A/N: Sorry for the wait, but hang in there with me because things might get interesting.

Thanks for those great reviews, they mean everything. I want to here whatever you have to say, so don't hold back. This is about learning to be a better writer and I take that very seriously.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own the Mentalist

Patrick Jane sat in his huge empty house, reading the files he had stolen from Bosco's office. Bosco's murder by Rebecca , had given Jane even more fervor to find Red John. He had trouble sleeping before, now he was living in a hellish state somewhere between utter exhaustion and lucidity. He had read these damn files over and over, so much so, he was beginning to memorize every dotted i every period and comma. It didn't help his sleep situation either, how could anyone be expected to sleep after reading these things, and looking at the horrific crime scene photos.

Jane had been out of the hospital for three days, in the morning he would be seeing the shrink. He decided to pick the one with best education, perhaps it was a conceit but he wouldn't want to waste his time sparring with an unworthy opponent. The doctor's name was Schien, Thomas Schien, he had attended Johns Hopkins , and held both an M.D. and a PhD. in psychology. He had read on the internet a paper he had written and determined Schien's approach was cognitive behavioral. He also found that his practice was open to everyone , he didn't seem to have a subspecialty. The only problem was how would he keep his sleep deficit hidden from him, he didn't want any interference, like oh say, another hospitalization.

He was right about Lisbon. She let him have it. It seemed the raving storm of her ire had abated for now, but he was on notice that she would be watching him.

While he was in the hospital Minnelli had really left, they had his retirement party and everything. This gave Jane a little twinge of disappointment. But the real concern brewing in his convoluted mind was who would take Virgil's place? Moreover, would they be as malleable? Amenable? The last thing he wanted was another person standing hawkishly over his shoulder.

A look at his watch told him he should at least try to sleep, so he wouldn't look quite like road kill for his first appointment. Schein was sent his file from Williamson, hopefully it would speed things along a bit. Still, the first appointment is the "assessment" and those usually lasted at least an hour.

Jane put the file back in the box and carried it up the stairs to his grisly nest. He kept it with him at all times; he didn't trust anything anymore after what that deluded bitch did with the evidence in Cloverville. Even though he hated guns, he now "slept" with one. A .45 he bought surreptiously from a less than reputable source. Jane kept the gun secret, for good reasons, two of them being Lisbon, and anyone else who could haul him off to the asylum.

He lay down on his mattress feeling the cold steel of the gun under through his pillow, less than ideal but no matter... Jane pulled the box onto the bed with him, and put it between him and the wall. He practically wrapped himself around it, and fell asleep.

He awoke to someone pounding on his door. Groggily he stood up and quickly hid the box in the closet. He called out "Who is it?" his tone conveying his irritation.

"Jane, get down here and open the door!"

'Lisbon… so much for sleeping.' He padded down the stairs still only in his socks, and unlocked the door.

"Why the hell aren't you answering your phone? Are you trying to make me crazy?" she harped.

He decided to ignore the "crazy" remark and said "I guess it's dead."

She didn't buy it for one second. "Well get yourself ready, I'm taking you to your appointment."

He paused before replying as gently as he could. "No."

Lisbon looked at him in exasperated disbelief "What the hell do you mean by "no"."

" I mean exactly that. No, you are not taking me to my appointment."

She couldn't believe her ears, when had Jane gotten so "edgy"? She chose to ask him why instead of berate him. "Why don't you want me to come?"

"Because Lisbon, Minnelli was right we were getting too close, and this is really personal, so for having boundaries sake… no."

He was lying, she knew it or thought she did, but he was so damn good at it, she was never sure.

"Well the boundaries will have to be expanded today, because this is not negotiable. You go with me, or you break the contract with Williamson and he will put your pretty little butt in the psych ward."

His face a serene mask, hid his rage, and the soothing calm tone of his voice made him seem like he was perfectly pleased with this information.

"In that case agent Lisbon, let me get dressed and we can go."

She nodded and waited in the foyer while Jane got ready. She thought she'd seen a flash of anger in his eyes when she told him, but he seemed totally okay with it now. But who knew for sure what Jane felt he only let you see what he wanted you to see. 'I hope this shrink can handle him, I don't want to lose him… from the team.'

Jane was seething; he was so tired of being pushed into corners. He could feel his hands clench into fists, his pulse was zooming along an adrenalin speedway. He held it in, put it back in its box. With a deep cleansing breath, he centered himself and was back to his usual cool demeanor. Shoes on, hair tousled, he walked down the stairs and gave her a quiet "Ready."

She had caught the face on the wall when he opened the bedroom door; it made her sick every time she saw that damn thing. Lisbon knew better than to say anything about it. Her eyes scanned the mostly empty living room. Nothing but a card table with a coffee cup, pens and a legal pad, she was dying to know what Jane had written on it. She sidled up to the table as if she was just pacing around; she glanced down, and saw written in block letters "QUIT SNOOPING LISBON". She sputtered at the accusation, and then wondered how he knew. 'I guess it's not so hard to figure out. I am a detective.' It made her smile; this was the Jane she knew the guy who made everything a mystery.

"Want to get some breakfast? We have time."

Jane was hungry, and they did have two hours until his appointment… "Yes, let's go to the diner." He could use some coffee.