Chapter Text
Lisbon rushes out of her office, "Guys in here now!" Cho, Rigsby and Van Pelt can't help but notice that Lisbon seems very upset and immediately leave what they are doing and follow her into her office. "
What's up Boss?" Rigsby asked.
"I just received this text" replies Lisbon and reads from her phone "I am going to take him and you won't be able to stop me" There is a heavy silence. They all knwo that 'Him' is their colleague Jane and the sender Red John.
"I have called Jane and he is fine and should be here soon."
"Are you going to tell him?" the question came from Cho
"No, it's not like he will be careful and agree to stay under our protection, he's more likely to offer himself up for capture, sure that he can out smart him. We just have to make sure that one of us is him as much as possible and especially when we are away from headquarters"
One week later at a crime scene...
Jane had decided that yes, it really wasn't his imagination, a member of the team did always seem to be close by where ever he went. It also seemed that Lisbon was actively encouraging him to sleep up in the attic. Something's going on and hees going to tackle Lisbon about it when they got back to the CBI headquarters. Right now he's just left a rather nasty crime scene which has left a very unpleasant taste in his mouth and there is an ice - cream van singing his song in front of the neighbour's gate... and there isn't even a queue. He will get Lisbon one, it might ease the tension he's noticed has developed around her eyes lately.
Jane doesn't get the chance to place his order before the vendor thrusts a piece of paper at him.
"Pick it up and step back to read it Mr Jane"
Jane, startled that the vendor knows his name, looks up from unfolding the paper, to find a gun pointed at him. Jane steps back and read:
'The red dot now dancing on your chest will be pointing at your team unless you walk around the front of the vehicle'
Jane looks down and sure enough there is a little red dot on his chest meaning a sniper rifle is pointing at him from somewhere. Two guns, this is not going to be his day!
He certainly didn't want anyone getting hurt and so with a sigh he makes his way around the front, making sure the red dot stays with him. Immediately a black van approaches and the side door opens up in front of him and Jane feels himself being grabbed and pushed roughly to the floor. As the door closes and drive off, duck tape is wrapped around his eyes and then his mouth and hands. A cloth is shoved into his face and darkness falls quickly, the last thing he's aware of is the sound of the music from the ice - cream van in the distance.
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Jane is abruptly woken with a slap across his face. He wonders how long he was allowed to sleep - just a moment, an hour? He knows it wouldn't have been longer than that. He struggles to remember if he'd been dreaming but he's spent so long retreating into his memory palace that it's impossible to distinguish the difference. He doesn't know where he is, how long he h's been held captive or by whom, although he has a pretty good idea. What he does know is that some one is trying to break him by taking away his senses. After being dragged into the van he awoke to find himself still gagged, blindfolded and tied firmly between two posts so he can't move. The only thing he can feel is the hard, cold ground beneath him and the post against his back. There's also duck tape around various parts of his body that itches and stings and he can certainly feel that! He long ago lost feeling in his hands and feet and the numbness is now almost complete in his arms and legs. He knows he must spend most of his time alone as no-one could put up with the constant noise that is being relayed over loudspeakes to prevent him from hearing anything. It's always a shock when his captors - Jane surmises that there are two from the differences in the violence that's played upon him, or his captor changes shoes every time he comes to inflict pain. It doesn't last long and it dosn't cause damage, Jane would almost welcome the distraction except that it brings him out of his memory palace and back to reality and he's finding it harder and harder to return.
His captors have even overloaded his sense of smell with a sweet, sickly fragrance that fills the room and has invaded every part of him. Jane is sure that if he's freed from his prison he will never escape the smell. Although he's not been given any food, twice they've brought him water. A hole is punctured through the tape around his mouth and a straw quickly pushed through before he has time to make any noise. The water's been boiled and allowed to cool to a temperature that allows it to be drunk quickly but not be deliciously refreshing and satisfying, which, with his thirst, is an accomplishment. The straw is then removed and more tape placed across the hole. The second time Jane managed to make some noise and he'd been beaten unconscious as payement, which didn't take much in his weakened state. He's contemplating trying again, it had been a welcome relief.
Jane's surprised to find Lisbon feeding the elephants. He watche sas she holds out an apple and warmth fills his soul at the smile that spreads across her face as the elephant takes it. He doesn't understand why she's here but it's so good to see her. Finally Lisbon notices him
"Jane, where have you been?"
"Aw Lisbon, you missed me." he teased. Jane saw Lisbon's eyes fill with tears
"Of course I miss you Jane, Red John has had you for days, I don't know if I will ever see you again"
Jane see her tears begin to fall but they are red and leave red streaks down her face. He tries to speak but can't! He wants to take her in his arms but he can't move them or feel them! Does he even have any arms! Jane jolts back to reality. He's sweating and tears fill his eyes making the duck tape sting even more. He knows he's begining to panic. His memory palace is his safe place - it has to be his safe place! Suddenly he feels a push and a straw is shoved into his mouth, He sucks as best he can and then as the straw is pulled out a cloth is held tightly against his face once more and blackness descends.
Jane thought he was regaining consciousness but he must still be dreaming as he's aware of a quiet around him, softness beneath him and he can open his eyes. Then he knows he's dreaming, because, there before him is Loralei offering him a plate of eggs.