"I need your gun."
Lisbon's eyes widen. "My gun?" She stammers.
"It's just a prop, I won't use it." Jane is fully aware this is the part of the plan were he puts everything on their partnership, on over a decade of slowly developed mutual trust. Of all the mechanisms necessary to carry out his plan, this was the only part where he had no doubts, no other options. He doesn't need them, because Lisbon will always help him. Because Lisbon is the only constant in the midst of all this chaos and pain.
She's predictable. She's his touchstone. Though that's something he can never repeat except in the recesses of his mind. Maybe once this all over...But that's an optimism he can't afford right now.
His whole life has led to this day. Nothing else matters.
But he sees the fear and confusion warring on her face. After all he's put her through she's still trying to find a way to save him. Saint Teresa. But she can't be there. It's not just the threat of her being in danger (only a slight chance of that, she can take care of herself) but the thought of Lisbon watching him kill Red John that is the most repulsive. He so selfishly wants to believe in the good man Lisbon sees in him.
"Teresa, just trust me. Please trust me." In the end he makes the one plea that he knows will get through to her. A promise he made at a roadside farmer's market years ago; that he'd always catch her.
In that moment she's letting herself go, falling back into his arms…and praying he won't let her fall. She'll give him her gun- he's known that longer than she has. Patrick Jane has probably known about her surrender from the beginning.
She doesn't care about bringing Red John to justice anymore. If Jane can use her gun to protect himself and come back to her she'll give it to him gladly.
Teresa pulls the Glock from her holster and hands it to him, heart plummeting.
"Thank you." He says softly, his collected and calm, but his eyes study her like he's committing every detail to memory. Like—God, she prays not—this is the last time they'll see each other.
Then with the smallest smirk (cocky asshole) he turns and jogs off. She turns away before she can run after him.
Everything changes from now on.
"No matter what happens I will be there for you."
She sprints off when she spots the two FBI agents across the park.
"I knew this would end in disaster the day I signed on with you."
His crusade— no, their crusade is all that matters now. Everything they've worked for has come to this. She's praying that they'll all make it out alive.
It's too late to fall and hope he'll catch her. She fell for him long ago.
A little hastily written and a little late for this theme, but I love this stupid couple. Points if you caught the X-Files reference. ;) Thanks for reading!