A/N So I'm stepping outside the sandbox to go play on the jungle gym. This is my very first Mentalist fanfic, so please be nice to me! Taken from the 'Seven Heavenly Virtues' challenge at The Fantasy Script (you should check it out!). *frowns* I hope I'm not breaking any rules by posting it here too...uh-oh. I'ma go check.

Disclaimer: *eyeroll* Just like everything else, I'm still in negotiations. It's taking some time- Lisbon won't keep her hands of Jane long enough for him to sign the damn papers...

"Why do I always listen to you?"

"Because I'm always right."

Lisbon scoffed, leaning against the fence and crouching down as a shower of bullets flew above their heads.

"If I get shot, I'm so blaming you," she said after a moment. Jane chuckled, wincing at yet another volley of gunfire.

"Why? Because I was right?"

"No, because you needed a favor."

Jane walked into Lisbon's office.

"I need a favor."

She glanced up.

"Have you heard of knocking?"

"I missed that memo," the consultant replied. Lisbon sat back in her chair, folding her arms with a sigh.

"You need a favor?"

"Yes. Please," he added as an afterthought. She raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"What do you need?"

"I want to talk to Mr Rawlings again, because I think he killed his wife, but after what happened last time..."

Lisbon frowned suspiciously, knowing the answer to her next question before it was even asked.

"And who do you require this favor from?"

Jane gave her a winning smile.

"You, of course."

"I'm busy," she replied.

"Can't you even spare half an hour for your favourite consultant?"

"If I see him, I'll let you know," Lisbon said, trying to hide a smile. Jane sighed.

"Please. I just need a second opinion." Lisbon stared at him. Eventually, she nodded, and stood up, reaching for her jacket.

"Fine, but only because you've said 'please' twice in the space of about five minutes."

Hiding a smile, Jane allowed her to brush past him, strolling after her in the direction of the others.

Yes, this was going to be a good day.

"Ow, woman! How was I supposed to know he'd crack and lock himself and his child in the barn?" Jane pouted, "And anyway, can't you just shoot him?"

Lisbon stared at him incredulously, punching his arm for the second time.

"He has his daughter in there, Jane! I can't just shoot my way out!"

"I didn't say 'shoot your way out', I said shoot him."

Lisbon shook her head.

"We can't stay here," she said distractedly, looking around for an escape route. Jane raised his eyebrows.

"No? From where I'm sitting, here seems like an awfully good place to be."

The dark look she shot him caused a grin to break across his face, and Lisbon rolled her eyes. She glanced from side to side.

"OK, when I say go, head for the car," she commanded. All traces of laughter left his face.

"What about you?" Jane asked in concern. Lisbon granted him a small smile.

"Trust me, I'll be right behind you."

He hesitated, before nodding once. She waited for the gunfire to stop.

"Go!"

They sprinted to the car, collapsing behind it just as Rawlings unleashed a fresh round of bullets.

Her cell phone began to ring. Cho's name flashed up on the screen, and she flipped it open.

"Where are you?" Lisbon demanded.

"The other side of the log pile. Rigsby's shot," Cho said. So that would explain Van Pelt's frantic words in the background. Lisbon swallowed the lump that had risen in her throat.

"How bad?"

"Bad," her agent replied, his voice tight and anxious. On a whim, Lisbon straightened, peering over the roof of the car towards the house. The next thing Jane knew, she was falling backwards, a hiss of pain escaping from between her lips.

His eyes darted to the red stain spreading across the sleeve of her shirt.

"Lisbon!"

"I'm fine," she gasped, "it's just a flesh wound."

"Boss?" Cho said. They had forgotten he was still on the line. Jane snatched the cell phone from her trembling hand.

"Stay where you are. We'll call you back," he explained hurriedly. Lisbon blew out a slow breath, pressing a hand to the flesh wound just above her elbow.

Jane turned to her, the corner of his eyes tightening at the blood staining her shirt.

"Let me talk to Rawlings," he pleaded.

"Not while he's waving a machine gun around!"

"But Lisbon..."

"I said no!" she snapped. He watched her sit down beside the car, gun held in one hand and her other trying to stem the flow of blood from her arm.

"Do you believe in God?" he asked suddenly. She turned to him incredulously, a slight frown creasing her forehead.

"You're asking me now?" He shrugged, ducking as more shots flew over their heads.

"Just in case we don't make it. I want to know what's waiting for you." She shook her head in disbelief, wincing at the pain in her arm.

"That's not an easy question, Jane."

"Sure it is."

"Fine. Yes, I believe in God."

"Good," he said, and was surprised to find he meant it, "I'm glad."

Jane dazzled her with a bright grin, hastily shuffling out into the open. He had forgotten how quick she was, even wounded, because Lisbon grabbed his wrist to pull him back into safety.

"What are you doing?" she hissed as another shower of bullets rained above them. Jane gently removed his hand from her iron grip. He winked, smiling down at her.

"Have faith, my dear Lisbon. Have faith."

And Lisbon had faith when Jane stepped out from behind the safety of the car with his arms raised.

She had faith when he talked their suspect out of the barn, and she had faith when Cho dashed out to lock the handcuffs around his wrists.

She had faith when the ambulances turned up, when Rigsby was lifted onto the stretcher.

And she had faith when Jane reappeared with four-year-old Macy Rawlings held safely in his arms. He came to a stop beside her, and as if it was moving on its own accord, Lisbon felt her hand move to the child's face, smoothing her soft brown hair away.

Jane grinned knowingly when she narrowed her eyes in his direction.

"I told you all you had to do was have a little faith."

I don't particularly like trying new things, but I'm totally in love with The Mentalist (*cough* Simon Baker *cough*) so I gave it a go! If you get a chance, please leave me a review on the way out! Thanks! :)