Return to Sacramento

Thanks to Jaimie255 for the prompt.

Plot: Five years after the season 3 finale, Jane and Lisbon are married and living in Los Angeles. They return to Sacramento for the Annual CBI Fundraiser and a weekend-reunion of the team. But everything isn't moonlight and roses. An old enemy has waited a long time to exact his revenge.

Disclaimer: Nothing is mine

"Okay, do we have everything?" She asked as she shoved one last bag into the stuffed trunk of the grey SUV.

"Yes, honey. We've got enough clothes for three weeks of visiting, enough food to feed a small army..."

"Well, we're going to see Rigsby again." She said, throwing her hands up in defeat. "Whatever. If we forget it now, it's forgotten."

He caught her by the arm and pulled her closer, smirking at the way her eyebrows furrowed in a frustrated little frown. "Relax now, sweetie. We've got about six hours on the I5 with a three-year-old toddler. You're never gonna get through that if you're stressed."

She said nothing, but he felt her nod in confirmation. He loved holding her like this, with her head tucked under his chin. He could feel her warm breath and gentle sighs against his neck and her cinnamon-scented ebony locks would tickle his nose. They've been married more than three years, but to him it still felt like they were newlyweds. He was still completely smitten with his feisty little firecracker of a wife.

"Are you nervous about the trip?" He muttered into her hair.

"Hmm... Kind of. I mean, the last time we saw the team was at the wedding. I mean, they haven't even met Jess yet or anything."

"Yeah. I'm lucky they were there when we got married. I'm pretty sure that Cho would've punched my teeth out if he found out I impregnated you before."

"You did impregnate me before." She said, frowning up at him.

"Yeah, but he doesn't need to know that." He said smiling. His smile didn't fade as they both grew silent. There was nothing outside of them; only the moment, only blue eyes meeting green. He lowered his neck and kissed her lips sweetly. "I love you, Teresa." He whispered against her lips.

"Mommy, Mommy!" A voice called from the doorway. The couple broke and, smilingly, turned to view the little girl bopping down the front steps with her ragtag teddy bear dragging behind her on the grass, her hands filled with boxes. "Don't forget my puzzles!"

"Wouldn't dream of it, sweetheart." Lisbon said, taking the towering boxes from her daughter's arms. "Jess, do you really need to take so many boxes? You can really just take one, sweetie. Maybe two."

"No!" The little girl cried, a familiar frown forming over her daddy's blue eyes. "I need all of them!"

"C'mon, Teresa, let the kid take her puzzles. It's not like she doesn't play with them." He kissed his wife cheek and took the puzzle boxes from her hands, placing them under one of the seats in the SUV. "There you go, princess. All there. Now is everyone ready?"

"I'll just go do one last run through the house and check and I'll lock the doors. You..." Lisbon lifted her squealing daughter into the air and deposited her in her father's arms. "Put Jess in her car seat. I'll be right back."

Patrick Jane watched his wife fastwalk back into the house and shook his head fondly. That woman was the worst kind of Type A. If she wasn't careful, her head might explode from trying to have 100% control over everything all of the time. Thankfully she had him now, to bring her back to earth when she gets a little high-strung.

It's been just about five years since that fateful day. The day he shot Red John – in a crowded mall, no less. It was months after the incident when he saw her next, and it was through the bulletproof glass window of the visiting booth in prison. Her shoulder was bandaged from the bullet that bastard O'Laughlin put there. He dreamt about her that night. And every night thereafter until a judge ruled not-guilty and he was set free.

He remembers that day in the crowded courtroom; the overwhelming relief he felt when he was acquitted. He never really thought that a prison sentence would matter to him after he took his revenge. He thought that it wouldn't matter anymore, that his only purpose in life would've been served and where he spent his last, empty years wouldn't matter. But he didn't consider his beautiful raven-haired boss in the equation. He didn't remember to factor in the way her eyes sparkled when they bantered and lit with green fire when they fought. Or the way her smile haunted his dreams when he was lying in his cold, hard bed in prison, sleepless and lonely.

He had searched her out in the crowds of the courtroom as soon as he was allowed to walk. She looked tired – her eyes circled with black from a sleepless night – but also relieved that he would walk free. He had run to her, taken her tightly in his arms and kissed her lips, frozen in shock, senseless.

That was the start of his new life.

He had spent the better part of the next year wooing her, trying to convince her to let go of all the hang-ups and be his – they moved in together soon thereafter. A year later, she got the offer from the LAPD, and when she moved he went with her. Another year later he proposed. He was eager to walk down the aisle, but it took a little pink line for his sensible bride to agree on the practically-shotgun wedding date. After all, they never needed anything extravagant. They flew the team and her brothers in, called in a favor from a pastor whose niece's murderer they had found, and wed on the beach at sunset.

About eight months later, Jane was woken up by his wife's hand frantically slapping his face. It was time, she had shouted. The next day (after several hard hours in labor and a slightly panicked, but finally virtuous birth) the nurse handed them their beautiful baby girl.

Jessica Grace Jane, Jess for short, with her daddy's curious blue eyes and her mother's dark locks and petite frame.

She would quickly grow with very clear character streaks from both her parents; the apple didn't fall very far from the tree with this little girl of his, Jane mused. Even at this young age it was clear that she had inherited her father's quick and intelligent mind – she walked and talked early and mastered puzzles meant for children twice her age - and his mother's tomboyish ways. Already it was nearly impossible to keep shoes on her feet and getting her in a dress was a war.

"Look at this! Now aren't you glad I ran through again?" Lisbon said, holding up his wallet to him as she walked down the driveway to the car.

"What would I do without you?" He said, pecking her lips lightly as he took the leather wallet.

She chuckled at the goofy smile that was still on his face. "What's up with you?"

"I was just thinking a bit. You know, about our wedding day. About Jess. I love you, Teresa. And I'm so happy I got a second chance."

She suppressed the smile that tugged at the corners of her mouse. "You're so cheesy, you know that?"

"I know. Now let's get on the road or we'll miss the entire weekend."

"Okay." Then, as she walked around the SUV to the passenger seat: "Did you remember to pack your tux?"

"Yes, honey."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure, Teresa. Now relax. Everything's good." He chuckled and climbed into the driver's seat and looked behind to Jess who was strapped into her yellow car seat in the back and was playing around with her teddy bear. "You ready, princess?"

"Ready, Daddy!" She called.

"Then let's get driving."

Beside him Lisbon sighed, exhaling all of her stress as she fastened her seat belt. "Back to Sacramento we go..."

Okay, so I just finished Mrs Teresa Riley yesterday and already I'm back at it! Please review and let me know what you guys think about it. I promise it's not gonna be just a fluff-with-no-plot piece. There will be some drama.

Much love, Zanny