Crimson High – The Jane Story

A/N: Well, I was away over the last week, so this is my first opportunity to write. I know some people may have noticed the cameo from a second TV show in the corresponding chapter in 'Crimson High', but there will be extra Jisbon in the next chapter if anyone can tell me what show the second cameo is from. Good luck…

Chapter eight

I sat on Teresa's couch that Spring Break, anxiously checking my watch. Teresa was in the next room, hurriedly packing her bag for our flight up to Chicago. I heard her fighting with her suitcase and chuckled quietly to myself. I had told her we were going to Chicago, and she had spoken about nothing else since then. She carried her suitcase through to the front room and placed it next to the bedroom door. "Hurry up, Teresa," I said, glancing at my watch again. "We're going to miss our flight if we don't leave in the next ten minutes."

Teresa rolled her eyes and dragged it to the front door. I picked it up and carried it down to the car. I waited for her to lock up and come down to the car before starting the car and pulling out into the street. I watched her stared off into the midday sky. "I can't believe I'm going to see them," she murmured.

I laughed, happy that she was happy. "I'm glad you're excited. I was really hoping to finally meet your brothers."

She nodded, and I smiled to myself. I drove to the airport and parked the car in the parking lot. We headed inside, and checked in. Our flight was due to leave at two o'clock, and so I sat next to a nervous Teresa in the boarding lounge. I pulled out the tickets, and handed one to her. She did a double take when she read it. "We're flying business class?" she asked incredulously.

I shrugged. Business class was a better way to fly anyway. "I didn't want us flying coach. Three hours in those seats is really uncomfortable."

I closed my eyes and stretched out in the seat as we waited. Soon, it was time to board, and we headed to our seats. I took the aisle seat, and watched two men walked up the aisle next to me. One was tall, with dark hair and blue eyes. A navy tattoo peaked out from under his sleeve. A shorter man walked behind him. He was blonde with blue eyes. I could see that they worked together, but were very good friends outside of work. They sat down behind us. I buckled my seatbelt as we taxied onto the runway. Once we were in the air, I watched Teresa relaxed back into her seat and shut her eyes. I became aware of a conversation between the two men going on in the seats behind us.

"Steve," the first voice said. I could only guess that Steve was the taller of the two men. "This is not a good idea."

"Danny," Steve replied. "How can this not be a good idea?"

Danny was getting annoyed. "Using your sick leave to track down Wo Fat, and dragging me along, is definitely not a good idea. Especially when you said it was a vacation."

Steve tried to keep his voice low, apparently to not alert everyone else to their conversation. "Reliable Intel has placed Wo Fat in New York. We think he's looking to extend business to the east coast. We are going over there to provide services to NYPD. Besides, we live at one of the great holiday destinations. What would be the point of going on vacation in my own backyard?"

"So why am I here?" asked Danny. "I don't want to go on vacation. My life and daughter are back in Hawaii."

"I need your expertise on the New York mafia rings. Those will be Wo Fat's target."

Danny sighed, exasperated. "I haven't exactly been in touch with them since I moved to Hawaii, Steve. In case you haven't noticed, I've been too busy arguing with you about who drives my car to worry about New York. Anyway, the NYPD should have that Intel."

"Fine," said Steve, apparently reluctant to talk about this. "I just needed backup in case things got rough. You're a good man to have on the job."

"Don't go all mushy on me now, Steve," said Danny. "What would the team think?"

I had the feeling Steve rolled his eyes, but the argument appeared to be over for now. I had the feeling that arguments like this were normal for them. Teresa turned to me. Apparently, she had been listening to the conversation too. "You've been very quiet," I observed.

She shrugged. "What would you like to talk about?"

I reached for her hand and turned it over. Something had bothered me for a while, and I just had to ask about it. "When I guessed what you hadn't told Grace, you touched your lips. Why?"

She shuddered, and I felt bad for bringing it up. "You did guess right, but the most recent beating, the one that prompted me to leave, split my lip open. I needed two stitches. I missed a week of school, right before the summer holidays."

I felt a surge of anger rush through me, but I controlled it quickly and squeezed her hand. I felt so bad for her brothers. "I want to help get them out of that situation, Teresa. I know why you never called the cops, but I will do what I can to get them out of there."

She glanced down at our hands. Her hand was cool against mine. "You are so resourceful. You even managed to get a cup of coffee into my locker without asking for the combination."

I laughed once, remembering the incident. "I did ask, just not you."

She looked up at me in slight confusion. "Who else has my locker combination?"

I frowned slightly, reluctant to answer. "Red John. A very strange, reclusive man."

"Why do you say that?"

"I've had some run ins with him in the past. He has a twisted sense of right and wrong, and I personally think that he could quite possibly be a serial killer and we wouldn't even know."

I was reluctant to tell Teresa what had happened to me. She had enough to deal with in her life without worrying about me and my problems. She asked the question I was hoping to avoid. "What did he do to you?" she asked, looking sheepishly down at our hands.

I squeezed her hand, avoiding the incident for now. "I'll show you some time. Right now, I would like to talk about something else."

We talked about mundane topics for the next hour or so, and then slipped into companionable silence. We watched as a stewardess hurried up the aisle and stopped at the row of seats behind us. "Commander McGarrett," she whispered to the row behind us. "There is a phone call for you and Detective Williams."

The voice I knew to be Steve replied. "Who is it?"

The stewardess looked around, nervous about being overheard. "It's a Detective Taylor, and he said it was urgent. He wants to speak with both of you."

The two men got up and hurried down the aisle. Teresa watched them go, and I turned to her. I shrugged, and she closed her eyes. She drifted into a light sleep. The two men returned to their seats a few minutes later, but Steve's face was grim. There was no more talking between them.

Soon, I nudged Teresa awake, and the plane began to descend towards the runway. Once it had taxied to a stop, we were all asked to disembark. I stood up and headed towards the exit. I stopped and turned back as Steve pulled Teresa's purse free and handed it to her. She nodded her thanks and hurried out after me. I turned and left the plane, Teresa in tow.

We waited at the luggage carousel for our bags to appear. Teresa shifted nervously as we waited, becoming increasingly impatient as our bags took their time getting to us. I spotted our bags, and we lifted them off of the conveyer. Teresa turned around and began to search for her family. She spotted her youngest brother, Tommy, first. With his dark unruly hair, he was hard to miss. She headed off towards him. He saw us and his face lit up. "Tessie!" he screamed, running straight at her.

Teresa dropped her suitcase to scoop him into her arms. "Tommy," she said. "I have missed you so much."

Her two other brothers rushed over to where we stood. James was the first one to us, with Michael not far behind. They both hugged her, and I watched uncontrollable tears pouring down her cheeks. I stood back rather awkwardly, watching the reunion. She looked her brothers up and down. "James," she said. "You're about half a foot taller now."

He grinned. "It's good to see you, Tess."

She turned to Michael. "Mikey, you've grown so much."

He smiled at her. "I've missed my big sister."

Tommy still hadn't let go of her, clinging like he would never let go. Teresa turned to me. "I'd like you all to meet Patrick Jane. He's the one who paid for me to come here."

I stepped forwards and shook hands with all three of them. It was rather formal, and Teresa glanced around. "How did you get here, James?"
His face turned dark, and he seemed fiercely angry all of a sudden. "Dad brought us."

Teresa almost dropped Tommy. "D-Dad?" she stuttered. Here eyes showed pure fear.

The tall figure of Teresa's father strode through the crowd towards us. He was a tall, intimidating man with dark hair and green eyes, something all of his children had inherited from him. Teresa put Tommy down, and turned to face her father. She had mentioned that his name was Anthony. He reached us, and eyed me distrustfully. "Teresa," he said. "It's so good to see you."

Teresa smiled tentatively up at him. "It's good to see you too, dad."

Her father held his arms out to her, and they hugged in the airport terminal. Once he had released her, he turned to me. "Who is this young man?"

I stepped forwards, holding out my hand. "I'm Patrick Jane, sir."

Anthony shook the hand, and smiled at me. "Thank you for paying for my daughter to come up and visit her family."

It seemed to me that Anthony was bitter about Teresa leaving, and somehow blamed me. He didn't trust me, and he was cold towards me. I nodded in acknowledgement of his statement, and James picked up Teresa's suitcase. The six of us headed out to where the car was parked. Tommy was gripping tightly to Teresa's hand and babbling on about all of the things she had missed.

We were soon on our way back to Teresa's house, and I sat in the back. James rode up front with Teresa. Tommy had become very attached to me, and I was entertaining him with a coin trick my father had taught me. Tommy laughed loudly, and Teresa joined in. Michael sat on her other side, deep in thought. She wrapped her arm gently around his shoulders and gave him a squeeze. "I am so glad to see you guys again," I heard her murmured into his ear.

Michael sighed. "you're going to go away again though."

At age eleven, Michael seemed to have a solid grasp on reality, and so knew that Teresa would have to leave again. I felt her sigh, and felt her pain for a split second. Then Tommy drew my attention again, and I did another coin trick for him. Soon, the car pulled into the driveway of Teresa's house. Anthony unlocked the front door, and we all followed him in. the house was big, and I glanced around. James carried Teresa's bag upstairs, and I followed with my own bag, listening to the sleeping arrangements as ordered by Anthony. I headed up to James' room, and dumped my bag on the floor. James waved his arm. "you will sleep in here with me."

I nodded, and he left the room. I headed back down the stairs and went into the kitchen. Tommy came over to me and grabbed my hand. I turned to Anthony, who raised an eyebrow. "May I borrow the car?" I asked. "I would like to take the boys out for the day."

Teresa walked into the kitchen as Anthony sighed and reluctantly handed over the keys. "Bring her back with even one tiny scratch and there will be trouble."

I nodded, knowing that this would be true, and the three boys followed me out to the car. I drove around town, and chatted to all three of the boys. Michael had very little to say, but James was willing to talk. "I've heard stories," I began. "But it's quite sketchy. Tessie hasn't said much to me about it."

"Some nights were worse than others," said James. "Mostly, we just hid. Sometimes, if we weren't quick enough, I would see him hit her."

"It has been worse since she left," said Michael. "That's why we don't want her to leave. But he says he's clean now-"

James cut in. "He's said that the last three times, and look where it's put us." James turned to me, unhidden fear in his voice. "Patrick, we need your help. Please."

A/N2: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Don't forget to look for the cameo, and please review. Thanks.