Sweet Surrender
Summary: "I want to see just how human Patrick has become, and you Teresa, will help me." L/J
Disclaimer: I still don't own The Mentalist or any of the songs I may refer to throughout this story.
Spoilers: Immediately following 2x08 or "His Right Red Hand"
"though I patiently waited, bedside, for the death of today
I can't see your star
the mechanical lights of Lisbon frightened it away"
--Your Star, Evanescence
Agent Kimball Cho had to give Red John props, Red John had been able to kidnap two people from the CBI, and actually keep them hidden for one week. One week, in which every department in the CBI scrambled to find them and it even seemed that killers had put their own dirty work on hold, as if a grieving ritual for Teresa Lisbon and Patrick Jane. Cho, who became the acting head of the unit as soon as news had gotten to the CBI that Lisbon and Jane had been kidnapped by none other than Red John, watched the others filter in and out of the Serious Crimes Unit, and he watched Rigsby and Van Pelt try and hold things together—because they were all worried, and exhausted, he honestly couldn't even remember the last time he had gotten any real sleep in his own home.
"—would be easier, if anyone actually knew what Red John looked like." Van Pelt was saying to Rigsby, who had his head in his arms. "It's all guesswork." She brought her eyes to Cho and he nodded at her from his desk, he wouldn't move into Lisbon's office—it felt personal, and he knew that they would bring back the both of them—safe and sound. The sound of brisk footsteps had Cho looking from Van Pelt to the Security Guard who held a white letter in his hands.
"Where did you get that?" Cho asked, and the security guard shrugged uncertainly.
"Some man came to the front desk and told us to give it to Agent Cho of the Serious Crimes Unit." The security guard handed Cho the letter before slinking back off to do his job, and the SCU went completely silent as Cho opened the letter to read out loud.
"My friends at the CBI, especially my friends from the Serious Crimes Unit—Both Miss Teresa Lisbon and Mister Patrick Jane are alive, I have no reason to kill them, and I have no reason to send them back to you in any negative shape what-so-ever. Rather, when they get back to you—they might even be better than when you knew them." Cho paused to find that Rigsby and Van Pelt stood near him, hands held (and he doubted they would separate even if the AG walked in at that very moment to separate them). "I tell you this for two reasons my friends, the first being that I know you are searching for them and the second being that I don't appreciate my work being taken lightly; or stepped around as if you all know what you're doing. I give you this: Guilt is a poison, draining deep and long—guilt is poison that can no means be controlled once it hits your bloodstream and guilt, can kill a man and his love. Ado, my friends." Cho's voice grew silent, reflecting over the letter and then turned to one of the men near him to rush the letter to forensics. He knew Red John was going to be that careless, but he had to try for the sakes of Lisbon and Jane.
"What do you think it means?" Rigsby muttered from next to him.
"I don't know." He honestly supplied, turning his head to stare at Rigsby.
"Guilt…" Van Pelt whispered, before she was already tugging Rigsby and Cho over to the blackboard to write out the small poem Red John had left them.
Guilt is a poison, draining deep and long—guilt is poison that can no means be controlled once it hits your bloodstream and guilt, can kill a man and his love
Van Pelt turned back to both of the men, who both stared at her with an air of seriousness.
"Red John said something about how guilt can kill a man and his love." Van Pelt began. "If we apply the "a man" to Jane and "his love" to Lisbon…" Realization dawned on the team. "He's right, he won't kill them because…"
"They'll kill themselves."
Author's Notes of Importance:
I figured, as this chapter being an "interlude" of sorts—we needed a buffer to get us to the next set of ten chapters (Hello SCU team)—we're on the downhill of the story now… mwhahaha!
As for anyone who was confused last chapter, you're supposed to be—and yes, next chapter will pick up from where C9 left off. Thank you for all the reads, reviews and adds—you guys are absolutely amazing!