Chapter 36 Red John

Lisbon had been worried about how the team would take the plan for tomorrow. There was so much that could go wrong, but they'd taken it as they always did Jane's crazy schemes—with a grain of salt. She'd always been impressed by the individual abilities of each of them, grateful for their willingness to do things that most would refuse, and staggered by their unwavering loyalty. Every time she was sure they'd opt out, they always dug in and refused to do anything less than their very best. Now as they sat around the living room of the hotel, eating pizza, she almost wished they weren't so wonderful. Wished they were more self-preserving and that they'd told her and Jane to shove off.

She sat in a chair and so did Rigsby, while Jane, Cho and Van Pelt sat on the couch. She knew Jane had wanted her to sit by him, but she couldn't do it. The more she looked at each of them, especially him, the more her nerves were eating her up. So many things could happen tomorrow and she was making herself sick thinking through every scenario. The worst one included Jane dying, and the very close runner ups involved her team dying. After that were scenarios of life time jail sentences, and losing Red John in another failed attempt.

She'd forced herself to eat an entire piece of pizza, but it had been a challenge. At one point she'd even had to drink soda to swallow a bite. Her team didn't seem as bothered, thankfully and each ate plenty, including Jane, and were even able to laugh at some silly tricks that Jane did for them, before starting a movie. It appeared that she was the only one not handling things well. She sat with them for a requisite amount of time, then decided she needed to be alone. Being with them seemed to be making her fears for them come to the fore, and she couldn't take it anymore.

She stood up and stretched. It was only nine, but she had had a long day and figured that'd be excuse enough. "I'm going to get some shut eye," she said, then looked at Van Pelt. "Feel free to turn the light on when you come in. I'm a heavy sleeper."

She started to leave when Grace spoke, then stopped and looked at her. "Um," Grace said. She cleared her throat and Lisbon noticed that her face was turning a little red. "I was actually thinking I'd sleep on the couch tonight."

An awkward and unsettling image of Jane and Grace snuggling on the couch popped into her head. Cho and Rigsby suddenly became very interested in their empty plates and Jane was smiling lightly at Grace.

"Why?" Lisbon heard herself ask. She was still confused. "Where will Jane sleep?"

Grace's face went impossibly redder as Jane looked away from her at Lisbon. For some reason she felt a desire to slap him, even though she wasn't quite sure why.

"Well, um," Grace tried again. "I thought he could sleep in our room."

Lisbon's brow furrowed and she shoved her left hand into her pocket. "Then where will I sleep?"

Rigsby choked on his soda. Lisbon looked over at him as Cho reached over to where Rigs was sitting from the couch and started patting his back. Grace didn't answer her question. Lisbon's eyes widened in understanding and she looked down at Jane and his irritating, know it all smile. He'd known all along what Grace had been saying and was allowing this nonsense to go on.

She glared. "What did you say to them?" she said in her most terrifying boss voice. She was pleased to see that at least it had had an effect on Grace, Cho and Rigs.

"Nothing," Grace jumped in. "He didn't say anything, I swear."

Jane took a deep breath. "They figured it out on their own," Jane told her with an indulgent smile.

"No," Lisbon said in a slightly terrified voice as she pulled her chin back. She looked at Cho, who simply shrugged at her, and then tried to make eye contact with Rigsby, but he'd suddenly started coughing again and made to leave. She raised a hand. "Sit down." He stopped coughing and sat immediately. Lisbon turned her attention back to Grace. "I want you to be perfectly clear about this. What exactly are you talking about?"

Grace looked over at Cho and while Lisbon couldn't see her face, she saw Cho's perfectly and apparently he decided to take mercy on her. He looked Lisbon in the eye. "You and Jane are together. It's about time. You two have been dancing around each other for years. Jane longer probably. Want me to be clearer than that?"

She felt her face reddening. She had not been dancing around Jane for years. Maybe months, but even then she couldn't exactly pinpoint the moment she started falling for him. She wished she could say it was when he'd first kissed her, but she knew that wasn't true. Still—years? Please.

Jane uncrossed his legs, sat forward on the couch and made eye contact with her. "Relax Teresa, they're happy for us."

"How?" She still wasn't completely sure it wasn't Jane's fault.

He rolled his eyes at her. "Cho figured it out, definitively, after the limo incident, Grace when you yelled out my name in your sleep the other night, and Rigsby—when the burner phone started ringing last night."

She looked at Rigsby and immediately wanted to die as he focused anywhere but on her or Jane. Now that she thought about it, he'd been avoiding eye contact with the two of them since they'd gotten back. She closed her eyes as the humiliation settled in and covered her face with her hands.

"Oh, don't be embarrassed," Grace pleaded. "We're really happy for you. I didn't mean to embarrass you, really. I just." She paused and looked at her hands. "We've all been wondering for awhile now. We just had our suspicions confirmed in the last few days."

Lisbon let her hand drop to her side and looked back at Grace.

Grace continued. "I wouldn't have asked, but tomorrows kind of a big day and if I were in love I would want to spend tonight with that person."

Lisbon couldn't help but note the quick glance Rigsby threw in Grace's direction, but there was something more pressing than that.

"In love?" she heard herself whisper. Sure Jane had told her he was in love with her on several occasions, but she wasn't totally sure yet what she was feeling. It was unnerving that Grace was so sure of it.

"Aren't you?" Rigsby asked. Lisbon looked at him again. His brow was furrowed and she knew he must really be confused by the situation if he'd decided to jump in again. Even Cho seemed confused.

Jane spoke saving her from answering, because she honestly wasn't sure what she'd say. "You just passed into inappropriate," he said, humbling the entire team. He then made eye contact with her. "That said, and seeing as tomorrow is, well, what it is...you might as well know that I love her very much."

She felt her stomach flip. She'd believed him when he had told her before, he hadn't really left any room to doubt him, but somehow his confession to the team had felt like the last piece of a puzzle falling into place. She smiled at him and he returned it.

When she was finally able to pull away she noted a small smile on Grace's face as Grace stared between her and Jane and even though Cho and Rigsby had once again decided to focus on their plates, they were both smirking as well. She reined her emotions in and put her cop face firmly in place.

"All right, so you've found us out, and I have to say that I'm a little relieved, but..." She wasn't really sure how to finish this sentence. She both hated the idea of sharing a room with him tonight and very much wanted it at the same time. She set her lips firmly after deciding that professionalism had to come first.

Jane was up before she could say another word. "Thank you Grace, I'd love to take you up on your offer." He grabbed Lisbon's shoulders, turned her and was guiding her down the hall before she knew what was happening.

"Jane," she hissed. "No."

But it was too late, he'd already pushed her into the room and shut the door behind him. She placed her hands on her hips under her blazer and scowled at him as he turned to look at her.

He raised his hands as if he were preparing to ward of her very possible attack. "I know what you were about to say, and I must say that one of the many things I love about you is your sense of duty, but I need to be near you tonight. Can you understand that?

She felt her insides turn to mush, but kept on her resolve face. "It's bad enough that Rigsby walked in on us making out last night, but now they're going to be thinking, well..."

She saw him holding back a smile. "No. What will they be thinking?"

She ground her teeth. Apparently he was reading her shyness for being coy. "Don't patronize me, you know exactly what I mean. They'll think were having sex, which is exactly why I wanted you to stay out there."

This time he did smile. "My my, who has the dirty mind now?"

She shook her head, made for the bed, and sat down. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. It wasn't a moment later, that she felt the mattress dip beside her. "I can't really deal with this right now," she said.

She heard him exhale. "Teresa, look at me."

She hesitated, but gave in. She was happy that at least now he seemed somewhat contrite. "What happens between us is none of their business, but I want you to know that I had no intention of making love to you tonight."

She scoffed. "Yeah right."

His lips quirked up on the right a little. "Well, at least no more than a few kisses."

"I saw your face out there, Jane." She pointed at the door. "You can't tell me you didn't plan this."

His eyes narrowed. "I might have drop a subliminal message around Grace, but not until after I heard them talking about us, and it was so subtle she didn't even realize what I'd done."

"How can you be so sure?"

He smiled out right. "Well, I'm not sure if you know this about me, but I am a Mentalist..."

She shoved his shoulder. "And as such are prone to manipulation. Why on earth would I believe that you had no intention of seducing me when you already have me alone in a hotel room?"

He grabbed her hand and brought it up to his mouth, gently kissing her fingers. "First of all, I have no need to seduce you, you made that perfectly clear last night."

She ripped her hand from his. "Don't be a jerk."

He ignored her. "Second, I have this fantasy that the first time we make love, it'll be after you've admitted to yourself and to me that you love me."

She felt her face heat up. "Patrick..." she suddenly felt a little sad.

He smirked then leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. Her hands went up and into his hair as he wrapped his arms around her and gently lowered her back into the bed. His kisses were feather light, but sent little shivers down her spine and across her body. After a moment she found that she wanted more intensity, despite her earlier protestations, and she pulled him closer to her. He smiled against her lips, gave her one more wet kiss, then sat up.

"And I'm not going to let you seduce me either. I was being perfectly serious."

She reached for him, but he was off the bed before the haze he'd caused had subsided enough for her to think or move quickly.

"It's been years since I've been in love, Teresa Lisbon, and I will not 'make love,'" he used air quotes, "to someone who doesn't love me back. There have been enough one night stands in our pasts to last a lifetime. Don't you think?"

She shook her head a little to clear it and sat up. "A moment ago you seemed pretty sure of my feelings," she told him confidently despite the fact that she was feeling anything but. And she had to admit, even if not openly, that the idea of Jane taking her mind off things for awhile, with a proverbial roll in the hay, didn't sound as bad as it had five minutes ago.

He reached over and cradled her cheek in his palm. "I still am, it's you who needs to be sure." She grimaced, suddenly not so sure if she wanted to hit him or hug him. He let his hand slide quickly to her shoulder and turned her toward the bathroom. "Now go ahead and get that shower in you've been craving since Haffner undressed you with his eyes this morning and change into your pajamas," he ordered.

She moved toward the bathroom, but glanced over her shoulder at him. "Stop bossing me around," she huffed.

"And give up your darling scowls and our verbal sparring matches? Never."

She had to smile at that as she shut the bathroom door, but once the door was shut, she became acutely aware of the fact that Jane was only a door away, and that she would have to get naked to shower. Maybe it was a good thing that he wasn't planning on sex. When she was with him it was easy to forget her misgivings about their entire situation, and she had plenty. If he were a one night stand, none of those things would be a problem, but this was Jane, and despite her worries she knew he'd never be a one night stand. Once they took that step there would be no going back and she wanted nothing more than to be a hundred percent sure.

She was in and out of the shower and dressed in minutes. She'd always been a quick in the shower, but she'd set a record tonight. It had taken her five minutes before she realized that she'd completely relaxed in the few minutes she'd been in the room alone with Jane and that she was already stressing again without him. It was a very effective motivator to finish quickly.

When she came out, he was sitting on the end of the bed, with his bath supplies in hand. She actually felt a little relieved that he'd left the room to get his things. At least the team wasn't picturing them showering together. Still she couldn't help but to sigh at the fact that he'd be leaving her to take a shower himself. She plastered a smile on her face anyway. He passed her with a quick kiss, knowing smile and promise to hurry.

She turned off all the lights, got into bed and closed her eyes. Happily, it was only ten minutes later when Jane opened the bathroom door. She could hear him brushing his teeth and smiled that he'd been kind enough to open the door while he did so. After he finished up, he turned the light off and padded over to the bed. She slid over for him, and waited for him to get in and comfy. He reached over and took her hand, before closing his eyes and taking several deep breaths.

"Patrick," she said, then smiled when he lifted her hand and kissed it. He hummed his desire for her to continue against her wrist. "I know you said this plan is fool proof, but I've been in law enforcement long enough and with you long enough to know that no plan is ever perfect."

He turned on his side and faced her, fastening his eyes on hers. "I know you're worried, but it's going to be all right. I promise."

She reached forward with her free hand and traced the side of his face with the tips of her fingers. "And what happens when you're face to face with Red John tomorrow? What happens when he taunts you, and throws his crimes in your face? You haven't exactly been known for your self-restraint in such instances."

"I won't lie to you and tell you that I expect Red John to live through tomorrow," he said. She breathed out, removed her hand from his face at the same time she tried to extract her other hand from his grasp and was about to slide away from him and to the other side of the bed. He had other plans in mind though and reached out, catching her waist in his hand and pulled her firmly against his chest. "Nope, you're not going anywhere."

She kept her arms set between them. "Jane..."

"Before you get all bent out of shape, let me finish," he said bringing his other arm up around her back. "I want Red John dead, but there are other things I want just as much." He let his hand reach up and take her face firmly, but gently. "I haven't felt this healthy, or happy in years, and I'm not willing to let Red John take away a future with you either. I can't. I've always been a relatively selfish man, Lisbon, and I won't lose you."

She hated that he had this effect on her, wanted to stay mad at him, but found she couldn't and supposed they both had their weaknesses. Instead she slipped her arms around his waist and planted a quick kiss on his lips. "You're not as selfish as you think. I actually think you're quite a nice man when you want to be. It part of the reason I..." She felt Jane's breathing stop and took a small breath herself before continuing, "I've had you on the team all these years."

"Coward," he whispered into her hair.

She felt a jolt of anger shoot through her. "You don't want to make love to someone who doesn't love you back, and I don't want to love someone who might die or throw his life away tomorrow," she said in a sharper tone than she'd meant to.

"Fair enough," he whispered. "But that's exactly why you're going to be there. To save me from myself if need be."

She squeezed him tightly and kicked her leg over his, bringing herself closer to him. He gripped her tighter in return. "Good thing too," she said. "Otherwise I'd never let you go through with this."

He chuckled into her hair. "I almost feel bad for Haffner," Jane said.

She pulled back and looked at him. "What? Why?"

"He has no idea what's coming."

She felt her eyes narrow, but before she could say anything, Jane had pulled her into a kiss.

Lisbon couldn't remember falling asleep. She did remember the deep languid kisses she'd shared with Jane before she'd fallen asleep. She remembered being wrapped so tightly around him that she couldn't tell where he'd ended and she'd begun, and she remembered the whispered endearments, sweeter than sugar, and light caresses, but she could not remember falling asleep.

So waking up came to her as a bit of a shock. She felt bereft of Jane's skin, but figured that they must have pulled away from each other sometime in the night so they could actually sleep. She took several deep breaths remembering how wonderful it'd been to sleep in Jane's arms and hoping it was something she could repeat on a regular basis, then opened her eyes and looked at the clock on the bedside table. It was almost eight in the morning. She couldn't actually remember the last time she'd slept that late. That thought made her smile.

It was a small tender mercy, before a hellish day. Her stomach sank as everything that was about to happen hit her like a cold glass of water to the face. She gasped unexpectedly at the unwelcome nerves that clenched her stomach then rolled over to face Jane. She blinked a few times to clear her eyes and reached out a hand.

He was gone.

A piece of paper sat over his pillow. She sat up and grabbed it then read it's simple message. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she held them back. She laid the message back on his pillow and her head back onto hers. She closed her eyes seeing his hand writing clear as day, as though the message were written on the back of her eyelids.

I love you. Please forgive me my weakness.

Jane sat at a round table in the middle of the breakfast nook at the hotel, sipping Kava root tea. He'd purchased a box yesterday while he and Lisbon were out and was incredibly grateful for it now, as he needed something to sooth him and to clear his mind. He waited patiently, and busied himself by looking around. He had to admit that he was impressed with what he saw. Business men and women, politicians, couples on vacation, all sitting down to breakfast. The room was stuffed to capacity, which he hadn't expected and he suddenly found himself hopping that this would end in a blood bath.

He heard someone clear their throat from beside him and knew it was time. He nodded to acknowledge he was aware he had company then lifted his tea and took a sip. The chair to his right pulled out and a frame larger than his own sat down.

Jane had decided yesterday that he wouldn't be the first to speak, so he simply observed what he could without looking right at him. He was wearing a gray suit with a light blue tie and his jacket was left unbuttoned. He was still in character with a slight scowl and furrowed brow.

It took a moment, but he finally spoke. "It was you who sent me that ridiculous threat yesterday morning."

Jane turned his gaze fully on him. "So ridiculous that you responded to it yourself, and conveniently forgot to tell the team you have over the Red John case?"

Bertram reached down and buttoned his suit jacket. "I didn't see any reason to bother you or Agent Lisbon with something so absurd."

"No, but you make us do every other absurd thing that pops into your mind. Like attending Alonzo Conti's banquet even though you knew it would make not just my team, but the entire CBI look bad." Jane sat his tea down. "I should have seen it then. It's so obvious now. You wanted us there not to make us look bad, but so you could show your power by abducting Lisbon from a highly guarded function. But, really, the Director of the CBI wouldn't have as much difficulty getting one of his own agents out of that kind of situation."

Bertram waved at a passing waitress. "Miss, could you please bring me a cup of strawberry tea, please, with milk?" She nodded and he returned his attention to Jane and crossed his legs, mimicking Jane. "I've been worried for your sanity for a long time. Since I met you, really. I became especially concerned after you shot Timothy Carter. And now, here we sit, history repeating itself as you accuse me of what? Being Red John? Again?" A mirthless smile crossed his lips.

Jane ignored his taunt. "There are a few things I don't understand, though."

The waitress returned setting Bertram's tea down in front of him. "Really," he said sounding surprised. "This I have to hear."

Jane watched for a moment as Bertram poured a little milk into the bottom of his tea cup, then the hot water. He watched as he ripped open his tea and set the tea bag of dried strawberries and dunked it in to his hot water. He became momentarily mesmerized by the swirls of red in the foggy white liquid.

He snapped himself out of his daze and smiled at Bertram. "Professionally you have shown little regard for Lisbon, even tried to fire her, but you stuck a pillow under head after attacking her the night you killed Erica, and seem somewhat concerned for her safety. You're even pushing her to be with me. Why would you do that? Was it all your way to cover your true identity?"

Bertram took a sip of his tea. "My true identity, Patrick?"

"Yes, you are Red John. Only a guilty man would respond to such blatant blackmail attempt. If you were innocent you would've gone to Lisbon and given her the message and you would have had her meet me here. And if it were just curiosity, an innocent man would have left by now, but not you." Bertram's face harden. "And further, you sit down and order a red 'strawberry' tea and prepare it exactly how I prepare my tea."

He watched as a small smile crossed Bertram's face. "So, in your mind if I get up and leave I'm innocent?" Jane didn't respond. Bertram pushed his chair back and stood.

At that Jane reached his hand into his pocket and pulled out a small thumb drive, setting it on the table. "You forget, Gale, that I have proof."

Bertram threw a cursory glance around the room and at the other guests. "What is that?"

"Sit down," Jane said.

Jane watched as Bertram sat down again. His angry expression quickly changing to a happy, almost giddy smile. The Bertram facade, finally dropped. "What's your proof?"

Jane played with the thumb drive in his hand, then made it disappear into thin air. "Uh uh," he said. "I want a trade."

"A trade?"

Jane leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table. "You leave Agent Lisbon and the rest of my team and their families alone and you can have the thumb drive and me."

Bertram's eyes sparkled. "That's seems very trusting."

"I don't trust you," Jane said calmly despite his growing anxiety. "Which is why I have set up an impervious scheme to insure that my demands are met. Otherwise, your identity along with everything on this thumb drive end up on every channel, on every politicians desk and in every department of law enforcement from here to Mexico."

"You drive a hard bargain, I'll need to know what you have first," Bertram told him.

"Fair enough," he said. "I'll give it to you right now, but first, I want you to admit to me that you killed my family."

"Now why would I do that?" Bertram leaned back in his chair.

"Because you want the thumb drive and you want me. But if you're worried that I'm wired I think I can assuage that fear for you." Jane Removed his jacket and placed it on the back of his chair. He rolled his sleeves up, unbuttoned his vest and the top buttons of his shirt all under Bertram's curious gaze, proving that he was not wired. "Are you satisfied? I know you're not afraid of me. I don't have a gun, as you've just seen, and I know this room is crawling with your 'friends,'" Jane said using air quotes. "I've more than held up my end. Now I want to hear you say it."

Bertram clasped his hands together. "Why do you want to torture yourself," he asked as though he cared. Jane said nothing, just held his gaze. "Strawberry tea, strawberry shampoo. I guess that was a little blatant. All right, I killed your family, and I promise not to hurt Lisbon or your team. Besides, I've grown rather fond of Lisbon. After I kill you, my days of death will be over, maybe I could even get Lisbon for myself."

Jane refused to take the bait. "I want proof. Proof that you killed my family."

Bertram's face sobered. "Your daughter's bike was in the hall. You pushed it out of the way before going up stairs to find your family," he confessed. "I was watching from outside."

Jane's stomach clenched, but he made himself remain calm. "There were pictures of the crime scene. You could have easily seen her bike."

Bertram laughed. "So particular. All right. I took a lock of hair from both your wife and daughter. I have them at home and will be happy to provide you with them after you give me the thumb drive."

Jane felt violently ill now, but pushed on. "At home? You kept it in the house where you live with your family?"

"It's nice to keep a little reminder of my work close by."

"Did you do this with all your victims, or just my family?" Jane snapped.

"You see, I knew I shouldn't have told you this. It's still too close, too personal. Which is exactly why I've been pushing Agent Lisbon at you. I thought that if you could move on with your life, so could I. But no, you just keep pushing. I will have to kill you, because you have left me no choice." Bertram scratched his eyebrow. "I suppose you set this little meeting up because of the letter I sent her. It was a bit much, but really I don't just go around killing people as favors, only to have them throw my generosity back in my face. Erica died for the two of you and..."

"Stop," Jane said raising a hand. "The thumb drive is in your right front coat pocket."

Bertram's brow furrowed as he reached into his pocket and pulled out the thumb drive. He lifted up in front of him and examined it. A smile swept over his face. Jane kept his eyes firmly fastened on him as he saw movement heading toward them from his right. Bertram made to stand when a hand came down hard on his shoulder and shoved him back in his chair. Jane looked in the opposite direction for an escape, but that way was blocked as well.

"What's going on here?" Bertram barked.

The man with his hand on Bertram's shoulder sat down next to him and the man who'd come from the other direction, took a seat next to Jane.

Jane took a deep breath and spoke. "Gale Bertram, I liked for you to meet Mark Randle and Stephen Sinclair."

"I didn't realize we'd have company," Sinclair said shoving a gun into Jane's side, discreetly under the table. Jane winced and raised his hands, letting Bertram know a gun was on him. "Put your hands down, Mr. Jane."

Mark Randle was a little less discreet as he pulled his gun from his jacket then set it on his lap pointing it at Bertram. He looked at the thumb drive in Bertram's hand. "You have something that belongs to me," Randle said.

Jane heard a gun cock under the table. "You hand that to him," Sinclair said to Bertram, "and it'll be the last thing you ever do."

Another gun cocked, and Jane knew Randle had another gun as well, probably aimed at Sinclair.

Bertram's face was furious. "This is mine, and unless you gentlemen want to meet untimely deaths, you'll get up and walk away from this table." He wrapped his hand around the thumb drive.

Jane felt Sinclair's gun push into his side a little harder and tried not to panic as he started making out several men standing around the dining room that he immediately recognized as belonging to Sinclair and others to Randle. Those all aside from Red John's friends. All were armed and he was sitting in the very center of it. It looked liked a blood bath was inevitable after all.

"Lisbon!" Jane screamed, as guns started coming out of coats and jackets, right and left.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed the chapter! We're getting close now.

Anonymous Reviews:

Tina: Thank you! I love the Jane/Lisbon romantic dynamic as I'm sure you can see, I have to have it in every chapter it seems.