Aftermath

Staring down at Sheriff Hardy's body Patrick was suddenly struck with the realization that the only link they had to finding out the identity of Red John was dead. Staggering back a few feet the as the adrenaline rush abruptly faded leaving him feeling weak and shaky he dropped to the ground on his hands and knees as a wave a nausea threatened to overwhelm him.

Lisbon watched him the expression on her face a mixture of sympathy and concern. When she saw Hardy pull the gun on her and Maya she knew it had been too late to pull hers. Not that it would have stopped him not with his own deputy dying on the ground. She had been surprised as anybody probably including Patrick himself that he' been the one to fire the fatal shot.

When the painful heaving finally eased up Patrick rocked back on his heels feeling like he didn't have the strength to get to his feet again. Feeling someone take hold of him by the arms he let whoever it was help him to his feet.

"Jane, let the paramedics check you over," Lisbon said firmly.

"I'm okay. I just got a little sick is all," the blonde man protested.

"You look like you're about to pass out," the agent pointed out. "Let the paramedics check you out and if they say you're okay then that's that. Besides we can't leave until the coroner arrives."

"I told you I was okay," Patrick reminded the paramedic. He picked up his jacket and vest and prepared to walk away.

"Well, we had to make sure of that the paramedic replied as he began putting away his equipment. "If you start to feel sick again let somebody know."

"I'll be fine," the consultant replied.

He was sitting on the porch steps jacket and vest folded beside him when Lisbon walked over with a bottle of water. "Feeling better?" she asked taking a seat beside him and handing over the water.

"Some. Sorry about what happened," Patrick replied.

"Well, at least you didn't end up puking all over my shoes like a very green junior agent did when he encountered his first grisly crime scene," she answered. "Then to apologize he went out and bought me a new pair of shoes the next day."

"Who was it? Cho or Rigsby?" Patrick asked taking a few cautious sips of the water.

The agent was glad to see that he didn't look quite as pale as he'd been. "Cho. But don't you let him know I told you," she said reaching out to place a comforting hand on Patrick's arm. "I've seen trained law enforcement officers react the same way you did after they were forced to kill someone for the first time."

"The consultant leaned forward resting his head in his hands. "I had no choice—Hardy was going to kill you and Maya," he said.

"I know. And someone should have thought to take away his damn handcuff key," Lisbon replied. "Neither he nor the deputy should've died."

"Now what happens?" Patrick asked after a moment.

"We take Maya home and then head home to Sacramento to file our reports. "How'd you learn to handle a gun like that anyway?" Lisbon asked.

"Carnival sharpshooter taught me a thing or two when I was a kid. Obviously it came in handy," he replied with a faint smile.

"Obviously. But it doesn't mean you get to carry a gun now," she stated

"I'll leave that to you," Patrick replied.