u n d e r l a n d

Jane unfurls his list, lifts a pen from Cho's jacket, and scribbles an additional term. Then, he thrusts the whole thing at Cho.

"Give this to Dennis with my love, would you? And tell him to read it before coming in."

Then, he disappears into the room, leaving Cho in the dark. Cho doesn't look at the list. He doesn't care. He's giving this list to Abbott and he's going back to work. He'll be around for the fallout of this, for Lisbon and Jane, but right now, he simply cannot be bothered.

-

Lisbon sits, in utter silence, in the FBI conference room. She's been left here alone in likely some kind of bizarre test. She's relatively positive that she'll get to see Jane shortly. After that, she has no idea. She hopes he plans to stay. She wants him to stay, even if she is in Washington. Maybe they can have phone calls now. Maybe see each other once or twice a year.

She yearns for more, of course. She can admit that to herself, after two years of poetry delivered to her door twice a month. But she just doesn't see a path forward. At least, soon, she will get to see the man she loves, even if nothing will ever come from it.

The door bangs open behind her. She turns, surprised, to see a tanned, tousled, beach-y Patrick Jane, who is staring at her intently, eyes dark and completely focused. His fingers are busy with his shirt buttons, of which there are only two left. His chest is... god. Even more tan, with dark-blonde hairs curled in little s's across the expanse of it all. He's in the middle of the button below his navel, and she can see his stomach contract.

She gets to her feet. She's not sure why. She can't just sit there and watch this, right? "Wha-"

"Hi Lisbon," he greets, warm and honeyed, and god, she has missed him, "get on the table - actually, coat off, then table."

She makes a strangled noise that roughly translates to 'what the fuck,' but the urgency in his tone is rare and she hasn't seen him in years and maybe there's something wrong in this building that necessitates the removal of their clothes. Numbly, she strips the coat off, but she stays standing.

Jane shrugs off his shirt and coat so he is left in his pants, rolling his eyes when he sees that she's stationary. "Well?" he urges. "I want to touch you. We don't have time for much, but I want to feel you against me."

Lisbon thinks she's fallen into a fifth dimension. Maybe a fever dream. Or-

"Are you high again?" The words come out squeaky and strange, but at least she manages them.

He strides over to her, and the first time they touch in two years is him lifting her up on the table. He steps between her legs—and he's hard, what the fuck—and presses their foreheads together. Her hands automatically raise to push him away, but she finds herself gripping his naked biceps instead.

"Yes. You're the drug, Lisbon. And I've been chasing a fix for two years." He brushes his lips with hers. His hands grip the hem of her t-shirt and tug it up.

And Lisbon is... Well, Lisbon is...

"Drug?" She asks, indignant, tugging her shirt back down.

"The purest one," he insists. "Straight in the vein, Teresa. My system has been deprived of you for too long." He pauses. "Let me take off your shirt."

"What is this? Are you sex-starved?"

He groans. "Our time is down to five minutes. Five minutes! I love you, Teresa Lisbon. Let me take your shirt off so we can mess around for a few minutes, please."

She looks at him. He looks at her.

God, he's so goddamn pretty.

"Okay. Okay, yes," she agrees breathlessly. Too much skin. Too much salty, sea smell. Too much white-toothed, shining smiles. Too much, too much, after a greyscale life in Washington State.

He strips her of her shirt, and he kisses her.

It's a filthy kiss, all tongue and teeth. Her fingers dig into the bare skin of his back, warm and toned. Kaleidoscopes of colors are spinning in her brain. Maybe she's the one on drugs. Maybe everyone's on drugs, if no one has come in to interrupt them.

He grips her bare waist with his long, clever fingers, and she decides she doesn't care. She wraps her legs around his hips and grinds against him, and he groans into her mouth. He presses kisses down her neck, one hand holding her against him, the other playing with her bra clasp.

Then: a knock.

"One minute warning," comes Abbott's neutral voice, and Lisbon freezes.

Jane presses a few more kisses to her collarbone, apparently unbothered. "Mm," he hums, tongue darting out to lick along her skin. "Worth it."

"Jane," she begins, pushing him off, "Tell me what's happening, or I'm going to strangle you before Abbott can give the 30 second warning."

He picks up his shirt, disappointment clear in his eyes as she wriggles back into hers. "I'm going to con the FBI into giving me a job," he announces. "You're going to come be my partner. We're going to date for two months, then get engaged for a few weeks, then get married. Maybe a kid, maybe a dog? You like dogs."

"I do," Lisbon agrees, shell-shocked.

JISBON FUNDAMENTALS (these are fics that everyone should read)

if I loved you at the start by missymeggins (e) this is my favorite jisbon fic. canon divergent from 6x02, jane decides he can't live with the threat to lisbon's life. i could wax poetic for ages.

the tiger and the lamb by inkstainedfingers97 (t) if i could recommend this author's entire library i would, but this is a very gritty, plotty, but still jisbon-y reimagining of the red john plot. and probably the only fic that's convinced me it's better than the red john reveal in the show.

in the cards by idan (t) another brilliant very plotty s5 fic. no list would be complete without it. the attention to detail is insane.

long lost long last by hardly loquacious (k+) this fic is just so special to me because it is an exemplary example of showing and not telling, and i think it really dives into what makes jisbon so inevitable. even as jane resists, he's drawn to lisbon's care for him, which is self-sacrificing and pure and so deeply kind that of course he loves her. of course he does.

inside your mind by excel_siors (t) a 4x10 au that will change your brain chemistry, guaranteed. the mantra that jane keeps repeating in this fic... god.

BEST COMPLETE AUS

go easy on me now by walltree (m) this author understands lisbon in a profound way, to the point where of course this version of jane is drawn in by her competence and kindness. i love fics that highlight why jane would fall for lisbon, and this is one of those.

red violin by inkstainedfingers97 (t) (plus sequel!) such a fun au where jane is so crazy. like this could be in the unhinged section. but the way jane instantly falls in love is how i picture he would if there was no red john.

purrson of interest by denxuement (t) unbelievably sweet! neighbors!au

teresa by donnamour1969 (t) an inspired by jane austen's emma! this author has great aus but this is my favorite. love a good regency au.

the tea shop by heclosescases (t) this author is excellent, but i especially love this au! it's so sweet, so in character (difficult for a complete au) and just so fluffy and nice.

ANGST

suspicion by daphnaea (t) the best angstier view of the lorelei situation, and a great, character-accurate view of what would happen to jane should lisbon have really put her foot down about any of it.

and the saints go marching in by excel_siors (m) this fic will hurt you. it will be worth it. a 6a au.

choices made in blue swirls by fbiwoman223 (t) if you want hurt!lisbon and jane losing it over that fact, this is the fic for you!

the proper incentive by laurythelabtrator 6b!au and sometimes i really realllly wish this is what they had done with canon.

THEY'RE UNHINGED, YOUR HONOR

blue phoenix by TheWaywardGospel (e) the fact that this fic is unfinished is my roman empire, but don't let that stop you. this author intertwines seasons 6 and 7 in such an original way, and jane and lisbon are so crazy for each other. it's perfect.

dayspring by light_loves_the_dark (t) i'm not going to talk about myself too much, but this is an au 6b where jane gets his act together <3

wedding planning by idan (t) jane just... deciding that lisbon and he are engaged. it all goes pretty well from there and it's a joy to read!

reset by j. roddam (t) this is a complete au where psychic!jane meets lisbon when she's on the verge of becoming a single mother and like, one meeting makes him decide he wants to be in her life. unhinged. perfect in every way.

shatter by ruuger (m) 4x10 but jisbon share an insane little blimp of a moment.

BEST SMUT

you bite my lip, you spike my blood (e) by someonestolemyshoes the perfect first time fic.

(not much i can change) i give it up to you by whatsaterrarium (e) obligatory hypnosis fic. you will melt.

i feel like i die 'till i feel your touch by @dreamyairy (e) the smut in this is incredible. the profound moment that jisbon share in the airport in this 6x22 au is even better.

like a thousand suns (anything for you) by @whereyourtreasureis (e) this author is a master at these little intimacy gaps we have in the show. and her jane makes me melt.

eulogy by lilythistle (e) obligatory jisbon-playing-poker fic that ends with a beautiful expression of feelings

BEST CANON DIVERGENCE (ONE-SHOT)

between the devil and the deep blue sea by @someonesaidcake (e) 6x08 canon divergence, introducing my favorite oc ;)

27 minutes by idan (t) a lovely divergence from early s6 where jane faces the fact he can't lose lisbon and actually talks to her.

beneath the blue stars by sierrasilver (t) just a super soft 6b au where jane wrote more letters to lisbon than in canon

reichenbach by half agony half hope (t) red john finds out that jane is faking in vegas and puts a very awful task in front of him. angsty, but with a happy ending

BEST CANON DIVERGENCE (MULTI CHAPTER)

someone else's life by wldwmn (t) 4x10 au where jane wakes up thinking lisbon is his wife. so so good.

learning to breathe by starry19 (t) post 6x22 au with jisbon finding their legs as a couple and a little angst. very sweet and perfectly in character.

combine and complement by hardly loquacious (k+) in which jisbon go consulting after an au version of the death of red john. very sweet getting together fic.

blooming violets by dkateri (g) 6x16!au where jane doesn't fumble - just a really lovely and in-character portrait of him.

undercover by maxine_gold (e) one of the best multi-chapter fics in the fandom. i almost didn't include it because i feel like everyone's read it, but that would be disingenuous.

BEST POST-CANON

bluebells by inkstainedfingers97 (t) LAST ONE by them i swear. i have to put this one in because it's my fav post canon, which i tend not to like. which is not saying there's not excellent post canon out there, but i just personally want no major angst, all rainbows for jisbon after the end of the show. and this is that.