Chapter 4

It was a beautiful day and even the depressed agent couldn't disagree with it. Teresa went to her neighborhood park, ready to run a few laps through the forestry part of the park. It was a what you would think a park would be: a grassy area with a swing set, picnic tables, and other things that make up the playground. A strip of forest outlines the park with a gravel/dirt pathway running through it. She kneels down to re-tie her shoe laces when a little girl runs across the grassy plain and hides in a large tube structure on the playground. The child was in a fit, wrapping her arms around her legs and sobbing. Lisbon stops what she's doing and stands up to look for a possible parent. Every couple was near their child but this little girl seemed to have none nearby. Cop instincts kicking in, Teresa walks over to the little girl wanting to keep her safe. She kneels down to the level of the tube and peers inside. The girl looks up through her thick blonde curls and hastily wipes away her tears.

"W-w-who are you?"

"My name is Teresa," the agent says softly, "I'm a officer and I was wondering if you were okay?"

Lisbon shows her badge to the girl, trying to convince the poor thing that it was alright.

"I'm Charlotte."

"That's a pretty name, can you tell me why you're crying?"

This is when Charlotte looks at her with all the anger a ten year old could have.

"Mommy says that she's leaving! And my daddy won't stop her! It's all because of a affair but daddy won't tell me what that even is!"

A divorce, Lisbon thinks to herself, Charlotte must've run away when she found out. Surely one parent must be worried. Standing back up, the agent scans the area to find a flustered dad running in her direction. Lisbon backs up respectfully, allowing the man to look into the tube.

"Charlotte please you have to come out."

"No! Go away I hate you!"

The father looks crushed, what was he going to do? He's tried to fix the marriage and now not only has his wife left him but his own daughter hates him. Teresa kneels next to the dad, feeling compelled to intervene.

"You don't really hate him, you are just hurting. And that's okay, I'm sure your dad is hurting to. But Charlotte you have to come out of the tube."

"I just want to be alone!"

"Who are you anyway?", the father asks finally turning to look at the agent. "And how do you-",He stops, stunned at who he's run into. "I know you."

"No you don't.", Lisbon responds quickly standing up to leave. "Good luck with your daughter."

Without another word she walks away, not looking back. Lisbon knew exactly who this man was: Patrick Jane. The same sleaze that tore her wound open for the sake of his own ego. A divorce huh? That wasn't surprising. There was however a small ting of guilt for the poor little girl involved. Regardless, Teresa puts her headphones in and begins jogging down the trail. Ready to tune Jane out of her life.

Patrick watches her leave in stunned silence, out of all the neighborhoods he could have picked...Charlotte's crying brings him back to earth and Jane eventually convinces her to get out of the tube. Teresa Lisbon, he thinks, the same woman he hurt the other day. Maybe he'll make it up to her one day but for now his only focus is on his daughter.