Author's notes: thank you so much for all your reviews and follows. It's great to get your feed back and your support makes my day.
Lisbon fastens her shoes, the leather feels heavy on her feet. She stands up straight and pulls at her clothes, it feels good to be wearing her own things and know that it's permanent. Although she's still having trouble believing that it's true. She half expecting the guards to stop her at the final door and laugh in her face, telling her that it was all a joke and then strip her and put her back in the awful coveralls.
The governor has given her a full pardon. Said something about a travisty of justice. She's had no contact with him since he visited her in the hospital. She was shocked when it happened, he hadn't seemed the type to give in to threats, and she's still angry at what Jane put the man through.
Cho's meeting her and he would only say that Jane asked him. She's concerned that she hasn't seen Jane since he visited her in the hospital. He's probably avoiding her as he knows she's angry with him. That's what she keeps telling herself but the pit of her stomach disagrees with her. It tells her that there's something wrong, that there was no exit strategy for him and that he's gone in to hiding. She can't shake the feeling that she will never see him again. The thought increases her anger, at him, at Red John, at the system that put them in this situation. But she still feels no regret for her actions. What does that say about her as a cop, an upholder of justice, as a human being. She believes she saved a life, one that had suffered so much already. She thought she was setting him free but it seems she got that part wrong. She hears the familiar sound of the doors unlocking mechanism. She stares at the stuff on the bed, her meagre belongs - paper, toothbrush, books. She turns away leaving them there. The guard appears, Lisbon takes down the two photos that were stuck to the wall and leaves her cell clutching them in her hand.
The sun is blinding as she walks through the prison doors. The sun never seems this strong in the courtyard. Maybe it's dulled by the high walls and oppressive atmosphere. She almost stops to tilt her head up and soak in the feel of the sun, as she's seen Jane do many times. The feeling of embarrassment that overcomes her at the thought of copying a 'Jane' action keeps her walking. There's a little regret in her heart, at the feeling that she'd just missed an experience. Hasn't she missed enough! Her feet stop moving and she spreads out her arms and lifts her face towards the sun. She closes her eyes against the brightness. It feels warm against her skin and seems to find it's way in to her body through her pores. She feels like her body is filling with light and energy. She opens her eyes and meets Cho's who is standing by the car with his arms folded staring at her. He nods and opens the door for her.
Cho tells her that Bertram wants to meet with her straight away. She sighs, it isn't her first choice of things she wants to do, and technically he's not her boss anymore so she doesn't have to do it, but, if it means that she could be getting her job back, then a proper cup of coffee can wait a few minutes more. But there's one thing that can't wait.
"Where's Jane. How come I haven't hear anything from him. He's disappeared, hasn't he? He got himself into so a lot of trouble and has gone underground, hasn't he? The governor came to see me and told me what he was up to. He promised it wasn't anything he couldn't extracate himself from."
"Well that was plan A. When that didn't work then he had to go to plan B. Actually they were plans B and C. Plan A, a much safer option, was scrapped when your life was threatened."
"How could you let him do it Cho? I didn't save him, for him to ruin his life anyway."
"With Jane that possibility is always on the table."
Lisbon can't help but smile at that.
"If we hadn't agreed he would have done it anyway, but on his own, or hired less reliable, or non- trustworthy help, and who knows how it might have worked out. This way, no harm came to the Governor's wife, and we were able to protect him as much as he protected us."
Lisbon could see the sense in what Cho said.
"If it all ended so well, why is Jane not here?"
The arrival at Bertram's office cuts short the conversation, Lisbon doesn't see the flash of relief that crosses the face of the normally stoic Cho, who is a standing slightly behind her. Lisbon knocks on the door and hears Bertram call her in. Cho waits outside. Bertram stands as she approaches the desk. He offers his hand.
"Good to see you a free woman Agent. I was as surprised when you were found guilty. Can I say how pleased I am that the Governor intervened."
Lisbon recognizes his 'press conference voice and knows that everything he's said is a lie.
"Thank you Sir. What is it you want?"
"I want to offer you your job back. You can take a couple of weeks off to climatise yourself, but then your badge and gun will be waiting for you.
"Thank you sir. I will be grateful for those two weeks."
"And maybe you can bring back your awol consultant. He hasn't been in to work since your conviction. Tell him that if he doesn't come back with you not to bother coming back at all. Do your best, you know how valuable he is to the team."
"Yes sir."
Bertram extends his hand once more and Lisbon exits the office. Cho pushes himself off the wall as the door opens.
"How did it go?"
"He gave me two weeks off and my job. Oh and he wants Jane back with me or he's fired. Now where is he? Has he disapppeared?
"He thinks so, but we've been keeping an eye on him."