?"

"He created it. All by himself," Abbott said proudly.

"Amazing!" Rosewood shot Jane an approving look. "I guess, at this point I can reveal your true identity to my colleague. He's in for a surprise. A very much American FBI consultant as his Australian education expert!" He chuckled. "And I bet, he'll want a piece of you too when you come to DC. Well done, Mr. Jane."

The consultant looked down sheepishly and shrugged, a satisfied smile completing the contradictory image of bashful complacency.

Abbott gave him a fond pat on the back and dismissed him, also giving him the next morning off so he could take Lisbon to her therapy session.

At the Jane-Lisbon residence – during the time of the meeting – the three siblings had been enjoying the warm sunshine outside in the garden. Jane had asked Stan's advice for the reconstruction of the pool earlier, even inquired about hiring him to help with the job. Now the oldest brother was busy taking measurements while his two siblings, lounging in comfy deck-chairs, were mocking him mercilessly.

"You'll have to raise the bar, bro, or you'll tank," Jimmy said with a snicker.

Teresa snorted. "Yeah. Only our Stanley would manage to be in deep water in an empty pool," she offered a pun of her own.

"You two clowns think you are so funny," Stan retorted, "But you really are not. You're just childish."

Teresa and Jimmy exchanged amused looks. "Oh, oh," she announced smugly, "He's trying to pretend that our words are like water off a duck's back, but it sure looks like we ruffled his feathers, right, Jimmy?" They grinned.

Every couple of minutes Lisbon got distracted from her serious job of teasing her brother by incoming messages on her phone. They originated from her boyfriend and could only in a very well-meaning appraisement be deemed to fulfill Lisbon's request of being kept "up-to-date" on the meeting. His scathing comments made her want to snort with amusement and scold him in equal measures. She was, however, sincerely relieved that he'd at least made friends with the most important guest. Since he usually managed to make mortal enemies of the most inopportune people, this development was very welcome indeed.

The Texan AG on the other hand did not find Jane's approval. For a short moment she felt like a slacker when she learned about the man's demands for her to be present at the meeting but Jane, who of course anticipated her reaction correctly, told her in no uncertain terms that her duty was to herself and especially to her own body right now and no one else.

Fortunately, her partner did not seem to be alone with his unfavorable judgment of the attorney general. If any of what Jane reported was to be believed, Abbott had called the guy disrespectful and incompetent to his face. Lisbon raised her brows at that.

A moment later she broke out into an almost hysterical fit of giggles, making her brothers look at her as if she was an alien. With its mouth half open in a hideous grimace the face of the ugliest fish she had even seen was gawking at her from the display. According to Jane that was the exact expression the AG had worn after Abbott had torn strips off him. Jane's next comment "I suddenly fancy fish for dinner. You game?" elicited another giggle from Lisbon.

"I thought, Paddy-boy was sending you updates on some fancy meeting?" Jimmy asked. "Never expected your work with the Feebs to be that funny."

Lisbon cast him an admonishing look. "Don't call us that, James." Then her grin returned full force. "And no, it's not really the FBI that's funny. But there's that consultant…" Her expression turned dreamy. Then she snickered. "Oh, and Jane's asking whether it's okay if we have fish for dinner."

Jimmy groaned. "Stan, what are we gonna do? Our sis has turned into a smitten, gooey sap. I never thought I'd see the day T would make doe eyes at a man. It's kinda cute though."

This earned him a death glare from his sister. "I'm not making doe eyes at anyone. I just happen to be in love and happy. And if it wasn't for my damn shoulder, I'd show you cute, James Andrew Lisbon."

"It's good to see you so happy," Jimmy replied sincerely, all teasing gone from his voice. "I know, I screwed up when I first arrived and said some pretty ugly things. But… I've done a lot of thinking since then. And… I hope, you do know how much I appreciate everything you've done for me and Stan and Tommy. I've been so busy being sad about you leaving and missing you that I forgot about all you did for us by staying for as long as you did. By being there for us and taking care of us. How many things you gave up for us, denied yourself. How you never got to be a kid like us. And I'm glad you get to be so happy now."

Lisbon blushed. "Thanks, Jimmy. Thank you for telling me this. It means a lot."

Stan joined his siblings on the patio, kneeled down and put his arm around his brother's shoulder in a not quite gentle half-hug. "That was terribly maudlin, Jimmy-boy. I mean, it was true, of course. Couldn't have said it any better. But still awfully maudlin."

The three exchanged fond looks and grinned. Stan got a deck chair of his own and sat down with them. They shared a long moment of companionable silence, each Lisbon lost in their thoughts, at peace with their pasts and hopeful for the future.

"About that fishy dinner," Stan finally broke the quiet, "I think, you should enjoy that with that boyfriend of yours, T. I have to leave for the airport in a couple of hours anyway. And I had kind of hoped, this munchkin," he ruffled James's hair rather roughly, "Could give me a ride on his way back to Oklahoma-City. Besides, you look pretty beat-up, sis. No offense. But you're still recuperating, right? I think, we should leave before we overstay our welcome."

"You just sounded like the most boring old dad," James complained. "When did you get the permission to be the responsible one?"

Stan rolled his eyes. "I happen to be a dad, you know?"

Interrupting her brothers before they could get fully started with one of their infamous disputes, Lisbon said, "I hope, you'll at least stay until Jane comes back. He would want to have the chance to say goodbye. From the sound of things, it can't be more than an hour before he returns."

"Sure." Stan nodded. "I'd like to thank him again too." He blushed and looked a bit uncomfortable. "I mean, it's awfully nice of him to help out with the… you know… the money. And I appreciate it that he's considering to hire me for your garden and stuff. I'd love to help with it. I mean, it depends a bit on how things are with Karen and the kids. Can't leave her alone for too long and all…"

"Don't worry, Stan. We understand. And you could always bring your family, you know?" Lisbon replied.

Stan sported a skeptical expression. "You sure? They're a handful."

"Are you kidding?" Lisbon snorted. "You and your brothers, you were a handful. So what's new? Besides, Jane's great with kids." Her face turned dreamy again.

"You're right, Jimmy. She is making doe eyes. Thank heaven, Patrick's a good guy. This could get pretty annoying otherwise." The brothers grinned.

Lisbon pouted. "Oh, shush! It's rude to poke fun at your poor, helpless, wounded sister. Besides, I can't help it that I get to be with the most handsome, hot, smart, funny, cute, attentive guy in the world." She blushed a bit, but didn't show any other signs of embarrassment, only pure happiness.

Both brothers smiled at her fondly. "Geez, T! You really got it bad," Stan teased her, but there was only honest affection in his tone.

"I beg to differ," a cheerful voice announced from the patio door. "I think, she got it pretty good."

A broadly smiling Jane approached the desk chairs, bent down in front of Lisbon, and greeted her with a deep kiss that she returned eagerly. "You're back already," she announced joyfully.

"Yep. Abbott and the secretary of justice had the attorney general escorted off the FBI premises. And I mean that literally. That pretty much concluded the meeting." He chuckled. "And I decided that after such a highlight the rest could only get anticlimactic in comparison. So I left dear Dennis to have dinner with Rosewood."

"Speaking of dinner: I suggest making some classic fish and chips," he winked at Lisbon.

"Stan and Jimmy are planning to leave before dinner," she told him.

Jane looked up and eyed the Lisbon brothers incredulously. "Nonsense. Can't let our guests leave without feeding them. What kind of hosts do you take us for?"

"We have no doubts that you're the perfect little hausfrau, Paddy-boy. But our sis is tired and we have places to be. We'll just grab something at the airport," Stan replied. "Hey, seriously. We appreciate the offer but I think, you two need a quiet evening together. And you promised to come home to Chicago in a bit, so we can hang out some more soon in any case."

Jane got up from his crouch next to Lisbon's deck chair and moved in the direction of the house. "Let me at least make you some decent sandwiches. Airport food is mostly just overprized crap. And I won't take no for an answer," he announced before he disappeared inside.

"He's a real treasure," Jimmy said with a snicker.

"Karen's gonna love him," Stan added, rolling his eyes. "A guy who saves her hubby from eating fast food. That's about as perfect as it can get in her eyes."

"She seemed to enjoy his looks too. Called him an Adonis and all," Jimmy reminded his brother with a smirk. "Not sure, she'll be too worried about her old, boring hubby anymore. I bet, she'd rather like our Paddy to make her some sandwiches too." He wriggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"Hey!" Stan complained.

"Hey, indeed," Lisbon chimed in, casting her siblings withering looks. "You're talking about my boyfriend here, okay? And there's certain kinds of sandwiches that he only makes for me – just to be clear."

"You three have such dirty minds, really. I'm blushing," Jane shouted from inside. "You know, I can hear you, right? How am I supposed to make sandwiches with the images you just planted into my head? These pumpkin seeds and scrambled eggs just lost their innocence. Even chicken breast gets a new meaning. I'm just glad, I didn't plan to use salami, or cutting off slices would have been almost physically painful."

The Lisbon siblings chuckled.

"In that case I'd say, you're the one with the dirty mind, Jane," Lisbon retorted.

"Well, in that case, you can tell me more about those special sandwiches I'm allegedly only making for you, my dear," Jane teased her cheerfully. "I planned to ask you later, without company. But since it's obviously nothing juicy after all…"

"But the food you make is always juicy, Jane," she bantered back.

Jane chuckled. "Touché, my dear. Touché. What can I say? It has to be juicy to please a woman with such an appetite."

"You two are seriously more entertaining than any TV show," Jimmy declared. "Are you always like this?"

"Nah. We're too busy doing… each… ahem... doing other stuff when we don't have company," Jane replied suggestively from the patio door. Still grinning he approached with two plates. On both sat giant sandwiches and a garden salad as garnish. He handed a serving to each of the Lisbon brother. "Here you go. Just whipped something up on the quick, so don't expect too much. Though I'm pretty good at quickies, or so I've been told."

"Jane!" Lisbon scolded him while her brothers snorted with laughter.

"What? I remember you enjoying both my fast and my slow food," Jane replied, his face a study in fake innocence.

She slapped his leg playfully when he came into hitting distance of her good arm. "I want my fish and chips now. Go back into the kitchen, Jane," she demanded.

"I love you all bossy. Grrrr." He gave her a quick peck on the nose and jumped out of her reach before she could retaliate.

"Wiff fuff if great, Wabwick," Jimmy announced.

"Geez, James! Don't talk with your mouth full," his sister scolded him.

"He's right though," Stan stated. "This is some great stuff, Patrick. Especially for being healthy too. Thanks."

Already partly inside again, Jane's beaming head reappeared in the doorway. "You're welcome."

The brothers ate their sandwiches in ravenous silence. Afterwards they went inside, collected their odds and ends, and prepared to leave. The goodbyes were warm and heartfelt and Jane thought to himself that it was truly amazing what difference three days could make. He was extremely happy for Lisbon's sake because he knew how much the difficult relationships with her brothers had burdened her.

Also Jane got some manly but nevertheless sincere and affectionate hugs from Stan and Jimmy. And when he stood with one arm around Lisbon, the other busy waving the two brothers goodbye, he felt warmth spreading inside of him that hit him unexpectedly. He turned his head and watched his girlfriend who was fighting tears but couldn't stop smiling anyway. That's when he realized that it was not just her family anymore. It felt like his too.

She returned his look, watery eyes shining with her love. And he knew that she felt the same way.

He caressed her cheek, wiping away one stubborn tear that had decided to fall and bent forward to kiss her. Their mouths met tranquilly, expressing the depth of their feelings for each other, the sense of home only to be found in the other's presence.

"I love you," he whispered against her lips.

"I love you too," she returned the sentiment softly.

Their eyes met and after a wordless exchange of meaningful looks, Jane finally took her hand with the utmost gentleness, and led her back inside.

The following two weeks were filled with physiotherapy for Lisbon and Jane serving as mobile lie detector. Together with Cho he made a formidable interrogation team and they unraveled more and more of the spying network. With their help the CIA and Homeland Security also got a pretty accurate picture of the amount and nature of the information leaked.

Abbott was mostly busy explaining to high ranking members of other agencies that no, neither Cho nor Jane had any intention to leave the FBI and work for someone else. He knew that this might not hold entirely true for agent Cho but while he was willing to give the man more leadership experience, he did not want to let him go quite yet. Abbott had been watching him closely ever since the former CBI agent had started to work for him and he had been amused when their rookie, agent Vega, had chosen the stoic agent as her mentor. He supported that development, especially since the interaction between those two told him a lot about both Cho's strengths as a leader and also his weaknesses – and this new position gave Cho the perfect chance to work on the latter. If things continued to improve, it wouldn't be long before the man was ready to lead his own unit.

Also Lisbon was meant for greater things. Abbott had no doubts about her abilities. He had studied her files both in connection with his investigation into the Blake Association and later and in a more favorable mindset after Jane had made her his most important term. As ambivalent as he had been about the consultant's character back then, that the guy was brilliant was evident. So Abbott's question had been whether Jane's insistence to work with Lisbon was driven by his wish to have a tool he could easily manipulate or whether it had other reasons.

It hadn't taken him long to find out that Jane's choice of partner was a very wise one. Lisbon was not only an excellent detective in her own right, quick to catch up on the hints the consultant loved to drop. Additionally she was also the perfect mixture between flexible and stubborn when it came to dealing with Jane. He clearly used her ethical limits as his own moral compass and she had adjusted her approach to crime fighting to an admirably well-balanced blend of by-the-book and outside-the-box. Jane respected her for it more than he respected anyone else.

That the guy was also head over heels in love with the bad-ass, quick-witted lady was another reason, of course. But Abbott could accept that also only professionally speaking the consultant had had ample and very good reason to want to work with Lisbon again. They truly complemented each other in their partnership and any boss who didn't see that and didn't make use of it would be a total fool. Abbott liked to think that he wasn't one of them.

Still, Lisbon deserved recognition for her outstanding performance. And that hadn't always been the case. People tended to be blinded by Jane's brilliance and unusual personality and thus he often outshone her. It was a testament to her character, to her work ethics, to her true belief in and dedication to the job she was doing that she kept to her partner despite the negative consequences for her own career. That Jane saw her for who she really was and let her know what she meant to him probably helped a lot. The respect and appreciation of the man she knew to be smarter than most obviously made up at least to a degree for the lack of official acknowledgment.

And she clearly simply enjoyed working with Jane – something that these days Abbott could understand very well. They solved cases on a rate unprecedented and they had fun while doing it. Abbott could admit that nowadays, he went into work every morning with curiosity and eager anticipation. Jane and also Lisbon and Cho had changed not only the working style but also the atmosphere at the office and for the better. Units supported each other, agents volunteered to help out – and all of that with the expectation and openness to learn something instead of fearing to make mistakes.

Before what Abbott secretly liked to call the 'CBI spirit' had found its way to Austin, they had been very set in their ways. Strict performance evaluations, reprimands, and public criticism had been the norm. With hindsight Abbott could concede that it had not inspired anyone to be proactive and to show their full potential. Making mistakes had only negative repercussions after all instead of being accepted as a necessary bi-product of growth.

Without the supervising agent realizing it at first, Jane's unorthodox personality combined with especially Lisbon's sense of fairness and distinctive working style but also with Cho's ideas of team work and his encouragement of Wylie had changed things. Those three had infected Abbott and others with their ways – particularly so because their methods proved to be so spectacularly successful.

And all of that held true even though Lisbon had tried to distance herself from Jane in the beginning in Austin in order to be seen as more than his sidekick. And she had proven herself – admirably so. But what Abbott had learned to appreciate about her the most during that time was the opposite of what she might have intended: he had realized what an amazing job she had done in forming her unique partnership with the eccentric mentalist.

Abbott hoped that the award the two had received a few weeks ago had shown Lisbon that also her part in this was very much seen by him and other high-ups. But he also planned to tell her directly at some point.

Whatever the future would hold for her and Jane, he saw them together both on the job and outside. He had some ideas about it, some major changes. Because no matter how effective they were at crime solving, there were other ways to utilize their talents that might pay off even more in the long run and that would give each of them the chance to contribute with what they were best at.

There was nothing concrete yet, and a lot would depend on some seeds Abbott had planted in DC which he was especially optimistic would bear fruit after a very pleasant dinner conversation with the Secretary of Justice. And it would also be up to Jane's and Lisbon's own plans – both professional and private ones. But Abbott was positive that when the time was ripe, the two would be amenable to his suggestions.

All in all Abbott was very satisfied with the state of things in his unit. Agent Wylie was coming along nicely too. He was eager to learn, open for unorthodox methods, and he embraced the diversity of characters in the unit as the advantage it was. Actually, it had been watching the changes in the young man that had first given him his ideas for Jane and Lisbon. Now he intended to experiment a little more on that front. And for that to work out as planned he needed to fend off all those hoggish vultures from other agencies that wanted to poach in his preserve. Only over his dead body!

Apart from joining Cho for some interviews Jane's services weren't needed overly much at the office since their unit would not get any new cases until their work on the spying operation was completed. Also Lisbon was regaining more and more of her mobility every day, so she didn't require his assistance that often anymore either. Thus he had time on his hands to work on his thesis. The outline for it became clearer and clearer and soon he was able to write a first synopsis. He shared every step with Lisbon whose ability to call bullshit and get him back on track was unmatched also in this area. He appreciated her feedback immensely.

She in turn got a lot out of it too because she was granted a first row seat to the workings of his mind in ways that she had never thought possible. She appreciated the openness with which he divulged both his unique ideas but especially also his fears and insecurities. It felt to her as if this brought them even closer to each other than they already were.

On Friday afternoon two and a half weeks after she had been shot, Jane was expecting Lisbon home from her physiotherapy any minute. He planned to greet her with a cup of coffee and some pastries he had bought on his way back from the university library. When he opened the drawer that contained the silverware, his eyes fell on a long brown hair that had taken residence amongst the spoons. He reached for it to remove it. It offered some resistance but finally it had loosened enough. When he held it up between his thumb and his index finger, he suddenly started to shake uncontrollably.

That's how Lisbon found him a few minutes later when she arrived home from her session in high spirits. She would be allowed back on light duty the upcoming Monday and she was ecstatic. "Jane!" she shouted from the front door. "Where are you?"

When she got no reply she entered and went to search for him. The smile died on her lips when she saw him, eyes wide open and unfocussed, shivering, silent tears running down his pale face, hand holding up something she couldn't identify. "Jane!" she exclaimed. "Patrick, what's wrong?"

He didn't react and seemed completely oblivious to her presence. She approached him carefully. Slowly so as not to spook him, she lifted her arm and caressed his wet cheek. "Patrick," she addressed him again softly.

Her touch woke him out of his stupor. He squinted, his gaze settling on her. Relief and sadness were fighting for dominance on his face. Suddenly his arms engulfed her in an almost bone-crushing hug. "Jane?" she asked again, sensing the shivers that still ran through him.

"I could have lost you," he murmured. "You could've died. I could've lost you." A sigh of despair escaped from deep inside of him.

"I'm here, Patrick. I'm okay. I'll even be back on duty again next week. It's okay," she tried to soothe him.

If possible, his hold on her got even tighter. "I could've lost you," he repeated over and over again like a mantra.

"But you didn't. I'm here." She started to play with the curls at his neck. "Talk to me, Patrick. What brought this on all of a sudden? You know, I'm fine. Not 100% yet but close."

He shook his head, burrowing his nose deeper in her hair, inhaling her scent. "Please, honey. What's going on in that brilliant head of yours? I want to help," she insisted gently.

"Just let me hold you," he whispered.

"Of course. Whatever you need."

Slowly his shaking subsided and he relaxed. A few minutes later he released her with some reluctance. "I hope, I didn't hurt you," he muttered sheepishly.

"I'm fine," she reassured him. "As I told you I'm almost as good as new. Don't worry." She tried to catch his eye but he looked down. "Jane," she said softly, "Please talk to me. Can you tell me what happened?"

He shook his head. "I… I need some air," he suddenly announced and left the kitchen area in the direction of the front door.

"You are just going to leave me here without an explanation? After what just happened?" she inquired incredulously, a spark of anger growing inside of her.

Jane turned around and looked at her, the deep shame in his features letting her irritation die. "I want… I can't…" he stammered and shook his head again. Then he released a shaky breath. "I'm… I want to talk to you," he finally got out. "I really do. I just… I don't feel like I can right now. Something just happened and I… It's overwhelmed me. Caught me by surprise. I need to get some things straight in my head before I can talk to you," he explained. "I'm not… I'm not running away, if that's what you're thinking," he added quickly. "Just right now, I need to get out of here for a while. Is that… Would that be okay for you?"

She closed the distance between them and put her arms around him. "Oh Jane," she said warmly. "Of course it's okay. I'm just… I…"

He pecked her on the top of her head. "I know," he replied gently. "I know."

He left soon after and walked around aimlessly, or so he thought until the university campus entered his line of sight. Almost as if led by an invisible force he approached the building housing the psychology department. Shortly after, he knocked on the dean's door. "You got a minute?" he asked when Barnes opened.

He motioned for Jane to come in. "I surmise, this is not about your thesis," he remarked. "You look like shit. Sit down, I'll make tea."

Jane nodded and sank gratefully into one of the comfy armchairs the dean kept in one corner of his office space.

His back to the mentalist Barnes got busy boiling water and preparing the tea. "So Teresa's close call finally caught up with you," he stated matter-of-factly.

"Yeah, I suppose, it did," Jane admitted quietly.

The dean went on with his task in silence. A couple of minutes later he approached with two steaming mugs. One he sat down in front of Jane, the other he took with him to the armchair across from his visitor. "I'm glad, you took me up on my offer to come by in case you need someone to talk to," he admitted. "I was a bit afraid, you wouldn't. You're a stubborn little bastard. Self-reliant to the point of being self-destructive," he established with a wink. "So, what brought you to my doorstep, Patrick?"

Jane reached for the tea and lifted it to his lips after inhaling the scent with a sigh, the ritual calming him. Barnes watched him affectionately. "Take your time, my friend," he said gently. "I know this isn't easy. I'm all yours. No more meetings today."

"Thanks," Jane replied with a hint of a genuine smile on his lips. "This… It means a lot. I had no idea I'd come to you but I guess, my subconscious mind steered my legs." He sipped from his tea and sighed again. "This is excellent. Not quite sure what it is but it's not Chinese like your usual ones," he analyzed. "It's got a bit of a Darjeeling quality to it but it's definitely not Indian either."

"Very good," Barnes praised him. "It's African."

Jane raised his brows. "African? Now, that's unusual. Not many orthodox teas from that part of the world. Very nice."

They enjoyed a few more sips in silence. "Something happened today," Jane suddenly broke the quiet. "It scared the shit out of me," he admitted.

"The thought of losing Teresa?" Barnes inquired carefully.

"That too, yes. But that's not all of it. I freaked out," Jane confessed. "I mean, I lost it. I…" He sighed and took another fortifying mouthful of tea. He swallowed audibly. "It's happened before. Once before. And… Well…" He looked down. "I ended up in a closed ward after that," he admitted in an almost whisper.

The dean nodded. "Can you tell me about it?"

"About the closed ward?" Jane asked.

Barnes shook his head. "No. I know what those are like. I meant, can you tell me what happened? How did you end up there and what brought this on today? Only if you're ready to talk about it, Patrick. You're the boss here. You divulge whatever you're comfortable with."

Jane acknowledged the other man's words with a nod. "I appreciate that, Nicolas. I guess, I want… No… I need to talk about it. I don't think, I would've ended up here otherwise. I'll try. It's not going to be easy though. I've only ever talked about this with one person before." He sighed. "I'm afraid, she's dead now. But no reason for worry," he added with a humorless chuckle. "I have killed her killer."

"Red John killed your therapist?" Barnes inquired with astonishment. "Wow."

"Yes, he did," Jane confirmed. "But that's a story for another day. Anyway, she was the only person who knew. And though I know it's no reason for shame, that breakdown – it's a sour spot."

Barnes nodded. "I'm not surprised. As I said, you're extremely self-reliant. You have a brilliant mind, more brilliant than most. And you have an astonishing level of self-awareness in many areas. No wonder, you have a hard time asking for and accepting help. It's also against your survival instincts. Showing weakness like that was not an option during your childhood, right? So dealing with things yourself became second nature to you from an early age. That's not easy to overcome. And without wanting to sound patronizing: I'm very proud of you for coming to me today."

"Thanks, I guess," Jane replied with a small smile. "But maybe I just came for the tea," he joked before he had another mouthful.

The dean chuckled, but turned serious again right after. "I think, you're here because ultimately, you want to share this with Teresa but you need a bit of help to prepare for that. I'm glad that you know, this is a safe place and that you trust me enough to come to me. I know how hard this is for you, what a huge step it is."

"I'm glad, you're willing to help me," Jane said sincerely. "I'm usually not good with authority figures, especially male ones. Got some serious daddy issues there. But I feel different around you."

"Maybe because I don't see myself in any position of authority over you," Barnes suggested. "I enjoy being your mentor, not because it puts me in superior position but because I admire your intellect and it's a pleasure to see it in action. I may have more experience in certain areas, I may have a formal educational background, but to me there's never any doubt that we're equals. We respect each other. That's how it should be."

The dean set down his mug before he continued. "And even though I may be in the position of your counselor today, I want you to think of me more as a concerned friend. I don't think, you're in need of any sort of long-term therapy or anything. I think, you only need someone to listen and maybe nudge you in the right direction – a direction you already know anyway."

Jane looked up in disbelief. "I told you that I freaked out today and that it was similar to what had once bought me a ticket to a closed ward and you still don't think, I'm a total nut job?"

Barnes shook his head. "You're not nuts, my friend. On the contrary, I think, something triggered a very strong reaction in you today and it's going to turn out to be an important step forward for you – not a set-back."

"Okay." Jane seemed still unconvinced.

"You told me, you've not shared this with anyone voluntarily before. Yet here you are, planning to trust me with it. That's huge, Patrick. I also like to think that confronting our worst fears is the best way to overcome them. I think, you're ready for that. You're ready to finally move on fully and that's fantastic," Barnes explicated. "You've been carrying this around with you for so many years. All alone. You've opened your heart to Teresa. That was a giant step for you, I'd guess. And you're willing to share your burdens with her. That's even bigger. And now you're asking for help in doing so when you need it. I think, these are all very positive signs."

"If you put it like that," Jane mumbled with a sheepish expression. Then he released a deep breath, emptied his mug, put it on the table in front of him, sat up straight, and said, "Well, then. Here goes nothing."

"After Angela and Charlotte got killed," he started, "I just went through the motions for the first couple of weeks. I was interviewed by the police for days. They wanted to make sure it had truly been Red John who'd murdered them. You know how in the majority of cases it's the husband who did it. So I was confronted with their gruesome deaths full force but I had no real time to comprehend what had happened. I was also busy organizing the funerals and other practical stuff."

He cleared his throat. "So I just hurried from appointment to appointment. Since our house was a sealed crime scene, I stayed at a hotel and the distance from things made them appear even more unreal. Then a day after the funeral the police cleared the scene and I went into the place that used to be our home for the first time after discovering their dead bodies."

Somewhat bashfully Jane wiped away a tear. "I stood in the entrance hall and I felt lost. I didn't know what to do next. I was aimless, almost paralyzed. All I knew was that I couldn't live in that house anymore. That it was suffocating me. But I had no idea where to go and what would be a logical next step. So naturally, I decided to make some tea."

He chuckled without humor. Mechanically his right hand started to play with the fingers of his left one. "Everything was fine at first. It was such a routine thing that I was doing everything on autopilot. Then I needed a spoon. I opened the drawer and there trapped between some pieces of silverware was a long hair that Angela must have lost the last time she had emptied the dishwasher."

His voice broke. He had to pause and felt his heart rate increasing. Lightheadedness threatened to overtake him. Barnes stood up and got him a glass of cold water. He knelt down beside the distraught man and asked Jane to take small sips. "It's okay, Patrick. You're doing great. Take a moment," he said gently, his hand having a firm hold on Jane's thigh to ground him. "You're not alone. I'm here with you. We're in Austin, in my office at the university."

"Thanks," Jane croaked a few minutes later. He cleared his throat. "I'm better. Thanks." He took a few greedy gulps and sighed. Barnes got up again, squeezed Jane's shoulder, and returned to his own armchair.

Jane closed his eyes and collected himself. Then he looked up. "It's incredible how such a silly thing can pull the rug out from under you," he continued thoughtfully. "I fished out that hair like I had done dozens of times before but when I held it in my hand it was like I suddenly realized that Angela was dead. That she was gone forever. That that stupid hair was the last tangible part of her I would ever get to hold."

Another tear rolled down his cheek. "It was such a sucker punch. I just… I don't really know what happened after that. My whole body felt like lead, my head completely empty. I couldn't move, couldn't think. I don't recall what I did, how long I spaced out. I know that my agent must have come by at some point and found me. The next thing I remember is waking up in a white room, that heavy gloom still benumbing me."

He looked down, embarrassment visible in his whole demeanor. "You know, there's no shame in this, don't you?" Barnes inquired gently.

Jane nodded. "Yeah, intellectually I do. But I…" He sighed. "Losing control like that – it's not exactly my thing."

"No kidding." The dean chuckled. Turning serious again he said, "But under the circumstances some sort of breakdown was practically unavoidable, Patrick. That was such a traumatic experience and you're a particularly sensitive individual on top of it."

"Particularly sensitive individual?" Jane repeated with some disbelief. "Most people would rather claim the opposite. One of the bosses at the CBI even called me a sociopath."

Barnes snorted. "Because they're idiots. That's utterly ridiculous. You may not be a psychic but you're so highly empathetic that you could sell your con easily. It's mostly honed skills, I know. But you have a gift there too. You can't teach yourself to be so perceptive when you're callous and unfeeling."

Jane shrugged, his expression a mixture of pleased and shy. "I guess..."

"So, what happened today?" the older man inquired carefully.

"Another kitchen drawer and another hair," the mentalist replied softly. "And BAM! Images of blood and overwhelming anguish. All I could think was that I could've lost Teresa, that this damn hair could've been the only tangible thing left of her. For the past weeks I was so focused on supporting her and working the case and keeping busy with my thesis that I didn't allow myself to deal with that shock. Or maybe I even made myself believe, there was no shock. That I was strong enough to just overcome this. How foolish! As if there could ever be any doubts about me being damaged goods."

He released a deep breath. "You know, it took Lisbon almost leaving with another man for me to… to realize that the wonderful gift of loving her is worth the risk. That even though it terrifies me to open myself up to the possibility of going through the pain of loss again I want this second chance of happiness. I want to live again. Fully. But her getting shot – it made the possible consequences so very, very real. She means so incredibly much to me."

A sob escaped him. "I know, it's not healthy to base your whole happiness on one person. It's not fair to her either." He wiped away some tears. "I like to think that these days I have other things to live for. But in all honesty, I can't imagine my life without her. And it scares the shit out of me. I mean, if finding a hair in a drawer can turn me into a nut case, how can I be the person she deserves to have as her partner?"

With a broken voice he continued, "I don't want to burden her with my past in this way. It has impacted her life more than enough as it is."

"Aren't you maybe a bit hard on yourself?" Barnes asked gently. "I mean, is the benchmark you're setting yourself not way too high? Don't you think, every normal person would experience a moment of utter anguish after their loved one had a close call? What do you expect from yourself? That such an event doesn't touch you? What do you think Teresa would have felt if your positions had been reversed?"

Jane pondered his words for a moment. "She's strong, so much stronger than me," he finally said.

"I'm sure, she is a very strong woman. But that's not my point," the dean retorted. "Do you really think, she would've just gotten back to business as usual after such a scare?"

The younger man shook his head. "No, of course not." He took another minute to think. "She would've kept herself busy with practical things as much as possible. She would've been strong for everybody else, would've made sure everybody's okay and would have taken care of anyone and anything not alright. She would've kept up a tough façade until she was finally on her own and then she would've broken down in the security of her home," he explicated, his face showing the full extent of the love he felt for the woman he was talking about.

Barnes smiled. "Yes, that sounds like her." They exchanged a knowing look. Then the dean got up and went to his electric kettle again. "Another cup of tea, my friend?" Jane nodded. "Something green this time," the older man decided. He puttered around for a bit then started to speak again, "Now let me recap what you did after Teresa got injured." He poured the boiling water into two fresh mugs. "You took over control of the mission and finished it admirably. You stemmed her blood loss as much as you could. You supported her recovery, helped her with whatever tasks she couldn't manage on her own. You distracted her when needed, kept up her spirits, and I'm pretty sure that you spoiled her as much as she would allow you to. And only now that she's nearly completely healed did you finally allow yourself a moment of weakness."

He turned around and sought out Jane's eyes. "Do you know what I see? I see a very strong man, a wonderful partner to an equally strong woman. That's what I see."

Barnes busied himself with the tea making again, leaving Jane to his own thoughts for a while. A satisfied smile spread on his face when he heard his visitor silently crying – no anguished sobs, but tears of relief and deliverance.

He gave the man a few more minutes before he carried the fresh tea over to the armchairs. "Here you go." He sat the steaming mug down in front of Jane. "This is a very special brand, a real rarity. Nothing you'll ever get to buy in a shop. It's from my Chinese colleague's very own tea plantation. It's been in his family for generations. Only for their private use – well, and for a few selected friends. It's absolutely delicious. Enjoy!"

Jane fished a handkerchief out of his pocket, cleaned his face and blew his nose. Afterwards he looked up at the older man, eyes red-rimmed but with the first sparks of a genuine smile reaching them. "Thank you," he stated sincerely, and it went without saying that he didn't only mean the exquisite beverage.

"You're very welcome, Patrick," Barnes acknowledged his words warmly.

The men relished their tea in companionable silence though Jane couldn't stop himself from releasing some sounds of contentment.

The peace got interrupted by Jane's phone signaling an incoming message. With an apologetic gesture that Barnes waved aside the mentalist checked his cell. 'Don't mean to nag. Just need to know that you're ok,' his girlfriend had texted.

He got up and stepped to the window. "Is it alright if I make a call?" he asked the dean.

"Of course, Patrick. Give Teresa my best," the older man replied.

"Hi, Lisbon. Just want you to know that I'm with Nicolas. He's sending his love. I… I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me. Honest. I'm sorry, I scared you. I'll be home soon," Jane said in the soft voice only reserved for her, a tender expression on his face. "Yes," he said with a nod after a moment of listening, "I… I… Nicolas helped me to sort some things out. Thank you for being so patient and understanding, Teresa." Her answer made him grin. "Okay, I concede the fact that you can be patient on occasion, especially where I'm concerned." He chuckled, "Nope, you won't get that in writing." He nodded. "Yeah, I will tell him. And Teresa? I promise I won't be long. Love you." He hung up.

"So, your girlfriend witnessed some part of your little meltdown, I surmise?" the dean inquired.

Jane nodded. "Yes. She came home in the middle of it. I'm sure I must have given her quite the scare. I was pretty spaced out. And I wasn't able to explain to her what had happened. I wanted to but I couldn't."

"But you will be able to now," Barnes stated matter-of-factly.

"Yeah, I think I'm ready. Thanks, Nicolas. This…" he motioned between them, "This really means a lot. I'm…"

The older man chimed in, "It's okay, my friend. I'm happy, I could help. And I'm honored by your trust. Don't forget that you were the one who nudged me in the right direction once too. So I'm only returning a favor. And my door is always open for you. But now I think you should get home to that delightful girlfriend of yours."

Jane's face lit up. "I agree. Oh, she told me to thank you and to give you her best. And she wants you to know that the moment you have a new program coordinator, she'd be happy to meet them for an official hand over."

"Ah, yes. We're still going over applications. I'm afraid they'll have some big shoes to fill. Teresa did such a great job. Fortunately thanks to that, the current batch of second chancers is settled for the moment. Tell her, I appreciate the offer. And now go home, my friend," Barnes replied and got up.

The men approached each other and shook hands. After a moment of hesitation Jane shrugged and pulled the older man into a bear hug. "Thank you."

Barnes returned the gesture with fond chuckle and patted Jane on the back before he released him. "As I said: you're welcome. Now shoo."

To the dean's great amusement Jane made a ridiculous show of hurrying out of the office. When the door had nearly closed behind him, his head appeared in the opening one last time. "Oh, and excellent tea, Nicolas. I'll be back." With satisfaction he heard the older man's laughter following him as he walked down the hall with a spring in his step.

The moment Jane opened the front door he had his arms full of Lisbon. They held each other for a long time, Lisbon with her nose buried in the crook of his neck, Jane with his cheek pressed to the top of her head.

"Hi," he whispered after they had ended their embrace.

"Hey," she replied softly, her eyes sparkling with relief. "You look much better now," she remarked after she'd inspected him critically. "You looked awful earlier. Like you had seen a ghost."

"That's not too far off the mark," Jane admitted a bit sheepishly.

Lisbon grabbed two of his long, elegant fingers with her hand – which was all she managed to hold comfortably – and led him into the living room. "You want me to make you some tea?" she inquired gently.

Jane shook his head. "No, thanks, my dear. Nicolas has watered me well. Just sit down with me, Teresa."

She nodded and after he'd found his usual spot on the couch, she snuggled into him. "I owe you an explanation," he stated after they'd gotten comfortable, his arm around her, playing with some strands of her hair.

"No, Patrick. You don't owe me anything," she replied softly. "But I'd be very happy if you would talk to me about what happened."

"Well, let's put it this way: you very much deserve an explanation," Jane said. "And I'm sorry, I worried you so much."

She snuggled even closer. "Please, Jane, it's okay. You don't need to apologize over and over again. I appreciate it but it's unnecessary. You haven't done anything wrong."

"But I feel like I let you down. I suppose, it's probably a case of me not meeting the impossible demands I made for myself," Jane admitted with a bashful expression. "Nicolas made a valid point or two about that."

Lisbon took one of his hands which he had been nervously playing with between hers. "So, he managed to help you a little?" she asked carefully.

"He helped me a lot," Jane said with conviction. "He helped me to put a few matters into perspective. I think, I'm really okay now. And I'm ready to tell you what happened earlier today."

She smiled up at him. "I'm glad," she told him, "and relieved. And proud of you. You have been so honest and open with me since we got together. So this must have been and probably still is something really difficult. Thanks for your trust." She squeezed his hand.

"There's no one I trust more than you," he stated sincerely. "I hope you know that me talking about this with Nicolas first has nothing to do with me not trusting you. It was me not trusting myself. And doubting myself. And being ashamed. I didn't want to burden you with that. I just couldn't. But I see things a lot more clearly now and I want to share this with you."

Then he repeated to her what he'd told Barnes earlier. It was a lot easier the second time around, and while he shed a tear or two – Lisbon too – the overwhelming sense of panic and fear stayed away.

"Thank you," she whispered afterwards, voice a bit broken. She climbed on his lap and put her arms around him. He returned the gesture eagerly. "I love you, Patrick Jane. And I'm very, very proud of you. And you are strong. I have always known that about you. You wouldn't be here. We wouldn't be here together otherwise. And I know that you have a past and that it will always have an impact on you. It's all a part of the person I love. And Jane? I'm scared too."

She pulled him even closer. "But do you know what helps me to deal with it?" she inquired, looking him directly in the eyes. "You. You do. Seeing the courage with which you have embraced life again after surviving the worst trauma – that is inspiring. I know, you needed a long time to take that step fully. But also before, I've always admired the way in which you kept finding small moments of joy."

He released his hold on her and took her face between the palms of his hands, his thumbs caressing her cheeks. "And I've always admired your strength, Teresa. How you constantly managed to make the best out of the crap life threw at you and how it just seemed to make you stronger. I know, it cost you dearly too. But you never lost sight of your beliefs and convictions and stayed true to yourself."

"A wise man told me once that no matter how hard and difficult and painful the way may have been at times, it was this very path that brought me exactly to this place and I wouldn't want to be anywhere else," Lisbon established emphatically.

His smile lit up the whole room. "Sounds like a very wise man indeed."

"The wisest," she confirmed and pecked him on the nose. "Though maybe not the most humble one."

"Meh."

She snickered but most of the sound got lost when his lips covered hers.

They kissed deeply. Things turned heated fast. Lisbon lost her blouse and bra without even really realizing, Jane hungry mouth all over her, arousing her. Then he suddenly paused. With the utmost gentleness he touched her newly healed scar with his fingertips, following each stitch. Goosebumps appeared on her arms while his caresses sent flashes of heat down her nerve cords, centering at her core. She moaned helplessly. He pressed a soft kiss on the sensitive skin making her whimper. "Gawd, Jane!"

"Yes," he groaned before his mouth covered one of her nipples and sucked at it.

She almost came undone. Frantically she climbed off his lap and removed her remaining clothes, ordering a flummoxed Jane to do the same. He got up and obeyed. When he was standing before her in all his naked glory she pulled him close, her hands caressing him all over, then she squeezed his shapely behind. "Perfect workout for my arm muscles," she murmured, a mix between a chuckle and a moan his reply.

They kissed, open-mouthed and hungrily, his fingers sneaking down between her legs. He touched her, felt her wetness, and pushed first one, then two fingers into her. She screamed and came.

Suddenly Jane felt a strong push against his chest and with oomph he ended up back on the couch. Still slightly out of breath her coveting eyes roamed over his body and finally settled on his erection. With an almost predatory growl she climbed on his lap again and positioned her core above the tip of his penis. He supported her while she sank onto him, taking him inside of her body. "Oh god, you feel so good," he mumbled.

They savored the moment of this most intimate connection for a while, each of them lost in the love they saw in their partner's eyes. But the arousal was rising too fast for it to last long. She started to move up and down, his hands holding her hips and helping her. They managed a couple of minutes of slow, languid lovemaking but soon it wasn't enough anymore. He took control and started to lift her up and down, his hips coming up to meet her with increasing force. She touched her own clit in sync with his thrusts and within seconds she reached an intense orgasm, her contracting channel being Jane's undoing too. He came with a shout.

He hugged her close while they both cooled down. "I love you," he said huskily.

"And I love you," she replied softly.

They cuddled for a while, simply enjoying the feeling of skin on skin.

"I think, we need a shower," Jane remarked with a chuckle after a drop of his semen left her vagina and ended up on his thigh.

"Or we could take a bath together," she suggested with a sigh. "Relaxing, hot water and you there with me – I would love that."

He smiled. "I think I could be persuaded. We could order take out for afterwards and have dinner in bed. I don't feel like cooking tonight."

"Oh yeah! Pizza in bed and a movie," she agreed happily. "The perfect way to spend a lazy Friday night."

"Splendid! I'll even let you choose the film," he offered generously. "As long as I get to cuddle you."

She chuckled. "I can live with that." She ruffled his hair. Then she got up, grabbed his hand, and pulled. "Come on, lazybones. You go and start running the bath, I'll order the pizza," she commanded him.

He stood up and pulled her back against his chest. She could sense his reawakening erection between her butt cheeks. "Gawd, I really love it when you're getting all bossy," he moaned into her ear.

The bathroom had to wait a while longer. Dinner too.

TBC

I hope, there are still some people out there who follow this story and enjoy it. I would love to hear from you – so feel invited to review. But no pressure.