Red Rides And Retribution

A/N: Sorry about the delay. Now that my last story is finally finished, I can focus on this one properly. Enjoy this chapter.

Chapter seven

Jane pulled the jeans on in Lisbon's tiny bathroom and looked himself over. They were slightly too big, but he didn't mind too much. The red t-shirt was tight, but he wrestled himself into it anyway. Spending the last five years wearing almost nothing but suits had made him feel uncomfortable wearing casual clothing.

He finished getting dressed and headed through to the small front room. Lisbon sat at her table drinking a cup of black coffee. Jane made almost no noise, but Lisbon still turned and looked at him. "That's not a bad fit, Mr Jane."

Jane smiled. "Well, Ms Lisbon, you do have a fair amount of men to choose from for clothing."

It was the morning following the incident at the restaurant, and Jane had spent a fitful night on Lisbon's couch. Early that morning, Rigsby had arrived with some clothing for Jane to change into. Jane had no idea whose it was, but he was grateful to be out of his suit.

Jane sat down next to Lisbon. "You didn't sleep last night."

Lisbon smiled. "No. I was up all night thinking and planning the next movement."

"Movement?" Jane was confused.

Lisbon nodded. "I don't know how much of this I should share, but I think one of my men is trying to take my position in the gang."

Jane sat back and looked at her. "I'm still confused."

Lisbon took a sip of her coffee. "There have been several attacks on the Blood Guns that I never authorised. The Bloods have retaliated, but I couldn't even begin to say who it is that wants to take over."

Jane nodded. "It could be anyone, Ms Lisbon."

Lisbon smiled. "Just 'Lisbon', or 'Teresa' please, Mr Jane. It is less tedious."

Jane smiled back. "Well, Lisbon, I couldn't tell you who it is. I don't know how your gang dynamics even work."

Lisbon smiled. She finished her coffee and stood up. "Mr Jane, would you like to learn something new?"

Jane looked at her in surprise. "You can just call me 'Patrick', and it depends what you have in mind."

Lisbon smiled, and Jane stood up to follow her.

XxxxxxxxxxxX

Jane looked down at the controls again. He tested the throttle, and the bike engine grumbled underneath him. He looked over at Lisbon. "Are you sure about this, Teresa?"

Lisbon nodded. "Just keep looking forwards and remember to brake."

Jane released the clutch and began to move. The bike stalled underneath him, and he tried it again. Soon, he was moving, and came to a satisfactory stop in front of Lisbon. She laughed. "You're a natural, Patrick."

Jane smiled at her, and then promptly fell over sideways. Lisbon caught the bike before it could crush Jane's left leg, and then helped Jane back up. "Just keep focused on the bike until it is stable."

Jane smiled. Lisbon continued to instruct him and give him tips, until he was able to start the bike, ride, and stop all completely without her help. Just as Jane got off the bike, Rigsby appeared next to Jane. "Boss, we have a problem."

Lisbon looked at Jane, before turning back to Rigsby. "What is it, Rigger?"

Rigsby's face was grim. "There has been a retaliation."

Lisbon frowned. "When?"

"Half an hour ago."

"Where?"
Rigsby swallowed a moment. "Safe house two."

Lisbon turned pale. "You sure?"

Rigsby nodded. Jane turned to Lisbon. "Lisbon, where is safe house two?"

Lisbon turned to Jane. "Patrick, safe house two was where we were supposed to stay the night last night."

"Why didn't we?" Jane was curious.

"Because I had a feeling we wouldn't be safe there."

Jane turned pale. He had known from years of experience to always trust your instinct. Lisbon turned to Rigsby. "What happened?"

The two friends walked a little bit away from where Jane stood. "Boss, three black bikes rode past the safe house. One threw a Molotov cocktail through the front window. They left before anybody could shoot back. We managed to get most of the fire put out, but we lost a large portion of the house."

Lisbon glanced over at Jane, before turning back to her friend. "Wayne, I need to see the damage."

Rigsby nodded, and they walked back over to Jane. "Patrick," said Lisbon. "You stay here while Rigger and I go and see the damage at the safe house. I will be back soon."

Jane nodded. The two friends got onto their bikes and headed off in the direction of the safe house. Jane looked at the bike he had been using. There was no sense in wasting a morning that he could be using to practice, so he climbed onto the bike and started it up. He rode around the block a couple of times, and then began to get more adventurous. Soon, he was hopelessly lost in the streets of downtown Sacramento. Jane had also, unknowingly, crossed over the border into Blood Guns territory.

Jane stopped at a stop street to wait for a car to drive across the intersection. Suddenly, he was pushed off of the bike sideways and dragged into a nearby garage attached to a house. The bike followed him, and Jane felt a sharp pain on the back of his head. Then, blissful darkness.

XxxxxxxxxxxX

Lisbon and Rigsby pulled up to the smouldering remains of safe house two. The entire front half of the house was gone, and Lisbon could see her closet door was still intact. She climbed off of her bike and walked onto the remains. She treaded carefully through the rubble and touched the door. It crumbled under her hand and disintegrated into ash. The clothing inside stank, but had been mostly protected by the door.

The clothing wasn't Lisbon's concern. There was a shoebox at the bottom of the cupboard, and Lisbon picked it up. Inside were photos of Lisbon's life, her family, mother, and life before the gang. She cradled it to her chest, and Rigsby politely turned away as Lisbon had a quiet moment with the box of photos.

Lisbon turned to Rigsby. "We need to get this place cleaned up, and figure out what is going on."

Rigsby nodded and began barking orders to the men around him. Lisbon's phone rang, and she looked at the caller ID. "Lisbon."

"Boss," the voice said on the other side. "It's Showtime."

Lisbon frowned. "Robert, what do you want? I'm in the middle of something here."

"Boss, Mr Jane is gone."

Lisbon cut the call and strode out of the wreckage. She handed the box to one of the men standing next to her. "Rigger, with me." She turned to the man with the box. "That goes back to my apartment. Get the rest of this stuff clean. Make sure it is done today."

The man nodded, and turned to go. Lisbon and Rigsby walked away. "Jane is missing."

Rigsby pulled out his phone. "I will start checking who saw him last."

Lisbon nodded. She really hoped that the blonde insurance agent was okay. She didn't need to explain to another member of the Jane family why their relative wasn't coming home.

XxxxxxxxxxxX

Jane groaned and opened his eyes. The blurred image of a face came into focus, and Jane looked into the eyes of Shotgun Abbott. Abbott looked back. "Who are you?"

Jane shifted his arm, and realised he was tied to a chair. He focused on his surroundings. He was still in the garage, and there were three men there with him. "Patrick." He mumbled, his voice hoarse.

Abbott leaned in closer. "Patrick who?"

Jane looked up into his eyes. "Patrick Jane." His voice was stronger.

"Well, Patrick, why were you on a green bike in Bloods territory?"

Jane sat back in the chair. "I had been learning how to ride a bike. I got lost, and obviously crossed the line somewhere. I meant no harm. I'm not even in any gang. I'm just an insurance broker."

Abbott paced in front of him. "How do I know you're telling the truth? How do I know you aren't here to kill anyone?"

Jane looked at him, then turned his head. On a table to his left sat the contents of his pockets. "You obviously see I don't carry a gun. You have no idea who I am. I have nothing dangerous on me. And I am not even supposed to be in downtown Sacramento."

Abbott went to the pile of Jane's belongings, and picked up the photo of Angela. "If you ever want to see her again, tell me the truth."

Jane laughed grimly. "I will never see Angie again anyway."

Abbott frowned. "Why?"

Jane's cobalt eyes went blank. "She's dead. She was killed on the border between your territory and Teresa's territory. Her killer was never caught. That was what brought me to downtown Sacramento."

Abbott looked at the photo. "I remember her death. We always thought it was an Outbacker who did it."

Jane looked at Abbott. "Teresa said she thought it was a Blood who did it."

Abbott nodded. "Trigger Lizzy would say that."

Jane looked at him, his façade gone and his face open. "Who killed my wife?"

Abbott looked down into the eyes of a desperate man. "Patrick, I don't know."

A/N2: Thank you for reading. Please leave me a review and tell me what you think. Thanks again.