Marionette

Chapter 1

This is a new story from Katvercueil and I ^^ I hope you like it and please comment!

Chapter 1

Teresa's apartment had daisies everywhere: on the floor, in her garden, and flower pots brimming with them could be found in every room. This was more then an addiction, the mutilated flowers attest to that. It looked as though she had plucked all of the petals leaving only ten petals left on each flower. All of the discarded petals lay trampled on the floor.

"Teresa?"

It's as though she's in a trance, her one focus is the daisy she holds in her hand. Jane tries again, waving a hand in front of her but getting no reaction. In one swift motion he abruptly takes the flower out of her grasp and Teresa's blank expression goes to one of confusion.

"How-wait, why are you here?"

"Lisbon I've been with you this whole afternoon."

"It's the afternoon?"

Before Jane can respond, Lisbon gets flustered and tells him to leave. He's about to say something but holds it in, she was panicking and it was clear that she needed to be alone. Once in the doorway he looks back to find her plugging in a vacuum, he was sure to investigate this tomorrow.

------

Jane spent the following morning moving things into his newfound home, if one could call it that, in all reality he had placed himself in the attic he found at the CBI. It was the perfect hide away and Jane just had to claim it. After surveying his work the consultant goes back downstairs, this time for a cup of tea, before continuing his work.

His break is interrupted when a fiery red head storms into the kitchen, takes his cup from his hands, and holds it above the sink as if she'll spill the tea. Grace glares at him and in a harsh tone demands a conversation.

"I'll dump it, I'll spill the tea."

"You wouldn't dare."

"Either we go up to the attic or the cup is destroyed."

Jane stands defenseless, there was nothing he could do. If he made one wrong move his beloved cup would be lost forever. Knowing he's lost, Jane mumbles a complaint and let's the young detective lead the way to his attic.

"What the hell are you doing!?", Grace yells after closing the attic door,"Look, I know you're new here but Teresa has been having a rough time lately and it's a sensitive topic. The last thing she needs is you digging it up!"

"Just give it time you'll see, she'll get better eventually."

"I swear to God if you hurt her I will tear you apart.", Grace snaps unknowingly trying his patience.

"Dammit Grace I'm only trying to help her!"

"Patrick-"

"Ever sense I got close to Lisbon all of you have been on edge! What makes you think I want to hurt her!? Teresa is a victim-can't you see that!?"

"Victim?"

Even in his anger he can sense the nervousness in Grace's voice and it clicks that she knows what's going on.

"The daisies, Grace, the daisies. She is showing all the signs of hypnosis!"

"You can't know that!"

"But she is! Unlike all of you I've been with her, she's let me in and you know something Grace? Teresa has had nightmare after nightmare and each time I snap her out of it she tells me not to tell the team."

"She's having nightmares?"

"You're clueless! All of you are so wrapped up in yourselves that you haven't even considered her needing help!"

"Jane-"

"Just get out."

The fact that they knew nothing was upsetting him, it was as though they refused to consider Teresa in pain. He was done yelling at Grace, right now he just wanted to settle in and later try to find out about those daisies. Grace storms out of his attic upset and confused. How could Jane see the signs? She knew all about the daisies, Grace knew the entire story in fact the whole team did.

It had become their mission to keep Teresa in the dark and Jane was threatening to jeopardize it.