The Importance of Life

Patrick Jane took a deep breath as he picked up the gun. He was going to end it, his life. He would be with his wife again; he would leave his lowly existence on Earth behind. He gripped the gun tightly in his hand and to his surprise he didn't feel scared. Jane was about to lift the gun to his head when he heard a voice, "You really don't wanna do that." It said.

Jane spun around and saw none other than his deceased wife standing in the doorway. She was literally glowing and looking at him with disapproval clear in her eyes.

Jane's mouth formed a perfect 'O' shape as he stared at the woman, "Mandy?" He asked quietly.

The woman, Mandy nodded, "Yes Patrick and you really don't want to pull that trigger."

Jane frowned; this couldn't be real, "Why?" He asked suspiciously assuming she was a hallucination. After all it was 3am in the morning and he was sleep deprived.

"Because if you pull that trigger there is no going back." She stated taking a step forward into the room.

"Yeah, that is kinda the point." He told her, slightly annoyed. "Why are you here? How are you here?" Jane asked still thoroughly confused.

Mandy smiled slightly, "I am here to show you the future without you. I hope to be able to change your mind about this whole matter."

Jane was now certain he was hallucinating, "Show me the future?"

She nodded, "I come from a higher plane of existence now Pat." She smirked, "I really shouldn't interfere it's against the rules, but I couldn't let you make the same mistake as so many others up there have."

Jane bit his lip, "Up there?"

Mandy grinned and nodded, "C'mon Patrick, take my hand and let's go visit your funeral."

Jane cautiously reached his hand out and she took it. The world spun around them and Jane began to feel rather sick, but after a few seconds he landed with a hard thump on the grass of a graveyard. Jane looked around and saw a coffin being lowered into the ground and a small gathering of people. Mandy motioned for him to walk over, but when he did he was shocked at what he saw. Minelli, Lisbon, Van Pelt, Rigsby and Cho were gathered there standing around the coffin that was still being lowered into the ground.

What shocked Jane was how much this had affected them. Minelli looked very upset which was very surprising. Rigsby and Cho both had tears in their eyes that they were fighting to keep back. Van Pelt had a few tears running down her face, but Lisbon, Jesus Lisbon. He hadn't even thought of how much this would hurt her. She had tears rolling down her face freely and she wasn't even bothering to wipe them away or trying to stop them. Van Pelt looked over at her and gave her a sympathetic look then grabbed her hand and squeezed it to comfort the woman. Lisbon mustered a small smile for her friend and grasped Van Pelts hand tighter.

When the coffin was lowered into the ground the priest left the friends to pay their respects. Rigsby and Cho left straight away and with a swift nod to Lisbon so did Minelli. Lisbon and Van Pelt stood there for a little longer and eventually Lisbon spoke, telling Van Pelt that she had decided to leave. She said goodbye to Van Pelt and as she walked away she whispered, "Goodbye… Patrick."

Mandy looked at Jane who was trying to hide the tears in his eyes, "Lets follow Teresa Lisbon home." She said quietly to the man.

She held out her hand again and Jane took it quickly this time. The next thing they knew they were sitting in the back of Lisbon's car and as she drove home the tears were still running freely down her face, until a song came on the CD player that was. It only took one line for the change to take effect;

"I hope you can hear me, I remember it clearly. The day you slipped away, was the day I found it won't be the same."

Lisbon broke down and pulled the car to the side of the road. She turned off the engine and sobbed her heart out. Mandy glanced at Jane and saw that he too had tears streaming down his face.

Mandy grabbed his hand and the next thing Jane knew he was standing in Cho's living room. His wife Mary was watching TV with their two young children when Cho walked into the room. Mary walked over to him and hugged him, "How are you?"

Cho shrugged, "Fine, just tired, I'm going to bed for a while."

Mary nodded, biting her lip slightly as Cho walked out of the room. Jane hurried after him and was shocked to see him curl up in his bed and let a few tears escape his eyes. He couldn't believe how much people cared for him; it shocked him to the core.

Mandy had appeared by his side again, "You see Patrick. Too many people care for you here. It isn't time for you to leave yet. Let us go to Teresa's apartment now." She held out her hand and Jane took it, slightly hesitant about seeing Lisbon crying like that again.

In a few seconds they were standing in Lisbon's living room. She was still crying, but not as badly as she had been in the car and she was picking up the phone and dialling a number. Before Jane had time to wonder who she was calling the person on the other end answered the phone, "Hello?" A female voice said.

Lisbon bit her lip and tried to control her voice so that it didn't shake, but she failed miserably, "Hello Emily, its Teresa. Is James home?"

The woman on the other end, Emily replied, "Yes he is Teresa. Are you alright? You sound like you've been crying."

Lisbon made an annoyed face, "Oh I'm fine Emily. Can you please put James on the phone?"

Emily said she would just go and get him and a few seconds later a man spoke, "Terri! I haven't heard from you in so long! How have you been?"

Lisbon sighed, "James I don't have anyone to talk too and I… I need someone right now." Her voice trembled as she spoke and when James spoke again he sounded very worried, "What is it Terri?" He asked in panic.

Lisbon replied, "You know Patrick Jane, the consultant I told you about?"

James still sounded worried as he said, "Yes, what about him?"

This was the point when Lisbon burst into tears, "He killed himself James! He fucking killed himself!"

Lisbon was upset, but also angry at Jane for leaving her when he knew that she loved him, well he had to know. It was so obvious, she was sure that he and the rest of the bloody CBI office knew.

As Lisbon began to sob again Jane once again had tears streaming down his face at seeing Lisbon like that and with a sigh Mandy said, "That isn't all Patrick."

He groaned, "I've got to see more of this?"

Mandy nodded, "I'm afraid so."