A/N: So, The Mentalist actually did end... Which sadly accounted for the huge break between chapters, as I became incredibly depressed every time I even thought about any of my stories. I kept thinking, "I'm never going to see these characters again, never going to be surprised by them again," but then I kept getting stories from other ff authors in my inbox; stories from Idan, Donnamour, Hayseed Socrates, As-Long-As-I'm-Around, Entwife Incognito, fbiwoman223, and others that got me thinking I was wrong. Then I started reading other stories on ff website from Mayzee, inkstainedfingers97, DashaD, damnitjane, Aleanbh, Brown Eyes Parker, and many others and I realized I was wrong.

As long as awesome fans keep writing for the show I can still see Jane, Lisbon, Cho and the others (albeit in my mind) and can most certainly be surprised by them. You have no idea what that means to me. So thank you so much and keep up the good work. (If I didn't list your name please don't be offended as I am equally grateful to all who have written and continue to write or keep our beloved characters alive in various mediums, including twitter, tumblr, through art work, music videos, etc. You're all my heros!)

"Gibbs just went into Brown's office," Lisbon said in her mic that was now turned on. Jane stole a quick glance in her direction. She was looking at sundresses…near the rack with the condoms on it. Pike and Abbott exchanged quick glances.

"You're used to getting your way," Jane said, then reached for his water and took a sip, "but I wonder Mr. Brown, what you would do if you didn't get your way."

"Do you really want to find out?"

"Honestly, what's the most you can do? Insist I leave?" Jane swirled his ice around. "You wouldn't try and kill me, even though I believe you capable, as a matter of fact I'd be willing to bet that you were responsible for the deaths of those five undercover agents."

"Dammit, Stewart," Pike spat. "You just can't go around sharing that information with everyone you meet."

Jane raised a silencing hand at Pike and continued. "But you won't make me leave, because you're too curious. And you won't harm me or my colleagues because you wouldn't want to draw that kind of attention to your hotel."

Brown held his smirk, but Jane saw his jaw clench. "You're very sure of yourself, aren't you, Mr. Stewart?"

Jane smiled and shrugged.

Brown remained calm outwardly, effecting amusement, but Jane could see his patience was loosely tethered. He had to bring it down a notch. It wasn't time for him to come undone. Not yet. "I won't tell you what I'm up to, but I will extend you an olive branch. The FBI has been sending men out to talk with some of your colleagues today. If I were you, I'd be more worried about that than little ol me and my business deals."

Brown considered this a moment. "You are either very cunning or incredibly stupid."

"Or both," Pike interjected.

Brown looked at Pike and Jane could see the moment Brown decided to believe everything he'd just said, but the small victory was immediately overshadowed.

"Oh no," Lisbon's distressed voice came through again, "Gibbs just left the office. He has a gun."

Chapter 8

As everyone's meals were placed at the table, Jane decided he would have to leave a big tip. It gave everyone just enough distraction to pull themselves together after Lisbon's exclamation. For Jane it became more imperative when Lisbon left the gift shop moving with haste toward Gibbs who came into view just as Lisbon caught up and stayed him with a hand to his arm.

When she reached up and discretely turned off her earpiece it was Jane's chicken and pesto caprese sandwich being placed in front of him that kept his tensing unnoticed by Brown. It was lucky really, because the idea of Lisbon being anywhere near Gibbs and not being able to hear what was going on made Jane's stomach churn. It took him a second to calm himself. It helped that only moments later Cho stepped out of the elevator, keeping his distance from Lisbon, but his attention fastened on her.

Jane looked reluctantly away from her and at Brown. "Are you going to join us?"

Brown's smile looked like it was physically painful for him. "I already ate," he said, "but I'll have a drink." He turned to the waiter and ordered Vodka straight up.

Abbott had remained the calmest outwardly and took a bite of his burger, while Pike glared openly at Brown before cutting into his steak. At least his reaction was fitting with his character.

Abbott and Pike were having an easier time acting normal, but Jane attributed Pike's calm to the fact that his back was to Lisbon and the homicidal maniac she was currently flirting with, and as much as Abbott cared about Lisbon he wasn't in love with her, so as long as she wasn't in any immediate danger he was calm enough.

Jane swallowed the lump in his throat. "You clearly have a way with people," Jane said and plastered a smirk on his face as he looked pointedly from Brown to Pike.

Brown leaned back in his chair. "I could say the same of you, I think. Answer me this, Mr. Stewart. Let's say I chose to believe the information you gave me about the FBI and their visits to my colleagues today only to find out that you are lying to me? You don't actually think I'd let you get away with wasting my time."

"Yet, you think it perfectly okay to waste my time, even after I have been more than amiable," Jane said tersely. Brown's tight smile dropped and Jane leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table. "I couldn't care less if you believe me or not, it's your reputation, your effectiveness, your hotel on the line here—not mine."

The waiter chose the moment of awkward silence to bring Brown's drink and Jane used that to look up at Lisbon. Gibbs smiled at her then went to look over his shoulder and back toward the office. Lisbon's hand shot up and grabbed his face. The move was clearly meant to be flirty, but Gibbs' hand reached up and violently ripped her hand away.

Jane forgot everything else happening at the table as Lisbon bit her lip in a decidedly flirty manner and Gibbs leaned in, his expression somewhere between enraged and horny, and whispered something to her.

If it hadn't been for Wiley's blue baseball hat, and Hawaiian print shorts, Jane never would have seen him walk past Lisbon and Gibbs. Jane now understood why she was allowing Gibbs to twist her hand in what appeared to be a very painful way. He wrenched her a step closer to him. She let out a startled laugh that Gibbs took as encouragement. That wasn't how Jane took it and was out of his chair, crutches forgotten, and moving with purpose toward Lisbon.

From the moment Jane had seen Lisbon touch Gibbs' face to the moment he'd grabbed her other hand pulling her fiercely from Gibbs' grasp and shoving her behind him, he estimated later, had taken less than a minute.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he spat at Gibbs.

Gibbs looked past Jane and at Lisbon, his eyes heavy with rage and lust, before he stared at Jane. "Just working out prices," his voice was filled with mirth now, "and how rough I can be."

Jane's jaw clenched at the unwanted image.

Lisbon came up beside Jane and ran her hand up his arm, before leaning against his shoulder. "As you can see," she addressed Gibbs using an extremely seductive tone, "I'm currently indisposed."

It'd been a long time since Jane could remember being this angry, but he fought to tamper down his fury and think clearly. Wiley had played his part, and blowing it now would do no one any good.

"I bet I could change Mr. Stewart's mind." Gibbs stepped into Jane's personal space. He was a couple inches taller than Jane, and Jane was under no delusions that he was stronger, but he didn't back down. "What do you say?" Gibbs asked.

"I say that this woman is not for sale, and the day you get anywhere remotely close to her again, will be the day that I'm lying dead in a morgue." Jane knew he'd shown his hand here, but he couldn't bring himself to care, still he couldn't leave it like that. He looked over his shoulder at Lisbon. "Go upstairs," he ordered.

Lisbon made eye contact. This wasn't part of the plan. "I haven't had my lunch yet."

"Order room service."

She turned reluctantly and headed for the elevator. Wiley was nowhere in sight, but Jane was relieved to see Cho, jaw firmly clenched, holding the elevator for her. He looked back at Gibbs and went back into the restaurant. Pike, Abbott and Brown watched as he and Gibbs came back and took their seats. Jane saw Gibbs give Brown a meaningful glance.

Brown downed his Vodka. "I think we've intruded on enough of your time for now."

Jane dropped his napkin across his lap. "Yes, you have."

Brown was a little taken aback as Jane had expected him to be, but recovered quickly and smirked. He and Gibbs both stood up.

"Remember Mr. Stewart," Brown said making eye contact with Jane, "I know your plans…"

"Plans that can be changed just as easily as they were made," Jane said.

Pike looked brashly away from Gibbs and at Jane, catching Brown's attention, then quickly looked away when Abbott sent him a warning glare. The message Pike sent was clear: we can't change the plans. Jane had to hand it to the man, he played his part well. Brown was cockier now than before and in exactly the confidant mood they'd wanted him in, one that would make him desperate enough to act irrationally once Gibbs relayed the message that Wiley had left for him.

Brown's smile widened. "Of course. Please send my regards to Teresa for me."

Jane gave a curt nod as he redirected his attention to his sandwich. He took a bite, even though food was the last thing on his mind, as Brown made a quick nod to both Abbott and Pike before he and Gibbs left.

As soon as the men were out of ear shot Abbott spoke, "Did it work?"

"Better than I hoped," Jane said. While his freak out over Teresa hadn't been planned, it had worked to make Brown feel even more confidant. If Patrick Stewart could lose it so easily over a prostitute then Brown would assume he'd be a relatively easy man to set on edge and to outwit.

"I hope you know what you're doing, Jane," Pike said.

Jane's stomach churned. "So do I."

Thirty minutes later Jane, Abbott and Pike entered the hotel suite, Jane feeling incredibly grateful for his crutches. Being lame was unbearable—and his foot was throbbing. Lisbon, Cho and Wiley were all sitting on the couch watching the monitors.

Lisbon gave Jane a hesitant smile while Cho refused to look up from the monitors. He was clearly as happy about what had happened between Lisbon and Gibbs as Jane was. Wiley, however, seemed very pleased with himself. Jane forced a small smile.

"Their security cameras were wiped, just as you said they'd be," Wiley said, sitting up a little taller. "I didn't have a lot of time before Gibbs made an appearance, so I was only able to check back as far as a week, but I'd be willing to bet that the tapes are wiped going back weeks."

"What happened to you?" Pike asked taking a seat on the chair next to the spot where Lisbon sat on the couch.

"He hid under the desk," Lisbon said with a smirk, then looked at Jane, "I told him you'd be very proud.

Jane shoved his hands in pant pockets and nodded. Wiley beamed at him. Everything was going better than according to plan, but he still felt sick. This case was doing a number on him and pretending that it wasn't was becoming increasingly difficult. He forced himself out of his maudlin thoughts and focused on the case with renewed intensity. "You left the note where I said?"

"On one of the monitors, yes" Wiley said. "You should know that they've been wiping their hard drives and shredding documents. A driver's license even, I'm pretty sure," he reached into the pocket of his trunks and pulled out a handful of shredded paper, some of which were laminated and sat them on the table. "Gibbs came in when I was trying to find all the little pieces. I doubt I got them all." He started separating out the laminated pieces.

"It's probably Allie's," Jane said ignoring the lump in his throat and fastening his eyes on the carpet. He had no time to be sad. If Gibbs and Brown were wiping hard drives and destroying evidence, then even his elaborate plan to get them proper search warrants could end up being totally fruitless.

"And what about Don? Do you think he and his team will follow through on their part of the plan?" Abbott asked from the chair he'd taken across from the couch.

Jane responded without looking at Abbott, instead he kept his eyes on the carpet, he needed to think. A few minutes to sort through his memory palace for clever ideas was all he really needed. "A lot's ridding on it, so let's hope."

"If he doesn't, we're all screwed," Cho interjected, his eyes still firmly planted on the screen.

Wiley stayed in his own bubble as he started putting together the pieces of laminate.

"I still don't understand how this is supposed to work?" Pike interjected. "I don't mean to cast doubt, I know you have mysterious ways of working, but even if our plans go through, all we'll have is a bunch of Brown's men on armed robbery. You don't actually expect that any of them will roll over on him?"

Jane turned back to the group. "No, I don't expect that, but these men are smart. Brown paid Gibbs to kill five agents and no one has been able to so much as prove that either of them was even in the country when it happened. We need to tear them apart from the inside. Don's agents will make their partners nervous with their visits, then after tonight when they hear that several of his goons were arrested trying to steal from the FBI's art department they'll threaten to pull their support. Not to mention that we will have grounds for search warrants once you confirm that they were the only ones who could've know about the vans moving 'art' tonight."

"It's a smart plan, but it doesn't get them in jail and it doesn't prove that they're guilty of murder, and if they're destroying evidence there may be nothing to search for even if we do get search warrants," Pike said and ran a hand through his hair, "and considering that both Gibbs and Brown have attorneys starting at a thousand dollars an hour I'd say that's a big if. So, tell me, what's your backup plan?"

Jane looked at Pike, feeling his ire rise. "There is no backup plan." Not yet anyway.

Pike scooted forward in his chair. "What do you mean there's no backup plan?" he asked with barely contained fury.

"What, do you want me to spell it out for you?" Jane snapped.

"Jane," Lisbon said.

Jane didn't look at her.

Pike came out of his chair and then Abbott stood as well.

"I had your back with Don because I've seen how you work," Pike said, "and I know what you're capable of, so please, just tell me that all of this leads to proving that they murdered those agents? Because my jobs on the line here, all of our jobs are on the line—Teresa's job is on the line…" Pike pointed at her.

The sinking feeling came again. "I can't tell you that," Jane said.

"You can't?" Pike sounded on the verge of losing it.

There was an awkward moment of silence before Abbott broke in. "Nothing is ever guaranteed."

"But this is Jane. The FBI's golden child, the man who never messes up—"

"Give me a break," Jane said rolling his eyes for emphasis. "That has nothing to do with this."

"Jane," Abbott warned.

"No, if he's suggesting something, then I want to know what?" Pike said.

Jane obliged. "If you're so desperate for a backup plan then you come up with one yourself. Then maybe you'd finally have a purpose for being here besides trying to steal my girlfriend from under my nose."

"You have a lot of nerve," Pike returned.

Lisbon flew to her feet. "All right that's enough."

Jane ignored her. "Do something useful for once. Because right now there's not one person in this room who thinks you volunteered us because I'm the FBI's 'golden child'. You act like you care about finding justice for those agents when your motives had nothing to do with them and everything to do with getting Lisbon here. You sanctimonious jackass!"

Pike crossed the distance between himself and Jane in two quick and unexpected strides and punched Jane in the nose. Having balanced himself on his good foot, Jane lost his balance and fell back on the floor. When his vision cleared he looked up in time to see Cho pushing Pike back and Lisbon pulling his arm.

"I care about those men," Pike yelled. "More than you do. And I clearly care more about this team and Teresa, because I realize that their jobs are important to them."

"Marcus," Lisbon said over him, "stop."

"Get him out of this room," Abbott ordered pointing toward the balcony as he came around the coffee table.

Pike was still glaring at Jane when Lisbon pulled him firmly toward her. He looked at her, then immediately calmed and allowed her to drag him outside. When the door was shut behind them, Abbott and Cho both turned and looked down at Jane.

"You deserved that, you know?" Abbott said as Cho reached down and helped Jane to his feet. "What are you trying to do? Push Lisbon into his arms?"

"Well, you're sure as hell not helping," Jane said signaling to the balcony where Lisbon and Pike stood huddled together. He felt his blood boil and started toward the door while Cho was retrieving his fallen crutches. The pain in his foot proved to be too much for him though and he fell onto the couch and grabbed his foot, rubbing his ankle tenderly.

"Jane!" Abbott warned.

Cho gave him a withering look and handed him his crutches. "Don't be an idiot."

"Thanks, buddy," Jane said as he yanked the crutches out of his hand.

"For someone so smart," Abbott said, "you never learn. Give them a minute Jane. Give her a minute."

"Doesn't appear that I have much choice in the matter now does it," Jane said under his breath.

Abbott put his hands on his hips. "You may not like Pike, but we need his help."

Cho sat down and fixed his gaze on the monitors, clearly wanting nothing to do with this conversation.

"We could get by without him," Jane retorted, "we do every day."

"And how do you think that'd look to Lisbon?" asked Abbott

Jane huffed.

"I'll tell you how. It'd make you look petty and make her feel like you don't trust her. Is that what you want?"

"He punched me in the nose," Jane said and pointed to his sore nose.

Wiley cleared his throat, startling Jane. He looked to his left over Cho and at the young agent—irritated that he'd somehow forgotten all about him.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I put the license together as best I could," Wiley said from the far end of the couch. He must have scooted down so Cho could sit in the middle next to Jane. "It doesn't belong to Allie after all."

That caught Jane's attention.

"Who does it belong to then?" Cho asked, suddenly interested again.

"Looks like Erin Clare, maybe?"

Jane, Cho and Abbott all leaned forward to look at the pieces that had been put together on the table. Wiley hadn't gotten all the pieces from the shredder, but he'd gotten enough to see that her name probably was Erin Clare, and to see that the picture was of Allie.

"That's Allie," Jane said. "It's not uncommon for these girls to change their names." There was still something about it that wasn't quite right to him, but he couldn't focus while Lisbon was outside with Pike. He looked past Cho and Wiley at Lisbon and Pike and tried to read their lips. Neither of them was facing him directly making it impossible, so he quickly abandoned that track and went for body language.

Abbott looked at Allie's driver's license in the meantime. "That poor girl. She was barely twenty-one."

Lisbon's hands were on her hips, which was typically a good sign, but her expression was sympathetic and that was a decidedly bad sign. She and Pike spoke for a few more minutes, Jane not even bothering to pretend he wasn't watching even when Lisbon caught him staring. When they made to return, she reached up and stroked Pike's arm quickly, then allowed him to precede her inside.

Just as Pike reached for the doorknob Lisbon's attention was momentarily drawn in the direction of Gibbs' room. Jane dropped his gaze from them as soon as the door opened and they came in. He made a show of lifting his leg onto the coffee table next to the monitors and moaning loudly only to feel put out when he was ignored.

"I need to get back to HQ and make sure Don follows through," Pike said to Abbott, his tone much calmer now. "I think it'd be a good idea if you and Cho came with me. I have a feeling we might need to tag team him and his men."

Abbott nodded. "I was thinking the same thing."

Cho immediately stood up and Wiley's shoulders slumped. Apparently no one wanted to be alone in the room with him and Lisbon. Jane crossed his arms.

"Keep watching the monitors and keep us up to date," Abbott said.

"Yes sir," Wiley said.

"Oh, and Jane," Abbott continued, Jane clenched his jaw, but looked up. "Stay off your foot." He wasn't asking. "Cho, let's go."

Jane watched as Cho followed behind Pike and Abbott to the door. Lisbon trailed them and a moment later Jane heard her engage the lock. An anxious churning in his gut grew stronger as he waited for her to come back in the room.

She stopped when she did and made eye contact. She was pissed. He gave her a hopeful, but he was also certain, pathetic smile. She looked away from him and to Wiley.

"I am going into the master suite and ordering room service, then I am going to take a shower. Can I order you anything, Jason?"

"No, I loaded the mini-bar up with food, I'm good, thanks," Wiley said with a smile.

Lisbon returned it. "Okay," she said. She turned her heel on them and headed to the door. Jane reached for his crutches and started to stand. She must have heard, because she stopped in the doorway and made eye contact. She seemed calm now. "I want to be alone. I need time to think."

She closed the door soundlessly, that was until Jane heard the small click of the door being locked. It felt like a punch to the gut.

A/N: I've started another story called Regencyland for anyone who is interested. Sort of like Austenland, but with Lisbon investigating a murder while being distracted or maybe even chatted up by Jane.

I still have a few Mentalist stories I'd like to tell if there are still readers out there to read them. :)

Reviews are appreciated.