Title: The Red Men
Fandom: The Mentalist
Pairing: Jane/Cho
Genres: Romance, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Epic (44,875 words)
Warnings: None

Author on LJ: N/A
Author Website: x_art @ AO3

Author's Summary:
N/A

Review:
This is the longest Jane/Cho fic I've managed to find (though admittedly I haven't gone on a search for Mentalist fic for a long time), and also the best. Cho and Van Pelt are sent to a conference to keep a protective eye on precious pneumonia research, with the rest of the team staying at the office. Predictably, Jane isn't happy at all about being left out of the loop. His and Cho's burgeoning relationship faces its biggest challenge yet as they're separated and on awkward terms.

This is a slow moving fic, with the two main plot threads gradually coming together to form a story both touching and intriguing. As Cho gets to the bottom of the plot surrounding the conference, Jane is angry and worried by turns back home; unsure of his place in Cho's life, angry that he doesn't know what's going on, and wondering whether or not he's ready for another serious relationship. There isn't just uncertainty though - this is a fic with a lot of sweetness, despite the main pairing being separated for the majority of it. Both of them work out on their own what they want to happen when they see each other again, and their slow realisation of how much they miss each other was a warm and fuzzy read.

The crime-related plot is also interesting, with glimpses from the villains POV both illuminating and chilling. X's take on him and his motivations is an interesting one, and it's his very ordinariness that is possibly the creepiest thing about him. The atmosphere at the fancy, claustrophobic hotel that the conference is taking place is a perfect setting for the suspenseful plot, with the prospect of a villain hiding behind every elaborately over the top plant pot.

The Red Men