Disclaimer: I don't own the mentalist, I wished on a star for it, but to no prevail

A/N I 3 all my lovely reviewers! The next story is nearly fully planned, thank god for biology! There was an ambulance at school today, some year 9 girl (equivalent of freshman pretty much) was doing an experiment with meths and Bunsen burners, and got a fright and chucked burning meths all over the girl behind her and caught her hair on fire, all in the lab next to mine! Well, that's some drama in my life, now, read on =]

They pulled up to the hospital in Grace's mom's car 20 minutes later, none of them saying anything, Teresa sat in the back with her brothers, all huddled together.

'What are we gonna do Tessie?' Kyle asked

'I don't know, I just don't know' she said, trying to hold herself together

Patrick sat in the chair beside her, with one arm around her, not knowing for once what to say.

A doctor came into the waiting room with a grim look on his face

'Miss Lisbon?' he said

'Yes?' she said her voice shaking

'We need you to come identify the body'

'Ok' she said getting up, and her brothers tried to follow

'No, wait here' she said

Teresa walked into one of the trauma rooms where her father lay motionless

'Dad?' she said walking over to him, her hand hovering just above his arm, not wanting to touch it

'He is your father?' the doctor asked

'Yes' Teresa said trying not to cry

'I understand that your mother died when you were 11, is that so?' he asked

'Yes'

'So you have no other organised guardians, or family?'

'No, oh god, please stop with the questions, what is going to happen to us?' she yelled

'Please, Teresa, don't worry, there is foster care'

'I can look after them, I'm 16'

'You need to be 18 Teresa'

'I have been looking after the boys since I was 11, why can't I do it now?' she demanded

'Please Teresa, it's the law'

'The law can get screwed, I'm not going into foster care!' she said running out down the hallway to her brothers

'Teresa, please, Social Services will be here soon' the doctor tried

'Tell them not to bother!' she said cradling her brothers

Suddenly social services came in, sending Teresa into a fit of rage

'YOU WILL NOT TAKE ME OR MY BROTHERS! ALL THAT WILL HAPPEN IS THAT I WILL BE TREATED BADLY BY PARENTS WHO JUST WANT MONEY FROM THE STATE, GO SCREW YOURSELF, WANKERS!' she screamed

'Miss Lisbon, we do need your co-operation, and we have got a lovely family here for you' the social worker tried, but Teresa wouldn't listen

'No, get bent!'

'Mom, do something!' Grace whispered to her mom

'Like what?'

'I don't know, take them in, or something, please mom, Teresa needs someone she can trust!'

'We have no money Grace, you know that'

'So? Please, Teresa needs us!'

'Ok, but you are double helping out!'

'Thanks mom!' she said hugging her

'Teresa' her mom started 'The social services are right, you can't look after your brothers legally on your own, but I would be honoured if you and your brothers came to stay with us' she said

Teresa stopped giving the social services people dirty looks and looked over at Grace's mom

'Really?' she asked, not knowing whether to believe her or not

'Of course, we will be stretched for room, but we would love to see you wind up somewhere good'

Teresa smiled 'Thanks heaps, I will help out heaps!' she exclaimed

'I am sure you will' she smiled

Half an hour later, when all the legal paper work had been filled out, all 7 sat piled in the small 5 seated car and headed for Wayne's who was supposed to be the first to get dropped off, when Grace had an idea.

'Mommy, you have been amazing tonight' she started

'What do you want?' she asked

'How do you know I want something?'

'You said mommy, now, what is it?'

'Can Patrick and Wayne stay over too, we can have an after party, like everyone else' she asked

'Ok, but just because it's prom, and you had such a bad end to the night'

'Thanks mom'

She turned around to face the others

'Wanna stay over?' she asked

Wayne was the first to answer

'Of course' he said quickly

'Sounds good' Patrick said

They arrived at Grace's house, most of them, except Teresa, had never been before

'Wow, nice place' Wayne commented

'Thanks' she said as she slipped an arm around him, to which he did the same.

'You kids have fun, and try not to be too loud' her mom said

'Yes ma'am' Grace said

'Ok, come on Kyle, Liam, Felix, up to bed, you can stay in the same room if you want' she said as she walked off

'So' Grace grinned 'What you wanna do?'

'Got any food?' Wayne asked

'Why shouldn't I expect that sort of answer from you?' Grace said as she went into the kitchen and came out with microwave pies.

'That looks great!' Wayne exclaimed

'Come on big boy, let's go cook them' she said as she walked into the kitchen, leaving Teresa and Patrick together, alone.

'How are you?' he asked

'Good, bad, I don't know, if I hadn't gone to prom, he wouldn't have drunk driven'

'It's not your fault Teresa, don't blame yourself, if he didn't do it tonight, he might have done it tomorrow, or when you are asleep, if you blame anyone, blame me, I talked you into coming'

'Oh Patrick, I don't want to blame you, I just don't know what to do, all we did was create 4 extra mouths for Grace's mom to feed, and they have no money coming in until the divorce, I feel like a burden' she sobbed

'Teresa Lisbon, you are not a burden, you are amazing, and I love you' he said strongly

'Thanks Patrick, you always know what to say, and do you think Grace and Wayne are eavesdropping?'

'No, they have 4 minutes where they are supposed be waiting for a pie to cook, they will be making out'

Teresa laughed 'Sounds true!'

Meanwhile, Grace and Wayne were doing exactly what Patrick suspected, Wayne had her up against the wall, and she had taken off his tie and untucked his shirt and slipped her hands up.

'How much longer do we have?' she asked

He glanced at the microwave

'1 minute' he said

'Better make the most of it' she said before going in for more kisses

Suddenly the microwave beeped, letting them know the food was ready. Grace smoothed her dress and her hair, while Wayne picked up his discarded tie.

'Foods here' she said putting it on the table

'Thanks' Teresa muttered from Patrick's chest, where she was curled up.

'You tired?' she asked

'A bit'

'You can sleep if you want, it is 1.30 in the morning' she offered

'No, I'm ok, just in shock a bit, I'll be fine'

'Ok, if you are sure'

'I am'

'Good' Grace said as the ate their pies

The nights events had worn them all down, and before they knew it they were watching early morning TV curled up on the couches

'I feel bad, Cho should be here' Grace said

'I wouldn't worry about him, him and Jade went off together, I think he is having a very good time' Patrick said

'And you know this, how?'

'I saw them go off together, both with big grins on their faces'

'Mmhm, psychic' she coughed

'I'm not psychic, I'm just paying attention, how many times do I have to explain that?'

'Till I believe it' she yawned an settled into Wayne's arms and drifting off to sleep.

Grace slept soundly, knowing that Teresa was safe, and she was safe from her dad.

A/N mum got a jar of nutella and accidently left it in the car in the sun, it melted, so I drank it, it was amazing! =] review if u love the mentalist