Disclaimer: I don't own The Mentalist or the song 'I will always love you' from Whitney Houston.
'If I should stay, I would be only be in your way. So I'll go, but I know I'll think of you every step of the way.'
Patrick Jane walked out of the CBI, he could only hope that she would move on. He turned around, facing the grey stones of the oh so familiar CBI building, the closest thing to a 'home' he have had in almost a decade. He knows that had more to do with the team -and especially Teresa Lisbon- than with the beautiful and comforting leather couch he so often napped on.
Teresa Lisbon.. He wished that he could see her just once more. Hold her. Kiss her. Talk to her.
But he couldn't. It was better for her to find someone who wouldn't break her. Who wouldn't destroy her. Put her in danger -and not just in any kind of danger, but make her the prey of California's most dangerous serial killer. Seven suspects remand. And once he had found him, he would disappear. He owed her that. He wasn't going to drag her into his problems and his suffering.
'Bittersweet memories. That is all I'm taking with me. So goodbye, please don't cry. We both know I'm not what you, you need.'
It started to rain, so he turned around and slowly started to walk to his car. He remembered how they stood in the rain, before racing back to the SUV. He could still see her smile as she felt free and careless while they runned in the rain. He could still feel her back, as his hand guided her for as long as he could, before breaking apart. He remembered how they shared an comfortable silence on the ride back.
He remembered how they stopped at a fruit stand once, and he had made her do a trust fall. How she had felt in his arms. How he wanted nothing more than to be her protector, her safe keeper.
He remembered how he bought strawberries when she was mad.
He remembered how he made an origami frog for her, and how her face had lit up when It'd jumped.
He remembered every single time she had smiled at him, it was forever locked up in his memory palace.
'I hope life treats you kind. And I hope you have all you dreamed of. And I wish to you joy and happiness. But above all this I wish you love.'
He sat in his car, but he couldn't leave just jet. He had to see her one last time, just to have a quick look at her and then he could leave. Could he? He had to. He wouldn't talk to her, just look from his car and them he would leave and never return so she could find peace, and a man that would love her just as much as he does. He hoped. She deserved it more than anyone. The team would help her and they would all be happy again, they had to.
Finally he saw her car pull up the CBI parking lot, she stepped out and entered the building, head held high as always, cup of coffee and her bag in her hands. He knew it would break her heart a little when she saw his CBI identification lying on her desk, alongside with his note saying 'I will always love you, -Patrick' but he had no choice. At least he finally told her the truth.
Once she was in side, she started the engine and whispered "I'm sorry Teresa". He slowly drove off.
'Darling I'll always, I'll always love you.'
In the bullpen Teresa entered her office. Odd, she thought, normally Jane is already here, maybe he finally had some real sleep. She smiled.
She slowly opened her office door and out her bag on the ground next to her desk. she still needed to finish some paperwork from their last case, but when she grabbed the pile of files something fell on the ground, and when she reached out to grab it, her smile faded away..
The End