Jane couldn't sleep. Too much was going on his mind and he needed to think about everything. He looked over in his bed and saw Lisbon sleeping beside him. He never saw her more beautiful as tonight. He slept with the windows open as he was claustrophobic. The moon was full and brightly lit. The light passed through the windows and fell on Lisbon's face, making her look like a fantasy from a fairy tale. Like an angel. She smiled in her sleep. She had her hands folded under her head. Her face was flushed, her lips were pink and her eyelids were dusted with flecks of silver moonlight. It brought tears to his eyes. Her beauty and her glow. He sighed as he caressed her face. He needed to think about things, but Lisbon was being an annoying but beautiful distraction. He kissed her cheek and quickly slipped off the bed, careful not to wake her. He then padded down the hall into the house's main balcony, specked brightly with moonlight.
LISBON
She sensed Jane awake. She also felt his eyes on her, exploring her face. She felt water droplets falling to her face. Was Jane crying? She wanted to bolt upright and soothe him, ask him what was wrong. But she kept her eyes closed, thinking Jane needed some space. She felt him caress her face and she stayed still, jolly from his touch. She heard him sigh. Then Jane kissed her cheek and slipped off the bed. She felt him looking at her, being careful not to wake her. Then she heard footsteps padding down the main corridor.
She waited until the sound vanished. Then she slipped off her bed in her nightgown and followed him.
The corridor sparkled with moonlight passing through the balcony. Lisbon walked through silver into the favorite part of her house.
Lisbon always adored the balcony. The view from there stretched right away to the Pine Mountains. Every night, the sky would glitter with stars, flecked across the horizon like shattered diamonds. Some days it would be cloudless, with the moon shining in harmony. Some days the moon fairly peeked through black cotton, with stars spread all over. Some days none could be seen at all. There would only be heaps of black humps of cotton. What Lisbon found amusing was the sky reflected her mood. When she was angry, it was cloudy. When she was gloomy, it was fairly good. But on happy days, the sky showed its greatest beauty. No clouds to express sadness. The balcony, for her, was her own piece of heaven, tucked away in Earth. It was Paradise.
She saw Jane by the railing, looking very pensive. He didn't even notice her coming. That worried her. Patrick Jane could tell even if an ant moved out of place. His arms were folded across his chest. His hair shone with silver. He looked like he was in pain.
Lisbon quietly walked over. She put her hand on his shoulder. He turned around abruptly, very startled. His sea-blue eyes looked black. His face looked pale and translucent. He was sweating bullets.
'What're you doing here, Jane?' she asked.
'I could be asking you the same thing.' he said nonchalantly.
Lisbon flinched. Her Jane was never unhappy. He was always full of life. There would always be a grin on his face. Some which she came to love, some which she hated. She loved the man for being optimistic.
Yet here he was, pale and grim like he had nothing to live for. This made her anxious. Something's wrong she thought. This is not the man I fell in love with. She was mad right now. Jane had to explain.
'Are you sick?' she demanded anxiously, putting a hand to his forehead.
Jane held her waist lightly. 'No I'm not sick. I just...'
She twined her hands around his neck. 'Just what?
He didn't answer. He just looked at her with black eyes.
She caressed his cheek. 'Jane you can tell me. We promised we won't keep secrets from each other.'
He exhaled. 'It's just that...a stupid mistake I made cost my family their lives.' His voice broke. 'I still remember what I felt when I opened that door. Blood...Red John...My family... It was like my whole life shattered into pieces. As if I was a body without a soul. A soul without a heart. My blood boiled with hatred. My life melted with a thirst for vengeance. I vowed I won't rest until I avenged my family. That's why I came to the CBI...where I met you.' He smiled a little.
But then his face flared. 'I hoped I would find him. Tear him into pieces the way he tore my wife and child. I became a maniac, chasing him beyond extents. And after fooling around for nine years, I quenched my thirst. I killed him. Never did I imagine it won't wash away my guilt. I knew it was my fault. I knew I was to blame. I knew it was my fault they were gone. I knew I could never redeem myself. But I was a monster. So I felt at peace after killing him. I never realized that Angela and Charlotte would be torn. That they would have hated me for being a killer. Because as I said, I was a monster. But then...' He started smiling.
'I missed you so much. You were the one who gave me hope. So I came back for you, knowing you would never want me to give up. I still thought I might have a chance with you. Now you're here with me. And I have an angel for a daughter. But what if...' His voice broke. 'What if I make a mistake again? What if I lose you two? All that pain, that hatred, that anger...I don't want to feel that again. I would never forgive myself. I don't want my life ruined. I want it happy with you and my daughter. But what if I destroy it? What if I destroy us?'
Jane sobbed. Lisbon couldn't see him like this. Her heart froze in grief. All this while, her Jane had been keeping this pain and guilt hidden inside him, pretending to be happy because of her and Angelina. She felt so useless for not understanding earlier. But he was wrong. They would not give up on each other. They would not hurt each other.
They would not lose each other.
She wiped his tears away. 'Don't worry.' she said, crying herself. 'That won't happen. It's an impossibility. I love you and I will do anything to protect you. We will stay together. If you can't hold on for me, hold on for our daughter. She needs you. I need you. I want the Jane I fell in love with. And I want him to stay with me forever.'
Jane looked hopeful at her words. She felt that things would finally get right and be perfect. She wanted some peace for a change. Jane was with her. So was Annie. Her package deal of heaven. She wanted nothing more at all.
Jane reached down and kissed her softly. When he rose, Lisbon saw tears in his eyes again. This time not of grief, but of happiness. Lisbon smiled at her moonlit husband and together, holding hands, they went back to bed.
Neither noticed the black shadow behind the trees, blackening their red rose of bliss.
The man was dressed in a black sweatshirt and jeans. He had a gun in his left hand while dialing a number on his cellphone. He was well-hidden from the moonlight under the pine tree. As the dial ringed, dread staggered his breath. He was terrified of the man. Even though the man promised him no harm, he was still suspicious. He saw wicked blades and pins on his worktable stained with the blood of his victims. That did not assure him of the man's promise either.
At the sixth ring, a cold and lifeless voice greeted him from the other side. That voice chilled his blood to the core of his bones.
'Hello, dear boy.' The voice said. 'To what news do I meet the pleasure of having your acquaintance?' he said in a chilly way.
Now he felt like he would faint with fright. 'Patrick Jane and Teresa Lisbon are wed.' He replied.
'Oh, really? How wonderful! But how disappointing that I couldn't bless them on their happiness,' replied the voice sadly. 'I must have been very unwelcome to Patrick. I should have become a good friend of his.' The voice sighed.
'They even have a daughter.' he replied.
'Oh la la! A little bundle of joy I see! Ah, I wish I could see her. I would have given the baby my blessing too. Hmm, I must say I am disappointed Patrick kept secrets from me. Such glorious and important ones. Next time Patrick and I meet, I will congratulate him on his happiness and life. There must be more beautiful secrets he conceals. Priceless ones which need attention and good hands. As well as congratulating. Would you be kind enough to watch them overnight?' the voice replied.
'Certainly, sire.' He said.
'Thank you for your kindness. If you find out anything, please be a dear man and let me know.' the voice replied.
'Certainly, sire.' he said
'Tiger, tiger?' The voice asked, cheerfully and frostily.
'Tiger, tiger.' he replied.
The phone disconnected.
And as he walked by the alley to their backyard, three red dots could be seen on his shoulder under the cold, full moon spreading its light.
End of chapter two.
I'll try to update often.
Tell me what it's like.
