Author's Note: I should warn you that this chapter ends with a cliffhanger (again). This should be the last one! But if you hate that sort of thing, you may want to wait until I post the next chapter, which I hope to do this weekend.

Disclaimer: It's been a while since I disclaimed, so here goes: I own nothing to do with The Mentalist and am making no money from this. I also know nothing about poker, having discovered at a young age that I lack the ability to bluff. I tried not to get into the details of the game, but please forgive any inaccuracies.

Chapter 54

Lisbon put a hand to her mouth and swallowed hard. Ray Haffner? How many times had she smiled at him as they chatted over a cup of coffee or quick lunch? She'd been betting on Stiles or Bertram. But it made terrible sense that Red John was a cop. He'd know how to immobilize people and what evidence the cops would look for, as well as how to avoid leaving any traces of himself.

Unless—maybe this was a misdirect? She clung to Jane's hand, pushing down her horror so she could focus on what was happening.

"So," Jane said casually, "you had to resort to kidnapping Lisbon since she refused your job offer? I imagine if she'd accepted, things would have gone far more smoothly for you. Too bad she can't be tempted by money." He looked at Bertram. "You must have enjoyed that little scene when you reassigned him after I'd demonstrated that Lisbon is the only person I will work for. He probably made you pay for it later, though. He enjoys manipulating you even though you're the one who's in authority. Does it work that way for you as well, Bret?"

Bret smiled. "I prefer to think not. Though I will admit that he had me fooled for several years. By the time I realized what he was doing, he had built a considerable following. I trust you will remain unswayed, Patrick."

"I can guarantee you nothing while my wife and child are in his power," Jane replied. "Let us go, and I promise you I will make sure he won't be a problem any longer."

"What makes you think he can? He is outnumbered here," Schultz pointed out.

Haffner chuckled. "Brother Stiles cares about Visualize more than anyone or anything. And he knows that if it is ever revealed that Red John is an influential member of the church, that will be the end. Whatever he hoped to achieve by bringing you here, letting you arrest me isn't it."

Jane's smile was chilling. "Given a gun and handcuffs, Lisbon would arrest you. I have no interest in that. All I want is a knife."

Lisbon squeezed his hand in warning. Just the thought of him carrying through on his old threat to cut Red John open and watch him bleed to death was making her stomach churn. If he got the chance to do it, she might never be able to eat again.

"Now, now," Stiles said. "Poor Agent Lisbon is not nearly well enough for this sort of talk."

"No, she's not," Jane agreed after a glance at her. He raised their joined hands to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. "Sorry, love. Shall we call it a night?"

"But we're just getting started," Bertram said.

Haffner said, "Teresa is free to do as she likes. I'm not sure you are staying, Jane."

"Oh?" Jane said. Lisbon could feel his tension. "You have somewhere else in mind for me?"

Haffner smiled. "This is a medical facility. We have a medical waste incinerator on site. Very handy."

"No!" Lisbon choked. "Don't you dare. If you kill him, I swear I'll—" she broke off, swallowing against the urge to vomit again.

"Teresa, ssh," Jane soothed, sliding a hand into her hair and massaging gently. "Relax. He's bluffing. You need to stay calm, all right?"

She leaned against him, and he let go of her hand to put his arms around her. She was not going to let him out of her sight, she resolved. She would protect him, like she always did. And if Haffner wanted the baby, that gave her leverage.

She lifted her head and glared at the man she'd thought was a friend. "If you kill him, you won't get what you want. I'll find a way to kill myself before the baby's born."

It was a total bluff, but she hoped he wouldn't know that. Jane backed her up by sounding completely horrified as he said, "Teresa, don't talk like that. Ever. Do you hear me?"

"It would be better than being stuck here knowing I'm never going to see you again, watching him twist our baby into a psychopath," she replied, not having to fake a sniffle at the thought.

He kissed her forehead. "There would still be people who need you, who care about you," he said gently. "Bertram took you right from under our noses. I'm not the only one feeling guilty about that. Besides, you won't be stuck here. They'll find you. And Auntie Grace and Uncle Wayne and Uncle Kimball will have a blast telling the baby stories about his daddy."

"Tell you what," Haffner said. "You think playing for money is boring, so let's raise the stakes. If you lose the next hand, you lose a hand. Literally."

"No," Lisbon said firmly.

"Oh, I'm not going to chop it off in front of you," Haffner assured her. "It will be a surgical amputation. But if you want to keep him here, I need some way of limiting the mischief he can cause."

"No," Lisbon said. She looked at Jane. "You're not playing for body parts. Unless you want me to throw up on you next."

Jane smiled. "Relax, Teresa. I never gamble with body parts. Ray, really, if you want this baby born healthy, I suggest you stop trying to upset her. If she's having this much trouble at five weeks, that suggests a difficult, possibly high risk, pregnancy ahead. I need to be here for her. I know you've already figured that out, because you're not an idiot. I'm not going to try to escape or do anything that would put her at risk or upset her. You have all the guarantee you need right here. Now, please let me take her to our room, wherever that is, so she can get some rest."

"She's closer to six weeks," Haffner said.

"Really?" Jane grinned at Lisbon. "Looks like I gave you a bigger birthday present than I intended."

Lisbon felt herself blush. Yes, the dates lined up, and they'd had unprotected sex on that occasion. They'd remembered the condom for their first bout, but they'd gotten carried away for the second. While she would have preferred to think they'd made the baby during a romantic moment, she wouldn't trade the memory of that intense, raw passion for anything. The nausea gave way to a pleasant glow of arousal just thinking about it.

Before Jane could tease her about her blush, Haffner added, "And nothing points to a difficult pregnancy. Her age is the only real cause for concern, but she's very fit and in excellent health, so the doctor isn't classifying her as high risk."

Lisbon was disgusted at the thought of Haffner looking over her medical records—and ordering that humiliating ultrasound!—but she was more concerned that he seemed to be implying Jane's presence wasn't necessary.

Jane shook his head. "And this doctor has known her how long? A week? Ray, you know how Teresa is. She forgets to eat, she doesn't sleep, and she's the biggest caffeine addict I know. She's a mess of bad habits. Believe me; I've been living with them for six months now. This excellent health she's in is because I've been planning her diet, making her drink decaf, and ensuring that she sleeps at least six hours a night, when possible."

"That's true," she said. "My own doctor said marriage has been good for me. My blood pressure's down, and I gained back the weight I lost last year like she told me to."

"Besides," Jane said, "when the hormones really kick in, I'm going to have a full time job on my hands keeping her happy. I'll be too exhausted to make trouble."

Lisbon pinched him in retaliation, but he just smiled at her.

Schultz said, "If we're not playing poker, I'll be going. I have a breakfast meeting."

"All right," Haffner said, reaching for the cards, "these are the stakes: if Jane wins the hand, he can stay with Teresa tonight. If anyone else wins, they get to pick where he sleeps."

"Hm. Interesting," Stiles said.

As Haffner dealt the cards, Jane said, "So, Bret. If Ray here has so many of your followers on his side, aren't you afraid of a coup? Or that he'll arrange for your untimely demise so he can take over?"

"Ray has neither the administrative talent nor the ambition to run a global enterprise," Stiles said. "So, no. The church cannot be led by a man with such a blackened soul."

"Oh please," Haffner said. "You once called me the brightest of your spiritual children. Just because you don't have the stomach to confront the sacredness of death up close doesn't make you a better man. Even Jane has killed, though he didn't get his hands dirty. And he isn't afraid to get close to corpses." He looked at Jane. "Death fascinates you, doesn't it? Ever since you first caught the scent of your wife's blood, you've wondered about it, about what she felt and thought. You've felt its pull."

Jane cleared his throat, and when he spoke, his voice held barely controlled rage. "You know nothing of what I've felt. My interest in death is confined to yours. I've examined bodies to bring their killers to justice, because that was how I could remain with the CBI and hunt you."

"Fine job. Bravo. I've been right under your nose all this time," Haffner retorted. "You never suspected me. So much for your vaunted cleverness. This isn't a victory for you, Jane. You haven't caught me, and you can't kill me. But I can kill your second wife and child right in front of you this minute if I choose. Maybe I will. Though I admit I would regret killing Teresa. I hoped to restore her to the strong, rational person she was before you corrupted her."

Lisbon looked at her crappy hand, trying not to look as anxious as she felt. Jane was hard to beat, but it was possible, especially if he got emotional or distracted. And if he didn't win, she needed to. There was no way she would sleep tonight if they were separated. She felt panicky just thinking about it.

Considering her cards, her best bet was to occupy Haffner so Jane could concentrate. "You never really knew me," she claimed. "I haven't been corrupted. You're the one who messed with my mind. Patrick helped me recover."

Haffner scoffed, "So you're saying that if this had happened five years ago, you would have made the same choices?"

"Of course I've changed in five years," she replied. "I hope for the better. I know I've grown." And her relationship with Jane had been completely different then. Jane had been completely different then, less honest with her, less open. She didn't think they could have gotten through this if it had happened five years ago. They'd just been starting to get close, and he wouldn't have been able to love her like he did now.

Jane must have been thinking along the same lines, because he said softly, "I would have been a disaster for Teresa then. But it wouldn't have occurred to you to force us together five years ago. You only started thinking about that when you realized I was in love with her."

Haffner nodded. "Fair enough. I knew you were too selfish to put her safety above your own desire. How does it feel, knowing you condemned her to this?"

Lisbon hated this argument when it came from Jane; she hated it even more coming from Red John. "He didn't. You did," she snapped. "You are the only one responsible for your actions, Ray. If you're such a profound thinker, you should know that." She traded three cards, which marginally improved her hand.

Jane discarded only one, which made her nervous and hopeful at the same time.

Haffner said, "Justify it however you like, Teresa, but Patrick knows the truth. He knew what would happen to anyone he allowed himself to get close to. You are alive only because I like you."

Jane said, "And, of course, because you were enjoying my misery."

"I owed you some misery," Haffner agreed, "since you made a fool of me when we worked together. That was when I realized how far you would go for Teresa—and that you must have strong feelings for her. I was so delighted with that discovery that I didn't punish you for your misdeeds. I knew I would have my revenge, and that she would be the instrument."

Stiles folded, to Lisbon's dismay; he seemed like the only other one who might not want to separate her and Jane. Jane remained cool as ever, but Lisbon was shaken by Manchester's grin as he threw his chips into the pot. With less at stake, she would have folded herself, but she didn't dare.

When it came time to lay their cards on the table, she was elated to see Jane's straight flush. But then Haffner laid his royal flush down.

Jane stared at the cards. "You cheated!"

"You lost," Haffner smirked. "Get over it. Teresa, you may say goodnight now. Patrick will be spending the night in a padded cell, where he belongs."

"No!" Lisbon threw her arms around Jane, holding on for dear life. They would have to pry her loose by brute force, she resolved.

Jane put his arms around her as well, murmuring, "It's going to be all right, Teresa. Whatever happens, I'll be back for you. I promise."

Should she pretend to faint? Break out in hysterical weeping? She felt close to doing both. "I'm going with him," she told Haffner.

"Now Teresa, that wouldn't be good for the baby," he replied.

Bertram's phone rang, and he stepped away from the table to answer it.

"Do you want me to beg? I will. I'll do whatever you want!" she said desperately.

Stiles said, "This is heartbreaking. Two lovers so briefly reunited. Where is your sense of romance, Ray?"

Haffner rolled his eyes, but before he could respond, Bertram snapped, "What? Well, stop them!" He listened for a second, then said, "I don't care! Evacuate the building, shut down the power, anything! Arrest Van Pelt for illegally accessing secure information—yes, I'm sure it's her! Who else would be trying to trace my phone from inside the CBI?"

Lisbon felt a spurt of hope and terror. What was Van Pelt thinking, doing something so obvious?

Haffner stood, annoyed. "Ladies and gentlemen, our game is over. Teresa and I must be going."

Manchester promptly headed for the door. "See you next time," he called.

Jane's embrace became near-suffocating. "Teresa's not going anywhere without me," he declared.

Bertram hung up. "What about me?" he demanded anxiously.

Stiles stood. "Don't worry, Gale. I'm sure we can think of someone you are here visiting. I'll stay and help with that. Alexa?"

"She's with me," Haffner said. He grimaced at Jane and Lisbon. "We don't have time to deal with this right now. Bring him along."

Jane gave Lisbon a reassuring squeeze as they began moving, but she saw the lines of tension around his mouth and was anything but reassured.

mmm

Lisbon and Jane kept one arm firmly around each other as they followed Haffner down to the lobby, Schultz following closely behind. They paused at the reception desk for Haffner and Schultz to retrieve their weapons from a safe, then went outside to a waiting limo.

Jane was thinking hard, putting pieces together. His first impulse was to delay their departure, since he knew the team had this location. But then why would Van Pelt track Bertram's phone and fail to cover her tracks? Was Cho flushing them out? They'd be easier to get to on the road than in a secure building. That had to be it.

The driver remained in the car, but a depressingly muscular guard was holding the back door open for them. That made four people he'd have to worry about when the team made their move. The others didn't know Lisbon was pregnant, so there might be more risk in their plan than Jane was prepared to tolerate. He'd have to focus on keeping Lisbon and the baby safe.

Haffner and Schultz claimed the back seat, leaving the backward-facing seat for Jane and Lisbon. Jane frowned in concern as Lisbon settled herself, asking, "Will you be okay riding backward?"

Haffner said, "Alexa, change places with her."

"No," Lisbon said quickly. "I'm fine here." She reached for Jane's hand as the car door closed.

"Seat belt," Jane prompted her. He fastened his own, knowing that would make her far more likely to comply. She did, reluctantly letting go of his hand. Jane took the opportunity to fiddle with his wedding ring, betting Haffner had noticed such an obvious tell when they worked together.

Unfortunately, Lisbon was also familiar with it, and the sign that he was uncomfortable made her anxious. When she slid her hand over his, he twined their fingers together to reassure her.

Stiles had blindfolded him for the drive here, but he remembered a long road with no other traffic. The team would make their move before they got anywhere near innocent bystanders. He hoped Grace was okay, but reflected that whatever was happening at CBI, she was surely safer than being in the thick of whatever was about to happen. He didn't have to fake his anxiety when he thought of his pregnant wife in a crossfire.

They'd been on the road about fifteen minutes when the car swerved slightly, then rumbled to a rough stop.

"What happened?" Haffner demanded.

"Flat tire," the driver replied.

"I don't feel so well," Lisbon murmured.

"Fabulous," Schultz sighed.

Jane said, "Can we get out? The fresh air might help her." He took off his seatbelt hopefully.

Haffner drew his gun. "She can. You stay put. If she wanders off, I'll act accordingly. Alexa, go with her."

"Go on," Jane encouraged Lisbon. Get away, he thought to her.

Her mulish expression told him she had no intention of leaving him behind, but she was definitely nauseated again, so she undid her seatbelt and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before sliding out of the car to join Schultz.

"So," Jane said, looking at Haffner, "what's next? The Visualize version of an oubliette?"

"We have a meditation center in the mountains, very remote," Haffner said.

"Sounds scenic," Jane said cheerfully. "Better than a padded cell any—"

He broke off as a shot shattered the rear window. Jane, less surprised than Haffner, dove for the open car door and went sprawling onto the asphalt as Haffner fired just over his head. Jane kicked the door shut and scrambled into the darkness, toward the sound of a nearby scuffle. Damn it, didn't Lisbon know better than to get into a fight with a baby to protect?

There was only a half moon, so he couldn't see very well, but he recognized the cry of pain he heard as Lisbon's. Before he could reach her, an unfamiliar cry followed, and the car door swung open. Another shot whistled overhead, but Jane thought it had come from the nearby trees. The cavalry was keeping Haffner in the car, giving him time to find Lisbon. What he wouldn't give for a flashlight.

"Jane!" He heard Lisbon hiss, so he changed direction slightly. A moment later, his outstretched hand met hers and clasped.

"I couldn't get her gun," she whispered. "Is that Cho and Rigsby out there?"

"Yes. You all right?" he replied urgently.

"Fine. Let's find some cover." She tugged at his hand, and he followed. They'd barely reached the safety of the trees when they heard another series of shots, followed by Cho shouting, "CBI! Hands on your head!"

Jane looked over his shoulder to see that the driver's door had opened, illuminating him and the guard standing with their hands on their heads. Good, that was two down. They only needed to avoid Schultz and Haffner, who had apparently snuck out of the car since Cho wasn't yelling at him to get out.

"Where's the goddamned SWAT team?" Lisbon muttered as Rigsby appeared near the front of the car, illuminated by the headlights.

"How could we trust one?" Jane whispered back.

"You mean they're out here alone?" Lisbon stopped, then started to turn back.

"Wait," Jane insisted. "You're not armed."

"Rigs'll have a spare."

He dug in his heels, pulling her to a stop. "No. Wait for them to give the all-clear."

"We're not any safer here," she hissed.

A rustle nearby drove home her point, so Jane started moving again. They'd only gone a few steps before Lisbon stumbled, pulling him off balance. He managed to stay on his feet, but Lisbon's hand was yanked out of his grip. He heard her suck in a breath. "Teresa?" he whispered.

"Everybody stay where you are," Haffner shouted from far too close, "or Teresa dies."

A flashlight shone in Jane's face, blinding him. He held up a hand and blinked, making out Lisbon looking more annoyed than terrified, one of Haffner's arms around her waist and his gun to her head. "Ray," he said, trying to keep his terror out of his voice, "you have nothing to gain by killing Teresa. So far we have no evidence that you're Red John. You kill an agent, and there's no walking away."

"What, if I let her go you'll just let me walk away?" Haffner scoffed.

"Yes," Jane said. It was possibly the most honest word he'd ever spoken.

"After ten years of hunting me? I don't think so." He chuckled. "Besides, if your friends are here, they found something, somewhere. Maybe I could outrun them, but maybe not. Maybe I'd rather go out on a high note. I've always regretted not being able to see your face when you found your family. It would be fitting if the last thing I saw was your expression as I killed your second family right in front of you."

Cho yelled, "Give it up, Haffner! Drop the gun, now."

Haffner's smile was bitter as he kept his eyes on Jane. "Shooting is really such a clumsy way to kill someone. I would so much rather make Teresa a work of art. And the baby too, of course. Killing two people at once—it would be my masterpiece. And you would be part of it, your screams mingling with hers as I set her free from the prison she has made for herself. Scream after scream after scream. Harmony and dissonance. Wouldn't you like to see her freed, Patrick? Wouldn't it be beautiful to see her fly free?"

Jane recognized the timbre of his voice and wanted to laugh. "You can't hypnotize a master hypnotist, Ray. And Teresa can spot that a mile away by now. Can't you, love?"

Lisbon made no response, blinking drowsily. Jane felt his heart clench. "Lisbon!" he called sharply.

Haffner laughed, and for the first time Jane heard the insanity in his voice.

"Teresa!" Jane tried again, to no avail. He clenched his fists, nearly panting in his anxiety.

Haffner said, "You trained her too well, Patrick. You made her susceptible so you could play your little games, never thinking someone else could exploit it. Perhaps I won't have to shoot her after all."

Jane fastened his eyes on Lisbon's as Haffner released his hold on her waist, reaching for something in his pocket. The gun wavered ever so slightly as his attention turned to his search.

Lisbon's vacant gaze locked onto Jane's.

Then they were plunged into darkness as the flashlight went flying.

mmm

Lisbon prayed Jane had the sense to duck as the gun went off, still much too close to her head. Half deafened, she yanked at it as she kicked Haffner's legs out from under him, trying but failing not to fall as well. The impact loosened his grip, and she tore the gun out of it, then rolled away as he swung his other hand at her. The faint moonlight glinted off the blade he now held.

"Boss!" Rigsby yelled.

"I'm okay!" she shouted back. "Find Schultz!"

Jane had grabbed the flashlight, but instead of pointing it at Haffner like any sensible person would have done, he swung it at his wrist, knocking the knife out of his hand with a sickening crunch of bone. Then Jane got down on his knees, switching the flashlight to his left hand and holding the blade in his right. "I've waited ten years for this," he said hoarsely. "Is this the same knife? The one you used on my family?"

Haffner sneered at him. "What does it matter? You don't have the guts to use it."

Jane put the blade against Haffner's neck. Lisbon's stomach turned, and she felt cold dread trickle down her spine. "Jane," she said, "I've got him covered."

Jane looked up at her, his face eerily unfamiliar in the shadows the flashlight cast. "This is my right, Lisbon. You've always known that."

She drew in a shaky breath. "If you do this, you'll go to prison. I need you, Patrick. Our baby needs you. Is your revenge worth leaving us? Missing your child's birth?" Please, please listen to me, she begged him silently. Her free hand went to her stomach, and Jane's gaze followed the gesture.

This was it, she thought, suddenly sick with doubt. This was the moment she found out if the life they'd built together was really what he wanted, or if it had all been a long con after all. If he saw this little life inside her as a beloved child or a mistake made in a haze of lust. If he had ever truly loved her.

Then his eyes met hers, and her knees nearly buckled in relief. He lifted the blade and sat back on his heels, letting out a long breath. His expression was unhappy, but he kept looking at her, letting her know he'd made his choice.

She smiled at him, blinking hard at the tears that were trying to fall. She wanted to thank him, but she was too choked up, hardly able to breathe through the relief and love welling up in her. Part of her had never really believed she could mean more to him than killing Red John, but she shouldn't have doubted him. She never would again, she resolved.

Her shoulder exploded in pain at the same time she heard the gunshot. As she fell, she heard Jane scream, "Teresa!"

Then her head hit something hard and sharp, and everything went black.