Disclaimer: I don't own the mentalist =[

A/N got detention today for making paper planes, I wasn't planning on throwing them in the class I made them in, yet I still got it, unfair or what?! Anyways, here is my new story, idk if I like the name for it though, couldn't think of one, so I'm open to suggestions =] this is a slightly changed version btw. read and review...

Grace Van Pelt hated winter. It was always cold, and made her look extremely pale. She shivered as she picked up a pen and started doodling flowers, to try and convince herself that spring was just around the corner, even though it was December, and Christmas was just around the corner. Christmas was the only good part of winter, that and new years. She lost concentration and dropped her pen and cursed lightly as she picked it up, spinning it around her fingers.

'Bored Van Pelt?' Jane asked

'Really, am I that obvious?'

'Meh, who isn't bored?'

'People who aren't in work, not doing anything'

At that she was interrupted by Lisbon

'You are doing something now, a women has been found dead, stabbed right in the heart, her name is Stella York, age 25, come on, everyone, in the cars' she said

Grace groaned quietly, it was windy outside, she hoped the place they were going to was heated, and inside. She sat in the passenger seat and Rigsby got in the drivers.

'Hello sunshine' he said as he started the engine and pulling out

'It would be nice if there was one' she grumbled

'I like winter, you can build snow men'

'I hate it, it's cold all the time'

'That's Sacramento winters for you'

'They're stupid'

'And so is killing someone before Christmas, what is it, 23 days away?'

'Just about, let's wrap this one up quick, I'm not working Christmas eve'

'What, wrap it up like a present? I don't think I would want a case for Christmas'

'It's closure for the family present'

'Still, I'm not working Christmas eve'

'I don't think anyone is'

They pulled up to the house, if you could call it that, it was a mansion, rolling green grass and trees, even though it was winter.

'Wow, she was well off' Rigsby whistled

'Tell me about it'

They got out into the freezing cold winter day, and ran up the path to meet Lisbon, Jane, and Cho, with the local PD. They were with a shaken up girl in her early 20s in a maid uniform.

'Hey boss, got any more details?' Grace asked

'Stella York, 25, her father was rich, only child, so inherited all his money, hence the expensive house, this is Lexi Hartley, she was her maid, and one of her closest friends, she was the one to discover the body' Lisbon informed

'Ok, where is the body?' Rigsby asked

'Bedroom, a lot of blood'

They walked into the room, and to see that Lisbon wasn't lying, there was a lot of blood, all over the floor, and bed. In the middle of the room, Stella lay with a big hole in her chest, blood covering her. She was a pretty woman, with her jet black hair straight down her back, bright blue eyes, and dark skin. She wore a once white blouse and dark blue jeans with black boots. She lay on her back, hair splayed out around her, eyes open, staring at absolutely nothing.

'Do we have time of death?' Grace asked

'Lexi says she was out last night, left around 8, got back here at 6.30 this morning, she didn't find the body until around 9.30, when she decided to see where Stella was, coroner is working around that, but she thinks around 10-2'

'I want to talk to Lexi' Jane announced

'Ok, but no funny business, ok?' Lisbon warned

'Of course'

Jane walked off in search of Lexi, who was crying in her room

'Hello Lexi' he said

'What do you want?' she asked

'I want to help, but to do that, I will need your help, will talk to me?'

'If it means we can solve this, of course'

'Ok, did she have any enemies?'

'No, everyone liked her'

'Well, obviously someone didn't, otherwise I wouldn't be here'

'Don't say that, I just walked in to find my best friend dead' she spat

'I walked in to find my wife and daughter dead' he said calmly

'Oh, I'm sorry, I'm just frustrated, I want someone to blame, I guess I shouldn't take it out on those who want to help me'

'No, that wouldn't be wise, now, was she romantically involved with anyone?'

'Yes, a man named Steve, you don't think he had anything to do with it?

'Could be possible, what's Steve's last name?'

'Parks, he works at an accountants building up town, Layton accountancy I think'

'Ok, that's all' he said walking off

'Mr Jane?'

'Yes?'

'When you find who did it, can you tell me, they need a taste of their own medicine!' she said

'Lexi, revenge is a stupid thing, don't bother with it'

'It's not fair, what did she do to deserve this?'

'I don't know, but it's my job to find out' he said walking out of the room

'Lisbon' he said

'Yes?'

'She had a lover, Steve Parks, an accountant'

'Ok, Van Pelt, I need you to go look him up, the you and Rigsby go talk to him' she ordered

'Yes boss' she said getting into the car and driving off

'You still hate winter?' he asked

'I thought we had dealt with this'

'Nope, not finished yet'

'Go on'

'My birthday is in winter'

'Ok, there is one more thing to add to my 4 thing long list of good stuff about winter'

'What else is on it?'

'Your birthday, Christmas, new years and snow, when it's not slushy and cold'

'Grace, snow is always cold'

'I know, but when it isn't so cold outside'

'You are so cute' he smiled

She giggled and blushed as they pulled into the CBI building. They went up to the bull pen and Grace looked up Steve Parks on the computer, she got all the accountants results, but no criminal records or anything, then she saw a small other result come up, he had changed his name, from Liam Jones. She looked that up to find that he used to live in Davis, and he had tried to murder his ex girlfriend. She stood up and walked over to Rigsby and informed him on the news.

'So, should we mention Liam, or not?' he asked

'Best not for now, I have got the computer ready to send alerts to my phone, if anything comes up'

'Ok, let's go' he said, pulling her away from a very important update.