Aw I hate being sick while it's sunny out there (feel like Rigsby in 1.20…Miss Red I think? Not that bad though). Just when a friend invited me to watch Mentalist on huge screen tonight (it's the French broadcasting tonight ;_;). Guess I'll have to keep my smaller screen…enough rambling.

I just realised something…this fic will end soon. Two or three chapters at most…my, my; didn't realise I was already at this point of the story o.O

Thanks to: vanilla339; Tempest Erimentha; Chiisana Minako; P. Schoeller; Anna; BetweenTwoWorlds; Jisbon4ever; Hlia (Merci xD J'espère qu'elle continuera de te plaire longtemps!); lucyyh; autumnftw Mk; Jbon; Frogster; In The Name; 13 Jo; leelou09; Iloveplotbunnies for their reviews!

Thanks for the alerts and favourites too!

And as usual, a huge 'thank you' to my amazing half-beta! Cheers everyone!

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

Slave 25

Barely a week had passed before the thought came nagging her. It was like a fear of some sort, a bad feeling Teresa had towards the future each time she thought of her family. Using Christopher was just the beginning, if they were set on taking her back. She knew Bosco never backed off from some issue until he got it in control, and despite being at the opposite of the country, she was still an unsolved issue to him. He was using her family against her, certainly manipulating her father or older brother into some crazy scheme… and it unsettled her to see they were following his lead.

Early morning came too quickly, when she came up with her resolve. She and Jane were still in bed, taking advantage of the few hours left before they needed to get up. The thought of disturbing this moment of peace made her feel guilty, but the soonest she mentioned it, the better.

She pulled back from his arms, catching his attention immediately.

"Patrick, I can't leave that business unfinished" she blurted suddenly, hoisting herself on her elbow. "I know I did the right thing, not meeting Chris, but… I need closure. I need to set things straight with my father and Bosco before they try anything against you." When he didn't respond, face unreadable, she breathed deeply and ended: "I need to go back to Ohio."

For a few moments, she feared, no she was terrified he refused her request. He had every right to. She was his wife-to-be, and she had told him her family was there now. But she also felt that if she didn't made things clear with the rest of her family, it would be a silent, never-ending issue between them. And just like them, Teresa hated leaving things undone.

"When are you planning to go?" he asked eventually. There was no agreement or refusal in his tone and his eyes remained unreadable. He didn't like the idea, it was obvious, but at least he was willing to listen to what she had to say.

"The soonest I can, to be done with it" she mumbled hesitantly. "At best I'd leave this week and with luck I'll be back before the end of next month."

Again, he just stared at her. She could tell he was thinking, for his gaze was unfocused and held that glint of indecision when he was duelling with an issue. While he rolled on his back, facing the ceiling, she waited patiently until he came up with a conclusion. Ten minutes later, lying on his side and facing her, he replied slowly:

"Only on two conditions…"

Teresa released a breath she didn't realise she was holding. Her relief was so great she could have accepted anything right now. And seeing the serious expression on his face and hearing the trailing off of his voice, what he was about to ask would not necessarily please her.

"First, you take Cho or Florin with you. If you want to go now, I will not be able to accompany you and you are certainly not going alone."

There was a hint of disappointment in his tone; he had that business meeting with Mashburn and Harper with a potential partner of Mexico -an obligation he couldn't escape since the possible contract to be signed would assure them an opening towards the lower part of the continent. The reunion was due to happen within next week and he was supposed to leave in the next few days. Her presence there was facultative, which was one of the reasons she wanted to leave during that period. This was something she felt she had to do alone, but she would not refuse some company and protection.

"And the second condition?" she asked. A nervous smile grew on his lips as he hoisted himself on his elbow to be at her level and brought his face close to hers.

"You marry me during the week." His left hand slid in her silky hair when she opened her eyes wide in shock. "I know we agreed we'd wait; we'll make a real ceremony for the fixed date, but I want you to be legally my wife when you visit your family…" he kissed her forehead gently "…so they can't force you into anything. And given your brother's discourse, your father may need a reminder of what he did."

She froze at his words, knowing what he meant. He wanted her to shake the contract he made with Elias under his nose to leave her alone. When she didn't respond, he brushed her lips to get some reaction from her. Teresa blinked in awakening and frowned:

"Do you really think I need to be married to you to pay a visit to my family?"

Something in his eyes told her he wasn't pleased by that answer.

"Your father sold you to a slave merchant because you were raped by your ex-fiancé" he told her coolly, ignoring her wincing. "Your ex-fiancé manipulated your younger brother to bring you back. I don't think that they will let you go away so easily if you come if it's for a visit of courtesy. They will only try to use you. They did use a ten years old boy, remember?"

Deep inside, she knew he was right. But some insane part still wanted to believe they wouldn't do something so low to her if she was there, facing them. They were her family for God's sake! She was the one who took care of her three brothers after their mother's death; she was the one who saved her family's social position in front of a few guests. She had always done everything for them…

Jane seemed to read her mind once again.

"Feel free to believe whatever you want, they will force you into something" he replied dryly, annoyed with her obvious reluctance to agree with him. "And I will not lose you" his voice lowered to a raspy and quiet tone. "I refuse to give you to them."

Hands pushed her shoulders, making her lie on the mattress. He pinned her with his body, leaning closer and started nibbling her neck gently. The familiar and soothing heat made her feel dizzy.

"More important, I want you to be my wife as soon as possible. Is it so hard to believe?"

Teresa sighed in content in response, before a nagging thought reminded her why she wanted to argue. She put a hand on his shoulders to catch his attention.

"I want to be your wife Patrick" she stared at him in the eye. "But I… I feel I need my father's approval. I know it's insane especially after what he has done but… but when I was a child he always repeated he would never give me away because I was his little girl, and he was proud. When my mother died, he didn't care anymore… I need to know if I still mean something to him, if he really decided to hate me for good or forget about me, or even feel indifferent towards me. I need to know… Afterwards I will never see him again if you want, but just this time, please!"

Her heart tightened at the sight at the expression that showed up; it wasn't anger she read in the depth of those cold blue eyes. It was sadness, the only feeling she wanted to keep off his face. He was disappointed and she truly hated it… but the stubborn side of her really needed to know.

"If you go there, I will lose you" he whispered before stepping out of bed and getting dressed for the new day, turning his back to her.

"You won't" she replied firmly, standing up in turn to join him. "I promised I wasn't going to leave you. I am not…"

"Take Cho with you" he cut her, ignoring her while he slipped his shirt on. He was mad now; it was obvious by the tone of his voice. "I trust him in case of problem."

His words stabbed her straight to the heart. So he trusted Cho, not her? She was his fiancée, she loved him and he knew it, or did he really? Teresa shook her head in disappointment.

"If you can't trust me, I don't know why we're getting married."

"It's not you I'm not trusting, it's them" he pronounced the last word with such venom it shocked her. "And I will never trust people that use kids to get their end. I thought you were less naïve than that, Teresa."

The young woman narrowed her eyes in turn.

"I am not naïve! Is it such a bad thing to want to have a bit of faith in my own family?"

He paused after putting on his pants.

"Take Cho with you" he repeated before heading to the bedroom door. "I'll leave tonight, so you can prepare your stuff and go tomorrow."

When the audible 'click' of the lock resonated into the now empty room, Teresa felt something had just broken between them.

-S-

Later in the afternoon, Jane made the announcement of their plans and arranged his fiancée's departure for the next day. Cho agreed to accompany Teresa, not having much to do when the master was away, and Florin was given the charge of following his master, leaving the task of the horses to Rigsby. Everybody could feel the rising tension between the couple. They didn't remain in the same room for more than five minutes, barely spoke to each other and before his departure, they didn't hug like expected. After his carriage had disappeared in the horizon, Teresa went back to her chores without a word, her expression impenetrable.

It was odd to step back in her maid's bedroom that night. She hadn't slept in there for weeks, just went in to change clothes or rest a little during the day. All her nights were spent in Jane's arms, cuddled in his warmth, his presence and his arms around her waist. Teresa cursed herself for being so stubborn. Her head was aching from some headache she got during the day and making her feel dizzy. Perhaps she should have eaten something before going to bed; but the tart Julian made hadn't tempted her one bit –for once, the sweet smell made her feel nauseous and she had declined the meal. The feeling eased a little when she lied down, but only to be replaced by the lack of warmth besides her.

Her hand caressed the spot where he would have lied with her and tightened her grip on the sheet. A few hours passed, butshe merely stood still and unsuccessfully waited for sleep to come to her. In the end, she stepped out of bed and looked around. The object of her investigation, the top of some pyjamas, was still lying on a nearby chair. She picked it up and returned to bed, holding the fabric close to her face. Jane's top, still smelling like him. When the mattress dipped beneath her, she kept the piece of cloth next to her and made a mental note to tug it somewhere in her suitcases before drifting into a deep and peaceful sleep.

The road trip didn't go as comfortably as expected either. She didn't know if it was the perspective of facing her family again or the fact she and Jane had parted in bad terms that made her feel so sick, but a few times during the day she had to ask the driver to stop so she could breathe outside, and her appetite had diminished severely. Cho wasn't very talkative either, and that was fine with her; but the silence was… heavy at some moments. She wished Jane had sent Florin instead of the Asian man…

"Why didn't you accept to marry Mr Jane?" he suddenly asked, staring at her with that deadpan face. "Your conscience would leave you alone and you wouldn't be so troubled."

Teresa glared at him and looked out of the window; how did he know about that anyway? Understanding he was unlikely going to have an answer, he shrugged and muttered: "Just asking."

A few minutes passed before she sighed and decided to reply:

"Because I'm stupid. Stupid and proud and… and because they're my family. You are too" she added quickly, not wanting Cho to believe she didn't take in account their presence or something else. "But…"

"I get it" he replied coolly. "No need to justify your actions."

Teresa wanted to add more, but a new wave of nausea hit her stomach, and she bit her lower lip to avoid any further disturbance. Right now, she just wanted this to be done, and quick.

-S-

The Lisbon's mansion hadn't changed much in the past year, Teresa realised when the driver stopped in front of the gate. Their manor wasn't as big as Jane's and -thinking of it maybe a little too country-like for their rank, but this had been their father's inheritance and the very source of his business development. The very business Bosco took over, she thought bitterly. Large gardens were still filled with violets and wild sunflowers. Weeds had grown around the stoned path leading to the front door, and she remembered that, a long time ago, she had been running along that path with her brothers or her friends, laughing and being silly under the careful watch of their parents.

"You're ready?" she heard the Asian man ask behind her. She shrugged in return.

"I never thought I'd come back under these circumstances. So I don't think I'll ever be ready for this…"

She was interrupted by the sharp exclamation of surprise of a middle-aged woman, standing at the entrance gate. She was dressed in plain brown and light grey, wearing a bonnet over her hair. A basket of laundry was now spread on the floor, and she had to blink a few times before being able to formulate a correct sentence.

"M… Miss Lisbon?" she uttered, completely stunned. "W… Oh my, if I was expecting…"

The young woman just nodded dryly towards the servant as a greeting and spoke dryly:

"Good afternoon, Mrs Klein. Will you go to my father's office and announce my visit?"

The older woman stared at her in disbelief, hesitating on what to do. Teresa glared at her and repeated her sentence calmly:

"Mrs Klein? Will you warn my arrival to my father at once?"

The sharp sentence brought a disrespectful snort on the servant's face, but Teresa held her gaze in firm authority. Reluctantly, the woman picked up her fallen basket, the now dirty sheets, and headed towards the front door after waving to her to follow behind. No word was exchanged during the small walk, but Teresa noticed the moving shadows in the corner of the house and could hear hushed whisperings in the background. She almost smirked in irony; after all this time spent at Jane's manor, she had forgotten how cold the atmosphere was in here.

There stopped at the entrance door and Mrs Klein announced with irritation that they should wait in the grand hall for her return. The older woman had a hard time masking her surprise when Teresa's reaction was just to nod and look around like any visitor would do, instead of getting mad for her impertinence and replying she had lived here most of her life. The young woman also noticed Cho's disapproving glance at her behaviour towards the older woman. When the latter was gone, she replied sternly to his untold reproach:

"Don't sympathise with her; she's just an old gossiper and a viper. When I took over my mother's duties at her death, she would always be the first one complaining and reminding me how unlikely I was to be my father's daughter, for I had none of his natural authority or his… prestige." She snorted, narrowing her eyes. "She was so glad to rub salt where it hurt already… If it wasn't for my lack of knowledge on the internal organization, I would have fired her ages ago."

The Asian man nodded and didn't comment further. A few minutes later, Mrs Klein came back, grumbling to herself, announcing that Mr Lisbon was waiting for her in his office, and that the butler was to follow her to the kitchen where he could get some rest.

"No need for me to show you the way, Miss Lisbon" she added, glaring at her.

"No need indeed" the young woman replied calmly before walking away, but not before throwing a last glance at the Asian man to reassure herself. Cho nodded discreetly to her before following the old woman, leaving her alone.

Taking a deep breath, Teresa turned to her right and entered the lightened corridor. Inwardly, she couldn't stop noting the differences with Jane's manor. The lifeless paintings on the walls. The greyish reflection of the sculptures exposed on their marble columns. How could she have ever found those pale and cold things attractive, when Jane's pieces of art seemed to literally bud with life? She pushed the thought away when she started walking up the stairs leading to the first floor, where she knew her father's office would be.

No-one crossed her way, and that intrigued her a little. Aside from Mrs Klein, when she was still there, at least seven housemaids or butlers were around, and she would always meet one. And why hadn't she seen one of her brothers yet? It wouldn't surprise her if Tommy was in the library, unaware of his environment, but Ray and Chris? The former was always stalking any newcomer from the shadows and the latter would jump at any occasion to see her –which would apparently still happen, if she believed what she heard in Jane's office.

A sudden pain in her stomach cut her breath dry and she had to lean against the nearest wall to pick up her breath. Small drops of sweat formed on her forehead. She wiped them off with her sleeve and, pushing aside the rise of anxiety, stood straight and went on.

Her hands were slightly shaking when she arrived in front of the door of her father's office. She had stood so many times in front of the high wooden panel, nicely carved with flower patterns and vine leafs, and for so many reasons –mostly bad; childish insurrection, teenage stubbornness… at first punished by chores or one slap on the face, then by punches. She tightened her fist, raised her hand and knocked once, twice. Her heartbeat accelerated when she heard a familiar voice reply 'come in'. All the hatred she had felt during the past year seemed to vanish in favour of fear. Memories of the years after her twelfth birthday, the pressure she had to bear to protect her family hit her hard and for a few seconds, she felt paralyzed with dread.

At the very moment, she wished she hadn't been so stupid and asked for Jane's presence. The engagement ring around her finger didn't feel as warm as usual, as if it was abandoning her as well. She swallowed hard, knowing she had dragged herself in this alone, so now, she had to get out of it alone.

Teresa turned the handle and pushed the door open.

-S-

The last time she saw her father, he was sitting at the kitchen table, a glass of alcohol in hand, staring with an empty gaze at the bottle next to it, hair and clothes in a mess.

Now, he was shaved and clean, sitting behind a desk with a bunch of notebooks filled with numbers in dark ink. He was dressed in clean clothes, writing with a lot of concentration. When Teresa closed the door, he lifted his head from his paperwork. He frowned slightly at her sight, only half-surprised to see her here. She wondered if he was expecting her…

"So you are back. I'm glad you decided to show yourself reasonable, Teresa" he blurted, his attention going back to the papers on his desk. "Your brothers are travelling with Samuel. They should be back late in the evening." When she narrowed her eyes at him, he merely shrugged and added: "You didn't lose that bad habit of frowning have you?"

The shock made all the fears vanish in seconds. She couldn't believe it. She had been gone for more than a year, by his fault, and there he was, acting like nothing had happened? Like she had never left?

"I am not here on the account of Christopher's request" she replied dryly, staring directly at him. "I wanted to make things clear between us. I am affianced with another man, and I will be marrying my fiancé at downfall. Do not start running after me."

Her father frowned at her words.

"Stop talking nonsense. You are already engaged to Samuel. You have been for two years now, and you will be marrying him soon enough."

"I have no obligation towards the man who sold me for three hundred dollars to a slave merchant, according to the contract you signed with Brad Elias" she cut wryly, and as expected, got a surprised blink in return. Apparently, he didn't think she had gotten access to the deal. Brining it up wasn't such a bad idea after all. "I only came as last resort before my fiancé crushes you for good. Don't test his patience, or he will have your skin."

Her father didn't answer to that. Instead, his eyes narrowed slightly and she was instantly on-guard. She knew him well enough to say he was planning something, but she couldn't tell exactly what. A few moments passed, during which no words were exchanged. Only stares and glares went back and forth, each trying to take the upper hand silently.

"You must be tired" he eventually said. "It is starting to get late and your room is ready."

"Ch… Mr Cho and I have a reservation to an inn next town" she replied coldly. "We do not need…"

"Well you travelled from California to tell us to back off" he cut her, ignoring her answer, "I might as well offer you a room for one night. You can leave tomorrow if you wish."

The tone of his voice worried her. Jane was right, Teresa thought, shivering. She should have agreed to marry him before coming. The feeling of uneasiness wouldn't fade away and she didn't like it. To her ears, her father had been too pleasant with her and his offer of staying overnight felt too much like a… bittersweet peace offering. She just hoped he didn't warn Bosco of her presence around. The worst would be that he showed up in her room in the middle of the night… God, she really needed to leave.

"Mr Cho will take a room in the servant's quarters" he interrupted before she could speak. "There are very comfortable, and I am certain he will not complain. Now, Mr Browse will bring you to your room and we will talk tomorrow morning. Browse!"

The said man irrupted immediately in the room and bowed hurriedly in front of her master. He must have been hired after her departure, Teresa guessed, since his silhouette wasn't familiar to her.

"Bring my daughter to her room" Peter Lisbon ordered, not even looking at her. "And give her butler a place to sleep."

"I am NOT staying here tonight!" Teresa burst in anger.

Her father threw her an annoyed look, like the one he would send her when she used to disobey his orders as a child. So that what she was for him? she wondered angrily. A tool, a bothersome child he had to watch over and patronize for its own good? Of all things, she didn't expect this. Hate, guilt, indifference, anything but a return to normal and him trying to affirm his control over her.

"Browse, take Miss Lisbon to her room, now" he repeated.

The tall man bowed and grabbed her arm firmly to force her to follow him. Teresa hit him hard in the fork of his legs and, when he released her in favour of his hurt parts, ran to the door. As her hand stilled on the handle, she froze in dread. She couldn't leave. She couldn't run; she didn't know where Cho was at the moment and she certainly didn't want to walk away with him still inside.

The moment of hesitation cost her chance to escape. Browse was already back on her and holding her wrist, keeping a safe distance between them.

"Do not try this again Teresa" she heard her father say. "As much as I want to be a good host, I will not accept my own daughter causing troubles inside my household. We will talk in the morning, once you have cooled down."

With those words, he waved them to leave. Browse dragged her through the corridors and she felt back to the Elias firm. With no control over her choices, only dictated by men who wanted to use her. And as she was locked in the bedroom she came to hate over the years, she cursed herself. Why did she always have to screw the little happiness she was given?

Who wants to:

1/Scream at Lisbon

2/Kick Peter where it hurts

3/...up to you :P

I'll try to update faster next time! See ya!

And again, thank you for reading so far!

Next Chapter Preview:

He frowned in deep thought, his lips twisting in a distorted kind of way.

"I might have an option" he eventually said. "You did tell him you were Mr Jane's fiancée, right?" She nodded, wondering what the man had in mind. "Then use the untold 'why', and lie about it."