Shout-Outs: Babi Baker, Tina, Guest, Jane Doe51, and Nerwen Aldarion

Rated: T

Author's Note:

Just a quick note today, even though the quote is from "Goodbye My Lover" nothing wicked angsty happens in this story. Some of the lines just inspired the events of this chapter, so it seemed only logical to use them as an opener.

Disclaimer:

The Mentalist belongs to Heller and Co. not me. Sorry to disappoint you.

For Nerwen Aldarion, who wanted other stuff to happen in this chapter, I hope you like the next best thing.

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Chapter 14

Teresa Lisbon – Sacramento, California

"I know your fears and you know mine. We've had our doubts but now we're fine. And I love you, I swear that's true. I cannot live without you." Goodbye My Lover, James Blunt

"My brother's dead."

"I know," Lisbon answered as she started to clean up their take out dinner of Chinese food.

"In the end, I was supposed to be the one who died. Not him. I was the one who was supposed to find Red John and kill him," Jane replied.

"You weren't supposed to die," Lisbon said quietly, putting her hand on his knee and begging him with her eyes to stop talking crazy.

"Yes, I was. You don't understand, Lisbon. I was either going to die or spend the rest of my life in a maximum security prison somewhere. I never planned for a life after him. I never allowed myself to hope that there could be a life after him. I have no idea what I'm going to do now. I have nothing—"

"You still have a place on the team for as long as you want it," she told him. "And as for the rest, I'll help you figure it out as we go along."

Jane sighed. "You should have left me alone a long time ago, Lisbon. Think of all the things you could have done with your life if we had never met."

Lisbon shrugged. "I did once. And I decided it wasn't worth it. I much prefer you to climbing the political ladder."

"You're just saying that because you don't want to make me feel worse," Jane said.

"No," Lisbon whispered as she moved closer and loosened his tie, discarding of it for him. "I mean it. I do prefer you to any important job that I could have right now. And unlike you Patrick, I did imagine life after Red John. And it usually didn't include prison bars or tombstones."

"Why would you waste your dreams on me?"

"Because if I didn't then who was going to?" Lisbon asked simply.

"Oh Lisbon—" Jane started, his face fraught with nameless emotions.

"I love you Patrick," she told him, sliding his suit jacket off his shoulders and fighting off the tears that were threatening to spill over. "Do you know how long I've wanted to say that? I love you."

"We can't do this," Jane told her, grabbing her hands and intertwining their fingers. "Not tonight."

"I want to do it though" Lisbon replied, looking at him earnestly. "Please Patrick just let me comfort you—"

He shook his head. "You can't. Don't get me wrong, I want this. I want this more than anything right now. But at the same time, I want to do it the right way. Our first time just can't be shadowed by my brother's or Red John's death or my uncertainties."

"I really don't care though—"

"If I really do have a future now, I don't want to waste it on one hour of comfort. It doesn't matter how badly I want to feel something other than pain right now," Jane replied.

Lisbon nodded. "Okay. Could I at least spend the night with you? Just to make sure you'll be all right?"

Jane smiled. "I'd like that a lot," he answered.

She returned his smile and leaned in to give him an achingly gentle kiss on the cheek. "Good, because I wasn't going to take no for an answer, you know."

"I'm certain of it."

After a moment, Lisbon sobered and touched his face. "It's all over now, everything's going to be okay again. I'll help you, just like I always do."

Jane nodded and pulled her into a tight embrace. Lisbon closed her eyes and rubbed circles into his back.

"It's been a very trying day," she whispered. "You must be exhausted."

"I'm way too keyed up, I don't think I could sleep even if I tried," he replied.

"I want you to at least try and get some rest," Lisbon answered as she released him. "I know you haven't slept since we got the call about Kane. Help me clean up and then come to bed with me. Please."

"Fine," Jane finally agreed.

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Lisbon sat on the edge of the hotel bed and pulled her black nylons off then she unzipped her dress and shimmied down to her slip while Jane pretended to be sleeping. She crawled under the covers next to him and turned the lamp off.

"You can open your eyes now," she said. "I'm safely in bed."

Jane opened his eyes and turned on his side to look down at her. "Thanks for being there for me today."

Lisbon smiled up at him and gently brushed her knuckles across his temples. "Always," she whispered.

Without thinking, she gave into her growing desiring to kiss him. For an agonizing second, she thought that he wouldn't reciprocate. And then just when she was about to pull away, he returned her kiss.

It was tender and passionate all at the same time, a testimony of a decade long of attraction and waiting. It was a request to wait until better times came along and a promise of things to come. It seemed to last forever, but it ended too soon.

"Not tonight," Jane reminded her as he pulled away and wrapped his arms around her.

"I know," Lisbon replied, nestling her head in the crook of his neck and closing her eyes.

"Goodnight Teresa," Jane said quietly.

"Goodnight Patrick," she replied. "I love you."

"I love you too," he answered.

She smiled inspite of herself, a sense of giddiness sweeping over her as his words sunk in. He loved her too. This time she knew for sure that the sentiment would be her's forever, that he wouldn't take them back this time.

She drifted off to sleep with a smile on her face and the sharp scent of his aftershave and Listerine mouthwash filling her senses, while a million more nights like the one she was sharing with Jane danced in her head.

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The next morning, they grabbed a bite to eat at Marie's. It was like a dam somewhere deep inside Jane had broken and he was trying to make up for ten years all at once. Every opportunity he got, his fingers were intertwined with her's or his hands were in her hair or on the small of her back.

She leaned in to him and hoped that this was the first day of the rest of their lives.

TBC. . .

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Author's Note II:

Okay, this wasn't my original plan for the story. This is the result of not being able to sleep. I am probably going to post the original chapter in the next few days, so if you're interested in that look for it in "Afterthoughts". It's a place that houses my one-shots to my longer stories or other one-shots that I think need sequels. 14/15, I hope you'll stick around for the conclusion. It should be up in the next 9 days. Until then, I hope you'll leave your thoughts about this chapter.

Love,

Holly, 6/20/13_