Patrick paced the front hall, willing the team to get here faster. He had already cleaned up the glass and thrown the roses out. Teresa had gone upstairs to feed Connor. He hadn't wanted to let either of them out of his sight but someone had to wait for the rest of the team.
He could have kicked himself. Once again his damn smug arrogance had put his family in danger. He could never let Red John hurt his precious wife and son. He would not be so blind this time. Teris and Connor would be protected, no matter what.
How, he wondered. How could he not have seen this coming? He was Patrick Jane, damn it! He saw what others didn't, solved what others couldn't. And still he couldn't protect his own family.
It had been three years. There years with out a single note or taunting email. Actually if he counted right it was three years and six months with out so much as whisper. He thought he was safe. How wrong he was.
He thought he could let people close again. He thought that this time they wouldn't get hurt. After one year, he felt safe enough to ask Teris on a date. After two years, he felt safe enough to let the team into his home which now had a new bed room set and a collage of photos from both his old and new life hanging over the bloody smiley face. He still smiled when he remembered what Teresa had said when she wanted to cover it up.
"I'm not a total prude," she'd told him, "But Red John does not need be looking in the sex we're having. Sorry but knowing a serial killer is watching is a bit of a turn off."
He sighed. His brilliant beautiful Teris. After three years, he had felt safe enough to propose to her. They were wed on the beach in a beautiful sunset ceremony with many guests. Then three months ago they had been blessed with Connor. It was all going so well. And now his old nightmare has returned.
He jumped at the sound of the door bell. Please god, he prayed, let it be the team. Whether or not there was a god, his prayer was answered. All three of them were standing on his doorstep.
"We came as fast as we could," Grace said, "What is this all about?"
"Are you okay?" Wayne asked. He looked Patrick over. "You're pale as a ghost man."
Patrick didn't answer him. "Please come in," he said instead. He held the door open and gestured to the living room. "The card is on the table."
They went inside and found what he was talking about. As each one read it he saw understanding and pity dawn in their eyes. He turned around so he wouldn't have to face them. They didn't need to see the failure he had once more become.
Quiet footsteps broke him from his dark thoughts and he looked up to see Teresa gingerly walking down stairs. She hadn't cut herself deeply but she had cut up her feet a lot. The slippers seemed to be helping though. He stood next to the stairs and reached out to her, pulling her into his arms the minute she was on ground level.
She pulled back enough to look him in the eye. "I-um-I put Connor down for a nap," she said, "He's pretty worn out." She twisted in his grasp to look back up stairs
Patrick cupped her head in his hand and guided it back to his shoulder. "Sweetheart someone would need a very tall ladder to get up there with out being seen," he told her, "And his room faces the front yard. No one is going hurt our baby."
Teresa let out a choked sob. "Oh god, Patrick how does he know?"
"I don't know," he whispered, "But he won't do anything. I promise you." He felt her clutch him tighter. He didn't care if she held him so tight he couldn't breathe. He needed to feel her right now.
The team stared at them. Seeing families in distress was a part of their job yet somehow it was different when you knew the victims. It was also rather strange when the victims were your tough as nails boss and her unfailingly cheerful husband. It was just so wrong.
Grace was the first to recover her wits. "Um, we need to ask you a few questions," she said quietly, "Please just for a moment."
Patrick looked over as though he had forgotten they were there. Then Grace realized he probably had. She kept her expression calm and gentle as she reached out to touch his shoulder. For a minute Jane remained lost in his world of pained memories and terrifying present. Then he came back to himself. "Of course," he replied just as softly. He looked down at his wife. "Come on Teris, this will be quick."
He led her back to the sofa and carefully set her down. He took the seat next to her, grasping her hand in his own. Cho looked at them. They were the picture of every terrified couple he had ever seen. They were also his friends and that made it hurt all the worse.
"Tell us what happened," he said, "Start at the beginning."
"We were upstairs," Patrick started. "Both of us on the bed. I was playing with Connor while Teresa read a book. Then we heard the door bell ring."
"Neither of us was expecting anything," Teresa said picking up the thread. "We were going to let it go but they were insistent. I told Patrick to play with Connor and I'd be back up in a minute."
"What happened when you answered the door?" Cho pressed.
"There was a delivery guy there," she said. She looked around as though the walls held her answers. "He said he had a flower delivery for me."
"Was he acting unusual?" Rigsby asked, "Nervous maybe?"
Teresa shook her head. "He was perfectly normal."
"Can you describe him?" Grace asked.
Teresa ran a hand through her hair. "I don't know, a delivery guy," she said, "Like every other delivery guy. When was the last time you noticed someone delivering flowers?" Her voice was beginning to get hysterical.
Patrick wrapped his arms around her. "Hush Teris," he whispered, "They're just trying to help."
"I know," she whispered, "I swear I know. I'm just so scared. Connor's just three months Patrick. He can't even talk yet." The only thing Patrick could do was hold her close.
"Don't worry," Grace said confidently. "Nothing is going to happen to Connor. We'll make sure of it."
Teresa wiped her eyes and smiled at Grace. "I know," she repeated. She took a deep breath. "Um, where was I?"
"The delivery guy," Patrick prompted gently.
"Right. So I asked him if there was anything I needed to sign and he said no that they had already been paid for. So I thanked him and took the vase."
"One question," Rigsby said, "You didn't find anything odd about an unexpected flower delivery in the middle of the afternoon?"
Teresa shook her head. "I thought they were from Patrick," she shrugged. "He does it all the time."
Rigsby looked at him. "You buy flowers for no reason?"
"I love my wife," he said, "That's reason enough." He gave the other man a conspiratorial smile. "Women love to get presents that they weren't expecting. Especially when it's done on a day that holds no significance to either of you. Makes it more special that way. And it shows that you care."
"Some of us don't have the money to be buying flowers left and right," Cho pointed out.
"Doesn't have to be flowers," Patrick shrugged. "In fact sometimes smaller is better. Something not so average, something that fits her."
Teresa smiled at her husband. "Can we save the dating advice for later?" she asked. "I'd like to get this over with as quickly as possible."
"Of course," he agreed, "Sorry."
"Alright so the delivery man hands you the flowers, he leaves, you close the door," Cho said, "Then what?"
"Then I noticed the card in the flowers. Patrick always picks out some sort of cheesy message when he sends these things." She passed to smile at the memory.
"I am not cheesy," Patrick contradicted trying to be as light as possible.
Teresa leaned up to kiss his cheek. "You are," she said, "But I like it." Then she turned back to the team. "So I pulled the card out. When I read it I was so shocked I dropped the vase."
"That's when I came downstairs," Patrick told them. "I heard the crash and called down for Teresa but she didn't answer. So I grabbed Connor and came pounding down the stairs. She was just standing in the front hall there shaking. I called her name and she turned but I knew she was still in shock by the way she was stepping on glass. I told her to be careful but she started walking toward me saying 'He knows'. I told her to stand still, which she did, then asked her what was going on. She just repeated he knows. I asked her who knows what. At that point she handed me the card to read. Then she said 'Red John knows we're looking for nannies'."
Teresa squeezed his hand tightly. "After that, I called you guys and then went upstairs to feed Connor. Patrick stayed down here to clean up the mess. You know the rest," she said.
"It's been three years," Cho stated, "Why would Red John contact you now?"
"Maybe to toy with me?" Jane guessed. "I don't know. What I do know is I won't let him get my family again."
"And we'll help," Rigsby promised. There were murmurs of agreement from Cho and Grace.
"First thing is get that card to the CSI techs," Teresa said, slipping into boss mode, "See if they can pull anything off of it. I know it's a long shot but it's still a shot. Grace that's your job. Cho, you and Rigsby go find this flower store. See if they can identify who paid for the roses."
They nodded and promised again that they would help find this guy. Patrick and Teresa showed them out but Grace paused on the threshold. On impulse she reached out to hug her boss. Teresa looked surprise for a moment but hugged back. "This will work out," Grace told her.
"I know," Teresa agreed. She let her not so rookie agent go. "Thank you."
Grace smiled and turned to Patrick. "I know you don't believe in God," she said, "But I'm still going to pray for your family tonight. And every night until this is over."
Patrick nodded. "For once, I really hope I'm wrong about that," he told her. Grace smiled then hugged him too. Patrick let her go with a kiss to her cheek. "Be safe," he told her.
Once the door was closed he gathered his wife into his arms. "It'll be okay," he said.
"Are you trying to convince me or yourself?" she asked.
"Both," he told her quietly.
"Let's go watch Connor sleep," Teresa said.
