A/N: Here's my entry for the April Jello Forever Challenge - Wishes. This one I'm going to dedicate to all of my anonymous reviewers who have shown me great love and support. Thank you for reading. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I disclaim that I don't own the Mentalist or any of its characters.
Over
It was over. I couldn't quite wrap my mind around it. My hands were still shaking. My eyes, still stinging with fresh tears. I cast a quick glance over at my team. Van Pelt looked completely distraught, sobbing in the arms of my stoic second in command. Rigsby stood off to the side, unable to make eye contact with either of his colleagues.
I slowly holstered my firearm, my gaze settling on the man collapsed on the ground. He doesn't utter a word as I pulled him onto his feet. His hands and knees are covered in blood, thankfully not his own. At first, I didn't know what to do but before I could stop myself, I have my arms tightly around him. I could feel his heart beating against mine, his breath against my neck. Minutes could have gone by, maybe hours, until the paramedics arrived. I vaguely remembered Jane not wanting to let go before he was finally pried away. The rest was a hazy memory. The hospital, CBI headquarters, my home. The places were all muddled into one and when I woke the next morning and arrived at work, it seemed as though the past twenty-four hours was merely a dream and never happened. The feeling didn't last. Jane was already waiting in the bullpen.
"Hi," I greeted, hesitantly. "What are you doing here?"
"I came in to say goodbye."
His words felt like a slap in the face.
"Oh."
It was all I could muster, though there were a million things I wanted to say. To convince him to stay, to convince him that he could have a life after Red John.
"It was an honor working with you, Lisbon."
He smiled widely but his eyes betrayed his cheery disposition.
"Likewise," I managed to reply. "I hope you find what you're looking for."
I'm not sure why I chose those words. They had even felt awkward rolling off my tongue. He silently nodded his head and then walked past me. I should have stopped him, but I felt frozen in place. Taking a few cleansing breaths, I swiped away the tears that had formed in my eyes. I was heading to my office when a hand tugged at my arm, forcing me to turn around. His lips were on mine before I could string together a coherent thought. The kiss was urgent, demanding and everything that I imagined it would be like. Letting go of all the years of pent up frustration, released in a single act of intense passion. When he finally pulled away, I clung onto the lapels of his jacket for balance.
"I wish I met you earlier, before all of this."
His words were a whisper against my lips and I silently wished that this ephemeral moment would last. Closing my eyes, I tried desperately to soak him in, committing his scent, his taste, to memory. I should have known better. I reopened my eyes and he was gone. It was over.
Fin for now, Jello forever