Disclaimer: I don't own the Mentalist.
Dang, I've done it again! I SHOULD be stressing over exams, but where is the fun in that? Anyway, here is the chapter you have asked for. I tried my best to keep the length about the same; I don't want to rush anything too quickly! Enjoy.
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The team stood on standby while Cho ran Jane's phone through the CBI's software. His computer pinged twice to publicize that the scan had been completed, and was currently was buffering the results. Everyone collectively took a breath, but Cho's news was not what they wanted to hear.
"Nothing." Cho announced. "It's a burner phone, there's no way to trace the number back to the original source."
In reaction to the news, the team shifted awkwardly. Lisbon allowed her shoulders to hunch, but only for a moment. She had prepared herself for this news, expected it really, but part of her could not help hoping there was a trace. She made sure to straighten her back before she addressed them.
"That's no surprise. We all knew this was a possibility." She paused. "We continue on like expected, normal routine until Jane receives a second call. Got that?"
Everyone, excluding Jane, nodded.
"Wait." Jane said. "We're just going to sit around here until she calls again? Can't we get in touch with her mother? Lorelei may have contacted—"
"No Jane." Lisbon barked. "Not until we are absolutely sure this isn't a ruse. If it is, we could be putting Mrs. Martian's life in danger."
Jane opened his mouth to make a rebuttal, but Lisbon was way ahead of him. She was currently having a hard time looking him in the eyes. Before he could form words, Lisbon changed the subject.
"Vanpelt?" She beckoned.
The redhead responded to her name with a jolt.
"Yes Boss?"
"The Gesner case files are being brought over," Said Lisbon. "I'm going to head over to deliver a statement to Brenda. Will you sign for them if they arrive while I'm out?"
"Yes Boss." She repeated.
Lisbon made her way out of the bull pen, but before she was out of sight, she made it her responsibility to meet Jane's eyes. He was already watching her leave, so it wasn't hard to find his baby blues. In response to her symbolic apology, she received a sad smile. They held gazes for a moment more before Jane broke contact and sulked away to his couch. Lisbon didn't like to watch Jane hurt, but contrary to his beliefs, Lisbon had responsibilities to uphold. If she indulged him in every whim and passing fancy, she'd be out of a job. There were rules, and it was about time Jane listened to them. Sure, Lisbon strayed away from them occasionally, but some things held importance. Somewhere, from the back of her mind, the strict CBI no dating rule broke through. She had turned a blind eye in the case with Rigsby and Vanpelt, but not for reasons one would imagine. It wasn't the inner romantic in her that decided not to report it, but rather her fondness and need for both agents. Jane would like to pride himself for that feat, but Lisbon was sure she would have come to that conclusion on her own. It was Jane's insistence that made her almost abandon her decision. If Jane thought it would be good judgment, then Lisbon needed to reevaluate the situation.
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Jane had already made up his mind.
Two days.
If Lorelei did not call within the next two days, then he would make the trip to her mother's house. Lisbon, of course, would disapprove, but he did not intend to let her in on his plans. He seldom did. It wasn't that Jane took joy in lying to Lisbon, but whenever necessary he would avoid the truth. He liked teasing her and keeping her guessing, it was how he always kept the upper hand. No doubt Lisbon would catch up to his plan eventually, but for the meantime she was too wrapped up in her work to pay attention to a plotting Jane.
Still, he persisted in asking every once in a while. That way, he could keep Lisbon at bay without her getting too suspicious. Jane would get up from his couch and make the trip to Lisbon's glass office for, if not anything else, his own entertainment. After time, however, even annoying his favorite brunette lost its charm.
"Jane." Lisbon asked after his fifth visit. "Why don't you go home? We all know you're bored and quite frankly, you're driving me nuts."
"Au contraire Lisbon." Teased Jane. "Driving you nuts is the finest form of entertainment. As for my amusement, well, let's not pretend you ever cared about that."
"Thank God," Lisbon feigned relief. "All pretenses are dropped."
Lisbon laughed lightly at her joke and Jane decided to follow suit.
"Seriously though," She said. "Go home. Unless…"
She picked up a stack of papers on her desk.
"you want to help me finish this paperwork?"
Jane sized it up for her entertainment. He met her eyes again and smiled.
"Say no more Lisbon." He responded. "I see you have no use for me."
Lisbon shook the stack of paperwork.
"No use?"
Jane let go another smile.
"Exactly."
Without notice, Jane dove though the door and made a beeline out of the bull pen. He tried to leave Lisbon on her toes; the easiest way to do this was to leave her hanging. As he reached the outskirts of the bull pen, a yellow object whizzed by his head. Once the item hit the ground, he knew she had thrown something squishy. Nothing had shattered. He looked to his left and laughed. It was a stress ball, how Ironic.
"A little too much to the left, Lisbon." Jane called.
He watched as she picked up another Item from her desk. He sprinted forward a few feet; he was firmly planted on the far side of the room now. No way could she get him here.
Her aim wasn't that good.
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The whole team could see that Jane was on edge. Two days had passed, and yet still no Lorelei. Jane was trying hard to cover it up, but the fact that he hadn't received the call was eating away at him. Vanpelt, Rigsby, and Cho were gathered around the kitchenette trying to hide from the anxiety that was currently inhabiting Lisbon's office.
"You think he's alright?" Asked a worried Vanpelt.
"He'll live." Said Cho. "He's been through a lot worse than not receiving a phone call."
"Do you think she's alright?" Blurted out Rigsby.
"Lisbon?" inquired Vanpelt. "Oh she's fine, a little more Jane than she would like, but other than that, perfectly fine. "
"No." Rigsby responded. "Not Lisbon. The girl, Lorelei. You don't think something happened to her do you?"
"What do you mean?" Asked Cho. "Do you mean tortured, cut open, and blood painted by Red John?"
Vanpelt flinched.
"Cho." She whispered. "We can't think like that."
"Just being realistic." Said Cho. "If Red John thinks that she might be helping Jane, then that's exactly how she will end up. Jane knows it."
"She'll call." Said Vanpelt. "She will, I know it."
"I Hope your right." Rigsby responded. "I don't think we can handle this much longer."
Out of nowhere Lisbon appeared on the scene. The team repositioned themselves so that they didn't look like they were using the kitchenette as a hide out. They weren't fooling anybody. Lisbon was smart enough to know what they were doing, and if Lisbon could tell, Jane could as well.
"This," Said Lisbon. "as in We can't handle a frantic Jane anymore?"
"Yes." replied Cho.
"Cho!" Hissed Vanpelt.
She met eyes with Lisbon. To the agent's surprise Lisbon didn't look mad, just exhausted.
"Sorry Boss." Said Rigsby. "Him checking in every half hour, the desperation, it's a lot to handle."
"It's okay." Yawned Lisbon. "I'm worried about him too. I just have the better sense not to group up and talk about him when it's so blatantly obvious what's going on."
"Yes Boss." Said Cho.
"Sorry Boss." Mirrored Vanpelt and Rigsby.
"I'm going to take my lunch now." Lisbon said. "I invited Jane, but he refused. Don't let him do anything stupid while I'm gone."
There was a silence and then a voice spoke out.
"Oh don't worry about me Lisbon." Jane said.
Jane said.
The team looked over to Lisbon. To nobody's surprise, she recovered quickly.
"And who said I was worried about you Jane. You tend to do stupid things, so I've asked the team to prevent any of that stupidity from occurring."
"Smooth" mouthed Rigsby.
Lisbon shot him a look.
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It was another late night, and the stress was beginning to wear Jane out. All he did was sit on his couch, and when he wasn't doing that, he was bothering Lisbon. His phone, still hooked up to the CBI's scanning device, lay restfully on the table. Jane was getting tired of that sight. He had made a habit of picking it up every once and a while, just so he could see it was still on.
For what must have been the hundredth time, Jane reached down and unplugged it from the device. He began to pace up and down the length of the bull pen, holding it tightly in his palm.
Ring. Ring? Ring. Ring!
Jane's eyes shot down to the phone in his hands. Finally, he thought. But something was wrong. The plastic in his hands did not vibrate, make noise, or light up. It sat dead in his hands. There was only one solution, the call was not his.
"CBI." Vanpelt said picking up her phone. "This is agent Vanpelt."
Silence ensued while the caller on the other side of Vanpelt's phone began speaking. The loss hit Jane like a bag of bricks. The phone call was not for him. It was not Lorelei. They were no closer to catching Red John than they had been for months.
"We will be right there." Vanpelt concluded.
She got up from her desk and made her way down the hall to Lisbon's office.
"Crime scene time?" Rigsby asked.
"Yes." Lisbon said. "4350 West Farris Drive. Vanpelt, stay and tend to additional calls."
"Yes Boss." She replied.
"Were going to need all the help we can get on this one."
"Boss?" Rigsby asked.
Lisbon paused. Jane could tell that there was something that she didn't want to say. He would not have known she was upset if not for the fact that her eyes held great sadness.
"Heading out." Cho said.
"Boss?" Rigsby repeated.
When Lisbon didn't respond, both men exited the bull pen to head for their cars. Lisbon was preparing to leave but Jane held her back. He needed to know what was special about this case.
"Lisbon?" He cooed. "What's wrong?"
She sighed.
"It's a kid, Jane. They've killed a kid."
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I know, I know. That was some heavy stuff. I hoped you liked it, and once again, please give me your comments. Do you like the direction I'm going in? Am I portraying Jane/Lisbon/the team to your standards?
Up Next: Jane finally gets the call he has been waiting for, but it might not be what he wants to hear. Also, Lisbon and the team are struggling on their newest case.