III.

The familiar voice behind the door startled Jane. He quickly stood up and took a couple steps backward.

"I didn't think you'd stoop so low as to drugging me. You could have just asked me, you know?" Jane tried to say it cooly but his voice quivered just lightly.

"Now, where's the fun in that?"

Jane stood still for what seemed like forever. He was anxious to see the figure that stood behind the barrier.

His heart was suddenly racing when the steel door opened slightly, a vertical streak of light illuminating the room. Squinting, Jane's began breathing deeply. He expected someone to emerge from the foreground but no one was coming in. Jane hesitantly walked towards the door thinking it was an invitation.

The streaking light outside temporarily blinded Jane. But when Jane's vision recovered, his world crashed down on him.


Lisbon sat several feet in front of him. Unconscious. Gagged. Tied. C4 all over her body. He then noticed that they were in a little abandoned warehouse that smelled like used motor oil and old, decayed wood.

Behind her was Red John. He was holding his trusty knife and caressing it on Lisbon's face like it was a feather.

Jane's began breathing sharply. He was sure his heart was thumping out of his chest. He was still searching for an answer: How did we get here?

He focused on Lisbon for a moment. There was no trace of blood from her clothing or anywhere from her body as far as his point of view was concerned. So he was certain she was drugged too. Her petite frame might have been the reason why she's still knocked out.

Red John's voice broke his train of thought.

"Patrick... I'm glad you've awakened from your deep slumber."

"You son-of -," Jane took a huge step forward before Red John cut him off his tracks.

"Status quo, Patrick. Status quo." Red John tapped his knife on Lisbon's neck.

"Let her go! This is only between you and me!" Jane abandoned his calm demeanor, raising his voice.

"Teresa here is as every part of you as you are with her."

"Why now? Why do this now?" Jane pleaded.

"Element of surprise, Patrick. Also, I wanted to know if my old friend is still up on in his game."

Jane's anger still gushing he could feel it leaking over his entire body. He stood there silent looking at Red John when suddenly Lisbon's head jerked back slowly.

She groaned lightly, still groggy from the after effects of the drug.

"It seems Teresa Lisbon is coming back to her senses." Red John remarking the obvious.

When Lisbon shook off the remaining proverbial cobwebs, she finally understood the gravity of the situation she was in. Panic coursed through her veins when she saw the blocks of C4 stuck to her body. It was awfully similar to that Gupta case, she thought. But then her eyes caught Jane's pleading eyes. She wanted to talk to him but she could only let out a muffled sound.

"Everything's gonna be alright, Lisbon." Jane calmly assuring her.

"Yes. Everything will be alright." Red John said as he leaned down towards Lisbon's ear. "But first, Patrick has to play a little game called 'Fill in the blanks.'"

Red John fished out a smartphone trigger from his pocket.

"All Patrick needs to do is find the right code to disarm the bomb. If he doesn't get it after 3 guesses, the bomb detonates. If he destroys or turns off the phone, the bomb detonates. Oh, and I doubt cutting the red or blue wires would do both of you any good." Red John chuckled a bit from the dark joke.

Jane stood there. Motionless. Speechless. Clenched fist. Sweat and fear dripping all over his face.

"Don't look so gloom, Patrick. You can still save her. You have two minutes... starting now."

Red John pushed the timer on the phone and threw it towards Jane before walking briskly towards the exit. Jane bobbled it for a second but fortunately he got a hold of it without any more fuss.

"Patrick, before I forget," Red John, who now opened the door that led to exit, hollered.

"'He scents thy footsteps in the snow,

Wheresoever thou dost go,

Thro' the wintry hail and rain.

When wilt thou return again?'"

With those parting words, Red John closed the door and left Jane wondering.


1:58

Jane quickly kneeled down and took the duct tape off and removed the cloth that gagged Lisbon.

"Lisbon, are you okay?" Jane asked, his hand grazing her cheek.

"Yeah I'm fine, Jane."

Somehow those words didn't register in his head. Red John's final words bothered him. It was William Blake. Again. He knew it was some sort of clue because Red John doesn't want him to fail. He still wants to keep Jane alive and up on his toes.

1:36

"Jane... "

"Hush, Lisbon. I'm thinking." Jane sounded calm but his shaking hands that grasped the phone proved otherwise.

"Jane, listen to me! Get out now! That's an order!"

"I am not going to leave here without you, Lisbon."

Jane was getting slightly annoyed by Lisbon's selfless act but brushed it aside. He finally decided to enter the code on the phone even though he knew it was too good to be true.

BLAKE.

The clock was still ticking down.

1:03

"Jane, please."

"Lisbon, when I said I am always going to save you, I meant it. So please stop what you're doing. I'm not leaving here even if it kills me."

Jane was still looking at the phone. His mind was furiously digging for clues that would solve the ticking time-bomb. He knew there was something on that William Blake poem that was the key to unlocking the riddle that would save Lisbon. He was sure of it. He decided to enter another one.

REDJOHN.

The timer continued to dwindle down.

:43

Hope was beginning to get dimmer as each second passes. The fear in Teresa's eyes was now replaced with longing. She longed to tell him how much he meant to her. She longed to ask him if those two little words he said in her office really mean something. But she couldn't. Her eyes were fixed on him. Even with so little time left, she couldn't confess. He meant much more than a friend to her. She really wished that second that Jane would just make the first move so she can get it over with. But she is a stubborn woman. Always have been. Even when her life was hanging on a thread. No.

While Lisbon was beginning to accept the finality of it all, Jane was still hard pressed to find the answer. He loved taking down complex puzzles. But this was the ultimate one. There was no way he would get out of the warehouse without Lisbon. He'd rather join her to the other side than having to live a life without her. He lost too much in his life he couldn't afford to lose another one that meant so much to him. It would be the end of him.

:21

"Jane..."

"Not now, Teresa!"

"Jane." Lisbon spoke softly.

Jane looked up and saw Lisbon's emerald eyes, about to tear up.

"I know I haven't been the most accommodating person to work with but I just want to let you know that everytime I'm with you... you make everything better."

Jane breathe hitched. He was sure it was some sort admission by Lisbon's standards. He could read between the lines and he understood what she really meant by those words.

:09

"I love you, too. But it's not over yet. We still have one more card up our sleeve."

Jane typed in their final chance to save themselves.

:04

S.. P.. E..

"Jane..."

:02

C.. T.. R..

"Jane..."

:01

E..

"JANE!"

:00