I'm sorry
"Lisbon, wait! I…"
"No, Jane. This time you went too far. I've had enough of you".
She slammed the door of her car and started as fast as she could.
Jane sighed. After all, he really deserved that. He began walking at a slow pace, careless about the rain that was pouring down.
...
About an hour and a half later he was entering the CBI building, followed by the puzzled glances of his colleagues. Obviously he looked terrible.
Without a single word he ensconced himself on his couch and closed his eyes. He felt cold, and the fact that his clothes were soaked surely didn't make it any better.
Finally he shifted towards an uneasy slumber, where the sounds around him mingled with his restless dreams.
...
"Jane, wake up. Here's your tea".
There was no answer, even when Grace shook him. That was odd. Jane had always been a light sleeper.
She placed a hand on his forehead, but quickly removed it. Then she headed towards Lisbon's office.
...
"You should speak with him".
Lisbon rolled her eyes, exasperated. First Rigsby, and now Cho. It seemed that everybody had suddenly decided to support Jane.
"Boss…", called Grace from the open door.
"What's up, Van Pelt?"
"It's Jane… I think he doesn't feel well. His forehead is burning".
Lisbon bit her lip. Great. Just as if she already didn't feel guilty enough…
...
"Jane, can you hear me? If you do not wake up right now, I'm going to call a doctor".
Jane stirred and murmured weakly: "No doctors, Lisbon. I beg you".
"All right. Can you stand up? I'll take you home".
Actually she had no idea where he lived – or, more precisely, where he slept the few times when he didn't spend the night at the CBI – but she thought that, under the circumstances, Jane could tell her.
"Want to stay here. Please", he whimpered like a five-year-old boy.
Lisbon opened her mouth as if to speak, then changed her mind and was silent. After all Jane's clothes were now dry, and he would probably sleep better on his beloved couch.
She went back to her office, searching the drawers for an aspirin.
...
Next time Jane opened his eyes the office was empty and dark, except for the corner where Lisbon was sitting – absent-mindedly running through some papers.
"Why didn't you go home?"
She ignored his question. "How do you feel?"
"Better, I think… thanks to you aspirin".
Lisbon touched his brow. He still had a fever, but he should recover in a couple of days.
"Why on Earth didn't you take a taxi, instead of walking in the rain?"
"Because I deserved it".
She just stared at him, suddenly wondering if maybe he was sicker than he looked. Hearing Jane admitting he behaved badly wasn't such an ordinary thing.
"Jane…"
"I'm being serious. I didn't want that man to insult you. I'm sorry".
"Jane, that's not the point. I couldn't care less if a witness thinks I'm not much of a cop. However, there are rules we have to follow. You know that".
He shook his head. "Anyway he should have been angry with me, not with you. You are a good agent. The best. I've always thought so".
Lisbon smiled. She had never heard Patrick Jane speaking like that – and probably she would never hear again.
"Sleep now. If you need anything, call me: I'm on the couch in my office".
Just for a second she thought about stroking his hair – as she used to do with her brothers, when they were ill – then she quickly dropped the idea.
She turned off the lamp on Van Pelt's desk and silently headed towards her office.