Disclaimer: If I owned The Mentalist, the beach scene in Redwood would have probably been topless. But I don't own it. Damn!

Ps. I made two references to popular TV shows in the last chapter. One on USA, and another on CBS. Can you find them and leave a review explaining maybe? :D

The Storm—Eye or End?

Jane had a certain penchant for tea. So, of course, he was very pleased when they had a complimentary hot beverage bar in the hotel lobby. It didn't taste as if he made it himself, but at least the water came to a full boil. As he was heading back up to his room, he noticed two kitchen staff members talking, a man and a woman.

"You're sick! Go home."

The man sighed. "But I don't want to leave you all alone again. I can do it!" The woman responded by grabbing the man by the shoulders and whirling him around to face the revolving hotel door. "All right," he surrendered wearily. "See you tomorrow, hopefully."

Once the man had left, the woman put her hand to her forehead and sighed. Jane set down his tea on a nearby side table and approached her. "Do you need a hand?"

Red immediately flushed into her features as she stammered her reply. "Oh, no, I don't need any help; it's only about an hour until the next shift comes in."

However, by the time she had finished, she found her arm-in-arm with a dashing gentleman, heading towards the kitchen. "Or, you can help," she muttered, though not with ingratitude.

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Jane went up to his room an hour later, feeling very refreshed despite working in the kitchen hefting buckets of soapy water and plates around. It was the kind of refreshment that came from a happy mind and a clear consciousness. Jane let his mind wander for once as treaded the halls of the third floor. As he slipped his key card into the door slot, he heard a commotion within. He opened the door slowly, and crept into the room. His imagination ran away from him and started to churn out wild fantasies. What if—

"Jane!" Lisbon tackled him with a (passionate?) embrace. "Thank God you're all right!"

"Ah—" For once, he was at a loss for words. Was she making a move, or… what? "That was…"

Lisbon detached herself from him and finished his sentence. "Stupid? Irresponsible? Something that made me go sick with worry? Yeah, it was! What were you thinking? Where were you? What were you doing?" Lisbon had obviously run out of things to say, because she just sat there and stared at Jane. "Well?"

Jane had been in situations like this before, and he knew the wisest course of action. He wrapped his arms around Lisbon and prayed she didn't beat the daylights out of him. She didn't. Instead she did something very surprising: she relaxed, and buried her face in his suit coat.

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Virgil Minelli sat at his desk and debated whether or not to turn in his badge. He didn't deserve it. It said, "To Serve and Protect." Like that was true for him. He let a team—his team—be massacred and had to turn over control of their protection to a damn homicide unit! Minelli let his head drop to the desktop. He wanted to surrender badly, but he knew it would let down the rest of the CBI. Minutes passed by unnoticed by Virgil. He was lost in his thoughts and pain. One recurring idea kept nagging him the entire time, though. He was in the same position Jane was five years ago. Also, he wanted the same thing: the restoration of order in his life. Consequentially, that want of order translated to want of revenge. Minelli understood now perfectly. He pulled out a sheet of paper and began jotting down a list of ideas. "Ray Taragaglio" was something written down as a possible lead. He would find this bastard or die trying.

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Mason and his team were up bright and early investigating another Red John murder. The victim's name was Christian Metzo, a former psychiatrist. This one wasn't elaborate, but it was painstakingly done. The Homicide people were almost relived, because this meant that either Jane or Lisbon was spared. Unfortunately, this meant that protection slackened a bit. A week later, another body was found. The CBI personnel relaxed, but Mason wanted to keep at least minimal security for the pair.

Lisbon couldn't help but think that it was almost too good to be true. They were spared? Or was it better to be dead? The stress-induced apathy wore off, and the pair began felling the true loss they had experienced. They were out of one forest, and into another.

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Don't forget to read and review!!! I know this was short, and the next one will be too. Sorry, but that's just the way things roll. :D I am working on the sequel , so there! :)