Title: The Red Face of Fear

Author: Shannon – shannyfish

Disclaimer: I do not own "The Mentalist" or its characters, Warner Brothers and Bruno Heller do. This is merely for entertainment purposes only.

Rating: PG13

Summary: Sequel to "Red Window". With Lisbon back on the team, they continue to handle cases including those that pertain to Red John. Things are far more personal, emotional, and closer to home than they have ever been.

Warning: none yet

Chapter 8 – "Could the Past Repeat?"

Author's Note: A bit of a spoiler. Red John WILL be revealed by the end of this fic. This is just who I think is most likely to be Red John.

...

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - George Santayana

Outside of Lisbon's Residence

Jane had thought about what Lisbon had said. The things that had been said inside the prison. He'd taken what wasn't his. Jane had come to the sole conclusion that Red John intended to take back what he thought of as his, Lisbon. Jane wouldn't allow it. He wasn't honestly sure how he'd stop it, but that was the general plan. He'd even wished that she hadn't come back after the last time. That maybe Lisbon had decided to retire from the CBI and give it a go somewhere else…maybe a nice fruit stand. Something simple.

He sat in his car and stared disinterested for a moment at the small bag of fast food that he'd picked up before he'd found a good parking place in front of Lisbon's place. He had thought ahead of course with the food, but now the food was far from appetizing. Perhaps he'd made a mistake leaving it in the bag? The grease had started to soak the bag. At least the grease couldn't attack his drink? He'd wanted tea, but he was pretty sure the acne-plagued teen had merely laughed at him when he was ordering. How was that silly? Tea was a perfectly respected drink! But alas, all he had was soda.

He thought about the corn syrup filled substance. It had carbonation, which apparently was supposed to make you peppy. Bubbles equaled that, or at least that's what the commercials on television would try to convince you. Of course, if they really showed a realistic representation of what soda did to you, then he doubted the American people would continue to drink such nonsense. Of course, Jane wondered how the FDA allowed such a thing to get a green seal of approval. He wondered if they'd noticed that there were lists of things (other than consumption) you could use soda for. He had to admit that though he was drinking this possibly lethal substance that his life wasn't the one he feared for, so it didn't matter…and if there was anything left over then he could use it to clean his toilet bowl. Apparently toilet bowl cleaner could be bought in a can of soda now instead of buying all the harsh bleach cleaners. Jane wasn't surprised either. This was exactly why he didn't understand why tea wasn't available everywhere. Perhaps it was a conspiracy… It wasn't like you could use tea to clean your toilet bowl… Perhaps some conspiracy to kill ninety percent of the population? Something… Maybe he'd write his local congressman later. Maybe.

He hummed as he sat there, occasionally he'd catch a glimpse of Lisbon's silhouette. There was some comforting and yet disconcerting about being able to see her in some form. At least he knew that she was inside and probably following her normal routine. On the other hand, if anyone was watching (someone from Red John's operation, not him) they'd know that Lisbon was home as well and though it wasn't Red John's style…Lisbon could be seen as a target. He didn't like that.

Jane decided that he was going to have to give in and eat the food he'd picked up. After all, with his stomach making such angry noises at him it wasn't like he could hold out much longer. And leaving to get something else just wasn't an option.

. . .

A Couple Hours Later…

Jane jolted from his sleep in panic and then immediately internally chastised himself for falling asleep. He wasn't supposed to do that! Another knock and bright light shining in on him, he moved his attention to the window. He rolled down the window as he squinted in that direction. "Is there a problem, Officer?" he asked innocently.

He was busted.

"Hand me your identification and keys," the officer said.

Jane frowned. "Don't you want to see my vehicle registration and insurance?"

"No, just the ID and keys."

Jane could see in his rear view mirror that he was in fact a valid policeman, but that didn't mean that he liked this. He was hoping that he wouldn't get found out. He was trying to be subtle and to not bring any attention to himself. Apparently when you ate junk food and fell asleep in your car you called attention to yourself. Jane handed him his ID and keys. "Can I ask what's wrong?"

"What is your business here, Mr. Jane?" the policeman said as he focused on the ID.

"Just…waiting…for a friend," he lied.

"Been waiting long?"

"Actually yes… Women, you know they take so long to get ready…"

"Wait here," the officer said before heading to his car.

Jane watched the officer in his rearview mirror and frowned intensely. He was going to so hear about it or better yet they may decide to drive him 'downtown'. Of course that just wouldn't do because that wouldn't work with his plan. He waited and was getting quickly impatient with how long this was taking. He pondered as he spied on the officer from where he sat; perhaps he was calling for back-up? Honestly though, Jane wondered if they were calling Lisbon or worse…Hightower… That really wouldn't make his night.

He sighed.

He watched.

He grew really impatient.

Jane was about to get out of his car (though he knew it really wasn't something that you should do) when the officer returned. Jane flashed an innocent smile his way and waited. He hoped to just have his property returned so that he could 'go on his merry way'. Not that he was really going anywhere…but the officer could think he was.

"Mr. Jane, in the future, we do frown upon sleeping in your car like this," the officer said. "This time is just a warning though."

His keys and ID were returned and Jane gave him a nod. "I understand." He started to silently rejoice at his luck.

"Have a good night," the officer said.

"You too!"

"He's all yours," the officer said as Jane was rolling up his window.

Jane frowned and turned to see Lisbon standing there. She looked irritated but not entirely pissed at him. That was a good sign, wasn't it? She opened the door and he gave her a smile. "Hi Lisbon."

"I thought I told you that I didn't want you staying over," Lisbon stated.

"I was staying in my car?"

Lisbon sighed. "Come on."

Jane was far too excited to have been caught and instead of being told to go home, he was being invited in! He quickly collected what he needed and then got out of his car. It didn't take him long to have it locked up and to be following her up to her door. At least he'd know for sure that she was okay this way.

"This doesn't mean you're not in trouble."

"When am I not in trouble?" Jane asked devilishly.

"That's probably the truest thing you may have ever said," she said as she opened the door for him.

They entered and she locked up. He noticed that from as far as he could tell that she had been going about things like it was a normal evening. He supposed that could be seen as good. He really wanted to just take Lisbon and escape to somewhere far, far away. That wasn't in the cards, though.

"I've said true things before," Jane countered after a few moments.

"Like what?"

He watched her and smiled. He missed this. It was a simple thing, being with her. Jane sometimes forgot what that felt like, to feel like you had a family…a significant other…someone to share your life with. He took a seat on her couch and after a moment she sat down with him. "I told you that I loved you, that was true," he pointed out.

Lisbon didn't say anything though, but she nodded.

"You're in an awfully odd mood," Jane pointed out. She'd been quiet and hadn't yelled at him. He suddenly worried that something was wrong. What could be wrong, though? She was safe there. No one could touch her.

"No, I'm not."

"You're quiet."

She looked at him. "When did it become a crime to be quiet sometimes?"

"Lisbon, you're usually not quiet around me," he pointed out. "Not this quiet…not this early in the evening…" He smiled at her, so that perhaps she didn't take it too seriously.

"I…" she started and then stopped and looked down. She looked like she was thinking about what she was going to say. "I'm scared…" she admitted as she looked up at him. "I hate that feeling, Jane…"

His demeanor changed. "I know you do," Jane said quietly. He knew that one of the things that Lisbon hated was to be seen as weak, especially by people that she cared about. There'd been a lot of that it seemed in the last year. He knew that she'd had self-confidence issues since she'd come back to the CBI. And he couldn't blame her for being afraid of Red John; he'd proven already that he could do anything he wanted.

"I'm scared, too," Jane admitted a short time later.

He was even more scared because now he had a family at the CBI, which put them all in danger. Not only that, but he cared even more about Lisbon… He was sure that Red John knew this.

"I have ice cream," Lisbon said aloud a few minutes later.

They'd been sitting there in awkward silence, so Jane was thankful for the change in topic. "Ice cream sounds good." He got to his feet when she did and followed her towards the kitchen.

"I don't have a cone, so don't ask."

"I like ice cream cones."

"I know you do," she said with a small laugh.

It didn't take long to get the ice cream and they ended up in the bedroom. Jane had removed his shoes and jacket and then had joined Lisbon on the bed. They lie next to eat other and just ate their ice cream. He liked this. Jane was pretty sure he could handle doing this on a permanent basis.

"What?" Lisbon asked.

"What?" Jane asked back. "I didn't say anything."

"You're staring…"

Jane knew he was. "I just was looking at your ice cream. I think you got more than I did!"

"You're the one who dished up both bowls."

"That doesn't mean that you didn't get more," Jane told her with a smile.

. . .

TBC…