Into The Red Forest

Chapter 1- Scary Stories & S'mores

A/N: This is MY story that I'm reposting onto here from fanfiction.net so that more people can see 

[WINNER OF BEST STORYLINE IN THE MENTALIST FANFICTION AWARDS 2014!! THANK YOU ALL!!]

Into The Red Forest

By: S.K Knight

Disclaimer: Don't own The Mentalist or its characters. All rights to rightful owners. I also do not own any scenes I referenced in this story.

A/N: This story is dedicated to five amazing people: my friend Kah, because she included me her family post on Tumblr. (Yes, Kah, I know I promised you a tequila Jisbon fic but this is better, trust me.) Love you, Kah. Next, to Jennifer, but most of you may know her as Nerwen Aldarion, for being my mentor and beta-ing this fic and giving me advice. She also inspired me to keep writing even when I felt like crap. Thank you, Jenn. Love you. Next, to Christina, or SteeleSimz, for inspiring me to keep writing. You're awesome, Steele. Next, to Erin, for helping review the Red John parts and helping with ideas, and, last but not least, Jimmy Gadd, editor of The Mentalist, for being awesome. (And because I never wrote him that Christmas fic. Sorry, Jim.)

P.S. Yes, this is in Season 5. I know there is no one over Lisbon right now, but I like Minnelli and I chose to bring him back, so there. Don't worry too much about it, he un-retired. He's really not that big of a character in this particular story anyway. Thanks & enjoy! Please review! Also, I posted this at 3AM so I will fix the spacing and any mistakes I didn't catch tomorrow.

Also, the main theme song for this fic is "Losing My Mind" by Daughtry. It's a great song for Jane & Lisbon and I heard it on a Jisbon video my friend Sonia made. I thought it was perfect. :)

Chapter 1: Scary Stories and S'mores

As soon as the CBI team squeezed themselves into the tiny maroon van, sandwiched between five large suitcases and sundry camping items, a few of them were beginning to wonder why they'd agreed to go on this year's "CBI Agent Retreat" which was apparently code for "a camp ground in scenic Nowhere, California." It was a far cry from last year's which had been a banquet in Key West, Florida. They'd thought about refusing (except for Jane and Van Pelt, who saw this as a new experience, whereas the rest of the Serious Crimes Unit was less than enthusiastic.),but Minnelli hadn't given them that option. So here they were, stuck in a car, for four hours, with nothing to do but stare blankly out the windows.

"Remind me again why we agreed to this trip." Rigsby spoke up in a bored voice.

"We didn't agree, Minnelli didn't give us a choice, remember?" Cho answered, expressionless.

"Come on, guys, it's not that bad. My Dad took me camping all the time." Van Pelt volunteered.

Jane smiled jovially. "Think of this as our next great adventure. It will be a great chance for some team bonding time."

"Jane's right, guys, give it a chance." Van Pelt concurred.

Lisbon scoffed. "I have enough 'adventure' every day, trying to fix things when your crazy plans almost backfire."

Rigsby spoke up. "She's right, you know. She has saved your ass a lot."

Jane smiled. "Oh, please, if it weren't for me, you guys would've been solving cases the boring, 'normal' way and you wouldn't have closed nearly as many."

"Oh, you think so?" Lisbon asked, raising an eyebrow at the blonde consultant in the passenger seat.

"Well, let's see, shall we? Since my employment at the CBI, this team's case closure rate has gone up," He paused, calculating. "Oh, about forty percent." Jane stated proudly.