[I cried when writing this chapter. xD

Disclaimer: Dude. If I owned Mentalist, it would be so messed up...]

Chapter 9: Gravestone Part 2

"I can't even begin to apologize, boss. I wish I was there with you, but then Wayne would be all alone, you know I can't leave him with everything. But it still doesn't change that I want to be dead. I'm so sorry I'm not dead, Lisbon. I'm so, so sorry." Grace was sitting cross legged, stroking the flowers decorating the pretty grave, where Lisbon had been "delivered unto Heaven." Or, that was what the stone said.

Grace didn't know what she would do without her. Lisbon had been the big sister Grace had never had.

She was trying so hard. So hard to remember, so hard to forget. She knew she had to step out, let it go. There was no time to be sad. Life would move on.

But still...life would never move on for Lisbon, or Jane. Maybe not even Cho. Grace couldn't believe that this had happened. "Why me?" she asked out loud.

"Why?" she sobbed into her hands.

"Why what?" a shy, curious voice asked from behind her.

Grace turned to see a small, innocent-looking girl behind her. The girl had loose black ringlets, pale skin, and big, green eyes. Grace couldn't place her finger on it, but the girl looked familiar.

When the girl saw her tears, she knelt down by her. "Don't cry." she said gently, wiping the tears off Grace's cheeks with cold hands and a feathery touch. "It's okay. We' re okay." she patted Grace's hand.

Grace couldn't help but smile. The girl was adorable, and so familiar. She seemed to genuinely care about a woman twenty-five years older than her.

The girl also smiled. There was something about that smile... "You have a beautiful smile." she told Grace shyly.

Then, the girl noticed the tombstone. Reading it, she pronounced, "Tuh-rees-uh Liz-bin. Hey! That's my name!" she grinned at Grace. And the red-head's hazel eyes grew wide.

Then, the girl stood. "I hafta go!" she said. "Coming Mommy!" She called to the sky.

As she ran off in the direction she came, she turned, then waved at Grace. "Bye bye Grace!" she gave a silly grin.

And, as the girl ran off, Grace could have sworn she filled out, her hair shortening and her height lengthening. Until, at last, she turned right before she was out of Grace's sight.

And Grace caught her breath. It was Lisbon.

The brunette blew a slow, sad kiss in Grace's direction, then turned and slowly dissapeared.

Grace watched into the distance for what seemed like forever, not believing what she had just seen.

And then, she collapsed against Lisbon's grave, sobbing.

It was just too much...

[Excerpt from next chapter (and last. But there'll be an epilogue.):

"As she raked her fingers down the scarred, burnt face that she could hardly believe was her own, she remembered. Remembered that night."]