Ahh sorry for the wait, I actually had a hard time writing this chapter, since I had a few scenarios in mind. In the end, they finally meet again xD Two chapters left after this one!

Thanks to Simonisthecuttestmentalist, Jbon, Mosie, NellietheMarvelous and BFangz for their reviews! Thanks for the favorites and alerts too!

Same warning, as usual:

Warning 1: you don't like AU and Mentalist together? don't read

Warning 2: my English grammar isn't the best. I voice it better than I write it. Hope you'll still enjoy (won't blame you if you don't lol)

Wanderer

It was a fine morning for Sheriff Minelli. Right now, he was humming and old song he remembered, cutting some wood, trying one more time to make a flute out of the thing. A knock on his door and he dropped carelessly his to-be creation on the floor, authorizing the entrance. Cho entered and saluted his elder with a swift nod.

"The source is pure. Lisbon and I just tasted it. We thought it'd be better if very few people knew about it."

Minelli nodded in return, agreeing, and satisfied with the news. He waited, sensing his 'agent' wasn't done yet.

"We saw a girl wandering in the woods. She ran away before we could catch her, but we found out she wasn't alone."

He was cut by a knock on the door.

"Sheriff Minelli?" Rigsby's voice was heard on the other side. "Sorry to interrupt but may I come in?"

The older man agreed and invited Cho to wait a few moments. When the young man opened the door though, his eyes nearly popped out at the sight following him. Three wanderers –no doubt, just looking at their clothing's, appearance and backpacks- were standing behind him. A man in his thirties, wearing a worn-out coat and hat firmly settled on his head, a teenager girl rather sick-looking and barely holding on her feet, and a younger boy with smart and curious eyes. Once he was done overlooking them, his gaze went back on the man. It took a few seconds before he realized the face was familiar.

"WTF!" he shouted: "What are you of all people doing here?"

The newcomer beamed and replied cheerfully, to the other occupant's surprise:

"Pleased to see you survived too, Virgil."

To say Minelli was stunned was an understatement. He thought the man had died during the Dark Night. A few seconds later, the corner of his lips twisted up lightly.

"Never thought I'd be happy to see you one day, Patrick Jane."

-

He knew it! He just knew it! They weren't many Virgil Minelli in Sacramento, and the man was too much of a fighter to just die in the earthquake. The priceless expression on his old acquaintance was worth the wait. Even now, he was still able to surprise him. A weak pressure on his arm reminded him Grace, awaken for now, was standing next to him, but would soon need someplace to lie down. The teenager had never looked so tired, and his worry took over the slight relief of seeing Minelli well and alive. He talked before anyone else, knowing the questions each were asking themselves:

"You've already met Grace" Jane said, patting softly the teen on her shoulder. "And this is Connor. As for my presence here, the young man here asked me to hold a stand for your festival. I agreed, in exchange for a room for them and some supplies. Grace has a fever, and she needs to rest."

Connor looked up at the man and frowned:

"How come he knows your name, father?"

The man chuckled and replied:

"Sheriff Minelli is an old acquaintance. He helped me finding Red John."

"Rather manipulated me into it" the Sheriff grumbled, and Cho reprimanded a smirk. Jane realized avec amusement that he must have been in a lot of the former CBI agent's stories. After all, hadn't Minelli sworn the day he left with Grace he'd never met such a pain-in-the-ass again?

The little boy's eyes widened in realisation and his lips just formed a 'O' shape. Minelli and Cho exchanged a quick glance. The Sheriff nodded.

"Cho, can you bring Grace to Bosco's house? Tell him she can use the spare bedroom."

"Yes sir."

Grace's eyes widened in surprise at the sight of Asian man. She leaned more against Jane's frame, her legs bearing less and less her weight. Connor, on his side, stepped closer to the man and held a pant of his pants, not quitting staring at the older man's face. Recognition fell upon Cho's features too, but it was the teen who explained the awkward feeling:

"You were right, father. They were from the village."

"I'm always right" Jane replied cheerfully, wringing a deep sigh out of the former CBI agent. "Thanks Virgil" he added softly. "Do you mind if both my children get the room? Connor might use the bed as well. We can have the little chat you're dying to while they're sleeping."

"No way!" Connor shouted suddenly.

Everyone turned their attention on the boy. He was circling Jane's leg forcefully and glaring at the man he called 'father'.

"No way! Father, you're coming with us right now or we're staying with you! We're not going to leave you alone!"

Grace's tightening grip confirmed the boy's words. She wasn't leaving him either. The man sighed and shook his head. Of course, they had to remember that similar situation. Two years earlier, a former acquaintance of Jane had done everything in his power to detain the Grace and Connor in his village. He had thrown the man out of town without telling the children, and kept them locked in a room for three days. Jane had to use all of his talents to con a few peoples and get them back without too much blood.

"It's okay, children. Listen, Minelli will not separate us. I promised you we'll stick together, right?" when they both nodded reluctantly, he added: "Now, don't worry. I am going to speak with an old friend, and you are going to catch up some sleep. Remember we still have to hold a stand for the party tomorrow night. Connor, I'll come and practice with you afterwards; and Grace, if you feel better, warm up a little. Got it?"

"Yeah father" they both replied half-heartedly again.

"So now you are going to follow Mr Cho over here and get some rest. Take care of Grace while I'm absent, little one. I will hold you personally responsible if anything happens to her."

The boy grumbled something but, not wanting to doge his new responsibility, nodded and both followed the Asian man. The man smiled slightly.

"You've changed, Jane" Minelli said after they had closed the door behind.

Jane nodded in agreement. Six years ago, he was blinded by his obsession with Red John. Even though he had everything he needed -love from his adopted child, Grace, money put aside, a big house and furniture- he lacked humanity and was unable to see how mentally fragile he really was. Maybe that was the reason he couldn't stay that night. His selfishness, cruelty, even fear of loving again prevented him from staying with the wonderful woman he shared his bed with for one night.

Now, nothing else mattered but those two little ones, relying on him.

"I'd kill for them" he whispered softly, not wanting to confess he almost did kill someone for their safety. "So, dear Virgil, how have you survived these last years?"

Minelli couldn't help but smile bitterly.

"It could be worse. My legs aren't very cooperative anymore and I lost my wife and children. But at least I still have my substitute family around."

Jane's face fell, and he felt sorry for the man. Minelli didn't wasted time and carried on:

"So, Jane, I was wondering, why are you wandering? You've got two kids at charge and yet you haven't settled somewhere?"

The blond man smiled bitterly.

"I guess I'm still selfish at some point. There's…there is this woman I can't forget. I promised I'd come back for her; it was just before the Dark Night, before I killed Red John. A one-night stand you can may, but…" Jane sighed. "I went back to Lodi –that's where I met her- after the earthquake but there was nothing left" he paused and chuckled sadly. "That's where we found Connor. The poor kid lost his memory, and I didn't want to leave him alone afterwards."

"So you just kept him with you, and you've been playing hobos since that time?"

Jane nodded not too-proudly. Silence ensured his answer. He knew the old man wouldn't agree with him. Acting selfishly seemed a good characteristic of his. Minelli had lost everything, and he was still playing with the safety of his only family. He didn't expect what came out next:

"Why don't you settle here?"

He raised his head. The older man was offering a friendly face.

"I'm sure you'll be well accepted. The kids will be welcomed, for sure. We don't have many young ones around. And living with you, I'm sure they've picked up a few things" When the blond man didn't answer, Minelli continued on a softer tone: "You have to think about them, Jane. I'm sure, despite what you let the others see, that you hate your situation. I've just seen you for five minutes, and you know what? You haven't changed. You're still obsessed, but not by Red John anymore. You're obsessed with a woman, and for her, you're seriously threatening the future of the two loyal kids you have."

"I know!" he barked back suddenly. "Don't you think I know!"

But the woman was every…He was about to refuse. He should have refused already! Her beautiful eyes, the connexion between them, the feel of her when he kissed her, everything was still so vivid! When he had called her his 'beautiful soul', he had meant it. It was stronger than what he ever felt for his own wife, and he promised he'd come back. Every word he said to her, he meant them all. The tired faces of Grace and Connor reflected somewhere in his mind and he realised he had made them walk all these years…And for what?

A chimera.

His features grew harder. Yes, the woman was just a chimera. They had been looking, he tried everything. In the end, he knew he'd have to stop one day. Grace and Connor were still young, full of promises. He couldn't offer them a proper education –not the kind kids used to have before the Dark Night anyway- but their social relationships were close to none. Connor didn't have friends his age, neither did Grace. They were no wanderer, just following the game of a broken man. He was about to say something, but the door suddenly opened.

"You irresponsible freak" a voice roared in his back. "How can you take such young ones on a stupid quest!"

Jane froze. The angry person was no doubt a woman, a very angry woman. Despite her right to be angry, he felt fury build up inside himself too, and turned round:

"What do you know about me you…"

He never finished his sentence.

--

Lisbon stormed out of the house, no longer hungry. She was focused now on going to Minelli's office, to ask if he had a task or something for her to do. She had to be busy, to forget her earlier argument with her brother. If not, she would be upset, and Minelli will see something was wrong, and ask what. And like a teenager, she'd feel guilty and spill out everything. Maybe it couldn't be that bad, she thought. The older man always gave good advices, and helped her out a few times. She was so deep in thought she almost missed Cho calling her. He was arguing with a small boy. A kid hobo, she noted when she saw his clothes. What they were talking about, she wondered, but she approached anyway.

"My, my, I assure you I thought you'd be scarier" the boy said, very seriously. "When Grace told us she was running away…"

"I can be scarier if I wanted" Cho said confidently and he threw a pointed glance at his partner, as if begging her to say something.

Teresa threw him a puzzled glance, not understanding the point, and the boy giggled. Dark-haired, pale-skinned, clothes too big for him and slightly dirty…The woman eventually crouched to be at his level, mostly to be able to continue her observation of him, and asked on a calm and friendly tone:

"What's your name?"

"Connor ma'am, my name's Connor. What's yours?" he asked, slightly inclining his head on the side.

Teresa was about to answer when she really met his eyes. She saw the green emerald sparkling, the small, cute rounded nose, the thin lips and features…

Mightily Lord she thought, shocked. The boy looked exactly like…

"Have we already met?" Connor asked suddenly, frowning. "I mean, you're staring at me like I'm a ghost or something. And you haven't told me your name yet, ma'am."

"It's Lisbon" she replied in a strangled tone, blinking fast and repeatedly to avoid to moisture in her eyes. "Teresa Lisbon"

The boy's smile made her heart skip a beat. This was a huge coincidence. It couldn't be. He looked too much…

"That's a pretty name, Te-re-sa. Easy to remember too" he nodded firmly, satisfied with himself.

A few seconds, Lisbon realized they weren't alone. The girl she'd been chasing with Cho in the woods was chatting with Wayne Rigsby–rather he was talking and she was nodding gently, dozing off. Unexpectedly, the Connor pulled on the young man's pants and growled, unsatisfied:

"Hey, where's that guy or woman's home? It's not your chatty-chatter chat that will make her feel better you know? Father said she needed to rest, so let's go!"

Lisbon noticed the teen's slight smirk and thankful look and let them pass. Cho waited for them to move ahead before glancing at his friend.

"The kid's right Lisbon" he blurted suddenly. "You've paled in seconds when you start talking with him."

Teresa's gaze didn't left the corner of the street where the trio disappeared. Something clinched in her chest, a slight remembrance of the hurt she had a hard time to repress.

"He looked like Christopher. He looked so much like Chris" she whispered, eyes watering. "It…it could almost be him, if he'd survived."

Cho didn't answer. He knew how bad she cooped with losing her family. He'd seen her cry and cry over and over in his arms, hiding from her brother, and just hated himself for not being able to make her smile.

"They are travelling with someone, aren't they?" she asked, her voice somehow strangled. "I mean, they are not on their own, right?"

"Their father is at Minelli's office" he replied softly. "He cares about them, you know."

Her face grew harder.

"Maybe he does in his own way. But I can't bear seeing kids in the wild. Maybe I can convince him to…"

Her mind wasn't set straight right now, he knew it, so he let her ramble about taking the kids in. When she stopped talking about her fantasies, she just thanked Cho for his silent support and walked away.

In the back of her mind, the nagging idea of keeping Connor with her tempted her. She could already see him at her table, eating and drinking, laughing at one of Ray's stupid jokes…just like what Chris did when he was alive. She would always remember when he'd come up with crazy ideas, pulling pranks like the energized little boy he was. Like the day he broke a dish. She'd have to clean up quick before their drunken father wake up; Tommy would snort, half-amused half-annoyed, Ray would panic and check if he hadn't injured himself…Their mother died a few days after his birth, and he'd called her 'mama' sometimes. Before she could realize it she had already arrived at Minelli's office. She passed the first door, walked up the corridor and slowed down when she heard voices coming from inside.

"…living with you, I'm sure they've picked up a few things" So they were still talking. Teresa didn't mean to eavesdrops, but curiosity had always been her forte and failing. "You have to think about them, Jane. I'm sure, despite what you let the others see, that you hate your situation. I've just seen you for five minutes, and you know what? You haven't changed."

Teresa blinked. Minelli knew the wanderer? Must have been from before the Dark Night.

"You're still obsessed, but not by Red John anymore."

Red John? The same felt familiar…ah, yes, the infamous serial killer. She'd heard stories about him and the fake psychic…wait, didn't Minelli call the man 'Jane'? Jane as 'Patrick Jane'? Were Connor and Grace really travelling with that…uh…unstable person?

"You're obsessed with a woman, and for her, you're seriously threatening the future of the two loyal kids you have."

Her heart froze. Even thought it was six years ago, Minelli still talked about Jane and his manipulating tours like a weird danger. The madness that possessed him to find the murderer of his wife and child was impressive, she recalled him saying. Impressive and controlling enough to push him to murder…

"I know!" the man barked back suddenly. "Don't you think I know!"

He knew, yet he didn't stop? Anger rolled over her as she didn't hesitated anymore and pushed the door open.

"You irresponsible freak" she roared, entering without knocking. "How can you take such young ones on a stupid quest!"

Minelli's eyes rounded in shock. It was the first time she ever got mad in front of him. The hobo –presumably Patrick Jane- was sitting in front of him, and he immediately turned round:

"What do you know about me you…"

He never finished his sentence.

She lost whatever words she was about to shout.

They both stood there, watching each other, in complete silence.

Is it me or are my chapters longer and longer?

Next Chapter (preview):

He had changed, was her first thought. Despite his apparent strong frame, she guessed how thin he really was under he lawyers of clothes. His face looked more tired, but the energy in his eyes was different. More lively. When they had first met, they were dull, sad.

"Hi" he said simply, recalling their first meeting. She had been the one to come to him.

"Hi" she replied on the same tone. She blinked a few times before glancing at Minelli. "I…I'm sorry I didn't mean to…I'll come back later."

And without one more word, she turned heels and stormed out of the room.

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