A/N: This is my first drabble ever! I'm usually a bit long-winded, but this almost wrote itself down on its own, so who am I to fight my muse ^^
Further, this is my entry for the July Challenge over at the jello-forever board. Prompt was "Beach Time". Hope you'll like it, and please, tell me what you think.
Disclaimer: No money made.
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Tainted Memory
"Daddy!"
The girl's blonde curls bounced as she came running through the sand, something small carefully enfolded in her grasp.
Patrick smiled at his little princess, awaiting her with open arms and scooping her up as she launched into him, giggling happily all the way.
Her mother was following their daughter at a slower pace, a big smile lighting up her face, too.
It was a rare occurrence that all three of them could spend a whole day together. But today, Patrick's wife had insisted on a family trip. Her husband was lately so busy with his consulting for the police that he wasn't home often.
Next week there would be a Television show where Patrick would also talk about this Red John guy. She had been against it. He had a family to look after, a small daughter that adored her daddy, so could he please cut back a bit?!
Well, today she had stood her ground and while they had been driving Patrick had admitted that it had been a good idea.
They had chosen the beach as their destination, since the Californian summer sun was beating down from the sky and their little girl loved the ocean. Her daddy sometimes joked that they had gotten a little mermaid as daughter.
Seeing the joy sparkle in her hazel eyes, one of the few things she had inherited from her mother, it was obvious that they had made the right decision.
Patrick laughed together with his princess, carefree and happy.
"What have you got there?", he finally asked, happiness still evident in his voice.
"Look, look!"
The girl opened her palm and revealed a beautiful seashell, glinting in the July sun.
"Isn't it pretty?", she said, awe coloring her tone and making her eyes shine.
"Perfect for a princess like you", her daddy answered, meeting his wife's smile with one of his own.
It was a perfect day. The ocean was whispering, mixing with laughter of a happy family, enjoying their shared beach time.
"Jane?"
"Jane!"
"Huh?"
The blonde looked up startled out of his memory.
"You just blanked out on us again", Agent Lisbon looked unsure if she should be irritated or concerned, but Jane only gave her one of his brilliant smiles, signalizing that everything was just fine.
"What do we know?", he asked, concentrating back on what they were here for.
"Dead girl, washed up to the shore about an hour ago..."
He listened to Cho counting off the facts, but his eyes wandered back to the body, lying motionless in the sand.
She was about 16 years old, blonde hair falling in salty strands around her once pretty head and next to her lay shards of broken seashells.
Patrick sighed, forcing his mind back to reality and back to work.
Beach time was over.
