Red Road: Chapter 4:

Disclaimer: *insert comment on how I don't own Mentalist and if I did Jisbon would have seven million little TV-babies right now*

Agent Andrea Whitman wasn't the type of woman who let things happen to her.

When she was seven, a large boy a few grades above her pulled her pigtails. The next day he was in the hospital with a broken arm, after his bicycle fell apart while he was riding it in the street.

When she was sixteen, her boyfriend left her for her best friend. The friend woke up the following day with her lovely blonde locks shaved off (somehow in her sleep) and the boyfriend lost his lucky green socks, making him lose the big playoff game where the scouts were to allow him a basketball scholarship.

Even now, so many years later, Agent Andrea Whitman didn't allow things to happen to her.

She knew the team wasn't crazy about her. It wasn't hard to figure out – given how well-liked their previous boss was and the cold demeanor she was greeted to at her arrival, it wasn't exactly rocket science.

She also knew that Patrick Jane was completely and totally in love with the woman he got fired. She's seen the newspaper reports on the consultant creating drama and controversy with suspects, witnesses and really anyone who came within a few feet of him. She'd also seen Agent Teresa Lisbon's name in the papers, saving his sorry ass with apologies and compensations. She also stole a sneak peek at some of their files – murder accusations, thinking they were going to die in a biohazard facility… among others. Those two have been to hell and back together. It would be unnatural for him to go through so much with such a beautiful and charming woman and not fall for her.

When he came into her office yesterday it sealed her suspicions. And now he wasn't showing up for work. The whole situation smelled fishy.

But going to her boss now wasn't going to look good.

Losing the consultant she was hired to control after only one day? And then coming with suspicious ramblings about how he was out to get her fired? No, she had to wait until she had something credible to pin on him. Something to hold against him to force him to behave.

"What are we going to do?" They were lying in his hospital bed, her next to him and in his arms, trailing patterns on his chest.

"Do about what?"

"Not what. Who… Agent Whitman." The name was like a bad taste on his tongue.

"Who's that?"

"It's the agent they got to replace you. But nobody likes her. There was a unanimous vote that we all hate her."

"They replaced me already?" Her face was hurt. He pulled her closer to him, kissing her head.

"They could never replace you. They just put a blonde witch in your seat. Who has knick-knacks. You know those little porcelain knick-knacks? What kind of a police officer has them?"

She giggled at his irrational hatred for her replacement.

"Well I don't think it matters anyway. Even if you somehow get her fired, Hightower won't hire me back."

"...What if we don't get her fired? What if we get her to quit? What if we get every replacement they have to quit until they're forced to bring you back."

"But you don't listen to me either."

He furrows his brow. "I listen to you."

"No you don't! If you did you wouldn't misbehave so much!"

He smiled mischievously. "You think I was misbehaving with you? That was me being me. Misbehaving? I won't give her a week!"

"You're not going to do anything illegal are you?"

"Meh. I'm the golden boy."

This time she sat up, raising her finger in a commanding way. "Nothing illegal! Or, like, morally questionable!"

He rolled his eyes. "Yes, mother."

He pulled her into another passionate kiss, running his finger through her silky hair.

Pulling away, she raised her eyebrow. "You kiss your mother like that?"

Laughing, he rolled her over, kissing her again, loving the feeling of just having her close.

Okay, so I didn't get any bright ideas to get rid of Ms Evil (my nickname for Whitman) so I'm gonna go for the obvious choice – smoking her out. PLEASE REVIEW! I'm in desperate need for some creative ways for Jane to drive her crazy! Deviousness is highly appreciated.

Desperate love

Zanny