This story keeps surprising me; I never follow the scheme I originally plan =o=. I think Connor is my favourite character in this fic (apart from Jisbon, of course :D) he's very fun to write.

Thanks to Simonisthecuttestmentalist ; Just Mosie ; Jbon ; Steph-Schell ; BFangz for their reviews XD!!

Same warnings: Warning 1: you don't like AU and Mentalist together? Well, give it a try, you never know ;)

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

Rigsby was a cretin, Connor decided. The young man had done nothing else but talking, unaware of the fact Grace wasn't feeling good or that the smaller boy was trying to get his attention to make him hurry up. So instead, he replayed the earlier meeting with the woman named Teresa. When he had asked her if she knew him, he was half-wondering if he hadn't seen her somewhere too. The dark hair, green eyes…the shocked look on her beautiful features…He grinned. Te-re-sa. He was dying to show-off with Jane tonight, and really hoped that: 1- they could do the disappearing trick 2- she'd be there.

"Hey uh…kid? We've arrived!"

Connor's head snapped up, realizing Rigsby was calling him, waiting in front of a small house made of wood and stone. Once the young man got his attention, he knocked at the door and waited. Grace leaned on him. Connor frowned, wondering if she was trying to relieve some weight, or if she just wanted to embarrass Rigsby for fun. He did look uncomfortable with her behaviour, his feet shifting weight every two seconds.

A man unlocked the door. Bosco -if he recalled his name- was rather tall himself, but not as much as Rigsby. He was half-bald, not very thin and had hard features but Connor had the feeling the man was a softie at heart. Proof was, as soon as he saw them, he invited them inside, not waiting for Rigsby's explanations and even offered a spare bed for him instead of sharing with Grace. Connor declined politely, remembering his father's saying about not taking too much of what was offered otherwise it would bite back in the ass or something. He couldn't put the finger on the exact sentence, but he understood the notion and applied it when he believed it was the right time to do so. Like now.

Grace was soon in bed and sleeping deeply. He, on the other hand, was soon bored. Bosco had gone a few minutes ago, talking about matters of the village and Rigsby…well the young man had fallen asleep too after contemplating Grace a long time. He was really silly, Connor thought. If he liked Grace, he could as well tell her, right? He was sure his elder had understood, despite being sick, that his earlier rambling was more because he was intimidated than anything else. Travelling with his father did teach him a few things, he realized with a smile.

His thoughts wandered back to his previous subject. Te-re-sa. He frowned. The name was perhaps pretty and easy to remember, it wasn't as simple to articulate. He'd have to find a substitute and hope she'd forgive him for not using her real name. So, what to chose? Tessa? Nan, he shook his head, frowning. Too friendly. Teris? Too man-like. Terra? Tersa? Terisa…Terisa! He grinned to himself. Terisa, that was better. Not too friendly, very alike her own name, he nodded in satisfaction.

He started humming some melody Jane had whistle before and looked out distractingly through the window. It was a nice day, very lightened, with some people in the streets, very few children laughing...

Something triggered in his memory.

"Woo-ho!" he called, looking around. "Where are you hiding?" The small boy paused and turned back round. He frowned, wondering why he was alone. "Terisa? You're here?"

A tall young woman suddenly appeared in his sight. He smiled, satisfied. There she was! She hadn't seen him yet, but very soon, her eyes will be drifting in his direction, she would smile at him and ask him what was wrong.

"TERISA!" he shouted suddenly. No doubt, he knew her! He had known her from before the Dark Night!

"Something's wrong Connor?"

The low and confused whisper coming from Grace cooled him down immediately. He felt guilty all a sudden. Her heavy and sleepy eyes indicated she had just woken up, and father did tell him she needed the rest. He bit his lower lip and kneed next to her bed, a hand caressing her forehead.

"Sorry Grace, I was thinking out loud."

"You think you know this woman" she stated, blinking to stay awake.

"I think I do" he said, not asking how she knew; father was training her to read thoughts after all –or read body language, like he always corrected him. "I'm not sure…"

"Go" she ordered with no hesitation. "Go and ask her. You need to know."

"But…"

"I'll be fine. Rigsby won't hurt me. Go now" she hesitated before adding softly: "We want you to be happy, Connor. You'll be happy if you find out, so go, ask, and tell me right away. Okay?"

A shy smile grew on the child's face. He bent forwards, kissed her cheek, whispered a quick thank you and rushed out of the room. Grace's eyes turned up to the ceiling and she had to bit her lip to suppress the tears building in her eyes. If the woman really was from Connor's family, she feared they were going to lose him.

--

Teresa scanned the man top to bottom.

He had changed, was her first thought. Despite his apparent strong frame, she guessed how thin he really was under the 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 know you were…I'll come back later."

And without adding a word, she turned heels and stormed out of the room. She tumbled out in the street and started running in small alleyway between houses, not wanting the attention she'd get on the main road. Her head was completely messed up, and she couldn't think straight yet. Questions were moving too fast and she couldn't even take time to answer them.

What was he doing here? Why was he here? Why did her heart skip a beat as soon as she led her eyes on him, again? Why, why…

She turned in a corner and slammed her back against the wall of the closest building. Damn. Why was she running away? She did want to see him after all that time, right? The sparkle in his eyes, his soft smile, his curly blond hair, his hands…she did want to…Her hand flew over her mouth, as realization dawn upon her; she wasn't expecting to see him anymore. He had become the excuse she needed to push away suitors, because she didn't want anyone else. No serious relationships, because in one night, he ruined her chances with any other. No-one, she had decided long ago, could make her feel this way. Even Bosco, when she had her girly crush on him….

"I found you!"

Teresa gave a start when she heard Connor's voice. The boy was panting, proving he has been running for a while. The woman allowed herself to forget about the man and dream of Chris again, with his ruffled hair and mischievous eyes. She didn't realize she had been staring for a long time before he spoke:

"I was looking for you. I think I realized something."

She didn't know how to take the seriousness in his eyes when he went on:

"Do I know you? Like I said, you looked like you've seen a ghost. You remembered someone when you saw me, didn't you. Who was it?"

Teresa stared at the younger boy attentively. He looked so resolute, maybe a little unsure, but he wouldn't leave without an answer. She was tempted in return to ask him about the man he called 'father', but decided to respond first to his questions.

"I had a younger brother" she said softly, not quite looking at him. "You and he…are very alike physically."

"How old was he?" Connor asked without hesitation, the determined tone in his voice unfading.

"He was five" Teresa replied in a detached tone, unwilling to hope and end up disappointed. "Why?"

The boy looked at her straight in the eye and breathed deeply:

"My name isn't really Connor. In fact I don't even know my name. I lost my memory the Dark Night" he confessed and her eyes widened in surprise. "Father found me in what was left of my house in Lodi. I never really regained memory since then, but…but I remember calling you 'Terisa' a long time ago." His voice wavered and he hesitated: "You okay?"

Teresa's eyes were watering. Lodi. Terisa. Christopher was the only one calling her 'Terisa', since he had a hard time pronouncing 'Teresa' correctly.

Suddenly the boy's eyes widened again, as if he had just been thunderstruck. Realization shined in his eyes as a huge grin spread on his face.

"Christopher!" he cried out loud. "My name is Christopher Lisbon!"

The sound of footsteps and Jane appeared on the other side of the street. Had he been running after her? She wondered. Worry spread immediately on his face when he caught Connor standing near her:

"Connor? What are you doing here? Is Grace…"

He closed his mouth when he realized the boy was beaming. His eyes widened, as if understanding what had just happened.

"My, my! Father!" the boy cried, running to him. "Father, I remember my name! It's Christopher!"

Connor's joy made him smile, and he opening his arms, inviting the younger boy for a hug. The boy didn't hesitate and jumped, arms encircling his neck and legs tightening around the waist. He buried his face in the man's neck, and only then, she heard him sob and repeat a mantra of 'I did it father, I did it'. Teresa was startled to see, despite the huge smile, a bit of sadness on Jane's face.

"I'm so proud of you, little one" she head him whisper, hand rubbing his back in attempt to sooth him. She saw his small body snuggle more comfortably in Jane's arms, his eyes close and his breath becoming more regular and calm. The man hadn't stopped comforting and swinging him slowly. A few minutes later, Connor was fast asleep. Jane threw a quick glance at Teresa and whispered:

"I'm sorry for the bother, but can you show me where Mr Bosco lives? I believe Minelli asked for a room in his house. That's where my daughter is resting."

Unable to speak, she simply nodded and led the way.

-

There was something touching about the way he took care of his 'children', Teresa thought. He was tender, speaking to them slowly and softly, like a good father would. When Jane entered the room with sleeping Connor, the teenager -she guessed being Grace- eyes widened in surprise, but she didn't ask any questions. The redhead just moved away and helped her father putting Connor in bed. An unvoiced conversation began between the two. Grace finally nodded and closed her lids before drifting to sleep again. Jane kissed her forehead 'good-nap' before leaving quietly. All this time, Rigsby remained in a deep slumber.

They stepped out of the room quietly and closed the door behind. Despite being in a rather large space, Teresa felt trapped, unsure of how to act now. She had followed her first instinct –running away- but she knew she had to confront him sometime.

"They know about you" he said simply. "I've told them so many times…They were eager to meet you."

Teresa didn't have the guts to look at him in the eye yet. She just played with her golden chain, biting her lower lip, wondering what to do. His low and deep voice made her shiver.

"So is Connor a sibling of yours?"

His change of subject caught her a little bit off guard, but she nodded. Feeling he expected an answer, she replied:

"My younger brother, Christopher. I…we thought he died, that night. Ray –another brother- and I were out and…" her voice tightened under the strong emotions, and she had to stop before starting to sob. This was so unbelievable! Chris was alive, and he had been travelling with the man for six years? This was hard to believe, a huge coincidence…Was she dreaming? Was she going to wake up and realise She didn't notice Jane softly rubbing her shoulder in comfort. It was only when he paused that she felt the weight of his hand on her arm.

"He's fine" he said, smiling gently. "He's a fine boy, maybe with too much energy and sometimes annoying, but kind-hearted and compassionate. He'll agree to talk to you when he wakes up, don't worry about that" he paused. His hand slid up her arm, brushed her shoulder, her cheek, and he added on a low tone: "I made the promise I'd settle once I've found you, but I was going to accept Minelli's offer, for Grace and Connor's sake. I can't believe you're actually here."

The urge to be in his arms slowly raised in her, as their eyes finally met. She noticed the apprehension, the fear of rejection and realized he must have been as worried -if not more- of her reaction.

And she wondered why she ever felt apprehensive. The warmth, the connexion, the attraction was still there. As if nothing had changed, despite the six years they had been separated. The corner of her lips twisted up slowly and she leaned into him, burying her face in the crock of his neck, where Connor has been sleeping a few minutes earlier. Despite the light scent of sweat and dirt, the smell was the same. The skin she managed to touch was rougher than from her memory, but delivered the same comfort.

She didn't protest when he turned his head and kissed her temple. His arm slid around her hips and brought her closer to him. Teresa just embraced him and let her head rest on his chest.

"I missed you" she head him whisper.

"I missed you" she replied, closing her eyes.

He was here now, and she wasn't about to let him go again.

One chapter left! See you soon! Thanks for reading so far