Chapter 15: Departures

After Wylie finished his account, Lisbon ordered the paramedics to load him on the ambulance. The boy had firmly objected, determined to remain with the team and help find Vega. Cho wouldn't hear it. In the end, he had to give the boy his word that he wouldn't rest until they found her. Wylie appeared to trust him more than he did the others.

According to the Marines, Ren Fontane was the inventor and last reported owner of the water traps. Rigsby and Van Pelt were on their way to his mansion in San Diego. Earning the veteran's co-operation was a first priority.

The coastal area was mostly empty now, looking like a war zone. Dust from the explosion still wondered about in the air, but most of the clatter had drained out. Only few units of Marines and caregivers scoured the territory, trying to fathom how the killer had organized the entire operation under their noses, though it little mattered now.

Lisbon paced through the debris, her dark suit a contrast to the environment. She'd removed her wet clothes and put on one of the Marines' uniforms. Although she would much prefer she was in her own clothes, covered in a blanket on her favorite couch back in Texas, drinking chamomile tea. She frowned to herself. When had tea replaced coffee? When had it become her favorite couch? A sigh escaped her lips.

There were rock outcrops scattered across the sand, as if parts of a fallen meteorite. She scanned each surface she crossed. She was certain she'd last seen him move toward this direction.

She found him sitting against a rock, one knee folded. She approached him and slopped on the ground, tucking both her knees into her arms and leaning her head back. She glanced a few times, waiting for him to speak.

"Do you have any idea who he might be?" she asked quietly when she decided he wouldn't initiate speech.

He simply shook his head.

"I'm sorry," he said after a long while. The breeze ruffled his locks. It felt like a gift after the underground water dungeon. She shook her chin in question.

"I never wanted this to happen again," Jane explained.

"It's not your fault."

He gave a sad smile. "I was intrigued, thought I'd solved a fool's puzzle. And now my arrogance has once again endangered the lives of those I love." He turned to face her. "He based the success of his plan on me acting exactly like that."

"He had plenty of time to study you in prison. It proves nothing. No time spent studying you can bring anyone close enough to knowing you. Trust me, I had thirteen years, I feel like I'm still learning," she attempted at humor to lift his spirits.

It didn't work.

"Jane," she addressed him in all seriousness, "if you didn't get involved, he'd probably just try harder, and who knows at what consequences."

He pressed his lips. "You're right," he said, though his mood didn't change the slightest. His eyes were shadowed, cold.

"I can't do this anymore."

Her breath tied into a knot. "What do you mean?"

He searched her eyes and she knew he was about to break her heart. His gaze hardened.

"After we're done with this case, I'm gonna file my resignation. You can follow me, if you want, but…I'm leaving anyway."

Tears welled in her eyes.

She swallowed. "Jane, you know I can't follow you," she said steadily.

"Then… I'm sorry."

"No, don't do this-"

"I can't, it's…it's, I need some time."

She pressed her lips, trying to swallow a lump. Jane pulled her onto him. She let her feet slide down and embraced him around the waist. They locked their necks for a while. Finally, Jane turned and pulled her mouth into a kiss. It was like surrendering every last piece she had to him. His lips spoke of desperation and finality. It was a single caress, there and then gone. He stood up and walked away.

Alone among the desert rocks, she let her tears free, her fears no longer fears, dreams no longer dreams.

She should have known better than to trust him.

Three cops were playing the shell game back at the precinct. One of them shuffled the cups while the other two picked, placing bets and all. Coins tapered and paper crackled. It was like a real casino game minus the constant sounds of victory.

The shuffler was playing them all. He moved the cup with the coin slightly off the desk's surface, so that the coin would fall on his lap, and then returned it after each selection, covering the gesture with a magic wave of his hand. Jane observed from the center of the anteroom, mild amusement overlapping his chagrin. It was an easy trick, most amateurs could pull it off. The shuffler raised his head and grinned at him.

"Wanna bet?"

Jane smiled, then he eyed him with cunning. Slowly, he paced forward, fumbling into his vest pocket. He laid a few dollars on the edge of the desk. The shuffler grinned again, his teeth shining as much as the star on his deputy's uniform, and showed him the coin. He shuffled the cups and nudged his chin for Jane to pick. The other cops snickered. Jane smiled and touched a cup, while he swiftly slid a coin of his own under another one.

"Wait—" he said, feigning indecision. The shuffler threw him an impatient look, his hand frozen midway. Jane tapped his finger on his bottom lip. Finally, he indicated the cup with the coin. The Deputy waved his head with smugness, the other cops laughed again. His grin dropped as he lifted the cup. Jane beamed.

"Oh look at that!"

Someone cleared his throat then. Jane raised his gaze to meet Abbott waiting for him by the entrance of the conference room. He bent and gathered his ransom in a hurry.

"Thank you, gentlemen, this was fun," he said turning away, sensing their stares on his back.

"Don't harass the policemen, we've already overstayed our welcome, it's a miracle they haven't kicked us out," Abbott scolded him when he approached.

"Don't worry, I'm sure they'll be grateful when this state has one less serial killer."

Lisbon and Cho were waiting on opposite sides of the room. As he and Abbott entered, they all moved to take seats around the desk.

"So," Abbott started, "once again, your old crimes unit is at the center of our concerns." His expression added "I'm sick and tired of your old crimes unit." He drew his attention to Jane. "Jane, can you think of anyone who could be behind this? Someone whose conviction you ensured personally?"

Cho snorted.

"What?" Abbott asked clueless.

"Nothing, you just pretty much summed up all of Jane's cases."

"Oh." He rubbed his chin in contemplation. "In that case, we'll need to get our hands on New Folsom Prison's records, see if there've been any… breakouts?"

Lisbon nodded. "I'll arrange a flight immediately."

"Great, you take Jane—"

"Not Jane," she cut him off, as she stood up.

Abbott and Cho looked at her for a moment, then side-glanced at Jane. He tried hard to retain a blank expression, conceal how her bluntness had scalded him. He supposed he deserved it.

"Okay… Cho?" Abbott suggested.

Cho nodded. They all got on their feet and headed outside. Jane stayed put. Once they had all left, he let his features drop, the wave of depression consume him entirely. He helped himself up after a while and shuffled toward the anteroom.

Lisbon was at the entrance talking to someone. He realized it was Minelli. Their old boss was back in his normal clothes, holding a suitcase and his coat. His gaze rose to meet him. Jane approached hesitantly. He could sense Lisbon's tension even at this distance.

"I guess I have you to thank for this adventure. I haven't had that much fun in decades," said Minelli.

Jane smiled warmly. "Don't even mention it, Virgil. I am the one who has to thank you. Looks like you're a natural. We couldn't pull this off without you," he reassured him.

Minelli bent a little and cupped his mouth with one hand. "Well, I have to admit, secretly I always wanted to be an actor."

All three of them laughed together. It was extenuating. The laughs eased into lingering looks of earnest and then the silence grew somewhat awkward, final. The time had come to say goodbye.

"I never saw it, you know, back at the CBI. You two together, I mean."

Jane was not sure how to respond and so he said nothing. Neither did Lisbon.

"Oh come on, I know you're fooling everybody in here, but you ain't really fooling me. And I had honestly thought Agent Cho to be more perceptive. I saw it the first time I ran into you at that hotel." He winked, then smiled, his expression filling with warmth. "I am more than happy that you found your way to each other. I know that you'll take great care of each other, as long as you're together."

Jane simply nodded.

"Thank you, Virgil," Lisbon said. "I'm really going to miss you."

"Me too, Teresa." They both moved and pulled each other into an embrace. "Me too," Virgil whispered. And it was a sight for sore eyes to see them both in that single instance, like father and daughter. Just then, Virgil extended one arm, inviting him in. Jane hesitated. But it was hard to resist in the end. He wrapped his arms around both of them. Lisbon's cinnamon scent flooded his nose.