SISTER IN RED.
Summary: Patrick Jane is not as alone as he thought he was, but how does he deal with it?
This is my first story. Ever. Hope you like it. #theMentalist.
Patrick was lying on his couch in the CBI office as he always did after having case closed donuts and a cup of tea. He was tired. It was a particularly long case and he was genuinely exhausted. Lisbon was leaving and soon he'd go up to his office in the attic and sleep through the night on his little cot. It was better then sleeping at home.
"You staying here tonight Jane?" Lisbon asked nudging his arm with her knee.
"Indeed I am." He said smiling at her drearily.
"Well, then I'll see you tomorrow, Jane." She said as her footsteps echoed toward the elevator.
"Goodbye Lisbon" he said quietly and slowly stood, and then stretched. It's too bad he couldn't bring this couch up to his office… it was much better for his back then his make-shift bed. He took the stairs up to the top floor. Oh, how beautiful California is at night. The big display window in his office gave him the view of the city, it opened up before him. The sky and stars were ready to swallow him into unconsciousness. He removed his blue suit jacket and unbuttoned his vest. Removing his shoes he slipped under the thin blanket, shivered for a moment and then fell right to sleep. He dreamed of family and bloody smiley faces.
He woke the next morning when a beam of sunlight fell across his face and sent warmth through his body. His clothes were damp with sweat, he'd had nightmares. Again. He'd become accustomed to them, and didn't think anything of it. It was routine. He removed a towel, and a new suit from a drawer in his desk and went to shower in the CBI showers. Letting the hot water run onto his neck and down his torso he was able to relax. Lisbon would be here soon, and then Cho and Rigsby and Vanpelt. His friends. He smiled to himself. He enjoyed their company, and he's become close to them in the search for Red John. They were his new family, and he'd do anything for them, because they'd already shown that they'd do anything for him.
He sat on his couch and let the cup of tea warm his fingers. Today would most likely be dreary and boring because there was no case and he didn't have paperwork to do. He was just a consultant. He knew he'd end up on Lisbon's couch, talking to her about whatever came to mind. Either that or tormenting Rigsby, which he enjoyed doing immensely. Rigsby was the perfect mark, and he never got tired of teasing him. Setting his tea cup in the sink of the break room he heard Lisbon come in off of the elevator.
"Lisbon! In here Lisbon!" he called.
"Oh, hi Jane." She said smiling at him, "Have a good night's sleep?" she asked. He nodded. They both knew that she already knew the answer to that question and purely asked out of politeness.
"And how did you sleep, my dear Lisbon?" Jane asked as they walked into her office. She hung up her coat on the coat rack in the corner and set her travel mug, that was most likely filled with coffee, on her desk as she sat down. Jane spread out on his back across her couch with his hands behind his head.
"It was pretty good. Accept for this annoying stray cat that keeps scratching a meowing at my back door." She complained.
"Oh? And why didn't you just let the cat inside?" he asked simply.
"Because, Jane, I do not want a cat. I already have enough pets to take care of." He grinned, he knew that she was referring to the team. How sweet.
"Are you saying that you think of us as animals?" he asked with a fake incredulous tone in his voice.
"Maybe not Vanpelt and Cho, but the way Rigsby eats and the way that you cause trouble, yes." They laughed. Their laughter was full of warmth and happiness and it filled the room. It was pleasant for Patrick. Laughing with a friend, as if there were no worries in the world. He knew that Lisbon felt the same way. It was comforting to know that.
Jane was in the middle of showing Rigsby a card trick when the secretary entered the CBI crimes unit offices.
"Mr. Jane?" she asked. He set the cards on Rigsby's desk, leaving him to ponder how he's guessed every card that was held up to his forehead.
"Umm.. Yes?" he asked chuckling at Rigsby.
"There's a young girl at the front desk. She's telling me that she knows you, that she needs to speak with you." She said a little curiously. Huh. Patrick didn't know any young girls, at least he didn't think he did. If this has to do with Red John…
"Send her in." he said solemnly. A teen girl walked in. She looked to be about 17, a year older then the age Charlotte would be. She was wearing a baggy red t-shirt, with jeans that showed how thin her legs were. She was extremely slender and small, but she didn't look particularly unhealthy. She had high cheek bones, pale but soft skin. Her hair was short, in a pixie cut, blonde, a set of curls on her head. She had a small nose that was turned up just a bit and her ears were thin and almost pointed. She looked almost elfin. There was a small amount of blue eye-liner under her eyes that emphasized her startlingly blue eyes.
"Are-are you Pat-Patrick Jane?" she asked nervously, almost urgently. A wild look in her eyes.
"Yes." Jane said softly, "Who are you?"
"Well, you've got to promise to hear me out. Cause you may not believe me when I tell you why I'm here." She said quickly.
"Alright. Alright. Come over here and sit on the couch. Just take your time, and tell me why you're here." He said soothingly, waving her forward. She nodded, fiddling with her fingers, and sat down next to Jane.
"You see, I'm fr-from a carnival outside town. No-not the one you're from, but we know who you are. You-you're a legend." She said smiling. Patrick grinned.
"Oh really?" how nice to know that he's appreciated outside the CBI.
"Yeah and umm, well you see my mother died when I was 7, she fell while performing a trapeze stunt. I've been with my father ever since, but umm, he was a lot older then my mom, and he- he uhh, had a heart-attack yesterday." She said, choking up a little.
"Well, I'm sorry for your loss." He said comfortingly, and resting his hand on her shoulder. "But what has this got to do with me?"
"Well, I don't have anyone else in the carnival, we're not close knit like other carnies. Its every man for himself, and I was told to go find my next of kin." She explained slowly.
"I-I'm sorry. I don't follow…" Jane said puzzled. The entire team was standing around them now. Listening intently.
"Patrick, my father, he was- he was your father. I'm your half-sister Patrick. My name is Lizzy Jane."
