Disclaimer: I make no money from fanfiction and am not affiliated with the Mentalist in any way.
This was inspired by Sue Shay's excellent drabble story "Danger on Donner Pass". For a while I have wanted to write a drabble story. Also I enjoyed doing my alphabetic 'collection of drabbles' so I've merged the 2 concepts. Third and final part now uploaded. Please let me know what you think.
Pain
As consciousness dawned, Jane discovered he was in bed. His leg felt heavy and he couldn't move, though he felt interestingly light-headed. Beeping. A monitor. A disinfectant smell. Ah hospital. And the good painkillers.
And breathing. Regular but shallow. Someone was near his bed, holding his hand. He could feel it.
Opening his eyes, light assaulted them and he groaned, throwing up his free arm. The most beautiful sound in the world greeted him.
"Jane? Jane, are you OK?"
Lisbon! She was here. She was safe.
He turned towards her, waiting a moment till his eyes focussed, and smiled.
Quibble
"Jane, what were you thinking?"
Lisbon's voice was strained and tear tracks lined her scrunched face. The chain at her neck was pulled taut as she gripped her cross.
"How could you do that? To the team? To me?"
Jane tried and failed to sit, flopping back against the pillows whilst cursing his weakness.
"Teresa, please."
Lisbon looked away as she grabbed another tissue and blew her nose.
"Teresa, I never meant to hurt you, I swear. Can we quibble about this later?"
Lisbon glared and marched from the room. Jane sighed, heartbroken. How could he make her see?
Repentance (double drabble)
Half an hour later, Lisbon returned. Relief surged into Jane like a spring tide. There was still a chance. He reached out and she grasped his hand.
"Look Lisbon, I know it wasn't nice, abandoning you like I did. But I couldn't risk Red John getting hold of you. I only did it to slow you down. I knew you could find a way out."
"But I'm the agent…"
Jane interrupted, desperate to make her understand.
"Yes, you are. And a damned fine one too. But Red John targeted you because of me. Because I didn't manage to hide my feelings. I'd already lost the people I loved once. I couldn't go through it again. I'd be dead or irredeemably insane. I had to keep you safe."
Lisbon stood looking at him like he was from a different dimension. "How does hurling yourself in front of a serial killer keep me safe, Jane? Damn you. Can't you see what you did to me?"
Jane would have given anything to hold her but he couldn't move. Instead he squeezed her hand. "Teresa, I never meant to cause you pain. And I seem to do nothing else. I truly am sorry."
Safe (double drabble).
Lisbon sat at Jane's bedside, hunched over with her head resting on his chest, as tears flowed freely.
"I love you, you son-of-a-bitch. And you nearly died."
Jane shushed her quietly, fingers combing through her hair. Until a coughing fit overtook her, forcing her upright.
"How are you?" he asked. "You weren't in good shape either last time I saw you."
"Mending. Just some cracked ribs." Lisbon stood for a second, turning away. She took a steadying breath before continuing. "You've got internal damage from the knife in your stomach, and a gunshot wound to the leg. It was touch and go for a while but I guess it was your stubbornness. You just had to prove the doctors wrong. You've been sedated for two weeks so that you could heal."
Jane reached for her once more. "And thank you for saving my life back at the school. How did you find me so quickly?"
Lisbon smiled, and put her hand down her top, retrieving a small pouch. "Spare phone and handcuff keys in my bra. I knew you'd do something stupid.
Jane couldn't help it. Laughter overtook him, even though it hurt. "Agent Lisbon! Who'd have thought it."
Tainted (double drabble)
As Jane calmed down, a thought struck him.
"Red John had an insider in the bullpen. He must have had."
"What? Not one of the team. No way."
"No, but someone near us. Who knew our insights and movements. Haffner must have bugged our vehicles and phones but it's more than that. He knew we were onto him."
"Ron?" Lisbon looked guilty for thinking evil of her co-workers but no-one could deny it now. Red John had been one of them. A Senior Agent in the CBI….
"Maybe. It would fit, I guess."
"I'll get Cho and Rigsby on it." Lisbon went for her office phone before hesitating and pulling out her backup once again. Jane held his breath, hoping she didn't realise that it gave him the ideal opportunity to admire her breasts.
"Cho? Yes it's Lisbon. Jane's back with the living and causing trouble all ready." She paused for a moment, listening to her second-in-command. "Will do. Oh and can you check out Ron? Make sure there's nothing untoward."
Hanging up, she turned to Jane. "Cho, Rigsby and van Pelt will be dropping by later. You'd best have a nap. You'll need to keep your strength up."
Underling
A few minutes later, Lisbon's phone rang. Cho. She listened for a few moments, her face dropping into the universal expression of disgust. Ringing off, she turned back to Jane.
"Looks like you were right. Ron called in sick three days ago and hasn't been seen since. But there's more than enough evidence that he was allied with Red John. The guys will check it out but he's probably in Mexico by now."
Jane looked pensive for a moment. "Probably. But it's one less scumbag out of our hair. He wouldn't dare retaliate. He's a follower, not a leader."
Victims
Back in the office, Lisbon studied the Red John file. Each victim stared back at her. Each crime scene was recorded in detail.
She still couldn't believe it. She'd worked with Haffner. Gone for coffee with him. Even considered joining the PI business that he'd talked of setting up. He'd congratulated her at that 10 year celebration.
But the evidence was indisputable. 32 victims: 26 women, 5 men and 1 child. Charlotte Jane.
She was sorry that Red John wouldn't stand trial. That other victims' relatives wouldn't see due process served. But she wasn't sorry the monster was dead.
Wishes
Back by Jane's bedside, Lisbon rested in the easy chair that the nursing staff had found her. 2am. Jane slept, his breathing slow and regular.
What was it about dangerous situations that made him make declarations of love? First in her office when he fake shot her, and then as he lay dying on a school gym floor. Thank God for van Pelt's first aid skills and Cho's impeccable organisational talent.
So, did Jane mean it, or would he just 'forget' again?
That was the question? And she was sure he hadn't missed her confession of love for him.
Xylophone (double drabble)
Jane stirred, opening his eyes and blinking like an owl in the sunlight.
"Lisbon, you're here!"
She shuffled the chair over to his bedside and leaned over, caressing his soft curls. "Yep. It's me."
Jane eyed her tenderly. "Do you remember our High School dance? 'More than words'…."
Teresa looked away, trying to control the surge of emotion. "Uh-huh?"
"I never did guess your instrument. Wait. It's coming to me… A, a glockenspiel. No, no. A xylophone."
He looked so earnest, like a little boy desperate for her approval. She couldn't stop the laugh that bubbled up. "Wow, Mr 'Almost-Psychic', it's what five years or so. You're losing your touch."
"Meh! Got to let you get away with it occasionally. Be no fun, being invincible! Darned near perfect is good enough for me."
Lisbon shook her head, grinning now. "Well, glad to see that your ego didn't suffer. That would have killed you."
"Oh please. You just can't admit it to yourself. I'm brilliant."
"Keep telling yourself that. Now where were those tablets?"
Suddenly Jane turned serious. "You know, Teresa, I meant what I said. The first time it just slipped out. That's why I wouldn't, couldn't own it.
You (double drabble)
"Y-You did?" Teresa looked staggered.
"Yes, back in your office. I've loved you for years Lisbon. I couldn't tell you because that would have bumped you up Red John's target list. And I couldn't do that. I couldn't lose you."
"Is that why you took it back?" Lisbon's words are slow, almost slurred.
"I never took it back Teresa. I just skated around it. But now Red John, or should I say Haffner, is dead. And I can say it."
Jane reached up, tracing Teresa's cheekbones with his fingertips before sweeping round to her jaw.
"I love you Teresa, with my whole being. You mean the world to me."
Lisbon caught his hand in hers, biting her lower lip as she tried to take it in.
"But… But you can't."
Jane smiled wryly, shaking his head against the pillow. "Why not?" He paused for a second before continuing, "And I do believe that you mentioned something earlier. Something about loving me?"
Teresa didn't know where to look. She dashed the back of her hand against the overflowing tears.
"Of course I do, you… you idiot!"
"Then come here and kiss me, sweetheart!"
Zoo (double drabble)
Eight months later, Patrick and Teresa ambled through Sacramento Zoo hand in hand.
"So your house sale completed OK?" Lisbon turned to look at Jane.
"Yes, it did. It's a bit sad but I'm also kinda relieved." He paused. "Thank you for giving me the space and time to put everything to rest."
"That's OK. I knew that you needed it. Hey, even I needed time to re-adjust post-Red John." Lisbon looked up at him peering through her eyelashes. "Though I can't believe you brought me here for our first date."
"Why not? We stopped two serial monsters in six months. We make a good team, you and me. Colleagues and best friends. It kinda felt appropriate. Celebrate a new start and all that, building on our already solid foundation.
Besides, there's dinner and dancing later. You really think that I wouldn't wine and dine you? I intend to spoil you all I can. Give you everything you've ever wished for."
Jane picked her up and spun her round like she weighed less than a silk scarf.
"Everything huh?" Lisbon pursed her lips in mock deep thought. "There's tiger cubs."
Hand in hand, they strolled off into the sunset.