Okay, now this is bittersweet! I can't believe this story is over. Sigh-all good things must come to an end though. I do feel like this has ended appropriately, and it ended up being a little fluffier than I thought. I think y'all will enjoy it! This is also the longest chapter I have ever written and I hope it does the story justice! At the moment, I'm considering doing a sequel to Through the Looking Glass as my next big story. I'm going to wait until after the next episode though (so excited!) I'll probably write a short fic for the October JelloForever challenge, and ruminate over my next story…Hahahahahaha. Ruminate. Such a fun word!

And now, I have several people that deserve some special thanks. These people really helped make Mighty what it is through reviews, messages, e-mails. Basically they're all wonderful!

TROMANA- Twin, I don't know what to say! Who knew this story would lead into a wonderful friendship as we started to realize all our crazy similarities! Thank you for all your suggestions, comments, words of encouragement, and random messages. Hugs, loves, and PG Tips and cheddar goldfish!

LILSMILES-I bet you never guessed when you started the JelloForever forum that it would grow so uch! Thank you for organizing the best Mentalist Jane/Lisbon forum. It's been a great inspiration, and it's been so much fun getting to know everyone! Hugs!

EBONY10-I'm so glad you're back and writing again! Your stories are always an inspiration and help hold me to a high standard of writing. It's been wonderful getting to know a fellow artist and I greatly enjoy our conversations!

TIVA4EVA-Thank you for leaving probably the most enthusiastic reviews I've ever received all the time! Your excitement has been contagious and made me really want to post faster and write quicker. Thanks for all the kind words and funny stories, and just wonderful comments!

I really wish I had the time to thank everyone who's ever reviewed. Y'all don't know (unless you're writers too!) how much it means to have such loyal readers! I love hearing your thoughts and appreciate every comment! Thank you!

Thank you Mr. Heller for creating such a wonderful show that has really inspired me. I have enjoyed playing with your characters, and I guess I'll give them back now. They're mostly good as new!

A big thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter! Y'all have really made my day! Thank you so much! KHALEK, MWALTER, NELLIE, PHEONIXWYTCH, CHOCOLATEFAN, EBONY10, LALEZ, TROMANA, SHOPPINGLUVA, JOCELYN, KATHIANN, WILDDAISIES, CATERINA, JADESTAR, and TIVA4EVA.

All you lurkers out there, please let me know any final thoughts on the story! Now is your chance! Thanks for taking the time to read!

Chapter 21

Teresa Lisbon was slightly surprised to find herself enveloped in her brother's warm hug. A strangled sob escaped from her clenched jaw when he began to mutter reassuring words while gently rubbing her back. It was a gesture faintly reminiscent of what she used to do for him and Ben when they had been younger, and that brief memory made her lower her walls even more as she started to tremble. It wasn't supposed to happen like this. Charlie should hate her for what happened to Jeremy.

She wasn't sure how long they stood framed in the doorway when a loud noise from the kitchen startled them both. Charlie pulled away and looked around her apartment warily. He began to catalog the small details he had missed when he first arrived. He had been too concerned with comforting his sister to notice a man's jacket strewn over the armrest of the couch. Locking the door, he noticed a pair of large dress shoes neatly tucked away in the entry way.

Turning, he raised an eyebrow when he met his sister's gaze with a smirk as a faint blush began to creep up her face. Her red rimmed eyes sparkled as she shot a brief glance towards the kitchen before letting out an exasperated sigh. Charlie was sure there was a hint of something else mixed with exasperation, but he knew better that to push. Well, he wouldn't push it just yet, he decided as he watched her lean against the kitchen doorway.

He watched as she smiled and released the tension pent up inside her body. Her shoulders lifted and he heard a male voice mutter what sounded like an apology, or maybe it was an excuse. With a lingering smile on her face, she gestured for Charlie to join her. Charlie laughed out loud when he spotted a lanky blond man sprawled across the kitchen floor looking at them both with a mixture of chagrin and sheepishness. The man's eyes flickered back over to his sister, and Charlie wondered just what exactly he had walked into.

"Hey Lisbon, did you know your sink leaks?" he drawled out, making no effort to get up. Charlie caught his sister's brief eye roll and instantly took a liking to the man who called Teresa by her last name.

"I do believe that's why there was a towel in front of it," she retorted and pointed to the towel he had previously used to wipe off another section of the floor.

"Ahhhh," he said as he lifted his head. "You must be Charlie. I'm Patrick Jane." Charlie's eyes switched between his sister and the man on the floor as details started to fall in place.

"You're Jane?" he asked with a hint of incredulous surprise. The blond man grinned before finally rising to his feet while Lisbon just shook her head in amusement.

"Expecting someone more female?" Jane replied. Charlie smiled and held out his hand. The two men shook before they made their way back to the living room. Charlie didn't miss Jane's closeness to his sister or the way his eyes carefully inventoried her condition every few seconds. Catching him off guard, Jane winked at him and Charlie knew he had been caught.

Jane carefully maneuvered her until she was sitting beside him. With a small smile, Charlie sank into the oversized armchair across from them. Once seated, Lisbon's eyes darted suspiciously between the two men before resting on Jane who was the most likely instigator. Satisfied he would behave for now, she turned her attention to her brother who was watching them with interest.

"How's Emma?" Teresa asked. Charlie smiled at the thought of his wife.

"She's doing okay. She's spending some time with her parents. Witness Protection shook her up a bit, but she handled everything just fine." He noticed his sister's face fall slightly, and wasn't surprised to see Jane grasp her hand. What did surprise him was that she let him. "She was worried about you. Insisted I came check up on you," he said with a comforting smile as he took in his sister's haggard appearance.

"I…," Lisbon began. Charlie quickly cut her off.

"Tess, you don't owe me an explanation. When you're ready to talk about it, we'll talk, but I know you did everything you could. Emma and I don't blame you." Charlie watched as his sister slowly regained control over her emotions while Jane continued to brush his thumb over her hand.

"How long are you in town for?" Jane asked, carefully shifting the conversation away from the traumatic events of the last few days. Charlie studied the man in front of him before giving him an small nod of appreciation.

"I figured I'd camp out for a few days. I'm staying in a hotel not too far from here."

"Nonsense! You're welcome to stay here," Lisbon interjected. Charlie almost missed the brief glance the two shared. He hid a smile.

"Sorry, Tess. You snore," he said with a smile. If Jane was staying where he suspected there was no way he was going to intrude in his sister's personal life. He predicted the man beside her would help her recover more than anyone else. "Besides, the CBI's put me up in this awesome suite for my trouble. There's no way I'm missing out on that!" Lisbon grudgingly nodded and Charlie caught the faint hint of a smile on Jane's face. He knew the other man had figured out his ploy. Hopefully, Teresa hadn't seen through his charade as well.

"Well, let us at least take you out for dinner!" Jane exclaimed positively. "Do you want to invite the rest of the team?" Jane asked Lisbon. Her brow furrowed for a moment before she gave slight nod. "It's settled then. We'll leave in two hours." Charlie had to smile at the man's contagious excitement.

"We'll pick you up, Charlie boy," Teresa said as she carefully stood. Both men caught the slight wince she tried to hide. She shot them both a glare. "I'm going to shower and change," she said as she headed towards the hallway. Before exiting, she turned and stared intensely at Jane. "Behave," she threatened and Charlie stifled a chuckle.

"How bad was it?" Charlie asked seriously when they heard the shower start.

"Bad," Jane answered with a grimace as he studied Lisbon's brother. The man was tall and broad with a curly mop of red hair. At first glance he resembled Van Pelt rather than Lisbon. Looking closer, it was easy to see the small similarities between the man in front of him and the petite brunette in the other room. They had the same eyes he noticed-sharp and intelligent yet always conveying emotion.

"I know what happened. Minelli briefed me," Charlie stated. Jane was tempted to avert his eyes, but managed to hold Charlie's gaze. He hoped the guilt and remorse he felt would be enough for Charlie to forgive him for what happened to Lisbon. Charlie's gaze softened. He could physically see the self-flagellation Jane was putting himself through.

"You're just as bad as she is," Charlie commented wryly. Jane smiled a half smile, a little more at ease. At least one brother acted logically. "I know what Ben did, and even though he was grieving, he had no right…" Charlie trailed off before meeting Jane's eyes once more. "That being said, if you hurt her, so help me god…"

"It would kill me," Jane commented softly. The two sat in silence for several minutes. "She means everything to me."

"You do realize I can hear you," Lisbon called out.

The two men jumped before fixing her with guilty expressions. Clutching a towel to her body, she had stuck her head out of the door with a slightly annoyed and amused expression. Her damp hair cascaded down her shoulder before she rolled her eyes and slammed the door. A few seconds later, they could hear her hairdryer. Charlie glanced back to Jane and laughed. The man still looked shell-shocked after the sight of a towel-clad Teresa had been imprinted on his mind, and he knew he had nothing to worry about.

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Wayne Rigsby sighed in happiness when they entered the restaurant. They had chosen to meet Lisbon, Jane, and Charlie at a local seafood that specialized in fresh seafood at good prices. Coincidently, it was one of Rigsby's favorite restaurants. Placing his hand gently on Grace's lower back, he nervously ushered her in and pulled out her chair while Cho rolled his eyes.

"You gonna pull my chair out too?" the Asian man asked. Rigsby stuttered as he tried to formulate an answer while Grace glared at Cho. Placing their drink orders, they sat in awkward silence for a few seconds.

"Do you ever think we'll get back to the way things were?" Grace asked. They shared a look without daring to answer as they contemplated on their own personal guilt. Grace sighed and wondered if the outcome would have been different if she hadn't been so open with Lewis. She knew she'd have a long road ahead of her in order to regain her boss' respect and trust. She jumped when Rigsby softly placed his hand on hers. Smiling up at him, she decided maybe she didn't want things to go back exactly the way they were.

The front door opened and they all turned to face the small group heading toward them. The first thing Van Pelt noticed was how little space was between Lisbon and Jane. Their hands brushed occasionally while they continued to carry on an unheard conversation. Remembering the phone call earlier, Grace smiled and caught Rigsby's eye. It was easy to see the other two agents had immediately picked up on the change between their boss and the consultant. A tall red haired man followed behind them with a pleasant smile on his face. They all did a slight double take when the man came up beside their boss.

"This is Charlie," Lisbon said as the other agents introduced themselves. Sliding in beside Jane, Lisbon glanced through the menu and took a minute to appreciate the people around her. She could feel Jane's concerned gaze on her, and she quickly flashed him a reassuring smile. Neither noticed the others exchange a quick smile at their furtive look.

Pleasant conversation was exchanged while they ate, and each person started to feel a sense of normalcy return. Excusing herself, Lisbon stood and made her way to the restroom. Van Pelt wanted to laugh at Charlie and Jane's eyes followed her every movement and she wondered if her boss knew just how protective the men in her life were. Smiling, she quickly excused herself and followed her boss to the ladies room.

Lisbon wasn't surprised to find her rookie following her. They were overdue for a quick discussion, anyway. The poor girl looked so nervous and guilty that Lisbon wondered just how she had managed to collect a team of people who internalized their guilt. She was sure the odds were astronomical. Throwing a quick smile over her shoulder, Lisbon was relieved to find the bathroom empty.

"Van Pelt?" she question softly. The red head was unable to meet her gaze and Lisbon reached out and briefly placed her hand on the younger woman's arm.

"Boss, I'm so sorry. I know it's my fault those details were leaked and I want to promise that I'll go above and beyond to regain your respect. You have no reason to trust me, and I understand if you'd like me transferred." Lisbon was shocked at the tumbled speech that rushed out of the other agent's mouth. Her gaze softened as Van Pelt finally met her gaze.

"Grace." Van Pelt flinched as if she was expecting the earth to crumble before her. Lisbon rarely used first names, and she was sure it could only mean bad news. "It's not your fault. There was nothing any of us could have done. We all missed the signs. Now calm down. You aren't going anywhere. Things may be a little rough at first, but I'm positive we'll get back on our feet."

Van Pelt huffed a sigh of relief before smiling blindly at her role model before exiting the bathroom. Facing the mirror, Lisbon glared at the black circles barely visible under her eyes. She still had the faint bruising covering her eye. She was a mess. Splashing some cold water on her face, she steadied her thoughts and was about to reach for the door when it suddenly swung open and Patrick Jane swiftly entered and locked the door.

"What are you doing?" she protested as he shot her an intense look. Her eyes widened as he took a step closer and she found herself cornered against the sink. She opened her mouth to argue when he pulled her close and wrapped her in a tight hug. Sighing in defeat, she relaxed into his grasp with a shake of her head.

"I've been wanting to do that all day," he whispered against her hair. "I just need you to know that I'm here for you, and I'll wait as long as it takes."

"And you had to tell me this in the ladies restroom?" she retorted. He chuckled and she could feel the warmth spread throughout her whole body. This was right. "Did you meant what you said?" she asked out of the blue. Noticing his puzzled expression she continued. "What you said to Charlie."

"Every word, Teresa. Every word."

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She closed her eyes and listened to the rhythmic crashing of the waves as the sun beat down above. She could feel the slight burn on her skin, and wondered how long she had been out here. Stretching, she wiggled her toes in the sand, enjoying the course grittiness that surrounded her feet. A seagull chirped in the distance and she breathed in the salty sea air as the wind, once again, ripped through her hair.

She smiled when she felt fingers tangle in her own. Opening her eyes, she glanced at the man beside her and realized once more just how thankful she was that he was a part of her life. It had been four months since her sister in law and nephew were murdered, and she was slowly stated to get better. It had been a rough time, and she was honestly surprised that Jane had stuck with her through her tantrums and arguments, especially after she was forced to talk to yet another psychologist about her feelings.

This time, she had found a well-respected female doctor who truly listened and offered wise advice in return. She had been cleared weeks ago, but still continued to arrange biweekly visits. She found it was helpful to get an outside perspective on several decisions in her life and she had really enjoyed having a neutral party to talk to, especially one that wasn't trying to kill her.

Jane slowly wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. Resting his chin on her shoulder, he smiled when she leaned back against him. They stood in silence as they took in the scenery. Jane was relieved that she was able to relax and enjoy herself while she faced one of her most painful memories. His thoughts flickered back to that day on this very beach, and he wondered where he's be now if he hadn't found her in time. Shaking his head to clear the unwanted memories, he pulled her tighter and pressed a soft kiss to her temple.

"Thank you for bringing me here," she said softly. Her eyes narrowed as a playful smirk crossed his face. She could feel his head turn, and his lips barely brushed her ear. It was enough to send a shiver down to her toes.

"Race ya," he whispered before releasing her and taking over. Stumbling in confusion, her eyes sparkled as he turned around to face her from several feet away. Backlit by the sun, he took her breath away. She was determined to make new memories to replace the old, and she was slowly starting to heal. Curling her toes into the sand once more, she leapt towards him with a grin.

"You're on."

The End.