A/N: I want to express my utter appreciation for every one of you that have taken the time to read, follow, favorite, or review. It has made me so happy! Thank you so very much! This chapter sticks with Lisbon's POV and the continuation of her conversation with Pike. This is the last chapter with Pike. Happy Reading!

Disclaimer: I own nothing pertaining to The Mentalist

Heartache III

She heard Pike sniff and take a few deep breaths to gain control over himself once again. He was holding himself together remarkably well considering the circumstances. She had to give him credit, he was taking the time to listen to her. Part of her wished he would leave, the longer she sat here the harder it was to look at him. The best thing that she could do for him now, was to be honest with him. She wanted to give him a chance to heal.

"Yes," she answered simply. There was no reason for her to explain anything else. He sat up and leaned back against the back of the park bench. The both watched the pigeons wander close to them in hopes of being fed. Both Lisbon and Pike were lost in their own thoughts for a few minutes. He was processing what she had just told him, and she was trying to find a way to make him understand her actions.

"I knew it," he finally whispered, "I even asked if you two were together before asking you out."

"We weren't together then, Marcs. I loved him then, yes, but like I told you before, he was untouchable. I never thought he had moved on a little. The idea that he would ever move on, or heal enough to give me a chance was out of the question. He never told me how he felt until he was sure he was going to lose me. I know, it's not fair to you, but I had to come here and tell you face to face. I had to try to explain myself," she told him carefully. He nodded. She wasn't sure that he understood.

"Are you sure about him, Teresa?" he asked. She could feel him grasping at straws. He wanted her to stay and he was going to continue to try until he ran out of options. She couldn't blame him. A tiny part of her wanted to give him anything she could. The only thing that she could give him right now was comfort, and only the smallest bit. She was exhausted and wanted to end the conversation as soon as possible, but she had to hear him out, just like he had listened to her.

"You're a good man, Marcus. You will be a wonderful husband to a lucky woman some day," she assured him.

"Wait, you agreed to marry me when you were in love with another man?" Marcus asked her mechanically. It sounded to her as though he had stopped feeling anything. His calm exterior frightened her just a little. She had expected him to be angry, and yelling at her. She expected tears, and rage, and hurt, and confusion, and guilt. She expected a volatile spewing of hate and disgust. She would have taken it all. Instead, she got a calm, cool, and collected man. It was beyond unexpected.

"It's not that simple, Marcus."

"Sounds pretty simple to me," he spat back. The sudden change in emotion caught her by surprise. It also hurt; really hurt. It made the guilt she felt even worse. She was frustrated with Jane for waiting so long and forcing her to hurt the man beside her as much as she was forced to. He wasn't going to understand, she realized abruptly realized. She had known Jane wouldn't understand her leaving with Marcus, how was Marcus supposed to understand her staying with Jane? It was all so complicated.

"I didn't think I had a chance with Patrick," she said once again. His face changed when he heard Jane's first name. It was like a switch had been thrown in his head. She watched him come to terms with the fact that she wasn't staying in that moment.

"So you tried to take the next best thing," Marcus finished for her. She nodded. Beside her she felt him shake his head in disbelief. When she finally did turn to face the man she had almost moved to another city for he shrugged and offered a half smile. His features had returned to a more normal expression for him.

"I think you'll understand if I don't take you back to the airport, Teresa. It's been fun. I'm going to miss you," he said with a sad smile as he got up. He leaned down to kiss her on the cheek on last time. He was trying to guilt her into staying. It was his last ditch effort.

"I know, Marcus. Congratulations on the new job, and good luck in D.C.," she offered. She couldn't tell him what he wanted to hear. It wouldn't be the truth if she did. Her words stung because she hadn't spoken with the same fondness that he had. Marcus was a good man, but he wasn't her man anymore. Giving him false hope was the last thing she wanted to do. She watched him hail a cab and get him. As the cab drove away she recognized that was probably the last time she would ever see Marcus Pike.

A/N: Please continue with the awesome reviews!