Homeward Bound

Post 3.23/24 „Strawberries and Cream"- I admit, the season´s finale shocked me pretty much and send me directly into temporary writer´s block. Jane is my favorite character, and I just don´t want to see him in prison- I simply can´t wait for September.

So I wrote this story to calm myself a little bit. It´s M for adult themes.

Please excuse my poor knowledge about the American law system- there´s no such thing as "justifiable homicide" in German law, so I allowed myself a little freedom with the court scene.

Disclaimer: I don´t own "The Mentalist"…I just allow the show to inspire me.

Summary: Jane is set free due to justifiable homicide. He tries to change his life, but feels like a stranger wherever he goes. So where is it- home?

Chapter 1

Judge Ward´s face was stern and earnest. He had sighed so much during the ongoing trial that it felt almost ridiculous to do so again- he sighed nonetheless. Why did he always get the hard cases?

The room was frozen in anxious silence. Nobody said a word, everybody waited for the verdict. Only the defendant seemed at peace. He was quiet and subdued. Not once during his trial had he spoken up, not once had he shown tension or excitement. He´d been friendly. Polite. Utterly cooperative. He hadn´t tried to justify his deed. He´d just stated the facts. Calmly and accurately.

And now Judge Ward had to decide.

Finally he bent forward and looked Patrick Jane straight in the eye.

"Mr. Jane," he said, "you shot the…victim in cold blood. He had a weapon on him. You were working a case. And I´m convinced that when you took action you believed the man we know under the name of Red John would murder again. You acted in order to protect future victims from a dangerous serial killer, who had already murdered several innocents. I´m also convinced that I will never see you in this courtroom again- at least not in the place you occupy at this very moment. I know that you are no danger to anybody. So I will…" he sighed again,"… deem this case a justifiable homicide. Mr. Patrick Jane is to be set free immediately. The court is closed."

All hell broke loose.

People chatted and talked, Rigsby almost ran over and pulled Jane into a bear hug, Cho patted him on the back, visibly moved. VanPelt had tears of relief in her eyes. It was over- he was free.

Jane felt stunned. He couldn´t believe it- free? He´d never, ever reckoned with that. In his dark cell at night he´d even entertained thoughts about death penalty- he wasn´t scared. He was ready to die. And now- he was free. Just like that. His lawyer shook his hand vigorously, photographers flashed their cameras in his face, journalists bombarded him with questions, policemen congratulated him for finishing off law enforcements worst enemy…Jane felt tired and exhausted, he just wanted to be alone.

Nobody noticed a tiny, dark-haired woman in the shadows. Nobody saw her tears, the longing in her eyes. She turned and disappeared like a ghost from the crowded courtroom- fleeing the man who was the center of attention.

XXMentalistXX

Lisbon had been there. Every single day. She had stayed in the back row, never showing her face, taking care that he couldn´t see her. She´d watched him scan the room before he sat down every day- she knew he was looking for her. But she didn´t want to be found, so she´d ducked behind the guy in front of her- the courtroom was always crowded. Every day she´d seen the defeat in his eyes, the disappointment on his beautiful face. It had hurt to see him like this.

She watched his slim back all the time, the clean golden curls above his collar, desperate longing tearing at her heart.

She had relived the moment she´d been shot over and over again…his concern, his worry, his desperate, panting breath over the telephone- he´d feared for her, so much. And she had sworn to herself: when she made it out of this mess, she would kiss him. She wanted to know what his skin tasted like. She´d never had the chance to find out.

And now, he was free. She could hardly believe it. She sat in her car for hours after the trial had ended, helpless, confused. She knew he wouldn´t, couldn´t come back. He possibly didn´t want to. He had killed his nemesis- he was disencumbered, now he could go on. Without the CBI. Without the team. Without her.

She bit back a sob. Hell, why did all this affect her so much? He had killed. Killed for revenge. Killed when all the years she had tried to keep him from becoming a murderer. She hadn´t succeeded. He had chosen Red John over her. And she had to cope with it.

Lisbon doubled over and started to cry quietly, resting her forehead against the steering wheel. She had lost him. She would never see him again.

How´s that for a start? I try to update soon! Please, excuse all my mistakes…I hope you like the story so far. Please review- it´s VERY inspiring :D.