Author's notes: Thanks for your lovely reviews as always. I think you just might like this chapter.
Teresa only goes around the block as she doesn't know her way around and Patrick needs to buy some paint. Although he hasn't talked about it she has a good idea why he needs it. As she pulls back into the car park Patrick's pacing back and forth bringing his phone to his ear. His back is towards her and she beeps at him and is perversely satisfied to see him jump. His face erupts in to a big grin when he realises that it's her. He makes sure he's safely strapped in the vehicle before saying anything.
"I knew you'd be back, you can't remember how to get back to the house can you?"
Teresa doesn't look at him.
"I would have found my way if I wanted to. It's just I promised I would look after you and you've already had a busy day."
"Ohhhhh..okay. That's very kind of you."
Teresa mumbles:
"You better believe it."
After a couple of minutes of silence with only Patrick giving directions, Patrick seeks to fix things.
"Let's call it even shall we and no more tricks from me for the rest of the day."
Teresa looks at him.
"You promise?"
"Yes I promise, cross my heart. Just turn in there."
"Wait a minute, just for today?"
A smile spreads across Jane's face.
"You can't take away all my fun."
Lisbon parks the car and follows Patrick into the exclusive paint shop. She look at the prices and lets out a soft short whistle.
"I could paint my whole apartment three times for the price of a can."
Patrick looks ruefully at her.
"I know it's outrageous but it's what we used...at my insistence I must add...I was a different man back then."
"I understand. You grew up with nothing and when you could afford it you wanted the best. You wanted the best for Angela and you took satisfaction knowing that you'd succeeded in the world."
"Ridiculous hey? I should've been hiding away, as it was ill-gotten gains. I earned it by deceiving people, treating everyone as a mark."
"You helped a lot of people."
"I was a con man...still am."
"Yea but now you use your powers for good."
Patrick can't stop himself from returning Teresa's smile.
"I guess this is heavy stuff to be getting into in a paint store."
Lisbon eyes turn serious.
"Patrick, you made mistakes and have paid a high price and have more than served your penance, it's time to forgive yourself."
Patrick is nodding his head.
"I know...I'm trying...I guess it's just being back here...so many memories..."
His hand picks up the colour he needs.
"Lets get this done."
Back at the house while Patrick's digging out his decorating equipment, Teresa is dragging his mattress out of the room and putting in to hers. She hears him shout her name from downstairs and together they lay down the protective sheets on top of the carpet and set up the bench for Patrick to reach the high spots. Patrick places the can of paint on a fold up table and Teresa sets down the paint brushes and rollers. Patrick's staring at the face, his expression unreadable, Teresa reaches out and touches his arm.
"Are you all right."
Patrick's reply comes out a murmur
"Yes I'm fine."
He steps towards the wall and traces the bottom of the circle with his finger.
"It's the last bit I have of her..."
He turns to face Teresa.
"...Is that ghoulish?"
Teresa's taken aback, she wonders if she's equipped to deal with all the stuff Patrick has going on. She's unsure how to answer him, she plumps for honesty.
"It is a bit."
Teresa lets out the breath she didn't realise she was holding when he smiles at her.
"Your right."
He moves to the table and prise's the lid off the paint can. He picks up a stick lying next to it and stirs the paint. He pours the paint into the trays and picks up a brush, walking over to the wall he dips the brush in the paint, and with a deep breath and a stroke of his brush the smiley face begins to disappear.
"Are you going to stand there, or are you going to help?"
Teresa makes a pot of tea and her coffee while Patrick's rinsing out the painting tools. She's standing on the deck sipping her drink when she realises that he hasn't come downstairs. She goes to the bottom of the staircase and listens but she can't hear any water running. She moves up the stairs and finds him in the doorway of his room.
"It looks better don't you think?"
"It does."
She hears Jane sigh.
"It's over, Red John isn't a part of my life any more. Angela and Charlotte are just memories now. They've been gone a long time."
"Yes they have."
Patrick turns to face her.
"But I have you Teresa, and I don't want to lose you."
"You're not going to lose me."
He moves a step closer to her and she can feel his breath faintly on her face.
"I don't want to lose you because of me, because I pushed you away, or because I walked away."
He takes her hand and with his other hand he traces her jaw line. She closes her eyes at his touch.
"It's not because you're all I have left in my life...even though you are...I know I dread the thought of this time together being over and not spending every minute of the day with you. I know I'm a risk, I know I don't have a lot to offer right now, but I hope you will give me a chance...give us a try."
Author's notes: I hope you don't think I'm too mean leaving the chapter there. I hadn't really expected to get to this point in this chapter (or even in the story) but I've tried to make my way through this story by what feels right, and it felt right. I hope you agree.