What if Lisbon got kidnapped when she checked the airstream by a serial killer? The killer, enraged by Jane's psychic charade, sought to torture him in a way that would hit him the hardest: by hurting the person Jane cared about most.
Hello! This is my first ever fanfic and the reason why it took so long is that I thought I can never have the talent to write a "story". But because these what-if scenarios keeps creeping in my mind, I finally have the guts to write it down - this is just the first one. My take on this is that, after Jane left for a week, he and Lisbon didn't properly settle it. It was Lisbon who, again, understood him and chose to give him the time he needs. So, I thought, what if it was Lisbon - not Jane, who got harmed for real in that episode and Jane realizes that by agreeing to expose himself again to the media as a "fake" psychic, he's remaking his same mistake in the past. This is where Jane would really face the impermanence of things. He cant run away from this because if he does, who's gonna save Lisbon? I was kinda off when Jane left because of his fear of losing Lisbon when by leaving he would lose her anyway. So why leave when you can might as well cherish what little time you have for each other? Aside from that, I just have a thing with angst so...haha. Anyways, this is the first story I ever made, so excuse my mediocre writing : I am very open for any constructive criticism and suggestions! 3
CHAPTER 1:
Lisbon: What happened to you? I was listening. You got cut off
Jane: "Yeah, the call was a ruse. He's planning something. You need to get back to the office as soon as you can"
Lisbon: "Did you leave the door of the Airstream this morning?"
Jane: "No… maybe. Why?"
Lisbon: "It's open."
A jolt of panic shot through Jane. His breath quickened, mind spinning with worst-case scenarios. Lisbon was alone, and he wasn't there to protect her. The familiar, terrible feeling—the one he hadn't allowed himself to feel in over a decade—settled in. He wasn't there, yet again. Not there to save her. Not there because he was off playing games with the media, taunting a serial killer with his psychic façade, hoping to draw the maniac out.
This was the moment he'd feared all along. The past was replaying itself, but he pushed this horrible thought aside because acknowledging it would be the end of him.
"Okay, stop. Don't go anywhere near it. Don't do anything until someone else gets there"
"That could take forever. I'm gonna go and check it out"
"Fine. But you're not hanging up. You're not hanging up", Jane said, trying to keep his voice steady.
"Jane, we have to go!" Spackman urged, waiting impatiently by the car. But Jane waved him off, gripping the phone as if it were a lifeline.
Lisbon steadied her phone between her neck and shoulder and held a flashlight and a gun, while opening the door producing a loud thud. She slowly entered…
"Jane!", Tork prompted
The silence on the other end grew deafening. Jane's panic surged. "Teresa what's going on?"
For a second, nothing. Then: "There's nobody in here. I guess we left it open." Lisbon's voice was calm. Too calm.
Relief swept through Jane, but it was fleeting. "Okay, get back to the office", Jane said with a relief. "Alright, I'll see you there", Teresa replied. He hung up, though uneasiness gnawed at him. He climbed into the car, tension radiating off his demeanor as they drove back.
Tork noticed. "Everything okay?"
Jane nodded, almost to reassure himself. "Yeah, it was Teresa. She's...she's fine"
Is she?
As she approached her car, a figure emerged from the shadows. Before she could react, a sharp blow to the back of her head sent her crumpling to the ground, her world going black. The man took her phone and smashed it by stomping on it but not enough to really break it.
The man, masked in black, hoisted her unconscious body over his shoulder, carrying her through the woods to his waiting car. The vehicle was a rusty from neglect, its faded paint peeling and doors creaking, but the engine worked like it was freshly repaired. He bound her hands, taped her mouth, and put her in the backseat. He did not take off his mask.
Back at the FBI office, Jane's anxiety simmered. In the elevator, Tork noticed Jane's nervousness—the rapid tapping of his feet, his hand clenched to his chin. When the doors opened, Jane bolted out, immediately searching for Lisbon.
"Wylie, have you seen Lisbon? She said she'd be back by now."
Wylie looked confused. "No, she hasn't come back from the radio station."
A cold wave of panic crashed over Jane. "What? It's been thirty minutes—she should've been back by now."
Wylie shrugged, trying to stay calm. "Maybe she hit traffic?"
Tork chimed in, "Call her again."
Jane dialed Lisbon's number, but it went to voicemail. He tried again. And again. Still nothing.
"Wylie, track her phone," Jane snapped, desperation creeping into his voice.
Wylie quickly pulled up the location. He stared at his screen, confused. "She's…," he hesitated, unsure what he was seeing.
Jane cut him off, "She's at the airstream". No one questioned why Lisbon had gone to Jane's place after hours. They all knew—some guessed, others perhaps understood too well. "But why isn't she answering?" Jane's voice was tight, his composure slipping.
"I need to go check on her," Jane said, already moving toward the door.
"I'm coming with you," Cho added, not waiting for an answer.
"Count me in," Tork said.
The drive to the Airstream was silent, Jane's thoughts loud in his mind.
"She'll be fine, Jane," Cho said softly, more of a hope than a certainty.
"I hope so you're right," Jane muttered, staring out the window, his heart heavy with the fear of the possibility that something had happened. She was fine when he called until they hung up. He heard her voice. Calm, unbothered, and normal—nothing out of the ordinary. He heard her voice. Now, he's just aching to hear it again.
When they arrived, the Airstream was dark, not a single light on inside. The only sign of life was Lisbon's car parked nearby—but no Lisbon. The silence of the scene implied more than any word could.
Will Jane go through the same nightmare again?