A/N~ Cannon up until 6x22 (Blue Bird), explores what might have happened if Lisbon went to DC with Pike instead of staying in DC with Jane. Hope you enjoy it! The next chapter should be up in a couple of days.

Unexplained Endings

Chapter One~

September 2015

Teresa Lisbon's death had been a complete and utter lie and Patrick Jane knew it.

Of course, it had been a long and tedious road, beginning with her death and leading to Jane sitting outside her apartment building. Jane had almost fallen apart on numerous occasions, with leads that lead him nowhere and opposition at every corner he met; he'd lost his job because the FBI thought he was "unstable". Not that he could counter that, when he had been completely focused on proving that a dead woman, who had been buried and mourned, was actually still alive.

It was late by the time Jane reached the apartment building; the last rays of the sun were just disappearing below the sky line, leaving a lingering amber glow illuminating the town. He hadn't expected to find her here; Mexico had been his first guess, or maybe Canada at a push, but Argentina had surprised him. He hadn't had long to ponder her country choices though; the moment he'd heard cryptic word of her current place of residence, he had caught the next plane out.

Jane killed the engine and sat up in the car chair, not taking his eyes off of the apartments. He watched the trickle of people wander in and out of the building; small children with thick overcoats and gloves, men with long strides and briefcases. He had overcome sixteen months without her, run-ins with the infamous Marcus Pike, insufficient resources and a lack of people who believed in his ideas of her non-death; a little waiting for her to return wasn't going to kill him.

16 months previously~

May 18th 2014

"Hey." Teresa Lisbon said as she closed the TSA holding room door behind her.

Patrick Jane looked up at her entrance, a smile creeping across his face as he watched her sit down gingerly in the plastic chair across the table. "Hi".

She bit her lip and gently touched the cross at her throat, expression anxious and torn. She didn't think she could do this, she couldn't reject the very person she had been pining for the last seven years. She couldn't reject him. Images of those years tumbled through her mind; Jane flashing his charming smile, Jane making her origami frogs to make up with her. Then came Jane refusing to let her in when he was in Red John mode, Jane uprooting and fleeing to Vegas with elaborate plans and no word as to whether he was okay, Jane killing Red John and moving to South America before shooting headlong back into her life and dictating to her that she should move to Texas. Then came images of Marcus Pike; he was charming and sweet, although not in the breathtaking way Patrick was, but ultimately safe. She would never have to spend weeks at home wondering if he was ever coming back, wouldn't have her heart shattered at least twice a year.

She took a fortifying breath and began, "Jane-"

"You didn't go to DC" he interrupted, his eyes locking with hers with an unwavering intensity that she knew meant he was analysing her in some way. She cleared her throat and looked away.

"No. I didn't."

He could feel the guilt emanating from her as she looked back up to catch his gaze once again. "You are going though, aren't you?" he called her out. She didn't answer, which was all he needed to confirm it. "I knew it."

She didn't know what to say other than, "I'm sorry."

"Why did you get off that plane, Lisbon? I mean, you'll be keeping Pike waiting," he said bitterly, all traces of happiness to see her replaced.

"Don't be this way."

"What way?" he said, well aware that he was being unfair.

"You know what I mean, Jane. Don't act like the injured party." She sat forward in her chair and put her palm against the cold table, fury rising in her, but exhaustion not allowing her voice to rise.

"I'm not."

"Yes you are. And damn-it, you have no right to. I'm the one who wasted half my life away waiting for you and the one time I attempt to move on you want me." She swept a hand over her face and studied him for a moment before continuing. "It's like... It's like I'm a God-damned toy that you want because some other kid is playing with it."

Jane squeezed his eyes shut. "That's not true," he said, voice wavering. "I felt the same way about you."

"Don't pretend to understand," she snapped.

"Why are you here, Lisbon?" Jane asked after a moment. He was watching her intently, analysing her movements and expressions. He could tell she was angry, but there was a type of wanting buried underneath, the type that gave him hope that this might not be goodbye. Lisbon had always put up with his crap, it was part of the reason why they had become so close over the years, and the idea that she might be irreparably finished with him was beyond his comprehension. He was Patrick Jane, mastermind of manipulation, and the possibilitythat he had lost her after all his efforts to keep her safe and with him was something of a ludicrous concept to him. Looking at her now, however, he could see the tired lines of being pushed too far etched on her face, he could see the toll of years working with him had had on her. The realisation that he had pushed her one step too far hit him like a ton of bricks, like a steam train. He felt breathless and empty and irretrievably desperate to show her that he adored her, that he needed her, that she had been his salvation and without her, he would not be able to go on.

She answered after a long silence, "I just didn't want to leave it that way."

"Because this is so much better?" He exclaimed. He stood up with a gust of passionate acrimony, leaning forwards with his hands on the table to take weight off his bad ankle. He hovered there for a moment, looking across the table and searching her face for a hint of understanding. A heartbeat later he moved to her side and grabbed her hand, pulling her to stand with him. "Lisbon..." he touched her face delicately, looking up at her underneath his eyelashes and then returning his hand to hers, grasping it firmly between both of his. "Lisbon, please think about this. This is our chance, we owe it to ourselves- we owe it to each other. Please, give me this chance and I will spend the rest of my time on this earth adoring you and loving you. Can you really say that you'll be happy in DC with Pike?" Jane could count on one hand the times he had bared himself to another human being in this way, one being when he proposed to Angela, another when Charlotte was born, then on the plane a mere few hours ago and in that moment, asking her to stay with him. He could feel the adrenaline rushing through his veins; all of his senses were heightened.

"Jane, stop it."

"No!" He pushed forwards to kiss her cheeks gently, finally pecking her lips and smoothing her hair back from her face. Her eyes fluttered closed and she let out a trembling breath. She wavered slightly, letting him kiss her, savouring the moment with a bitter-sweet hunger. She could give in easily. She could say to hell with it all and spend the rest of her days engulfed in Jane; Jane with his crazy schemes, beautiful eyes and maddeningly sweet curls. But then again, it wouldn't be like that. Jane would let her down again, he would leave her again. She had barely survived when Jane had left the past times, but if she stayed and allowed herself to fall deeper in love with him, she would not come out the other side. There could be nothing after loving and losing Patrick Jane, and she would lose him. "Listen to me-" he began, his lips leaving her face and his voice pulling her back into sense. She pushed him away and stood on her feet, putting a few steps between them, the feel of his lips still leaving her tingling.

"It's too late, Jane." She said, eyes sad, but her mind made up. He didn't say anything more as she turned and walked out of the TSA holding room, leaving him kneeling on the floor, the physical pain of his ankle fair eclipsed by the dawning realisation that this was likely the last time he would see her.

A huge thank you to Emma (Emma95) for betaing this for me, she has helped an amazing amount!