Set after the last episode in season two, because I needed something to tie me over ;)

Last episode, short summary: there's a Red John copy cat, Jane investigates on his own, gets tied up to a chair, and then RJ arrives at the scene, kills the kids who were copying him, talks to Jane, and recites him the beginning of a poem: tiger, tiger, burning bright… (by William Blake). Then we see, two days later, Jane's back safe and sound at the office… You might actually recognize the first few lines… ;) for those of you who don't, you can find it on youtube ;)

Spoilers: everything between the first episode and the last one (of season 2).

Special thanks to NsCvIuS who beta-read my story! All remaining mistakes are mine...

This is my first fanfic, so tell me what you think... please...

Disclaimer : I don't own them either, just like anybody else who has to write fanfictions instead of an actual script... and don't get any money out of it, just a lot of fun!

Enjoy!

Lisbon entered the CBI office and spotted Jane, sitting on the couch with a book on his lap, looking off into space.

"You ok?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"You're sure he said nothing? Nothing at all?"

"Nothing."

She continued to her office, leaving Jane alone with his thoughts. She could tell he wasn't alright, but there was nothing she could do, and it was starting to drive her crazy as well. She could still see him through the blinds in her office. She had to find something. It shouldn't be that hard to catch a serial killer, especially since Jane is on her team. She feels so helpless; the one murderer that matters—the only one with a personal significance—keeps slipping through their fingers. She knows how hard it must have been for Patrick Jane, tied to a chair, mere inches from Red John, the man he has been pursuing for years, and not be able to do anything. It must have been really hard on him, but she's so grateful that nothing happened to Jane. Red John could have killed him, and knowing Jane, she knows how mad people can get with his arrogant remarks. But if what he told her is true, neither one of them spoke a word. She finds it hard to believe, but then again, you can't predict a psychopath's actions, nor Jane's when he comes face to face with the man who killed his family.

She had to find a way, set up a trap for Red John, do something, anything. The thought didn't leave her mind all day, hadn't left her since two days ago, when she heard what had happened.

She took all the Red John files from the office and went home. She made sure Jane didn't see them, she didn't want to get his hopes up and then let him down. She really had to find something.

Later that evening, Teresa Lisbon sat cross-legged on her couch, photos in her lap. She was looking at the smiling face drawn on Jane's bedroom wall and her eyes filled with unshed tears. How could anyone do such a horrible thing? God, she couldn't even begin to understand the pain he felt and the guilt he must still be feeling. She knew it wasn't his fault, he could not have known what was going to happen—it was Red John who committed the crime. But knowing Jane, he would feel guilty about it. She probably would too, if she were in the same situation. She took another sip of her wine and noticed that the bottle on her table was almost empty. When she looked at the photographs again, it dawned on her. She knew what she had to do. She couldn't believe she hadn't seen it earlier. She sat up, put her glass on the table, put everything back in the files, grabbed her phone and dialed a familiar number. Not waiting for the person on the other end to respond before leaving, she grabbed her keys and practically ran out to her car.

"Hello?" Said Jane, answering his phone.

"Jane, it's me, Lisbon. I need to talk to you." she responded, getting in her car.

"Why, did something happen? You sound strange…" Jane asked her while sitting up.

"Yeah, I know, look, everything is fine, but I really need to talk to you. I can't tell you on the phone. Can we meet somewhere?"

"Sure, hmm, I'm still at the office, but I can come to you, if you want?"

"No, I'm already on the way, but I can't talk at the office. Can I pick you up there? I'll be there in five minutes."

"Ok, alright. You sure everything is fine?" He asked again, still unsure about what was going on.

"Positive. I'll see you in five." was all she said before hanging up and accelerating.

As she hung up, Jane furrowed his eyebrows. She really sounded strange; it wasn't like her to lose her calm. She sounded excited, afraid and eager to tell him something at the same time. He grabbed his jacket and left the office. He went down and waited in front of the building. It was raining harder now, so he waited under the porch.

When he saw her car enter the parking lot, he put his vest over his head and ran to her. She had already opened the door for him, and the look on her face was different. He had never seen her that way. Her eyes looked sad and happy, calm and overexcited; he couldn't have a clear read on her emotions. As soon as he closed the door, she started to drive away. He actually was scared of what was going on.

"Lisbon?" he called, looking at her with a worried expression.

"Do you know a place we can talk?" was her only answer, eyes focusing on the road ahead.

"There's a bar downtown that…" he started before she cut him off.

"No, somewhere private, alone." she said, still not looking at him.

"Hmm, a few miles from here, on the outskirts of the city. It's a very nice spot and I've never seen anybody there. I go there sometimes to think. Just drive, I'll tell you when to turn." he told her.

They drove in silence for the next few minutes. Jane's eyes never left her face, he was trying to understand what was happening, to find out what she was thinking, but he just couldn't. Usually, she was obvious, but when something serious was on her mind, he never could get through. She was the only one he couldn't always read.

He guided her to his spot, a small grassed patch behind trees. It seemed cut off of the rest of the world. In front of them was the cliff, above the sea, behind, a thick curtain of trees, and above, the night sky, full of stars. It was one of the rare places you could see them, because the light of the city didn't reach that far out. Lisbon parked the car and pulled the key out of the ignition.

"Here we are. So, care to tell me what's bothering you so much?" he said, shifting his body to face her completely.

"Jane… Patrick. I know what Red John did to you, and the fact that we can't catch him just makes me as crazy as you. I saw it in your eyes that day, that you would kill him as soon as you found him. And frankly, I'm starting to think that I would too, no matter the consequences. I just couldn't figure out how to catch him." she said, finally meeting his eyes for the first time since she picked him up.

"What's changed?"

"Now, I know what I have to do, but I need your help…" she told him in a confident voice.

"I would do everything to get him, you know that, right? So, what's the problem? What do you have in mind?"

Jane looked increasingly worried. Why did she come here to tell him? Something didn't feel right, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Not yet.

"Red John could have killed you, but he didn't. When you want revenge, you usually target the person who hurt you. Not someone else. But he did. Because he knew it would be worse than death to live with it, live with the guilt, the knowledge it should have been you, and that because of you, people you loved are dead. He won't come after you, just the people close to you." she explained, her eyes getting watery again.

"I know... But why are you telling me that?" he asked, lost once again.

"Because I think the only way to lure him out is to get him to target someone you love." she told him, looking straight in his eyes.

"I don't understand…"

He looked completely lost, but she… she looked so…calm.

"We need bait. If I pose as your wife and you just pretend to be happy again—then pull off a stunt like last time—he could try to kill me, and then we would have him. But I know this would be difficult for you, going through that ordeal again, posing as a happy husband, as if nothing happened, and…"

She was cut off by his sharp response:

"No." he said matter-of-factly.

"What?" Teresa asked, confused by his reaction.

"I can't do this. Not because I would be going through it again, I'm living through it every night, and there isn't a day when I don't think about it. But it would put you in incredible danger. I won't risk your life for my revenge, Lisbon." he stated.

Even though he tried to maintain a calm voice, she could hear how angry he was under the surface. It almost scared her, she never had seen his anger directed towards her. Still, he tried to look calm and composed. He turned his face away from her and his gaze wandered over the landscape. Lisbon couldn't understand why he refused her offer, it was the only thing she could think of, and it made perfect sense. She was starting to get angry herself, angry at him, and angry at the situation.

"I'm not asking you to. I will be the one risking it. And anyway, we would be prepared this time, I would be on alert 24/7! I dedicated my life to good, to catching the bad guys. I can't let him get away with what he did!" she said, raising her voice.

"Teresa, it's just too dangerous. And what if things don't go as planned? What if he saw through it, and instead of attacking you, he killed Van Pelt? Just to prove that nobody can play him! Did you think about that?" he said, raising his voice as well.

They stared at each other and they could see the desperation, the hurt, and the anger in the other's eyes.

"We can find a way to make this work! You know him, and you could find a way to push him to make a mistake! It's the only way." she almost begged.

"No! If we did it, and made the slightest mistake, you'd be dead!"

"But you would have Red John…" she said, remembering how he looked, sitting in the dark of that cellar after they saved that poor girl.

He recognized the words and could hear the same determination in her voice he had had the day he said the exact same thing to her—the day he killed the only link he had to Red John in order to save her life. Why would she think he'd risk it now?

"I don't think you mean what you say." he said before realizing she had told him the same thing.

"Why not? Didn't you?" she asked, calmer now.

"No, I did! But you shouldn't. We'll find another way, someday…"

"Jane, I have thought this through. Please, let me help. It's my duty, but not only that. I care about you, and I don't want you to go through this alone. I can help! Please, please think about it, ok?" she begged again, trying to get through to him.

She looked like she was about to cry and he was overwhelmed by the feelings surging in him. He couldn't say a thing, so he just looked out of the window. She knew that this conversation was over, so she put the key back and turned the ignition. She went back on the road without saying a word. He just whispered her to drop him off at CBI before falling silent for the rest of the trip. She arrived on the parking lot and didn't even kill the engine, she would drive away as soon as he got out. He opened the door, stepped out in the pouring rain, not bothering to cover his head like he had done earlier that evening. He cast her a final look as he closed the door, and walked over to his car. He had to do something, he knew he wouldn't sleep anymore tonight, so he decided that driving around was just as good as anything else. As he reached his Citroen, he looked behind him and saw her leave. He stood there in the rain for a moment before getting in and driving away. He never saw the tears rolling down her cheeks...