A/N: Thank you to xanderseye, LizFromItaly, cifre, Frogster and Miss Peg for reviewing part one.
For those interested, I'm offering holiday fics on my LiveJournal. My username over there is (somewhat creatively) tromana. So, please feel free to request a fic!
x tromana
Part Two
He's seen more dead bodies than he cares to admit. None of them have much of an effect on him any more.
The first time he visited a crime scene, he'd ended up puking his guts up in the nearest trash can. Behind his back, the agents had laughed at him, had wondered if he would be able to cope with their line of work. Had suggested that he'd glorified it - and his skills - based on television shows. It isn't glamorous, it isn't pretty, regardless of how people tend to perceive it.
It had been a steep learning curve; one he'd been glad to do. Before his breakdown, before Angela and Charlotte's brutal murders, volunteering his services to the police had been his way of repaying his debt to society. Even somebody as scheming as he had been had a moral backbone, deep down, and there was only so much fleecing of innocent souls one could do without feeling too guilty.
Jane's even more grateful for that education now. After all, it's meant that he has access to the Red John case files. Means he can inch closer and closer towards that target of vengeance. And, when things aren't progressing as fast as he feels they should, it means he has a welcome distraction in the form of other cases.
The body is old; the poor soul died at least three years ago, according to the coroner. The house has been deserted for approximately the same amount of time. Obviously, the neighbors hadn't been intrigued enough to explore sooner, otherwise the body would have been found so much sooner. Still, the building is like a time capsule, of sorts. It means he can still 'work his magic' as Lisbon would phrase it and get an insight into the unlucky victim.
Somewhere, Kristina Frye is laying, decaying, waiting to be discovered. Just like this poor person. She should have known better, should have known not to fall into the same trap that he did. And yet, Jane had inspired her to do just that. She believed she had a greater understanding of Red John than he did and therefore, could take him on. Why? He still couldn't quite be sure of that.
He knew that part of it was promotion. In the time between their meetings her psychic business had certainly grown; her new townhouse was plush, modern, state of the art even. She had done well for herself. Then again, Jane understands the need for 'more, more, more.' It was exactly what he'd been like before the rude awakening. The interview on television was probably just a natural progression for Kristina.
But why mention Red John? Kristina seemed to genuinely believe she was a psychic; had she been trying to help the serial killer in her own blind sighted way in order to make recompense for what he'd done to his family? Had she really been fond enough of him to put her on life on the line? Or was it simply just to make herself look better, more omnipotent to the general public, in order to drum up business?
It's something he'll never know.
Because she's dead. Well, probably.
They just haven't found her body yet.
xxx
"What's wrong with you?"
"Me, what's wrong with me?" he snaps, incredulous that she even has to ask.
She drops her pen and stares at him seriously. Jane knows that he's been moping around her office lately, choosing to reside in there over the bullpen. There's less people to disturb him in here. Besides, there's only so many pitying looks he can take from Rigsby, Van Pelt and Cho, never mind the various other passing people, in one day. The added benefit is that Lisbon generally leaves him to it; she's used to his various moods and seems convinced that sooner or later, he will snap out of it. Poor naïve Lisbon. She may wear a mask of cynicism to protect herself from prying minds, but deep down, she's an eternal optimist, or at the very least, a realist. Probably has to be, considering her line of work.
"Yes, Jane," she answers, with an insufferable sigh. "What's got into you? You haven't been yourself since…"
She trails off and Jane sighs. By not answering her question, she knows his answer anyway. It's the same problem that it always is - Red John. He's like a constant shadow, just waiting to pounce at any time. Kristina was the unlucky one last time, but how could it be certain it wouldn't be Lisbon next? Or one of the other members of the team? And that's why he needs to stay focused on his task, distant from the rest of them. Because the moment that Red John gets wind that he's too close to any of them, that's it. He might as well be painting a target on their back.
Though naturally, being cops, they would all simply claim that it was there anyway.
"Talking is good. If you want..."
He's relieved that she doesn't suggest seeing a shrink. Whenever somebody on the team is showing signs of distress, that's usually her first thought. However, she understands his problems with psychiatrists. Has seen them first hand. Even his relationship with Sophie Miller wasn't something that could exactly be classified as normal. Despite the fact he grew somewhat fond of his old doctor, he has absolutely no intention of seeing her again. His debt is paid, therefore that whole chapter of his life can be brushed under the proverbial carpet. There isn't a chance he'll ever trust another shrink; he'd rather manipulate his way out of that situation than trust them to try and actually help him.
"You wouldn't understand."
"Of course you'd think that," she mutters as he sweeps out of the room. "God forbid anyone try and help you."
xxx
He drives straight to Kristina's house.
There has got to be something that they missed, the first time around. Something that gives them even the faintest hint of where she has ended up, where Red John has taken her, who took her on his behalf.
It's only been a month since he was here last, but already there's signs of negligence. A couple of spiders have diligently woven their webs in the corners of the room, as traps for their prey. Then there's a fine layer of dust has slowly but surely built up on the previously pristine work surfaces. Kristina would have been horrified if she realized her home - and work space - had fallen into such a state. Both her previous home and this, her newer one, had shown that she was house-proud, that she liked to maintain a certain image. He understands; he was in the business for long enough to know what punters want from their psychics. A messy home indicates a messy mind and therefore, an inability to help.
He walks through to the lounge. The last words he'd shared with her was an argument, much like it had been with his wife. If he had taken his wife's advice, then he would never have ended up with this bloodthirsty quest. Then, he would never have invested so much time with the CBI, never met Kristina and she would never have fallen into Red John's clutches.
It was his fault. Again.
Equally, Kristina could have learned from his mistakes though. However, he cannot see things that way. He's too wrapped up with self-loathing and arrogance to ever pin the blame on anyone but himself. They're habits of a lifetime, instilled into him by his father and something he simply cannot shake off.
Jane runs a finger lightly over the coffee table, leaving a trail in the dust. Everything is how it was the last time he was here; he hadn't missed anything, but he had to be sure. Eventually, he stands to leave. There's no point in him interfering with her effects and it's a waste of time for him to do any cleaning on her behalf. She won't care, even if for some miraculous reason Red John has spared her life.
"You do know that breaking and entering is a felony?"
He jumps, turns and sees Lisbon leaning against the door frame.
"How did you know I'd be here?"
Lisbon shrugs and suddenly, he realizes just how annoying it is for her when he never gives her a straight answer. Then again, it isn't exactly a brilliant deduction. Much to her annoyance, he has spent every spare opportunity in her office, reading the case files. She probably the person who knows best that Kristina and Red John are constantly lingering in his thoughts. However, she probably doesn't know just how much she haunts his thoughts either, or more specifically, Red John killing her to spite him.
Still. Maybe he should find somewhere more private to mull over things?
"I have the keys."
"Which you took from the log, I imagine."
"Yes."
"Which is also a crime."
"So arrest me then."
Lisbon rolls her eyes. It's what she does whenever she wants to be sarcastic but knows that she should probably bite her tongue instead. He never expected her to follow through with his suggestion, she's more than willing to turn a blind eye to it. After all, he has done much worse in order to close cases and they both know it. In fact, Jane sometimes thinks that the only thing she is unlikely to turn a blind eye to is if he murders someone, specifically Red John. That's one thing she certainly cannot ignore.
"C'mon, it's getting late."
Eventually, he smiles and acquiesces. He knows that it takes her by surprise and deep down, he likes that more than he cares to admit.
TBC...
