"I knew Brad. Kinda saw this one coming, but Sophie wouldn't listen to me." Jane shrugged nonchalantly as Lisbon blinked in shock. "It hasn't been that pleasant of a place here, but this is a surprise visit. And I'm nothing if not a fan of surprises!"

Lisbon's brain failed to catch up with the present as she stared ahead, slack jawed. The former consultant looked like he'd been here for a while too.

"A.. psychiatric.. facility." She slowly pronounced the words, eyeing the man's attire. So this was where he'd been the past few months?

To her further surprise, he averted his eyes like he was ashamed. But chuckled and tried to keep his collected demeanor. "Uh, yeah. I was kind of hoping no one would recognize me here. Of course you had to visit at some point."

"I wasn't here for you." She said coolly, albeit uncertainly. "Why wouldn't you want to be recognized? I thought the great Patrick Jane liked the fame." She couldn't help but criticize, feeling a bit of grudge still left from the past.

He met her stare, and she was taken back by the hollowness in them and noticed the smile never quite reached his eyes. "Patrick Jane is dead, Lisbon. He died six months ago. I'm just waiting for it to take effect."

She gulped, not knowing how to react. "Oh."

The door to the room opened. "Are you done in here, Agent-?" Dr. Miller spotted the two conversing. "Oh, I see you've met one of my patients." Jane's shoulders slightly tensed at the last word. "Patrick, what on earth are you in here?" She demanded not too harshly.

"I just heard about Brad and came to see for myself." He murmured quietly in an uncharacteristic manner as he stared at his hands.

"Go back to your room right now, I'll be there shortly. Please, just stay there." She ordered strictly but there was a hint of pleading in there as she guided him through the door. Then returned to the dumbstruck agent. "I apologize if he caused you any discomfort." She said politely. "He has that effect on people."

Lisbon suddenly chuckled in disbelief. "Oh, I know. He used to be my consultant."

"That's an odd coincidence." A ghost of a smile played on Dr. Miller's lips. "He didn't want anyone to know about his breakdown- especially the media. I tried to give him that peace, it was the least I could do to help him heal."

"A breakdown.." Her smile fell. "I mean, they said he looked like hell when he left the CBI, but I never thought he'd actually end up in a place like this…" She trailed off.

"Can I ask you to keep this visit from your agents or anyone else for now?" Sophie Miller requested with a bit of caution. "Not the murder, I mean the meeting with Mr. Jane. It'd be a great help to him."

She nodded in understanding. "Of course." Making her way out of the room, she stopped at the door. "Can I.. talk to him one last time?" The request struck herself as odd. Jane and her were nothing close to friends. She supposed it was pity.

"I'm afraid not." Miller declined politely. "Patrick wasn't even supposed to come out of his room in the first place. No visitors until his treatment is complete."

"And how long does that take?" She turned around to look at the psychiatrist.

There was a flicker of understanding in Miller's face. "Oh, that's completely his choice. Whenever he thinks he's ready. We don't restrain people here unless they come here out of their own free will, Agent Lisbon. But I hear out your concern and since Patrick has no one else for me to contact, I can have your number to call if he had any progress. I assume you were close friends by your concern for him. And now that I think about it, he might have mentioned your name once or twice." She nodded to herself.

"Ah.. yes. You could call it… friendship." Lisbon drawled awkwardly, but the doctor didn't seem to acknowledge the obvious lie. "Yes, I'd like to be kept informed. This is my card, feel free to call at any time." She quickly regained her posture and handed the object to her. "As for Mr. Sanchez here, I'm afraid it's a suicide and at this point, out of my hand."

"Figures." Sophie rolled her eyes, the first unprofessional act she'd seen of her. "Thank you anyway. We'll keep in touch." Shaking hands, Lisbon finally exited the room.

She spotted her agent talking to some nurses. "Hey, Cho." He faced her. "We're done here. It's a suicide."

He nodded in understanding and followed her out. It was something he liked about the man. He seemed to understand what she was saying, implying or asking of him at all times, no extra questions. No hesitance. She was lucky to have someone like him on her team. No extra fuss.

"Cho?" She called once they reached the car.

He stopped in his tracks, looking over to her expectantly, stoic as always.

"You saw him, didn't you." It wasn't really a question. There was no way Cho would've missed the former psychic exit the room.

"Yep." He sighed. "He looked happy enough. Waved at me."

"He's not happy. His psych- his doctor said he had a mental breakdown." She couldn't help but feel concerned. After all, it was her job.

"He isn't in bad care." He said nonchalantly. "He'll manage."

She blinked at him for a moment. "I appreciate you, Cho. Your.. whatever that makes you, you." She managed to joke lightly.

He cracked the smallest of smiles. "Glad to be of service."


The next few days, she found it hard not to worry about the little nuisance in her head that was Patrick Jane.

Doctor Miller had been kind enough to call one time, letting her know that in confidential ways, Jane had made some progress with himself. She didn't know why she was happy to hear that. If he ever recovered and came back, her career would go down the drain like last time. But this time her fall was guaranteed.

A light knock came from her door. "Come on in." She automatically spoke, pretending to be busy with a newspaper on her lunch break.

"Hey boss." Van Pelt's smile was the sight that greeted her. As fragile and sensitive as she looked on the outside, the girl was strong. "You left your phone on my desk and some sort of a doctor called?" She sounded confused.

"Sophie Miller?" Lisbon guessed as she took the offered cell phone.

She nodded in confirmation. "She told me to tell you… Jane escaped."

"He what?" Lisbon nearly spit out her coffee. "I thought people weren't restrained in there. How could he have escaped?" She stressed.

"Escaped from where exactly?" Grace frowned. "I thought we didn't know where he was. And she didn't say escape. She said he left without a word."

The senior agent sighed. "Jane's been spending these past few months in a locked facility. He had a breakdown."

"Why didn't he tell us?" The girl asked in concern as she sat down.

"He didn't say. But I think he's kind of.. ashamed by it. He wasn't even trying to act as clever as the last time I talked to him." She pointed out. "Miller told me to keep quiet so he could recover in peace or something like that. But I guess the cat's out of the bag now." A shrug.

"So all we can do is…?" She waited for her answer, looking anxious.

"Go about our lives." Lisbon said plainly. "Stop worrying about that madman so much. We're not his keeper. He can keep himself alive." She continued to drink her coffee.

"He can, but.. what if he doesn't want to?" Van Pelt's voice lowered like she was talking about a sensitive subject.

She stilled her movements and met the rookie's worried gaze.

Lisbon was grateful for the agent who interrupted the heavy silence. "Mr. Minelli would like to see you both in his office." Before she closed the door she hesitated. "He's come back."

"Of course he has." Unlike Van Pelt, that wasn't any news to her. "C'mon Grace, lets go." She stood up, massaging her temple. In that moment, she knew that she looked ten years older.

In Minelli's office, Jane was sitting comfortably, one leg over the other and expression content. "Afternoon agents."

"What he said." Their boss deadpanned.

"You've… where have you been?!" Lisbon let her partner deal with her shock, herself only standing with her arms crossed. "Mr. Jane-"

"Just Jane, Van Pelt." He smiled, but there was no sign of malice in it.

"Uh, well, Jane." She cringed, clearly not used to the way of addressing him without a title. "Are you here to get your job back? You were gone for six months without any explanation- which brings my to my next question, are you okay?!" She hissed, but it wasn't in anger. Sometimes she appeared like the mother hen of the group.

"I see you've already told her." Jane observed the superior agent. "You don't strike me as the type to spill a secret easily, Lisbon."

"She had my phone and Sophie Miller called." She responded in the same calm tone.

"Ah."

"Boss, what's this all about?" Lisbon turned to the older man, face solemn. "I don't care about the media, but you know where Mr. Jane just returned from." She didn't look over to see the man's flinch. "Do you think he's stable enough to come back to work yet?"

"Ouch." He grumbled, being ignored by the furious agent.

"I've spoken to Doctor Miller personally." Minelli sighed and crossed his fingers. "We have his reports and so far, she says he's good to go."

"But sir-"

"Drop it, Agent Lisbon." He narrowed his eyes in a way that took the option of arguing off the table. "This man has been pestering me all morning and I want him taken away from my person this instant."

Before Lisbon could muster another word, Jane jumped to his feet and stretched. "Aah. I knew I could count on you for a warm welcome, Agent Lisbon! I'll be in the bullpen if you need me." Then he skipped out the door.

Lisbon threw his boss one last desperate pleading look. "Why?"

"Simple. He closes cases. Now shoo. I have errands to run." He waved her off, picking up the office phone.

"Come on, boss. Let's go." Van Pelt quietly told him, startling her. She scoffed and rushed to keep up with the consultant. But didn't find the words to start up a conversation. So the silence weighed down on her until they arrived. Jane instantly laid down on the couch, closing his eyes with a smile.

He was a strange man, she finally decided.

"Quit glaring at me, Agent Lisbon. Can I call you plain Lisbon?"

"Well, you didn't have a problem being rude with 'Terry'." She said sarcastically.

"You're right and I apologize. That was rude." He apologized, still with his eyes closed.

"What's your game, psychic?" All the mixed cryptic messages that radiated off the dishonest conman had her wary of his next move.

His face suddenly fell into something blank. "In return, I kindly ask you to stop calling me psychic. And I have no game."

That earned a cocked eyebrow and crossing of arms. "Yeah, right. Speaking of, your lovely clients have been vandalizing the building ever since you were gone."

"Tell 'em I'm retiring." Lisbon's eyebrows shot high. "Actually scratch that- I'm going to come clean about this whole business."

"Oh?" She was intrigued.

"Yep. You always wanted me to admit to being a fraud? There you have it." He shrugged in his laid down position. "If you're lucky, you'll get to watch me get punched in the nose a few times too."

"Why this- why now?" She was doubtful about the sudden change of heart. "I didn't see you wanting to change when Angela begged you to-" She cut herself off sharply as Jane's eyes shot open and the haunted look returned to his features, immediately regretting it. "I.. am so sorry-"

"Don't worry about it." He gave the ceiling a sad smile. "I know you think this is some sick twisted plot to get revenge on you for 'getting in my way' and all that- but I need you to understand that right now, that's not in my top priorities. In fact there's no point to it anymore."

Lisbon was cut off short before she got a word out. "And you know what, Agent? You can be as damn cruel as you want right now and I'd deserve it. Why don't you start yelling at me? Get it all out." He encouraged. "What I did was terrible- who I was, was sick." She could only stare. "When you told me I don't know what it's like to lose someone… I was laughing at you in my head."

"Mr. Ja- uh, Jane-" The agent said gravely, not knowing where he was going.

"No, no. Let me finish." He waved her off, sitting upright. He looked determined, holding her stare. "I told myself, what a weak fool this woman is and I can use it to my advantage. But now…" His voice suffered a painful crack. "Now I do. Know what it's like. Are you happy now?"

Lisbon tensed at the unexpected question. "Huh, what?"

"You must be loving this, Lisbon. Seeing me so pathetic and defeated." His tone taunted her temper.

"What the hell are you talking about?" She struggled to keep her posture.

To her alarm, he then stood up, facing her, his body rigid and lifeless. She could sense the other agents' concerned and curious looks. "Don't play dumb with me, we've been over this." He spoke bluntly. "I nearly got you fired, I know you're enjoying this."

"No!" She exclaimed in disbelief, feeling the need to defend herself. "I wouldn't wish this on anyone, Jane. Not even you."

"For all I know, you could be a suspect." The man's voice rose. They were definitely getting some stares now. "You have 'motive' as you cops like to call it. And no 'alibi'."

She started to panic slightly. "Just because I want this tiny ridiculous revenge of justice, doesn't mean I'll act on it. And with murder?!" Shaking her head, she groaned in offended frustration. "Angela was my friend. Jane, and I loved your daughter!" She said with a hint of emotion in her voice. "I can't believe you're accusing me of this!"

"Oh, but I'm not." He stated calmly. "I know it was Red John. I just wanted to hear you say it."

Her anger faded away. "Wa-wait, say what?"

"That you wanted revenge." Lisbon's eyes widened, realizing the trap she'd fallen into. "Oh, don't look so glum. I didn't say I blamed you."

"When did I lose control of this situation?" She sighed.

"The day you hired me." He chirped.

"I don't want to keep bringing this up, but your family died just a few months ago. How are you so happy? Why are you smiling?" She questioned him, desperate to understand his behavior.

"Well, crying wouldn't solve anything now, does it?" He shrugged. "I've healed."

"No, you haven't." She narrowed her eyes knowingly. "You left too soon. And I can see it in you."

"No you can't." He pursed his lips with a hint of amusement, his eyes twinkling.

"If you're quitting the psychic business, what's the point in working with the CBI?" She asked the question that occurred to her the moment she saw him in her boss's office. "Didn't you do that to get famous with that job?"

"You're quitting?" Van Pelt interrupted their conversation before Jane could answer, looking confused. "But why? You were so good at it."

Lisbon couldn't contain her smirk as the former psychic muttered something in the lines of 'Oh boy. Here goes the first one' under his breath.

"Uh, you see, Van Pelt- look, do you trust me?" He asked seriously.

The redhead nodded in the same manner. "Of course. Always."

"There you go. That was your mistake." He explained further due to the bafflement on Grace's face. "You trusted me. A truly, utterly horrible idea. You see, there are no such things as psychics."

The sudden silence in the room was dramatic. Admittedly it kept Lisbon on her toes, as she was curious to how the rookie would react to that declaration.

It was a chuckle. A nervous one. "Of course there are. And you're one of them. Everything you say or predict turns out to be true."

"That doesn't mean I'm psychic." He calmly responded. "Maybe I just pay great attention to detail."

Van pelt raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? I think you're just too in shock to take care of your gift these days."

"My gift." Jane smiled a bitter smile, turning to Lisbon. "Well, I tried. As for your question, I'm here for Red John, of course."

"Personal vengeance." She didn't like the sound of that.

"Oh, yes. I'm going to find him and kill him." But despite his words, he sounded light and casual. "Slowly and painfully. I'll make sure it hurts." He hissed and the room fell into silence, and Lisbon opened her mouth to break it. "No, I'm not changing my mind. If you fire me, I'll pursue him on my own. If you arrest me, I'll escape. You know that, Agent Lisbon." He pointedly looked at her. "You won't be able to stop me."

"Uh.." She slightly stammered, not knowing how to comment on those cold words than truly shocked her.

"Don't say anything else." He offered. Then waved her off and settled himself on the couch. "I'm just going to take a nap."

"During work hours." She stared at him once she recovered from her dry mouth.

"I've seen you do that more than once." He retorted playfully. "I'm tired and won't be productive if I don't get my little nappy nap."

"A little gift insomnia brings you." She remembered, though she herself was getting more rest, staying away from dream-haunting serial killers. He gave her a reluctant hum, eyes closed and arms crossed against his chest. Something about him felt wrong to her. "Why don't you go home, Jane? Take the day off. It looks like a quiet day."

"Are you actually worried about me?" He sounded pleasantly surprised. "Well, that's a first. I think I'm better off here though. 'S nice."

With one last glance, she turned around to make her way to the kitchen. She could really use some coffee right then.

Picking her cup, she noticed Rigsby staring at her from the corner of her eyes. "What?" She frowned, deciding her tone could be less harsh by the small tensing in the man's shoulders. At work, he looked intimidating to any outsider, which worked to their advantage most of the times. But inside, Lisbon knew he was easily intimidated himself, especially by women. And especially by his boss.

"You've been in contact with Jane this whole time?" He sounded curious, not accusatory or hurt. She let herself relax for that.

"Not really. I saw him once on a random case. Promised not to tell, so don't ask why." The agent nodded in understanding. "And now he's sleeping in the office. Next day, he's probably going to move here." Sarcasm dripped from her tone. She started to pour her coffee.

"Well, I don't blame him." Agent Rigsby seemed to be struggling with his words. "I wouldn't want to go home either if something like… well, you know what happened there." The coffee pot slipped from Lisbon's hand and shattered onto the ground, the shards scattering on the floor.

"Crap."

"Boss?" Came the concerned and alerted call.

"How did I forget about that?" She slapped herself in the forehead, tsking. "Wait, so he didn't sell that damn house?"

"Nope." He sighed. "And he looks fine now, but if you ask me, he's worse than the last time he was here. At least he was more… expressive, back then."

Remembering the interrogation footage, the senior agent agreed. "Well, what do you want me to do about it?"

"Not much. Cho and I thought we'd ask him to hang out with us this afternoon. Maybe go for a drink." He shrugged.

"That's thoughtful of you." She found herself smiling at the senior agent. "Trying to cheer him up."

His expression lit up at the approval. "Oh, then I guess, uh, we'll go then."

Her eyes switched back to the consultant 'napping' on the couch. She knew he wasn't asleep. She knew that tense posture too well. He might have had his eyes closed, but she could only imagine the horror that went on in the man's head as he tried to put himself to slumber. And it was months since the death of his family.

Feeling guilty again with how she'd treated him, Lisbon bit her lower lip in a moment of contemplation.

After a full minute, she reached the cupboard for a bag of chamomile tea.

As she'd suspected, the man wasn't asleep. He stirred when she approached him, but didn't open his eyes. She rolled her eyes. "Sit up, Jane. I know you can hear me."

"You're getting good at this. I don't like it." He chuckled, complying, albeit sluggishly. "So what is it? Is there a new case?"

She held out the light blue cup of tea toward him, trying to sound neutral. "Have some."

He blinked at the cup, eyes wide, and she knew he was genuinely caught off guard. She supposed she couldn't blame him, as all she'd shown him throughout the years was hostility.

She took that moment of hesitance as a chance to study his appearance. He wasn't looking as disheveled as he had in questioning. But not as neat and perfect as the time frame before that. He wore a clean grey three-piece suit, not quite ironed or even buttoned. He no longer took the time to style his hair or cut it, the dirty blond locks resting freely around his face. The wonder and curiosity that lightened his expression seemed to make him look a few years younger, his green eyes twinkling with intrigue. As if he'd stumbled across a door of new possibilities. It almost made her regret her attempt at peace making.

A winsome smile began to tug at the corner of Jane's lips, his eyes travelling up to find hers. "Is that for me?"

She rolled her eyes. "No. I just want you to take a good look at it. Then I'm giving it to Cho."

"Ah! Sarcasm, charming. You are an enigma yet to be discovered, Lisbon." He shook his head in amusement, accepting the hot beverage from her hand. "I have to ask, though. Why tea?"

Noticing he'd made room for her on the couch, she smiled a weak smile, sitting down. "Chamomile tea. It helps me sleep better."

"That's considerate of you." He mused, taking a sip. "I guess we'll test that theory."

Lisbon's smile began to wear off as she stared at the kitchen floor, where a mess of coffee and glass shards were made with no one to take the blame. Patrick Jane was still the man who attempted to ruin her career, her life basically. But she was better than him. She was an officer of the law and a good person, she told herself.

"Quit overthinking." Jane warned lazily, giving her a nudge in the side. She swatted his elbow away, giving him daggers before standing up to get back to her office.

But deep down, she agreed.