"You want mercy after all you've done?" Jane said incredulously looking at the wounded man with disgust.
Despite all the evidence leading to this conclusion Jane found it hard to believe that this pathetic worm was the man who had outwitted him for all these years. There was no doubting he was a pathological killer but he neither had the charm nor cunning Jane had expected of his adversary.
McAllister continued to plead that Jane was a good man and this would haunt him but Jane's heart was pure stone as he surveyed this excuse of man, he had been haunted for all these years killing the sheriff would not worry him in the slightest.
With great poise Jane pronounced "I am not hesitating, I am just savoring the moment.
You are Red John - I have to say I am a little disappointed."
Jane heard the chapel doors open he quickly turned and saw a marksman in the doorway; he steeled himself for the inevitable. He had hardly expected to escape this unscathed, if he had to die so be it but he was taking McAllister with him. In that moment he thought briefly of Teresa and the words left unspoken - before turning his attention back to the sheriff who had struggled to his feet and was intent on escape.
Coolly Jane took aim and was about to pull the trigger when the sheriff fell down dead in front of him. The sound of a single shot reverberated round the chapel and the marksman left as quickly as he came leaving Jane surveying the body of the fallen sheriff with disbelief -what the fuck?
Robbed of his personal vengeance Jane felt cheated; the sick bastard was dead no one else would suffer at his hands but Jane felt nothing at this point no elation just nothing. He sat in one of the pews awaiting the arrival of Abbott, who would surely be there soon.
Unexpectedly the borrowed phoned signaled an incoming text; surprised anyone knew this number he curiously looked down at the screen before reeling back with horror.
No need to be disappointed Patrick, I assure you I'm still here - did you really think I would walk into your trap?
Confused Jane looked around the chapel, guessing McAllister must have been wearing a wire he shouted "Show yourself whoever you are - I know you can hear me. Come out and face me you coward."
The phone started to ring and a familiar soft voice said "really Patrick how could you think that barbarian was the Red John?"
"What's going on - who are you?" Jane shouted desperately.
"Housekeeping Patrick - they have outlived their usefulness and were starting to have delusions of grandeur. Don't you worry who I am, we will meet again very soon and don't forget to bring Teresa when we do. I am so looking forward to playing with her again. The clock is ticking Patrick - tick tock."
Jane collapsed into a seat all of this had been for nothing - he was overwhelmed by a sense of complete desolation. The dam finally burst; his legendary composure failed and he wailed out loud rocking backwards and forwards not caring who saw or heard him - his nemesis had won again Jane was inconsolable thinking of how he had failed Charlotte and Angela.
Abbott surveyed the scene littered with dead bodies, they had found Cordero's body outside - he just muttered oh hell then looked over to the consultant bent double incoherent and sobbing.
Abbott approached Jane cautiously and softly said "Patrick, now hand over your gun it's over now -you're safe. We need to talk to you, come with me."
The blond haired man slowly raised his head, his tear stained face was by now impassive, in fact it was totally blank he had completely switched off.
Abbott looked at the broken man with pity; he could not in all honesty say what he would have done if he had been in Jane's position. At first glance it did not look as if Jane had fired the fatal shot, his actions would be construed as self defense but that would not be proven until they had done the necessary forensics.
They gently led Jane away once the forensics had been done; Abbott tried in vain to interview Jane he appeared to be in shock and was unable to talk. At that point it was decided to admit him to a secure psychiatric unit for evaluation - Jane was no use to them like this and moreover he was considered to be a suicide risk and was still potentially at risk from Blake.
Abbott had found the phone and read the text; it did not take him long to work out that Red John was still alive.
The CBI team was still in custody; at this moment Abbott was not inclined to divulge too much information to them, not yet knowing whether or not they were implicated in Blake.
They were individually interviewed by the FBI, their stories corroborated so they were not detained as their safety in custody could not be guaranteed. If they were not Blake they would be sitting ducks - their future prospects looked bleak.
Agent Lisbon clearly knew more than she let on; despite his grudging regard for her Abbott continued to play hard ball with her. He would use whatever he could to get her to open up; he could sense her weakness was her loyalty to her team she would not let them pay for her mistakes.
When Lisbon asked him what had happened to Jane he smirked at her and told her there was no need to worry about her boyfriend, he was alive and safe.
Unsure whether she was going to be held in custody herself, she pressed Jane's case asking whether he had legal representation whilst disregarding her own predicament.
"Agent Lisbon, he won't need that where he is going and that is all I have to say on the matter" Abbott responded with finality then left.
After being left to stew in the detention room alone with her thoughts for a few hours, one of the FBI agents came in and told her she could go but would be required for further questioning.
As soon as she was released Teresa checked in with the team to see if anyone had heard anything about Jane. They had all drawn blanks on that score - the FBI was saying nothing.
Lisbon advised them all to tell the truth when questioned; they could not help either Jane or herself and needed to look out for themselves. She finished by telling them to be vigilant, Blake was still out there and would be gunning for them.
As a last resort Lisbon decided to contact Mancini, they had struck up a good rapport over the last few months and he might help her as a friend. Suspicious of the call being traced he told her to call him back from a safe number, eventually he told her off the record that all he knew was that Jane had suffered a complete breakdown and was being held in a psychiatric unit.
Lisbon's heart broke when she heard this but rather than wallow in self pity she tried to put together a plan. Years ago Jane had appointed Lisbon as his medical power of attorney in the event he was incapacitated, so she sought legal advice from Wayne's ex Sarah. It appeared they had no right to deny her access to Jane whilst he was under medical supervision, so the following day she returned and confronted Abbott head on.
She really was a force of nature, under different circumstances Abbott would have relished having Lisbon on his team and admired her tenacity though he took care not to show it.
Abbott was still getting nowhere with Jane, the medics told him that Jane was still shut down and the FBI agent had actually contemplated getting Lisbon involved prior to her visit, this saved him having to lose face by asking her. They agreed a time to visit Jane and made their way to the facility independently.
The meeting with the medics was not encouraging, they advised that Jane was in a catatonic state and was largely unresponsive and that Lisbon and the FBI agent should tread carefully to ensure they did not cause any additional stress. The psychiatrists would monitor proceedings from outside and would pull them out if they were remotely unhappy with the way things were going.
Lisbon's heart sank when she finally saw Jane – her wonderfully bright irrepressible consultant was an empty shell just staring rigidly into space. Abbott followed her into the room observing carefully.
Lisbon sat down beside Jane and gently took his hand "Patrick, it's me Teresa. I've missed you." There was no response. With difficulty she tried to chat away to try and put him at ease but he maintained his rigid indifference. A rebellious tear ran down her cheek, she just ignored it knowing she had to be strong for him. "Jane, can you hear me? Please talk to me. Would you like something to drink – some tea perhaps?"
There was a flicker of his eyelids "Tea" he repeated still looking away from her. Lisbon looked round at Abbott and asked if someone could get him some tea. Mindful of his safety tea duly arrived in a plastic beaker.
"Here it is Patrick, just take a sip for me" she gently said and raised the beaker to his lips taking care not to startle him. He took a sip then pulled a face and said "tea" again. Teresa could not help but smile, knowing how particular he was about his tea.
She raised his arm to take the drink but he just sat there rigidly like a statue holding the beaker, Teresa realized she was going to have to help him. After taking the beaker back she lowered his arm down from its set position. Slowly and gently she coaxed him to take the drink then held his hand gently stroking it and saying soothing words.
Not wishing to put undue strain on him at this point, Lisbon decided to leave and ask if she could visit again tomorrow.
"Patrick I am going now but I will be back again soon" then she quietly whispered into his ear "you are safe, you are loved and you are wise" before planting a gentle kiss on his forehead.
Jane's features relaxed into a picture of calm on hearing Lisbon repeat the words he used to say to Charlotte at bedtime. Still not engaging with anyone he muttered "sleep" and lay down then drifted off to sleep.
Lisbon barely knew how she held it together, the tears would come later when she was by herself but she was not going to drop her guard in front of Abbott, who himself had been quite moved by what he had witnessed.
"We need to talk to the psychiatrist again" she told Abbott, he nodded and ushered her out of the room. The medics were encouraged by what they had seen and with Abbott's consent it was decided that alongside the normal treatments it would be therapeutic if Lisbon were involved in Jane's rehabilitation.
After much deliberation Abbott decided she needed to know the whole picture in case she inadvertently said the wrong thing, so he told her about the phone message and that they suspected the sheriff was a decoy and the real Red John was still alive.
Lisbon could barely contain her anger that this information had been withheld from her and she now understood what had tipped Jane over the edge. Remembering Jane's previous experience in a mental facility she wished Sophie Miller was still alive to help him but Red John had stifled that option as well.
For now Teresa's sole focus was on making Jane well again, she knew she still had questions to answer and following her own advice she decided to come clean with Abbott, after all things could hardly get any worse. They were literally starting with a blank piece of paper from this moment on.
A/N I know nothing of US Law Enforcement procedures and hope I have not made too many mistakes in this. I was always profoundly disappointed in the Red John reveal and following a suggestion from Louise Kurylo, this is my attempt to explore the alternatives. The first chapter is just to set the scene for events that follow.