A/N: Okay so I changed my idea around and so now this story is no longer a two parter. Sorry about that. I promise there will be one more after this one and that's it. On the upside, in the last chapter, there's the slightest hint of Jello fluff. Enjoy.

Spoilers: 1x16 Bloodshot

Warnings: Course language

Disclaimer: Same as before

Part II: Mistakes Made

"Mr. Leitwyn, thank you so much for flying out here so quickly. I'm Agent Lisbon, this is Patrick Jane."

The man she was shaking hands with had short dark blond hair, greying at the temples and the same big blue eyes as Carrie's.

"Can I see my daughter?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.

"She's in a consult right now with our departmental psychiatrist. You'll be able to see her shortly."

"But she's alright?"

"Physically, she's fine," Lisbon reassured.

The man relaxed a little in his seat as Lisbon took in Leitwyn's skittish disposition. She knew she had to be delicate with her words.

"Mr. Leitwyn, do you know why your daughter is here in Sacramento?"

"I have a vague idea," he replied, after a beat of hesitation.

"Is Carrie your biological daughter?" Jane asked directly.

Lisbon should have expected Jane's lack of subtly. Leitwyn sighed deeply, running a hand across his face. It looked as though he knew where this line of questioning was going.

"Yes, she is very much my daughter."

"But your wife, Sylvia isn't her mother."

"No."

"Her mother is Renata Gentry."

Leitwyn's eyes widened as he gaped at Jane.

"How d-did you know that? Did Carrie…"

"It doesn't matter," Jane waved his hand in dismissal. "How did you end up with Carrie? There's no record of any adoption."

The room fell quiet for an extended period of time. Lisbon could feel the palpable tension in the room as Leitwyn avoided eye contact with Jane before speaking.

"I still can't believe it's been more than twenty years," he started with a small smile. "I, uh, got home from work, late one evening and there she was, this beautiful baby girl, sitting on my doorstep, like a miracle from God himself. She was perfect and when I looked into her eyes, I knew, I just knew she was mine."

"So you just took her?" questioned Lisbon.

"No, it was nothing like that," Leitwyn explained firmly. "I-I was confused, so I went to see Renata, right away for an explanation."

"You were neighbours," said Jane.

Leitwyn nodded his head.

"Renata wasn't home, but her daughter, Carol, was," Leitwyn paused, letting out a shaky breath. "Carol knew about the affair and she was furious, threatened to tell Sylvia if I didn't take Carrie and move far away."

"How did you explain Carrie to your wife?" asked Lisbon.

"We had been trying so hard to have a baby. I just told her I got Carrie from the adoption agency."

"And the move?"

"Sylvia never liked California. So when I suggested that I wanted to be closer to my sister, she was thrilled."

"Did she really believe all of this?"

"Yes, mercifully, she did."

Lisbon sat back, trying to absorb the man's story. Leitwyn looked as though an enormous weight had been lifted off his shoulders as he spoke. Lisbon couldn't even begin to imagine what it must have been like to keep such a painful secret buried for so long.

"You wife doesn't know that Renata is Carrie's biological mother," Jane stated blankly.

Swallowing hard, Leitwyn shook his head.

"No, she doesn't."

Lisbon had a sinking suspicion that Leitwyn's wife probably knew all about the affair and said nothing to keep her marriage in tact. From the look on Jane's face, she could tell he was thinking the same thing.

"Are you aware that both Renata and Carol are dead?" questioned Jane.

"Yes," Leitwyn acknowledged sadly. "I got a call eight years ago and I knew it was Carol. She didn't say a word but I could hear her crying. A couple of my old colleagues told me a few days later that Renata committed suicide. Shortly after that, Carol too."

"Tell me, Mr. Leitwyn, do you think you're a good father?" Jane asked point blank.

Lisbon frowned.

"Excuse me?"

"Have you ever mistreated Carrie?"

"No, never," he insisted indignantly. "I love Carrie, both of my children."

"You sure about that?"

"I'm sure."

Lisbon glared at Jane for his lack of decorum but he didn't seem to heed her warning.

"You say you're a good father yet you didn't have the balls to bring your wife here and explain why your daughter is here in California?"

"I am a good father," his voice cracking with emotion.

"I don't know about that."

"Jane, that's enough," Lisbon reprimanded quietly.

Her words were ignored as Jane was now on his feet, pointing an accusatory finger at Leitwyn.

"You should be ashamed of yourself. Lying to your wife and lying to that poor innocent girl. You don't deserve to be a father."

Without warning, Lisbon grabbed his arm and dragged him out of her office. The door slammed shut so loudly, the rest of the team were stunned silent.

"What the Hell was that?" Lisbon demanded furiously. "You crossed a huge line back there."

Jane suddenly looked apologetic, letting out a ragged breath.

"I know, I'm sorry," he mumbled.

"You're sorry? You reduced the man to tears over something he obviously regrets."

"I said I was sorry."

The heartbreaking expression on his face startled Lisbon. Jane sunk into a chair, dropping his head into his hands. As quickly as it came, Lisbon's anger subsided.

"Jane?" she called out, frowning at his unexpected despondence. "Jane?"

Eight years ago…

"Daddy!"

Grinning widely, Patrick swept his bubbly daughter into his arms.

"Hi Cupcake, how's my girl?"

"Good! Why are you home so early?" she asked, doe-eyed.

"Well, I couldn't wait to see you of course!"

She giggled happily when Patrick spotted his wife entering the living room.

"Tell you what, why don't you go to your room and set up a tea party. I'll be up in a minute, okay?"

"Okay!"

Jumping out of his arms and running past her mother, his daughter stopped momentarily as his wife ran a hand through their little girl's hair. With a smile, Patrick watched as the golden curls disappear up the stairs.

"Hi," he greeted.

"Hi," his wife replied stiffly.

He tried to give her a kiss on the cheek but she turned away.

"What's wrong?"

"Do you know what happened to Carol?"

"Carol?"

"Carol Gentry."

He furrowed his brows in confusion. The name sounded awfully familiar.

"Carol, Patrick, she's one of your clients."

He didn't seem to pick up on the irritation in his wife's voice.

"Of course, Carol, what about her?"

Wringing her hands, she looked up at him through her lashes.

"Her neighbours found her body yesterday. She committed suicide, overdosed on prescription pills."

His jaw dropped. He could picture Carol clearly in his mind now. She had been in their house last weekend. She had brought fresh baked cookies for their daughter.

"That's awful."

"What did you say to her?"

"You think I had something to do with this?"

"Patrick, I love you. But you and I both know the answer to that question."

"I didn't do anything," he defended, sounding completely infuriated. "How can you make such an accusation?"

Tears were now burning in his wife's eyes as she shoved an envelope into his hands. He stared apprehensively at her for a moment before opening the letter.

Dear Mr. Jane,

If you're reading this, I'm probably already dead. I never meant for this to happen. You were just trying to help me. I know now that I can never really run from my mistakes. That's why I have to end it. I'm sorry. Be good to your wife and your sweet daughter. I hope you can forgive me someday.

Carol

He crumpled the piece of paper and threw it into the trash without a word.

"What the Hell did you say to her?" she repeated.

"Nothing."

"Oh yeah, nothing. Carol killed herself over nothing!"

"That is not fair!"

"Don't you dare talk to me about being fair, Patrick! You're lying to me right now! Is that fair?"

"This conversation is over."

"Of course it is. It's not like we actually talk to each other anymore."

"Daddy?"

Patrick spun around at the sound of his baby girl's voice. She was standing in the doorway, tears threatening to spill across her cheeks. His wife immediately went to her side, collecting their precious daughter into her arms.

"Daddy, why are you yelling?"

"It's nothing, Sweetheart," Patrick answered as calmly as he could. "Just a little argument, that's all."

"Oh, can we have tea now?"

"I'm sorry. Daddy just remembered that he has somewhere he needs to be. I promise tomorrow."

"Patrick…"

He cut his wife off before she could continue.

"I'll be late," he said smoothly, devoid of any emotion. "Don't wait up."

He brushed his lips against his daughter's forehead before striding out the door without looking back.

TBC