A/N: So this is the first collaborative fic I've participated in. I'm excited and a little nervous as I'm so looking forward to writing this with my Twitter friends Brooklyn79 and Consulting Patrick Jane but it's the first time I haven't been totally in control of the story about to be told and for a control freak like myself it's more than a little strange and different. But I think it should be a fun ride with what we've lined up and hope you are kind in your reviews as we participate in this experiment. Btw I'll also be continuing with my other stories in case you think I'm ditching them.

We're planning this to be a light hearted tale and to keep angst to a minimum (a challenge in itself for all of us certainly!) so please read with that in mind. A few people have asked me to write a romantic comedy for Jane & Lisbon so I think this is as far as I'm ever going to get. So expect more than likely a lot of silliness and some farce ahead and enjoy the ride without reading too much into it on any kind of deeper level and forgive any OOC moments that may occur. You may want to jump off the ride now if that doesn't appeal to you but hope you'll at least give it a try.

We're taking a chapter each so as the basic outline of the plot is my idea (so feel free to blame me for it and not my co-authors) I'm up first. Thanks to Consulting Patrick Jane for the title.

Disclaimer: We don't own The Mentalist or we would be getting paid for allowing our imaginations to run wild instead of doing it here for free...

Blood Falls

Chapter 1 - Taking Off

Jane sipped his tea as Abbott gathered the team in the fishbowl of the FBI Office in Austin for a briefing on a new case. As Cho, Fischer and Wylie filed in Jane was on the lookout for Lisbon's appearance. She came in a few seconds later, sitting in the seat opposite him but one, barely glancing at him as she sat down and opened up a notepad, her concentration on Abbott at the head of the table.

He looked at the empty seat in front of him. Hmm. Still keeping her distance.

It had been two weeks since he'd been released from the detention suite and they'd started working together again on cases but he'd barely seen her. Fischer seemed to be his new 'partner' now for offsite visits, more than likely to ensure he was kept on a tight rein as ordered by Abbott. She had yet to learn that was impossible but he found her naivety on the matter quite amusing. Lisbon was normally either kept at the office or sent off with Cho. If he was totally honest he was more than a little peeved that she appeared to find the situation acceptable. This wasn't what he'd come back to the U.S. for. He stared at her side profile, a part of him still in awe that he'd actually seen her again after two years apart, that she was right in front of him. But any hope he carried that they would move their relationship from platonic to romantic on his return was dwindling daily. If his disastrous "date" with Fischer on the island had taught him anything it was that he was more than a little out of practice in seducing someone. And Lisbon wasn't just "someone". He wanted a future with her, not a roll in the hay.

"Jane, thoughts?" Abbott barked, startling him out of his thoughts.

"Huh?" he replied, realising he hadn't listened to a word of the briefing.

Lisbon glared at him along with the rest of the team.

Abbott sighed. "The case, Jane. Serial killer targeting honeymooners in Niagara Falls."

"Ah...right," he said assuredly, no clue to any other background on the case. A light bulb immediately lit up in his head nonetheless. Perhaps the romantic location might just be the place to finally make some headway with Lisbon and, if not, at least he'd be able to spend some time with her, feel out the possibility at a later stage. Making sure he sounded casual he responded, "Well I think the best plan to catch them would be an undercover mission. You know, send in a couple pretending to be on honeymoon-"

"I think that's feasible," Fischer interjected. "Jane, you and I will pose as a couple on honeymoon. It's the same hotel targeted each time so more than likely the killer is a staff member there. We'll book in for a couple of nights, see what happens. Hopefully they may even decide to come after us."

Although he tried to contain the shock and horror he felt that his plan had spectacularly backfired he saw Cho out of the corner of his eye, a slight smirk on his lips as he read him correctly. Lisbon raised a questioning eyebrow, her pen tapping the notepad a little more forcefully. Well if nothing else came out of this he knew all hope wasn't lost as she was clearly jealous of him working with Kim in such an intimate environment.

"Well, that sounds like fun" he replied to Fischer, rolling his eyes. "Bait for a serial killer. Every honeymooner's dream."

"I'll be there, Jane. You'll be safe" she responded calmly.

"Hmm. What about the rest of the team?"

Abbott replied, "Wylie, you go up there and take charge of surveillance. I don't think we need anyone else involved in this one just yet. Cho, Lisbon, I have another case-"

"This wasn't what was agreed," Jane heard himself say, his tone abrupt and hard.

Abbott nodded for him to continue. Jane glanced around at the faces watching him for a response. Softer, "A word in private, Dennis."

As they entered Abbott's office Jane began immediately, intent on not backing down. "This isn't working. This...arrangement. This is not in accordance with the terms of my working here."

"Oh?" Abbott replied, smiling thinly at him. "As far as I'm aware all your conditions have been met."

"Not the first one. Not on this case."

A glimmer of a knowing smile crept up on Abbott's lips. "I see. You want Lisbon involved in this case I assume."

"Yes."

His boss shrugged. "You've never had any problems with working separately until now."

Jane swallowed, stuttering, "Well...maybe I was attempting to be agreeable. To fit in."

Abbott eyebrows hit his forehead. "Agreeable, right," he scoffed quietly.

Jane knew he'd overplayed his hand, could see that Abbott understood his motivation for her involvement. What Jane didn't know was whether he'd indulge him or not.

"Tell you what, Patrick," Abbott continued, "in light of the spirit of Glasnost I'll agree to your stipulation on this matter. For this case. I would hope that would lead to you being more agreeable where other future case are concerned."

Jane shrugged, waving his hand absently, hiding his excitement. "Of course, Dennis."

He was suddenly very fond of his new boss.

He grinned at Lisbon when he returned to the bullpen. She shot him a glower in return. "Looking forward to your honeymoon?" she asked, stony faced.

He stood by her desk and nodded, still smiling. "I can't wait."

"Well I'm glad the FBI can pay for you and Fischer to get a holiday on them. Second time you've been in foreign climes together. You're making quite a habit of it."

"Well Niagara Falls is hardly foreign climes. Although it has been a while since I've been there. You ever been?"

"No," she snapped, hitting a key with ferocity.

"Oh you should Lisbon. It's beautiful, especially this time of the year, warm weather, outstanding vista, the thunder of the falls in the background-"

"Well I hope a serial killer doesn't get in the way of that romantic setting, Jane," she bristled, getting up from her desk.

"I hope not either, Teresa," he smiled, a seductive twinkle in his eyes.

She frowned for a second at the unexpected gesture and use of her first name before she rolled her eyes and grabbed her coffee cup off her desk and headed to the break room. As soon as she did he immediately raced over to Wylie and whispered in his ear. When she reappeared Wylie was grinning in her direction and nodding to Jane. As Wylie shuffled towards the elevator Jane strolled back to his couch, nodding politely to her.

"What are you up to with Wylie?" she asked.

"Guess."

She sighed wearily. "Fine. Don't tell me."

Ten minutes later Jane watched as Fischer was called into Abbott's office. Her seething look at him when she stormed out two minutes later and back to her own told him the deed was done. A minute later Abbott called the pair of them into his office. "What have you done, Jane?" Lisbon growled at his side.

He put his hand on her lower back as he steered her into the office. "Slight change of plan."

"You want me to go undercover instead?" Lisbon said to Abbott, her eyes darting to Jane who was sitting beside her, smiling smugly. "Why?"

"Well as Jane pointed out you and he have worked together a long time. Much longer than he and Fischer. And we need to make this look like two people who know each other well to appear convincing. It needs to look legitimate-"

"We've never worked undercover together though. It's years since I have. Not since my days in Vice."

Jane stored that statement away for further scrutiny at another time, his curiosity immensely piqued by the role she might have undertaken there. "Well not per se," he interjected. "But you've followed my lead a few times. Like that time we pretended you had a drinking problem-"

"Only so you could sniff about that guy's office-"

"All right people," Abbott said loudly. He smiled at Lisbon. "See, you're acting like a married couple already."

She rolled her eyes as Jane's smile grew. Softly, "Lisbon, you just need to follow my lead. It'll be fine. I-"

"Please don't say you promise, Jane," she sighed, shaking her head.

He laughed softly, happier than he had been since he'd returned as their familiar banter began to re-establish itself.

"Fine," she said. "Don't suppose I have a choice in the matter."

"That's the spirit," Jane responded brightly.

As they arrived back at her desk she asked, "Why is this so important to you?"

"You don't want to catch a serial killer?"

"You could do this with Fischer and you know you could. Why get me involved instead?"

"Would you rather I go on honeymoon with Fischer?" he smiled, quirking an eyebrow.

She averted her eyes, hoping to hide her blush. "It's not like it's a real honeymoon."

"Question still stands," he continued.

She crossed her arms across her chest. "So does mine. Why get me involved?"

He relaxed his shoulders, deciding on honesty. "Because I've hardly seen you since I've been back-"

"We see each other every day-"

"Yeah, for ten minutes here and there. Not like it used to be."

She dropped her hands and leaned against her desk. "Things are different now. For one thing I'm not your boss anymore. I can't pick and choose what cases to work on or when I'm sent to investigate with you."

"So then why are you fighting against working with me now?"

"I'm...I'm not," she replied, suddenly confused.

"Excellent," he grinned. He spotted Wylie coming towards them clutching a box.

"Hey Lisbon, Jane. Got them." The coyote opened the box and an array of engagement and wedding bands were revealed. "What the hell!" Lisbon gasped.

"They're from evidence in a jewel heist. Black market so have never been claimed," Wylie responded. "If you're going to be married you need a ring. Or two I suppose."

She noticed Jane was scrutinising the rings carefully, a line between his eyes. She grabbed one quickly and shoved it on her left hand ring finger. "Fine. This one will do. Fits."

Jane immediately pulled it off her finger, looking at the plain gold band with a tiny solitaire at its centre with disdain. "Seriously, Lisbon? What do you think I am, a cheapskate?"

"What are you talking about? It's not like you actually bought any of these or that we are actually engaged!"

"Married, not engaged," he mumbled absentmindedly as he peered inside the box again. A smile popped up on his lips suddenly. "Et voila!" he grinned, pulling out a platinum band with a large square shaped diamond at its centre. "This is the ring I'd pick for you."

Caught up in his excitement she began to relax. It was a truly beautiful ring. "Fine," she smiled, shaking her head. She held out her hand for it but Jane took it instead, turning it before he slid the band onto her wedding ring finger slowly. She swallowed as he gazed at her with an intensity she'd never seen before as he did so. "Fits like a glove," he said softly, rubbing the tips of her fingers afterwards before releasing them.

Wylie cleared his throat, effectively breaking the moment between them. "I'll...I"ll get the others back." He gave Lisbon a piece of paper. "You need to sign that one out."

Still a little off centre she nodded, knowing her face was crimson, focusing on the piece of paper in front of her and not on Jane standing beside her or the charged moment that had just occurred between them.

She read the form and exclaimed, "This ring is worth thirty thousand dollars!"

She turned to Jane, shaking her head, intent on pulling it off. He took her hand again and shook his head in return, stopping her. "Don't worry."

"What if I lose it? I don't wear rings!"

"Well you're wearing this one. If you lose it I'll cover the cost."

"Oh, just like that, huh?"

He shrugged, "Sure. They have casinos in Niagara Falls, don't they?"

Jane could barely contain his excitement as they boarded the plane. Lisbon, on the other hand, was growing increasingly nervous.

She was going to be staying in the same hotel room as Patrick Jane.

Sleeping with him.

Immediately she corrected that statement, sure Freud himself would have a field day with it.

Sleeping in the same room as him.

Her heart rate picked up of its own accord and she puffed out a breath to calm down. Of course, Jane's overt gestures since they'd taken the case hadn't helped any. He had put his arm around her as they checked in, held her hand as they waited to board and looked soulfully into her eyes more times than she could remember the past two hours. She was so shocked by his sudden change in behaviour she hadn't stopped him. Well truthfully she didn't want to stop him. She knew it must be all about throwing himself into the part he intended to play and a little about embarrassing her as an aside but she had to admit she was enjoying the sudden influx of attention too. And though she was loathe to admit it she couldn't help but wonder if something might spark between them as their time together on this case progressed. She had felt something unmistakeable when he'd slid that ring onto her finger and she was almost certain he wasn't that good an actor not to have felt something himself if how he looked at her was anything to go by. She gazed at the ring on her finger and smiled, allowing her imagination to run wild that they really were together.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" he murmured into her ear, nodding to the ring.

"Suppose," she admitted, turning her head towards the window to conceal the colour he'd added to her cheeks.

He squeezed her hand between them and sighed contentedly, easing himself further into the seat and closing his eyes. When she turned back towards him she noticed their hands still intertwined on the handrest. She scrutinised his face for the first real time since he'd come back into her life. He seemed more at ease, content if not entirely happy. The lines on his face weren't as deep as she remembered. The two years away had healed him in some ways, that was obvious. She smiled then stared at their hands again. Two rings looked back at her. Suddenly she was melancholic about this adventure, as the wedding ring he still wore caught her attention. Even after all this time she had seen nothing that made her believe he was truly over his wife and the band of gold still fastened there even after gaining his revenge spoke volumes to her. She disentangled her hand from his, noting the frown he wore as she did so and turned back to the window. All at once she was well and truly brought back down to the earth that lay miles beneath her.

Jane woke to find Lisbon asleep beside him, a pout on her face as she dozed. On a whim Jane stealthily moved from the seat to find a cabin crew member. Five minutes later he sat back down, purposefully nudging Lisbon with his arm as he did so.

She stifled a yawn as she woke up. "Almost there?"

"Yeah, an hour or so out I think," he replied.

She yawned again, covering her mouth, her eyes only half open. "Great."

The sound of a bell announced a crew member called Rachel. As she began to speak Lisbon's eyes widened. By the end of the message she was wide awake and livid, staring at Jane like he was a gazelle about to be eaten by her, the lion. The flowery language scattered throughout the communication had Patrick Jane fingerprints all over it.

The message finished as a woman with a high pitched voice excitedly added, "...so many congratulations again to Patrick and Teresa on their recent nuptials. It took them more than a decade to get there but it proves true love really does exist!"

Hollers and whistles followed the announcement and passengers began to look for the couple who had been mentioned. As Jane was about to raise himself from his seat to identify them Lisbon pulled him back down into it roughly.

He rubbed his arm. "Jeez, Lisbon. Take it easy, will you. Isn't that domestic violence?"

She scowled at him, her voice only quiet because they were on an aircraft. "We. Are. Not. Married."

"I'm only trying to get you used to the role, Lisbon. Get a little practice in before we do this for real. If you're this frosty when we get up there we'll never pull this off. We have to make it look believable."

"Yeah? Well it would help if-"

She stopped talking as a coiffured blonde approached them with two glasses of champagne. Jane turned to her immediately. "Thanks, Rachel," he said smoothly.

She dazzled him with a smile. "Of course, Patrick. It was my pleasure." She placed the glasses on his seat tray and continued to smile at him, blatant in her attraction to him and ignoring the woman beside him.

Lisbon rolled her eyes for what she was sure was the tenth time in two hours. If they really were on their honeymoon she'd knock that woman out for looking at him like that. She grabbed a glass of champagne and downed it before she smiled and said sweetly to the crew member, "Thanks, Rachel."

Upon depositing the glass back in the tray she took Jane's face in her hands and pressed her lips firmly to his with a loud smacking noise as Rachel skulked away. She released his face and shoved herself back in her seat with a huff, picking up the Skymall magazine and flicking through it.

"Believable enough for you," she murmured, still agitated, furiously turning the pages.

Jane sat with his face staring forward, blinking rapidly from the shock of the attack of her lips on his. It was certainly not one of the most passionate or tender kisses he'd ever received (more anger and annoyance in it than anything else he quickly surmised) plus he hadn't even had time to respond but...it was a start.

A promising start indeed.

A/N: So, we'd love to hear what you think of the first chapter.

Consulting Patrick Jane is up with the second chapter next!