Heya people I'm back! I think I'm going to apologize every chapter for the lateness -_-" Not much to say, aside that the weather is being crazy lately :P so I'll just let you read ^.^

Thanks to Viviskilener-jisbonist4ever; Amy (Grace's father beat his wife and son with a base-ball bat, but he was shot by a gun); Llamanator7; sbrt (yeah, I didn't insist on their relationship because nothing much is happening :P This chapter though…hope you'll enjoy it :3); Nyah (Did you? Aww xD Hope you'll enjoy the more now :3); leelou09; x-Pick'n'Mix-x; Jisbon4ever; Blue (I did enough narration lately :P you'll get more glimpse inside their life from now on…normally lol ^^); MK (Hee glad you liked it :3); 13 Jo; TheDevilWearsVests (update's here :3) for their reviews. Thanks for the alerts and favourite too :D

And thanks to NAVAR for beta-ing this :3

Disclaimer: I do not own Mentalist, I do not earn money with those fics and I don't deny having a thing for AUs. Hope you will enjoy this (won't blame you if you don't ;D)

Guardian Angel

20.

When Jane went to bed that night, he had a feeling something would happen. The whole drive back, Teresa had only spoken monosyllabic answers to his questions and went for a walk once they got home. She had come back more relaxed and with a glint of determination in her eyes, a glint he hoped meant good news. The blond man shut the shutters and turned off the lamp, hoping the night would help him see clearer. As a Guardian Angel, sleep wasn't a necessity, but if he was to return to a simple human life soon, he needed to keep good habits and force his body to rest at night.

The bedroom door opened slowly, and he didn't need to raise his head to know his charge was sneaking in again. This time though, Teresa didn't ask for permission first. She slipped between the sheets and, for the first time since she had first shared his bed, cuddled him. Her right arm was resting around his waist and her head tucked under his chin. At first, he figured that after her confrontation with her father, she wanted some more human warmth. But when she hoisted herself on her elbow and crawled over his chest, he wasn't so sure anymore. Before he could question her intentions though, she broke the silence:

"Do you want me, Patrick?"

Jane blinked. Had she just asked what he thought she'd asked? Her face was unreadable, but her jersey was definitely hanging lower than supposed to and showing off part of her shoulder and collarbone and her pale skin seemed to be glowing in with the soft light of the room and if he followed the line of her collar he could see the beginning of…oh dear. The young woman straightened and kneeled next to him, her hand moving to brush the fabric of the top of his pyjamas. For the first time in years, the blond man was turned speechless.

"Do you want me?" she went on with a husky tone. "Because I know I want you."

She leant over him, using his chest for support and kissed his forehead. Her hair was falling over his face like a black veil, and for a few seconds, all he could see was her thin neck inches of his face. When her fingers started to move lower over his body, he finally reacted and straightened in turn and pushed her away from him.

"What are you playing at?" he asked in disbelief.

"You're good at reading people." she replied dryly, slowly moving forwards to join him. "You tell me."

Jane couldn't bulge. He just couldn't. Teresa's figure in the darkness, in motion like a tiger hunting for its pray, was a delectable show for his retinas. The picture would sure stay engraved in his memory for a long, long time. Just like the predator she was at the moment, she didn't let him look away. The look in her eyes didn't allow him to look away. She stopped only inches of his face.

"Te-" he started.

The young woman didn't let him finish, and silenced him with her lips. She closed her eyes, her mouth moving slowly and sensually against his, and he could almost hear her hum in content. She didn't wait much longer before straddling his thighs and circling his neck with her arms to bring him closer. His hands automatically clasped over her hips to stabilize her.

When they finally parted for air, he whispered:

"I'm not the gentleman you might imagine me to be. If you continue like this, I can't guarantee I will have full control over myself."

"Good." Teresa replied huskily "Because control is the last thing on my mind right now."

She leant forwards again to kiss him, and Jane let her. He wasn't supposed to. He shouldn't have even let her touch him in any way. But her feminine curves pressed into his, her scent, the warm pressure of her body…he hadn't touched a woman in years and realised how much he…missed it. The last one had been Angela.

"Stop thinking." she added in a whisper, moving her hips against his sensually.

Oh she had no idea how suddenly un-thinking he was right now. The blond man was lost in a pool of forgotten sensations, and urging to feel them again. His hands slipped under her shirt, caressed the skin of her waist gently, testing her reactions and at the same time enjoying the softness of it. The young woman moaned in appreciation. He brought his fingers higher, brushing the base of her breasts. A shiver shook her body when he cupped them.

"Patrick."

His name fell from her lips in a gentle…loving whisper. While Jane hoped she would back up at his next action, some part of him wished she didn't. His arms came around her waist again, and he shifted position to push her back on the mattress. His fingers then teased the hem of her jersey before pulling it up. As he half expected, she tensed but didn't fight him when he brought it over her head, leaving her now only in black panties underneath him. Her skin seemed to glow in the faint light of the room, her chest rising and falling at each inhalation she took, her arms resting each side of her head. She looked like a fallen angel, for the curves of her small body seemed too perfect to be true.

"Like what you see?" she asked, and this time Jane noted the nervousness and slight fear despite the quietness of her voice.

He couldn't follow her down that path. Whatever was pushing her to seduce him tonight was not right. The blond man could tell she wasn't ready for any of this, but still trying to overcome that reluctance to fulfil some other plan. He knew she was seeking for his attention; that had been kind of obvious from the start. He knew her meeting with her father earlier that day had shaken her. And he knew this girl would hang on to anything not to fall back in the lonely life she had endured the past years. This, though, wasn't the right way. If she thought she could keep him by getting in his pants, then she was greatly mistaken.

Jane knew what he had to do to make his point clear. He took off his own shirt before leaning forwards and nuzzling her neck.

"You are gorgeous, Teresa."

His hot breath created goosebumps over her skin and she closed her eyes to revel in the sensation. The blond man pressed his hips against hers, knowing she would feel his emerging need. Teresa's breath got sharp again, and he pulled back, only to have his hands land over her breasts. The young woman arched at the new touch, and Jane had to remember he had a plan to carry on, but with her fingers now wandering over his arms, shoulders, neck, in his hair and her soft moans, he was close to lose it.

"Slower." the young woman whimpered. But Jane didn't listen and carried on with his sweet ministrations; teasing, caressing, playing her body like an accordion.

As much as he hated himself for acting like a horny jerk, he couldn't find an alternative to make her back off. If she freaked out at his insistence, she wouldn't try again for a while. Her breath was quickening and her arms shaking, but he turned a blind eye to her nervous reactions and went on biting her slender neck while rubbing himself against her. It wasn't until his hand slipped in the waistband of her panties and closer to a certain area that Teresa started to panic for real.

"Patrick!" she yelped, struggling under him. "Stop it!"

"What if I don't want to?" he whispered, using his full body to prevent her from moving too much. "You are the one who came to me first."

The young woman stopped moving, and so did he. Only his lips were still nibbling her neck, tasting the sweet skin there.

"Please." She begged quietly. This time, the vulnerability and fear were clearly audible. "Please stop; I'm sorry."

When he pulled back to meet her face, tears were sliding the long of her cheeks. Just as he had planned; now she was seeing the extent of her actions and definitively realising she was…not capable of accomplishing them.

"Please. I'm sorry." She kept whispering. "Please."

He got off her and sat on his ankles. He then picked up her jersey and handed it to her. The young woman slowly rose in turn, took the cloth and put it on. She didn't glance at him while dressing up, and he kept his eyes away from her.

"You need to see someone Teresa." he eventually said. "I…haven't thought of it earlier, but you need to speak to a psychiatrist or a shrink." He paused added softly: "What if I had been like John? What if I had ignored your pleas, and took you right then and there? Do you think you could have dealt with me?"

"I'm sorry." She repeated, not daring to cross him again.

Jane sighed and turned his back on her. He couldn't look at her face to face without the need to memorize each inch of skin he could find.

"Go back to your room before I do something stupid. I won't let you come back in my bed for a while, do you get it?"

He didn't need to turn back to see her nod. He just heard the sheets creasing when she stepped out of the bed and her light footsteps heading towards the door. All the way, he felt her shame and hurt, and suddenly had the urge to do something before she left for good.

"Teresa."

She glanced over her shoulder. He left the bed to join her and pushed her against the wall. Before she could protest, he trapped her jaw with one hand and leant to press his mouth against hers. At first, she whimpered in uneasiness but as he became gentler, Teresa accepted the kiss and returned it with the same tenderness.

"You are driving me crazy." he whispered against her lips when they parted for air. "I shouldn't be attracted to you, but fact is I am. Now, you need to realise the extent of your…power over me. Next time, maybe I will not be able to control myself."

"I like you Patrick." she replied quietly, her eyes honest and bright. "I wouldn't have…come to you otherwise."

He kissed her harder this time, his hand slipping behind her neck to hold her still. Teresa didn't try to fight it either, but tensed when he pulled back inches from her face.

"That's exactly what I'm talking about" he hissed, narrowing his eyes at her. "How do you expect me to stay of stone when you say things like this? Why are you doing this?"

"I…I don't know." She replied quietly, looking away.

The blond man didn't know why he felt somehow disappointed by this answer. Perhaps he was waiting for a more concrete response, but if her mind was as messed up as he suspected, then he wouldn't get a clear answer from her right now. Jane sighed and stepped back.

"Good night Teresa."

One last apologetic look and she was out the door. Once she was gone, Jane tightened his fist and hit the wall angrily. The sensations he had rediscovered only left him craving for more. He knew it for sure now; Teresa was the forbidden fruit leading to his downfall, and this time, there were no second chances for redemption.

-GA-

"I never pictured you for the slut type, but seriously, you will never cease to amaze me Teresa."

The dark-haired teen winced at the redhead's cold tone but figured she deserved it. The two girls had gone to a pub Grace was frequenting from time to time and sat at a withdrawn table, far enough to be unheard and unbothered. The unusual atmosphere suited Teresa though; soft, dark colours and calm atmosphere, jazz music and chatting customers. The bartender had brought them two sodas, and the dark-haired teenager had spilled her story to the redhead, hoping to find more clarity in this whole matter. So far, she had only gained an incredible interest in her drink.

"Sorry."

"You need to feel loved, I get that part." Grace muttered, shaking her head in disbelief. "But c'mon, don't you think there are other ways to tell a guy you want more attention from him?"

"I don't know how to do!" Teresa snapped, glaring at her friend. "I've been with that son of a bitch for two years, and he was what you can call my first…boyfriend. I didn't realise what he really wanted from me at first; I was just plain stupid to fall for his pretty words. I didn't know who he really was at the time." She sighed before continuing: "Now each time I think of…love or romance, I can only associate it to sex."

Those last words made Grace snicker.

"Lots of men think of it that way too. The decent ones are rarer and rarer…good thing I'd classify Jane in them or you'd be in serious trouble."

"I'm already in trouble." The dark-haired sighed annoyingly, and her cheeks reddened at her next admission: "I like Patrick a lot. Screw that, I think I love him."

"That I gathered. Or you wouldn't have tried to jump him last night."

"Not helping Grace." Teresa groaned, hiding her flushed face in her hands. "I want to get a grip over my life and move on, and making a move on…him seemed to be a good start. But after…that I don't think I will ever be able to face him again."

Grace didn't open her mouth for a while, instead took bits and sips of her soda. Her instinct suddenly warned her of an imminent danger. One eye up and she caught something she did not like. A fat man in his mid thirties was making his way through the bar and heading towards them. A too-familiar fat man. The redhead groaned in annoyance; out of all place, what was that ass doing here?

"Teresa" she said calmly. "When I say we leave, we leave. Until then, do not speak or do anything without my say so, get it?"

The dark-haired teen blinked at her friend in puzzlement, but as soon as she saw the newcomers, nodded quietly. They were in fact three men and a woman, but none looked very amiable.

"Crimson." The fat one greeted too coolly for Teresa's taste. The redhead raised a brow.

"Oh, J.J. LaRouche! What a surprise! What brings your bunch of fat over here?"

"We haven't seen you in a while" the man continued, ignoring her question. "Some of us heard that you retired?"

Grace grinned amusingly.

"Wow, guess rumours spread fast. Wasn't I clear enough with little Franky? I will spell it for you nice and clear this time: No-more-tour-na-ments-for-me J.J. I stopped that competition crap last year. I'm not going back in."

Teresa glanced at her friend. What was she talking about?

"I don't think you get my point here." JJ replied with the same monotone, yet threatening tone.

"Franky retired when you made it clear you wouldn't be…working for his ring anymore."

"So you took over?" Grace whistled in fake-awe. "Man, who thought there were some brain cells in that thick head of yours? Lemme guess; since I've been gone, you've been losing match after match. Your losers –or fighters, whatever you call them aren't keeping up. So, you figured you could trace me and ask me to go join the fight club again?"

JJ didn't comment, but his eyes told everything.

"You're wasting time, piggy." The redhead went on with a threatening tone matching the fat guy. "And you are no threat to me. So be careful if you don't want me to use your head as my next punching ball; because you know I will come to find you if you do anything stupid. Resa? We're leaving."

Both stood up together and after Grace left a ten dollar buck on the table, they headed outside the bar. As soon as the door closed behind them, the dark-haired glanced at the redhead:

"Friends of yours?"

"Fatty there leads an underground fighting ring." she replied nonchalantly, glancing quickly around. "I used to be one of their champions –my nickname was Crimson. The former leader wasn't very happy that I left them…I had to make sure he wouldn't come after me." An amused smirked grew over her lips as she rubbed her knuckles. "I beat the crap out of him and his bodyguards."

Teresa rolled her eyes but didn't comment. Was Grace's life only filled with thrills of fistfights and acting completely irresponsible? They were heading towards the parking lot when she realised something wasn't right. A guy was walking at regular pace further down the road behind them, head covered with a red cap. Another one was smoking a cig a little before her, but eyeing them passing by with a strange expression. Not the ogling kind, rather watchful one.

"Grace?" she spoke quietly. "Did you see…"

"You spotted them too uh?"

"Are they…"

"Relax; they're JJ's, not your ex-boyfriend's." she whispered with a grimace. "I don't think he took my refusal too kindly."

A third guy appeared from behind the closest corner. Teresa was becoming nervous but didn't let it show.

"How are going to outwit them? I don't think running will do any good, and as much as I trust your fistfight capacities…"

"Oh don't worry," Grace replied calmly. "We're not going to fight." She paused a few seconds before grinning and asking: "Say, did you ever ride a bike full speed in town?"

Teresa shook her head, but given the intonation and the excited glint in Grace's eyes, she feared she would soon live the experience.

So, like usual. Liked it? didn't like it? Please let me know :3

Thank you for reading so far ;3 !