Well, this is the last chapter. I really hope the ending is satisfying to read, it was sure satisfying to write.

I would like to thank everyone who has read, reviewed, favorited, alerted, told me they liked it on twitter or tumblr... Thank you all so much! :)
A special thanks goes to Madam Spooky for her help throughout the writing of this fic.

16. HOME

Today, as dusk approaches, the parking lot of the CBI headquarters holds an event that is not at all ordinary; if the agents working for the bureau remember correctly, nothing of the kind has ever happened before. A small stage has been built and decorated with the colors of the California flag, which hangs proudly behind a pulpit, next to the flag of the United States of America, and all the people who work in the building are gathered before that stage. It is a simple ceremony, but J.J. LaRoche and the new director, Carl McGorman, wanted to give it the due prominence. Given the current failures, the only thing left for the agency to do is to recognize and try to correct the faults that they can, in hopes of achieving more success in the future.

These failures include the wrongful conviction of two of their own best agents as participating in Red John's organization, LaRoche recalls bitterly, as well as the loss of a key figure in solving the case – Gale Bertram had been shot by an unidentified sniper on his way to the penitentiary, and died instantly, as well as the escorting officers. Not to mention the fact that there had really been a mole inside the bureau the whole time, and they had not been able to identify him correctly in time to prevent their two agents of being suspected of and chased after.

Without addressing anything in detail, the new director starts speaking, telling his co-workers in the audience that the agency has had to deal with many wrong steps along the way, but that the things that could be repaired should be repaired, and that is what this simple, informal ceremony is all about. He then announces he would like to call Madeleine Hightower, now cleared of all charges, to come up on stage so she can receive back her badge and earn back the title of Special Agent with the CBI. She has tears in her eyes and, as she attaches the badge to her belt, she waves thankfully at the agents of the Serious Crimes Unit; Wayne Rigsby, Grace Van Pelt, Kimball Cho. As well as their consultant, Patrick Jane, of course. They had all testified and provided proof to clear her.

"Thank you so much for choosing to continue with us, Agent Hightower," director McGorman says to the microphone, but looking at her.

"Thanks for having me back," is all she says, her voice cracking.

The whole audience applauds Hightower's readmission. LaRoche invites her to stand between the director and him as pictures are taken. As the applause decreases until it gradually gives way to silence, and as the pictures cease, the employees take that as a cue to start leaving, going back to their business. However, they all stand still in place as the director approaches the pulpit again.

"And now we'd like to call Ms. Teresa Lisbon."

Like Hightower, Lisbon ascends from a set of stairs in the back of the stage until she joins the new director and Agents LaRoche and the newly reinstated Hightower. She also receives from McGorman her badge back, and, as she holds it in her hand, after nodding to the words of reinstatement and congratulation, she realizes the weight of that badge in her life, the importance of that job and that career. She knows, then, that she has made the right decision.

McGorman thanks her for staying in a similar fashion as he has just done with Hightower, but Lisbon's answer is a simple yet emotionally charged nod as she shakes his hand. The audience now applauds her, and she recognizes many familiar faces until she finds the ones belonging to her team, the ones who clap the loudest and proudest, huge smiles on their faces. Except for one face, and her own smile falters a little at the sight of Jane. She can see a clear hint of sadness in his eyes as he claps out of obligation. At first, he looks back into her eyes, but then, he looks away, probably in an attempt not to spoil her moment.

As the ceremony is officially over, the employees receive each a glass of champagne. The two agents come down from the stage to be greeted and welcomed back by their colleagues. Lisbon smiles at everyone but does not try to hide the fact that she is heading for her team members. The first one she reaches is Van Pelt, who squeezes her into a hug. Then, Rigsby wants to shake her hand, but she throws her arms around his neck, even though she has to stand on the tip of her toes to do that, and he tightens his grip around her.

"Welcome back, boss," he says, blushing.

Cho gives her a quick yet assuring hug, patting her back proudly.

"Welcome back," he says.

She finally reaches Jane, and he does not look like he is going to give her a hug, or even a handshake. He just contemplates her, looking at the badge affixed to her belt, then nods.

"I knew asking you to leave would be useless," he says.

She nods, and her nod is telling him he really should have known.

"Then why did you ask?" she suddenly wants to know.

"I guess I had to try," is his simple and not so revealing answer.

She knows why anyway, though.

"Welcome back and congratulations," he says, politely, proposing a toast with his untouched glass of champagne.

"Thanks," she replies, touching his glass with hers then drinking from it.

She is thinking about the worries and fears and plans and hopes going through both of their minds right now. She is thinking about Red John and all the influence he still has in their lives, and it only makes her want to catch him more. The son of a bitch might have escaped again this time, but it would not be like that forever. Jane is thinking the same thing, she can tell, and they both know there will be a time when a lot will be at stake and choices will have to be made and many outcomes will be possible. Lisbon is silently hoping that all of it happens in the best way possible and that, when the time comes, she can make the right decisions.

She takes a step towards Jane, who is looking down, making him look up at her again as she slightly invades his personal space. He now has a wide smile, so she guesses his little mourning over her reinstatement is over. Even though there is still a lot to worry about, she cannot avoid the hope she experiences right now, the feeling that everything is finally falling into place; she has her job back, it has been proven that Tommy never had any connection to Red John prior to that and he has been released in parole, and she has Jane and her team on her side again. He silently takes her hand in his, never breaking eye contact, and holds it for a while as they drink silently, secretly hoping that the future cannot touch their present, and that they can always be the way they are now.

Jane sighs, looking through the thin line between the blinds covering the window. It rains heavier now, the loud sound of the raindrops touching everything, but he waits for the knocks on the door, and when they come, he can hear them clearly above all other sounds. He walks slowly, wishing this could be already over. He reluctantly opens the door to reveal her, her hair wet, her face swollen from having cried. He wants to give her a hug, to protect her in his arms, but he does not. He cannot do that.

"Why did you come back?" he asks, grimacing.

"I never left. But you knew that," she asserts, making her way into the room. "You were watching me sitting in my car the whole time, weren't you?"

"No, I was in bed…" he attempts, even though he knows his acting is very poor right now.

"Don't you lie to me!" she says in a commanding voice.

Jane shakes his head tiredly. He cannot do this anymore tonight.

"Lisbon, go home…" he pleads.

"Let's cut the crap, okay? I belong here. In the CBI, and with you. What I came here to tell you and you never let me is that…" She hesitates for only a second. "I'll say it, all right? I love you. I do. And I'm not going anywhere because I think you love me too."

Jane sighs, shaking his head slowly, but letting a crooked smile escape at seeing her read him so well and fight her fears by telling him how she feels. His heart fills with warmth and happiness, and his mind with worry and guilt.

"You asked me if you could make me yours, and I let you," Lisbon points out, lowering her voice. "You can't take that back."

Jane's lack of control that night comes back to him now, and he remembers how much he had meant that; he had wanted so badly to make her his then. As he does now.

"You only tried to make me go away because of that crap that I might be Red John's next target, right?" she continues. "That crap that I reminded you about, I know. But I don't give a shit about that anymore. I don't care. Because I can take care of myself, I am a cop and I will catch this son of a bitch. When the chance comes and we have to fight about who gets to him first, we'll decide what to do. We can deal with all of that later."

He smiles at her language, and at how simple it all sounds in her words.

"Tell me I'm right," she demands. "For all the times I had to admit you were right, just this once, admit that I'm right."

It takes him quite a few seconds staring into her eyes until he finally nods, slowly.

"You are. You really are." He makes a pause, and then, surprisingly smiles. "But I don't like it."

"Don't like what?" she asks cautiously.

"That you're the one reading me and I'm the one admitting you're right," he explains, in a matter-of-fact tone. "I don't like that at all."

A huge smile – and Jane could swear, a relieved one – forms in Lisbon's lips.

"See, now you know what it feels like."

He sighs, with a sad smile.

"So you're not leaving the CBI." It is not a question.

"No, I'm not," she shakes her head vehemently.

Jane nods. There is no point in trying to stay away from her anymore then. Red John knows how important she is for him and has already made her his target. If she is staying in the CBI, then there is nothing else he can do. He feels suddenly extremely regretful and disgusted with himself and his attempts at making her leave. He strokes her face lightly for a moment, and she welcomes his touch without hesitation.

"Lisbon, I'm sorry," he whispers.

"Ssssshhhh," she waves her hand, walking away from him.

There is a pause, and Jane notices she is paying attention to the walls, void of any pictures, to the impersonal furniture, the scattered bags always kept packed, and the half-messy bed where he had been lying before. She is actually looking for something to say, because, now that she has told him what she came here to tell him, she cannot think of what to say next. She waits for him to say something, but he seems just as lost for words at the moment. She decides to make small talk then, because the silence is growing awkward.

"Don't you ever feel like having a place?" she chooses to say. "You know, to call home?"

He smiles lightly at her.

"Not really, not after…" his smile fades and he does not finish, and she just waits, looking at him with a very serious and unsure expression. "I realize that you only call some place your home because of the people you share it with."

Lisbon tries to think of a reply, but does not quite find one. Jane takes a few slow steps towards her again.

"So," he continues, "people are basically your home."

She shrugs.

"I see your point but… Me, for example, I live alone, and it felt great to be home when I arrived in my apartment after all that happened."

"Yes, but only for a while."

She furrowed her brow, waiting for him to explain further.

"After a while, you got dressed and you came here," he clarifies, then teases. "I wasn't expecting you so soon to be honest; I thought it would take a week or maybe even two."

Of course it works like a charm and there is that hint of outrage in her eyes as she is about to protest. It only makes him smile widely as he approaches her enough to touch her arm.

"Don't be mad," he interrupts, warmth in the smile he lets fade only to become suddenly serious again. "I thought I'd never have a home again. I thought I'd never feel at home again, anywhere. And yet, I do. With you, Lisbon. You are my home."

That is definitely unexpected, and Lisbon does not know how to respond. Jane smiles lightly, cupping her face.

"You don't have to say anything…" he assures her.

The way he is looking at her and the words he has just said have caused thoughts to become unclear in her mind. Her answer is basically a smile, which he corresponds, then the closing of her eyes, signaling that she is waiting for him to kiss her. He just smiles, stroking her face lightly and savoring that sweet, rare moment of surrender. Teresa Lisbon asking silently for a kiss from him. How could he not grant her wish? He approaches her slowly, then closes his eyes as well, letting his lips brush only slightly against hers, just touching for a moment, then gives her a slow, loving kiss, taking his other hand to the small of her back to hold her tightly.

After that sweet, slow kiss, she pulls away from him, and walks slowly towards his bed, maintaining eye contact. Standing next to it, she takes off her jacket, which she lays carefully on a chair; then, she removes her boots, placing them next to the same chair, where she also puts her jeans after she has removed them as well. Wearing only a white t-shirt and her underwear, she lies on the bed, pulling the covers on top of her. Jane, who has been watching silently with an amused smile, walks slowly towards the bed as well, turning the lights off on his way, and lies down, offering his chest for her to lie on, which she does, gladly, like she has many times during their escape.

Jane holds her tightly, after he removes the wet hair from her face, and pulls the covers up a little to cover more of her body, still cold from the bad weather outside. He places a hand on top of her icy nose, to make it warmer, and strokes her cheek with his fingertips. As she welcomes the comforting warmth of his arms around her, she remembers how she had been hurt, scared and worried the other times when he had held her like that, and how it had helped her feel all that much better; she then suddenly understands what he means. With him, she feels safe, protected, at ease. She feels at home.