A/N MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE! I'm so sorry it has been so long since I have updated… I guess this is why they call it the silly season, because I've been flat out!

I hope you all had amazing holidays and are ready to start the new year off with a bang!

Speaking of which, I'm really excited for next week's episode! I hope we have some awesome Volker scenes, followed by some Jisbon love and comfort! =D

Anyway I'm kinda unsure about this chapter. It's a bit la-de-da in the way I don't think it makes much sense.

But I hope you enjoy it all the same!

Thank you to everyone who reviewed and followed and favourite the last chapter! You're all fantastical!

This chapter is dedicated to bluelaguna, who beta-read this for me =] x

Right sorry about the long a/n, on with it =] x

Jane greeted the team with coffee and bear claws, as he knew they would have been working hard on this case for him. He settled himself on his couch and looked expectantly at Grace. Getting the hint straight away, Van Pelt handed the file to Jane.

"No prints, no DNA and the security cameras were switched off fifteen minutes prior to the murder…"

"So a typical Red John case then… no evidence." Jane muttered in response. He looked up at Grace's disheartened face. "Did you really expect anything else?"

Grace shook her head.

"No, I just wish you could cut a break."

Jane smiled slyly and watched as Rigsby cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably.

"I wish that too Grace… so very much."

He nodded to each member of the team, before picking up one of the files and making his way up to his attic. He sat down at his desk and stared out the window.

OOOOOoooooOOOOO

Lisbon sat staring at the door that Jane had left through nearly half an hour ago. The next episode of House had started, but her mind could no longer focus on the show.

'… oh and by the way… I've thought of another comparison… House really likes his boss.'

House really like his boss… as in… Jane really likes her?

But in what way?

Did he really like her in a colleague… or a sibling… or a best friend kind of way...

She shook her head, still just as confused now, as she had been when she began contemplating his meanings nearly half an hour ago.

She was coming up dry on what he had meant. Had he meant it literally? That they get on well… or did he mean he actually like-liked her?

Having been a true House fan, she knew very well what House had meant when he had told Cuddy he liked her. But did Jane know what he had meant? Had he seen the rest of the season?

She brought her hands up to her face, digging the heel of her hand into her temples in frustration.

Of course he knew what it meant. He had seen the kissing scene… and then he had gone all sentimental on her, asking her if she was happy with the direction she had taken in life.

Yes she loves her job… but there were certain times when she really wished that she had considered the other path. Where would she be right now if she wasn't so hell-bent on getting out of Chicago and into the force… would she still be with Greg? Married with a couple of kids? … white picket fence, comfortable job… comfortable life…

Who was she kidding? She wasn't the type to lead a life of comfort. She had always been in for the thrill of the chase.

And Jane certainly had been a thrill… there had always been something there… but no moment had ever arisen that had allowed her to act on her feelings. She had always been cautious of keeping Jane at arm's length. At heart he was still a married man, and until he caught Red John, he always would be.

Since she had gotten sick though, she had noticed this certain air about him. He had become more protective towards her… and she had to admit, that while she was usually the one doing the protecting… it was nice to see Jane showing his caring side. She really did enjoy him being there for her.

OOOOOoooooOOOOO

Obligation.

What… or who had Red John meant?

Obligation?

Jane ran his hand over his face in frustration.

Obligation.

OBLIGATION.

Jane put his head down and sighed. It had been nearly two hours since he had left Lisbon's house, and his head was beginning to spin. It didn't matter how he said the word, he just couldn't decipher Red John's message.

And then there was what he had said to Lisbon before leaving her house… how could he have been so stupid?

He had gone against everything he had believed in, and thrown her straight into the firing line. He had always believed that he would tell Lisbon of his feelings after Red John had been killed. He had toyed with the idea for so long that Lisbon was only his boss and friend… he had thought it so much, that he almost got to the stage where he, himself believed it.

It was a sad thought that he had slipped it in like that. If he was being completely honest with himself, he knew that he would have rather have told her in a more romantic way… not through reference to a television programme.

The look on Lisbon's face after he had 'spilled the beans' though… she had looked completely bewildered… if not a little flattered.

The smile on her face had been a rare gift. It had been a while since he had seen her truly smile… with Volker still on the loose. She had thrown herself completely into the chase, the same way he was obsessed with Red John. He would be lying if he said he wasn't worried about her. He had seen first-hand what unhealthy obsessions did to you.

He was broken out of his thoughts by a knock at his attic door.

"It's open." he called out.

He turned around to see Van Pelt walking through the door with her laptop in her hands.

"Ahh, Grace… to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I think I may have found something." Grace said setting her laptop down.

"Oh?" he asked turning towards her.

She flicked to the page she was after, bringing up an old newsprint. There was a picture of the victim standing next to a young farmer.

"Lucio Cortez was in leagues with Todd Johnson?" Jane asked incredulously.

"It seems they were high school friends." Grace replied.

"Well that's interesting..."

"Jane? Do you think he was working for Red John?"

Jane shook his head.

"It's a possibility… but I really don't know." He ran a hand through his hair. "Not every person Todd Johnson knew was necessarily in leagues with Red John too…"

"I guess we'll never know." Grace said quietly, almost sounding sad.

"Don't be disheartened Grace… talk to his mother again. Ask her if Lucio ever did a building apprenticeship, or if he ever knew someone called Roy… or anything else that may have an relations to Red John."

"On it." she gave him a soft smile before picking up her laptop and leaving the attic.

Jane turned back to the window.

Todd Johnson. Now there was a name he hadn't heard in a while.

Which brought him back to Red John.

As far as Jane knew, Red John had only ever used people for his own purposes. Rosalind Harker seemed to be the only true soul Red John had shown an ounce of care for. There had been no real motive for him to befriend her, if not for his own needs.

Rebecca had been a tool in Red John's game. An undercover disciple, strategically placed to try to outwit and in a way, evaluate Jane. She had been nothing more than a test, a game in Red John's mind, to try to toy with him.

Lorelei on the other hand.. truly believed that Red John had saved her. But Jane could see that she really wasn't anymore than another stepping stone towards ruining Jane's life even further. In Red John's mind she had been a gift. A small reprieve in his lonely world, and Jane had willingly, and knowingly taken the bait.

Jane's eyes snapped open.

Shit.

Obligation.

He stood up and ran down towards the parking lot, not stopping once until he reached his Citroen. Unlocking the door, he climbed inside and sped down the freeway. He turned his hazard lights on as his car picked up speed. He fished his cell phone out of his pocket and hit one on speed dial.

"Pick up your damn phone." He growled.

He swore when he reached voicemail, shaking his head as tears of frustration tried to squeeze out of his eyes.

He pulled up to Lisbon's apartment, pulling up to the curb carelessly, and abandoning the car, still in gear before running full force up to the door. He barged in through the door, knowing very well it would no longer be locked.

As he was charging up the stairs, a sudden sense of déjà vu began to plague his mind. She would be fine. He was worrying about nothing again.

He slowly pushed the door at the end of the hallway, until it had swung completely open.

The site on the other side of the door had him crumple to his knees, in pain, shock and anguish.

The bed was empty…

…and on the wall above the bed was a bloody face… smiling down at him.

Well it was a lot shorter than I thought it was going to be… but please leave me a review and let me know what you think =D xx