Red Raging Rapids (Sequel)

Disclaimer: ....I'm sorry, Patrick. Razzl3 doesn't own the mentalist right now........

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Lisbon's P.O.V.

My eyes crack open, and a blurry scene meets my tired eyes. There's a bluish background, a blurry person next to me, and lights everywhere. "What are all the blinking lights?" I ask, voice sounding breathy.

"Teresa." a voice says, and I feel myself being pulled into a hug. My vision clears, and I recognize this person as Jane. I open my mouth to say something, but all that comes out is an airy cough. I swallow.

"Why can't I breath?" I question. I feel the weight of plastic tubes in my nose, and several others.

"You got a lot of water in your lungs." Is his only reply. I nodded, running my tongue along the plastic tube that's going around the side of my mouth, and down my throat. "You're going to be okay, though." He says. I'm not good at reading people, but he doesn't look like he's positive.

A shiver runs down my spine. "Why am I so cold?"

"Hypothermia." He states. He's saying less than Cho right now.

"How long was I out?" I question.

"About a week." He replies. My vision clears even more, and I can see the bags under his eyes. "The case has been closed. The others scanned the woods after me and you went to the hospital. As I figured out, he wasn't actually on a raft. He was on a cliff overlooking the river, standing on top of a deflated raft. He was beaten with an oar, and tossed over the edge, having him drown in the river. The shouting that Evalyn heard turned out to be Garcia and Lossi arguing. We found a track in the mud, showing that Garcia had actually been kidnapped from his nearby car, and knock out with an oar. He was dragged to the scene, but he woke up too fast, and yelled at his kidnapper. He was then dumped in the river. Evalyn heard the whole thing, and must have come home the long way. When she arrived, he dad was there. She went to sleep, and the next day she told him what she had heard. Then, he killed her in an attempt to keep her quiet and two days later, we found her unconscious."

"Do you have Lossi in custody?" I ask.

"He was convicted of murdering two people and attacking you. Death row. Cortez and Donovan are being tried, and probably will be convicted. They attacked you, too. You had three attackers. I think they were all trying to clean up evidence, and you showed up. I must say, the other guys look pretty beat up. Angry little princess got skills." He grins.

"Shut up." I order. It doesn't sound as firm as I'd like, my breath catches in my throat, invoking some wheezing. Jane jumps forward, ready to help if needed. I wave him off, and he sits back down. We talk some more, just about normal things. He keeps smiling at me, which makes me blush for a reason I have yet to find out. Than, I remember something. "What happened to the teacup?"

"What?" He questions, knowing full well what I mean.

"We've been so busy in the case that we haven't been able to fous on thje Red John/teacup scheme." 

"Well." He starts.

"I want full disclosure," I interrupt, fixating him with the firmest gaze I can manage with the tubes in my nose and mouth.

"I actually have been working on the teacup case. I've found that I can't use the tiny camera to get any information on Red John at all, which only forces me to think about why he did it. I don't think it was for information, because if Red John wants information, he will get it.  I think Red John chose the teacup because he knew it would unsettle me. I love tea, as you know, and it's a comfort for me. By planting a camera in the teacup, it takes the comfort away. However, a teacup is something so little that it prevents me from going up to the authorities and proclaiming that a serial killer planted a camera in my teacup. I have no evidence whatsoever that it is Red John, though there's no doubt in my mind that it is, and a teacup camera? That sounds incredibly unlikely, and made up. My dear Lisbon, remember how I wanted to use the camera to plant information? I decided against it, because he will know it's a plant. He knows we know about the teacup, so he will know that everything I do around it is an act. This in mind, I destroyed it. Completely. Afterwards, I searched the CBI building thoroughly, and discovered several other cameras, don't freak out, and obliterated them too." HE finishes.

"Wait...oh my god, you- WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THERE WERE CAMERAS EVERYWHERE! This is important stuff I need to know!" I yell. For a second, I have a feeling of suffocation, and I choke on the water filling most of my lungs. Quickly a nurse comes in, and frantically adjusts several things hooked up to me, while I try not to panic. I attempt a deep breath, but only manage a small one. The nurse checks several other things, and finally, I can breath again, if only a little. The nurse scurries out, but only after warning me not to yell, or shake my tubes. This whole time, Jane holds my hand tightly.

"I didn't tell you, Teresa, because I knew it would scare you. Knowing that for possibly years, you have been observed by a serial killer in your office that you so love? That would freak you out. I hate seeing you upset." He explains. 

 Suddenly a nurse comes in, and motions Jane outside. I feel my heart jump with worry, but I cover it up as Jane's curls disappear behind the curtain. I wait for what feels like an eternity. Jane walks back in, and I raise my eyebrows asking an unspoken question.

"So, there's this machine that they will have to put you on. It will speed up the process of getting the water out of your lungs without harming them. They can't do it, though, if you don't agree to it. It's more than a little painful, but they have medication for that, if you so desire." He explains.

"I'll do it." I say automatically. Pain I can deal with, if it means that I can get out of this place faster. He nods, and disappears again. I wait in silence, until I see his shoes underneath the curtain, before he walks into my hospital room.  

"You get the machine at seven tonight, and they guess that about a week after that, you'll be released from the hospital." He announces.  I sigh, relieved to escape the pure whiteness of this place, and lean back into my pillows, content on spending the rest of the day conversing with my consultant. "I almost forgot, I have a surprise for you!" He chirps.

"Should I be worried?" I mutter.

"Ah, Lisbon. You should learn to trust me." Jane scolds. He fishes around in his pocket, and bring out an evidence baggie. Inside it was my bracelet. The one he got me on my birthday, what feels like forever ago. He pulls it out, and sits down on the side of my bed. Pushing my hospital bracelet aside, he clips it onto my wrist , not drawing back once finished.

"Where did you find this?" I question, breathless. Literally.

"The little cliff over the whitewater river, stomped into the mud. It was bagged n' tagged as evidence." He explains. a soft grin crosses his face. "Each one of the bands on this bracelet represents one of your team members, including you.. The five gold bands are twined together, trying to say that we're all intertwined because we're family. The emerald... is just because emeralds make your eyes shine."

"Oh." Is all I say. I look down at the bracelet adorning my wrist and see the piece of jewelry in a new way.

"I've got to go, Donovan and Cortez are on trial in an hour, and you know how much fun I can be in courtrooms." Jane reminds me, sadly.

"I will shoot you." I threaten. He walks away with his hands up, as if nonverbally pleading innocence. Right before he disappears behind the curtain, he gives me a little solute. I settle in to the hospital cot, left alone with my thoughts, and I wish that he could stay.