Those We Leave Behind

Her car was found parked and abandoned at the far end of a large city library in Roseville. As Jane stood there looking to the car for clues, the late October winds blew his blond curls into his eyes. The leaves turned around at his ankles as the wind blew the giant oak trees, the sound in his ears almost a taunt. 'you won't find her.' The wind it seemed even new Jane was beat at his own game.

However the darker chill that ran up his spine was not from wind but rather the car that sat before him. More specifically the hood of the car, where a giant red smiley face stared up at him. Dreadfully in the appearance of having been painted in the blood of the cars last occupant. Agent Teresa Lisbon, Jane could see her now with her espresso colored hair that she generally wore straight and at shoulder length that would frame her face perfectly with a little flip inward. An obvious tell to Jane that she put in effort to her appearance, without drawing in too much attention to herself. He could see her jade green eyes that seemed to look right into him at times, instead of past him as most people would. That is unless he pulled a stunt to get their attention. Lisbon's lips, an object in which Jane did his utmost not to look at too often. He was always afraid she could tell what he was thinking when he did, which was funny in and of itself since he was the mindreader in their team. Actually he could not read minds, he just paid attention as he had told her a hundred times before.

God how he hoped and nearly prayed to the god that Lisbon believed in, that the blood on the hood of the white Nissan that stood there taunting him was not in fact bearing Lisbon's blood. He nearly prayed that he would still get to see those pouty lips smile again, when his Lisbon smiled it lit up her face like a Christmas tree. "wait…his Lisbon?" He thought to himself, as he filed it away in his memory palace, noting that he would have to analyze that thought later.

His mind continued to wander as he still stood before the vehicle and continued to analyze the scene searching for clues. His subconscious still thinking of Lisbon and her smile, in a way it was a protection from the pain and shock that she was gone and had been taken, to continue his ridiculous thoughts of her smile. Beautiful and serene, it was a rare occasion that she smiled, but when she did it was always well worth the wait.

He vowed to make her smile more often when he got her back, because it could not be an 'if'. Jane would not survive a day without Lisbon, he mused as he sipped his tea from a Styrofoam cup that someone had handed him without his noticing. There would be no life for Patrick Jane without his Partner and undeclared best friend. The would be Red John knew this, which was probably why Jane was standing there looking at a giant smiley face of blood from the only person aside from his declared revenge on The Red John that kept Patrick Jane tethered to this earth.

Jane walked around the car, the wind wipping at his jacket in which he hardly registered. "There has to be a clue here somewhere," he whispered to himself, hardly realizing he had spoken out loud. Taking another sip he tried to clear his mind and calm his inner self. With another sip Jane tasted black chai with a hint of plastic, "blech!" he spoke out loud this time. Jane despised Styrafoam cups, they always leaked plastic into the flavor of his tea, he also believed they caused cancer. With a sigh Jane longed for his blue china cup back at CBI headquarters, along with his broken in couch, He always did his best thinking there in his zone.

Jane though refused to leave the crime scene until he found something, anything to bring back with him to help the team find Lisbon. Glancing up he noticed Agents Wayne Rigsby and Kimball Cho watching him, both fellow agents of Lisbon's Major Crimes unit within the CBI.

They had all known each other for years now, so luckily the Agents both knew well enough to leave Jane alone until he spoke. Agent Grace Van Pelt, the 'rookie' of their team had probably been the one to slip Jane the cup of tea without his notice. She meant well and he felt safe enough in her presence, which was probably why Jane had not registered her actions.

The tea was now cold and he could not make himself take another sip, walking over to Agent Cho who was now the head of this investigation, handing the cup to Rigsby. "Here, get rid of this please." Janes distaste clear in his words, though he spoke graciously enough. "Did you find anything?" Cho asked, as the other agent took the tea from Jane but remained standing there wanting to hear the news first hand for himself. Jane sighed and threw up his hands, "So far all I've gathered is the blood is quite possibly fake or mixed with fake blood to make it look as if there is more blood spilled from Teresa than has actually occurred. Which I am sure you both already know." Both senior agents looked at him with blank expressions, and then looked at each other. "Oh, come on, really?" Jane exclaimed, with a slight sigh he shook his head and went on to explain."The smell is all wrong, the kidnapper probably banked on the metal of the car to help leak into the blood and mask that it's fake. It smells all wrong, real blood smells like rust and salt. This blood smells too sweet, it's probably pigs blood. And the color is just a bit too pink, could even be store bought from a Halloween shop around the corner." Both Agents looked at him like he could be right, but they still held doubt that the blood was not in fact belonging to Agent Lisbon their beloved boss of over five years. Jane feeling raw in his emotions and on edge snapped at them, " You both are senior agents, and you didn't think to smell the blood?"

Truthfully even Jane only felt ninety percent certain in his deduction. Turning back to the car Jane shook his head. Cho finally replied in his direct monotone usual self, "Well we will know once the results come in that you sent back with Grace, as soon as we are back at the station." Neither agent was going to take offense at Jane's words, they both had heard his words countless times before and knew they were all on edge anyway with their Boss missing in action.