A/N: Uhm, not sure about this one. I like it, it's just, I dunno. Anyhow, I just want to reiterate how much I love Minelli. Thanks as always to my readers old and new, especially Tracie (my confidante, Mistress of Angst, I missed having you around this weekend), Yana, Geilie, Shelli, lisbonloafers, Div, Susan, Viktorija and patrickjane-ismyman. Oh and I really, REALLY want to say thank you to Geilie for her amazing support and kind words. You have no idea how much it means to me to get such possitive feedback on something that I truly love doing. Enjoy!
Spoilers: 2x08 His Red Right Hand
Warnings: Lisbon has a potty mouth but for good reason.
Disclaimers: I can only wish that in my next life, I own a part of the Mentalist.
Part XIII
"Dark hair, not that tall, kind of dumpy, olive-complected, wore these heels that kind of clicked, wore a thing, what's it, in her hair…"
The sunlight bounces off her pearl barrette.
Making her easy to spot.
Her back, towards them.
Standing beside a meat-wagon.
A lighter in her hands.
Lisbon sprints.
Rage coursing through her veins.
Van Pelt beats her boss to the punch.
Tackles from behind.
But the damage has been done.
Black body bag.
Engulfed in flames.
The last pieces of evidence.
Gone.
In the blink of an eye.
Lisbon glares angrily at the twisted grin on Rebecca's face.
Pressing the barrel of her gun into the woman's temple.
"Bitch."
The word leaves a bitter taste in her mouth.
"You bitch. Don't move, don't breathe and don't you smile at me."
Van Pelt gets the cuffs on her as Rigsby and Cho arrive.
The taller agent gruffly grabs Rebecca's other arm.
Briefly exchange glances with Van Pelt.
The two silently drag Rebecca away.
Cho lingers behind.
Eyes Lisbon.
She slowly holsters her weapon.
Hands shaking so violently, it takes her a few tries.
She gazes through the billowing smoke.
At the building where it all began.
Yellow tape, still crisscrossing the back entrance.
Bosco.
Red John.
Unbidden images materialize before her eyes.
Jane.
She had expected him to be here.
So sure he figured everything out.
"Lisbon."
Cho places a reassuring hand on her arm.
"You go."
She gives him a look that tells him he shouldn't argue.
He feels torn.
Barely shows it.
Slowly removes his hand.
Follows in the wake of his colleagues.
Towards a sea of red and blue lights.
"Without death, there is no life, without dark, there is no light…"
Rebecca's confession is disturbing.
Haunting.
Hicks.
Martinez.
Dyson.
Morning.
All of them killed by her hand.
Instructed by Red John.
Lisbon feels sick to her stomach.
She walks out.
Wanders to the break room.
Makes herself some tea.
Minelli appears in the doorway minutes later.
"You okay?"
She puts on a bright smile.
Cool.
Calm.
"Super."
He sighs.
"Are you okay?"
Her question is tentative.
She doesn't like the serious look on his face.
"Lisbon, Teresa… I, there's, uh, something important I need to tell you…"
He doesn't get the chance to finish.
Shouts erupt from below.
She drops her mug.
Flies down the stairs.
Too late, yet again.
Before she can even see the body, she knows.
Rebecca.
Glassy eyes.
Foam trickling from the corner of her mouth.
Dead.
TBC