Crimson High

A/N: I know, I know, I really should update the other half of this story first. But I had such a good idea for this that it couldn't wait. By the way, who could have ever guessed that McAllister was Red John? Here in South Africa, season 6 hasn't aired yet, so I have Google to thank for that knowledge. Anyway, I noticed that no-one asked what Jane's brilliant idea was, or why he asked about Spring Break. That will all be revealed in this chapter. I have planned for this story to be eleven chapters long, so please bear with the irregular updating. Working with two stories at once is quite difficult. Anyway, please enjoy this chapter.

Chapter eight

It was the start of Spring Break, and I rushed around my tiny bedroom, throwing items into a suitcase on my bed. It was already overflowing, but it wasn't a very large suitcase to begin with. I finished my target practice, and attempted to wrestle my suitcase shut. After several attempts, the zipper closed. I picked the case up and put it onto the floor next to the door. Patrick sat on the couch, glancing impatiently at his watch. "Hurry up, Teresa," he said. "We're going to miss our flight if we don't leave in the next ten minutes."

I rolled my eyes and dragged the case to the door. Patrick picked it up and walked down to his car. I grabbed my purse and locked my door behind me. I had the next two weeks off from work, and I was on my way to Sacramento International Airport to catch a flight to Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Patrick had paid for us to fly up to Chicago to spend a couple of weeks with my brothers. I went downstairs and climbed into his car. He pulled out of the drive and headed towards the airport. I stared off into the midday sky. "I can't believe I'm going to see them," I murmured.

He laughed. "I'm glad you're excited. I was really hoping to finally meet your brothers."

I nodded. When I had spoken to James on the phone and told him I was coming up, he was so excited. That had made my heart warm to know that my brothers were excited to see me. James had promised to meet us, agreeing to arrange a lift up to the airport.

A short while later, Patrick pulled up to the airport and parked the car. We headed inside, and checked in. Our flight was due to leave at two o'clock, and so I sat nervously in the boarding lounge. Patrick sat next to me, and he pulled out the tickets. He handed one to me, and I glanced at it. I did a retake. "We're flying business class?" I asked incredulously.

Patrick shrugged. "I didn't want us flying coach. Three hours in those seats is really uncomfortable."

He closed his eyes and stretched out in the seat as we waited. I watched the people milling around, and studied them curiously. Soon, it was time to board, and we headed to our seats. I took the window seat. I buckled my seatbelt as we taxied onto the runway. Once we were in the air, I relaxed back into my seat and shut my eyes. I became aware of a conversation going on in the seats behind us.

"Steve," the first voice said. "This is not a good idea."

"Danny," the second voice, obviously Steve, replied. "How can this not be a good idea?"

Danny sounded 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. "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. "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. "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 turned to Patrick. "You've been very quiet," he observed.

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

He reached for my hand and turned it over. "When I guessed what you hadn't told Grace, you touched your lips. Why?"

I shuddered. "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."

Patrick squeezed my hand. "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."

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

He laughed once. "I did ask, just not you."

I looked up at him. "Who else has my locker combination?"

He frowned slightly. "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 frowned. Red John sold things like locker combinations and alarm codes to students with enough money. But for Patrick to have this opinion, something drastic must have happened between them. "What did he do to you?" I asked, looking down at our hands.

Patrick squeezed my hand. "I'll show you some time. Right now, I would like to talk about something else."

We chatted about mundane topics for about another hour. Soon, we slipped into companionable silence. I 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 recognised as Steve replied. "Who is it?"

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

Steve stood up, and followed the stewardess up the aisle. He was a tall, well-built man, with close-cut black hair and piercing blue eyes. A navy tattoo peered out from under his shirt sleeve. Danny was right behind him, a slightly shorter – though no less muscular – man with blonde hair and dark blue eyes. They disappeared into the kitchen, and I glanced at Patrick. He shrugged. I closed my eyes and drifted into a light sleep.

Soon, Patrick nudged me 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 opened the overhead luggage compartment. My purse was wedged between two larger bags, and I struggled to get it out. A much taller person behind me reached over and yanked it free. I turned around to see Steve McGarrett standing behind me. I nodded my thanks and hurried out after Patrick.

We waited at the luggage carousel for our bags to appear. I shifted nervously as I waited, becoming increasingly impatient as my bag took its time getting to me. Patrick spotted our bags, and we lifted them off of the conveyer. I turned around and searched for my family. I spotted Tommy first. With his dark unruly hair, he was hard to miss. I headed towards him. he saw me and his face lit up. "Tessie!" he screamed, running straight at me.

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

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

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

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

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

Tommy still hadn't let go of me. I turned to Patrick. "I'd like you all to meet Patrick Jane. He's the one who paid for me to come here."

Patrick stepped forwards and shook hands with all three of them. it was rather formal, but I glanced around. "How did you get here, James?"

His face turned dark. "Dad brought us."

I almost dropped Tommy. "D-Dad?" I stuttered.

The tall figure of my father strode through the crowd towards us. It had been eight months since I'd seen him, but my heart still dropped when I remembered the nights I'd run from him. I put Tommy down, and turned to face my father. Anthony Lisbon, my father, was a tall man with dark hair. We had all inherited this from him, but I was short like my mother had been. He reached us, and eyes Patrick curiously. "Teresa," he said. "It's so good to see you."

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

He held his arms out to me, and we hugged in the airport terminal. Once he had released me, he turned to Patrick. "Who is this young man?"

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

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

Patrick nodded, and James picked up my suitcase. The six of us headed out to where the car was parked, Tommy gripping my hand tightly and babbling on about all of the things I had missed.

We were soon on our way home, and I sat quietly in the back. James rode up front with my father. Tommy had suddenly become very attached to Patrick, who was in the middle of entertaining him with a simple coin trick. Tommy laughed loudly, and I joined in. Michael sat on my other side, deep in thought. I wrapped my arm gently around his shoulders and gave him a squeeze. "I am so glad to see you guys again," I murmured into his ear.

He sighed. "You're going to go away again though."

At age eleven, Michael had a solid grasp on reality, and knew that I would have to leave again. I sighed, holding him tighter for a few seconds longer. Soon, the car pulled into the driveway of our house. I gazed up at the familiar house in front of me, remembering my mother as she decided what colour to paint the outside. My dad unlocked the front door, and we all followed him in. very little had been moved, by I noticed one or two lamps were missing. James carried my bag upstairs. Patrick followed with his own bag, listening to the sleeping arrangements as ordered by my father. I headed up to my room. nothing had moved from the last time I was there. I sat on the edge of my bed. James came in and sat next to me. "He's been out a week now. Claims he's clean, but only time will tell."

I glanced away. "How bad has it been?"

He shrugged. "We all just hide. He's usually too drunk to come find us. Those two lamps are missing because he threw them at the wall."

I nodded, suspecting as much.

We headed downstairs in time to hear Patrick asking if he could borrow the car. "I would like to take the boys out for the day."

My dad sighed and reluctantly handed over the keys. "Bring her back with even one tiny scratch and there will be trouble."

Patrick nodded, and my brothers followed him out to the car. I headed through to the kitchen, and my dad followed behind me. "Teresa," he said as I opened the fridge. "We need to talk."

I turned to face him. his face wasn't its usual red, but a more normal colour. "What do you want to talk about, dad?"

He looked around. "Leaving the way you did last year was very unexpected. We know you had your reasons, but you abandoned your family."

I shook my head. "I had to find a job to help this family survive."

He sighed. "You could have got one here in Chicago."

"Opportunities were better in California."

He frowned in anger. "Is that where you've been this whole time?"

His voice was beginning to take on a dangerous tone I recognised. I stepped back out of his reach. "I had to leave, dad. This family depends on me being healthy and providing money for them."

"This family depends on you being here. You need to be there for the boys. They miss you, Teresa. We all do."

I stepped back again. "I have a life in California, dad. And a job that is paying for the food back here."

He scowled. "So we're struggling back home, while you're sunning yourself on a beach in California."

I shook my head. "I have been working hard to help the boys. You can ask Patrick…"

My dad cut me off. "I don't trust that boy. I only let him into my house because he brought you here to us. Other than that, he wouldn't be welcome here."

It was my turn to scowl. "You know absolutely nothing about him, dad. How can you not trust him?"

"I just don't trust him, Teresa. He isn't good for you."

I had one more question. "Are you sure you're clear this time?"

he nodded. "I'm positive that this time it's different."

I turned and walked away. I knew that only time would tell whether or not we were safe from him.

A/N2: I hope you liked Jane's idea to take Lisbon home. Please review, because suggestions as to how Jane reacts towards Lisbon's dad will be much appreciated. The more suggestions, the more Jisbon in the next chapter. (Yes, I'm fishing for reviews. It's working though, isn't it?) Thanks.