Author's note : after the Mentalist's new promo I had enough material and inspiration to write a full book, no kidding xDD so this story will be centered one what coul happen in the 5x02 – Devil's Cherry episode. However, since the last episode has had unresolved issues I decides to introduce my story with the main events of the season 5 premire. Enjoy xDD
Chapter 1 (The Fall)
After the storm usually came the peace and quiet but in the life of Patrick Jane serial disasters came crashing down without mercy ; when and where was only a matter of time.
For the past six months he had worked thoroughfully to catch Red John's lastest accomplice. He had caress the sweet sensation of hope, he had even fantasized about the possibility to finally have a normal life again. But thanks to the FBI and their childish territorial attitude hope had vanished forever.
Whem Bertram and the mighty Serious Crime Unit quizzically questionned Lisbon and their team about what happened to Lorelai, Jane had let her filled the blanks too lost and desperate to get into some overwhelming explanations. The director of CBI had then strictly commanded to start searching for her but deep down inside Jane knew she was long far gone and that Red John was the root cause of it.
Lisbon wasn't fool she had seen the look of dissappointment in his eyes. Like usual she would try to cushion him from his fall and help him puss the guilt far away. But frankly, from the way he looked she feared he might be close to a nervous break down. Not that she didn't fear such thing might happen before, especially when it came to Red John, but she could see the breaking point in Jane's life shining from the horizon and that what's scared her the most.
It didn't took long before a new case came in. As to be La cerise sur le sundea or the icing on the cake, a seven years old little girl had been mudered by a sadistic serial killer. Lisbon knew Jane enough to imagine what horrible toughts must have gone through his mind.
"I'm sorry Jane I know how hard it must be for you and I would understand perfectly if you wanted to remove yourself from this case" Lisbon told Jane with a sympathizing tone
"I'm fine Lisbon…" Jane lied "and frankly due the circompstances a little distraction can't hurt me" he said forcing a smile
"okay" she told him concern visible on her features
Jane stood from his couch and followed Lisbon in the black SUV. He fastened his seatbelt silently and avoided as much eye contact as he could. Lisbon didn't seem to want a casual discussion which was fine with him.
When they finally arrived on the crime scene, reporters's van and law inforcements vehicules were already parked in from of the house. From the first look, Jane knew it was a comfortable familly, probably middle-class and united as well. He had the unpleasant feeling of déjà vu.
As he stepped in the house his first reaction was to look for the little girl's bedroom. While they were interrogating the parents, Lisbon and her team didn't noticed Jane heading upstairs.
For a brief moment before he turned the door knob his mind wandered towards the fear of witnessing the bloody smiley face on the wall like he had almost ten years ago. But when he saw the perfect immaculate décor of the room he chased the silly thought of his head. The victim wasn't his daughter, she was no Charlotte. Unfortunately, Red John wasn't the only disturbed spririt in this world and Jane would feel no remorse to avange her like he promised on his wife and daughter's graves.
As he paced the room, something caught his attention : on the bedside table there was a picture of the little girl and his father. He was holding her on the top of his shoulders and from the picture he could see how happy they were smiling and laughing.
Without realizing, a sad smile grew on Jane's lips. Memories of his past days with his daughter fumbled into his mind, leaving a bittersweat taste on his tongue. For a moment, he even allowed himself to picture himself and Charlotte on the photo. Something which wasn't hard since the little girl and his father were both blonde, just like him and his daughter.
Within a seconds, all became dark and blurry bringing him back to that very day he lost her. His face contracted with disgust and his heart started racing at full speed.
He tried to breath in and out but for some reason the air wouldn't come and the panick started to kick in. On instinct he slowly went down the stairs and went to the kitchen to prepare himself some tea ; his only medecine.
But as he drank the hot beverage a whisper came across his ear then he felt in his legs flinched one by one. He tried to grab the edge of the counter but it was useless. He felt backward almost in a slow lingering motion and he lost grip of the cup and saucer who splattered on the ground in a thousand pieces.
From there, Jane had lost total control of his body and mind. His back laid on the cold ceramic floor and he felt his own body convulsing incontrollably.
No one had seen Jane's whereabouts and no one could see his distress from the living room.
"Thank you for your time" Lisbon said as she stood up and shook the parent's hands
"Where's Jane ?" Grace asked
"Jane we're going" Lisbon shouted to be sure he could ear her
The absence of answer made Lison rolling back her eyes.
"you hear this ?" Cho said
When Lisbon catched the imperceptible sound of that Cho had pointed out, she scouted towards the kitchen. What she discover left her in instant shock.
"Oh my god" Lisbon said as she squated down next to Jane "we need to call and ambulance now" she said lips trembling
"Jane stay with me it's gonna be okay" she said as her eyes started to get watery
Before the paramedics arrived it felt like an eternity in a living hell for Lisbon. When she heard the sirens echoing in the background she sighed in relief. Her eyes didn't quit Jane. Her heart skipped a beat when he stopped to shake and almost went rigid.
She immediately felt his pulse and found out it was weak. At the same time the paramedisc raced down the kitchen.
"I…I…don't know what happned…he…he was shaking…then he…he stopped mo-moving" Lisbon stuttered
"does he have any past history of epilepsy stage ?" the paremedics asked
"no" Lisbon responded absent-mindedly
"he's having a seizure" the men said to his partner seriously
Within seconds they installed Jane in a stretcher and gave him an oxygen mask. Without asking Lisbon managed to set herself in the ambulance with Jane right after she gave following orders to Cho.
Curled up in the ambulance back seat, Lisbon couldn't help but recite a prayer for Jane ; it wasn't much but it the best thing she could do right now.
When they arrived to the nearest hospital, the two men took Jane immediatly to the emergency room. As she watched them take Jane away Lisbon stared at him as if he would wake up at any moment her eyes glimmering with hope.
"ma'am you need to stay in here" they told her in a commanding tone
She desesperatly wanted to go in there with him and she was enough determinated to convince an army if it was necessary. But a small part inside of her screamed that she didn't have the strengh to do so.
"his he gonna be okay ?" Lisbon yelled
It was the only thing she manages to ask before she lost sight of Jane. But no one answered her leaving her with her fears and doubts mourning the possible loss of her closest friend.
And that's how the next storm struck into Jane's life bringing everything around him in a whilwind of dust until they shattered ; there was no coming back for Lisbon she was already a collateral dammage in his life waiting to disspear without a trace.