A/N: A little warning to start with. This fic will start with T rating, but will move into M later on due to its darkness. And I still don't own anything, just playing... :)

XXX

Chapter 1.

Jane was lying down on his couch, his hands behind his head, getting increasingly more fidgety. He had been bothering the men that were fixing the window after his little mishap with a diamond from Mrs. Doverton's collection. He had been mercilessly teasing Rigsby and Van Pelt, nearing a point when he might as well have shouted their little secret from the top of his voice so he had backed off as he didn't want to cause them any real trouble. Cho wasn't fun at all as he had his nose deep in a book and had only glanced up once when Jane had tried to engage the man in a discussion. Lisbon was attending some boring update about how to fill in paperwork correctly or something of the sort. So. He was bored.

Since last weeks case with Mrs. Doverton's diamonds and the charity event, the team hadn't had any cases and it was getting on Jane's nerves. He wanted to be busy. He wanted to be immersed in other people's problems so that he wouldn't need to listen to his own heart hammering away with frustration, anger, longing and loneliness, emotions going on their merry way around and around in his head. Jane sat up and brushed his fingers through his hair while berating himself for opening that can of worms.

He saw Lisbon coming to the bull pen and immediately launched onto his feet, ready to do battle with the petite woman, to see how far he could push her before she lost it. He knew he was playing with fire, but he was seriously bored.

Before he had the chance to open his mouth, Lisbon told the team, "Go home people and have a nice weekend. For once we can enjoy a quiet weekend as Minelli has another team on stand by if something comes along."

Rigsby and Van Pelt barely could hide their happy glances that they were throwing at each other while they quickly gathered their things and without thinking left at the same time. Lisbon lifted her eyebrow but decided not to call attention to their slip.

Cho efficiently gathered his book and bag, wished Lisbon and Jane a good weekend and strolled out leaving his boss and the consultant alone.

Lisbon had already turned back to her office and Jane took few skipping steps after her and started badgering her, but to his surprise Lisbon interrupted him sternly, before he managed to get more than few words out.

"Stop. I want to have for once a quiet weekend. I need to unwind and de-stress or I will snap", she said, her voice softening towards the end. Jane became serious as he had noticed how tired and stressed she had looked recently. He just hadn't realised how bad it was getting, Lisbon was getting better at hiding things from him or he was getting too tired to notice...

"Can I do anything to help?" Jane asked to which Lisbon shook her head. He hadn't expected her to answer him anyway, but he wanted to offer just in case there was something he could do. He was aware that a large portion of Lisbon's stress was due to him and he felt a twinge of regret.

"You should also rest, you look exhausted", Lisbon said looking at Jane noticing how dark the circles under his eyes looked on his pale skin. He must be going through a worse batch of insomnia again. Lisbon took few steps towards him and touched his arm with her two fingers and said gently, "You don't have to go home, you can sleep here if you want. You know that."

Jane was surprised about the openness that Lisbon was exhibiting, but he rather liked it. It was tiring all the time to be the Patrick Jane that everybody thought they had figured out. These moments with Lisbon were precious to him as he could drop his mask knowing that Lisbon wouldn't judge and wouldn't run screaming to the hills either.

Jane looked at the woman in front of him and answered with a tired smile of his own, "I will go home. Can't avoid the place for ever." He tried to smile, but knew that Lisbon saw through him but still decided not to push him, to which he was grateful.

Lisbon gathered all her things and they walked out of the CBI offices to the car park together and after tired goodbyes, Lisbon drove off first, Jane turning towards his own house. Unbeknown to both of them, a pair of eyes were watching.

TBC