Disclaimer: We own nothing
A/N Nerwen Aldarion: Hey this was a much shorter wait! LOL Be happy for that! This chapter just fell into place, including the scene which is rather M rated LOL we had fun writing this one. Just wait for the big ending!
A/N Steele Simz: Another chapter posted for you guys. I loved this chapter personally and I hope you do too.
Anonymous Reviews:
jen: LOL babies cry! LOL so he cries a lot, but he is so cute too LOL. You'll love us and hate us for this chapter, that's all we can say about it
Guest: She's definitely not back to normal and she won't be for a while, you'll see a bit more of that in this chapter too.
Chapter 10: Deception
Something Lisbon loved was waking up to the sunlight streaming onto her face. It was no longer a cause for annoyance, no the bright light was a reminder that there was a window in her room. A window that opened up to the outside and the freedom beyond. It was something she was getting used to, this idea of freedom but she was slowly beginning to feel better. As long as the doors remained open.
She rolled over in the bed with a smile, luxuriating in the feel of safety. But the other side of the bed was empty and cold. Lisbon sat up and looked around. She was alone again. Being along wasn't something she particularly liked, not when she'd been without human contact excepting the bitch Lorelei and silent Jeffrey.
But it was okay. She had her son, she'd had her son for those nine long months and she had him now.
Lisbon sat up in the bed so she could look at the sleeping infant.
Except the crib was empty.
A sharp painful gasp escaped her lips as her heart immediately leapt into her throat. Lisbon jumped out of the bed and raced to the crib, hurriedly throwing off the blankets as if maybe her child was hiding under there. But he wasn't.
Her son was gone.
She rushed out of the room and down the steps, stumbling on the last one in her haste. Oh God. Where was he? Did Red John take him again? Oh God. Oh God. Oh God.
"JJ! JJ!" She called out, as if her two-month-old son would be able to answer her.
Lisbon ran from the kitchen to the living room, she found a few toys scattered on the floor but not her son. "Oh God!"
The screen door to the small back patio opened and Lisbon quickly grabbed the only weapon nearby, a kitchen knife and whirled around to face her intruder.
Jane was caught off guard by the weapon and took a step back. "Whoa, Lisbon it's just me."
She gasped out his name. "Jane," and dropped the knife on the counter. "JJ! He's gone! He's gone!"
"He's right here," Jane replied holding up their son. He'd been in Jane's arms the whole time. Right now he was quietly cooing, one hand waving up near his father's lips.
Lisbon choked out a sob and immediately crossed the few steps that separated her from her son and took him into his arms. She only felt truly better once JJ was held close to her chest. "Oh God, I was so afraid," she whispered into her son's soft hair before kissing the top of his head.
"You see," Jane told her, "he's fine." But now Lisbon glared at him and hit him on the shoulder, hard. "Ow!"
"How could you do that?! How could you take him away?"
"I didn't take him away, I took him outside. It's a beautiful morning."
Lisbon hit him again and Jane backed away to protect himself. "Without telling me?"
"You were asleep," he reminded her, "he woke up so I took him downstairs to give you a few extra minutes. I didn't think you would wake up this soon."
"Well I did. Don't you know what it felt like to wake up and find my son gone? I thought Red John had him again!"
Jane held up his hands in surrender. "I'm sorry, Teresa. I didn't mean for you to panic like that. I was just taking care of our son."
Lisbon's anger melted a little and she leaned back against the counter with a sigh. "Oh God, I'm going completely crazy. My son's father just takes him downstairs and I freak out."
"It's understandable," Jane said, stepping up beside her and pulling her close to his chest with one arm. "He was taken from you in the most terrible way imaginable, you'll have some separation anxiety."
"Along with a fear of closed doors and panic attacks," Lisbon pointed out, "I need to be locked up…again."
"No, you need more time and freedom. You'll feel safe again," he assured her, "and I'll be here to help you through this."
She snuggled up closer to his chest; he was the one that made her feel safe right now. Jane knew that too, she didn't have to say it. "Thank you," she whispered against his chest, then even softer, "sorry I hit you."
Jane actually grinned at that. "Which time? You've done it more than once."
Just for that, she smacked him again. This time JJ let out a little cry, now he was deciding to fuss. His mother bounced him in her arms, but did the normal check. "He needs to be changed."
"You want me to do it?" Jane offered but she shook her head. She wasn't going to let go of her son right now for anything.
Lisbon padded back up the stairs to the bedroom where the pile of diapers and baby wipes were waiting. "Okay, JJ. Let's change your diaper…and please don't pee on me this time."
JJ gurgled and Lisbon kept to the side just in case he did decide to give her another shower. But this time JJ was good and she was able to change her son without incident. Lisbon chose a cute little onesie with a lion on it that Grace had bought him. While JJ was occupied by his hands, Lisbon took that moment to quickly change out of Jane's shirt and into the jeans and t-shirt she'd bought a few days earlier. Then she scooped up her son and heading downstairs.
Before she reached the landing she heard the voices and was very glad she's had the foresight to change out of Jane's shirt.
The whole team was gathered around the kitchen with pastry boxes of donuts, bagels and bear claws set on the counter. Jane was the first one to see her and he just grinned, shaking his head as if to tell her that this wasn't his idea.
Grace saw her next and rushed over. "I'll trade you a bear claw for JJ."
"Uh…okay," Lisbon said even though she wasn't sure if she really wanted to let go of her son yet. But she didn't want anyone to know that she was having problems with that.
She took the bear claw from Grace after carefully handing over her son. The redhead immediately started cooing over JJ and then carried him over to show him off to Cho and Rigsby. Lisbon stepped around them to pour herself a glass of juice. She felt Jane's presence and he stepped up beside her. "Well at least this time you aren't wearing my shirt."
Lisbon blushed. "Hush," she told him before taking a sip of orange juice.
Jane chuckled and lightly traced her arm with his fingertip. "You don't have to worry about JJ, I won't let Red John take him again."
She looked into his eyes and nodded. "I know."
He smiled softly then there was a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "But you might have to keep an eye on Grace. I could see her taking him."
Lisbon lightly smacked his chest and turned around to watch her team passing her son around. This was what she'd dreamed about all of those months of captivity.
And soon she would be okay again…soon.
"We need to get going," Cho told the rest of the team just as Jane finished cleaning up the leftovers from the team's breakfast.
"Yeah," Rigsby said as he handed JJ back to Lisbon who was more than happy to be holding her son again. As much as she enjoyed having the team cooing over her son she still didn't like him not being in her arms.
"Thanks for breakfast you guys," Lisbon told them as she got to her feet and brought JJ closer to her chest. JJ lifted a small hand up to his mother shirt collar and grabbed a fistful of the fabric.
"Always," Grace told her before giving Lisbon a quick hug and then placing a soft kiss on the top of JJ's head. "You are too adorable."
"I'm going to stay here," Jane told Cho as he looked over at Lisbon who had walked to the front door with Rigsby and Van Pelt. "Just let me know if anything comes up."
"Everything okay?" Cho asked with some concern.
"I just want to be with Lisbon and JJ today," he replied not wanting to let the second in command know what had happened earlier this morning.
"She had another panic attack," Cho said stoically as he watched Rigsby talk with Lisbon.
"Thanks for dropping by Cho," Jane told him with a smile and then motioned for him with his hand to head to the door. Cho nodded and headed to the front door, he bid Lisbon goodbye and then closed the door behind him.
"You are staying with me?" Lisbon asked as soon as the door closed.
Jane shook his head. "No."
"No?"
"I'm spending the day with my son and you," he clarified as he walked over to her. "Plus I think we could use some time together."
She gave him a disapproving look. "You should go, they need your help."
"You need me more."
"I can take care of myself."
"I have no doubts about that, my dear," he reached over and took JJ from her. "But I really hate leaving him."
"And when he falls asleep which I assume will be shortly, then what are you going to do?" The words tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop herself.
"I have some ideas," he said gleefully as he headed over to the couch with their son. Lisbon just shook her head and went to join him.
After about two hours of playing with their son JJ had started to fall asleep in his father's arms. Jane headed upstairs to place him in the travel crib and was about to head back downstairs when he turned and saw Lisbon in the doorway with her arms wrapped around her.
"What is it?" He asked concerned.
"Can I ask a favor?"
"Always?" He moved closer to her.
"Just hold me," she asked as she wrapped her arms around his sides and buried her head into his chest.
"Teresa, you are going to be fine, trust me," he rubbed her back with his hands.
"I hate not being in control," she whispered.
"I know and we will get over this," he reassured her. "You will get over this and have control over yourself and the team, just not me."
"Excuse me?" She asked as she pulled away from him a little.
"You have never been able to control me." he restated.
"I have to control you. If it wasn't for me then you would have been either dead or in prison by now for all the crap you have pulled over the years."
"That is what I wanted you to believe," he remarked as he leaned down to kiss her but she pushed away from him.
"You're insufferable," she told him before she started to walk away from him. He reach out and pulled her back causing a gasp to escape her lips as she turned to face him again.
"Then maybe you need to work harder on training me," he winked at her. "And I know the perfect place to start," he leaned over and started to kiss her neck as his hands went under her shirt and started to taunt her skin. Lisbon sighed and reached up and pulled his face to hers so she could kiss him on the lips. He smiled against them and started to walk backwards until he hit the bed, he fell back with her on top of him.
They both reveled in the feel of her straddling his waist, lying on top of his chest, skin only separated by layers of clothing. For a long while they played a little game of trading soft kisses, leaving them anywhere but on the mouth. Neck, cheek, ear, tip of the nose, but never the lips. It was a sweet game that was almost innocent but not quite, just enough to keep things interesting.
But Lisbon was well aware that as parents to a two month old, they had to manage their time wisely. So she ended the game by kissing Jane firmly on the lips, adding a bit of tongue so he knew she meant business. Jane got the message and made quick work, pulling off Lisbon's t-shirt and unhooking her bra before she'd even gotten to his vest buttons.
Eventually she did manage to wrestle his vest and shirt off which wasn't easy when the man started to do heavenly things to her breasts. It was even more difficult when he let his lips find one rosebud nipple. She moaned and buried her fingers in his curls, pressing him closer to her chest. Jane wasn't remiss, turning attention to the neglected breast. This time she writhed on top of him and her hips undulated against the hard length of him, causing an almost painful groan from Jane. Then he was in a frenzy, reaching down to jerk off her jeans and underwear in his haste.
It was Lisbon's turn to divulge Jane of his pants and underwear…but she had other ideas. She removed the impediments quickly but began to leave a trail of kisses over his chest and stomach towards her destination.
"Teresa…" he gasped which turned into a moan the moment she took him into her mouth.
Jane could only endure a full minute of her loving ministrations before he was tugging her back up to him. "Is that your way of controlling me?" he asked, practically panting.
"No," Lisbon replied, straightening up. "This is."
Then she sank down onto him.
Lisbon's groan mingled with Jane's as they both felt the intense pleasure of him filling every crevice inside of her. She whimpered a little as she adjusted to the feel; it was almost too much…and still not enough. Finally they were both as calm as they could be…until she lifted her hips and started to move.
True to her word, Lisbon took control. Placing her hands on his chest for leverage, she started a slow steady rhythm that was quickly driving them both insane. The pressure, the warmth, it was almost too much. She began to pick up speed, needing him to go deeper, faster. She was so close, her legs shaking and she began to lose pace.
It was almost a relief when Jane grabbed her hips and flipped her over onto her back. Then he set a new faster, harder pace and she moaned in bliss, meeting him thrust for thrust. When he reached between their bodies to rub the nub above their joining she came with a loud wail.
She was still shaking, the aftershocks quaking through her system when she felt Jane tense and then the warmth of his relief, giving her three more shallow thrusts before finally coming to a shaky stop.
They did little more than breathe heavily and smile at each other like idiots until their hearts stopped racing. Finally once Lisbon was able to talk again she gave him a mock glare. "I thought I was supposed to be in control here?"
Jane just grinned and nuzzled her ear. "And like always, I wrestle it away from you…and you enjoy every second."
Lisbon swatted at his shoulder but he laughed and rolled her back on top him so she was resting on his chest again. She sighed in happiness. "How long can we stay like this?"
"I'd say we have about ten minutes before JJ wakes up crying for his morning snack."
She shifted on his chest so she was looking into his eyes with a mischievous smile. "Ten minutes?"
Jane grinned back. "When did you suddenly become insatiable?"
"We have eleven months to catch up on," Lisbon reminded him.
He rolled her back over onto her back and kissed her again, making her blood sing once more from his passion. "Well then, we better get to it."
"Interesting," Cho said quietly from his desk.
"What?" Rigsby asked as he played with a small toy dinosaur. The team was bored with no new case and the clues leading to what happened to Lisbon were getting smaller, which mean clues leading to Red John were even more scarce.
"The security camera footage."
"What about them?" Rigsby placed the dinosaur down on his desk and looked over at Cho's computer.
"Something is off with them. See here, this shows a file sitting on Karl's desk but the next second the file is gone," Cho pointed out, Grace who had been listening to the conversation came over to see what Cho was talking about.
"I can see what the timestamps says but it looks like the footage has been tampered with," Grace told him before going back to her computer.
"So what does that mean?"
"It means that someone is covering their tracks," Cho told Rigsby.
"Who?"
"Most likely someone working for us," Grace answered as she looked up from her computer. "Only those working security have access to those cameras."
"So we question the security officers," Rigsby acknowledged as he got to his feet.
"No Wayne, because two of them are doing rounds and the third doesn't have access to the system," Grace stated.
The surprised Rigsby. "How do you know that?"
"It's on the footage," she replied.
"No, I meant about the third guard."
"Oh, he is new and hasn't been given access to the system, still in training," Grace answered. Rigsby huffed and then sat back down.
"We should still talk to the guards and see what they know," Cho told her as he got to his feet. "Grace, double check all the footage while Rigsby and I talk to the guards."
"Understood," she told him as Rigsby and Cho exited the bullpen. "Hey Ron?"
"Yes?"
"Did you happen to see anything strange that night?"
"Which night?"
"The one in which you stayed longer. Was anything out of the ordinary when you left?"
"No," Ron answered quickly. "I left not long after you."
"Okay," Grace replied and went back to work as Ron got to his feet and headed out of the bullpen.
"So you saw nothing?" Cho asked the guards.
"That is correct, Agent Ron asked us to do rounds again and we did," the guard replied.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why did he have you do rounds again?" Rigsby asked as he looked over the guards office.
"He wanted to make sure everything was okay," the guard replied without looking away from the active security footage.
"Could the new guy have tampered with the footage?" Cho asked as he crossed his arms.
"No, my man had nothing to do with it," the guard turned around to look at Cho.
"How can you be so certain?" Rigsby asked sternly.
"Because when I left to do rounds your agent stayed with the new guy, when we came back the new guy was holding his head," the guard explained to him.
"Ron stayed in the room," Cho confirmed.
The guard nodded. "Yes and he wasn't here when we returned."
"Thanks," Cho told him and motioned Rigsby to follow him. As they got in the elevator Cho pulled out his phone as he pressed the button to the ground floor.
"Who are you calling?" Rigsby asked as the doors closed.
"Jane," Cho told him as he place the phone against his ear. "Call Van Pelt and have her meet us at the car." Rigsby nodded and pulled out his phone.
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Jane heard a distance ringing, opening his eyes he found Lisbon curled against his side sound asleep. Sighing he turned over and reached for his phone.
"Hello?" Jane asked his voice full of sleep as he lay on his back. Lisbon has woken up by the ringing also; she turned over and snuggled back into his side as he listened to the person on the other line.
"Jane, we have a problem," Cho told him without saying hello.
"What?" Jane asked now wide-awake.
"We might know who the mole is."
"Who is he?" Jane asked as he sat up in bed. Lisbon did the same but pulled the sheet up to cover herself up.
"Ron."
"Are you serious?"
"We believe so, we are heading back there."
"Okay, thanks," Jane hung up and got out of bed, he grabbed his boxers and pulled them on.
"Jane what is going on?" Lisbon demanded.
"Nothing, just go back to sleep," he told her as he pulled on his pants and then put on his shirt.
Lisbon shook her head and started to get dressed quickly. "Tell me what is going on." "Everything will be fine," he told her as he exited the room and headed downstairs. Lisbon threw her shirt on and raced downstairs. He was heading to the front door when she grabbed his arm.
"Tell me!"
"It isn't important."
"Like hell it isn't, what was the call about and don't you dare lie to me," she tightened her grip on his arm.
"There is a tape."
"And?"
"A tape Red John took while he held you captive."
Lisbon released his armed and took a couple of steps back. "How long have you had the tape?"
"Not long."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't want to upset you," he replied.
"So you decided to keep me in the dark?" Lisbon yelled at him.
"I wanted to know where the tape came from," he tried to keep his voice even.
"And did you?"
"Yes, they team is coming back here with the identity of the person who placed that tape on Cho's desk, the one I believe that has been working for Red John all this time," Jane explained.
"Who?"
"Ron."
"Will you stop pacing?" Lisbon asked as Jane continued to pace in front of her and the door while waiting for the team to arrive; he had been doing it since he told her Ron was the mole.
"We need to get to him before Red John," Jane hissed as he stopped in front of the window and checked outside to see if Cho had pulled up yet.
"You have no actual proof that he works for Red John or is the mole," Lisbon told him as she sat on the floor with her son who was chewing on his toy lion.
"Proof? You want proof after everything Red John did to you?" Jane asked as he walked back over to her. "He took you for eleven months and Ron probably knew exactly where you were being held."
"Jane, he is an agent with the CBI," Lisbon breathed as she tried to keep her temper down. She didn't want to upset her son anymore today than the two of them had with their previous argument.
"Just because he is an agent doesn't mean he isn't dirty," Jane reminded her, "Remember O'Laughlin?" He headed back to the window and checked out the blinds again.
"You know what they say about a watched pot," Lisbon muttered under her breath before leaning down to blow a raspberry on JJ's stomach. JJ smiled and waved his both hands up towards his mother. Jane closed the blinds and turned to face her.
"You are great with him," Jane told her softly, "like I knew you would be," he headed to where Lisbon sat with JJ and dropped down to be with them. Lisbon backed away from JJ slowly and turned to look at Jane.
"No more secrets, okay?" Her eyes pleaded with him to agree.
"I can't promise that, Lisbon, you know that."
"Then we are in the same spot we were in before-"
"No, we aren't. I will tell you everything but there are secrets I will keep to protect you, JJ, and myself," he told her as he reached over with his hand and placed it softly on her cheek. Lisbon leaned into his hand and then put her hand over his.
"That is the best I'm going to get from you?"
"For now," he gave her cheek one more caress before getting to his feet and heading back to the window. "Where are they?"
"Jane it is a long drive from the CBI and with traffic," she reminded him as she picked up JJ and headed for the kitchen.
"Finally," Jane told her as he closed the blinds and headed over to the door. He waited until Rigsby was about to knock when he open the door. "What do you have?"
"Nice to see you too Jane," Rigsby told him as he moved past him carrying Grace's laptop case.
"We have very little time to get this done," Jane growled as he closed the door behind Cho and Grace.
"Here is the video footage that Ron tampered with," Grace told him as she loaded the footage.
Jane watched the footage in silence, his eyes never straying from the laptop. Lisbon glanced over a few time but JJ kept her focus with his squirming. Jane just remained intent on his goal. "We need to set him up," Jane told the group as he closed the laptop then took a seat at the table.
But Lisbon had other ideas. "I want to see the other tape," Lisbon said softly as she handed Grace the baby.
"No," Jane shook his head. "Nothing good will come from you watching that tape."
"Jane, that tape is of me."
"Exactly my point and I refuse to let you see what he did to you in those final months," he snapped as he got to his feet and walked the small distance to her. "I'm not going back there."
"You can't stop me from seeing that tape," Lisbon crossed her arms and stood straighter. The team shared uncomfortable looks with each other.
"Guys, is this the right time to argue?" Grace asked just as Lisbon was about to speak.
"Grace, you are right, so Cho tell me your plan," Jane turned his back on Lisbon and faced the team who had gathered at the table. He ignored her glare entirely.
"How did you know he has a plan?" Rigsby asked shocked.
"Because good old Cho always has a plan," Jane replied with a grin.
And of course he was right. "We need to plant information in Bertram's office about Lisbon then wait for Ron to take it and make our move," Cho explained.
"What kind of information?" Lisbon asked as she took a seat at the table. Grace offered her JJ back and Lisbon gave her a smile as she took hold of her son.
"We give him the location of the safe house," Jane stated calmly as he leaned against the counter.
"What?" The team asked in unison.
"Not this safe house but another. Red John wants to know where JJ is and if we mention in passing to Ron that we are giving the information to Bertram then he will break into Bertram office for the information," Jane explained his plan.
"No, something could go wrong," Lisbon responded as she started to rock JJ back and forth in her arms slowly.
"Like what? The plan is bulletproof-"
"Don't say that because your plans are never bulletproof," Lisbon told him as she cradled JJ closer.
"It is the best plan we have, boss," Rigsby added with a smile.
She glared at them all. "I still don't like it."
"Fair enough," Jane shrugged his shoulders. "We do this plan tonight."
"Tonight, why?"
"Because I want him found." Jane told her sternly before leaving the kitchen to head back upstairs. She almost rolled his eyes but instead shook her head; Jane was damn scary when he was trying to protect the people he cared about.
"Boss it will be okay," Cho told her reassuringly as he got to his feet and nodded to the team. Jane came down a few moments later.
"Grace, I want you to stay here with Lisbon," Jane told her as he headed back to Lisbon. "I'll be back later tonight when this is done."
"Be careful," she told him as before leaning up to kiss him. Jane nodded and gave her one last kiss before kissing JJ on the top of the head. "Cho?"
"Yes, boss?" Cho walked over to her as Jane headed to the front door.
"Watch him, please." She pleaded as she looked over at Jane.
"I will," Cho promised before heading to the door with the rest of the guys.
And now she was alone again. Oddly enough being locked in the bathroom and unable to control her emotions didn't make her feel this isolated. Now she really wasn't the one with the power, she wasn't even in control of what her team did or how to protect herself. In this instance...she was the liability.
"Want something to eat?" Grace asked as the door closed.
"No, I think I'm going to go sit outside on the deck with JJ," she told Grace as she got to her feet and left the kitchen.
"I'll be right here," Grace reminded her as she heard the door open and close.
It was beautiful outside and quiet except for the sound of the birds chirping. "JJ, your father is something else," she told JJ as she sat down on the chair that she assumed Jane had been sitting in earlier this morning. "He sometimes just doesn't know when to stop. But for whatever it is worth I love him and he gave me one of the greatest gifts on earth."
JJ cooed and looked up at his mother she smiled before continuing. "He gave me you."
"Hey Ron," Rigsby stated as him, Cho and Jane walked into the bullpen.
The target of their plan glanced up, none the wiser. "Where have you guys been?"
"Telling Bertram about the safe house we found for Lisbon and her son," Rigsby told him.
"Where is it?" Ron asked absently as he looked up from his paperwork.
"Oh, we can't tell you that," Jane told him as he walked over to the couch.
"Yes, we can, he is a fellow agent," Rigsby remarked as he took a seat at his desk. "What do you think, Cho?"
"Jane is right." Cho said stoically as he pulled out his book to read. Ron nodded and looked back at Jane.
"No offense, Ron, but Bertram is making the calls here," Jane told him as he lay down on his couch and closed his eyes as if there was nothing wrong at all.
"Well we have tickets tonight so see you later, Jane," Rigsby told him as he motioned Cho to follow him out of the bullpen.
"Bye," Jane called out as he got into a more comfortable position on his couch.
Now he waited.
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A few hours later Ron bid Jane a goodnight and headed to the elevator; Jane waited until he heard the doors close and then got off of the couch and followed Ron out. He waited until he was following Ron in his car to call Cho.
"Yeah?" Cho asked as he answered on the first ring.
"We should be there shortly, is everything ready?"
"Yes."
"Good," Jane hung up and focused on keeping his distance so Ron wouldn't get spooked. Ron pulled into the parking lot and left his car quickly. Jane gave him a few moments before he did the same, as Ron took the path to Bertram office Jane waited outside by his car.
Ron entered the office and looked around before turning on the lights. He walked over to the desk and started to search for the papers giving the current safe house that Lisbon would be staying at. Suddenly the door behind him opened; Cho and Rigsby walked in.
"What are you looking for Ron?" Rigsby asked as he stopped near Bertram's desk.
"A case file," Ron replied a little skittish, he knew something was wrong, "What are you doing here?"
"Catching a mole," Cho answered as he took a step towards Ron.
"A mole?"
He nodded. "Yes, you placed that tape on my desk."
"What tape?"
"The only that Red John took of Lisbon when he held her captive," Rigsby hissed as Ron started to back up.
"You can't prove any of it."
"The timestamps on the footage is enough proof," Cho told him as he rested his hand on his gun. "And you searching for her location seals it."
"No," Ron shook his head and took off running out of the office and down the stairs; Cho and Rigsby took chase after him. Their yells for him to stop alerted the guard on the first floor who blocked the front exit forcing Ron to go out the back way. He slammed the fire exit door open, sounding the alarm before taking off to his car.
"Running are we?" Jane asked causing Ron to come to a halt in front of him.
"You set me up," Ron spat at Jane.
"Where is he?" Jane growled as he made a move toward Ron.
"Or what?"
"I shoot you," Jane told him calmly as he patted his jacket pocket.
"Yeah, right you don't have a gun."
Jane put his hand in his pocket and pulled out the gun he'd been hiding. "Tell me where he is, Ron."
He took a step back, his face turning rather calm all of a sudden. "Why would I give you his name?"
"Because he is the serial killer who killed my wife and child then kidnapped the woman I love and has gone after my son," Jane growled as he lifted the gun. "Tell me."
"You are so blind," Ron laughed bitterly as he looked at Jane. "You have no clue what is going on."
Jane took a step forward. "Tell me."
"I won't give you his name so you might as well shoot me," Ron told him as he reached back behind him.
"Drop the weapon," Cho yelled as he came into view.
"Go to hell," Ron said as he placed the gun to his head and pulled the trigger.
"No!" Jane yelled as he watched Ron fall to the ground.
The hurricane that followed was enormous. Bertram wasn't happy that a CBI agent was killed in the parking lot of his office. He really didn't like that Jane had started another plan to catch Red John without telling him but Jane didn't care.
They were all back at the bullpen trying to sort through the mess and maybe salvage some kind of lead to keep Lisbon safe. Jane was on the couch staring, thinking about what was going on. Those final moments where he'd had another chance to finally end all of this…and it was gone once again.
"We're looking for Ron's files," Rigsby said, even though Jane was barely hearing him, "maybe we'll find a connection to Red John."
Jane doubted that. Red John was far too clever to leave a trail.
"Lisbon wants to know what's going on," Cho said, hanging up his phone as he stepped into the room.
"I'll talk to her when I see her," Jane explained.
Cho met his eyes. "Do we need to move her?"
"Not yet," Jane told him, "Red John still doesn't know where she is. Better to keep her where she is than risk Red John finding her in transit."
They all nodded just as Jane's phone began to ring. He honestly expected it to be Lisbon demanding an update on everything that was happening. But he was surprised to see that the number was blocked. He felt a thrill as he clicked the button to answer it; perhaps it was someone else entirely.
"This is Patrick Jane," he said smoothly and waited for the reply.
"Very good, Patrick," the all too familiar voice of Red John spoke with admiration. "A shame what happened to Ron, he was very loyal."
Jane turned his back on the suspicious eyes of the team, keeping his voice low. "I suppose he had no choice, he failed…and so did you."
"For now, the game is still going on."
"You are not going to get Lisbon or my son."
"Now you are falling for the same mistakes that doomed your wife and daughter," Red John replied, "you should have learned not to make pronouncements when you don't have all of the facts."
"I am stating the truth," Jane told him coldly, "I will protect them both."
"A man in love will do many things, your loyalty to her is inspiring."
"Then you know that this game is going to end this time…with you dead."
"Because of revenge or love?"
"Does it matter?"
"Of course it does," Red John explained, "we both know that love is a far more noble reason. But love for whom?"
"My family," Jane told him, "both of them. I won't let you take them away a third time."
"Third?" Red John asked and then he laughed, "Oh I see, kidnapping Agent Lisbon." He laughed lightly again, "Apparently the woman you love hasn't been quite as honest as you think."
"What do you mean?"
"I didn't kidnap Agent Lisbon, Patrick. She came with me willingly."
Jane was completely stunned by that statement, a cold chill running through him. "You're lying."
"I assure you I am not. But you know who you can talk to and see that for yourself." The line went dead and for once Jane didn't care that Red John had disappeared without a trace again.
"What was that?" Cho asked, Jane still hadn't turned around. He heard Cho stand up from his desk. "That was him wasn't it?"
Jane nodded his head and finally turned to meet his eyes. The two of them stared at him with questioning eyes. "What did he say?"
"A puzzle," Jane told them, "one that Lisbon knows the answer to."
He didn't give them any other explanation but left he room quickly. He wanted that answer now.
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Lisbon was slowly getting used to the brand new role of being a mother. She had plenty of time now that she was in hiding and left with her son for most of the day. Usually someone on her team was there to watch the place with her but with the exception of Rigsby, none of them knew how to take care of an infant. But Jane always came in the evenings at the very least to help her with their son.
"Is he hungry yet?" Grace asked as she stepped into the living room.
Lisbon grinned up at her. "Do you hear him crying?" JJ was in fact resting peacefully on her lap, enjoying his evening nap.
"Guess not," she said with a smile. Grace reached down to gently stroke the top of his downy head. "He's precious."
She nodded. "Hopefully he got more than just his looks from me, I don't know if I'll survive two Janes."
They didn't get the chance to continue the conversation. The sound of a car pulling up outside alerted them both. Grace pulled out her gun but Lisbon had to set JJ down before doing the same. That gave Grace the time to get to the window and peek out. She breathed a sigh of relief and lowered her weapon. "It's Jane."
Lisbon put her gun away and picked up JJ again. She was a little surprised that Jane was here so early but that was no matter, she was always glad to see him. In a moment Jane was unlocking the door and walking in, immediately setting his sights on her. "Hey," she told him with a smile, "JJ just went to sleep, he'll be out for another hour at least."
Jane nodded but she saw he didn't look calm at all…no he was very serious. "Grace, you can go. I'll watch the place tonight."
Grace's gaze darted from Jane to Lisbon and back again. Lisbon didn't take her eyes off him, her smile faltering. Something was wrong, very wrong.
"Okay," Grace said softly, sensing that Jane really wanted to have a private talk with her boss. "Rigsby has the morning shift so I'll see you later." She looked at each of them with a confused gaze one last time before quietly leaving the house.
Now Lisbon and Jane simply stared at one another as she tried to figure out what had him looking so…angry.
"What is it?" Lisbon asked, "What happened?"
"Put JJ down," Jane told her, his words were clipped, making it clear that she should do as he said. She set the sleeping baby down in the portable bassinet Jane had gotten him before looking back up.
"What is going on, Jane?"
His gaze was cold and unyielding, he was holding himself back. He hadn't done that since they'd started sleeping together. This was strange…and frightening.
"Red John called me."
Lisbon was shocked but kept her composure, her eyes widening in surprise. "What did he say?"
"He congratulated me on foiling his attempt to find you." Jane explained, "And I told him that I wasn't going to let him take away you or JJ."
"I'm sure he disagreed."
Jane didn't say anything but gave her a strange look. "He told me that I didn't know everything."
"He's talking in riddles."
"Perhaps," But Jane's tone meant he wasn't so sure. He took a step closer so he was right in front of her, staring at her with a piercing gaze. "He also told me that he didn't kidnap you. You went with him willingly."
Lisbon could do nothing but gape at him, her heart leaping to her throat.
"Of course I told him he was lying," Jane continued, "but I want to hear it from you first."
She swallowed, unable to turn her eyes away from him. All she could do was stare as she felt the walls closing in.
"Tell me, Lisbon," Jane said calmly, "Tell me you did not go with him."
But Lisbon knew she didn't have to say anything…he'd figured out her answer already.
She watched as his eyes turned chillingly cold with anger and outrage. "No," he said softly, shaking his head. "No."
"It's not what you think," Lisbon told him quickly. She put two hands on his arm but he jerked away and out of her reach.
"Oh really? You allied with the man I've been hunting for ten years, what exactly am I supposed to think?"
"It wasn't an alliance."
"Then why did you go with him?" Jane asked, "How exactly am I supposed to trust everything you say now that you are one of them?"
"I am not them!"
"Then what are you?"
She glared at him feeling some anger now that he was doubting her; even after everything they had been through and shared. "I'm the mother of your son."
"That's why I'm giving you the chance to explain before I get you to tell me where Red John is."
"I don't know where he is!" Lisbon hissed, "I'm on your side."
"Prove it." Jane ordered, "Tell me why you went with him."
"To save you!"
He was clearly surprised by that statement, for a moment the anger left his eyes for something else but she didn't have a chance to identify it. Lisbon took the moment to explain. "When we met at the warehouse, we talked about you."
"You told me that."
"We talked about the game he was playing with you and I asked him what it would take to make him stop," she continued, "He said that there were two options: one of you would die or you would join him." Lisbon met Jane's eyes. "I suppose there's no need to tell you which option he preferred."
Jane's gaze was cold again, but he remained silent. At least it meant he was listening.
"To be perfectly honest, I'd rather see you dead than as one of his pawns," Lisbon explained, "and I didn't want him hurting you anymore. I asked him what had to happen to make him stop trying to turn you…he told me 'a trade'."
There was a flash of understanding in his face; Jane knew where this was going. But there was no doubt in her mind that he was still angry…perhaps even more so now.
"We made a deal," Lisbon told him, "he wanted me. But I wanted a chance to be with you before I lost you forever…to know what it was like to be loved by you…Red John agreed to give me some time. He would send me a message and I had to go with him then…and that's what I did."
Jane stared at her for a very long time then nodded his head…but it wasn't an agreement. "And JJ…what role did he play in this?"
"What are you talking about?"
"He wanted my child. Was that a part of the deal?"
At first all she could do was gape at him…then she was filled with rage. The next thing she knew she'd slapped him across the face. "You son of a bitch! How could you even say that?"
Jane felt his cheek but turned his cold eyes back on her. "You aren't answering the question. Did I strike a nerve?" She made to strike him again but Jane grabbed her wrist in a tight grip. "It's time you started being honest."
"I am," Lisbon spat out.
"Then answer the question." He released her quickly and she stumbled back a step.
She glared at him. "No, JJ wasn't a part of the deal. I had no idea I was pregnant when I went with him."
"And I'm supposed to believe that?"
"God dammit, Jane. I was locked up in a basement for nine months only to have my son ripped from my arms, do you really think I would have let that happen if I'd known I was pregnant?"
"So what would you have done?"
Lisbon leveled her eyes with him. "I wouldn't have gone to him, I would have told you what was going on because…because I was in over my head."
"Yes you were," Jane agreed. "Red John never intended to kill you."
"I know that now," she said, "he wanted to turn me, if only to torture you. But when he found out I was pregnant he changed his plans." Lisbon turned sorrow filled eyes up to his. "I thought I was protecting you."
"By going with him?"
"By giving you a chance to be free of him," Lisbon explained. "He wants a life, yours. I simply gave him another option. He knows that you aren't willing to sacrifice me…but I am."
"So that was your plan?" Jane said bitterly, "Give up your life in exchange for mine? That's brilliant…letting me lose the one person I need to survive."
Lisbon shook her head. "I thought…"
"No, you weren't thinking. If you had you would have known that Red John was playing you. This deal wasn't to 'save me' but rather another way to keep up the game. He wouldn't have killed you, he was going to brainwash you and send you back to me to torment me. That was his plan."
She sat down numbly on the sofa, letting the weight of his words sink down on her. She knew he was right; her misguided act of heroism had actually done far more harm then good. There was one saving grace.
"He failed," Lisbon reminded him softly.
Jane nodded. "Because you were pregnant…and then you got our son involved in all of this."
"I didn't know."
He shook his head. "That doesn't matter. He had our son, he held him, had his hands on him, had plans for him…and you gave him to Red John."
"No…no I didn't," she protested.
"You handed yourself over…while you were pregnant with my child," Jane reminded her, "How else do you want to say it?"
Jane didn't give her the chance to explain herself…not that she had one anyways. Instead he gave her another long cold look before heading in the direction of the kitchen, leaving her alone with their sleeping son.
He was right. This was all her fault; she'd gotten in over her head and brought this upon herself. But that wasn't her greatest sin.
She'd put her son in danger…and she couldn't blame Jane if he couldn't forgive her for that.
A/N: Hehehe it was all the plan! Lisbon was never kidnapped actually but she actually made deal with Red John, go back to the first chapter and remember the "trade" hehehe.
Hope you liked this chapter, in the next one Jane and Lisbon have to try to come to grips with the secrets they have been keeping from each other and the fight to protect their son only intensifies.