Hi this is my first Mentalist fic so I hope it is ok. I am borrowing the character 'Joe' the bartender from Greys Anatomy for this fic. It took be close to an hour to work up the courage to post this so.. well I dunno…

This story was inspired by Jane's comment to Grace.

Jane: Because of a trauma in your past that you've never spoken of to anyone, ever. Even yourself.

Disclaimer- I don't own any of the characters they belong to the makers of The Mentalist and Joe belongs to the makers of Greys.


Rigsby groaned as he was awoken by the sound of his mobile phone ringing, he wondered who would be calling him at one o'clock in the morning. He groaned again before rolling over and grabbing his phone from his bedside table without checking the caller idée he flipped it open and answered.

"Rigsby"

"Ah hi it's Joe from the bar" it took a few moments for Rigsby to recognize the man's voice and name as the owner of the local bar that team and him often visited after cases.

"What can I do for you?" Rigsby asked yawning.

"It's Ms VanPelt she…"

"What... What happened?" Rigsby cut off Joe, immediately jumping to the worst conclusion thinking something had happened to his Grace.

"She is ok she drunk a bit too much and now she is upset and when I asked if there was someone I could call for her she said you" Joe finished saying.

"I'm on my way" Rigsby was completely awake now; he leaped from his bed and quickly dressed. On his way to the bar he was trying to work out what would make Grace go drinking by herself on a work night and why she would get so upset, he just prayed that she was okay and no one had hurt her.

Ten minutes later Rigsby pulled into the parking lot of the pub, he parked his car in the parking bay next to Grace's Jeep. He stepped out of his car and shivered as the cold air hit him and he hurried his pace. He stepped into the bar and immediately scanned the room for Grace, but he couldn't see her and he began to panic.

There were a few men at the bar and Rigsby could see Joe serving one of them. He walked up to the bar.

"Hey Agent Rigsby"

"Where's Grace?"

"Hold on one moment" Rigsby walked closer to the bar he had his hands in his pockets, he continued to look for Grace and had to try had not to demand he tell her where she was immediately. A few moments later Joe looked towards him.

"Come with me she's just upstairs" Joe said indicating to a staircase behind him. Rigsby followed him. The idea of some one else having Grace in there apartment made him angry even though he knew Joe was just looking after Grace.

"She is just in here, she didn't look so good so I said she could come lay down."

"OK, any idea what she was doing here or who she was with?"

"No she came in by herself I could tell something was bothering her but she wouldn't talk just wanted to drink " Joe said shrugging his shoulders. Just then they reached the room Grace was in. She was lying on the couch and appeared to be sleeping. Rigsby slowly walked towards her and kneeled down beside the couch.

"Grace" he lightly touched her shoulder. "Hey Gracie wake up it's Rigsby" Grace stirred and her eyes slowly opened. Rigsby could see the tear stains on her cheeks and her eyes were read and puffy and she smelt badly of alcohol, but Rigsby didn't care about that he only cared that she was okay.

"Rigsby" she spoke quietly.

"Yeh it's me" Grace slowly sat up; her head was pounding from the mixture of alcohol and crying. She felt tears beginning to well in her eyes again and she felt one escape and run down her cheek.

"Oh Grace, it's okay" without thinking Rigsby wrapped his arms around Grace. Grace buried her face in Rigsby's chest and began to cry. The sound of Grace crying almost broke Rigsby's heart he hated seeing his Grace this way.

"Come on Grace let's get you home" He scooped her up in his arms as she continued to cry now gripping onto his shirt.

"You can just come back tomorrow and get her car, ill lock it up safe" Joe said smiling.

"Thanks for everything" Rigsby said moving towards the door.

"Happy to help"

Rigsby carried Grace to his car whispering comforting words to her. By the time he had reached it her crying had subsided but she still clung to his shirt, with her eyes closed tightly. Rigsby managed to unlock and open the passenger door whilst still holding Grace, he gently placed her on the seat but she still held onto him.

"Grace, it's okay you have to let go so I can drive, just go back to sleep" he spoke gently and brushed a caring hand over her forehead.

"Ok" Grace mumbled and reluctantly let go of Rigsby's shirt. Rigsby reached for the handle and slowly laid the chair back slightly so she could sleep easier. Rigsby then softly closed the door and walked around to the driver's side of the car, he climbed in and looked over at Grace she had her head laid back on the head rest and her eyes where closed but she didn't look peaceful she looked restless and as if she was in some sort of pain.

"Are you ok Grace?" he couldn't stop himself from asking. Grace began to gently nod her head but then changed to shaking it. Rigsby instinctively reached for her hand and wrapped his tightly around it. Grace responded by squeezing his hand tightly. Rigsby wanted to ask what was wrong and what the reason was for her drinking on her own but he restrained himself because he knew it wasn't the best time, Grace probably had a headache and she needed to sleep so he settled for just reassuring her that she was okay.

Rigsby pulled into Grace's driveway. At some point during the journey Grace had fallen asleep Rigsby knew this because the grip she had on his hand loosened.

"Hey, Grace we are here" he spoke quietly and squeezed her hand. Grace opened her and began to sit up groaning as her head throbbed.

"Where are your house keys?" Rigsby asked.

"Um" Grace let go of Rigsby's hand and began to pat the jacket she was wearing and then searched her pockets. "I must have left them in my car" Grace said sighing and dropping her head into her hands. Rigsby thought for a moment they could either drive back to the bar which would take them at least fifteen minutes and they would have to just hope Joe hadn't locked up yet or they could drive back to his place and it would only take ten minutes.

"Urgh I don't feel so good" Grace said wrapping an arm around her stomach and leaning her head back.

"We could just go back to my place" Rigsby said slightly tentative about how she would react.

"OK" Grace nodded. Rigsby pulled out of the driveway and a few moments later Grace reached for his hand.

Ten Minutes later they arrived at Rigsby's apartment. This time instead of waking Grace up he carried her from the car into his apartment and up to his bedroom, the thought of him having Grace in his bedroom gave him butterflies but it definitely wasn't the circumstances he would have liked. Rigsby gently placed her on his bed, he planned on leaving her and letting her sleep.

"Rigsby?" Graced asked just as he placed the covers over her.

"Yeh?"

"Do you have anything I could sleep in?" Graced asked sitting up and looking at Rigsby through the dark.

"Uh yer um sure" Rigsby said surprised he had thought Grace was asleep. Rigsby flicked on the bedroom light and opened a door that led to a large walk in closet. A moment latter he returned with a large grey t-shirt.

"Thanks" Rigsby noticed how terrible she looked, well she still looked great but she had dark circles around her eyes, her skin was slightly paler than usual, and she looked and sounded as if she could burst into tears again at any moment.

"No worries. Do you want some aspirin or something?" Rigsby said turning around to give Grace some privacy.

"Yer thanks Rigsby"

"Ok I'll just go… and yer" Rigsby mumbled as he left the room. Grace inhaled a shaky breath her head was pounding and her stomach hurt all she wanted to do was curl up in a ball and cry, but the way Rigsby's shirt smelt just like him and the fact that she was in his house and his bed comforted her. Grace was interrupted by her thoughts when Rigsby re-entered the room carrying a glass of water and some aspirin.

"Ah here" Rigsby stammered as he noticed how gorgeous Grace looked in his wearing nothing but his T-shirt.

"Thanks" Grace said taking the water and aspirin and quickly swallowed the tablets followed by the water.

"Well I'm gonna be on the couch so if you need anything" Rigsby said emphasizing anything.

"Ok" Grace stammered. Rigsby flicked of the light as he made his way out the door.

"Wait Rigsby" Grace stopped him from leaving and he turned around to look back at her through the darkness.

"Could… could you stay" Grace's shaky voice broke his heart; he didn't need to see her to know she was crying again.

"Of course" Rigsby stepped back into the room he sat on the edge of his bed and kicked his shoes off before scooting closer to Grace he once again wrapped his arms around her and she buried her face in his chest; he could feel her body shake as she cried. He gently rubbed his hand up and down her back. Rigsby reached for the covers, he slid down into the bed so they were both lying next to each other; Grace with her head on his chest and Rigsby with his arms still wrapped around her. After about fifteen minutes Grace's crying subsided and he could tell she was asleep by her even breathing, he moved slightly and this caused Grace to move even closer to him, Rigsby sighed and slowly drifted off to sleep listening to the rhythmic sound of Grace's breathing.

I hope you liked it please review and let me know if it is worth continuing. If you like it I have kind of planned what is going to happen and have ideas for the name of the sequel and sequel to the sequel. (yes I am getting carried away considering I don't know if anyone will like it lol)

(P.S the car is automatic so he can hold her hand )