I'm extremely sorry :3 I've abandoned you guys :/ All because I've been obsessing over Doctor Who. But fear not, here is the next instalment AND as an extra something, you can expect some fanart for the fic on my DeviantArt account, Timelady-Victorious. So go have a look soon!

The Mentalist belongs to CBS
Maddy belongs to me :)

Chapter 3 - Red Rose

Last chapter...

Taking a deep breath, I curled my feet up onto the chair, leaning against his shoulder. He shifted slightly, getting comfortable, sipping his wine. And it was there that I slowly drifted off to sleep, still clutching his hand lightly. My first night of dreamless sleep.

Grace Van Pelt had returned late in the night, smile on her face, still grinning after her farewell kiss with Rigsby. It had been a perfect night, and she felt like she was walking on air. He'd been sweet, and polite and charming and everything she could ever want from a man. Yes it had been a perfect night.

She's let herself into the flat, stopping as she closed the door. There was the sound of breathing, but not just a single occupant. There were two. Flicking the light on briefly, she found herself smiling once again at the sight that met her. Patrick Jane was half sitting, half lying on the sofa, one arm hanging over the edge of the sofa, empty wine glass balanced. The other was wrapped protectively round the sleeping figure of Maddy, curled up, sleeping soundly, no nightmares, no screaming. The fingers on one hand were clutching tightly at Jane's waist coat, as if he were a giant cuddly toy. Both were breathing softly, unaware of her presence. With one last look at the sleeping pair, Grace turned off the light and head for bed.

When I first woke up, my initial thought was that I was in my bed. I was so warm, so comfortable. I could hear my mother pottering about in the kitchen, putting the kettle on, talking to a male voice. Someone on the TV? She did that, chatted to people on the TV, as if she could hear them. I gave a smile and then stopped. It couldn't be my mother. My mother was dead. So why had I slept so soundly?

And then I remembered. About Jane, and the wine, and falling asleep beside him. I could still smell his aftershave, but he wasn't there. Had he just gotten up and left? Not a word? My god, had I said something in my sleep? Scared him away? I was such an idiot! And then I heard the male voice again. It was clearer now, as was the females. It was Grace.

"And is this every night?"

"Almost every night. Sometimes there's no noise, but she looks just as dreadful in the morning, so I don't think the dreams have gone,"

"No, they'll stay for a while,"

"Well not last night. It's the first night I've seen her sleep so soundly,"

I realised they were talking about me, and decided to show that I was waking up. I gave a great yawn, sitting up, and rubbing my eyes.

"Ah, sleeping beauty is awake anyway," Jane said loudly and I could hear the smile in his voice. I grabbed at a pillow, and chucked it in his direction. From the laugh that I recieved in return, I missed completely.

Once my eyes had finally decided to open, I stumbled towards the kitchen, accepting a cup of tea with a thankful grunt, and sat down at the table to drink it. Jane was leaning against the counted with his, hair in all directions. This however, was not a bad thing, it actually made him looked, if possible, even hotter-

Woah, get those thoughts in order Maddy, do you want to make a fool of yourself?

Once I'd successfully grown up again and no longer sounded like a teenager, I offered him some toast.

"No thanks, I better get going," He grabbed his jacket, placing the cup on the counter "I'll see you ladies at work,"

And he was gone. Before I was even that awake.

When I reached work in the morning, the office was buzzing. Everyone was running around, in full work mode. It got like that here during cases, and it was a good feeling, having a set task to do, solving the mystery. Lisbon was already there, waiting to talk to the team about today's next course of action. While waiting for the others, I logged on to the computer, and started searching for anything I could about the missing boy.

Everyone these days were on some sort of social networking site, so that's where I began, searching through Facebook and Myspace. And I found him, with a very interesting message posted from Kurt on his page.

The meeting is going ahead. Check emails for details

What meeting was this? Drugs? Or just a bit of harmless fun? I noted it down, and called Lisbon over.

"Right, we need to get forensics' report on his computer. See if we can find this email. Good work Clark."

Smiling, happy that I'd been of some use, I headed out into the lobby to buy a bottle of water from the machine. The lift pinged, and a courier stepped out, holding a dozen red roses. He started to head towards the office. I grabbed my bottle of water as it rolled up.

"Someone's lucky," I commented in a friendly tone

"Yup," He replied "You don't know a Miss...Maddy Clark," He asked, checking the label.

"What? I mean, yes that's me!" I blurted out, dropping my water and bending to scoop it up again.

"Well, here you go!" He chuckled, handing them over and disappearing back into the lift.

I looked at the label. All it read was: With love from an Admirer. Weird. Red John had sent me flowers before, but it wasn't roses. And he wouldn't leave a message like that. I realised I'd been standing in the lobby for an age, and headed back to the office.

Jane came out of the kitchen area, carrying a cup of tea. He smiled as he spotted the flowers.

"Ahh, someone's got an admirer I see. For you?" I nodded quietly.

"You..you don't know who their from?" I asked hopefully. He dashed those hopes in a second.

"Nope. Don't have a clue. I'd never send roses myself. Too cliché. And red...no, I prefer brighter flowers. But of course, they're beautiful all the same,"

Trust Jane. Sometimes he's so tactless. I gave a sigh, feeling like an idiot and headed towards the sink. "I better put them in water,"

I found an old vase under the sink, and sat them in it. They looked beautiful, but somehow, Jane had put a damper on things. I'd have to resign myself to the fact that he's never be interested. But I just wished he's stop sending mixed messages, like turning up last night. Still feeling deflated, I left the flowers beside the sink.

The rest of the team had gathered, and Lisbon started to give out instructions. Rigsby and Van Pelt were to ask around campus about the dead boy. She was going to go and see Jimmy Walker's mother again. Cho, Jane and I were going to the meeting spot. Forensics and just gotten back with the details of the email. A park not to far from the campus. With the details exchanged, we headed out.

"Well...not much here apart from this old magazine and a bear can. Could be anyone's," Cho commented, looking down at the ground where the directions had led us.

Jane stooped to the ground, taking a closer look. "Well, these tracks are recent. There were...four people, three adult, one smaller. They headed...in that direction," He stood up pointing to the distance, before walking off.

"So you're a tracker now too?" I asked, hurrying to keep up

"No, that was just common sense. You can see the four different shoe prints, and the direction they were stepping in," He explained.

"We should get the dogs in," Cho replied.

"But what would we get them to track? You said yourself that the magazine might not be theirs,"

"We could try something if Jimmy's,"

"Umm...guys," Jane stopped our conversation, and I looked up. We'd left the park via a gate on the opposite side to the one we'd entered. Across the road was an alley way, dark and dirty. And on the ground, was what was unmistakably, a blood stain. We hurried over.

"Well...it's a lot of blood, but not enough to die from." I looked closely. "We'll need forensics in."

"There's more here," Cho called, down the alley from us "And shell casings,"

"Gang fight?" I asked

"Possibly. I'll make the call,"

"Jane- Jane?" I looked around. The consultant was gone. With a groan, I ran back out into the street, looking both ways. There was no sign.

I spent ten minutes looking for him, walking the full length of the street once, and then twice, and then heading back into the park. I even checked the car, but he was nowhere to be seen. When I was about ready to give up, I spotted him, blonde hair, heading back towards the alley. He was carrying something bright, and when he spotted me, standing, a furious look on my face, he headed over.

"Where have you been? You can't just disappear and not say where you- Oh!"

I took what he was offering me, looking at it in shock. He gave a grin.

"Now that, is what I call a bunch of flowers," He said quietly.

I only smiled, staring at the giant bouquet that I had been handed, full of yellows and pinks and whites. The prettiest flowers I had seen in a ling time, beautifully arranged.

All was forgiven.

Oh Jane you charmer *blush* :3

Haha, hope it was worth the wait :L

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