Disclaimer: The Mentalist is copyrighted to the incredible Bruno Heller, I (unfortunately) own it nor any of the related characters.
A/N: Just a quick one-shot inspired by the last scene of Red Carpet Treatment. I felt the urge to write something about Jane and the gun so here you go. Reviews feed my soul and are much appreciated.
He looks inside the box and tentatively takes the weapon concealed within. This is the first time he has held a gun of any kind since he shot Sheriff Hardy. This time though, the piece is not loaded. This time there is no one in mortal peril. He brings his other hand up to the cold metal, touching it carefully as though one false move could make it go off. Gradually he becomes more confident gripping it. He tests the load. The weight of the weapon feels right in his hand, and that scares him. Yet, at the same time, it gives him a grim satisfaction. His index finger slides slowly towards the trigger and he contemplates something he hasn't thought about for many years. He thinks of how easy it would be to load the gun, put it to his head and fire. How easy it would be to join Angela and Charlotte in that afterlife Kristina Frye had so often spoken of. Would he be able to join them though? With all the things he had done, the stupid mistakes he had made, did he really deserve to join them there? His mind moves on to other thoughts. He thinks of Winters' comments. The ones about shooting his wife's killer, the ones about it all being worth it. He wonders if it would be as satisfying to put a bullet through Red John's head. No. He vowed to cut Red John up, cut him up and watch him bleed and die slowly. Maybe a shot in the head for good measure wouldn't hurt. There's a knock at the door and he fumbles to get the piece back in its box and close the lid. He does not plan on letting anyone see it. Not yet anyway. Slowly the door opens and Teresa Lisbon smiles in,
"Case closed pizza's here." He forces himself to smile back and follows his colleague out, sneaking a glance back at the wooden box and suddenly that's all it is. A wooden box.