Red Attic

by britfanatic76

"Her knees hit the floor next to his body. She wanted to cradle his head but was afraid to touch it. Her hands hovered, unsure where to go, where they wouldn't do more harm. She held back a sob and perched there, leaning over him uselessly." Jane is attacked in his attic at CBI and Lisbon deals with the aftermath. Chapters 1 and 2 might be borderline M due to violence. ON HOLD.

1. Attack

Angry, violent kicks. That was all Patrick Jane could process in his jumbled mind. This person was very, very angry.

His cheek burned from where he'd cut it falling on the broken teacup he couldn't remember dropping. He thought about that. That was fine. He didn't think about the other pain; the pain in his ribs, and his stomach, and all over his middle, that made his insides burst and his brain haze.

He never had any option of protecting himself. The attack came from behind, at his complete surprise. This man had to have guts to attack him in CBI headquarters.

The arms he covered his head with did no good. They went limp within a few dozen kicks, leaving his head open. Unconsciousness came too slow, too soft. It wasn't enough to be dead to the world. He wanted to be plain dead.

He came and went a few times before realizing the man was gone. The pain wasn't. He tried to dig his phone out of his pocket, but the pain of moving sent him in and out of consciousness again a few times before he could get to it. He passed out again, came to again. Eventually managed to dial Lisbon before the blackness overtook him. He was out again by the time she answered. He didn't hear it, but she cursed him for getting her out of bed before hearing ragged breathing over the line and falling into panic mode.

She was there the next time he came to, slamming through the door. He felt her fingers on his neck, then his face. She called his name but all he heard was a warbled sound. Something wet fell on his face, but he didn't think about what it might be.

He didn't hear the paramedics ask her how long he'd been unresponsive or mention brain damage, didn't see her break down in the middle of his attic. He didn't know how long it was before they put him on a stretcher, or hear them talk about a punctured lung, but the pain made him scream when they moved him.

When the worst of the pain started to ebb, he sensed her nearby, and felt her pry his hand open and take it. Her hand was warm and sweaty. Somehow it made him feel a little less miserable. He curled his fingers around hers before fading again.

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A/N: Lisbon's POV is next. And don't forget, reviews are motivation. Feed the plot bunnies!