A/N: So, I feel I must have a screw loose starting yet another multichapter with two already up and running. But this one is haunting my dreams so wanted to get started on it before I lose my train of thought. The past scenes are set midway through season 4 but is certainly AU from there. Can't promise too regular updates for now as I really want to get at least one of my other stories finished before I put too much effort into this one but that may change if I have writer's block with them as much of this one is already mapped out in my brain.

Disclaimer: I don't own The Mentalist, the wonderful Bruno Heller does.

Trust

Chapter 1 - New case, old face

Lisbon glanced from the form in front of her to the CBI bullpen outside her office. A small smile graced her lips as three familiar figures worked at their desks. The smile dropped when she took in the empty brown leather couch behind them. Over a year since he'd left the CBI. Or, more appropriately, over a year since he left her. Still she didn't have the heart to remove the couch. Or his turquoise teacup and saucer that she had stowed at the back of the cupboard in the break room for fear of someone using it and breaking it. She chuckled, holding back her tears; he would be more upset about losing that damn cup than he would her. He'd made his feelings clear about how he viewed her in his parting shot. She would never forget his cold stare, the sudden hatred in his eyes that instantly replaced the love she was just getting accustomed to seeing, the trust he had in her shattered that night as they stood in the moonlight as the rain pelted down on them. She blinked a few times, exhaling a loud breath as her desk phone rang.

"Lisbon," she said brusquely, pushing her shoulders back and moving a blank piece of paper in front of her to take notes.

"Hey, Lisbon. It's Detective Morris, SFPD."

"Hey Tom, how's it going? I'm guessing this isn't a social call." She had worked with Morris a long time ago when she was a rookie and he, along with Bosco, had helped her into being a better cop.

"My wife wouldn't like it if it was, Teresa," he laughed.

She smiled in spite of her melancholy mood. "So, what's up?" she said brightly, rubbing a stray tear from her cheek.

"Case here I think CBI should investigate. Janet Walker found murdered couple of hours ago. She was the prime suspect in a murder we were investigating but she's turned up dead."

"Okay, why you looking for our involvement?"

"Well, the guy who found her body used to work for you by all accounts. Not that he told us that. He's a pain in the ass to be honest. Thought you might want to be involved. If he worked with you maybe you could get him to open up a little more. Like I said, he's treating anyone who talks to him like he's something he's trodden in. I don't know how the hell you put up with him with that temper of yours."

She closed her eyes, her heart thumping in her chest. Morris was about the most patient and even tempered man you could ever meet. Not many people could piss him off. But there was undoubtedly a certain blond haired former consultant who could make the Pope want to commit murder if he put his mind to it.

"Patrick Jane, I'm guessing," she replied evenly, belying the frantic beat of her heart.

"You got it in one. So, you want to help us with this one? Even if all you can get are some straight answers from Jane and then be on your way I'd appreciate it."

Lisbon suppressed a nervous laugh. Jane and straight answers were somewhat of an oxymoron. She sighed, "Sure, Tom, my team and I'll be there in the morning."

"What about Jane in the meantime? Want me to cut him loose, get his address so you can look him up when you arrive?"

Lisbon grinned, taking some delight in her next words. "Um...no. If he's as uncooperative as you say better lock him up in holding for the night. And I wouldn't be all that surprised if he was a flight risk so better safe than sorry."

She walked out of her office and straight to Wainwright's. After taking a seat opposite him and explaining what she had been told he said, "So, he didn't just disappear into thin air?"

"Guess not," she shrugged. "We'll only be gone for the morning hopefully. Just get him to come clean with whatever he knows and let SFPD take over again. I'd like to help Morris out; he's a good cop and an old friend."

Lisbon watched as her boss nodded, running a finger over his lips, barely listening to her last words. "You know, I've never asked you why he left-"

"And I've appreciated that," she bit back with quickly.

"You know we could do with his help around here again. Closure rates being what they are-"

"My team still have the highest closure rates across divisions even without Jane," she said sharply.

Wainwright nodded, conceding her point. "Even so, he was a hell of an asset."

He sighed, "Look, I know whatever happened was personal between you. But it's been over a year. All I'm saying is to go down there with an open mind. For all you know he wants back in too, he's just too pigheaded to ask."

Lisbon smiled at the notion but knew it wasn't the case.

Wainwright continued. "Feel him out, Teresa, that's all I'm asking. He doesn't even have to be assigned to your team if you can't work with him."

She rolled her eyes. "Boss, before we put out the welcome mat, let's make sure he's not involved in Janet Walker's death."

He widened his eyes. "You don't think-"

"Like you said, it's been over a year and we haven't a clue what he's been doing since he left. He found the body and is obviously being evasive with what he knows. Puts a red flag on him. If it were anyone else you'd agree."

He nodded, tutting. "Jeez, you two really did leave things on bad terms, didn't you?"

As she came back into the bullpen she took a deep breath. "We have a case in San Francisco in the morning. Cho, you'll ride with me. Rigsby and Van Pelt you take another vehicle. We leave at seven thirty."

"Sure, boss, what's the case?" Van Pelt asked.

"Murder of a murder suspect."

Cho leaned back in his chair, frowning, "What else?"

She nodded, he was almost as good as reading people as Jane. "Apparently Jane found the body."

Rigsby choked on a sandwich. "Jane? He's still in California?"

"It would appear so," Lisbon said nonchalantly.

"So...so you two are going to talk?" Van Pelt asked, hope in her tone.

Lisbon sighed and rolled her eyes. "Well, since he found the body I guess we'll have to."

Van Pelt prodded. "But...but shouldn't we get down there tonight? Sooner the better, right?"

Lisbon crossed her arms over her chest. She knew the team missed Jane since his sudden departure and wished that they could go back to the way it had been once upon a time. She couldn't fault them for that. Her personal feelings aside, the entire team felt incomplete since he'd left, some of the camaraderie and a lot of the laughter missing. Guilt soared in her that she had been the one that had made him leave his friends. Not that she regretted her actions, well, not all of them but wished she had handled some things differently.

She spoke softly. "Grace, I know you've missed him." She looked to Rigsby and Cho. "I know you all have. You know I have too. But...you also know he'll never forgive me and come back to work here. I'm sorry that that's the case but-"

"But you only did what you thought was right at the time," Van Pelt interjected. "You saved his life."

Lisbon nodded, averting her eyes. "Yeah," she sighed. "I know. And he'll never forgive me for it."

Lisbon barely slept; her dreams and thoughts filled with events a year and a half ago. A case that changed everything between them.

"Lisbon, come and see this!"

Lisbon rolled her eyes but smiled. When he was excited he sounded like a hyperactive child. "What, Jane?" she said tersely, coming up to him to find him bending over the corpse.

"Purple discolouration of the pupils. Never seen anything like it."

She bent down as he pulled the eyelids open further. "Jane, don't touch the corpse! Not without gloves! How many times!"

"Meh, not like he's going to mind and doc's already finished giving him the once over," he replied, his eyes twinkling at her. "You ever seen something like this?"

She shook her head. "Nope. Strange all right. Hopefully something will show up in the tox report."

Lisbon jolted from the bed, placing a clammy hand on her forehead. She remembered that day like it was yesterday. Less than half an hour later Jane had collapsed as he went back to his car. In less than an hour he was admitted to hospital, her hand clutching his in the ambulance and her other around her cross, praying for him. Two hours later he was diagnosed with an unknown toxin that was responsible for his blackout. Four hours later he was given two days to live as the poison continued to flood his system. Doctors informing her that multiple transfusions would keep him alive and conscious some of the time before his organs began to give out.

When they were told the diagnosis Van Pelt had burst out crying, Rigsby putting his arms around her and tearing up himself. Cho and she had stood beside each other motionless before she spoke to the doctor who had just given them the news.

"That's not acceptable. You need to find a cure."

A/N: Okay, so just to be clear I am not in the medical profession and have no knowledge of deadly toxins. This one is decidedly of my own making so please accept artistic licence on that score. Some of you may have figured out Lisbon's perceived crime (in Jane's eyes) already, smart cookies that you are. But for those that haven't you won't have too long a wait, it'll be explained in the next chapter as they come face to face again.

So, hope you enjoyed the opener, would love your thoughts as usual.