Authors note: Thank you for all the support I receive, especially to those who review and on a regular basis. They mean so much.

Alarm bells go off inside Lisbon's head.

"Jane, you can't put this on yourself, she's may be beyond saving."

Jane stands up feeling agitated

"I understand that. But her best chance is me, for whatever reason that maybe. Perhaps I'm being given a second chance."

"Being given a second chance. Can you hear yourself? It's like you're saying there's a God, or at least something governing this universe of ours."

Jane is silent for a while. When he first saw the girl, he could see the hopelessness, the terror within her. Emotions that a child shouldn't have experience with. Hopelessness and terror are the emotions Charlotte must have felt in her final moments as Red John cut into her and there was no one to save her. Her mother lay dead just feet away and her Father somewhere too far away to help. As she laid gagged while Red John was killing Angela, she must have prayed, she was always a spiritual girl and everyone turns to prayer, when there is nothing left. A desperate prayer for her Daddy to come home and save them, to stop this evil man who had invaded their home. Her Daddy had promised, surely he would come. But then she knew he wasn't coming, that no-one was listening to her prayers, that Daddy wasn't coming, just as the evil man had said, there was just her and death.

"Jane?"

"No I don't believe in God. How can I? But this is my chance to put things partly right. To rebuild a little of my soul Lisbon. Ease a little of the burden I carry. I know that it will never make up for failing Angela and Charlotte, and that the odds are stacked against me. But I have to try, I have to know that I did my best and I have to believe that she can make it because she needs to believe.

"I want to tell you to stop, but I know it would be useless, you would just ignore me, and I can't anyway."

She looks towards the girl.

"I do know that if she can be saved, you're the one who can do it. If it doesn't work, it won't be your fault, it's because she's too far gone, and who are we to say she's not better there anyway."

"Thanks Lisbon."

"Just..just be careful Jane."

"I will, I promise."

A promise he's no intention of keeping. He doesn't matter, He's willing to give up his sanity, whatever it takes to help this girl.

Lisbon stands up, her hands in her pockets.

"I have to go."

"How's the investigation going?"

"Cho's little ploy has given us forty-eight hours to keep the guy. Why didn't he get rid of the body, after killing her, why did he stick around?"

"He was interrupted, someone must have been out and about that made it impossible to move the body and caused him to raise the alarm as it would be more suspicious not to."

"Surely it makes more sense for him to flee, not put himself in the middle of the investigation."

"I agree, the neighbour story is a flimsy one, easily checked out."

"He is a neighbour, he lives a couple of houses away."

"There was something he needed."

Jane looks towards the girl.

"Check her DNA against his."

"Jane, this case is sick."

His reply is soft.

"Yes."

"I'm going to put that man away for a very long time."

"I know you will."

"And every man who walked in to that house. Get justice for every child they touched and every parent who's children were ripped from them. I have to meet with Katie Staines parents, look them in the eye, and tell them what happened to their daughter, what they did to her."

Jane gently puts his hand on Lisbon's shoulder.

"Tell them how she protected a little girl. How she showed love and friendship, That she was brave and strong and selfless. It's not much, but it's something for them to hang on to."

Lisbon's nodding her head.

"It's times like these..."

"When you hate this job?"

Lisbon shakes her head.

"No. When I became a cop, I made a promise to serve and protect. I want to put away bad guys and these are the worst of the lot. We're too late for Katie and her, and others, but we can protect future victims."

Jane can see Lisbon is becoming over come with emotion. He pats her on the shoulder and tries some levity.

"Go get 'em tiger."

Lisbon obediently smiles. The girl begins to stir. She starts to moan and thrash from side to side. Her eyes pop open wide and she screams.

She never dreams when asleep, at least none that she remembers, but she somehow she knows that's what's happening. She's in a beautiful garden, filled with trees and beautiful flowers. The only flowers she's ever seen were on the wallpaper in her bedroom. She, had told her what they were called. These were different, they were living things. Bright colours and soft to touch, and a beautiful smell filled the air. It's quiet and she sits down in the middle of them, her eyes closed, she wants to stay there forever. She hears her sit beside her and feels her take her hand, she whispers,

"Don't open your eyes, keep them closed always, can you do that?"

She nods her head, eager to please her, even though she wants to open her eyes and look at her once more.

"It's beautiful here isn't it?"

She nods her head.

"Do you want to stay here?

"Yes."

"This is just a short visit, you will have to leave. But you can come back. Golden Hair knows the way back, he's been sent to help you."

"You sent him."

"Yes, I promised you I would never leave you alone. Let Golden Hair help you."

She nods her head.

"You have to go and I have to go."

"Don't"

She reaches out her hand to stop her, she feels so cold and her eyes open in surprise. She's covered in blood, laying in the bushes, her eyes wide open but not seeing.

She screams.