WARNING: There is an accusation of rape. Nothing happens and no description only an accusation. Just want you to be warned if even the mention of that might upset someone.

I still done own TM, that distinction belongs to Bruno Heller. I only own my imagination here.

Chapter 10

"Where the hell was Patrick Jane transferred to? Why wasn't he brought back here after his bail hearing?" Dean yelled. He knew he should've attended the hearing, but he couldn't get out of his meeting with the chief.

"Uh, he was released on bail. Damnedest thing I ever heard of." Officer Walters, one of the officers in Dean's unit said. "The judge set a one-million-dollar bail and that CBI agent, you know Cho, put up his house as additional collateral, plus asked that Jane be released into his custody. Never heard anything like it."

Dean couldn't believe what he was hearing. He knew Dan Jacobs was a good lawyer but he never expected something like this.

"Why didn't you call me?" Dean asked.

"You were meeting with the chief. Besides, they kept him in one of the courthouse holding cells until all the paperwork was ready. He never came back here." Walters said.

"That man is guilty of kidnapping and murdering a CBI agent and they just release him like that? He's guilty as hell, he should still be in jail." Dean said angrily.

"Look Dean. You'll get him. The evidence is strong. He'll be found guilty at trial and sent to prison. Your reputation is intact." Walters explained.

"I don't give a crap about my reputation, I intend to make sure that man goes to jail for his crimes."

"Look dude, I know you're bucking for a promotion, but get a grip. You've done good work on this case, and you'll be rewarded for it. Once the guy's convicted, you'll get it."

Dean took a deep breath, turned and walked back to his desk.

xXxXxXx

Jane woke up and stretched. He couldn't believe he'd actually slept. Being out of jail and feeling like he was actually working towards finding Teresa probably helped.

"I don't know how you can find couches so comfortable to sleep on. I slept for a couple of hours on the couch in Lisbon's office and I still don't think my back has recovered." Cho said.

Jane laughed. "I find this couch very comfortable. Now the couch in Lisbon's office is way more comfortable than the one she had before. She threatened to shoot me when I bought it, but she finally had to admit the new one is far more comfortable."

"Yeah, well, I don't. I find a bed far more comfortable." Cho said.

"I have to say, I prefer Teresa's bed to all the couches." Jane said.

Cho looked at Jane, thinking Jane was joking and trying to make him feel uncomfortable. However, one look at Jane's face and he knew he wasn't joking, he had that dark look on his face.

"Jane. I know you miss her. We all miss her. You have more reason now than before, but you have to stay positive. You staying positive is the only way we're going to find her.

Jane sat quietly for several minutes. Cho could see the war raging in Jane's mind. Jane had changed since the end of Red John, but he knew Jane would always deal with the demons of guilt over the death of his family. He'd hoped Lisbon could help rid Jane of those demons. While they seemed to be more under control, if Lisbon wasn't found, Jane would enter that deep, dark world of overwhelming guilt and never return. He'd always blame himself for her death as well.

"I'm going to run downstairs to the gym to shower and shave. I have a change of clean clothes down there." Jane said.

"I'll go with you." Cho said.

"Uh, Cho. I'm pretty sure I can do that by myself."

"Yeah, well, you're stuck with me. I'm not letting you out of my sight." Cho said.

"Cho, I told you I wouldn't run. I'm not going to do anything to put your house in jeopardy." Jane stated.

"I believe that. But I also believe whoever is involved in this is smart. If someone is with you at all times, anything that comes up from here on out cannot be tied to you." Cho explained.

"Fine. But don't think you're taking a shower with me. Now if it was Teresa offering to keep an eye on me…"

"Jaaannne!" Cho pleaded. He knew he'd set himself up for that one and he also knew Jane couldn't pass up an opportunity to make him cringe.

xXxXxXx

Teresa sat with the computer in her lap. She'd opened every file and folder looking for anything that might give a lead into who was keeping her there. She wished Grace was there to look. Grace might have a way to find something. While she didn't want to hear the news report again, she did want to see Patrick. She'd played the report up to the point he appeared and then stopped the video. She didn't like seeing Jane the way he was in the video, but just being able to see him at all made her feel better.

She knew the guy would be back at some point and find the computer in the cell. So what. What would he do to her? He'd made it clear he didn't want her dead yet. He wanted her to suffer. And suffer she was. She wanted to stay strong, but knowing Patrick was in jail for this, was weighing heavy on her. She knew he'd be devastated by her absence.

She looked at his picture on the computer screen one more time before closing the top. She wanted the battery to last as long as possible so she could look at Patrick's picture as often as she needed. She needed that more often than not. She laid down on the bed, hugging the computer to her chest as if it were Patrick himself.

xXxXxXx

When Cho and Jane made their way back upstairs to the bullpen, they found Officer Dean sitting at Cho's desk.

"Officer Dean. What do we owe this pleasure?" Cho asked, not at all happy to see him there.

"Very cunning move you made today Agent Cho. Having Mr. Jane here released into your custody and putting up your house as collateral. Mr. Jane must have taught you well, with his cunning manipulations." Dean said.

"Like I asked, why are you here?" Cho said.

"Some clothes were discovered a few miles from where Agent Lisbon's car was found. There was a pair of pants and a shirt matching the description of what Agent Lisbon was wearing when she disappeared. We also found a bra and pair of woman's panties a few feet away. There was blood on the pants and panties. If the blood turns out to be Agent Lisbon's I may be able to add rape to your charges." Dean said with an air of satisfaction.

Jane ran at Dean. "I WOULD NEVER RAPE HER. YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Rigsby caught him before he could reach the SAC PD officer. Jane was struggling in Rigsby's grasp, his heart about to beat out of his chest.

"Well, I guess that just proves Mr. Jane has an explosive temper. Just more evidence he is capable of carrying out this crime."

Cho looked at Rigsby. "Take him to Lisbon's office." indicating to Jane. Rigsby understood and half carried Jane towards the office.

Before anyone could move, Cho was nose to nose with Dean. "How dare you come into this office and accuse Jane of raping Lisbon. Look around, you pompous jack ass. No one here believes Jane had anything to do with Lisbon's disappearance and there's no way in hell he'd rape her."

"It appears he has everyone here fooled then or everyone is covering for him. Either way." Dean said.

"I don't know what your agenda is. I'm sure you think this case can further your career somehow. But let me tell you one thing, Officer Dean, when this case is over, Agent Lisbon is back, and Jane is cleared of all charges, I'll make sure you're nothing more than a meter maid." Cho said with more fury than anyone had ever seen from him before.

"We'll see about that. Once Agent Lisbon's body is found and Jane is in prison for murder, maybe you're the one that'll be working as a meter maid. I have to go. I have an appointment with DA Ardiles to discuss this new evidence." Dean gloated, heading towards the elevators.

It took every ounce of restraint Cho had not follow Dean and punch him in the face. However, as much as he desired to do that, he knew it wouldn't help Jane at all. If fact, he thought Dean probably wanted that to happened. He wasn't giving Dean any ammunition to have the CBI, or himself, banned from the case.

Cho walked over to the entrance to Lisbon's office. Rigsby, who had been watching Jane, turned to Cho. "This is not good. Not good at all."

"I know Rigs." Cho said as he walked over to where Jane was in a corner of Lisbon's office. He was sitting on his knees, with his hands behind his head, rocking back and forth.

Cho gently touched Jane's shoulder. "Jane?"

"I didn't rape her. I didn't, I didn't rape her. I could never do that." Jane cried.

"I know that Jane and so does everyone else out there. No one will ever believe it." Cho said.

Jane continued to rock back and forth crying. "I don't know how much longer I can do this. I don't know how much longer I can believe Teresa is alive."

Cho leaned down, trying to look Jane in the face. "You can do this and you will. You will and I will make sure you do. Not one of us is ever going to believe she's dead until they find a body. But that's not going to happen. I won't believe that and neither will you. I'm going to call Dan and you're going to get yourself together. We have work to do."

Jane wanted to thank Cho. He knew this was taking every ounce of bravado Cho had. He knew this was affecting Cho more than he was letting on. He appreciated Cho being strong for him when he couldn't be strong himself.

"Teresa. Talk to me. Tell me you're okay." Jane said aloud. He didn't know how long he sat there or when Rigsby left his sentinel position at the door, but Jane felt a wave a peace come over him. He felt Teresa's presence again. He felt she was alive. He would believe she was alive until he felt her take her last breath, knowing that if she took hers, his would soon follow.

xXxXxXx

"Dan. It's Cho. Have you heard about the latest evidence?"

"Not yet. I just got back from court and haven't had an opportunity to look through my messages or mail yet. What kind of evidence was found?" Dan said, not liking the tone of Cho's voice.

"Dean showed up here at the CBI and announced, in front of everyone within hearing distance of the bull pen, they believe Teresa's clothes were found a few miles from the location of the vehicle. There was a shirt, pair of pants, bra and panties. He said there was blood found on the pants and panties and he threatened to charge Jane with rape if the blood proved to be Lisbon's." Cho said, as angry now as when Dean made his announcement.

"Wow. I'm sorry Cho. How's Jane? I assume he didn't take that announcement very well." Dan said, worried about his client.

"That is a huge understatement. Rigsby was able to catch him before he tackled Dean. It took every ounce I could muster not to beat the living crap out of him myself. But I knew that would only add fuel to the fire and give Dean more of a reason to go after Jane." Cho explained.

"Yeah, that definitely wouldn't have been good, for either of you. Let me call over to SAC PD. I'm going to ask for the clothes to be examined by an independent lab." Dan said.

"What are you thinking?" Cho asked.

"I'm thinking I want the blood and the blood patterns examined to see if they could've happened naturally, during an assault, or if the blood appears to be planted. I also want to find out where the clothes were found, by whom and when. The area around the location where the vehicle was found was thoroughly searched. Depending on where the clothes were found, may give us a good indication of whether or not they were planted after the search was done. I believe they were planted there after the search." Dan explained.

"This could mean the abductor's getting nervous. I bet they were planted after word got out Jane was released from jail. As long as he was in jail, there was no need for the clothes to be found. Maybe this is the break we've been needing." Cho said, feeling better since this whole thing began.

"I'll let you know what I find out. This will take some time. The SAC PD lab has to finish their analysis before I can have the clothing sent to my lab. I'll start the paperwork as soon as I get off the phone and have it filed. Just be prepared for a little wait. I'm also going to ask Officer Dean to refrain from showing up at the CBI again. If he wants to talk to you or Jane, he has to contact me first. If that doesn't work, I'll ask Judge Lansing for an order to that effect. I'll do my best to keep him away from both of you. Jane's already my client, I'm not looking for another one." Dan said.

Cho chuckled, appreciating Dan's attempt to lighten the conversation. "Thanks Dan. I really appreciate it."