An interesting shuffling of pasts and roles, while maintaining a faithful portrayal of the characters. Intriguing and enjoyable.

the complete story is on AO3

here is the complete /works/738826/chapters/1375231

I like the idea as a whole you have going here. At first I was worried it'd be a simple 'Jane, exactly like Lisbon' and vice versa. But you've accomplished a remarkable feat by weaving their backstories. Jane's still Jane. Lisbon's still Lisbon. Except different.

It's brilliant, it's clever, and it's well-written.

How have I not noticed this story until now? I love the way you were able to reverse their positions while still keeping them in character. They still have their biggest identifying quirks, just for different reasons. For some reason, I especially liked that you kept their opinions on firearms the same. Jane doesn't like them, but knows they're necessary for police work, and Lisbon still has hers, and is still a better shot than most.

I hope you'll update this soon. I haven't seen a fic like this for the Mentalist fandom before. It's really well-written.

(:
I really enjoy your story.

Happy to see another chapter here as well. :D

Here I loved the way how you had Jane thinking about what it would be like if they're roles would be reversed and knowing he wouldn't handle it the way Lisbon does, well obv we know that he doesn't lol but again the way you handle their character traits though them being in the role of the other is awesome. It's such a fine line to tread but you manage it perfectly.
Can't wait to hear 'the talk' :)

I'm still amazed at the depth of your characters. No that I'm surprised, it's usual for you...but it's really delightful in this particular story with the role reversal.

I espescially love Jane worrying over Lisbon and Lisbon trying to avoid 'that talk'...sounds like a familiar (reversed) pattern...love it !
Needless to say Jane is not the only one who wants them to have 'that talk'...wondering how he'll handle Lisbon under those circumstances...will she let her in ? will he be able to help her ?

I'm still loving those hints to the show : Jane's couch, Jane's insomnia.
I love how you used Jane's alternate history to explain him being an atheist...and how Saint Teresa is still here, with her strong sense of justice and faith...totally consistent with her wanting closure but not revenge...I love that she's still selfless, and a private person !

Their lead to RJ died...it was to be expected...What will happen next ?

Oh good chapter.
Please continue, I really like this story with the reversed characters.(:

Absolutely loved this chapter including this new case, I don't know but I have a thing for crimes circling around religion, it just always has something mysterious about it. And it reminded me a bit about "The DaVinci Code". :D

I already wondered how you were going to solve the problem of revenge with Lisbon's faith still intact in this fic. So thumbs up for explaining it the way you did and that she doesn't want to kill him.

"He had an inordinate amount of love for bruised and broken things" - Loved this line, and it fits so perfectly. Actually Lisbon on the show should like his contraption as she is the one who loves to fix broken things.

And using Jane's insomnia as a way for him to to do the paperwork, brilliant.

I really like the fact that even though she's the one who lost her family here, Lisbon still has a more level-headed approach to catching Red John.

Glad Lisbon offered Jane to stay at her place and starts to let him in if only a tiny bit. The line about her still having paintings from the previous owners reminded me of Lisbon having pictures of dogs in the frames on her desk, nice touch. :)

Loved the 'flashback' into Jane's teens, always hated we didn't get more info about Lisbon and her brothers.

Not sure if I mentioned this already but glad you kept Lisbon's and Jane's beliefs the same despite her being the 'psychic' in this story.

Jane staying at Lisbon’s…well…that’s an interesting turn up for the books. Now that I see her living in her townhouse I don’t quite know what my mind considers her bedroom to look like. Yet now I know what her spare room looks like, haha.

And now the suspect is on his way towards death…that’s a typical Red John case right there!

I know you've not finished posting it, but I'm going to add it to my favourites anyway since I've read it all.

I suppose doubting that Jane could be Red John makes sense under the circumstances, that’s quite a twisted thing to occur; a body be found under the bed of a room she wasn’t killed in. Sends a shiver down my spine!

The connection to Jane only made the whole thing sadder.

Nicely done Lisbon!