Author's notes: Thanks as always for the reviews, I love hearing your thoughts. Thanks to the new followers, welcome and to the lovely people who have made this story a favourite. I hope you enjoy this one as they leave Malibu behind.
The next morning their bags are packed and they're loading the car to drive back to Sacramento. The buyer loved the place and an offer was accepted. Jane signed papers that afternoon leaving everything in the realtors hands and now it's time to say goodbye to the place. Jane closes the trunk and turns to look at his home. Lisbon moves to his side and puts her arm through his.
"How are you doing?"
"I'm good. Angela, Charlotte and I were happy here, but it's been an empty mausoleum for so long. It fuelled my revenge, but that's gone too, there's nothing for me here now."
He turns to face her.
"My future's with you and Sacramento. I couldn't be happier."
He kisses her deeply.
"Thank you Teresa for everything."
She traces her finger lightly down the side of his face.
"When we set off on this trip, I never expected it to end in this way. But I'm grateful that it has. I've discovered I've loved you for a long time without realizing it."
"I think that there was too much going on for us to listen, I had a lot to get through before I was ready to be at this point, and it's because of you that I'm here. I'm ready to say good-bye to this place and look forward to spending the rest of my life with you."
Teresa's eyes widen with shock and Patrick realises what he's just said. He smiles at her.
"That sounded a bit like a marriage proposal. And why not. I love you Teresa, I know it with my whole soul. Nothing's felt so right for a long time. We've known each other for so long, there's nothing we don't know about each other that we will learn in the dating ritual. I've lost ten years of my life chasing Red John, I want to live the rest of it, and I want to do it with you. So yes this is a marriage proposal, Will you marry me Teresa?"
Teresa searches his face.
"Are you sure Patrick? It's all so fast."
"I know, but am I sure, but if you need some time to think about it…"
He smiles as she puts her arms around his neck.
"..I won't hold it against you."
"You won't huh, I think I'll never hear the end of it as you tell our children how their mum and dad got together."
Teresa laughs as she see his stunned expression.
"Children a little too fast even for you."
Patrick quickly recovers himself and shakes his head.
"No, no, children would be perfect. I take it that's a yes then?"
"A definite Yes."
Patrick pulls her in to him and buries his face in her hair, failing to hold back emotions. He whispers in her ear.
"I love you Teresa."
"I love you Patrick."
Their lips find each other and they kiss salty kisses until their need of air overcome their emotions.
Patrick rests his chin on top of Teresa's head and takes a last look at his house.
"C'mon let's get going, I suddenly miss Sacramento."
He holds up the car keys he took out of Teresa's pocket and shakes them.
"My turn to drive I think."
Teresa hits him on the arm.
"Okay but I take over in a couple of hours."
"Four?"
"Three. And that's my final offer."
Patrick beams
"Deal"
Patrick's whistling absent-mindedly as he makes his way along the highway, glancing sideways at the woman he loves sitting beside him. Just the thought causes excitement in his stomach. He's just been existing for all these years, living in a fog of hate, sorrow and grief. Blinding him to the joy already in his life just a recognition away. The irony doesn't pass him by. He, the great Patrick Jane, who sees all, couldn't see what was before him every day. But there's no point in useless recriminations. He sees now and they can have a future and one that will surpass anything he ever imagined for himself. Teresa Lisbon knows him better than probably Angela even knew him, she's seen the depths he's capable of sinking too, when the circumstances justify it. She witnessed his shame and despair and dragged him through. She's been his light, he doubts he would be here without her.
She takes his hand and gives it a squeeze as if she's reading his thoughts.
"There's a rest stop coming up, why don't we stop for a bite to eat and then it's my turn to drive."
Patrick smiles at her.
"And I thought you were holding my hand because you love me."
"I do. I'm making sure you're fed and rested."
There's a fruit stall and picnic tables at the rest stop. Patrick stands in line to buy some strawberries and slices of melon while Teresa takes out the sandwiches and drink they brought with them, she spies a table under the shade of a oak tree and settles there. She watches as Patrick waits in line, there are three people ahead of him. The sun is high in the sky and his hair sees to sparkle in it's glow. His attention's drawn to a little boy standing with the a woman directly ahead of him. The boy's holding the woman's hand crying, Teresa would put his age at around four. The woman's holding a younger child in her arms. She turns as Patrick speaks to her and he points to the boy. She smiles gratefully at him and nods her head. Patrick crouches down to the boy's height while taking something out of his pocket. Teresa smiles as she recognises the beginning of a coin trick. The boy's crying changes to sniffles as Patrick holds out his hand for the boy to guess where the coin is, He just stares at Patrick's right hand but doesn't point. Patrick opens the hand carefully to show it's empty, the boy then looks at his left hand, when that turns out to be empty too, Teresa can see the boys eyes bulge with surprise even from her distance. Patrick then points towards the boys socks, and she guesses, he asks him if he can have a look. A smile spreads across the boys face as Patrick produces a coin from the said socks. He hands the coin to the boy and rubs the top of his head. The boy shows it excitedly to the woman and Patrick receives another grateful smile as he straightens up.
Teresa can't help but notice that the woman's eyes linger that bit longer than they should, something she's witnessed many times. Patrick seems oblivious to it as he turns and looks straight at her, no looking around trying to find her, he knows exactly where she is. He smiles at her and her heart flips, she can't believe she's agreed to marry this man who's caused her so much trouble over the years. Who's exasperated her, irritated her, lied to her and left her. She searches inside herself but there are no doubts, or concerns, through all that they developed a friendship as she grew to understand him, his methods and the reason behind his actions. She came to understand that he's a good man, that loves deeply and fiercely. That as his partner and friend she can count on his loyalty and protection.
As he lay in the hospital bed struggling from the aftermath of his encounter with Red John, he'd tried to push her away as he felt shame and self-hatred but in the end they'd worked through things together. He opened up, when he left the hospital, to his confusion as to who he was and how he now fit in to the world. She never imagined it would be as her husband, and she feels the luckiest woman in the world.
"Penny for them."
She jumps as he sets down the fruit, his eyes twinkling with satisfaction at catching her.
"I'm not four, my thoughts are worth a lot more than that."
His eyes register a challenge. He picks up a strawberry.
"How about this nectar of heaven."
"Really."
Patrick nods.
"Open your mouth."
Like a child she opens her mouth and instinctively closes her eyes, but it's not a strawberry she tastes but his lips against hers. As they pull away, she smiles against his lips.
"You're a fast learner Patrick Jane."
"Your thoughts?"
"That I'm the luckiest woman in the world."
"Nothing less than you deserve my dear."