A/N I'm baaack! I really hope you enjoy reading this collection as much as I've enjoyed writing them! This chapter takes place somewhere after 'Red John's Footsteps', but before the Season 2 premier. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: You remember that Macy's voucher? Well, for the first time, I actually read the small print. Guess what? No. They're still not mine...

'Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall'

Proverbs 16:18

Teresa Lisbon was a proud woman.

She was proud of her brothers: one was at MIT studying for a degree in astrophysics, the middle one happily married with two kids, and the youngest was a chef at a classy DC restaurant.

She was proud of her team. Rigsby, Van Pelt and Cho showed great promise within the CBI, and Lisbon just hoped that she wasn't holding them back.

Although she would never admit it, she was proud of Jane. It took a man of great strength to stand upright after losing everything he loved.

Her slight smile faded. Pride was dangerous. Pride made people unguarded, open. Vulnerable.

Pride was what made her mother tear her eyes away from the road. Pride was what made her mother look at the riding trophy in Teresa's lap, and pride was what made her mother miss the drunk driver careening towards them.

Pride was what made her father take his own life, leaving his four children behind, because he couldn't face the truth.

Pride was what made Teresa Lisbon hold her tears inside until she was safe and home.

Jane was proud too, but his was a different sort of pride. More like arrogance, because arrogant people can deflect the attention away from themselves with no more than a few well-chosen put-downs.

In the end, pride was the only thing stopping them seeking comfort in each other, admitting how much they needed help.

It was a painful circle.

Jane didn't even look up as Lisbon stormed out from her office, coat in hand and heading for the exit. He folded his arms behind his head, his eyes closed.

"Teresa."

At her name, Lisbon froze, tears immediately springing to her eyes. She took a moment to compose herself, saving the tears for later, before turning around.

"What, Jane?"

"You shouldn't keep it bottled up."

Cho sat up straighter in his seat, glancing across at Rigsby and Van Pelt, and receiving concerned looks in return.

Lisbon swallowed the lump in her throat.

"Excuse me?"

Jane stood up, his blue eyes shining in the dim lighting.

"You've been working later and later each day," he said suddenly, his voice soft, "but when you think nobody is watching, you're counting the hours until you can leave, because the longer you can stay here means shorter amounts of time in an empty house."

"Why are you doing this?" she asked, forgetting to be the boss and just letting him see the woman he was obviously aiming to hurt.

"Your phone has been ringing all morning, and you know it's your brothers, but you won't talk to them. That puzzles me."

"Jane..." she warned quietly. He shrugged, but this was one of the few times that his casualness didn't quite meet his eyes.

"You don't want to talk to them because you'll hear how they've managed to put the past behind them. Your parent's deaths, growing up with you instead of your mother, always known as 'Teresa's brothers'."

Lisbon was silent, giving him his confirmation, dreading what he would say when he inevitably continued. Van Pelt stood up.

"We'll leave..."

"No, it's OK," Lisbon interrupted, and Grace reluctantly sank back into her seat, "I'm sure Jane prefers an audience."

"They think you're happy, don't they? Because you're too proud to admit that your life sucks."

Jane felt physically sick at her almost imperceptible flinch, but he couldn't stop until she was hurting just as much as he was. She had cost him his only link to Red John, now he was stripping her down to the young girl still hiding beneath a badge, letting her team see the Teresa Lisbon that was normally so well concealed.

The three junior agents were carefully studying their desks, heads bowed and waiting for Lisbon to hit back.

"Was that all because you're mad at me for getting in the way?" she said quietly, "Because I let you down? Because it's my fault you lost Hardy? Because you're too proud to admit that your life sucks?"

They all had to admire her calmness.

"I think you're just too pigheaded and arrogant to admit that I was right," Lisbon stated.

"Right about what?"

"Right about you choosing life."

"I didn't choose life! What kind of life is this?" Jane replied, gesturing around.

"Yes, you did, Jane," she said quietly, "You chose my life."

He was silent, the muscle in his cheek twitching as he barely controlled his anger.

"You think you can make me change my mind about hiring you? You can't. That was a very nice story, Jane," Lisbon continued, and only her consultant caught the waver in her voice, "but that's all it was. A story."

"I'm sorry you feel that way, Lisbon."

Lisbon felt the tears returning, and spun on her heel, walking swiftly out of the office. Cho turned to Jane, his eyes burning fiercely.

"Did you do that because of the Red John thing?"

"That man was important to me," Jane replied evenly.

"More important than Lisbon?" Van Pelt exploded suddenly, and Rigsby shrunk down in his seat, "My God, you are such an ass!"

The three men stared at her incredulously, watching her rant unravel before them.

"She's worked her ass off to keep you out of jail! She knows how much you wanted Hardy to tell you about Red John! Lisbon never asked you to shoot him, Jane. You did it by yourself, and you have to go and make her feel like crap because you screwed up!"

Jane took her verbal assault in silence, his hands hanging loosely from his pockets. Van Pelt released a frustrated sigh.

"You only did that because you thought she'd fire you. Right?"

"That wasn't the only reason..." Jane admitted weakly. He sat down on his sofa, his head falling into his hands.

"I could have had Red John," he whispered. Cho nodded.

"Yeah, but you'd be dead, man, and we'd all be worse off."

Jane cracked a smile, albeit one that was barely a fraction of his usual grin.

"I think that's the first nice thing you've ever said to me," he said. Cho rolled his eyes.

"Only because I know Lisbon's going to kick your ass to New York and back."

Jane's smile faded, the sadness returning to his eyes.

"Ah. Lisbon."

"You should go talk to her," Rigsby said. A wrinkle appeared in Jane's nose, and he opened his mouth to speak, but Van Pelt cut him off.

"You owe her an apology, and I wouldn't blame her if she never spoke to you again, so swallow your pride and go crawling back."

She ignored their surprise and poked Jane in the chest. Grace glared up at him, and the consultant realized that it wasn't just Lisbon he had hurt.

She looked away.

"Go. Now."

Lisbon sighed as there was a knocking at her front door. She opened the door, and spoke before he even had the chance.

"The only reason you're here is to save yourself the embarrassment of being ignored, so leave."

Tearing his eyes away from the puffiness around her face, Jane stared at his shoes, a sadness creeping across his face.

"I know you won't believe me, but I really am sorry."

"No, you're not," Lisbon said angrily, "You had no right to embarrass me like that!"

"I didn't mean..." he replied miserably, but seeing the wounded glare she was levelling at him, his voice trailed off.

"I don't need you here, Jane. You've made it more than evident that I...we mean nothing to you. And I don't care anymore, Jane," she said in defeat, "I just don't care."

Lisbon made a move to shut the door, but Jane stopped it from closing.

"I need you," he blurted. She stared at him, and he realized what he had said, "I need your help."

Her mouth remained frozen in shock, her eyes glued to his. Jane swallowed, his hands falling to his sides as he continued.

"I'm sorry I said what I did. What I said," he said, his voice soft and sad, "I was arrogant enough to believe that I could do what I need to do without the CBI...without you. I was wrong. So here I am, swallowing my pride, and asking you to let me have another chance."

Lisbon realized that is was probably her turn to speak.

"Another chance at what?"

Jane's eyes burned into hers, begging her to understand.

"Another chance to get Red John."

She sighed.

"Jane..."

"Please, Teresa. Let me try. I need to know my family is proud of me."

"And you need to get Red John so they know that?" Lisbon said quietly.

"Yes," he replied promptly.

Her hands were tied.

Forgive him one more time and help him anyway she could, or turn him away, watch him leave the CBI and all but sign his death warrant.

After a moment, she nodded.

"Fine," she said, "but there will be rules. I want to be kept in the loop, and if you ever..."

"I won't," Jane interrupted quickly, wrapping her in a tight hug, "I won't."

Lisbon blinked at the sudden embrace, until a small smile crept across her face. Jane chuckled, and then his smug voice was whispering in her ear.

"I knew you'd forgive me."

So yes, Jane was a total ass. But we all have to admit that he is probably capable of being so mean, to Lisbon especially. If you liked it, please let me know! :)