Earthlydreamz, good luck on your upcoming tests! I hope everyone enjoys the update.

Chapter 11: Dances

Dinner conversations ranged through the usual topics, mostly previous cases. After they finished their meals they dispersed. Jane and Van Pelt found themselves sitting at the bar together while Rigsby, Cho, and Lisbon stayed at the table. Jane enthusiastically taught Van Pelt to hone her observational skills by studying the other patrons in the restaurant. He'd explain to her who was married and who wasn't and who was drunk and who was faking. Van Pelt was intrigued and tried her best to make her own observations too. They both really enjoyed the conversation. Finally, Jane decided to check up on the rest of their friends and Van Pelt agreed, having lost sight of their table through the crowd of people dancing near the jukebox at the center of the large room. They grabbed their drinks and made their way through the crowd. Jane held Van Pelt's wrist so they wouldn't get separated.

They then made it to the table to find Cho and Rigsby sitting across from each other with their elbows on the table and their hands clasped together in an arm wrestling match. Lisbon sat in the middle of the booth, acting as the referee. Jane grinned as he moved towards the wall alongside the booth. He leaned his shoulder against it as he watched the scene in front of him. Van Pelt hovered in front of the table, intrigued by the arm wrestling. Rigsby wore a stern expression as he pushed Cho's hand closer and closer to the table. He was apparently winning. Cho clenched his teeth as his hand hovered over the table, at the brink of defeat.

"What exactly are you doing?" Jane asked, acting as if he'd never seen an arm wrestling match. Lisbon lifted her gaze and smiled, secretly overjoyed that Jane had returned. Cho and Rigsby also spared glances at the consultant before resuming their competition of strength.

"They're trying to prove their manliness." Lisbon quipped with an amused grin. Jane nodded his head in agreement. Lisbon couldn't quite place it, but there was something different about Jane. She tried desperately to define the change she saw in him, but she couldn't.

"Carry on." Jane waved them on while matching Lisbon's smile. Rigsby's eyes focused intently on Cho.

"I like your pretty pink nail polish, Cho." He remarked, drawing everyone's attention to his bright nails. Jane imagined a similar comment incited the arm wrestling match to begin with, Cho no doubt needing to defend his manliness. Cho frowned and almost growled as he summoned all his strength to push Rigsby's hand back in the other direction. Rigsby smiled, knowing his strategy would work. As soon as Cho's strength failed, Rigsby took advantage and pushed back, Cho's hand slamming painfully down on the hard wooden table. Cho yelped at the pain, pulled his hand away, and hid it under the table. Rigsby grinned victoriously, glancing up at Van Pelt, hoping to impress her. Like Jane, Van Pelt didn't quite understand the purpose of arm wrestling, but enjoyed watching nonetheless.

"Ha!" Rigsby remarked triumphantly. "Who's next?" He offered, his eyes immediately settling on Jane, knowing that Lisbon and Van Pelt weren't fair competition. Then again, Rigsby wasn't sure whether Jane was actually a viable opponent. "Jane!" He announced enthusiastically. Everyone turned to the consultant, who, for once, shied away from their pressuring eyes.

"Oh no way." He remarked, waving his hand to emphasis his point. "Arm wrestling is not exactly my strong suit." He explained candidly. Rigsby didn't back down.

"Are you chicken?" He teased and Jane smirked at the man's sudden confidence. Lisbon, Van Pelt, and Cho all pressured Jane to accept the challenge, interested to see Jane out of his comfort zone. When it comes to matching wits, Jane can't be beat, but in a match of strength… Rigsby has the advantage.

"No. I've just predicted the odds and there's a good chance you'll break my arm." Jane remarked before taking a sip of his beer. He had a valid point.

"I'll be easy on you." Rigsby insisted, confident that it would be a short match. Jane paused and considered his words before glancing over all his colleagues in turn. He smirked.

"Fancy a wager?" He challenged Rigsby. Rigsby was genuinely surprised by Jane's sudden change of heart. He stumbled a little.

"I'm not going to let you win." He clarified. Lisbon watched Jane curiously, knowing that he had to have some sort of plan.

"Are you turning down a bet?" Jane asked, feigning shock. Rigsby fell back on his words.

"Twenty bucks." He bet.

"Is that it?" Jane remarked. Rigsby recoiled before upping the bet.

"Thirty." He stated. Jane's grin widened as he set his drink on the table and sat down in the spot that Cho had just vacated. He then, having already taken off his jacket earlier in the evening, rolled up his sleeves and placed his elbow on the table. Rigsby still seemed surprised that Jane accepted his challenge, let alone made a bet.

Rigsby set his elbow firmly on the table and grabbed Jane's hand.

"You sure you want to lose thirty bucks?" Rigsby teased, but Jane simply smiled and quirked his eyebrows. Lisbon leaned forward so she could call the start.

"Go." She stated suddenly and Rigsby quickly tightened his grip on Jane's hand and shoved his hand back towards the table. Jane grimaced at the pressure Rigsby put on his hand, but managed to stop his hand a few inches from the top of the table. Jane tried to push back Rigsby's hand, but found he couldn't. He only had enough strength to keep from losing, but he had no hope of winning. Rigsby grinned with an air of calmness surrounding him. It wouldn't be long before Jane would break under the pressure. Rigsby made it look easy as he kept Jane on the brink of surrender. Meanwhile, a tinge of red graced Jane's cheeks as he clenched his teeth at the pain radiating from his hand down to his elbow. Lisbon frowned, wondering whether she should end the match before Rigsby really did break Jane's arm. She glanced over at Cho and Van Pelt who seemed to agree that it wasn't a fair fight.

But before she could intervene, Jane flashed Rigsby a smile, leaned over, and placed a kiss on the back of his hand.

"What the hell!" Rigsby remarked. Rigsby tried to pull away, shocked by the man's conduct, but Jane firmly held on to his hand. During a brief moment of confusion, in which Rigsby let his guard down, Jane took advantage and turned the tables, shoving Rigsby's hand in the other direction. Rigsby recovered slightly and fought against Jane as his hand hovered an inch above the table. Jane summoned all his strength and after flashing him another smile, pushed his hand back against the table.

As soon as the match was over, Jane released his hand and pulled away with a victorious grin dancing on his lips. "I win!" He announced enthusiastically. The redness was starting to fade from his cheeks and he had to rub his hand with his thumb to regain blood flow to his fingers. Rigsby just stared at him in disbelief, still dumbfounded by Jane kissing his hand.

"You kissed my hand!" He exclaimed, more surprised than angry. He rubbed the back of his hand as if to clean off the spot where Jane's lips had touched his skin. Jane grinned triumphantly. Lisbon couldn't stop herself from laughing while Cho seemed thoroughly amused. Van Pelt was just as surprised by the kiss as Rigsby was, her mouth open slightly in shock. Jane held his hand out towards Rigsby.

"You owe me thirty bucks." He announced. Rigsby frowned.

"No. You cheated!" He rebuked.

"You never said he couldn't kiss your hand." Lisbon defended with a shrug, before starting into another fit of laughter. Even Cho couldn't fight back a grin.

"He did beat you." Cho affirmed. Van Pelt started smiling too. Rigsby just stared at them all incredulously.

"All I did was distract you." Jane explained. "You did the same thing to Cho by commenting on his feminine nails." He furthered, receiving an even glare from Cho.

"But you kissed me!" Rigsby announced in a loud voice, his words drawing the attention of other people in the restaurant. Rigsby shied away from their looks, his cheeks flushing a faint pink. Jane just grinned incessantly.

"This is priceless." Lisbon remarked happily, thoroughly amused.

"Actually, it costs thirty bucks." Jane corrected her, still waiting for Rigsby to pay.

"I want a rematch." Rigsby responded with a frown, but surrendered the money nonetheless.

"No." Jane replied simply as he pocketed the cash. He then turned to Lisbon. "Teresa, would you like to dance?" He asked suddenly, catching her completely off guard. She paused.

"Uh… now?" She stumbled, her cheeks flushing a bright red.

"Yes." He answered simply. Everyone's eyes settled on Lisbon and she knew she couldn't refuse. Actually, she was flattered, secretly overjoyed at the prospect of dancing with the man she liked.

"Sure." She answered, her eyes darting nervously around the table. Jane and Lisbon squeezed out of the booth and Jane offered her his hand. She hesitated, sparing a glance over her shoulder at the rest of the team. They all seemed amused by Jane's request and Lisbon's hesitation. She turned back to Jane who flashed her a reassuring smile. She smiled back at him and accepted his hand.

He happily led her to the dance floor at the center of the room and gently placed his hand on her waist, making her blush again. She rested her arm on top of his, glancing up at his eyes. "I thought for a moment that Rigsby was going to break your arm." She commented. Jane smiled.

"You doubted me?" He teased. She leaned in, getting a little closer to him, swaying as they got used to the idea of dancing together.

"Just for a moment." She defended with a cute little smile. Jane tightened his hold on her hand and decided to spin her around a few times. He did and Lisbon laughed slightly, feeling a little silly, but enjoying it nonetheless. She couldn't remember the last time she had danced, let alone with a partner. Jane pulled Lisbon back towards him and caught her, wrapping his arm around her waist, his hand resting on the small of her back. She didn't mind the closeness, her worries forgotten as Jane's sweet-smelling cologne overwhelmed her senses. She felt excitement and sheer undiminished joy as she leaned her head against his shoulder, a light smile gracing her lips. The song changed and something softer and melodic started to play.

"You're a talented dancer." He said breathlessly into her soft, dark hair as it brushed against his cheek. He hadn't been this close to her since they had kissed and he was faintly surprised that she let him.

"Thanks." She replied, pulling back slightly so she could see his eyes. Jane flashed her a smile. "It takes a good partner." She remarked honestly. Jane tilted his head, overwhelmingly tempted to press his lips against her smile. He didn't though, summoning all his will not to kiss her. She was happy, content in his embrace, and he wasn't going to make any moves that could jeopardize that.

Instead he rested his head against hers, placing a light kiss in her hair. She didn't pull away, but felt a knot build up in her chest as her mind focused on each individual touch. She felt his fingers brushing lightly along her hip and his warm breath on her ear. She could somehow tell he was smiling. The dance was becoming intimate and she found she liked it. She closed her eyes and tried to pretend it was just her and Jane, with no one else in the world. She succeeded until the song changed to something faster and Jane pulled away slightly. She opened her eyes and glanced around the dance floor to find Rigsby and Van Pelt dancing together, swaying and curving to the beat. She turned her head so she could see Jane's eyes and he was calm and content, his hands still holding to her hips. Then she looked over at their table to see Cho sitting by himself.

Jane followed her gaze before turning back to Lisbon with a question in his eyes. She looked down before meeting his gaze.

"Don't you feel a little guilty?" She asked curiously.

"About what?" Jane questioned.

"Cho." Lisbon answered simply, referring to how she had painted his nails.

"It was your idea." Jane pointed out and Lisbon glared at him. Jane smiled softly. "If you want to make him feel better maybe you should ask him to dance." He suggested. Lisbon seemed surprised and tried to see whether Jane was serious. "I won't mind. It's not like I'm going to be insanely jealous or anything." Jane added.

"No, I mean… Cho doesn't dance." Lisbon explained.

"Have you ever asked him?" Jane asked. Lisbon thought this over, knowing she hadn't.

"He doesn't seem like the type." She told him, sparing another glance at her friend. "He is all alone though." She commented, turning her eyes to meet Jane's. "So you really don't mind sitting out for awhile?" She clarified. Jane flashed her a brilliant 100-watt grin.

"Not at all." He replied as he let his hands fall from her hips. Lisbon already missed his touch and sensing this, Jane grasped her hand and led her back to the table. Cho took a sip of his drink, eyeing the two suspiciously. Once they reached the table Jane released her hand, but slipped it up her arm, giving her an encouraging pat on the shoulder. He then settled into the booth across from Cho. The Asian man frowned curiously.

"Cho." Lisbon addressed him. Cho turned his eyes back to her, puzzled.

"Yes, boss?" He replied. Lisbon glanced over at Jane who had his hand near his mouth in an attempt to hide his smile.

"Do you want to dance?" Lisbon asked with a pleasant smile. Surprise flashed in Cho's eyes before he hid it under a mask of suspicion.

"I don't dance." Cho answered bluntly.

"Liar." Jane pointed out. Cho glanced at him before turning back to Lisbon. Her eyebrows were raised, not believing his excuse. Her expectant gaze matched Jane's perfectly.

"So you're date doesn't mind?" Cho asked, surprised. He glanced over at Jane, whose smile brightened. Lisbon's cheeks flushed as she swayed slightly.

"Jane's not my-" She tried to correct him, but Jane interrupted.

"I don't." Jane assured him blithely. Lisbon glared at him before turning back to Cho. "Go." Jane added, hurriedly gesturing for Cho to accept. Cho didn't move, focusing his gaze intently on Lisbon. She grinned.

"It's an order." Lisbon explained. Cho accepted defeat and got to his feet so he could stand next to Lisbon. He wasn't sure how he felt about dancing with his boss. He couldn't get used to the idea of her not having a gun on her hip. Despite this uncertainty, he was secretly happy she asked, having felt a little lonely and out of place after Rigsby and Van Pelt had gone off to dance together. Lisbon grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the dance floor, taking control of the situation. Cho glanced over his shoulder at Jane who simply waved at him before stealing his drink.

Lisbon placed her hands on his shoulders and turned Cho to face her, giving him a reassuring smile. Cho returned the smile faintly before placing his hands on her waist. She then wrapped her arms around his shoulders, intertwining her fingers behind his neck. The dance wasn't intimate like it had been with Jane, but it was friendly. Cho and Lisbon shared a professional relationship, but also considered each other friends. Cho admired Lisbon and had a lot of respect for the senior agent. They'd known each other longer than anyone else on the team.

"I'm sorry about your nails." Lisbon admitted. Cho frowned, glancing down at his fingers as if he had forgotten. "Oh come on, you can't possibly hold a grudge against me." Lisbon added.

"I'm not." Cho responded simply, but Lisbon wasn't convinced. Cho edged a little closer to Lisbon, feeling more comfortable in her presence. He glanced over her shoulder at Jane who was unsurprisingly watching Lisbon and him. It did surprise him, however, that he was letting him dance with her. Cho knew Jane was possessive of Lisbon, but then again, it was just a dance. Cho focused his eyes on Lisbon, realizing he had never been this close to her.

"I don't understand your taste in men, but for what it's worth, he's a good guy." Cho commented brusquely. Lisbon blushed, not looking Cho in the eye.

"I don't know what you're talking about." She lied and Cho's lips curved slightly into a barely perceptible smile.

"He tries really hard to make you happy." He observed, glancing over at the consultant. Lisbon hesitantly met his gaze, trying her best to maintain a firm glare. "You should let him." He finished bluntly and her glare faltered, her cheeks even redder than before. She didn't say anything and Cho took control and started to lead the dance, swaying to the beat of the song. He pretended not to notice the numerous glances Lisbon spared in Jane's direction as they danced.

There is more Jisbon coming in the next chapter!