A/N: Thank you for the patience, the reviews, and the support. I'm still feeling my way on this thing. We'll see where it goes before we're done. ~Calla

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Studying her computer screen, Lisbon couldn't wait for Jane to get home. While they weren't going after anyone, they weren't sitting by idly waiting for the other shoe to fall either. Neither of them thought that was wise.

Not with their child and future at stake.

Hitting the next key, Lisbon watched the letters and numbers flickering across the screen. Thank goodness for Grace and her access to programs they shouldn't have. As goodie-goodie as she could be, owning bootleg decryption programs didn't seem to faze her at all. While the process hadn't yielded pay dirt yet, she hoped one of them would decode some part of the disc Bertram had hidden so well.

Shaking her head, Lisbon refused to think about how her old Director's insurance policy had ended up in her lover's hands. She'd beat the hell out of Jane if she did. It was a good thing he hadn't told her what he was up to ahead of time. He had to be out of his mind breaking into Bertram's place like that. Everyone knew you didn't cross yellow tape and contaminate a Crime Scene.

Apparently, Jane was the exception to the rule. Not hardly. He just didn't play by other people's rules. Who was she kidding? He didn't play well with others in general. Period. Yep, she definitely wanted to beat the hell out of Jane; but, she'd settle for some judicious blackmail instead. She'd even give him a choice: he could cook dinner for the rest of the week or sleep in his own bed.

Caring for Miranda was enough of an energy drain by the end of the day without having extra chores waiting for her…Not that she couldn't easily handle everything if she was a hundred percent…She could…She could do it all now; she really could…She just wouldn't have anything left over for Jane.

In or out of bed.

Lisbon smirked to herself at that thought. Like she didn't know what he'd choose if given a choice. Jane liked cooking. He didn't like sleeping alone in his bed. Not since a few nights ago. Come to think of it, she didn't like him sleeping alone in his bed much either. Then again, she liked cooking after a hard round of Physical Therapy even less.

That being said, if a certain someone proved difficult, she could always take one for the team and lock her bedroom door.

Turning her attention back to the computer, Lisbon decided maybe she didn't want to continue what she was doing. Not if the name suddenly popping up on the screen after eight hours of digital manipulations was any indication. She'd sat across the Poker Table from the woman at a few of those high stakes games Bertram had invited her to over the years.

Even worse, she'd testified in the Judge's courtroom a number of times in the past and most certainly would do so again in the future as well.

Minimizing the screen to let the program do its thing in private, Lisbon rose slowly to her feet and headed for Miranda's room. She'd never be able to look at the woman the same. No matter how hard she tried. Then again, she didn't really have a choice. She had to act normal when their path's crossed or risk tipping their hand. It was a good thing she wasn't going back to work any time soon.

She still had time to get past the fact she'd always liked the other woman and start viewing her as the enemy she truly was.

Making way down the stairs and heading towards the kitchen, Lisbon stopped in her tracks.

"I didn't hear you come in." She was more than a mildly surprised to see Jane home early. "How long have you been here?"

Clearly long enough to have gotten a head start on dinner.

"About fifteen minutes." Jane said quietly not liking her words. "What was on that disc to make you forget you're a cop for a half second?"

Lisbon blinked at the censure in his voice and had the grace to feel guilty he'd caught her totally unaware there was anyone in their apartment except for her and their daughter.

There was no denying she'd come too close to dying the last time she let that happen.

Miranda had too.

"Judith Costas is one of them." Lisbon walked across the room to stand in front of him. "I wasn't expecting that."

Dropping a kiss on her lips, Jane silently forgave her momentary lapse. Finding the name of a close acquaintance on the Devil's List was enough to cause a brief collapse of the mental grid. At least in Lisbon's case. In spite of everything that had happened, she still believed there were good people left in the world.

She'd always believed the Lady Judge was one of them.

Him, not so much.

With a scant few exceptions to that rule like the Cho Man, Grandpa Minelli, Rigsby and the lovely Van Pelt, he didn't expect miracles from mankind. As tough as his pint-sized cookie was, she still did and he loved her for it.

Found that tiny bit of naiveté captivating.

"Yeah, well, you should probably prepare yourself." Jane took Miranda from her mother's arms. "I suspect we're going to recognize most of the names on that disc when the cipher is finally cracked. I'll be greatly surprised if there's anyone we don't."

By reputation at least.

"You're probably right." Lisbon agreed. "The Judge is the only name that's popped up so far and it took all day to get that one. I don't think any of this is going to be quick or easy. It's going to take several days…or weeks…to finish everything."

"I think you're right; but, at least the program is doing its thing." Jane handled Miranda back after a thorough cuddling and kissing. "I'm sure there will be at least one more name before the night is over. We'll check again before we go to bed. In the meantime, why don't you put Miranda over there and come help me cook?"

Lisbon glanced at the portable play pen in the corner of the den and back at Jane before doing as he requested. Watching her daughter for a moment, she was satisfied Miranda would be occupied
with her mobile for a while to come. Sometimes it bugged her how quickly her child's attention was captured and held by more interesting pastimes than her doting mother. Other times she appreciated how bright she was turning out to be.

Their kid definitely possessed the best, and possibly the worst, of both of them…She was bright, cunning, and calm.

"Actually, I'm going to sit right here and watch you do your thing." Lisbon said quietly as she sat at the kitchen bar. "What are we having anyway?"

"What does it look like?" Jane asked smashing a garlic clove. "Somehow, I don't think you'll need three guesses."

"Ribeyes and loaded baked potatoes." Lisbon watched him make his signature rub. "It's Friday night, right?"

"Yeah, it's Friday night." Jane agreed as he kept working. "You want a glass of wine?"

"I'll get them." Lisbon watched him gather the makings for a salad from the refrigerator before pouring two normal glasses of wine. "Oh, and we always have steaks on Friday night unless you're working."

As he had been the past couple of Friday nights.

"Where I should be tonight." Jane removed a head of Romaine Lettuce from the package and made short work of cutting it into bite sized pieces. "But, since we're waiting on Forensics to get back to us early next week, we're at a standstill right now so I decided to cut out early. I'm not sure about the rest of the team; but, I suspect they did the same."

He knew they'd done the same.

However, by not knowing exactly what the other parties were doing, there was a clear case of deniable culpability for everyone involved should things go awry. And, yes, it was true they couldn't do anything but twiddle their thumbs until that report came in. Actually, it wasn't just that case they were awaiting Forensics on. It was several cases and they were at a temporary stand still on those as well. Personally, he couldn't think of a better time to take a break and spend some much needed time with his girls. While they might have gotten back together a few days ago, he and Lisbon hadn't spent much quality time together since.

"I'd say you're probably right." Lisbon agreed. "You can be a bad influence at times."

"It was Cho's idea." Jane stated casually as he continued chopping vegetables. "While I didn't have to follow his lead, it seemed like a good idea at the time so I did."

"Yeah, right." Lisbon smirked into her wine glass. "Like you weren't already looking for the nearest exit."

"I never denied that." Jane agreed throwing tomato, onion, and cucumber slices in the bowl. "We don't spend enough time together as it is." Sleeping in the same bed didn't really count…Not when sleeping was most of what was getting done. "Somehow, I think we're more important than some nightmare case the Director wants solved yesterday. What do I care if some low life whacked a crooked politician? He got what he deserved if you ask me."

Taking a sip of wine, Lisbon watched Jane cover the salad and put it back in the refrigerator. Knowing his M.O., he'd add the feta and Kalamata's right before serving. Strangely enough, she thought he was right about the case. Not necessarily about the victim not mattering because he was sleazy. All victims mattered. But, about them needing more down time together, he was definitely right. Their relationship was still fragile and in need of nurturing in spite of work. Contrary to how she would have felt before, she saw nothing wrong with cutting out early when there was nothing constructive left to do.

Her perspective had altered greatly over the last year. There was just something about almost dying and having a child that changed everything. Suddenly, catching a criminal wasn't nearly as important as spending quality time with the ones you love.

"You ready for the steaks to go on?" Jane asked quietly. "They could use some time to let the flavors marry."

"Marry away." Lisbon weighed her options deciding she wasn't all that hungry yet. "I think I'd rather talk awhile. Besides, we can always grab some cheese and crackers if we need to."

"Sounds like a plan." Jane was pleased she felt much as he did. "Why don't we solve that problem before we have it?" Quickly layering some savory crackers, he topped them with slices of Monterrey Jack and carried the plate into the den aware that Lisbon was on his heels. "You're like one of those kids in that fairy tale…Where the food goes you follow."

Yeah, well, the rats did, too; but, she wasn't reminding him of that.

"So what?" Lisbon popped a cracker in her mouth as she settled in her usual spot on one end of the comfy leather couch. "You're not any different. Not if it comes from the Farmer's Market."

"Perhaps not." Jane agreed as he took a sip of wine and steeled himself to put business before pleasure. "While we know Costa's name is on the list, I have no doubts we'll get several more in the next day or two. What do you want to do about it?"

"You're asking me if I think we should go after them or let sleeping dogs lay?" Lisbon studied her wine as she contemplated her answer. "I thought we'd already decided that."

"We have." Jane agreed. "But, I know you and you've done a lot of thinking in the days since. What I want to know is if you've changed your mind. Honestly, as much as I think doing nothing is the smartest course of action, I find myself second guessing that decision every now and then."

"So do I." Lisbon grabbed another cracker enjoying the jalapeno bite of the cheese. "Do you think anyone knew about Bertram's insurance policy?"

"I think someone suspected he did." Jane admitted. "I'm not the first person to break through that yellow tape."

"Don't you think that's something I should have known before now?" Lisbon gave him a look that said it all. "We agreed not to keep secrets."

She didn't have to tell him withholding information was a clear betrayal of that pact.

"Yes, we did." Jane said. "But, I didn't want to worry you unnecessarily."

"This is hardly unnecessary." Lisbon clearly wasn't happy with him. "Someone else knowing about that disc changes the playing field."

"Not really." Jane reassured her. "I don't think they knew what they were looking for…That the break in was more of a fishing expedition to see if they could find anything…The search was too generalized and messy. They didn't know Bertram or his habits very well. If they had, they'd have zeroed in on the real hiding place like I did."

"You're sure they didn't find anything?" Lisbon wasn't sure she believed him. "Something we might need."

"As sure as I can be." Jane admitted. "From what I could see, they checked the obvious places and we both know Bertram was too smart to hide anything important where it could be easily found. If he had, he'd have defeated the purpose of having an insurance policy in the first place. I'm reasonably sure that's not the first time his place was searched either."

The only difference was he'd been alive those other times. Obviously not home at the time; but, clearly alive. Bertram wouldn't have missed something like that. No matter how careful the searchers were to restore order. Jane was sure of that. He definitely hadn't missed the subtle signs the place had been tossed even though nothing was out of place.

There was a certain smeared quality to the thin layer of dust that had accumulated since Bertram's departure that was impossible for someone of his sensory acuity to miss.

"You think they were keeping tabs on each other." Lisbon snorted at the absurdity of it all. "I thought these guys didn't know each other."

That was what they'd surmised from the handful of low level "associates" they'd managed to catch over the years. Not that they'd had them long enough to find out any differently. Unfortunately, their captives tended to expire under mysterious circumstances before they could share anything that changed the game.

"While I'd say that's true for the most part, I suspect the highest echelon is different." Jane studied his wine. "None of them know Red John's identity; but, he knows them and they know each other. There's a certain twisted protection in being able to topple one another if the need arises."

"I don't even want to think about that." Lisbon swirled her glass. "I can't get my mind around any of this."

"You don't have to." Jane set his glass aside. "Not yet. We don't have all the pieces to put the puzzle together which brings me back to my original question. What do you want to do?"

"You already know the answer." Lisbon snorted at him. "Just as you already know it isn't going to work out that way."

It never did.

"Probably not." Jane agreed. "But, I'd suggest we do nothing until there's no other choice."

"What are you proposing?" Lisbon wondered aloud. "That we pull a Bertram and hide the list for insurance?"

"I think I am." Jane said quietly. "We don't need to actively pursue anything. Not yet. When they trip up, as people usually do, then we act. Put the final nail in their coffin behind the scenes. Something like that."

Stick to his original conviction to leave the monsters hiding in the shadows in the shadows as long as they stayed there.

"Remove the threats one at a time as they become threats." Lisbon mulled that thought. "It might work."

Turn their M.O. back on them.

"It's a plan anyway." Jane closed his eyes. "Right now, I don't care if scum kills scum and I suspect you feel the same. But, we both know that might change as recent traumas become less traumatic. We need to stay open to that possibility and we need to stay committed to reigning each other in when the temptation to go after them gets too much."

While decoding the names would help ensure their safety, it would also become a temptation hard to resist acting on as time passed. It would be so easy to go after corrupt officials like Judith Costas; but, they couldn't. Not yet. It wasn't in their best interest so they'd just have to stick to their guns.

Keep each other on the straight and narrow.

"I think Miranda will ensure we don't go vigilante." Lisbon glanced at her sleeping daughter. "Neither of us would willingly put her at risk."

"You're right." He wouldn't willingly put either of them at risk. "I think we've discussed this long enough. What do you say to turning our attention to more pleasant things like fixing dinner and making up for lost time?"

Catching his eyes, Lisbon snorted at him before declaring his statement the lamest proposition she'd ever heard.

"Who said anything about a proposition?" Jane drew her to her feet. "I was thinking more along the lines of a promise."

As far as he was concerned, they might never make it upstairs. They didn't have to. Miranda was safely asleep in her corner.

It wasn't like she'd be aware of anything going on.

"You were huh?" Lisbon draped her arms around his neck. "Then I'd say we need to get on with getting on."

Leaning in to give her a thorough kiss, Jane guided Lisbon back into the kitchen and topped off their glasses.

From the look in his lover's eyes, he doubted those steaks would be hitting the grill anytime soon.