A/N: Man, this is the last chapter, and I worked really hard on this, so I hope it's turned out OK.

Thank you to everyone who's reviewed, added this story to their favourites list and put it on their alerts. Makes me day. 8D

Disclaimer: Mentalist belongs to someone else.

How could she not see that she was driving me crazy? And she was stood only two feet away from me; doesn't she realize how much self control I actually need around her?

"…Wayne?"

"Huh?"

***

"Wayne, are you alright? You look kinda hot…"

"I- what? I look…? Oh, you mean I look warm? Urgh… yes. Haven't you noticed how warm it is in here?" My God. Why do I sound so lame? I'm staring at her, weird enough, I'm sweating bullets as well, how on earth am I going to bring it up with her if I cant even think about it near her?! I'm screwed. I looked away from her feeling pretty crappy about myself. Why am I such a coward?

"No really Wayne, are you ill or some-"

"I remember everything." I suddenly blurted out. I covered my eyes with my right hand and groaned. That was it, the moment that ruined everything. That one little whisper that should have never been spoken. Why am I so stupid!?

I heard Grace take a step, probably back away from me. "Everything?" She whispered at me.

I breathed deeply. "Everything." I groaned back.

"Like… everything? Everything that happened… everything?" I could hear the panic in her voice, evidently she wasn't aware of how panicked I was about the situation as well.

"Yes, Grace, everything. Nothing is still hazy. I remember everything clearly." I stated evenly despite my nerves. I could see she shock in her face and I'm sure mine resembled hers from my sudden confession only a few moments ago. "I remember… her, I remember her telling me how he had hurt her and used her, thinking all I should do is protect this poor woman, I remember getting angry and slamming his head into a table, then boss taking my badge and gun, Jane telling me I had been hypnotized and… how it was proved that I erm… was…"

I couldn't continue, we had noticed the blush on each others faces and looked away, then walked out of the elevator the second the doors opened.

"I have to… go now, Rigsby. I – I'll see you tomorrow."

"Goodnight, Grace." I finally said back even though I knew she wouldn't hear me. I followed behind her a few steps since our cars were near to each other; I stopped before she did though. I sat down behind the wheel and breathed deeply for a while, not even noticing Grace pull out behind me and drive away. Why was I such an idiot? Why did I bring it up like that, why didn't I cover myself after I slipped up and why did I kiss her in the first place?! I didn't think my defenses could be so low.

***

Even though this night was like so many others in that I sat alone, watching TV alone, eating alone, then eventually sleeping alone, it felt so very different. Too much had happened in too short a space, the worst being that the woman I'm crazy about now probably hates me and won't speak to me ever again. Nice work, Rigsby.

I spent the entire night in pretty much silence. I got annoyed with the TV quickly and I didn't fancy reading anything. I was too distracted to eat food, so I didn't even get to hear the sound of the microwave going, or a voice on the other end of the phone of some takeaway I might have ordered from. So I ended in bed at ten that night listening to the clock ticking and gradually watch the sky darken outside, wondering how even more lame I could seem. I must have been dozing for about an hour when I got so bored with myself and decided to have a wander around my apartment, and by wander, I mean grab a drink. I grabbed some sweatpants and stuffed my legs through them, stopping halfway through the doorway of my bedroom I stretched to my full height before padding along to my kitchen barefoot. I was about to grab a beer from my fridge when I heard a persistent knocking at my door.

Confused, I closed my fridge and headed towards my front door. Forgetting to look through my peephole since I spent the last hour with my eyes closed I undid the deadbolt and opened the door. Huh. Looks like Grace is stood outside my door, that can't be right.

"Hello?" I asked, trying to focus my eyes on this Grace imposter.

"Rigsby! It's me, would you let me…oh." She stopped and looked away from me slightly, a blush working its way up her cheeks and hang on! I know that awkward stance. It is Grace!

"Grace, why are you here?" I wondered aloud, because honestly, I didn't know.

"I- Can you just invite me in? It's cold out here."

I stared at her again for a moment before nodding and moving out of the way for her to come inside. Looking around quickly I decided that my apartment wasn't that messy, by my standards at least. She hadn't recoiled in terror, so that was something I guess.

"Not that I'm not happy to see you Grace," 'Not that I'm not happy'? Of course I'm happy about it, why am I always so stupid around her? "But why are you here… now?"

"Could you put some clothes on please?" She asked briskly. I looked down and sure enough, I was still on wearing sweatpants. I nodded my head quickly and headed back towards my bedroom, at least I was doing until she shouted me back.

"Wait, just. It's fine. I need to say something OK?"

I looked at her, taking in the detail of her face, she looked worried and… scared? What did she have to be scared about? Surley she knew I'd never do anything to harm her or purposely upset her in any way. I don't know how long we continued to stand there but her eyes were now closed and she was breathing deeply.

"Urgh, Grace?" She opened her eyes and stared into mine, well, at least I now knew she hadn't fallen asleep stood up. Boy that would have been weird.

"I know how you feel about me. I know everything, and for how long. And how much." She said this all quickly, her eyes not leaving my face, watching to see my world crumble around me. Before I could splutter out an apology or explanation or whatever she wanted, she cut across me again.

"I know from your reaction to when Jane said you were planning to ask me back to your place… here. All the times I've caught you looking at me yet you never did it in a way that would make anyone uncomfortable. That time in the men's room, when you were hurt after I was so stupid!"

"Grace, you're not-"

"Don't interrupt. And I was, I really was, I don't know what any part of me was thinking in letting him meet Jane, in fact, dating him in the first place. But that led to us almost kissing, until that janitor walked in, I was so glad you were safe, I wasn't sure at the time whether that was just a spur of the moment kiss or a 'I'm so happy you're actually alive' kiss, well, almost kiss. And now I know you remember everything that happened, that we actually did kiss… in front of everyone, I feel I should explain myself."

She took a deep breath after this so I took the opportunity to cut in again, "Grace, you don't have to explain anything, I forced you into doing it Grace, I'm so sorry."

"Forced me? You really think that there's anything inside you that could actually force me into doing anything? You know now, when you're fully yourself that you wouldn't be able to bring yourself to do that. So don't apologize, because I'm not sorry." I heard her laugh slightly, probably because I was pulling the most ridiculous face ever. I was piecing together what she was saying, and it wasn't what I expected.

"You told me you loved me once, remember?"

I shook my head, wide eyed but didn't say anything, afraid of what she was going to say next.

"I didn't think you would, but anyway, it was when you were on all that pain medication after you burnt yourself jumping into that burning building to save that man's life, remember? I was watching over you while you were resting, then you told me that you had something you wanted to tell me, and then you did. You told me you loved me and I was terrified to hear it and before I could explain myself, you'd already fallen asleep. I didn't know what to do, I didn't know if I should bring it up so I didn't, I blamed it all on the medication you were on. But after that I couldn't get my mind off it. I had never once tried making myself appear better for you, never tried impressing you, and yet you still had these feelings for me. That's why- that's why I kissed you back. When Jane was testing out whether you were hypnotized or not, both you and Jane knew what you were going to do, obviously you did, it's what you wanted to do, Jane knew because he's a mind reader. Funny thing is, which I didn't fully take into consideration until after what you, no, we did, was that I knew you were going to do it as well. That's why I started to walk away, I was unsure of my feelings and how I'd react, either I'd kiss you back or assault you. I had no time to think when you turned me around, so I went with what felt right."

I broke out into a smile because of this, she had kissed me back, and she did it because it felt right. I looked down at her as she walked towards me steadily, unsure of what was to happen next. She surprised me by placing both her hands on my chest and speaking again.
"And I feel fine in explaining all of this to you, fine in that, I know what you feel is true, because, well, I feel it too."

I had no control over the grin that spread over my face; I looked into her eyes and wrapped my hands around her waist. This was our moment, I was going to kiss her and never let go of her. I leaned down towards her while I felt the shift in her angle as she leaned up towards me. Time seemed to slow and I could take in every detail about this moment, her cheeks were tinged pink and her eyes fluttered closed a second before mine did. I could feel us getting closer; I felt her last breath on my face before-

"Wait. We- we can't."

I opened my eyes and looked down on her, and I'm sure the hurt I saw in her eyes were a direct reflection of mine.

"It's like I said, when you were high on medication, we can't."

"I fell asleep remember? I never heard what you said."

"Its work, it's against-"

"Is that you only reason?" I asked her, cutting her off.

"It's a pretty valid reason."

"You know your problem Grace?" I asked her, pulling my arms up from around her waist to cup her face. "It's that you think too much," I said while gently brushing my thumb across her lips, "You think too much of the consequences, and not about what you want. Right now, that's important. Right now, you, us! We're what's important, not work, not any other reason you could think of."

"But,"

"No Grace, this isn't something you should need to think about, so, don't think about it Grace, OK? Because I don't need to think about it to know I want this, and from what you've said, you want this too. So just stop thinking about it, please. Like this, you should never think."

Grace looked at me for a moment, a small smile on her face indicated that I had said the right thing. Then she brought her lips to mine. I moved my hands from her hair to her waist again, holding her as close as I could physically allow, not taking the time to notice the details this time.

"Wayne," She whispered to my lips, breaking the kiss for only a moment. I murmured back to her, unable to form a coherent response. "Can I stay here tonight?"

I smiled into our kiss and deepened it, hoping that would be a reasonable enough answer for her. I don't know how long we stood there, embraced in a kiss that spoke all our emotions for us, but I knew it was the most real thing I had ever felt.

That was long. That was also the end!

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