Disclaimer – As cool as it would be to be a member of Team Heller, it's evident I'm not. Therefore I don't own any part of the Mentalist TV series and am not making any money off these stories.

Thanks for the beta read, Cumberland River Relic. Big help!

Chapter 1

Patrick Jane bobbed his teabag an extra two dunks and discarded it in the trash. He gave the brew a quick stir before setting the spoon in the sink and deeply inhaling the rich aroma.

Perfection. His favorite Chinese oolong tea steeped to a delightful richness with just the right amount of milk. Was it possible to make love to a beverage? If so, it was a romance he indulged in with each delicious cup.

He blew on it softly and started toward his couch. Then he stopped and smiled to himself. The excellence of his cuppa put him in a mood to share, so he made a second cup and carried it to Lisbon's office. As usual he entered without knocking. It appeared empty.

The first thing he noticed was that her chair was pushed back against the file cabinet behind her desk. The phone was off the hook with the cord disappearing behind the desk.

Hiding under her desk to take a call? He smirked to himself. Perhaps she anticipated his barging in. But of course it wouldn't be difficult to guess he'd do so, since it was his habit.

A scritchy noise came, like someone shouting over an electronic device. Jane looked down and saw her black boot sticking out to the side of the desk. He set the tea down and rushed forward.

"Lisbon!"

She lay across her attaché case, collapsed against the wall, her eyes fluttering, her skin deathly pale. More noise came from the phone, but Jane ignored it as he yelled for help and then picked her up.

God, she's so light! Does this woman ever eat anything? Maybe she fainted from hunger.

Agents Harry Jefferson and Eliza Smithfield from Major Crimes entered just as he placed Lisbon on the sofa.

"She was collapsed on the floor," he said, cutting off their questions. "Call for an ambulance."

Airway-breathing-circulation…

Her steady breathing was full. He put his fingers to her pulse which was strong but racing. Why was she unconscious? The phone call?

"Lisbon," he said, slapping her cheek lightly.

She twitched and then winced, trying to move away from his hand.

Jane glanced at Eliza who stood nearby, ready to help as directed. Harry must have gone to lead the ambulance to the Special Crimes Unit. Jane gestured with his head.

"The phone was off the hook when I found her. See if the person is still there."

Lisbon groaned so he looked at her again.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

"Yeah…I… think… Where am…"

Then her face twisted with horror and she covered her face, beginning to sob. He dropped to one knee and brushed the hair back from her face before offering his handkerchief.

"Lisbon? What's wrong, my dear?"

Behind him, Eliza gasped and muttered "Oh dear Lord…" under her breath before thanking the person on the phone and advising the caller that there was a friend nearby to help. Jane turned to Eliza as she hurried to him.

"Her brother died in a horrible car accident last night," she whispered. "There were two young people in the car with him who also died: Jared and Annabeth Vogelstein."

Patrick Jane fought the nausea in his stomach and turned back to Lisbon, drawing her fully in his arms. She sobbed out of control as he rocked her.

To be continued...