Hello there my little puddle ducks.
First off, who else was extremely excited by the one and only Owain Yeoman (Rigsby) joining us on twitter ..OYeoman if you haven't already followed him.. Lovely pictures of The Mentalist cast made me a little giddy tonight. aha! & he is such a gentleman too.

Onwards with my little story. I hope it is still being enjoyed..

Of Many Things
Chapter Thirty

This was it. This was to be the end of Teresa Lisbon's life. Jane, Cho and Rigsby, along with Lisbon's brothers were to be the pallbearers of the beautiful hand-crafted coffin in which she lay. They steadily left the little church behind; the service hanging heavy on their hearts. They were followed by a procession of grief stricken beings as they made their way to the final resting place of Teresa Lisbon.

Those closest to Lisbon were stood tightly together; human contact the only thing keeping most from breaking down then and there, as they watched the ornate coffin being lowered into the warm Californian soil. Rigsby had a tight arm wrapped around Grace, her face slightly turned into his chest. Cho stood to the other side of Rigsby; glassy eyes giving away his ever strong appearance. Jane had found himself between VanPelt and Thomas Lisbon. He felt a little comfort in being so near to Teresa's family; as if he were almost a part of it. He saw so much of the woman he loved in them. He wanted so desperately to take in as much of it as he could, fearing it may be the only chance he ever had.
The priest stepped forwards as the coffin began to descend, clearing his throat almost silently before he began to speak.
'For as much as it has pleased our Heavenly Father in His wise providence to take unto Himself our beloved Teresa May Lisbon, we therefore commit her body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, looking for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God in our Saviour Jesus Christ who shall change the body of our humiliation and fashion it anew in the likeness of His own body of glory according to the working of His mighty power wherewith He is able even to subdue all things unto Himself.'
As the coffin reached the ground a ghostly silence of respect and sorrow seemed to envelope the tranquil setting of the lovingly kept church yard. A moment passed before the priest continued to speak, 'You are each invited to lay a rose down, and speak if you wish.' He then stepped back, as if wanting to give each of them a final moment alone with Lisbon.

Lisbon's brothers were the first to lay down the ivory rose they had carried since leaving the church; their wives and children also doing so. Words of love and family were said as they did, tears barely contained. Tommy lingered a second longer than the rest of him family, smiling at a private joke he had shared with his big sister.
Cho followed on from the Lisbon family. Watching intently as the ivory petaled flower drifted through the warm air. 'Thank you for having such faith in my abilities as an agent, it will forever mean the world to me. Save me a seat on that beautiful island you are headed to.' His voice breaking as he spoke, but his head held ever high.
VanPelt took over where Cho had moments ago stood; not quite knowing what to do next. 'I bet it's lovely in heaven, isn't it? I always hoped that it would be as magnificent as i imagine it to be. Try not to worry about us; i will make sure that we are all ok. Patrick especially, i will always be here to look after him for you.' Grace's voice was strong against her emotions; she wanted to show that she could hold the team together. That she would do all that she could to take care of them now that Lisbon was gone. She let her rose go; mingling with the others that already lay atop the mahogany coffin. She would allow herself tears later, right now; she vowed to be strong for the rest of her heartbroken team.
Rigsby walked up next, setting the delicate rose down as he did so. 'I wanted you to know, i am going to ask Grace to marry me; not right away, but your blessing made me realise that it was something i had always intended to do. I don't want to miss a single second of time that could be spent with Grace. I love her more than i ever thought possible. Thank you, Teresa, for all that you have shown me.' Rigsby's voice was whispered; fearing Grace would overhear his words.
Jane walked slowly over, his heart beating so fast he thought it might just burst out of his chest. Panic rising as he grew closer and closer to saying goodbye. Images of a past time flashing through his mind; his wife and daughter lay side by side amongst the flowers and the weeping trees. A goodbye that had almost crushed him once was about to be repeated, and this time he feared he wouldn't survive; not without his Lisbon. 'I'm not ready Teresa, not yet. I can't say goodbye to you, it's more than i can live through. I don't want to be here if you are not by my side; i don't know how to be alone anymore. These past days have been like history repeating itself all over again. But then i think of you, and how beautiful you would have looked today in the sunshine, and i gain a little strength. I think that maybe i will make it this time. I can't promise you that i will ever find happiness and love without you, but i can assure you that i won't waste my life on revenge. You showed me how pointless it is; nothing can change what has happened. Your love and friendship got me through the darkest days of my life, and i hope that your memory will be able to rescue me now. Thank you for not ever giving up on me. I truly owe my life to you. I love you so much, my little lion cub. I think that i always did; in some way or another. I will see you again someday, of that i am sure. Try not to get too bored without my crack pot schemes to keep you entertained, i will be sure to put on a show for you to watch whenever i can. This isn't goodbye Lisbon, not really. We're too entwined to ever leave one another. This is i love you Teresa, now, forever, and always.' Jane was unable to do anything more. His whole being was taken over by a desperate sadness; too great even for tears. His hands clung tightly to the ivory rose he held; a last connection with the love of his life. He knew he was supposed to be moving away, but he couldn't bear to leave. He just couldn't. But then he felt a comforting hand on his back; turning around he was met with the solemn face of Tommy. He had watched the man his sister loved as he spoke to her, had watched him freeze at the prospect of leaving her. 'It's ok Patrick; she knew that you loved her. Tessy, she'll want you to be happy. You have to try, for her.'
And it was those words, spoken by an almost stranger, that pulled Patrick Jane out of his reverie. He let the ivory rose fall from his hands. He saw it land atop the others. He felt the air change a little as it did; a new warmth wrapping around him. He walked away; side by side with Thomas Lisbon, into the rest of his life. Forever tied to the three souls who his heart grieved for, and yet free to find happiness for himself. He would see them again one day, but for now, he was alive. And that was something very special indeed.

There we have it, already thirty chapters! We have nearly reached the end of my little story, but don't worry, i think you will be happy with how it ends. At least, if it comes off as i have always planned.

Please let me know what you thought of that chapter?

See you all soon, Katie.