Take From Me

A/N - ok this is my first try at a Mentalist fic I usually write only for wild at heart but this idea came to me and as a spur of the moment thing I wrote it, I'm not too sure about it but I thought what the hell. It mostly sticks to the series, I tried to keep Jane and Lisbon in character but my imagination tends to run away with me….anyway hope you enjoy!

Danielle x

(X)

Lisbon stomped into the CBI offices. It was dark outside and the CBI was empty and quiet, everyone having gone home for the night. She was stood in the lift willing it to move quicker. HE was following her, she didn't want to be within a million miles of him right now, even thinking his name irked her! Lisbon thought that she was safe until she saw Jane running towards the elevator. He reached inside as the door closed and effortlessly moved them aside so he could step inside. Lisbon had been pressing the doors close button, that had obviously been a BIG help! As the doors closed Jane turned and smiled at her charmingly. "We are going to the same floor yes?"

"Don't try that tone with me Jane. I've had enough. You overstepped the mark, again!"

"Me? Try anything with you Lisbon?" he asked innocently. "You wound me deeply!" his hand on his chest dramatically.

"Jane." she said simply. "I have just spent two hours on the phone with Bertram, he is demanding your head on a silver platter! He is going ballistic. The Bush's have filed an official complaint and are threatening to sue. There is going to be ANOTHER internal investigation!"

Jane made a face. "That is an over reaction!" he pointed at her. "You know what I'll buy them a basket of muffins." he smiled and nodded.

The lifted dinged and the doors opened. "No basket of muffins will fix this." she told him stepping out.

"Two then." he quipped.

Lisbon glared at him then stomped into the direction of the kitchen. She turned back. "Jane they are totally within their rights to make a complaint. You told then their daughter was dead and that her uncle killed her and dumped her body somewhere. You seen this in a vision!"

He held up a hand. "To be fair I genuinely thought he was the kidnapper and it did flush out the actual culprit." he said proudly. "No need to thank me."

"Yeah you flushed out the killer but you also started a fight with her father and uncle in which the uncle had to go to hospital!" she exhaled. "And don't hold your breath waiting for that thank you!"

"Lisbon I don't know why your going mad, I wasn't hurt and neither were you."

How did she sometimes find this side of him endearing? "Tell me Jane how did you come to the conclusion it was the uncle?"

Jane shrugged. "He looked at me funny. Didn't like me."

Lisbon's jaw went slack. "You came to the conclusion of someone being a kidnapper due to fact they didn't like you?"

"Seemed plausible at the time."

She stared at him for a second. "You do realise most of the time I don't like you!"

He grinned arrogantly, grabbed her wrist. "Not true Lisbon."

Her eyes narrowed, her breath caught. How could me make her so angry yet breathless too?

He looked into her eyes. "Your pupils are dilating."

"What?" she asked, that isn't what she was expecting.

"Your pupils dilate when you look at something you want. Yours have doubled in size."

Lisbon's face flushed. "Why you….you…." Why couldn't she think right now?

"It's your pupils dilating not mine." he grinned.

"Jane if you don't leave me alone right now…"

He released her wrist and held up his hands in surrender. "Ok I'll stop teasing you, I'll go. Goodnight." he spun and walked away.

"Jane." she said, exhaled.

He turned and looked at her.

"I need to know I can trust you." she murmured softly.

He frowned at her declaration. "You know you can, the trust fall….I'll always be here to save you…." he made a confused gesture.

"Not just that…." she trailed off.

"What then?"

She looked at him for a moment. "Nothing."

"Lisbon if you doubt me then I need to know."

"Would it really make a difference Jane?"

"Of course it would!" he declared.

"Then why does nothing ever change?" she asked softly.

"Lisbon, just tell me what's going on."

She shook her head and walked into the kitchen area. Called back. "You can go home Jane. Ignore me I'm tired."

He followed her. "That might work with anyone but me Lisbon. Suddenly you can't trust me? Since when?"

"Suddenly? Jane I'm always wondering what the next stunt your gonna pull is. Whether this time you'll succeed in getting one of us hurt! It's tiring. I'm sick of being your babysitter!"

"You aren't my babysitter!" he seethed.

"No one says that to my face anyway! I found out today that people bet on whether your next stunt will get me fired or whether I'll finally have enough and walk!"

"Lisbon you shouldn't let that stuff bother you."

"Usually it doesn't but I am starting to hit my limit! I need some space, away from this place and mostly you!"

He frowned.

"So will you just go?"

"Lisbon we need to sort this." he told her softly.

"GO!"

He was sick of this. Her going around in circles rather than letting him sort what is bothering her. "FINE!" he stomped off. Spun when he got to the elevator. "You know Lisbon you say I won't change but you never do either!" he shouted. The elevator dinged, he climbed in.

Lisbon walked just in time to see the arrow above the doors flash down indicating descent. She exhaled and approached the kettle. Nothing had been the same since Jane had nearly drowned. Finding him in that water…words couldn't describe the fear that struck her heart! The fear had intensified when they couldn't get him breathing. The whine of the defibrillator had sounded like shrieking. The sound of the charge as it entered his body, she felt like it was entering her heart instead of his! Thankfully they had got him back, he hadn't remembered anything. He was the Jane of the past and truth be told she didn't like him very much. The good gentle man she knew, where was he?

Lisbon pressed the button to boil some water.

She would have left him the way he was, happy - until he stole that money. She did the only thing she felt she could. She made him remember. As he stood in that doorway she suddenly knew why she was so scared of losing him that night. Seeing his face as memories engulfed him. His pain became her pain and it hit her like the force of a lightning bolt, she loved him. When? She had no idea. Why? Was an even bigger no, he was the kindest most giving person she met. He was charming and loving and good intrinsically. Of course it had taken a while for her to get over her initial dislike but she had. She had got to know the real Jane, not the mask he showed the world. See that is all it was, his arrogance, his cockiness, his banter was part of the façade he showed the world. In time dislike had turned into acceptance, acceptance into trust and trust soon blossomed into love….and love meant that she was gonna get hurt.

The kettle bubble away and then clicked telling her the water was ready. She put two scoops of coffee in a cup, pointless making a full pot, a single strong cup would do. She approached her office. She had a pile of paperwork in there which demanded her attention. She'd grab it and make her way home, a big tub of cookie dough ice cream awaited her.

She opened the door to her office. The room was shrouded in darkness. God she wished the janitor would open her blinds after cleaning in here! She flicked her light switch and the room illuminated. She dropped her cup as she saw the Red John smiley face on the wall in front of her.

"Hello Teresa." a gravely voice said.

A/N Dun Dun Dunnnnnnnn next chapter up soon - (this was supposed to be a one shot but it is slightly longer than that - not quite a full size story tho.)