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Author's note: This is the first time that I have posted anything in a very long time. It is good to finally be back. This story has been in my notebook for a while now. It's based off of an idea I got during my morning commute. Also, this in un-beta'd and my first story in this Fandom so pardon any errors. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Neither "The Mentalist" nor anything associated with it belongs to me.
While you were Sleeping: Chapter 1
Sleep is the only thing occupying Agent Lisbon's mind as she enters her apartment. Her feet seem to weigh fifty pounds each as she removes her boots by the door before tossing her bag and jacket onto the couch on her way to the bathroom through the living room. As quickly as her exhausted, sore body allows Lisbon removes her work clothes, leaving them in a pile on the tile floor in favor of her favorite well-worn jersey. Half asleep already she brushes her teeth and washes her face. Finally, Lisbon exits the bathroom and collapses onto her bed in the darkness, not even bothering to pull back the covers. She is fully asleep before her body has a chance to warm the mattress.
A time later, Agent Lisbon is roused from a deep sleep by a presence around her. It is heavy; it holds her down, and it is hot. There is also a pain radiating from her neck. Groggily she tries to turn over and sink further into the down comforter in order to get back to sleep and ignore this disturbance; however, the weight around her prohibits her from moving. The pain in her neck gets sharper, more severe.
"My lovely dear Teresa, I wouldn't try to move if I were you. It is not a part of my plan for you to die tonight. No, I need you alive for a while longer. Patrick must witness your sufferable death" a voice speaks from above Lisbon.
Instantly she stills beneath the sheets. Still her eyes remain closed. She figures she must be dreaming about the case or a case. Yet, suddenly the pain in her neck spreads from ear to ear, causing her to cry out and her eyes to fly open. When they do, Lisbon gasps audibly in shock at the presence above her. In the abrupt stillness of the moment the only thing Lisbon is aware of besides the pain is the blood streaming down her neck and pooling at her clavicle and soaking the collar of her jersey.
"No my dear, you are not dreaming. It is really me, in the flesh" Red John chuckles at his misplaced attempt at humor.
All Lisbon can do is stare into the brown eyes of the man who has wrecked havoc on her and her team's life for a decade, the man whom Jane is devoting his life to find. Her bedroom is now lit- Red John turned on all of the lights. He is wearing all black except for the red in his grotesque mask. Lisbon knows all too well that he will leave no evidence of his presence so she commits every detail of this encounter to memory. Right now she is wishing desperately that her memory palace was a magnificent as Jane's.
"Wh-…Ho…" Lisbon attempts to speak but finds her voice will not come.
Red John meanwhile draws the knife deeper into her flesh causing tears to pool at the corners of her eyes. Lisbon tries in vain to reach up to the knife as well as to kick. Red John has her pinned down well; he is very strong and obviously well-trained. Her thoughts flash to her weapon and her phone, both in the living room and too far to get to. Even her personal weapon under her pillow is unreachable if it is even still there. No doubt Red John knows it is there; he knows the layout of her apartment and its contents Lisbon reckons.
"I know you and Patrick are well aware that his "happy memory you've never told anyone" is you Agent Lisbon. You two are smart, too smart for your own good so I know you've figured it out. Even Lorelei managed to figure out that you two love each other. Yes Agent Lisbon I will kill you; I will kill you in such a way that you suffer greatly while Patrick watches unable to save you as he says he always will. No matter what Patrick Jane will not be able to save you Teresa. I've changed the game and you two don't know the new rules."
Red John turns the knife so the flat, wide side presses into the flesh of Lisbon's air way. He leans all of his body weight over the knife, pressing down harder still. Red John's masked face is inches from Lisbon's as she begins to gasp for air, squirming the little she can. After a few moments her movements still and her body goes limp. Red John quietly gets off of Lisbon, and exits the bedroom, turning off the lights as he goes.
To be continued…