A/N: Okay, I have both good news and bad news with this chapter. The good news is that it isn't the last one (for those of you who don't want this story to end just yet at least). There will be another one (and as there seems to be an appetite for an epilogue that will come after).

There was a little more 'setting up' I had to write before I get to the really good stuff so apologies if this isn't the action packed chapter you were hoping for, the next one will be full on. But there is some action here too.

The bad news is that this chapter has a cliffhanger. I am giving you fair warning so hope you won't hate me too much for it.

Chapter 8 – The Plan

'He faked his breakdown?' Van Pelt prickled as she stared at Lisbon.

Lisbon had gathered her team in O'Malleys as soon as the opportunity had arisen when she'd returned from seeing Jane. They had both agreed it would be impossible to catch Red John without their help.

She nodded, keeping her voice low. The team met regularly in this venue to discuss cases so figured their meeting here would seem less conspicuous than someplace else. 'I'm sorry I couldn't tell you all sooner but I only found out myself a couple of days ago.'

Cho looked unsurprised (although Lisbon couldn't help but wonder how she would have been able to tell the difference) and Rigsby rolled his eyes. 'Should have known he hadn't left the reservation entirely' he said, a touch of admiration in his voice although she could detect annoyance too.

Lisbon smiled, considered the state she'd met him in when she arrived in Vegas. Rigsby's initial assessment was closer to the truth than he'd ever realise. 'Yeah, well he's an expert in pulling the wool over anyone's eyes. He fooled me too, that's for sure.'

'So this has all been a con to catch Red John?' Van Pelt whispered.

'Yeah. And it's worked so far' Lisbon nodded.

She went on to explain his meeting with Lorelei and the plan Red John had for her. She omitted the fact she'd had sex with Jane but told them everything else relevant. Stunned faces greeted her after she finished.

'Look' she continued, 'This isn't something I can order you to do. This...this operation is completely off the books. But we need your help to pull it off-'

'I'm in' Van Pelt interrupted immediately. 'Whatever you need, boss. Your life's in danger, of course we'll help.'

Van Pelt nodded to her colleagues. Lisbon was unaccustomedly overcome with emotion. 'Thanks, Grace' she replied softly.

Rigsby shrugged. 'Goes without saying. And if it catches Red John too then...' his voice trailed off.

'When do you expect this to go down?' Cho asked in his usual monotone.

'Soon. Next few days most probably so we don't have much time to get things ready.'

'Then we better get started.'

'Thank you' Lisbon said to them all with a watery smile.

She took a deep breath as she fumbled in her bag for a few seconds before pulling out a brown envelope. She pushed it towards Van Pelt after checking no one was watching in the busy bar. 'Cash for some equipment we'll need.'

Van Pelt thumbed through the bills and frowned at her boss.

Lisbon continued, 'Jane had it hidden under his mattress in Vegas. No paper trail.'

'You're not telling Wainwright or Bertram about this?' Cho clarified.

She shook her head. 'We don't know who we can trust. And if we can catch Red John then we're sure they'll forgive the deception.'

'And if it doesn't?' Rigsby asked.

'Then we'll most probably all be suspended. Could even lose our jobs.' She looked at them each in turn. 'Don't just agree because of loyalty. This is serious. And I don't have to tell you how dangerous this is.'

Cho quirked an eyebrow at his fellow team members. After reading their unspoken responses he leaned across the table from Lisbon. 'Let's start working out the details.'

'So they're in?' Jane asked as they talked on the phone later as they lay in their respective beds.

'Yeah. We have a hell of a team. We're lucky to have them.'

'They'd do anything for you, Lisbon.'

'Yeah well they're helping both of us. Just pleased I didn't have to lie to them for long.'

He chucked softly. 'They're helping you because you're helping me. I'm sure they're still more than a little pissed with me.'

She changed the subject, knowing he had some major sucking up to do if they both got out of this. 'So, no word your end I'm guessing?' she asked.

'Quiet as a mouse. Well as quiet as Vegas can be. I'm sure it won't be for long though.'

She heard the heavy sigh in his voice. 'Hang in there, okay?'

'Of course' he replied but she could tell the breezy act he was putting on was for her benefit.

'Jane. In case we don't get another chance to speak properly before...Well you know the plan we've decided on. You and I both know the signals arranged.'

'Yeah' he sighed.

'For once in your life I need you to follow through with what's been agreed-'

'Lisbon, if you're being hurt-'

'I can take a little pain if it catches him. I'm telling you what I told the team. No veering from what was agreed until I give the word.'

After silence greeted her from the other end of the phone she spoke louder, 'Jane? Do you hear me?'

'Yes, I hear you' he whispered, some aggravation in his tone.

A day later Jane lay on his motel bed and heard a knock on the door. He was wide awake in an instant and grabbed the phone he'd purloined a few days before and sent Lisbon a text message, the first signal agreed between them. He hid the phone back in the teabag box and answered the door. Lorelei greeted him with a smile.

'Hey, Patrick. It's time.' A man standing about six feet tall of stocky build dressed in a black pair of pants and white shirt accompanied her. 'Search him' she ordered.

Jane went through the same process as before. A curt nod in Lorelei's direction from the man who hadn't spoken and she smiled at Jane. 'Good. Let's go.'

'Now?' He peered into the parking lot, a black limousine parked out front.

'Come on, it's a long drive to Sacramento, might as well do it in style.'

He nodded before taking a last look around his motel room and closed the door behind him.

It was mid morning when Lisbon got the text from Jane. She stared at the screen, the word 'Bingo' appearing before her in black letters. She glanced at her watch noting the time and began counting down the minutes, tapping her foot impatiently. They had agreed that Jane would send such a text if he received a knock on his door but she was to do nothing until waiting for ten minutes in case it was a false alarm in which case he'd call or send another text. It had been decided that Jane would not carry a phone with him, deeming it too risky to be caught with one on him if he were searched again.

When fifteen minutes had passed she took a deep breath. It appeared the plan was in action. She took a file from her desk as a decoy and crouched beside Cho at his desk. Appearing to check a detail in the file she whispered, 'It's on. Fifteen minutes ago.'

Cho nodded quickly, barely looking at her. 'Okay, I'll let the others know.'

'Remember to act like it's any other day. Nothing's going to happen until nightfall.'

'I know.' He passed her a file on his desk. 'Morrison case. Might be a problem with the alibi' he said nonchalantly.

She rolled her eyes and took the file off him but a part of her was strengthened by his calmness under pressure. 'I'll have a look. Thanks.'

The man who had frisked him drove as he and Lorelei sat in the back of the limo. He wasn't surprised Red John hadn't been present when he'd got in but felt he should ask anyway. 'So? I'm guessing he's meeting us there.'

'Yes.'

Jane nodded, looking out the window, 'Have you known him long?'

'Many years.'

He turned to face her. 'So you're his what? Mistress? Girlfriend?'

She shrugged. 'I am whatever he wants me to be.'

'Just like that, huh? You do whatever he wants. It doesn't sound all that...liberated.'

She laughed softly. 'Actually it's very freeing. Not to have decisions consume you. To allow a path to be marked out for you by someone wiser. It's very calming. Very restful.'

Jane nodded thoughtfully. He knew there must be great tragedy in this girl's past that had turned her into a serial killer's plaything. Something from her childhood most probably. He smiled inwardly remembering how Walter Mashburn had described Lisbon once, a phrase that had always stuck with him and he found himself making the same comparison to this girl. She had a 'damaged intensity' too. He could see how she could use that to her advantage to draw men in. Maybe that was why Red John had sent her to seduce him, someone who might remind him of Lisbon a little. But unlike Lisbon who had decided to fight injustice due to the tragedies in her childhood this girl had been turned into something else entirely.

He settled himself against the side window of the limousine and closed his eyes. 'If you don't mind I think I'll take a nap. It's a long drive ahead.'

'Go ahead. You'll need to be refreshed when we get there.'

Her words ringing in his ears he mused how true they were.

After working for three hours and consuming five cups of coffee Lisbon's nerves were fraying. While she had agreed it best for Jane not to keep hold of any communication devices on him she couldn't stop wondering if their plan was on track or whether Red John had found out about the deception somehow and was luring Jane into a trap of his own. She didn't even want to consider the option that he might already be dead. When she saw Wainwright approach she took a deep breath and rolled her eyes. 'Oh, crap' she muttered under her breath just before he entered her office.

'Lisbon, how are we doing with the Morrison case?'

'Cho's found a discrepancy with the girlfriend's statement. He and Rigsby are bringing her in now.' She was acting as normal as she could manage but her voice sounded entirely too cheerful for someone discussing a murder case as she overcompensated. He frowned and took a seat opposite as she ticked herself off.

'Everything okay?' he asked.

'How do you mean?'

He blushed lightly and licked his lips. 'Well...I heard about Jane's arrest obviously in Vegas and when you asked for some personal time-'

'Yes, I bailed him out. Went to see him there.' There was no point lying about something that could be found out quite easily and was sure he already knew both facts anyway.

Concerned, 'How'd it go?'

She hadn't known this man nearly long enough to trust him with anything other than the story Red John was being led to believe. In fact this could be just such a test. She reddened. 'Um...not well. He's not coming back to Sacramento. Wouldn't listen to me.'

'It's just I've been thinking that perhaps we could intervene in his sentencing, get him some help, work out a deal for community service, with closure rates-'

'Boss, let me be clear. I won't work with Patrick Jane again.'

He pulled back sharply, 'Well I'm surprised. You and he were so close.'

'Not anymore' she said determinedly, hoping she wasn't going over the top in her delivery.

Wainwright returned to his office, frowning. Agent Susan Darcy of the FBI was seated at the other side of his desk awaiting his return. 'Well, sounds like even Lisbon's done with him' he said as he closed the door.

'I'm surprised' she replied evenly.

'Me too but...well he burned a lot of bridges when I fired him. Looks like he's burnt the last of them. Is that all you needed to know, Susan? I'm curious about the FBI's interest in Jane after all this time away from the CBI.'

'My bosses found out about his arrest, wanted to know if he reached out here for help. As you know he's still a person of interest for us after the Panzer case.'

'I thought that was all tied up. Anyway, well from what I can gather Agent Lisbon was the one who did the reaching out-'

'And had the door slammed in her face for her trouble.'

Wainwright shifted a piece of paper on his desk, sighing as he saw the closure rate statistics. 'From what I can gather, yes.'

As the work day ended Lisbon packed a few files into a bag and turned off her desk light. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she approached Van Pelt, the only agent left in the bullpen. 'Everything set?' she asked quietly.

Van Pelt nodded. 'Yeah, Cho and Rigsby are in position.' She got her bag to leave as she switched off her computer. 'I'm going to track you and then join them.' The young agent looked panic stricken. 'Promise you'll be careful, boss.'

'I'll be fine' Lisbon responded, making sure her tone sounded strong. 'Just make sure you all do as you've been instructed. No movement until my signal. I don't know if I can rely on Jane to do as he's told so I'm counting on all of you.'

Van Pelt nodded quickly, her breathing a little ragged. 'You got it.'

Lisbon took a deep breath. 'Okay, see you on the other side.'

She rolled her eyes at her careless choice of words as she left the office. Hopefully it wouldn't be in the spiritual sense.

As she entered her condo she listened to an earpiece given to her by Van Pelt earlier. Cho was on the other end. 'It's all clear, boss. No sign of entry front or back.'

Rigsby and he were staked out in a house across the street that belonged to an elderly neighbour of hers, only too happy to have some excitement added to her life by having an undercover operation under her roof. Rigsby was in heaven as she fed him on cakes and biscuits she'd made.

'Not bad for stakeout duty, is it?' Rigsby smiled, taking a bite of a cookie and moaning happily. Cho sat beside him, monitors trained on the front and back exits of Lisbon's condo. Without looking at him Cho responded, 'It's great. Pity we have to watch out for a serial killer out to murder our boss tonight.'

The severity of the situation instilled in him Rigsby dropped the biscuit onto a plate, his appetite suddenly lost.

Lisbon hadn't expected anyone to show just yet. It was still at least an hour's drive from Vegas to get to Sacramento. Unless Jane was driving. And Red John always waited until the small hours of the morning so she had more than likely another few to go before he'd make his appearance.

As she'd agreed with Jane she went about her regular night time routine, showering quickly before changing into a tank top and yoga pants. To waste time she made some spaghetti she could hardly swallow due to nerves, eating it off her lap in front of some mindless television. On the off chance she was being watched by one of his people she wanted to appear to be acting as routinely as possible. At eleven pm she closed the curtains and deadlocked the door, setting her security system as usual. Rigsby and Cho kept her up to date with the comings and goings of traffic in her street, her heart leaping every time they mentioned a vehicle passing.

Finally she pulled the covers back from her bed and glanced around her bedroom. She felt like a child again, afraid of monsters as she checked under her bed and in her closet. Well apart from the Glock she held in her hand as she did so. 'All clear' she stated to the camera that was surreptitiously stowed in her closet under some blankets, angled so the slats of the door gave a perfect view of the bed. Jane had expected this to be where Red John would take her life as he had with most of his other victims. She stared at the wall opposite the door, imagining this was where he'd paint the face with her blood. It ran cold immediately with that morbid thought.

She lay down and stared at the ceiling.

And waited.

'Patrick, we're here.'

Lorelei's soft tone woke him instantly and he stretched, surprised he was able to find sleep despite the chaos that was about to ensue. He yawned languidly. 'Where?' He peeked out the blackened windows finding himself outside Lisbon's condo, darkened by the night. 'Where is he?' he asked, looking around.

'He'll be here in a little while. Come on.'

She opened the door slowly, checking for any signs of trouble. Jane followed, checking the street for himself. There were no SUVs parked nearby, a sure sign that the cops were watching and the neighbourhood was bathed in black. He looked at the house across the street, his gaze falling upon it for a long second, a silent gesture to his colleagues who he had to believe were watching him at this instant.

'What now?' he asked, nodding with his head to Lisbon's door.

'Now you get us in, of course.'

'That's why you needed me here, to get you access. Lisbon's a cop, too security conscious for him to get in by himself.'

She shrugged. 'That's partly why you're here. Now, go on. I'll wait at the side. And I have a gun pointed at you in case you change your mind.'

'She won't want to see me after the way we left things.'

'Then you better be persuasive. That's what you do, right? Tell people what they want to hear?'

He took a deep breath and steadied himself. He was just about to let a monster into Lisbon's house and his knuckles stopped before he tapped the wood. This was the plan but it was a whole lot worse in practice to use Lisbon as bait. He cleared his throat and knocked twice before he lost his nerve.

He heard her footsteps on the stairs, a little quicker than someone who had been awakened. He'd told her to wait thirty seconds before coming down the stairs but he was guessing she shaved a few seconds off due to her impatience.

On cue she looked through the peephole. 'Jane! What the hell are you doing here?!' He could hear a glimmer of relief in her angry tone that the plan was working so far.

'Look, I'm sorry for the way things turned out, Lisbon. Maybe...I thought maybe we could talk.'

'I have nothing to say to you, Jane.'

'Please Lisbon, just let me in. I was wrong and I was a jerk. I do need your help. Please.'

Lorelei grinned at him, pleased he was playing his part so well.

The sound of locks being turned slowly made Lorelei press the gun into Jane's side. 'Not a word to give her time to get her gun.'

As soon as the door was a crack open Lorelei pushed Jane inside, almost falling into Lisbon as he did so with Lorelei and the driver who brought them here in soon after. 'Okay?' he whispered into her ear as he pretended to regain his balance. Her eyes told him yes in an instant before she pushed him away. 'What the hell is this, Jane? Who are these people?' Lorelei closed the door behind her and smiled before raising a gun to Lisbon's head.

Lisbon froze as Jane turned sharply to Lorelei. 'This wasn't what was agreed.' Panic rose in his voice.

Lorelei smiled sweetly but kept her eyes and gun trained on Lisbon. 'Don't worry, Patrick. Just making sure she doesn't do anything stupid.'

Jane relaxed his shoulders and glimpsed at Lisbon, nodding imperceptibly that the con was still on. It took her a split second before Lisbon asked again, 'Jane? What's going on? Who are these people? What kind of trouble have you got yourself in now?'

'Just do as you're told and everything will be fine, Lisbon.'

Lorelei directed her towards the bedroom as Jane followed while the man who drove them there waited downstairs, presumably as both a lookout and to let Red John in. 'Hope that friend of yours doesn't make a mess of my kitchen' Lisbon muttered, making sure the agents listening in knew where he was.

'Lie on the bed' Lorelei instructed.

Instead of complying, Lisbon glanced at Jane and crossed her arms over her chest. 'Who the hell is this woman?'

'She works for Red John. Now do as she says.'

Lisbon gaped and Jane had to admit she was quite convincing. He'd never critique her acting skills again. 'What! So now you're what, working for him?'

'He's going to help me get a new life.'

'In exchange for mine' Lisbon stated.

Jane shrugged. 'I'm sorry it had to end this way, Teresa. But it's the only way. Now lie down.'

'Do it now' Lorelei added, pointing the gun at her again.

After giving Jane a filthy look she did as she was asked and lay in the middle of the bed. 'Tie her to the bed' instructed Lorelei to Jane, handing him some cable ties.

'This isn't his usual MO' he said, looking at them in his hand.

'Well Agent Lisbon is a little friskier than his usual targets. Better safe than sorry.'

'Then I better tie her feet too.'

Lorelei grinned. 'Good thinking.'

'I only said that so she doesn't struggle. I just want this over with quickly. Speaking of which, where is he?'

'He'll be here' she replied in a sing song voice. 'He just wants us to start a little before him.'

This was not the plan and Jane blinked twice rapidly in succession. 'What's that supposed to mean?'

'Tie her up and then I'll tell you.'

He studied her face but he was barely holding onto himself to get a good read off her. A last look at the ties in his hand he walked towards Lisbon and took one of her hands. He squeezed it tightly, trying to give her the reassurance he wanted for himself, hoping by holding it he might both gain and impart strength. She said nothing as he tied her right hand to the bedpost behind her. By the time he did the same to her left she looked sufficiently scared of what was about to happen. He willed her to say something, to get the team in here but she shook her head, glaring at him into carrying through. He finished with her feet and tapped her left ankle, making his expression neutral. 'Don't struggle. He likes to see the fear. Just let him see it and it'll be over soon.'

'You cold son of a bitch. After everything I did for you all these years.'

He ignored her and turned back to Lorelei. 'I've done everything you've asked. Let's get him in here to get this over with.'

She smiled and ran a finger down his face. 'Soon.' She proceeded to stand beside Lisbon and tilted her head towards her. 'You know you're really quite beautiful, Agent Lisbon. I can see why Patrick was entranced with you all these years. And such a good person.' She traced her fingers gently over the skin of her right arm. 'I suppose he hoped you might provide him with some redemption-'

'Go to hell, you bitch!' Lisbon shouted, attempting in vain to move away from her grasp, the cable tie only tightening at her wrist.

Lorelei laughed and put the gun in the waistband of her black trousers, hidden underneath her leather jacket. She took a blade from inside her jacket and Jane's blood turned to ice. Lisbon's breathing increased when she saw the genuine terror in his eyes and how he seemed to be rooted to the spot at the sight of it.

As she had done with her fingers moments before Lorelei stroked the tip over Lisbon's arm on the skin below the elbow, producing a tickling sensation on her skin as it skirted over it. Lisbon froze in place, knowing if she moved her arm it would pierce her skin.

Jane came out of his trance and stood beside Lorelei. 'What are you doing? We talked about this already.'

Not taking her eyes off Lisbon's arm she replied, 'I know my place. But he's allowed me this due to my service to him.'

With one quick swipe of the blade she made a four inch incision across Lisbon's skin, blood pumping from it rapidly staining the white sheet below it red. Lisbon tried to pull at her arm again and swore loudly, seeing stars for a few seconds as the throbbing gripped her. She closed her eyes for a second, tears produced by the pain her arm was in. When she opened them she was breathing hard as she tried to get the searing pain under control.

'That's enough!' Jane shouted, reaching for the blade.

Lorelei turned to face him and pulled the gun from her back, aiming it at him. 'No, Patrick. That's just the beginning.'

A/N: I know I am cruel but please forgive me! I promise not too long a wait until the next chapter.

BTW I am going to give this whole Twitter thing a blast. After years in the social media desert I thought I'd take a tentative step and see how it goes. I don't know exactly what I'll tweet about (but it will be Mentalist and more than likely Mentalist FF related mainly) but feel free to ask me any questions on my fics or give me ideas for future ones or just to have a discussion on episodes. Details are on my profile page for anyone interested.