Blasted Past - Fabricated Future

A/N This is my second mentalist fic. This is kind of AU, I will try to keep Jane and Lisbon in character as much as I can bt I find this hard as I am a massive shipper : )

Hope you enjoy

PS I had SO many problems naming this fic and that ^^ is the best I could come up with - the future of my fic does not bode well lol and i started writing this after xmas then got really busy and didn't want to change it which accounts for the festive tone :) x

(X)

Lisbon walked through Sacramento mall clutching festive bags, the place was decorated merrily, Christmas songs blaring over speakers. Streamers hung from the ceiling and limply on the walls. People bustled all around her. She must have passed at least six Christmas trees and she wanted to kick the dam things over! It wasn't that she didn't like Christmas, she loved it. Loved her brothers calling her dropping hints about what they wanted. The family visiting, over eating, the feeling of this time of year, it reminded her of her mother. It's just….Christmas was a time for family, this time of year was especially hard on those who had lost theirs…namely Jane. She exhaled sadly, while at work she'd look at him sat on his sofa and he'd be wearing this lost expression sometimes, then he'd seem to sense that someone was watching and look at her and his mask would slip right back into place.

She shook her head and continued window shopping. Speaking of Jane, she still had no idea what to buy him for Christmas. She had everyone's presents except his. Why did he have to be so hard to buy for? Then again that was Jane all over, the blond haired thorn in her side. Last year as a joke she had bought him a magic kit complete with get up including a wand. He had simply smiled at her in that infuriatingly smug way and said Lisbon we all know that magic doesn't exist and proceeded to explain how every trick in the set was done. It wasn't maliciously done, it's just it kinda takes the fun out of magic if you know how to do it. The wonder is in the wow how did they do that, although be sure never to say that to Jane because he will gladly explain it.

Someone barged passed her and she looked at them in annoyance, God she hated shopping, well Christmas shopping! Usually she shopped alone and knew exactly what she was going to buy but Jane being Jane would even insist on being awkward in that respect actually make that every respect! Then there was the sheer multitude of people in the mall. This many people in one place was bad news. Muggings, theft, assault, robbery, any number of things could happen and sometimes getting to the scene made all the difference, having to get passed crowds of people meant someone could die. Combined with that was the threat of bombs and incendiary devices, anything terror related made her nervous. She exhaled paranoia making her edgy. She tried to turn her cop side off, it wasn't often she had the opportunity just to wander aimlessly.

She glanced into a jewellery shop as she passed, she noticed the cashier was dealing with a customer who was red faced. She walked inside slowly, didn't notice how agitated the customer was getting. She walked to the clear boxes considering what Jane would like, ignoring both the customer and the cashier. She saw some gorgeous cuff links, she slipped her coat off, the heat in here was intense. She placed it in the bag which held Chos present. she frowned when she saw the intense look on the cashiers face.

(X)

Jane loved the mall, it was a great place to cold read people and keep his skills sharp. Especially the ones who bumped people and didn't care. He was also around here because he knew that Lisbon was around buying presents and it was killing him not knowing what she was buying him. Every year he guessed what she was going to get him and every year he guessed wrong! Something about her just knocked him instincts sideways, he never knew what she was thinking and it unnerved him. This year though he was leaving nothing to chance. Cho was buying him a shirt set, Rigsby traditional in terms of socks and a tie and Van Pelt aftershave. Lisbon though, why was she such an enigma? An alarm began to ring sharp and shrill, a voice over the speakers cautioning people that there had been an incident and they had to leave the quadrant as soon as possible. He was willing to put money on the fact that Lisbon had pulled her gun on someone, she hated the tedium of shopping, it irritated her no end. Plus he knew shopping for him would drive her crazy, it was, he mused, his mission in life. He headed for an exit smiling widely.

(X)

Lisbon had found the perfect cuff links for Jane, and they were just the right price. They were platinum and glinted bright under the lights. They were beyond gorgeous. The cashier was still busy, and looking troubled.

"You ok?" she asked the lady.

"Yeah!" the customer replied bluntly, the cashier nodded vigorously.

Lisbon shrugged and looked at the woman's jewellery, she still needed to get her niece's present. She reached up and rubbed the back of her neck and stretched and yawned, she'd had a late night last night trying to talk Wainwrite out of having a coronary after another of Jane's escapades. As she stretched her suit jacket rose up.

The customer looked and saw her badge and gun. "A COP A COP!" he yelped.

Lisbon turned towards him.

An explosion bellowed. Lisbon felt a piercing pain in her neck below her ear then a burning sensation in her head…..everything went black.

Meanwhile while the man was distracted the cashier ran into the back to raise the alarm. The culprit realising what he'd done ran over to Lisbon, stole her gun and then left the shop quickly. Lisbon lay on the floor, unmoving, blood leaking from her head.

As Jane headed towards an exit a man barged passed him, Jane turned and watched him run. He was going in the wrong direction, and seemed eager to get away! He carried in walking when he heard screaming.

"HELP ME, SHE'S BEEN SHOT!" a young woman in a jewellery store screamed, she was hysterical. Everyone stared at her wearily. Jane approached, if only to calm her down.

"Have you called an ambulance?"

She nodded. "Can you help her please?"

"I'll call my friend, she's a police officer, she can help."

The lady nodded. "She's a cop too."

Jane frowned and looked passed the young woman, his breath caught when he saw Lisbon's head in a pool of blood. He pushed the lady out of the way and was on his knees beside Lisbon in seconds. "Lisbon?" he whispered and looked at her. He swore when he saw her wound. He touched her face gently.

"Do you know her?" the lady asked.

"Lisbon!" he repeated louder, ignoring the saleswoman. He was scared to touch Lisbon incase he did something wrong, but at the same time he couldn't just let her bleed to death either! He had no idea what to do! "C'mon Lisbon!" he pleaded caressing her cheek. "Go to the door and direct the paramedics here when they arrive!" he ordered the saleswoman.

She scurried off, meanwhile Lisbon's eyes fluttered and opened, they were groggy and at half mast.

"Lisbon." he whispered gratefully, his voice escaped him at that second, a whisper was all he could manage. "Tell me what to do!" he asked clutching her hand.

Lisbon frowned up at him. "Beebopilyblip." was what she heard. She swallowed and grimaced. Jane's free hand covered his mouth when he saw blood surge from her neck.

"Don't swallow ok Lisbon just don't!" he couldn't do this, he couldn't watch her die! "Lisbon c'mon." his voice breaking. "You've been shot and I don't know how to help you, please tell me!"

She blinked tiredly.

"NO Lisbon don't go to sleep!" he panicked.

Lisbon stared up at the man, his mouth was moving fast but all she heard was buzzing. He kept shaking his head and looking at her intensely. He was really nice to look at and had beautiful eyes. She could look at him all day, her vision began to blur and she felt irritation that she couldn't see the man anymore, then a warmth filled her and all she felt was peace.

Jane looked down at Lisbon. "Keep those eyes open Teresa, c'mon stay with me!" he ordered.

Her eyes flickered open and closed, like she couldn't make up her mind.

"You never listen to me!" he snapped. "And you should!" he pulled off his vest and pressed it to the wound in her neck trying to keep the precious blood in her body. If she lost too much she'd die. She lay there watching him, an unblinking stare.

"You not allowed to die ok." he whispered he stroked her cheek with his free hand. "No way, not now." he looked into her eyes once again. "Everyone knows you're the only one who stops me from going way too far so keep those green eyes focused on mine ok?"

Warm blood oozed onto his fingers, God she was losing blood to fast it had soaked through his vest top already! He tossed it aside and heard the heavy slap as it hit the floor. He tore his shirt off and wadded it up, pressed it to her wound. She didn't even flinch. "I ruined my best shirt for you, you owe me a new one ok? And as soon as you're better I expect it!" he was breathing heavily. He didn't like this, Lisbon's eyes were still open but there was no light in them, they seemed glazed over and she wasn't responding at all to what he was saying. He didn't eve know if she was conscious. He was aware of her pulse as it throbbed in her neck. With every beat of her heart more blood was being pumped from her body.