Story Tile: Ghosts From The Past.

Disclaimer: It may kill me to say this but I do not own Patrick Jane, Simon Baker nor the show The Mentalist. If I did however, Jane would never ware a shirt.

Summery: The computer screen went off with a flash of red lights and a soft alarm. Lisbon walked over to Van Pelt and rose an eyebrow "What is it?" She asked. Van Pelt lifted her head up at her "The FBI found a finger print in a murder and kidnapping case that belongs to-.

Couples In Story: Patrick/Teresa | Wayne/Grace | Allison/James | Talli/Zellon | Mason/Quinn

Chapter Seven: The Clocks Ticking.

Hospital.

Charlotte's Room.

8:49 AM.

Charlotte's blue eyes twitched under her pale eye lids. Her chest lifted with each shaky, wheeze filled breath she took. Her hair lay on her pillow in soft, angelic looking blonde curls. The sun shined through the window, allowing her body to feel the warmth of it.

Jane stood outside the teenagers room, worry lines already forming on his face. Lisbon came up, hot tea in hand. She set it down next to Jane.

"Jane, she'll be okay. She lasted through the night without spiking another fever. Her lungs aren't getting any worse. She's lucky Jane, she's really lucky." she spoke, her blue eyes now looking at the sleeping Charlotte in her bed.

That's when one of Charlotte's new doctors walked over. She smiled a bit, her lips curling into a grin. "Charlotte's labs are back. The toxin is still unknown but her body seems to be doing it's best to heal her. But while she isn't getting any worse-" Jane cut her off, blue eyes showing his true age and all the trouble he has to deal with.

"But she's also not getting any better either." he spoke, his voice deep with anger and worry.

The red haired doctor took a seat in a chair and sighed "The CDC has the toxin right now and are working hard to figure out what it is. We'll known as soon as Atlanta does." she said, giving Jane a smile before leaving.

An hour later, Lisbon got a phone call. After talking for a few minutes she gasp when she turned the corner to find Jane standing there, listening. "What did Grace want? Is it about the toxin or Red John?" he asked, eyes rimmed with red from sleepless nights, crying and worry.

Lisbon sighed "A 16 year old girl was found beat in a alley. She's coming in now." she said.

Jane rolled his eyes "What's she got to do with Charlotte?" he asked.

Lisbons eyes got softer. "Her name is Annette Marcelios. " she said. Jane's faced paled. "A-Annette Marcelios?" he asked.

She nodded. He turned to face the window into Charlotte's room again.

"Annette and Charlotte met in Kingergarden and hav- Has been friends ever since. Annette was like a sister to Charlotte." he said, eyes hazed off as he remembered back.

Saint Mary Anne's School.

December 2001.

A six year old Charlotte ran across the playground, blonde curly pigtails swinging, the tips tickling her cheeks as they did so. Her face was red and warm from the cool, December air and running.

She ran up to the snow pile again that the kids had shaped and formed into a tiny hill. Butts marks covered it. Kids ran up and slid down, laughs and screams filled the air. Snow started to fall, covering the grade school playground again.

Charlotte went up to the top and was shoved away by Kevin Peterson. She let out a yelp and fell to her butt, tears streaking her baby doll face. A hand came into view. She looked up and saw the smiling face of a girl her age. She helped Charlotte up and handed her, her winter hat that had fell off.

Charlotte dusted snow off her bottom and smiled a bit. "Thank! I'm Charlotte." she said.

The girl let her lips form a large, pink smile. "I'm Annette. Want to be friends?" she asked.

Both girls laughed and looked up at the sky. "Sure! Want to share my cookies today? My mommy always packs extras for me!" she said.

Annette smiled wider "Chocolate chip?" she asked.

Charlotte nodded. "Double chocolate chip!" she said.

Annette's lips formed a plump "O" shape and got wide eyes, her blue eyes large. "My mommy never lets me have double chocolate chip cookies. She says it 'cause it makes me too hyper-ish." she said.

Charlotte titled her head to the side and placed her finger to her lips to form a "Shh" face with her mouth. "My mommy says that too! But my daddy says it's okay because he's hyper and mommy loves him and she loves me so she won't mind." she said, her child logic making half sense.

The lunch bell rang, kids screamed and pulled gloves, hats and coats back on, rushed in large groups of ten to get to the doors. Annette hugged Charlotte. "Want to come over to play?" the girl asked her friend.

Charlotte nodded "Sure! But I gots to ask my mommy first, kay." she asked. Annette nodded "I'll have my people call your people." she said.

Charlotte frowned "What's that mean?" she asked.

Annette smiled wide "I don't know really. But my mommy always says that to her clients. She's a make up lady for movie stars!" she said.

Charlotte gasped "Like Winnie the Pooh?" she asked.

Annette laughed "Maybe! I gots to go. Bye Charlotte!" she said, waving bye as she greeted her teacher and classmates. Charlotte laughed and headed to her teacher as well.

Present Day.

Jane was pulled from memory lane when alarms in Charlotte's room started to blast. Nurses and doctors ran in. Monitors blasted a loud, annoying alarm, alerting something was very, very wrong.

Doctors moved around Charlotte and he saw it. Blood. All over her! Blood spewed from her mouth and doctors using a tubing to suck it out. Blood kept on streaming from her mouth, tears streaming down her face.

"Charlotte? Charlotte!" he yelled, rushing to get in the room. Doctors shoved his away "Sir! Let us work. Page the OR!" she screamed to a nurse.

Charlotte gagged, blood streaming from her mouth. It soaked the front of her hospital gown, staining it cherry red.

Lisbon rushed over "Jane we-Oh my god!" she yelped.

Jane stood there, face pale as white.

"Jane! Are you listening to me? JANE! We found out what the toxin is!" he said.

That's when Jane felt like dying. Charlotte's heart monitor flat lined. Her heart had stopped.

The last thing Charlotte heard before slipping into the darkness was her father, screaming her name at her over and over again.

AN: GASP! Would I dare kill Charlotte off? Psh, what am I, crazy? I'd never kill her off. Stay turned for another chapter next week.