A/N: I just want to thank Charline ( wellthatslucky) on Twitter for providing me with the original idea for this fic. I have now joined the dark side with her, as I surprised myself by enjoying writing this.

Warning: there shall be angst, as well as upset. And a happy ending is possible, although it depends how I'm feeling when I write it. This is a multichapter fic, and I can't promise updates will be regular. Anyhow, enjoy this twist on things!

Disclaimer: I don't own The Mentalist, nor do I make money from writing this.

Prologue

Jane sat in the padded chair, his injured ankle elevated on a seat opposite him. He'd done the thing that scared him most, played his cards, and now he just waited. This was the first time since he'd met the tiny, kickass agent that he was unable to predict what she'd do. She'd moved on and had prepared herself for a fulfilled life with Agent Pike. Jane knew he should've supported her and urged her to go, it'd be good for her. Instead he pulled some crap by digging up an old case just to give him time to grasp his act together. It hurt him to remember the ample times she'd given him to say his true opinions on the ridiculous dream world she'd wrapped herself in. She knew just as well as he did that you could only experience so many dates in a month, not to mention sacrificing her well respected position in the FBI along with the team and friends she'd grown to trust, all for the first man that had shown interest in her when she needed company most. Jane genuinely believed she harbored respect for Marcus, but love? He wasn't so sure.

The TSA officer looked pityingly at him before leaving the room, clearly baffled by why this man had felt the need to illegally board a plane to admit these clearly relentless feelings to a woman who had already given up on him. Jane had told him the truth, so there was no doubt this question was running through the officer's mind.

That's when he heard the soft click of the door opening, dragging him out of his thoughts with a hazy gleam in his eye. She drifted to the chair opposite him with a swift shrug of her shoulders to remove her coat, and then seated herself down with grace he'd never seen from her before. She seemed particularly isolated, lost. They simply sat in silence for a few seconds, both trying to build the confidence back up to get their words out. She fiddled with the strap of her bag, watching him intently for a sign of regret, but she saw nothing, just a cave of a lonely man.

"Say something…" He muttered, shifting his eyes back onto her. He was afraid to look at her in case he read something he didn't wish to believe…

"I'm sorry…" She began, gently. He nervously nodded his head, as he'd done in the hospital not long ago when Lisbon had told him about Pike's offer. He understood.

"I'm not holding you to anything here, Teresa. I can't offer you the life he's providing you with, I can't meet the expectations you deserve."

She stilled her hands that were moistening in the palms.

"We need to move on, Jane." Her voice was dry, as if tears had soaked up the usual sweet tune in her words. "Both of us."

"What if I have? What if you're how I move on?"

"There are too many 'what ifs.'"

"I'm not going to force you to stay, but you need to know things. Please, give me a little time and privacy to share them with you?"

"The delay will be cleared in an hour, there's no time."

"Please?" he begged, leaning on the table. "Hear me out. I'll let you leave if you still want to."

She shuffled closer and bent her head so she was at eye level with him. "I've given you enough chances and enough of my time, and don't you dare think I need your permission to leave," she hissed, the icy tone stinging with every syllable.

"I didn't mean it like that, Teresa. You know I didn't."

"Just know that I have spent all I can give to you. This was the final straw, Jane, and you took it."

"Fine, just listen to me! I'll take one minute, maybe less! You can time me."

She leant back in her chair, and crossed her arms.

"I had to tell you how I felt; I couldn't handle the idea of coping with these feelings alone, constantly building up. You know the saying; absence makes the heart grow fonder. The thought of not seeing you scared me. Petrified me, even. My heart has not been exercised in this way for over a decade, and it scares me to consider that this longing ache could swell beyond my capabilities. I'm willing to risk it, if you won't accept me, I understand if you won't accept me, but I just had to know. Now that I do, I can't hold you back anymore, you're free to go whenever you please… I merely hope you believe me… Do you?"

She hesitated, letting his words process in her brain. It frustrated her that he hadn't said this earlier in the planning of her move to DC. She'd given him so many chances, so many moments to say it. She'd been too harsh with him a few minutes ago, she knew that, and yes, she did believe him…

"Yeah, yeah I do…" She whispered, almost inaudibly.

"But it hasn't changed your mind?.."

She restrained the misty glaze in her eyes from trickling over the edge and he knew her answer when her dark fan of lashes dabbled her cheeks to cage the tears.

"It's okay…" he reassured her. "I'll always be here for you though, don't forget that." He offered a saddened smile, which she mirrored. She nervously glanced at the table and then started pulling on her jacket.

"Bye…" She murmured, and then got up to leave, abandoning him in the TSA office with his forefinger anxiously tapping his upper lip.

Things weren't the same, and he doubted whether they ever would be again.