Chapter 7 – The Gift

He waited anxiously for Lorelei's reappearance. Although to an innocent bystander it would appear he were just another loser, driven to drink by Vegas' temptations as he sat at the bar. She'd said he'd perhaps want some kind of gift, to show his appreciation, his...gratitude? He shook his head, his stomach a pit of revulsion but his brain recognising and applauding the sociopath's sense of self importance. That he could truly believe Jane would what...forgive him? He laughed humourlessly, earning him a frown from the barman that he waved away with a request for another drink.

What kind of gift would he require? Nothing of monetary value she'd said. He'd effectively persuaded Lorelei that Lisbon was out of his life but convincing Red John of that would be another matter. His stomach somersaulted and he tried to think of something else he might require. Something other than her. But there was nothing else that mattered in his life apart from Lisbon even before they'd made love and was certain Red John had already known that for some time. He couldn't help but think that she would be part of this deal for salvation as much as he'd attempted to mitigate circumstances otherwise.

He saw her appear as he peered through the mirror behind the bar, settled his expression to one of desperation. She touched his arm, 'Let's go somewhere a little quieter to discuss this, Patrick.'

'Okay. Lead the way', he responded gesturing for her to go in front of him. As they made their way to a closed door Lorelei pressed a key card into it and they entered, Jane hiding his nervousness as he detected the lack of security cameras inside. A small room set up with a poker table lay in front of them. Only the two of them present Jane asked, 'So, are we having a game? Normally more players are required to make it interesting.'

She laughed and came closer, her eyes scrutinising his face. 'We're not playing cards, Patrick. But that's not to say high stakes won't be involved.'

'Normally I'm the one speaking in riddles. Now I can see why it annoys people.' He dropped the amusement from his face. 'I take it you talked to Red John. What does he want from me?'

'Before we get to that I need to search you for weapons. Or a wire. Just in case. You understand.'

'Of course' he replied politely.

He held his arms outstretched as hers snaked around him, her hands feeling under his jacket, sweeping slowly over his shirt. She moved to roving around his pants, her hands roaming down his legs. He stood with his vision focused on the wall opposite him as she continued to pat him down. He was pretty sure Airport Security Staff were a tad less vigilant or touchy. After she was satisfied he was clean she smiled sweetly at him and he shrugged, on the tip of his tongue to ask her if it was good for her. She had lifted his cell phone and turned it off, taking the battery out. 'I'll keep hold of this in case you acquire a conscience or change of heart after we talk some more. And remember, you're being watched if you decide to do something stupid.'

She continued, 'Red John was sorry to hear about your little break up with Agent Lisbon.'

'Somehow I sincerely doubt that.'

She laughed quietly. 'Did you know I was supposed to be a gift for you?'

He narrowed his eyes at her, feigning confusion. 'A gift? How do you mean?'

She approached him and kissed him on the lips. He stood still, neither pushing her away nor returning the kiss. 'Does that answer your question?' she smiled.

He took a step back. 'You were going to have sex with me because Red John wanted you to?'

She nodded. 'Of course.' She sighed regrettably. 'If you still want to he says that's fine-'

'I'll pass thanks.'

She shrugged. 'He thought you'd say that. Besides it wouldn't have the same significance now you've already betrayed your wife by sleeping with that mousy little cop I guess. Okay, your loss, though.'

Jane held his temper back by her characterisation of the two most important women in his life. 'Can we get back on topic? What does he want from me?'

'I was getting to that. I had to explain about the gift first. He feels...annoyed that he wasn't able to give you one after all these years.'

'Well, tell him I can always use some new socks.'

After a short laugh she became deadly serious. 'He's decided on a mutual exchange instead. He gives you a gift and you give him one. And what's amazing is that it's the exact same thing. Teresa Lisbon.'

After Lorelei filled him in on Red John's requirements he left the room and bolted to the nearest men's room. He stumbled into a stall and vomited, the acrid taste of scotch and eggs filling his mouth as they made their reappearance. He placed his hand against the wall and cleaned his mouth with toilet paper, breathing heavily, with cold sweat sticking to his body. After he'd finished he pulled the seat down and sat on it, staring ahead for a few minutes as he concentrated on relaxing his breathing. He left the stall and checked the bathroom. Satisfied it was empty, he took another deep breath and pulled out the phone hidden inside his sock he'd acquired when he'd went to buy the scotch earlier, buying it off the cashier for an exorbitant two hundred dollars.

He dialled her burner cell number and she answered on the first ring. 'Lisbon? I know what Red John's plan is. You're not going to like it.'

She was vexed to say the least when he wouldn't go into specifics on the phone. He said he was afraid of someone interrupting the call and that he wanted to see her to tell her in person about his discussion with Lorelei. He sounded panicked, never a good sign where anyone was concerned but, as Patrick Jane knew how to keep cool better than most, it unnerved her even further.

As she drove to the little motel he'd mentioned half way between Vegas and Sacramento she took a gulp of strong black coffee from her travel mug. She hadn't slept in almost a day and as night gave way to early dawn she knew whatever it was it must be extremely terrifying for him to take the chance on leaving Vegas to see her again so soon. She hadn't had much time to process this change to their relationship but her body hummed at the thought of kissing those soft lips again. 'Keep it together, Teresa' she told herself. 'Plenty of time to see if you have a future together once that bastard is out of the way.'

Of course that thought only led to the other big question. The major sticking point between them. If they could come up with a plan to catch Red John then what would Jane do? Extract his revenge as he always promised he would? And if so, what would she do? Arrest him?

As she drove into the motel's parking lot her burner cell beeped. 'Room 18.'

Obviously he'd been looking out for her. She searched the lot for his Citroen but couldn't see it. She put her hand on the gun at her side as she approached the door. Another beep from her cell. 'Bummed a ride here. Left car at motel in Vegas for cover. Don't shoot me.'

She smiled as he opened the door a notch.

'Hey' she said.

'Hey yourself.'

He pulled on her arm and drew her through the small gap in the door before closing it behind him. Not letting go of her arm he pressed his body towards hers immediately, pushing her almost forcefully against the wall beside the door. Their foreheads touched for a moment as they looked at each other before he kissed her. For a few seconds they lost themselves in it, her bag dropping to the floor as she wrapped her arms around his neck as he pulled her even closer as their kisses turned hungry. Reluctantly he pulled himself away and took her hand to lead her to the bed. He sat on its edge and gestured for her to do the same.

She saw his face change from passion filled to anxiety laden within milliseconds. Still holding hands she tugged on his. 'Okay. Tell me what's going on.'

'Red John plans to kill you.'

She raised an eyebrow. 'Well...I see you went for the direct approach. I appreciate it.'

At her slightly amused tone he shot her a dirty look. 'Lisbon, this isn't remotely funny.'

'I know. I know. Sorry. Go on.'

'Lorelei was supposed to be my gift from him. A night with her-'

'Gift, huh?' she shrugged, a trace of jealousy in her voice. 'So, as you suspected she works for him.'

'Yes.' He shook his head. 'But since that didn't happen he wants to give me another gift instead. Well a gift to both of us was how it was put to me.' He looked her dead in the eye. 'Your death.'

She baulked immediately. 'My death is a gift...for you? Jane, I don't understand.'

He got up from the bed and began pacing. 'It's all my fault. I...I miscalculated entirely' he muttered.

'What are you talking about?'

He stopped walking and sat back down again. 'There's a good reason why he hasn't went after you directly. As we suspected he knows how important you are to me. Well how important he thinks you were to me-'

'But now he thinks we've had this major falling out I'm not any longer, is that it?'

'Yeah. While you had such a significant role in my life, in my sanity most probably, he thought it better not to touch you. Afraid that if he did so it'd end me and so end his game. He was most probably right. Also, helps his game to keep up the threat of something happening to you, to keep me on edge about it. It's a powerful tool knowing what I lost before. Too valuable to give up unless-'

'It no longer holds any power over you, keeping me alive' she nodded seriously. 'So, because we're now 'broken up' or whatever-' She ignored Jane's amused glance at her use of air quotes although she had rolled her eyes when she'd used them herself, 'then I've effectively outweighed my usefulness to you so he might as well just get it over with and kill me.' She paused, frowning, 'I still don't see how killing me is a gift for you, though.'

He rolled his eyes. 'Oh yeah, that. Well how it was put to me, it's symbolic, really. It's a way of me kicking free of the shackles of my past life. Freeing me for a higher purpose. Some other mumbo jumbo I stopped listening to. What it really is is a test. To see if I'm on the level. To see if I'll allow it to happen. Well...not just that really. He wants me to...' He looked to his shoes. 'In fact, I think...well I believe he'll want me to help make it happen.'

'How?'

'I don't know for sure yet. But he wants me involved. I'm sure of it. He'll want me to be there for it. To see my face when he...' Jane's breath began to quicken at the thought of watching her die and she rubbed his back to calm him.

'That's not going to happen' she said definitively.

Although his breathing was beginning to return to normal Jane's face was set in a grimace. She pulled on his hand. 'Look at me, Jane. That's not going to happen. Do you hear me?'

His face found hers and he nodded. 'No. It's not.'

She smiled and kissed his cheek. 'Fine. Okay, run down what else you know and then we'll make a plan.'

After a half hour they had the basis of a plan based on Jane's predictions of Red John's actions. Of course the problem was Red John was highly unpredictable.

Nervously, 'If I feel this isn't going to work at any point I'm pulling out' he told her.

'Jane, he's going to kill me either way. Now we have a timeline at least. He won't leave it too long, correct?'

He shook his head. 'No, he'll want to get to it quickly. I'm sure he's thought about this for a long time' he added chillingly.

She shook off his words. 'Good.'

'Good?' he frowned.

'Yes, good. Jane, we've had him within our reach so many times but this time...this time I think we're really going to catch him. I can feel it.'

He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. 'I hope you're right' he sighed.

'We'll catch him this time' she reaffirmed.

'Yes. We will' he agreed.

She tilted her head to the side. 'Did you just say we? Normally you say 'I'm going to catch him or something along those lines'.'

He took her hand and rubbed his fingers across her knuckles. 'Hmm. I did say 'we', didn't I?' he said quietly. 'How'd that happen?'

'What are you going to do? If we catch him how we plan to?'

He stared into her eyes. 'You know what my plan for him is, Lisbon.'

She nodded. 'And you know what situation that'll put me in.'

'I can't help that. I have to end this, Teresa. And, whatever happens, I won't blame you for a second for doing what you think is right. No matter where it sends me.'

She sighed loudly and looked at their hands intertwined. There was no point talking him out of this any longer but she still hoped he'd see reason if it came to it. But in case he didn't maybe she could alter the outcome slightly. 'Make sure it can look like self defence' she said softly. 'I'll back you up.'

'I can't ask you to do that.'

'You're not asking. I'm offering.'

He shook his head. 'No. Red John is my mess, not yours. I've involved you enough. More than enough.'

'Do you want to be with me? Is that what you really want? You said you hoped for it one day. Do you still want that?'

He nodded, unable of speech as a lump formed in his throat.

'Then make it look like self defence. I don't want a relationship where all I might get are conjugal visits.'

He chuckled softly.

'Hey, if it turns out the way we think it more than likely will be self defence. He's hardly gonna be unarmed, is he?'

He shrugged in agreement, more than likely that could well be the case if things panned out as expected. 'You'll see me differently if I murder him in cold blood. Even if you cover for me...you won't see me like you do now.'

She thought for a moment about that prospect and then nodded. 'You might be right' she replied honestly. 'I might not.'

He bit his bottom lip, pondering that very fact.

A/N: So, grisly enough for you yet? It will get a little grislier as we find out how Red John intends to kill Lisbon precisely and what Jane's involvement will be in it but I have it planned for the next action packed chapter. As you can see I've swerving from canon once again. So one final chapter next and I may go for an epilogue depending on interest. Thanks again for all the reviews, follows and favourites for this one.