A/N: Okay, short chapter. I'm sorry. I still think I prefer this perspective - I think Inside mainly makes sure I know what the team are up to with the case and fills in some gaps that there would otherwise be with this fic. Erm. It makes sense to me, honestly. Thanks to Twin once again for betaing. This one would be awful without your imput!

And thank you to: Koezh, boutondor, phoenixmagic1, lisbon69, Divinia Serit and Viktorija for reviewing part two.

x tromana

Part Three

It was a rather lame excuse to go down to the supply closet.

He didn't really need a new marker pen, his was perfectly fine and even if he did, he would usually have sent Rebecca to go and pick it up. Nobody said anything, even though most people knew that it was just as excuse to catch up with Lisbon. Bosco had been surprised at just how quickly news traveled in the CBI and what had been a small disagreement between co-workers was almost being painted as a full-blown row. He ignored the glances and whispers from colleagues; as far as he was concerned they could continue gossiping all they liked. It kept them entertained and it didn't really hurt anybody.

What did matter was trying to talk to Lisbon again, trying to smooth down her ruffled feathers.

The brunette was in a jumpy mood when he finally caught up with her and he nearly received a black eye for his efforts. The glare she wore would have looked ridiculous on anybody but her and they both knew it. How such a small person managed to have so much attitude was entirely beyond him. Some would say that she was simply making up for her lack of height with personality, but Bosco believed it was more of a case of her defending herself against hurt. Going by the company she generally kept, it was unsurprising that she needed to be so defensive all the time.

Nor did her bluntness didn't surprise him much when it came to his rather pathetic attempts at an apology. Lisbon was never one to back down easily, a quality she shared with his dear Mandy and liked in both of them. With a sigh, he watched as she hurried away, back upstairs and straight back to her team. Back to Jane.

"Hey, Agent Bosco? I have the pen you ordered…"

"Never mind," he replied snappishly.

He'd try talking to her again tomorrow. Give her a little time to cool off and reassess the situation.

But one thing he couldn't deny was that she was absolutely right. He would never apologize for his active dislike of Patrick Jane, but he hated seeing her so angry and causing her problems. Especially when she had more than enough to deal with without having to worry about strife between the pair of them.

***

Bosco was staring at the Red John case once more, his eyes blurring over the details. He genuinely loved his job - especially figuring out problems and putting criminals where they deserved to be. And like every other agent who had ever touched the Red John case, he was particularly desperate to bring this bastard to justice. He'd killed so many innocent people and was still practically mocking them. It absolutely disgusted him that despite the fact he'd been working on the case for several months, he still hadn't really gotten any further with it.

He tried engaging Hicks in a discussion, but his second in command seemed distracted, not able to focus. It was then that he remembered that the man wasn't as blessed when it came to his marriage as Bosco was. Briefly, he'd mentioned that his wife had been talking about separation and going by his attitude, Bosco reckoned that it had moved from possibility to probability. Hicks was a good agent though and just because he was having marital problems, it didn't mean that he was going to take it out on him. Instead, he suggested that the other man left for a while, took five minutes, bought himself a coffee and a muffin and then returned to do some work. A bit of fresh air would do his concentration a world of good.

After he nodded his gratitude, Bosco pulled the file forward. All the latest Red John cases, the ones since Jane had joined the CBI had stopped following the original pattern. He stared at that, trying to work it out. Maybe they had a pattern of their own? Maybe they linked to Patrick Jane himself? Was the serial killer getting bored or just playing with the CBI's consultant? Or was he just going mad and trying to make connections where there really weren't any?

He shoved the manila file away and allowed his face to rest in his hands for a brief while. He was beginning to understand just how easy it was to allow this specific case to eat away at your entire life.

***

It was at times like this he became particularly grateful for the CBI's highly active rumor mill.

As he headed towards the kitchenette on the third floor for a much-needed refill of coffee and a break from staring at the same files time and time again, he passed Cho and Rigsby. Neither of them had the time to acknowledge his presence and both had harried expressions on their faces. All he needed to hear was a snippet of a phrase, spoken slightly louder than anticipated by Rigsby. The words 'Lisbon's been shot' caused the blood to drain from his face and for him to complete forget what he had been planning to do in the first place.

Dropping the coffee mug, he didn't even hear it smash on the edge of the sink as he rushed back to his office to pick up his car keys. When Hicks tried to stop him to ask him where he was actually going, Bosco managed some garbled excuse about a family friend and hospital. It wasn't too far away from the truth. Lisbon was a friend of his and therefore, of the family. Well, he hoped she still was. Considering her reactions earlier in the day, he could be forgiven for thinking otherwise, but she wouldn't be Lisbon without her fiery personality.

He reached the hospital in record time, to see a visibly shaking Van Pelt and Jane pacing around the small waiting room. Both looked a little surprised to see his presence, but neither bothered speaking to him as they were both too wrapped up in blaming themselves for the accident. Especially Van Pelt, who swore she should have seen the shooter before she did so that she could have caught him before he even had time to fire the gun.

The atmosphere was unsurprisingly stifling.

"Do you have any idea how she is?" Bosco eventually dared to ask.

Neither of them dared respond.

TBC…