Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Jane’s heart skipped a beat. His breath became shallow and fast.

“I’m so sorry, Anne.” He whispered to himself. Or rather to his wife’s grave. “If you’re there, I’m sorry.” Having some sense of hope that she was there sent his mind into a calm but necessary frenzy.

What if she is?

More so, what if she isn’t?

Charlotte would’ve hugged him by now. If she was here.
Jane’s head fell past his shoulders as a quiet sob rattled his body. There wasn’t a moment that went by that he didn’t miss them both. That he didn’t wish he’d just listened to Anne. Guilt wracked his mind and pushed everything else away for a split second.

That’s when he felt someone slide in behind him. Their arms wrapped around his torso and their head laid against the nape of his back. All of a sudden he wasn’t alone.

“What are you doing?” He asked.

They sniffed before answering. “You look like you need a hug more than the average person.”

“And that gives you the right to just…” They pulled away and stood up to leave.

“A guy that doesn’t care about other gravestones is a guy that has lost more than just their heart.”

“What?” They squeezed his shoulder before leaving. Jane turns around to watch them walk away.

They’re an early twenties woman or very curvy man with a terribly cut shaggy mullet and tear stains underneath red and puffy eyes. Very depressed individual with a knack for making other people feel better. Or rather they hoped they were making people feel better. Jane stood up to follow them. “Hey, wait!”

They stopped in their tracks. “I’m sorry for bugging you. I know personal space is something everyone values. I’m sorry- I don’t want any trouble.” They turned towards him. Eyes to the ground and a nervous smile. Nothing but sadness and torment clung to their tear stained cheeks.

“No, no. I just- why me?”

“You were holding back tears and stifling your sobs. It’s not hard to see how you need someone to unload on. You should really see a therapist.”

“So should you.” Jane remarked. Their head snapped up in embarrassment as they looked at eachother. “Who are you?”

“Ah jeez. I- I uh.” Their whole face went bright red. “I’m Ty. Nice to meet you.” The whole time they spoke, they were trying not to look him in the eye. Fiddling with their hands.

“Nice to meet you too. I’m Patrick.” Ty nervously tapped their feet. “You uh… do this a lot?”

“Well, I mean, there aren’t that many single people that look as downtrodden as you. You ooze sadness, my guy. How am I gonna walk away from someone that needs a hug that badly?”

“I don’t really like hugs if I’m being honest.”

They chuckled. “Yeah, and I hate sunshine and rainbows. You’re dumb if you think I’m gonna fall for that. Everybody likes hugs. Well, except for touch sensitive people. And autistic people. And Australians.” Their eyes were comically wide. “I’d do it again. I swear.”

“Woah, now.” Ty smiles and turns back around to walk away. Jane sighs and shakes his hands at his side. Before rushing after them. “Okay. You’re right. I like hugs. But only if I initiate them.”

“Lemme guess. You don’t trust anyone.” They chuckled.

“I trust someone. I don’t trust you. You could be a pickpocket for all I know.” Jane walks beside them. Walking against their stride on purpose.

“Do I look like a pickpocket?” They look at him with a curious stare.

“Do I? They come in all shapes and sizes.” Jane pulls their wallet out from their pocket. Showing them it. “Here.” He hands it back. Ty shockingly takes the wallet and slips into the opposite pocket.

“I’m not. I promise. There’s just enough sadness in the world. If I have to be the one to alleviate some of it then so be it.”

“You weren’t hugged enough as a child were you.” Jane matches their stride now.

“Uh. I don’t think anyone was hugged enough as a kid.”

“You also blame yourself for your sibling’s death. A sister I’m guessing.”

“You blame yourself for your wife’s death. Never got married again. Still wear your ring as a reminder to stop yourself from doing it again.”

“Okay. Woah. Stop. Stop.” Jane puts his hand out against Ty’s chest. Stopping both of them. “Do you know who I am?”

“Patrick Jane. I gathered from the graves you were at. I have no idea what you’ve been through. Frankly, if it's made you put off having an intimate relationship with another person for however long she’s been dead, I can’t imagine how terrible you feel every day. Your name sounds familiar but no. I don’t know who you are. If you’re paranoid.”

“You’re telling the truth.”

“You wanna stop probing my inner monologue now?”

“So you really just thought I needed a hug and nothing else?” Jane’s face was scrunched with confusion.

“Jeez. Does everyone in your life have an ulterior motive or something? No wonder you don’t trust anyone.”

“Yeah.”

Ty continued walking along the path toward the gate. Jane watched them.

“Hey, Ty!”

They turned around with raised eyebrows. “What’s up?”

Jane jogged to them. “I just wanna say, thank you.” He hesitates for a second watching the surprise fill their eyes. But then he just smiles and goes in for a hug. Which surprises them even more. Their arms are up much like his would be if he were being hugged. After the initial surprise, they deepen the hug. Jane’s breath hitches as they squeeze.

“If you need someone to talk to or just to hug genuinely, I’ve put my number in your left jacket pocket. Call me anytime. Except before nine in the morning.”

“You’re one strange guy, Ty. You know that?” He chuckles.

“Yeah. I know.”

———

“How goes it, my dear?” A hand slapped his shoulder. He immediately turned towards them.

“Ty. Hello. Do you refer to every acquaintance as your dear?”

“Only the ones I like.” Jane chuckled as they sat down. Ty splayed their long dark trench coat out in a dramatic display of purpose and importance. Jane could only smile in response to their drama. “So what can I do for you?”

“Considering the fact that it has been a little over two hours since you gave me your number, I’m honestly curious to hear what you think you could do for me at this moment.”

“I figure you're interested in taking me up on my offer as someone to talk to.”

“That would be the logical conclusion.” Jane sat back in his chair with his legs crossed. As if he were waiting for them to guess again. Ty sat back as well.

“But considering you’re having me meet you somewhere public with a lot of people, I’m guessing that’s not why you called me.”

“Very observational.”

“Are you…” Ty’s thoughts were going a million miles per second. They almost spoke before they had completed their thought. “Are you testing me?”

“What gives you that idea?”

“Well… for starters, you beat around the bush when I asked you why you wanted to meet me after two hours and then gave me props for figuring out that’s not the reason you called. And as I mentioned before, you don’t trust anyone. Are you testing me to see if I can be trustworthy?”

Jane paused for a moment. “Not to see if you’re trustworthy. I’m testing your judgement. From what I gather, you also have a hard time trusting people. But you’re very very good at acting like you trust them. To get them to trust you. Your judgement is very on the nose most of the time. You’re able to connect dots fairly easily. Now I’m not saying from my observation that I will trust you with my problems because I absolutely will never put a stranger in that spot. What I am saying is that I think I like you too. For not being a judgemental kid with a brain.”

“That’s… sweet. I think. What did you need to see me for?”

“I work with the police. CBI. I’m a consultant. I help catch bad guys. After spending a good few years working in that area, I don’t think I’ve ever met someone as convincing as you. You’re one of the best liers I’ve ever had the pleasure of speaking with. I know you know who I am. I know you’re probably working for Red John. Or one of his friends. I know you have some mental stability issues. And if I’m wrong about any of that, then I gotta say, you are by far one of the kindest people I’ve ever met.”

“Alright. I’ll admit, I’m lying about knowing who you are. I watch the news sometimes. But everything else you just said has me rethinking giving you my number. Except for me being the kindest person you’ve ever met.” Ty places both of their hands flat on the table. They lean into the conversation.

“I’m rarely wrong. Are you sure you aren’t working for Red John?”

“Wow. Cocky much? Who the hell is Red John?”

“That’s the question isn’t it.” Jane unclasps his hands and fiddles with his ring. “I’m having a very hard time believing you’re not out to get something from me.”

“Patrick,” they look down at their hands as they speak. “The only thing I want from you is the ability to say that I am your friend. Everyone deserves someone that isn’t a part of their usual drama or work to unload on every now and then. I’m not a therapist. But I am a very good listener.” They look up into Jane’s eyes. “Based off of your accusations, I’m guessing this type of thing has happened before.”

“If I’m going to have a relationship with you, I need to know you aren’t involved with my past.”

“I’m pretty sure I wasn’t out of school yet when your past happened, my guy.”

“Lemme guess, early twenties?”

“Twenty-one. You don’t have to worry about that. I promise with all my heart.” Ty took a deep breath. “On my sister's grave, I promise I only want to be your friend.”
Jane sat there. His eyes were starting to go soft. Usually he saw the lies and tricks regular people pulled every minute of everyday. It was a gift and a curse to be able to tell when someone was being dishonest. If he couldn’t tell, he automatically assumed they weren’t trustworthy. Because of course, everyone lies.

But this person, he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. Why did he believe them?

Why did he want to believe them?

“Okay. I believe you.” Ty looked up from the table. Their cheeks went red and they reached out to put their hands on his.

“I know we just met… and you just accused me of being in leagues with a famous serial killer, but like, how do I put this- I feel like I no longer have a choice but to get to know you.”

“Not in a… ro-“ Ty pulled their hands away in sarcastic shock.

“Absolutely not. You’re hot and all but I feel like you’re old enough to be my dad so it feels-“

“Weird?”

“Yes, weird.”

“Well, I look forward to getting to know you anyway.” They smiled at each other.

“You’re not like the usual soccer moms that hang out at the cemetery when it’s sunny out. I look forward to getting to know you too. Figure out what goes on inside that interesting mindscape of yours.” Ty smiles while gesturing to their own head. “I’m glad you don’t think I’m insane.”

“I never said I didn’t.” Jane chuckles.

“That’s fair. So is there something else you wanted or were you just taking me to coffee?”

“Mostly coffee. But I think I could use your help with a case I recently took on.”

“Oh, so you do want me involved with your work. Okay. Let me set some boundaries.”

“I haven’t told you what it is yet.”

“Doesn’t matter. I told you I want to be your friend. Free from your daily life drama and work so that I can be an unbiased listener. If you want me on a case I want to set some boundaries so that I can be the unbiased listener I told you-no, promised I will be.”

“Okay.”

“Okay. First off, I would like you to be the only person I interact with from your workplace. Your boss too if it comes down to it. I don’t want to know names unless absolutely necessary. Second, if there is any kind of violence involving guns, I’m out. I don’t want to get shot. I don’t want to see you or anyone else get shot. And Lastly, you need to be honest with me. I can tell you like your secrets. You don’t have to tell me everything but just don’t keep me in the dark if you know something is gonna happen and I need to mentally prepare. Because I will freeze up if I’m caught in the headlights.”

“What do you want to drink?”

“What?”

“Coffee… what do you want to drink?”

“Oh uh… um like, uh, iced cocoa coffee with caramel I guess.”

“You guess? Is that really what you want?”

“Uh… it’s just my go-to at new places. Do they have tea?”

“You drink tea?” Ty’s face went red again. Mostly around their ears.

“You asked if that’s what I really want. And honestly no. I could really go for some hot tea right now.” They said in a flustered state.

“I never would’ve pegged you for a tea drinker. I know a great place around the corner with the best lapsang souchong in the city.”

“I have no idea what that is but I’m down.”

Chapter Text

“Patrick, I’m pretty sure the guy peeking out from behind the fence over there,” they point where they’re referring to. “-is the suspect you gave me a picture of. To try to use my otherworldly powers to seduce into giving up the killer.”

“Yeah, I put him there. Don’t worry about him.”

“Well what am I doing here?”

“Just wait.”

“Patrick.”

“The killer thinks they have no choice but to come. I told all the suspects that you were an undercover PI.”

Ty’s mouth falls open.

“You didn’t.”

“I did.”

“Patrick, the killer has a gun. I thought I made it clear I didn’t want anything to do with guns at all.”

“I apologize for deceiving you. But I need you here to make it all work.”

“You couldn’t have just asked one of your coworkers to impersonate a PI?”

“They met the suspects already. I needed someone they hadn’t met yet. I’ve got it all under control. Don’t worry. I’ll be back in a minute.”

“Wait, Patri- don’t leave me here!” Ty watched him turn the corner in a flash. “Patrick!” When they peeked around the corner, they saw Jane talking with a smaller woman with brown hair. Ty cautiously stepped back behind the bushes they were hiding behind.

They continued to just observe the suspect. Watching who came out of the house and who went in. It was mostly police for a bit. But after a good fifteen minutes since the last officer stopped in, they got fed up with waiting. Anxiety filtered their thoughts.

Has something gone wrong?

Ty paced and bit at their nails. Before a shot rang out from the house. And one of the suspects came barreling out of the door they had been keeping their eyes on. They quickly hid from the open yard. But unfortunately not quickly enough.

“You! Stop! Behind the bushes!”

“Yep!” Ty immediately put their hands up and their eyes down.

“Get over here!” Ty’s legs were practically jelly. Their hands were shaking. “Now!”

“Okay.” The gunman pulled their coat rather harshly. It made them lose their balance. The gunman didn’t care.

“I want all of the files you have on my family right now. The birth records, and bank statements. All of it.”

“Sir-sir I promise… I’m not who you think I am.” Ty’s eyes were glued to the ground. Tears were welling up. The gunman sneered and then placed the end of the gun at the base of Ty’s head. “I don’t have any files on your family. I barely know what’s going on.”

“You were hired by my mother to investigate my finances and my child. Well, you found out my child isn’t actually mine. So now you’re trying to blackmail my mother into giving you her fortune. After she murdered the real father.”

“Please, I’m not a PI. I’m a friend of the consultant. I’m not- I’m not a PI.”

“God, I can’t believe this. You really think I’m that dense?! Huh?!” The gunman pulled Ty to their feet. Aiming the gun at their back. “You thought you’d get away with blackmailing us. Nobody gets away with blackmailing us.”

“Well I wish that were true, William.” Jane stepped out from behind the bushes with his hands up. A cautious smile upon his lips. Ty’s heart jumped at his sudden entrance. “Why don’t you put the gun down so that we can talk about this.”

“I politely refuse. This PI dug herself a little too deep into my family drama. You told me yourself that she has the dirt. How else could you have known all that stuff about Caroline and Danny?”

“I lied. Ty didn’t have anything to do with that. But you lied too. Thought if you took out the blackmailer we suspected that you’d be off the hook. When in reality, I knew it was you from the start.”

“You have no proof!”

“Don’t I? Put the gun down and I’ll gladly have my friend escort you to the CBI for further information.”

“No. No. No, I want her to pay.” William raised the gun again. Ty’s eyes went wide with fear. They screamed at Jane to save them.

The world stood still as Jane rushed at Ty. He could push them out of the way but it would result in him being in the same spot as them. And he’d have a lot of explaining to do once Lisbon got back from booking the mother. Not to mention a bullet hole in one of his favourite suits.

But the pleading in their eyes made it clear to him that he didn’t exactly have a choice if he wanted them to get out of this unharmed. Like he promised.

Jane tackled Ty to the ground as William pulled the trigger.

Searing hot pain erupted in his side. A loud yelp followed. And his legs stopped working for a second. Like the whole world just stopped spinning.

“Patrick!” They screamed in unhinged panic. They turned him over onto his back. “Patrick?” He pushed his hand against his side and gasped at the pain. They placed their hands against the wound too.

“CBI put the gun down now! William Doffertty you’re under arrest for attempted murder. Put your hands on your head and get on the ground!” Lisbon yelled at him. VanPelt came out from behind her and went over to William with handcuffs. Lisbon put her gun away when VanPelt gave her the signal to stand down.

“Patrick, breathe. Breathe.” Ty’s eyes were glassy with tears and they were trying very hard not to look at his wound. That was where the blood was. They’d have a panic attack if they looked.

“Oh my god. Jane, are you okay?” Lisbon slid down next to him. Cradling his head in her hands. “Jane, open your eyes.”

Ty’s heart stops when he doesn’t. “No no. Patrick! Open your eyes! You need to wake up.”

Jane takes a deep breath with a scrunched face. Baring his teeth from the pain. He still gripped his side. A little tighter now.

“Call an ambulance!” Ty screamed at Lisbon. But she just stared at Ty. Jane stopped breathing as Ty frantically ripped their coat to place on the wound to try to stop the bleeding. “Patrick. You can’t die yet.” They wiped their eyes clear from tears as a sob rattled their lungs. “I need to tell you something. You can’t die yet!” Ty collapses onto his chest.

They pound their fist on his chest.

“You haven’t gotten your revenge yet.” They whispered, gripping the fabric of his vest tightly between their fingers.

“Jane, open your eyes.” Lisbon said in a commanding voice. Ty lifted their head to look at him.

Their eyes met. But his were not the ones they had seen before.

“I appreciate the theatrics, Ty. But you didn’t really think a bullet to the side would be lethal did you?”

“Wh-what?” They replied with a sniff.

“I knew you were hiding something from me. Something big. Sorry to get it out of you this way.” Jane sat up. Still with his hand at his side. His eyes remained the same. Ty could see when he spoke that his teeth were also too sharp to be a part of the same smile they’d gotten to know. “It’s good to know my instincts aren’t as wrong as I thought.”

“What?” Ty sat back dumbfounded. “No, I’m not hiding anything from you.”

“Ty, I know you’re not who you say you are. I know you’ve got some valuable information that I would very much benefit from. And I’m sure you’ve suspected some things of me as well.”

“I can’t- I can’t talk ab-about-“

“I don’t care if you can’t talk about anything. I’ll get you to talk to me.”

“Jane, was that a real bullet?” Lisbon inquired as the blood had not stopped yet. And usually the blood cartridges didn’t hold that much volume.

“Yes.” Jane turned toward her and smiled. Showing off his fangs. “You can help me patch up later. Right now I wanna take Ty to my house.”

“Oh… are you sure?” She responded. Jane stood up shaking his arms out in front of him.

“Ty, would you please come with me?” He held his non-bloodied hand out for them. Ty hesitated when taking it. Mostly from not wanting to get his clean hand covered in blood too. But also because something happened that they couldn’t explain. His eyes changed. He had fangs. Or just really long canines that definitely weren’t like that earlier.

He pulled them up with no resistance. Even though he’d just been shot. And he kept staring at them. With the kind of stare you’d see when a young boy found out his best friend was playing with other kids.

“Jane, you know it’s going to be difficult to explain everything to her. Don’t you think you should hold off until we get that bullet out of you?”

“I’d rather do it now when I’ve got it all fresh in my mind. I’ll meet you at CBI later.” Jane escorted Ty off of the Doffertty’s property with his hand at their back.

“You took a bullet for me? Why would you do that?”

“I’ll admit I probably could’ve gotten you to open up to me some other way. But this seemed like a quicker and less drawn out way of getting you to tell me something.”

“I can’t tell you anything.”

“You said you needed to tell me something when you thought I was dying.”

“It would have given you enough closure to pass on in the afterlife. It would’ve made me feel better.”

“It has something to do with Red John. Doesn’t it?” Ty looked at him with a solemn gaze. Tears still gathering in their eyes. “Ty, I need you to tell me what you know. Otherwise it’s obstruction of justice and you could be prosecuted for it.”

“I get that. It’s not just something I can tell you outright. You probably wouldn’t believe me.”

“Alright. I’m prepared to listen to what you have to say. No matter how crazy.”

“I just want to be your friend, Patrick.”

“That’s a dangerous request. Most of my friends end up dead. Or worse. And I can’t morally be friends with someone who is keeping something that big from me.”

“It’s not that big of a deal.”

Jane pulled their arm. Not aggressively. But just enough to let them know he wasn’t having it.

“Stop lying to me. Please.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You’re not. You thought you could just walk into my life as a guardian angel who will listen to my problems. You thought wrong.”

Ty grabbed his hand from their arm. Forcing it off of them. Anger and hurt displaying just behind the surface of their eyes. “Who hurt you that badly?”

“This isn’t about me.”

“Sure it is. I may be keeping some things from you. But it’s not because I want to or am being forced to by someone. It’s because of who I am. And I can’t… I can’t tell you anything.”

“Why not?”

“Patrick, I can’t tell you anything because I don’t know enough about what’s happened to be of any help. Hell I don’t even know if the sky is really blue or I’m colourblind.”

“What does that have to do with any of this?”

“Maybe nothing. But I already know some things are different. So I don’t know if what I wanted to tell you would help in any way. I know it would’ve made you feel better about dying even though you didn’t get your revenge. But y’know. You weren’t really dying.” A few tears fell along with the hurt in their voice.

“So what are you trying to say? How does things being different change what you were going to tell me?”

“Patrick…”

He grabs their arm again. Ty turns their head away toward the ground. Wincing from the sudden pressure.
“What aren’t you telling me?”

“I ca-“

“You can. Please.” Ty glanced up into Jane’s eyes. Theirs still filled with tears that hadn’t quite fallen yet.

“You- It’s- I-“ they kept shaking their head like they were trying to get the thoughts out but they were just too fast for their mouth. Jane could feel their heartbeat start to spike.

“Ty, will not being covered in blood help you relax?” They were still trying to weed through their thoughts. Their lip quivered as Jane’s touch softened. He pulled them along with his good arm around their shoulder. “You’ve got some serious anxiety issues. I believe you should consider therapy.”

“Oh sh-shut-shut up. Talking ab-about this isn’t going to help my situation. I am not who you think.”

“Your situation?” He placed his hand on their chest.

Ty’s heart was beating so fast it was causing them to hyperventilate.

“Ty, hey,” he lightly grabbed both their hands and brought them in front of him. “It’s wine. You spilled some wine on your hands. That’s all. It’s why it’s all sticky.” They weren’t taking the hint. Rather it wasn’t sinking in fast enough. Jane stopped in his tracks as they suddenly collapsed. Their eyes rolled into the back of their head.

“Woah. Hey hey hey hey, Ty.” Jane carefully set them down to the ground. Making sure their head didn’t hit it too hard. “You’re not getting off that easy.” He whispered before picking them up bridal style.

———

Jane managed to get them to his house. Everything was covered in sheets as he spends most of his time at CBI. Going so far as to sleep there most of the time. Because the house reminded him too much of what happened. The smiley face still stained his bedroom wall. Which is why he didn’t go upstairs anymore.

Ty hadn’t regained consciousness on their way over there which was concerning. Jane hastily moved through the door and laid them on the closest couch he saw. He didn’t bother taking the sheet, figuring if any blood was still wet, the cleanup would be easier than if he had taken it off. Not that Ty minded, being unconscious and all.
The first thing he did was change his shirt; the blood had soaked through to his jacket.

His wound had closed already. Meaning he’d have to get minor surgery to get the bullet out. He didn’t like the sound of that. After spending a few minutes in the bathroom soaking his clothes in the sink, he heard Ty in the other room. He quickly buttoned up his clean shirt and brought a wet towel out to them.

They had sat up already when Jane rounded the corner. Their eyes were still red and puffy from crying earlier.
“Here. It’s wet. For your hands.” He handed them the towel.

Ty didn’t take the towel immediately. Opting for staring at their hands. A kind of unfamiliar torment was burning the lines of their face as they seemed transfixed on the fact that they had blood staining their skin.

“Ty?”

It was enough to snap them out of the trance.

“Did I pass out?”

“Yeah. You weren’t kidding when you said you can’t handle situations with guns. Freezing up and all.”

“Did you think I was trying to be relatable?” They say as they’re rubbing the blood off. Taking deep breaths as Jane sat down next to them.

“No. It’s just refreshing to meet someone with that level of self awareness, I guess.”

“Believe me I wish I wasn’t. It’s tiring dealing with my own bull crap.”

“I can imagine.” Jane just sits back with his legs crossed watching them continue to wash their hands. A twinge of regret popped into his head when he could hear them silently whispering to themselves what he could only assume to be a mantra to keep themselves calm.

“Where are we?”

“My house.”

“Huh. I thought it’d be more… lived in.”

“It was. But you know-“

“Yeah. Sorry…,” They both awkwardly stared at each other in the room for a second. Ty cleared their throat before breaking the silence, “I suppose you brought me here to torture me until I tell you what I know?”

“No. I could torture you. But considering you’ve made it extremely clear that you have your reasons for keeping things from me, I won’t torture you until I feel I have to.” They stared at each other for a moment before Ty got up with the towel between their hands. “Oh don’t worry about that. Just put it anywhere. I’ll get it.”

They put it off to the side. Out of view.

“I would tell you everything, y’know. I really would. If I could believe it myself. I’m not sure I do. Plus again you’ve got some weird stuff going on with you. I don’t know what it is. I don’t know if I care yet. I would tell you everything if I knew where to start.”

“The beginning is a good place.”

“Patrick, it’s not that easy.”

“Sure it is. Just start with explaining how you aren’t who I think you are.”

“Okay. I guess it’s not that big a thing considering and you’ll probably find out or know already. So my real name isn’t actually Ty. My identity doesn’t exist. Well it does. It’s just taken already.”

“Are you saying your identity got stolen?”

“No no god no. Technically, I’m stealing their identity just by being here. We’re the same person. Sort of.”

“Like DID? How are you both the same person?”

“I don’t really know how to explain it. Like, I’m me. They’re also me but not. Two different bodies with the same DNA. Like twins except we’re not related. And technically I wasn’t here until like two months ago. I don’t know how it happened.”

“So if you’re the same person, what does the other guy go by?”

“Oh uh… my actual name.”

“Which is?”

“Patrick, I’m not related to them in any way. It’s better if you keep them out of it. They don’t know I’m here. They don’t know I exist.”

“What are you saying?”

“I appeared here in Sacramento two months ago. There is another me that isn’t me. I don’t think I’m supposed to be here.”

“Are you implying you’re from another universe?”

“I guess?”

“So you know who I am in this other universe. You know who Red John is in this other universe. Which is why you said you weren’t sure if your information was accurate because you didn’t know if anything changed when you crossed over.”

“Yes. That. Exactly.”

“So what did you want to tell me when you thought I was dying.”

“I honestly don’t know what I was going to tell you. Because I can’t tell you who Red John is ‘cause that’s cruel to tell a dying man who can’t get his much deserved revenge who the man is that he’s been looking for for a good portion of his adult life. That’s just not my style. I’m pretty sure it was going to be something relating to your love life. Or like, tell you I love you and that it was stupid of you to jump in front of a bullet for me. Which you still haven’t answered my question on why you’ve stopped bleeding already.”

“Oh. I’m what you’d call a lycanthrope. From the information I’ve been told about it, wounds heal a lot faster than normal.”

“You’re kidding. You’re a werewolf?”

“Oh so they have werewolves in your universe?”

“Not real ones. But yeah. This is honestly a dream of mine. Werewolves are one of my many interests. Forgive me for being incredibly excited all of a sudden. I know we’re still talking about your whole family being murdered and stuff. Which wasn’t your fault by the way.”

“It was my fault. I went and lied about knowing him through my fake psychic gifts and he got angry with me.”

“Yeah but he would’ve done it anyway if you hadn’t gone on TV that day. It just would’ve happened later than it did. And you wouldn’t have survived. Your murder was regarded as one of the most gruesome serial murders of the century. They say you were forced to watch your family suffer at the hands of Red John. And he didn’t even make your death quick. He let you just rot away from starvation locked in the bedroom with your wife and kid butchered. Then he took your body and did the most horrid shit to it. I don’t know what you did in my universe to piss him off more than you did here to make him go against his MO like that. But it’s what ultimately led to his capture in my universe.”

“Is that what you were going to tell me? That my death would reveal Red John?”

“Maybe… I hope not. That’s a bitch of a thing to say to a vengeful dying man.”

“Not to me. I’d do anything to get him.”

“Yeah. I can see that. You purposefully got shot shielding me so that I’d trust you enough to tell you my big secrets. Which good job by the way. I hope I’m not messing with the fabric of reality by telling you these things.”

“So who was he?”

“I don’t know. Just some old guy. I’m really bad with faces and names. You have to understand, they had a whole week of news reports solely on catching him and then did like an hour of coverage when they caught him. I remember thinking the head detective on your case was very pretty. I think they called her Saint Teresa. Cause the headline was `Saint Teresa saves Sacramento.”

“Lisbon caught Red John?”

“Lisb-“ Ty’s face scrunched with confusion.

“Saint Teresa was one of her nicknames when she was still starting her career in law enforcement.”

“Huh. Small world.”

“Small… universe.”

“Very funny. So yeah. I get how it’s frustrating knowing I know who this man is but I can’t quite put my finger on any of the details because of discrepancies and the fact that I literally have the memory of a goldfish.”

“Oh please. Memories are easy. I’m betting I can get you to remember.”

“Oh? So you are psychic?”

“No. There’s no such thing. I’m simply an avid practitioner in the art of messing with the human mind. Like memories and suggestions.”

“Ah, a hypnotizer. A uh… whatever the proper word for a hypnotizer is.”

“Among other things. Yes. So you wouldn’t mind if I just put you in a light trance to see if I can pull that memory out, would you?”

“Promise you won’t stop being my friend once you get it?”

Jane stared at them. His eyes softened for a moment as a realization swept his thoughts. “Yes. I promise.”

“Then go for it.”

———

“Ty, can you hear me? How do you feel?”

“I can hear you. I feel okay.”

“Good good. Now imagine you’re back in your house. Watching the television just like the last time. Each breath you take, you sink deeper into the couch or chair you’re sitting on. Becoming calmer and more relaxed with each breath. Can you recall sitting in front of the TV?”

“Sure.”

“Good. Now sort through all the programs you’ve watched in the past. And place them all in order. Like they’re the CD section at a local video shop. You’ve got news broadcasts, drama, guilty pleasures, and movies all stacked in their respective places. All labeled with the date and content. Can you see them?”

“Not really. Some of them are blacked out. Most of them are blacked out.”

“Do they say what they contain?”

“Uh…yeah. I can’t pick any of them up. I only see a few that aren’t blacked out. They aren’t fuzzy like the rest.”

“Can you open one of the blacked out CDs to see if it contains what it says?”

“This one says it’s a movie called Demolition. I can’t see anything when I open it. The screen is black. Like an abyss.”

“Okay. Look for the Red John CD.”

“Patrick, what if I can’t remember?”

“You can. Don’t worry. Everything is okay.”

“But it’s not. I see it. It’s right here. Red John in big bold letters. I’m trying to open it, I really am. It won’t open. The case is all staticky and feels like a stupid amount of reverb is bellowing in my chest. I can’t open it.”

“Ty, you’re safe. You’re in a calm state. With every breath you take, more weight is lifted off your shoulders. You’re light and calm. You’re in control. If you want it to open, pry it open.”

“I’m trying. It’s like it’s glued shut. My hands aren’t strong enough.”

“Use mine.”

Ty reached out and takes his hands. Rather forcefully. They yank his arms closer causing him to stumble forward onto his knee.

“The corner is opening. It won’t budge further.”

“Can you peek inside?”

“There’s just a bright light inside. Half the news banner, I think. I can’t see anything else. The Famed California Serial Killer “Red John” is Revealed to be S- and it cuts off there.”

“Is that a name?”

“I don’t know.”

“Can you open it any further?”

“I’m trying. It’s all fading to black.” They let go of his hands.

“Ty, can you get the disk?”

“No. There’s no disk.”

“Was there anything else on the screen?”

“Just the detective at a podium. With the most microphones I’ve ever seen. She looked so tired.”

Ty opened their eyes. They were still in the mindscape to their knowledge. Jane’s breath hitched when they looked around. Their eyes had gone dark with what looked like stars.

“So we have the first letter of his name?”

“If it’s a name. Could be some adjective.” They looked around the room as if in a library. “I’m gonna snoop around a little more to see if I can’t find more info. Maybe some of my memories have some clues as to what that banner said.”

“Ty, I’m gonna pull you out. If you go for too long, you could fall down a rabbit hole of your own mind. And it would be difficult to get you out of a deep hypnosis like that. Especially since you have more control than the average person I’ve put under.”

“I’ve already sorted through the news broadcasts. There’s like sixty or so CDs here.” Jane bit his lip with a furrowed brow. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes before gripping Ty’s knee.

“Wake.”

The darkness that had covered their eyes before seemed to just fade away. As if it were magic. Ty gasped and tightened their grip on the armrests.

“Sorry.”

“No no. Don’t be sorry. The memories are blocked. Usually under as deep a trance as that, we could retrieve them. But for whatever reason your brain has locked it away. Not very efficiently. Any particular reason you remembered the banner?”

“Not the banner. I remembered the detective lady. I’d never seen a more exhausted person on TV. I remember thinking she looked like she could really use a hug.”

“How very typical of you.”

“What? I firmly believe everyone on the planet deserves a hug. Even the Red John guy. Can you imagine how much childhood trauma drove him to do all those horrible things? Or you know, maybe he needs a hug because he’s never had someone hug him for no reason. Show him that he can still come back to the-“

“Don’t. Don’t say another word.”

“Ligh-“

“I mean it, Ty.”

“Right. Sorry. You have every right to be furious. Considering… How’s your bullet wound doing?”

“Healed more or less.”

“It hurt?”

“Yes.” Jane stands up flexing his arms and stretching. “Do you think, maybe, the fact that you’re from another universe is why you can’t access your memories under hypnosis?”

“I have no idea. Sounds plausible. What are you gonna do now?”

“Well I don’t know yet. Frankly, I didn’t believe you for a moment there. I can usually tell when people are lying. None of the usual signs were clear but knowing the general public that could just mean you’re a fantastic liar. But when I put you under, and you had the memories and knowledge that you shouldn’t know like Lisbon’s nickname… I- I just want you to know… that I really appreciate your honesty. Even though it’s hard to believe.”

“I mean. The fact that you’re a freaking werewolf and had trouble believing it just goes to show how unbelievable it is.”

“Ty, you don’t know how refreshing it is to second guess during an investigation. I mean it.”

“You mean a lot of things.” They stare at each other for a good few seconds before Jane starts the conversation up again.

“Question…”

“Yep.”

“Who were you visiting at the cemetery? Your sister?”

Ty looked at him. A small frown pulled at their lips.

“The person that was there instead of my sister.”

“Your sister’s alive?”

“Not mine. But yes.”

“It must be torture knowing you can’t be a part of her life.” Ty scrunched their hands and squeezed until their knuckles were white. It was hard. It still is.

“Not so much anymore. At first yeah. I would’ve cut off my right hand to say hi. But she’s not her. And I don’t need to get to know another her just to be disappointed when I inevitably have to leave. Because I don’t belong here.”

Jane took a breath and changed the subject. “You said you appeared here just about two months ago?” He could see the relief in their face when he asked them that.

“Yeah. It’s closer to like two and a half months though. Now that I really think about it.” They blink a few times as if watching a movie inside their mind.

“That’s a very interesting coincidence. The person that made me a lycanthrope claimed he had been bitten around the same time.”

“You’re right. That is very interesting.”

“You’re from another universe. I’d bet the first lycanthrope was also thrown here from another universe too. Which means that other things and people have also been thrown here from different universes. You included.”

“So what could that mean?”

“I have no idea. But I’m willing to bet that it’s not good.”

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

“I doubt it. I’m thinking about what the guy that scratched me could be doing right now.”

Ty’s eyebrow raised and smirked as they spoke, “Yep you’re right. I was thinking we should fight god.”