Chapter 3
Maybe if she kept on watching the kettle long enough she was going to hypnotize herself. Anything would be better than the restlessness that was rushing through her body and mind.
Jane was going to arrive soon. She felt sorry for the inconvenience this was causing him – even if he had assured her he wasn't sleeping either. It was two o'clock in the morning after all.
The doorbell ringing brought her a sudden relief. She almost ran to the front door.
"Hi", he greeted her – as she stepped aside and let him in.
"Hi. I was just making your tea. Come with me".
She poured the hot water into the cup he had specially reserved for himself, reached for the box of his favorite brand of tea and brewed it just as he had taught her to – and actually fancied to see a smile flickering on his face as she did so.
"Why it is that you cannot sleep?"
Her hands were slightly trembling as she offered him the teacup. "I couldn't help thinking about… him, you know".
His fingers rested on hers for a moment before he took the cup in his hands. "You shouldn't".
"I know that I shouldn't. It's just… Well, this is actually kind of funny – considering that I've kept on telling the same thing to you all the time – but… here I am".
Jane suddenly decided that for the moment his tea could wait. He laid the cup on the nearest table and drew Lisbon into his arms.
"I'm sorry. You weren't supposed to feel like this. You shouldn't have tried to redeem me in the first place".
"You don't understand. I had to".
"Why?"
She tilted her head back in order to look into his eyes. "Because every man is worth saving".
"Always the compassionate and caring Saint Teresa…"
"Stop calling me that".
A silence followed.
"Tell me what's wrong", he begged her at last.
She heaved a deep sigh. "I… don't want to lose you, Jane. Don't want Red John to rule our lives even from beyond the grave".
"Well, he's dead – as you've been repeating to me more than once".
"But he still has you in his power".
He rested his hand on her cheek – his touch was very gentle, almost a caress. "What would you have me to do, Teresa?"
"Let me try to fix you. I just want to… take care of you. See you happy again".
"Can't risk dragging you down with me".
"Please, Jane".
Her unusual pleading tone had him finally surrendering. "Okay".
When he placed a soft kiss on her temple she felt her eyes fluttering shut of their own accord.
Maybe they were going to make it through all this. Maybe they would find the way out of the nightmare they'd been in for so long.
Together they possessed a greater strength – one that even Red John wouldn't be able to subdue.