Marionette

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

"Morning." Jane says after placing a fresh, hot cup of coffee on her desk only to get concerned when she doesn't acknowledge him.

Teresa stays focused on her paperwork, the fact that something was bothering her was an understatement. There were crumpled up pieces of paper on her desk which was unlike her to go against her own rule to keep the office spotless. But without her talking Jane could only get a cold read on her and that only provided him with so much less then he wanted to know. It is then when he lays down on the couch does he notice the conflict: the pot of daisies-including the daisies themselves-were in the trash. The reason why she couldn't throw away the trash she was accumulating around her was due to the internal conflict she faced every time she looked at the daisies. Jane had to admit he was proud of her for trying.

"I could replace the vase I broke yesterday. If you want."

"I already did."

"Teresa, you can talk to me-"

"I'm fine."

Seeing that he was going to get nowhere with her, Jane sticks to falling asleep on the couch.

The day was running smoothly this morning, the sunlight streaming into the bullpen making it warmer then usual. A case hadn't appeared just yet so everyone was taking it slow. Jane could tell that Teresa was more relaxed now that she finally gave in. They had a small dispute over the trash can because he proposed to get rid of the trash but Teresa seemed flustered that he noticed and the embarrassment soon evolved into anger, thus the argument began. Jane would like to talk to her about anything aside from the daisies but Teresa wasn't in the mood and he was already dealing with putting the pieces together. What is it about the daisies? Who did this to her? Why did this happen to her? And how could Grace reinforce it? Stiles was another issue all together, Jane had never met him before but considering the team's reactions, Stile's is supposedly intimidating.

Jane watches Teresa from his couch, wishing he could talk to her but she was focused on her work and never cared to talk to him today. Jane could talk to her all day if she let him, he loved being with her. She was the only good thing that's happened after Red John. Jane felt something for Teresa that he hadn't felt in a long time, he couldn't quite place it but something had changed. He protected her without question, even if she was completely against it, Jane couldn't go a day without talking to her. He loved that smile of hers, or the irritated glance he'd get after poking at her. Holding her hand was his favorite thing and letting her hold him made everything better. What was this feeling? He couldn't be in love...could he?

Without warning the door to her office opens and a man strides in. This catches Jane's attention and Teresa begins to shake. The man seems to be cool and collected but Jane can sense his frustration as he glares at Teresa, clearly disappointed in her.

"I see you're feeling better today.", he says smoothly, overlooking her sudden anxiety, "I couldn't help but notice you skipped my last session, now why is that Teresa?"

Not knowing what to do she looks to Jane who immediately gets up from his couch. Whoever this man was, was a threat. No one terrorized Lisbon this much, and something about this man caused Jane to go on edge.

"She isn't going because I'm her new therapist.", Jane says coolly,"Lisbon doesn't need you anymore."

This catches the man's attention.

"I've seen you before haven't I? You're Patrick Jane aren't you? Tell me Patrick how do you expect to save your friend from her own nightmares when you couldn't even save your wife and daughter?"

He smirks at Jane's broken expression before looking at Teresa.

"I expect to see you this afternoon."

She can only nod.

"Good.", the man looks at Jane triumphantly, "You see Jane, Lisbon is my patient. Someone like you could never understand her."

With that the man leaves and as soon as he closes the door behind him Teresa starts to cry. Jane comes up behind her and moves her chocolate locks away from her face.

"That was Stiles wasn't it?"

Teresa lets out a ragged sigh., "I don't know why but he terrifies me, and I've told the team but they think I'm just being stubborn.", without a word Jane rubs her back in comfort, trying to help her relax, "and I know Grace is just trying to help but she refuses to listen to me!"

"Teresa...how did this happen? What happened to you?"

"Nothing. Nothing happened."

Jane stops rubbing her back getting the sense that she wants him to leave.

"That is such a lie."

"Jane."

"Teresa."

He mocks, mimicking her frustration.

"Just go away Jane, leave me alone I'm fine really."

"But you're not fine, no one cries when they're fine."

Lisbon grabs her stapler and holds it up as if to throw at him, Jane immediatly backs away and leaves the office. He catches Grace watching him and smiles at her catching her off guard. The nervous agent looks away as Jane walks to her desk putting his hand on her shoulder and very quietly says:

"I will find out what you're doing."

The statement is short and he leaves Grace to her own devices knowing he's shaken her up. Jane locks himself in his attic and sits at his desk looking out the window, noticing Stiles entering his car and driving away.

He was going to get to the bottom of this. No one hurt Teresa and got away with it.