OH MY GOD LOOK WHAT THIS IS! ITS AN UPDATE! ZOMGGG!

Sorry about that guys! I hope you haven't given up hope on me :( I've been sooooo busy this past year having started uni now, and I'm finally off on holiday for summer, so I think it's time for an update. And what an update it shall be! I've had an idea since the beginning of the story where I wanted it to go, but no idea how to get it there, and I've finally decided that it's time to start the major plot points. I hope you enjoy it, and I hope it's worth the wait :)

The Mentalist belongs to CBS

Maddy belongs to me.

Chapter 4 - Red faced and redder hands

Last chapter...

I took what he was offering me, looking at it in shock. He gave a grin.

"Now that, is what I call a bunch of flowers," He said quietly.

I only smiled, staring at the giant bouquet that I had been handed, full of yellows and pinks and whites. The prettiest flowers I had seen in a ling time, beautifully arranged.

All was forgiven.

Picture this. You're sitting in a car, fingers clutching so tightly at the wheel that it's actually painful. The one thing, other than curling in a ball and dying, that you want to do is smash your face of said wheel, but unfortunately that would result in the death of the cars occupants as it drove into another vehicle. So instead you sit there, face bright red as you fight back tears of frustration and embarrassment. Oh, and lets not forget that you're sharing the car with a man who can read emotions like a book. That's where I was.

How did I get in that situation you may ask? The flowers. The damn flowers. The flowers not left on the back seat of the car.

Cho had stayed at the scene to await forensics, while Jane and I headed back to the car. Lisbon wanted us back at base to look at a new lead, and so we'd headed off. I was elated after Jane's gift, and feeling more confident than I had in months. He was sitting in the passenger seat joking away, making me laugh as usual, and for some stupid reason, I decided it was time to bite the bullet and ask him. Oh dear lord why.

"What would you say to dinner, just the two of us," I asked, the laughter from his last comment still in my voice. He paused, smile slipping slightly.

"Like...a date?"

"Yes, like a date," My own smile was slipping, his time to answer making me nervous. He was silent again.

The silence may have only lasted a few seconds. It felt like hours however. With each moment, I shrivelled a little more, the weight of what I had just said crushing the breath out of me.

"I don't think it would be a good idea Maddy. I mean, professionally, and...well, we both have other reasons not to," Jane replied in a quiet, suddenly serious voice. I didn't answer straight away. "You're not mad..are you?"

"Of course not!" I blurted, feeling like such a fool "No, you're right, you're right I don't know what I was think, it was just the flowers and spur of the moment, and gosh I've made a fool of myself, can we just forget this never happened, lets focus on the case, stupid, stupid..." I tailed off, and the silence continued. And there I was, in that horrible position. I'd possibly just destroyed the best friendship I had, the only thing that held me together. What. An Idiot.

The journey continued in absolute silence, and just as we reached the point where I thought my head might explode from all the thoughts blocking it, Jane, sat up straight and told be to turn around.

"What-why?" I asked, frustration evident in my voice.

He pressed the button for the window, and as the cold night air streamed in, I heard it. The ringing shots of guns being fired.

"Could it be..."

"Our gangs fighting," Jane finished.

I spun the SUV around, and headed back the way we came, the sounds getting louder as we went. Half way back to the crime scene, we hit a small run down area of town, and the shots stopped. I slowed the car, listening carefully over the sound of the engine. Nothing. It was silent, with only the sound of cats fighting in the next street to punctuate the gloom. And then in from the darkness of the nearest alley, a low, painful moan echoed.

The SUV was guided as far into the alley as possible before the walls narrowed, making it impossible to continue any further. I drew my gun, telling Jane to stay where he was and slowly got out of the car. The moaning was louder, interrupted by a gurgling cough. The voice didn't have long t live. I continued down he alley as it widened again, leading to a dead end. On the floor, lying in some smashed cardboard boxes was a dying man. Not the one we were looking for, but he needed help all the same. I bent down beside him, pulling the scarf I had been wearing around my neck off, and applied pressure the the gaping wound in his chest. The blood soaked in quickly, his breathing ragged. I jumped as a car door slammed, and turned around to find Jane had joined me.

"I told you to stay in the car!" I snapped

"He needs help," was the simple reply.

The injured man's groans turned to one's of distress, and I heard a click behind us. Jane was tapping my shoulder, looking ahead. I slowly looked up, and my blood ran cold. The gang fight was not over, and we were on the middle of it. A group on each side, guns drawn, pointed at each other, teeth gritted. The leaders began to shout, and in a split second, I screamed at Jane, pulling him to the ground. The gunshots echoed around us, shells hitting the floor and bouncing. One rolled to my feet as I tried to crawl towards cover, dragging Jane with me. He was saying something, but I couldn't hear him. The shots stopped for a second as the gang members found cover and reloaded.

I looked up, and spotted more bodies, both dead and wounded on the ground around us. A dumpster sat mere meters away. I shuffled forward and heard a groan behind me as I pulled Jane again. I froze, and turned around. Blood was soaking into Jane's trouser leg, just above the knee, he was holding it stiffly with both hands, the colour drained from his face.

"Oh my god...Patrick..." I uttered, horrified. I needed to get him out of here.

"Uhh Maddy, I feel a bit faint," He uttered in a shaky voice. I looked at him, and in those bright blue eyes, I saw a deep rooted fear. And that made me terrified.

I fumbled in my pockets, searching for something, anything that would help, my hands settling on my waist. My belt was ripped off, tied around his leg just above the wound and tightened. He stifled a groan as I did this, growing even paler. I could feel him shaking, a cold sweat appearing on his face. I wanted to hold him more than anything, but I knew I couldn't. It was about killing me.

But this wasn't about me. I had to think about Jane. If the bullet had hit an artery, he could bleed out and...well I didn't want to think about that. All I knew was that I was determined not to lose anyone else.

I could see the SUV from where we lay, but the gang fight lay between us and it. There was only one thing for it, we needed back up and quick. But there was no way Jane could move that far. I looked back to the dumpster, and made a split decision. Hands hooked under each arm, I began to drag Jane behind it. His moans grew louder until he was nearly screaming with each pull. The sound of his pain nearly brought tears to my eyes again, but I held them back, determined to be strong. His shaking increased, and I could hear him panting for breath now, the shock setting in. With one last heave, I settled him back down, sitting up in a crouching position and taking my jacket off, draping it over his shivering body.

"Right stay here,"

"I-I'm not g-going anywhere," his voice quivered through his attempt at a joke. His eyes were drooping, and I leaned in close.

"Look, Jane listen to me," his eyes shut. "Patrick!" I gave a gentle shake and they flickered open. He groaned again.

"Please, stay with me, you need to stay awake okay? Focus on something, anything a happy thought,"

His eyes were distant, far away. I found my self pleading in my head. He couldn't die. Not Jane. Not Patrick.

That thought spurred me on, shuffling out from behind the dumpter. A hand caught mine, pulling me back.

"Maddy. Be careful,"

I nodded and turned away before Jane could see the single tear than had escaped and was now drawing a line down my cheek.

I wanted to write more...but hey, I'm back in business, so...CLIFFHANGER LOLZ

Hope it was worth the wait :D

Review!