So I'm actually going to attempt a multi-chapter! This one will probably only be 3, maybe 4 chapters long, but PLEASE let me know what you think and if I'm going in the right direction. Like many of you, I read one of the newest spoilers about season 6, about how a "new female lead will have a lot to do with Jane staying at the CBI after the death of Red John" and I wanted to write a fic to kind of sort out my feelings about that, and how maybe I think it should go. As always, enjoy and please review! :)
"The CBI team along with its consultant, Patrick Jane, has worked together and after over a decade-long hunt, has managed to find and kill the serial murderer responsible for over thirty deaths in almost twenty years, Red John."
"The world is a better and safer place without this man lurking among us. We thank Teresa Lisbon and her team for ridding us of such an awful man."
"Where do I suppose he is? Burning in hell, if justice exists after life on earth."
"Patrick Jane, consultant for the CBI, had strong personal ties to this case. I know it must be a relief and a satisfying feeling to have the man responsible for his wife and daughter's death dead, after all these years."
"This team's bravery will forever be remembered."
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It was minutes after the trigger had been pulled to kill Red John that the press had arrived, covering the scene and the story. Cameras were flashing around the CBI team. People were hugging, smiling, laughing, crying tears of joy that he was dead. Police officers from all over the state were there to congratulate the team.
They should have been celebrating with them.
Patrick Janeshould have been grinning, praising whatever god he saw fit, hugging, crying. This was his guy, after all. And it had been twelve brutal years chasing this man.
But he wasn't. Lisbon and her team were still, they hadn't moved since the trigger had been pulled. They were staring at the lifeless body of the man who had caused so much harm through the years with a pool of blood sitting around him. Ironic.
Jane couldn't take his eyes off of the body and his normally sparkling blue eyes were emotionless, unreadable. Lisbon turned her eyes from the body and glanced over at Jane, shocked still.
After a minute, she spoke. "Congratulations, Jane," she said softly, genuine. There was no smile though, only raw emotion and shock and disbelief.
Jane never took his eyes off the body. He only nodded, and after a minute, finally drew his eyes up and began walking toward the door of the house. Without a word, he brushed briskly by Lisbon and exited, ignoring all the people who stuck microphones and cameras in his face on the way out. He walked straight to his car, turned the key in the ignition, and drove away, without a single word.
Lisbon watched him go through the window. Her team hadn't said anything to her, though they finally managed to look up from the body. And Lisbon wiped away the single tear that fell off her face and exited, finally answering to the dozens of people waiting impatiently to interview the senior agent hero of the CBI, Teresa Lisbon.
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It was four days later, and Lisbon was still filling out paperwork on the Red John case. The man was dead, yet there had been no celebration. No hugs, no expression of joy for the murderer that had haunted her unit and her consultant for over a decade. Because Jane still hadn't made his appearance since his death. He was gone, without a word, once again.
"Where's Jane?"
As if she had read her thoughts. Lisbon looked up to see Special Agent Laura Price, her new boss, standing in the doorway to her office. Lisbon just shook her head.
"I don't know ma'am. I haven't seen him since the death," she replied honestly.
Price nodded. "It's understandable he'd be in a state of shock. It was pretty traumatic, what happened."
Lisbon nodded in agreement, but reluctance. "I just wish he told me where he was going."
Price took a step closer and tapped on Lisbon's desk as she made eye contact with her. She gave Lisbon a small smile. "In due time, Agent Lisbon. In due time." With that, she turned on her heel and walked out, leaving the paperwork to Lisbon.
"It's gonna be all right, Lisbon, okay? I promise."
"Love you."
"I'm always going to save you, Lisbon, whether you like it or not."
"Whatever happens, you can trust me. I need you to know that."
"I want to see what your face feels like when you're smiling."
"Anything for you, Lisbon."
"If I were dying, I'd call you."
"Lisbon, look at me. Lisbon, I'm not leaving you, okay? I promise."
He had promised. Then how come he had left her? And how come it wasn't okay? Lisbon ran her hands through her hair and bit back her tears, trying to concentrate on her work.
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Jane had imagined this to be much different.
For twelve years only one thought had gotten him through his quest for Red John. The aftermath of it all. When he was alone and feeling discouraged or weak, he would think about what his life would be like after they finally got Red John.
He always thought he'd be celebrating. He had always assumed when the day came and Red John was finally out of his life for good, he'd be smiling for days and days and days. How he'd feel lighter, he wouldn't have to worry so much, he might actually sleep.
He didn't expect this.
He didn't expect, four days after Red John had been put down, to be out on the secluded part of the beach in Malibu, all alone, still wearing the three piece suit he had worn when Red John was killed.
He expected to be with Lisbon.
He had always thought when Red John was over, he could finally hug Lisbon, really hug her. He wanted to hold her, to thank her, to spend time with her, with no worries or fears. After all, for some reason, she had been with him for twelve years and never left him, even when he gave her every reason to. He kept her at arm's length even when it killed him for the sole reason of protecting her. All that kept him going was thinking of the after. Of what he could do when Red John finally stopped haunting him.
But Red John never stopped. He was still in his dreams, he wasn't sleeping. He could never fully be out of his life, because he had been a part of it for so long. Patrick Jane didn't know what to do without hunting Red John.
So he did all he knew how to do. He ran. He hid. He ran and he hid from his team, from the only person he wanted to be with right now. And he ran and hid because he didn't understand what he was supposed to do now. He didn't know how to begin to apologize for what he had put Lisbon and the team through. He didn't know what to say, what to do. He didn't know how to move on.
So Patrick Jane ran, and he hid.
What do you think? Chapter two will be up tomorrow or Saturday!