Disclaimer: I do not own the Mentalist, and make no money from this

Author's Note: Thank you to my readers and especially to jisbon-sessed, YukinaKid and Habeous Corpus for reviewing :) More Red John in this chapter, I made him pretty twisted. Please tell me what you think :)

I opened my eyes miserably not wanting to face the day but not wanting to go back to sleep either, if you could call waking up every other hour from nightmares sleep. I brushed my teeth and got dressed making sure to wear a sweater as the bruises were still visible. I had some cereal for breakfast, Dad wasn't up yet, he didn't usually wake up this early anyway and then headed for school. It was a pleasant day, the sun was shining and the birds singing, I hoped I wouldn't be too hot.

That's when I noticed John, he was standing on the path beside a dead cat. I approached him nervously and looked at the dead tabby, someone had bashed it's head in. I shivered, I'd had more than enough death to last me a lifetime.

"I killed it," John announced suddenly not looking up.

"It's not really healthy to kill things," I relied shifting uncomfortably.

"I've killed 8 birds, 5 mice, 4 rabbits, 3 cats and a dog," he knelt down beside it and dipped his finger in the blood, then he drew a smiley fave onto the pavement with the blood. It was very disturbing. John looked up at me smiling.

"Do you know why they call me Red John?" his grin faded as he spoke.

"No,"

"Because when my Father killed my Mother and then himself I ran out screaming for help and I was covered in their blood. Drenched in it, I was `red` and my name is `John.`"

I nodded nervously, I wasn't a fan of shrinks but in my opinion John needed some serious help.

"I like you Patrick, your not like most people. That's why I thought I'd share that with you. I like killing things, what do you like doing?"

"Getting to school on time," John laughed at this, he bent over double laughing and rolled on the floor.

"Go on, I've got to move this," he pointed the cat and I walked off, feeling unbelievable relieved to be away from him. John was sick. I passed the park and heard someone crying, I hesitated slightly. I was early for once and it couldn't hurt to check.

I went into the park and found a little boy crying behind a bush, he looked only about 5. He was curled into a ball crying.

"Hi," I said squeezing in beside him.

"Leave me alone," came a small voice.

"Can't you at least tell me your name? Mine's Patrick, Patrick Jane," the boy stopped crying and looked up at me with an acheingly familiar pair of emerald eyes.

"That's a girl's name," he pointed out wiping his eyes.

"I know. So what's your name?"

"I'm not telling," he folded his arms stubbornly.

"I bet your name ends with `Lisbon,`" the boys eyes widened in shock.

"How did you know that?" I smiled at him happily.

"I'm magic, sometimes I know stuff like that," the boy returned my smile.

"I'm Chris. Can you magic away bruises?" my heart instantly fell, I really have a way with people, don't I?

"Why?"

"My Daddy hit me and my sister last night. He never did that before, why?" he started to cry again, "Tessie said he didn't mean it... that he was just sad because of Mommy... but I hurt," he said through sobs and looked pleadingly at me. I put my arm around him and awkwardly patted his back, I was definately not use to this.

"It's okay, bruises heal quickly," I tried to sound comforting but glanced at my own arms which still stung painfully.

"There you are Chris!" I looked up to see Teresa standing there, "oh, hi Patrick," she squeezed on Chris's other side and attempted to comfort him too. Eventually he calmed down, "come on let's get you to school,"

We each held one of his hands and led him into the elementary school to his kindergarten class.

"Chris, how nice of you to join us," said the elderly woman kindly.

"Don't tell her about Dad," Teresa hissed in his ear.

"Why is he so late Teresa and..." she looked at me carefully, "whoever you are,"

"He was upset about his mother so he ran off and hid. Teresa got me to help look for him. He's okay now," I improvised, Teresa shot me a thankful look. She seemed to accept this and shooed us off to school.

"Thanks for covering for me," she said finally as we were walking to our own school.

"It was nothing. I'm just glad I could help,"

"I don't know why Dad did that. He was just drunk and he got mad... Please don't tell,"

"I won't," I agreed feeling painfully aware of bruised arms. Teresa nodded happily as we arrived in school.

My day was greatly improved to the previous two days. Teresa sat with me for most lessons, I enjoyed her company. She was the closest thing I'd had to a friend since... well forever. School was much more fun when you weren't alone, I even managed to avoid Mick. John didn't turn up for some reason, I felt relieved though, he really creeped me out.

School finished and I offered to walk Teresa home, she agreed but said she had to pick up her brother's too. We went back to the elementary school and were greeted by Chris. She also introduced me to her other brothers, James was the eldest below her, he was ten and had the typical Lisbon eyes and hair and Matt who was seven. Unlike the other Lisbon's I'd encountered however, Matt had brown eyes.

We all walked home happily, Chris and James enlightening us on every little thing that happened to them today. I didn't mind, it was new to me to be included in a family discussion. Usually it was just me and Dad and it was more Dad telling me to shut up and listen to him. I felt guilty though, like a traitor amoung them. They'd so easily accepted me and yet it was my fault they didn't have a mother anymore.

We arrived at the Lisbon house...