I don't own The Mentalist and I don't make money with fanfiction.

Thanks for the reviews for ch. 3!

The following chapter is a little OOC for Lisbon and Jane.

xxxxx Chapter 4:

"Visualize? Never heard of it before." replied Wiley. "But it seems as if they had expanded over the last few years and don't only exist in California anymore. There are so-called 'Visualize-Centers' all over the USA and Canada."

Jane looked pale. This nightmare just didn't end, his past would always hunt him. At least it wasn't Red John this time, he was definitely gone, but Visualize was now a training camp for holy warriors. If Pike really was a member, Lisbon was in great danger. She and Jane had always been critics of Visualize and occasionally had made fun of this brainwashing psycho cult.

"Is there anything else?" asked Cho, who was looking concerned.

"Yes. Pike has a record of being violent, and was supposed to do an anger-management therapy for a year, but his doctor was killed before he could start."

"What? How?" Jane interrupted. He hung on every word Wiley told them.

"Actually, nobody really knows. All the evidence disappeared, there are no files, no witnesses, no culprits and no murder weapon."

xxxxx

Lisbon was sitting on the floor, leaning against the couch and trying to forget the pain. Finally, she decided that she was strong enough to get up slowly and drive to the hospital on her own. She knew it was stupid to drive with an lacerated wound on her head and that it would be better to call someone who would drive her. The living room looked terrible: the carpet was soaked with red vine, the table was stuck between the couch and the floor. And worst of all, parts of the couch were covered in her blood because she had wiped the blood off her hands.

When Lisbon arrived at the hospital, a nurse asked the inevitable question.

"How did that happen?"

"I...fell down the stairs." Worst lie ever, she'll know I didn't fall down the stairs...

"Ok, if you say so. But just that you know, if your husband beats you, you should leave him."

"He's not my husband!" Lisbon burst out. Oops, so much for the stairs...

The nurse raised an eyebrow. "Whatever. I'll call a doctor, this wound needs to be cleaned and stitched. You're lucky the injury isn't so deep."

xxxxx

As soon as she was at home again this night, Lisbon cleaned up the mess in the living room, took a shower and went to bed.

I can't believe this really happened. After I joined the police years ago, I was sure nobody would ever hit me again. I'm a cop, damn it. I wish I wouldn't have so much experience with violent and drunk men...when Dad was drunk and beat me and my brothers it was kind of...normal? Yes, normal, we were used to it, but Marcus? No. He didn't seem like a guy who beats up women. But he was drunk, right? He wouldn't have done it if he had been sober. I should forgive him...I mean, I'm always late, he's right. I promised him I wouldn't be late this night. God, he even cooked dinner. Tomorrow, when he comes home, I'll tell him everything's alright and forgive him. I know I shouldn't, but I will. I mean, I'm gonna marry him...probably.

xxxxx

Pike was in his expensive hotel room and was afraid of the call he had to make. His father was also an important member of Visualize and had performed 'the perfection' years ago.

"Hey dad, I've heard you know what I did. Who told you ?"

"You think I'm gonna tell you? There are members everywhere, I'm hearing things... your girl went to the hospital after you beat her up. You're endangering the whole operation! Not only that you needed years for finding the right persons to perform the perfection, you even risked to loose one of them!"

"I know...Sorry."

"Pray that she stays with you, son. You really don't wanna have enemies here."

"I am aware of that, Dad" he replied impatiently. "Do you think I don't know what kind of people I'm dealing with?"

"I'm just saying. Pray. It's important to keep her. Your uncle told me he has special interest in these two people. Make sure you end your mission. If you fail, there will be serious consequences, you know him."

"Yeah, I do. Trust me. It will turn out the way he told me to. But, um...there's a problem."

"Don't tell me you developed feelings for her. No feelings, she's a target, not a girlfriend. Play the caring man, but remember not to love her."

"She's not the real problem. It's him."

"Your uncle told me about this guy. Just try to avoid that he discovers something. It puts everything at risk if someone finds out about your real aim. It was hard enough to infiltrate you in the FBI. You had to change your name, your look and various other things to appear like a serious and competent agent"

"There's no need to remember me everytime we talk, dad." Pike sighed. He knew this conversation would go this way.

"Do you know what happens when you haven't fixed that in three days?"

"Yes, damn it. I promise you, I'll fix it tomorrow. I'm pretty sure she's the one who will apologize."

"Good luck with that..."

"Bye, dad." Pike hung up.

xxxxx

The next day, when Lisbon walked into the bullpen, she heard the others whisper behind her back. She knew she must look pretty bad with the big plaster on her forehead and various bruises.

Kim was the first who saw her.

"God, Teresa, what happened to you? You look terrible!"

Lisbon raised an eyebrow at her. "I fell down the stairs."

"Yeah, right. Pike hit you. Don't deny it, Lisbon." Jane said quietly, but still audible for her. He was leaning against the wall and exchanged looks with Cho, who seemed pretty shocked, but didn't say anything.

"Jane! What did you...?"

"You heard me."

"Marcus didn't hit me...I really fell down the stairs. It's my fault."

"Teresa, you have to leave him", said Kim, who had finally found the strength not to stare at the huge plaster anymore. "I know I always told you what a great guy he was, but I was wrong. Really, leave him."

After minutes of silence, Cho tried a different tactic to convince Lisbon.

"You won't stay with a man who hits you. That's not like you." It was more a statement, not an advice, but it worked. She looked up to respond.

"You know what? You're right. He-"

Jane cut her off. "Yes, you'll talk to Pike and tell him that you will break up with him. Remember what you dad did to you?"

He knew it was a bad idea to bring up this topic, but it was the only way to make Lisbon do what was best for her.

"Don't you dare to talk about this now! Marcus isn't like my dad! He is..."

"...just like him."

"God, Jane. You have no right to compare him with my dad! This is completely different." she spat.

"No, it's not. But as you said, it's your fault. Have fun with him, but I won't be there for you if he hurts you again."

Jane went out and left her standing there, feeling her look at his back.

xxxxx

Later this evening, when Pike came home, he acted like the kindest and most understanding man in the world. He apologized a thousand times and swore he would never beat her again. Against her better judgement, Lisbon forgave him.

"Marcus, it's ok. It was my fault. I promise you to never be late again and tell you where I am."

At the same time, she knew this wasn't like her. She wasn't that kind of woman. She was strong, independent, she knew what she wanted and wouldn't let a man take over her life.

"Teresa, it will never happen again, trust me. I'm so sorry, please forgive me."

"Of course I forgive you." Why didn't he say that it was his fault? Maybe Jane was right and Marcus is like my dad? Never mind, Jane has no idea how much I love Marcus, so screw him..."

"Thank you, Teresa."

She really trusts me, I can't believe it. This is my last chance. If I fail to get this done, Visualize kills me...

xxxxx

Pike knew it would be hard not to lose his temper again. He was violent and impatient. If people didn't do what he told them to, he got aggressive. It had been like this since he was a child. Then something happened in his life. Once he was old enough to understand what kind of organization Visualize was, he knew he had to change. His whole adult life he had tried to keep his temper and now, after so many years, he was someone who gained the trust of other people very fast.

He was the fake persona Agent Marcus Pike from the FBI. He was 'Mr. Nice Guy-No Pressure'. Women loved him, men respected him, but he was not too respected to be feared, which made him inconspicuous.

The perfect undercover agent.

xxxxx

Lisbon was the only one in the office who still thought Pike was a good man. Even Kim told her she should break up with him, but she didn't listen.

One week later she was in the field with Jane because Abbott told them they had to work together again after their fight, although both of them refused to talk to each other. When Lisbon got a call, Jane knew it was Pike because of the way she smiled at her phone.

Stupid. How can she be so stupid? This guy is taking control over her life and she doesn't mind. If I would pressure her like this, she wouldn't be smiling at her damn phone. And she wouldn't stay with me if I beat her. What has this jerk done to her that she behaves like this?

Maybe I should have told her that he's a Visualize member and how this cult has changed? Meh...she wouldn't believe me anyway...

Lisbon has always been a critic of Visualize, just like me. If she knew that her Mr. Nice Guy was a member, she would dump him right away.

Probably.

By now, she loves him so much that she would forgive him any weird religious cult.

I would give her the wedding she wants. With a white dress in a catholic church, I would even join the church for her, but I wonder what a wedding in Visualize looks like...

Why didn't Cho tell her?

I guess because he knows that's a thing between me and her, but when the time is right, Cho could be the one who tells her about Pike's real identity.

Damn, I was stunned when I heard who his uncle is...and I really thought these Visualize guys were gone after Red John died. They're everywhere, like Wiley found out. It's kind of scary.

I wish I knew how to tell Lisbon that she's in danger, but how do you tell a woman that her boyfriend is a member of a religious terror cult that kills unbelievers?

xxxxx

Thanks for reading!

Who do you think is Pike's mysterious uncle?

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