Seducing Patrick Jane

Chapter 1

Odd. He still felt like a stranger in his own skin.

He'd been free for some weeks now, four to be precise. He'd worked hard- done everything to distract him, in fact. He felt like going insane whenever he was alone. The nights were hell for him. Alone in the attic, eyes wide with desperation. Brooding. Thinking. So scared it made him shake all over.

He was glad Red John was finally dead. Killed by his own hands. He'd kept his promise. And it felt good.

He was full of earth-shattering shame when he thought about Lisbon, though. He knew how much he'd hurt her. And his heart ached so much with this knowledge that he could never get rid of his shame. It accompanied him everywhere.

He had realized that he loved her when she had been shot, and he had heard it over the phone. In this moment, everything had been clear. Every fiber of his being had reached out towards her, his soul so wide open it had scared him beyond comprehension.

His heart had been encased by a thick layer of pure ice ever since he'd lost his family. And suddenly, when he'd had to listen to her pained breath over the phone, it had burned so hot it was a searing pain in his chest.

And just like that, Patrick Jane had known that he loved again.

Until his thirst for revenge had drowned all other emotions. When the phone had rung on the table next to his. Red John's phone.

Now he sat there in the attic every night, utterly alone, cradling this precious new-found love in his heart. A love that would never be consumed. She wouldn't let him. He could well imagine how much she hated him right now.

She had seen him in prison, though. She had managed to unearth the evidence that had allowed him to walk free. And this had meant the world to him. That she'd helped him, although he had shuttered her trust.

He didn't play games with her anymore. Restricted his schemes to the suspects. Was polite with his beautiful superior. Modest. Nice. He wouldn't hurt her further. He would rather die.

He closed his eyes, lowered his head. Suffering again.

xxMentalistxx

Teresa Lisbon had never been fond of weddings. But this one had had a much deeper effect on her than she was used to. Tommy had been so happy. Her little baby brother and his stunning bride, exchanging their vows. So, so happy.

And suddenly she had started to think. She felt alone. Nobody to share all her secrets with. Nobody to warm her cold feet in bed. Nobody to fuck her brains out on a stifling summer evening. Nobody there to share her life for such a long time now. She sighed, shoving some papers around on her desk. She wanted someone. As desperately as she'd never wanted anything before.

So she pondered the available material.

Agent Dawson from narcotics, tall, dark, good-looking. Totally responsible, loyal to the bones. Had a huge crush on her for some time now.

Agent Paltridge from vice, shoulder-length hair, strong like a bear, almost 6 ft.5. A guy to rely on. Someone who would never betray her.

Agent Simmons from fraud, well-muscled, handsome, smart. Vicious fighter. But a man with a heart of gold. A perfect gentleman.

She sighed. Unfortunately, Senior Special Agent Teresa Lisbon wasn't known for her good taste. All those guys were utter perfection. But there was a flaw: she didn't love any of them. Oh no.

She hadn't fallen for reliable. Responsible. Sensible. Adult.

She had fallen -hard- for irreverent. Impish. Capricious. Childish.

Nothing but Patrick Jane would do for her.

She looked out through the paned office walls. He was sitting on his couch, staring ahead. Deep in thought, oblivious to anything around him. He'd been like this since he'd been released from prison about four weeks ago. Sad. Nervous. Lost. Off.

She'd felt a numbing sense of betrayal at first.

There she was, freshly released from hospital with an aching bullet wound in her shoulder, and the man she had learned to love had become a killer during her recovery.

She'd been dead set on never seeing him again-on burying him in her already shitty past, never looking back.

But then she'd found herself in the prison's visitor's room one Thursday morning. And when she had seen him sitting face to face with her, serene, but with such unmistakable pain in his eyes, her heart had melted. Stupid heart.

"I know this sounds lame", he'd whispered, handcuffs rattling against his trembling hands, "but I'm sorry, Lisbon. Not for killing him- I had to. But for hurting you. I never wanted that. And, as long as I had it- your trust meant everything to me."

And yes- she'd come back. Every week. Just to talk to him. Bath in his presence. She had worked her ass off to bail him out. She'd found the weapon. With fingerprints and all. He'd been cleared.

He'd been off ever since. His hunches were still the same, strong and reliable, and the work calmed him. Sometimes the old sparkle of mischief was back in his eyes, and she reveled in those moments. He was still a wizard with words, could outtalk anyone.

But he shied away from emotional contact. Averted his eyes. Didn't try to analyze her or the colleagues anymore. It was as if he didn't want to see their feelings, their secrets. He wasn't into games any longer. He hardly ever bantered with her. And yes- she missed it. Missed him.

She'd realized that she wasn't dead set on never seeing him again the day he had first appeared in court. He had looked at her with his sea green eyes. Full of feelings. And she'd known that she was dead set on something else entirely. On having him for herself. On making him love her. As much as she loved him.

So- she would have to fight for him.

She didn't need any subtlety to learn what she needed to know. Rigsby was like a little boy sometimes- easily manipulated.

"Hey!", she asked him, sauntering into the breakfast area, "where do you go for the summer holidays this year?"

"Oh", he answered, unsuspicious ,"Miami…getting engaged in some water sports. That's my thing, you know. You?"

"Oh, I haven't decided on anything yet. Did you know Jane is going to….hmm…where was it…"

"The Coco Palm Bodu Hithi- maldives, I know", Rigsby prompted, chuckling, "Funny, Hmm? Can you imagine Patrick Jane in bathing trunks?"

"Brrrr, of course not!", she said, wrinkling her nose in feigned disgust. Secretly, her mouth was watering, "He's probably as pale as a ghost under his suit."

Rigsby laughed. "You bet!"

When she returned to her office, she was whistling.

Maldives, hmm? Well, she had to call the Coco Palm to inquire about a free room immediately…

xxMentalistxx

Five minutes later, she put down the phone. Done.

Okay, step one had worked out. She had a room at the Coco Palm now, for the same period Jane would be staying there. Three weeks in paradise- she was all game. She'd only made sure she would fly in a day later…she didn't want to meet him on the plane. That would destroy the surprise effect- she couldn't have that.

The hotel was so expensive she'd flinched when she'd heard the price. But hey- if this little scheme landed her safely in Patrick Jane's arms with a lifetime of glorious sex and burning hearts to ensue, it was well worth the price.

She watched him, sitting on his couch, a confused expression on his pretty face. She couldn't wait to see what he hid under those crisp three-piece-suits.

You wait, Patrick Jane. She was looking at him thoughtfully, an almost cruel smile forming on her lips. I will hunt you 'til you surrender. And you will. Soon.

Okay, how was that for a start? Let me know, please!

Some author's notes: I know, I have to write Jane OOC for this- otherwise, he would notice immediately what's on Lisbon's mind, and I can't have that now. So please, indulge me! Maybe you'll like it anyway.

And, dear LizFromItaly: who's in command now? But, please don't expect me to write the final smut with Lisbon in the dominant position- I rather like it the other way round. But until then- I'll let her be in charge this time. Let's see what she comes up with.

By the way, I know what you're thinking: Maldives, isn't that a little bit obvious? Hey: it's been raining for days now and it is cold- so I just need a whiff of summer in my life right now!