As they entered the conference room, Lisbon winced at the bright smile Patrick offered the newcomer. She was certain she was the only one who recognized the utterly predatory intent behind the pleasant expression, and considered warning Smith what he was facing, but her companion spoke before she had a chance.
"John Smith. Never thought I'd actually get this chance."
"And that's not a good thing, apparently..."
"Your lowly, human instincts are working. I'm impressed..."
"Jane... don't start." Lisbon reprimanded mildly. "You agreed to ten minutes. Let's make them as sarcasm-free as possible, shall we?"
"Don't worry about it, agent Lisbon." Smith offered, training his intense gaze on his opponent. "Not like it's the first time. Nobody really believes 'till they see for themselves."
"It's what they don't see that infuriates me. I'm sure your charm is a very effective blindfold... keeps the great unwashed from looking too deep and discovering what a talented con-man you are"
"It always worked for you, so everybody who claims this gift must be doing the same thing."
"Something like that."
"So you're willing to risk lives just to be right... to keep feeling like you're a justified, virtuous crusader?"
Patrick's jaw abruptly tightened on both sides at once and Lisbon, almost unconsciously, began to reach out a hand so she could restrain him if it became necessary. Fortunately, he held himself physically in check.
"Don't expect me to fall for your act."
"I'm not asking you to believe, I'm asking you to cooperate. I need your help. That is what you do here, isn't it? Help people?"
"The ones who deserve it."
"I can't guarantee I do. I've done and thought about doing things... but the ones I saw in my vision? They're innocents and they'll die if the two of us can't work together."
Lisbon watched Jane's hands clench and unclench and multiple emotions flicker through his eyes and across his face, but eventually, he relented, powerfully surprising her.
"Fine." He grunted, stalking over to drop heavily into the chair directly opposite Smith. "Your hook is hand holding, right? Touch? I could really open your eyes on what that reveals about your psyche, but..."
"Jane." Lisbon warned lightly from behind him, making him grimace and causing his jaw to tighten again, just briefly. Johnny chose the momentary lull to add his own piece of sarcasm to the heady mix already filling the room.
"I don't have to hold your hand." He offered, matching Jane's feral grin and sliding to the front edge of his seat. "Punching you in the mouth would work just as well. I could push you out of that chair, slap you in the head... far as I'm concerned, it's all good..."
Lisbon and Grace moved at the same moment, shifting to get between the two men, the brunette speaking up to try and calm things down before Smith's words became reality.
"Okay, boys, enough. Mr. Smith, he really doesn't need any encouragement from you to start a fight. Jane, either cooperate or leave. Clear?"
Though she swore she heard him growl under his breath first, her friend and colleague did the unexpected once again and backed down, laying his hand palm up on the table. Despite the fact that she could now feel tension and banked anger radiating from the blonde as well, he also conceded the battle and reached out to lay his hand lightly on top of Jane's. Instantly, Smith's neck bowed, dropping his chin toward his chest, and full body shivers began to visibly course through him. Lisbon had an urge to interfere, not certain what might signal that he needed assistance, but she held back. A few moments later, when, blushing furiously, he finally lifted his gaze again, she was relieved she had.
"Mr. Smith?" Grace inquired tentatively.
"I'm fine. I, uh... let's just say I don't always tap into what I'm aiming for. Let's try that again..." he responded, shaking his head and refocusing. "Blue... maybe green... the image... it's fluctuating... water. The house is near water. Not the ocean... a big pond..."
Smith lapsed into silence, but began to flinch and softly cry out, as if he were being struck and trying to avoid the blows. When he spoke again, his voice had taken on a softer, almost feminine tone and was filled with genuine fear. "No... God, stop... please... no... no more... I can't... I won't! Let him be... God in heaven, let him be... let him be!"
With a heart-wrenching sob, Smith abruptly yanked his hand free of any contact with Jane's skin and turned sideways in the chair, pulling into himself and struggling to control his breathing. Grace stood and walked around the table to crouch at his side, talking quietly to him, but not touching, afraid of setting off another vision.
"Easy, Mr. Smith... it's okay. Relax... slow, deep breaths. Good. Not pretty, huh?"
"No..."
"Can you talk about it?"
"I... I didn't get a lot of clear pictures... it was... jump cuts... a lot of it was blurred. A woman was being beaten... there was a locked door... she kept looking at it like the most precious thing in the whole world was in there."
"Maybe her son. You kept saying 'let him be'. " Lisbon asked gently.
"It did sound as if she was protecting a child from whoever was attacking her." Jane concluded reluctantly. Smith shot him a quick, curious glance, but declined to push the other man any further, knowing nothing would be accomplished by starting up their argument again.
"That makes sense. It feels right." he acknowledged.
"Is that all? Did you get anything else?" Grace urged.
"Blood... spattered on a wall, droplets on the floor... it was everywhere. I think... there might've been a name... I can't be sure, though."
"If it's wrong it's wrong. You're human, you're allowed to make mistakes." Lisbon assured him, moving closer to where he sat. "Go ahead and tell us."
"Wayne." He admitted finally. "Maybe Wayne Steven... that part, it... the sound echoed and bounced. Made it harder to figure out."
Lisbon's eyebrows lifted toward her hairline and Grace sat back on her heels, shock and confusion dominating her expression. "What? Does that name mean something to you?"
"Yeah, well... could be Jane isn't the one you need to be talking to. Grace, would you find Mr. Smith a quiet place where he can unwind a little? Maybe get him a glass of water?"
"Sure. This way..."
As soon as Johnny and Grace had exited, Lisbon shut the door behind them and settled into a chair next to her friend.
"So?"
"He's good. Best I've ever seen."
"Not including you."
"I never include myself." He told her with a shaky laugh.
"You seriously think he has some past connection? The man's rarely ever been away from the East Coast and Rigsby..."
"All he came up with was a first and middle name. He could've made it up and gotten lucky. More likely, he did his research before coming out here..."
"Jane."
"I know. Fine, put the two of them together. Just don't make me watch."
"Wouldn't dream of it. You stay *here* and unwind. If I need you..."
"Don't."
"Hey, he believes you're destined to be his sidekick on this mission. After what I just saw... I'm thinking you should dig your tights and cape out of mothballs."
TBC...