Amateur Heist - Alberta_Sunrise - The Mentalist [Archive of Our Own] (2024)

Chapter Text

‘Marcus?’ You tap his cheek gently in an attempt to rouse him ‘Marcus come on. You need to wake up.’ You sob, his eyes remaining firmly closed.

‘He dead?’ Asks one of your captors and you snarl at him.

‘He needs a hospital.’ You growl ‘Keep me but let him go. Or you’ll have murder as well as kidnap on your hands.’

‘No.’ He shakes his head ‘He is my leverage.’ The man yells ‘You keep him alive.’

‘I work in fine art.’ You spit ‘I’m not a f*cking doctor. I can’t help him.’

Marcus fidgeting in your arms drags your attention back to him, relief washing over you as you see him crack his eyes open. The fear hasn’t left them though and your heart breaks for him, he knows he’s dying.

‘Hey, you scared me.’ You say softly, giving him a warm smile ‘No closing your eyes on me again. Okay?’

‘Yes ma’am.’ He replies, giving you a pained smile ‘I d-didn’t mean t-to scare y-ou.’

‘Hey, it’s okay.’ You soothe ‘Don’t use your energy up.’

He nods weakly, scrunching his eyes as the pain starts to get more intense, tears slipping down his flushed cheeks. You notice this and pull him closer, desperate to offer him some sort of comfort in the current circ*mstance.

‘So if this date goes well,’ You start, smiling sweetly at him ‘Perhaps we can go on a second.’ You suggest, noticing that his features relax a little as you speak ‘If we do I suggest a day of visiting museums, the natural history museum is my favourite.’

‘Yeah?’ He quizzes, trying his hardest to smile at you ‘Why’s that?’

‘Promise you won’t laugh?’

‘P-promise.’ He chuckles, wincing at the pain this brings him.

‘I freaking love dinosaurs.’ You answer ‘Have done since I was a kid. Was going to be a Palaeontologist when I grew up with my childhood boyfriend.’

‘I remember when walking with Dinosaurs came out. It blew my mind.’

He smiles sweetly at you. He can’t help but feel captivated by you, your innocence, your genuineness, your beauty. He never thought he’d pluck up the courage to ask you out, he’d never imagined that you would like him too.

‘It’s silly I know.’ You continue ‘But I don’t know.’ You shrug ‘I just find them fascinating.’

‘It’s not silly.’ He says sweetly ‘I think it’s c-cute.’

You give him a shy smile, stroking his cheek affectionately and tapping it when his eyes start to flutter again.

‘Come om brown eyes.’ You say ‘Stay awake. I know it’s hard.’

‘Tired.’ He says as they shut for just a moment, snapping them open when you shake him.

‘Please Marcus. You need to keep those eyes open for me.’ You plead ‘Help’s coming I promise.’

~

‘They’re going to give them what they want.’ States James ‘But the car will have a tracker. We won’t be far behind them.’ He finishes as he nods at Alice, advising her what to tell them.

‘I’ll call them now.’ She says, picking up the phone and dialling the number that’s been calling her ‘There will be a car waiting for you in 10 minutes. You got what you want. Let them go.’

‘Not until we’re out. Once we leave you can come and get your agent and his girlfriend.’The assailant spits before having up.

‘Well?’

'Won’t let them go until they leave.’ She states.

‘Did he say anything about how Marcus is?’ Enquires Matt with a perturbed look on his face.

Alice simply shakes her head, giving him a grim look.

~

‘When w-will we h-have this date?’ He stutters as he gazes up at you through hooded lids.

‘As soon as you’re better.’ You assure ‘We’ll get you well and then we’ll go on our date. I promise.’

‘Will you s-stay with m-me?’ He asks although it almost sounds like he’s begging and you can see the tears streaming down his cheeks.

‘Yeah, Marcus.’ You reply ‘I’ll stay with you.’ You finish, smiling sweetly at him.

‘Thank you.’ He says, smiling at you before his limbs go slack and his eyes roll back.

‘No.’ You sob, your throat tightening as fear starts to tighten its grip on you ‘No come on Marcus please.’ You beg, tapping his cheek and shaking his shoulder ‘Please open your eyes. Don’t leave me now.’

He doesn’t wake up. His breathing is getting weaker along with his pulse and you desperately hold the saturated blazer to his head. His skin is positively translucent now and a small puddle of blood has formed on the floor, the red liquid now dripping from the material that’s supposed to be holding it in. You bring his soft lips to yours and kiss him, hoping it may have the same effect as last time but alas still nothing and you sob against his mouth as you bring his forehead up to yours.

‘Come on.’ You plead ‘Please wake up.’ You feel your emotions started to get the better of you and your shoulders begin to shake, the wall you'd built to contain your despair's starting to crumble ‘Please… Please wake up.’

‘The cars here.’ Says one of the men, catching your attention.

‘Well. Looks like you two are free to go.’ He states ‘See ya, sweetheart.’

You watch as they sprint out the door and then you let your emotions flow, your sobs are uncontrolled as you rock Marcus’ unconscious form in your arms. You hear new voices and the sound of wheels on marble so you look up to see Matt sprinting towards you ahead of two EMT’S. His face drops when he sees the state his boss is in, your tear-stained cheeks and sobs leading him to fear the worst.

‘I tried to keep him awake.’ You lament ‘I tried.’ You renew as you rock him in your arms.

‘Okay. It’s okay you did so well.’ Matt soothes as he drops to your side ‘Let the medics take care of him now.’ He says softly as he helps you lay Marcus down gently before pulling you into his arms.

‘Please don’t let him die.’ You beg ‘He can’t die.’

‘They’ll do all they can.’ He assures you ‘But we need to give them room.’

The next few minutes are a blur. The next thing you're aware of is that you’re being helped into the back of a large truck, Matt at your side, holding your hand, trying desperately to console you as you weep. They take you to the hospital where you sit with his team, patiently awaiting news but as the hour's pass, you grow more and more restless.

‘Shouldn’t we have heard something by now?’ You growl, shifting in your chair.

‘If something had happened, we would have been told.’ Assures Alice as she takes your hand in hers ‘No news is good news.’

You nod, giving her a small smile and allowing yourself to let out the breath you hadn't realised you’d been holding. She was right. Of course, she was. If Marcus hadn’t made it they would have told you straight away. He was fine. He’s going to be fine. After what feels like an eternity later, the doctor finally emerges.

‘He’s stable.’ He states as you all stand ‘He suffered a fracture to his skull from the bullet grazing his head. He suffered a subarachnoid haemorrhage which was caused by a brain aneurysm, we had to operate to relieve the pressure. He lost a lot of blood, around 35% of his blood volume, much more and he wouldn’t have made it. He's had two transfusions but he's got a long road ahead of him.’

That statement makes you feel sick.

‘We have placed him in a medically induced coma to help him rest. He's also on a ventilator to assist his breathing.’ The doctor states as he looks around at all of you, eyes stalling on you ‘He’s not out of the woods but if he makes it through the night then I believe he’ll have a fighting chance.’

‘Thanks, Doc.’ Says James as he walks up to the man and shakes his hand.

‘When can we see him?’ Asks Alice.

‘He’s in recovery at the moment.’ He informs you all ‘I will have someone fetch you when he’s been moved to a room. I can’t have all of you in there at once though. You’ll need to limit the number of people in his room.’

‘Thank you.’ Matt pipes up as he shoots you a look, noting that you’re now staring at your blood-stained clothes.

‘How hadn’t you noticed? Your cream blouse is now scarlet, your dark grey pants are black. You feel your hands start to shake, your breathing becoming erratic and Alice notices too. She drops to her knee’s in front of you, cupping your face as she looks you squarely in the eyes.

‘You need to calm down.’ She says, her face straight ‘You’re having a panic attack’ She states ‘Copy my breathing.'

You do as she says, taking a deep breath in when she does, and letting it out when she does. You eventually start to feel your heart slowing, breathing becoming an easier task and you look up at her and give her a small smile.

‘I’m covered in his blood.’ You sob and she lets her eyes rake over you ‘I’ll go get you a change go clothes.’ She tells you ‘Matt will stay here with you okay?'

You nod, letting your head fall onto Matt’s shoulder as he pulls you into a sideways hug and you allow yourself to relax a little in his arms. Alice returns a few minutes later with some sweatpants and a shirt, taking your hand she leads you to the bathrooms where you change out of your soiled clothes. Upon your return, there is a nurse stood there with James and Matt, her eyes drifting up to you and giving you a small smile.

‘This man here tells me Mr Pike is your partner.’ She states as she motions to Matt, your eyes drifting to him where he widens them slightly, wordlessly telling you to play along ‘You can see him now.’ She states, leading the way.

You follow, Matt at your side, and you’re led into another ward, rooms surrounding you with patients in different states within. She opens a door and motions for you to enter, smiling at you sweetly as you step inside and look right to see him laying there. A white bandage is wrapped around his head and a thick tube protrudes from his lips. His skin is a healthier colour now so that offers you some relief but as you continue to study him, the more wires and tubes you noticed the more your heart sinks.

Matt leads you blindly to a chair at Marcus’ bedside and you practically flop down into it as you take his hand and lay a gentle kiss on his knuckles. The nurse leaves and then it’s just the three of you, Matt taking a seat opposite you and watching you as you fuss over his boss. Silence washes over you for a while before you finally find the strength to speak, mouth moving as you form the words.

‘We’re going on a date once he’s better.’ You state and Matt looks up at you in surprise.

‘He finally pluck up the courage?’

‘Actually, I kissed him then offered to if he stayed awake for me.’ You admit, cheeks reddening as you play the moment over in your mind ‘We’re going to go for pancakes.’ You continue ‘Then we’re going to go for a walk and he’s going to kiss me on my doorstep when he takes me home.’

Matt can see what you’re doing. Assuring yourself that these things are going to happen to take away from the fact that Marcus is laying there fighting for his life. He gives you a small smile before returning his attention to his boss, silently willing him to pull through. Not for him or even the team but for you.

~

‘They caught them.’ States James, watching you through the doorway as his colleagues circle him ‘How’s she doing?’

‘She’s doing okay.’ Matt states, glancing back at you ‘She’s coping as best as she can considering the circ*mstances.’

James nods and Alices gives Matt a grim smile, her heart breaking for you as she turns her head to watch as you affectionately stroke his cheek.

‘They’re going out though.’ Matt pipes up ‘When he’s better they’re going to go on a date.’

‘Well, it’s about time.’ Exclaims James, letting out a breathy chuckle.

‘Let’s just hope he pulls through.’ Alice says as she looks back at her colleagues.

‘He will.’ says Matt, not his head with surety ‘He’s got something to live for now.’