A/N: This is an AU story, not really sure where this idea came from. Please let me know what you think and if you like it. :-)

Disclaimer: I don't own The Mentalist.

Teresa Lisbon sat alone at the bar stroking the glass of tequila in front of her, thinking about how she had ended up there. She wasn't the kind of woman to always play it safe but she knew when to take a chance and when to walk away. In her line of work it was what kept her alive; she had always trusted her instincts - until now. For days she had thought about this, constantly debating with herself, it was a foolish idea and likely one that would get her killed, but she decided to come here anyway. She knew that all the paths in her life had been leading her to this, it was her destiny and she could not walk away.

It had been three nights in a row now, three long nights sitting just like that, waiting for one man. Waiting for him. She could sense the second he entered the bar. It was as if an electric current had rolled off him and onto her, causing her skin to tingle and electrifying her soul. This was trouble. She listened as he walked passed her and sat down at a table a few feet away and she knew that if she only turned her head a little to the side she would see him but she sat still, facing away, not ready to look at him yet. She would let him come to her as she knew he would.

He had never thought he'd see her again, not after the way it had all happened. He had suspected that there was more to her than met the eye and he was right but he hadn't been surprised to find out that she was a cop. She tried her best to fit it, pretend like she belonged there but he could tell she didn't. He was fascinated by this woman from the very first moment he laid eyes on her. She was tough yet vulnerable in the most endearing way, he knew at once that she was trying to put up a front but he would notice when her mask slipped and he caught a glimpse of the woman she really was. He often wondered if he could break down that façade completely if he ever got her alone, but he never got the chance.

He deliberately sat down at the table that afforded him the best view of her; she was a vision, dressed immaculately, from her tight black jeans to the form fitting purple blouse and sexy black leather jacket. Even in the dimly lit room she glowed like an angel and the sight of her did sinful things to his mind. He had wanted her from the beginning but he restrained himself. She wasn't like the women he was used to. He wanted to take his time and get to know her, try to get her to reveal more secrets to him, like she did when she was undercover, albeit unintentionally. He knew she would be a challenge, and he liked that. During that short time he never had the chance to be alone with her. He smiled to himself as he watched her. He would get his chance now.

Teresa knew he was looking at her and she felt her heart rate pick up as she saw him approach from the corner of her eye. This is it, she thought, too late to back away now. "Did you enjoy the view?" she asked as he stood next to her at the bar. There was a hint of seduction in her voice.

He grinned like a wolf, noticing she still didn't look at him, "Yes," he answered, "and I'd like to see more!"

She turned around slowly at that.

"Hmmm, better!" he said and asked the bartender to get him a scotch.

Patrick Jane was a dangerous man and she knew it and yet she could not take her eyes off him. Up close he was even more handsome than she remembered. "You're a hard man to get hold off," she said and he leaned one elbow on the bar and smiled at her, his eyes never leaving hers.

"You've been coming here for three nights now, in such a dangerous place. You're a very determined woman." He took a sip of his drink and smiled, slyly, "I like that!"

"You knew?"

He smiled, "Off course."

She smiled, she should have known, the man was practically psychic! "We were supposed to meet here on Monday! Why did you make me wait for three days?" Teresa started to get the feeling that he was testing her and began to feel a sliver of annoyance run through her at his arrogance.

He leaned closer to her, "I had to be sure this wasn't a trap...after last time…" his voice had grown serious.

"This isn't a trap," she whispered.

Patrick smiled, "I know that now." He said. "I've been watching you Teresa." She felt a shiver crawl up her spine. "You're body language gives you away."

"I fooled them didn't I?" She retorted, "Took down the whole ring!"

He smirked, "They only saw what they wanted to see, a pretty woman in a short skirt who worshipped them. I must say, you did make a convincing job of it, but they would have seen through it had they watched you more closely!"

She smiled, "Like you did?"

He grinned, raising his eyebrows as he took another sip of his drink. "What do you want Teresa? Why have you come here?"

"I need your help!" she said, her voice shaking a little.

"That's a given." He looked into her eyes, trying to read her emotions, "It must be serious or you would have given up by now!"

She nodded, "It is! Someone's trying to kill me!"

Patrick looked at her for a moment, thinking about that revelation.

"Patrick!" she whispered and he looked at her again.

"Why have you come to me Teresa?"

"Didn't you hear what I just said?" she asked.

"Yes, but you're a cop, can't your own people help you?"

"I think this is something to do with the gang we busted, Patrick, you were there, you know what those people are like…"

"Why have you come to me, Teresa?" He asked again, his voice a little more demanding this time.

"I...I think they may have found out I was undercover. I don't know Patrick, the whole time I was there I felt like someone was always watching me. I can't tell my boss that I screwed up so badly...I need your help. Please!"

"What makes you think I can help you?" he asked and she knew that he was testing her.

"I know about you Patrick Jane. The kind of man you are, the kind of things you would do. That's what I need!"

He let his gaze fall on her face and slowly downwards to the gold cross on her neck. He reached out with one finger and began tracing the chain upon which it hung. She didn't flinch but her heart was racing at his touch. "A good Catholic girl like yourself? Do you know what you're asking of me Teresa? Are you sure you want to do this, because once we start this, there's no turning back, there'll be blood on both our hands!" he moved his hand upward and swept one finger gently across her cheek and stopped just near the corner of her lips. She couldn't stop the shudder that swept over her. Excitement and fear overwhelming her at both his presence and the thought of what she was about to do. "Are you sure you trust me?"

She looked him in the eyes, "Yes!"

He was taken aback by that, "You're a fool!" he said and downed the rest of his scotch, "you said you know the type of man I am, how do you know I won't kill you myself?"

"You won't!" she replied, her voice strong, confident.

"Really? You wouldn't be the first one!"

"You only kill when it's necessary, you're driven my a moral imperative, you're own code of honor. You won't hurt me! All that time we were there, it was like you wanted to protect me. No one touched me 'cos they were afraid of you!"

He smiled and nodded his head, "You've got guts Teresa, I'll give you that!"

"So will you help me?"

"Yes!" He said and he could see her relax a little, "Let's get outta here! I don't like some of the looks we're getting." She nodded and they both stood up and left the bar.

When they got outside it was raining. Teresa held her jacket over her head as Patrick led her to a small alleyway near to where he had parked his car. Neither of them said a word to each other but he made sure to stay close to her, all the time secretly scanning the area for any signs that they were being followed. He thought about what she said and he knew she was right, he did feel protective toward her, he couldn't deny that and it had unsettled him that she had read him so well. He was impressed at her perceptivity but at the same time he realized that he would have to keep his guard up around her. She was still a cop and one who had clearly researched his past.

They were a few feet away from his car when Patrick suddenly stopped and grabbed her arm. Teresa looked at him, stunned and for a second or two she actually thought he was going to hurt her. He pulled her into the alley and pinned her against the wall. She was breathing heavily, her heart frantically beating in her chest, her mind clouded up as all kinds of scenarios raced through it. She knew the kind of man he was but was sure he wouldn't hurt her, had she been so wrong about him? "Patrick, please!" she said, her voice shaking with fear. Instinctively, she reached for her Glock but Patrick was two steps ahead of her.

"Don't even think about it Teresa!" he said as he grabbed both her hands and pinned them above her head. He moved his body closer to her and looked into her eyes, noticing how her pupils had dilated. She was scared. He smiled, "What's wrong Teresa, I thought you trusted me?" he teased.

"Let me go!" she demanded.

He could feel her body trembling slightly as he pressed closer to her, "Don't run, don't scream and don't even think about reaching for your gun, is that clear?" She nodded and he stepped back a little, releasing her hands as he did so. "We need to discuss the terms of the deal," he began, "but first I want you to put your arms around my neck!"

She gave him a blank look, "Why?" she asked.

He gestured to the police car that drove by just then, "There are cops everywhere, we don't want to attract any attention, put your arms around my and rest your head on my shoulder while we talk." She did as he asked and he wrapped his arms around her body and held her close to him. To anyone passing by they looked like a normal couple sharing an embrace. He leaned into her ear and whispered, "Tell me what happened."

"About two weeks ago I got the feeling someone had been hanging round my house, stalking me. At night I could hear noises, and one morning I found the trash can had been knocked over. At first I didn't really think anything of it but then I started getting threatening phone calls. One morning my brother called me and said that someone had tried to run him off the road! He had his daughter in the car with him!"

Patrick paused before saying, "Okay, but you've got to understand Teresa, I'm not a cop, I'm not the law so if we're gonna do this, it has to be done my way!"

She nodded, "I understand."

He looked her in the eye, "You're really okay with this? You're a cop!"

"Yes, but not right now. I've taken a leave of absence, it was owed to me after the undercover op. There's no badge, this is personal!" She could tell he didn't believe her and she couldn't blame him, she could hardly believe what she was doing herself, but she was desperate. "God Patrick! It's one thing them threatening me but whoever's doing this is going after my family...I need them taken care off!"

Patrick nodded knowingly, "Okay, my fee is ten thousand dollars!" he said and saw her eyes grow wide at that figure, "I don't work for free Teresa, what you're asking me to do...I'm putting my life at risk…"

"Our lives, we're both putting our lives at risk, remember, five thousand!"

"Eight thousand, or I'll walk away now!" he told her.

"Patrick this person is trying to kill me and my family, you can't just walk away!"

"Eight thousand dollars!" he said.

She looked at him and knew by the look in his eyes he wouldn't budge. She sighed in resignation, "You're a cold bastard!"

"In my line of work, I have to be; don't take it personally!" He paused, "So do we have a deal?"

She looked at him and felt like she had just sold her soul to the devil, "We have a deal!"