I apologize for my hiatus! I've been doing stuff I guess. I also apologize for uploading a new story instead of just updating any of my other ones. I will update them, I promise! But this plot bunny was mean, it threatened me. Actually, one day I had an idea for a prompt, but had no idea where to go with it. It was just Lisbon, waking up to find Jane's vest in her bed with no idea as to why. So I mulled it over a while, and finally figured out what to do with it! But a warning to you all, it's meant to be kind of a head trip, though I'm not sure if I was able to get that through well enough, so criticism, as always, is welcome!
And once again, if I don't even own the car I drive, then I definitely don't own The Mentalist!
Spoilers for 2x3: Red Badge
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Ch. 1 – Lost and Found
The obnoxious tone of my alarm shook me from my dreamless state, and I rubbed my forehead feeling groggy. If it wasn't for the familiar scenery of my room I might have wondered where I was. Everything looked as it should, but I couldn't shake this distant, hazy feel the world seemed to hold.
Was I drinking last night? When I thought about it, I found I didn't even remember leaving my office. And I had no headache that usually followed a night of drinking. My sinuses felt clogged, but that was about it. I didn't always get hangovers, but even I knew it was unusual not to have one if I drank enough to black out. And even more unusual was I didn't remember deciding to drink.
I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes with one hand and using the other as a support on my bed. I scrunched the fabric that rested underneath. It felt familiar, but it definitely didn't belong on my bed.
And there it was, I recognized it immediately.
Jane's vest was lying there next to me in my bed.
Just what the hell happened last night?
Immediately I got up to look for the annoying consultant who dared to enter my sanctuary, but he was nowhere to be found. There wasn't even any evidence that he'd been there at all, aside from his vest. The shower hadn't been used, no breakfast or tea had been made. Hell, all the dirty dishes were still stacked in my sink and there didn't seem to be any extra dishes.
The inevitable shiver crept up and my whole body tensed. This whole thing felt too much like the McTeer case. Only now it seemed to involve the only man who was able to clear my name then.
But how? Ever since then I made sure to be extra careful about my food and drinks at work.
The stress seemed to exacerbate the strain on my already clogged sinuses. So I immediately rummaged through my bag for the Benadryl. Strange though, four pills were already missing from the pack and I'd only bought it a couple days ago. Maybe Jane took them. Allergy season is starting up, and lord knows that man has no sense of personal boundaries.
I could only hope that when I arrived at work I wouldn't be accused of another crime. But if a certain blond man didn't give me answers, I might end up killing him.
---
The atmosphere of my office felt less distant. It was still kind of hazy, but it felt more real than my room, or the strangely quick drive here. Actually, the drive here seemed more like a blur. And for some reason my office seemed... darker than it should. To remedy this I flicked the lamp on, but the instant I did the retinas in my eyes scorched as if they were on fire. I yelped in pain and turned off the offending light.
If I wasn't afraid this morning, I certainly am now.
I reached for my cross just to feel a little bit of comfort. It took all of my strength not to cry right then and there from what I felt, or rather, what I didn't feel. My cross wasn't around my neck. I couldn't find it this morning when I was getting ready for work.
I heard my door open and slam shut in a hurry. I didn't need to turn around to know who it was. I couldn't bear to look at him, not now, not when I felt so vulnerable. I needed to focus on anything besides him and the living nightmare he somehow started.
I looked at my bag that had his vest shoved inside.
No. That's how all of this started.
I turned to my desk and studied every detail of it. A small glimmer caught my eye. I walked over and gripped it in my hand.
How dare he!...
"Lisbon, are you okay? I heard you shout and then I just saw you standing there in the dar--"
"Do you think this is funny?!" I interrupted and held up my cross.
"I-- what? I don't..."
Why was he stammering? Jane never stammered. Where was that witty retort of his? The son of a bitch couldn't even make up an excuse as to why he took my cross?
"Lisbon, what are--"
"You know what? Whatever. Just take it, Jane."
I shoved the tiny object into his vest-less chest and stormed out to the bathroom. I already couldn't think straight, but now... Now anger was flowing out of every pore on my body, and I still didn't have any answers.
