A/N: Right, so I'm experimenting with tenses a bit - in Jane's point of view, at least. So I'm really sorry if it doesn't work. This is the halfway point if I stick to my plans, which I've already changed once today. Yeah, I'm a hopeless case.

Thanks to everyone who has already added this to story alert and their favourites list. Special thanks go to: Penelope Louise, Divinia Serit, WildDaisies10, theresa366, Fallen Angels of Love, Ebony10 and Madaboutthementalist for reviewing Chapter One.

This chapter is dedicated to Penelope Louise. It's not fluff, not even close really, but I will write some eventually.

x tromana


Chapter Two - Present

This is new, he muses and the relief is paramount as his daughter's emotionless face finally disappears along with her accusations. Being forced to stare at his butchered family had been horrifying to say the least. The CBI headquarters comes into view and Lisbon is walking towards him with a haughty expression written across her features. Somebody has obviously riled her, though who, he isn't quite sure yet. Although, it could have something to do with the file that she is gripping tightly, to the extent that her knuckles are whitening. Maybe it is another complaint about his behaviour out in the field? He's not quite sure when it is, but the presence of Van Pelt indicates that Lisbon should surely be used to his antics by now. Whatever the reason for her anger, he comes to the conclusion that it is a good thing. He's already decided that he'll never tell her just how much he loves it when she pulls 'Little Miss Fierce' out. The fire in her eyes and venom in her voice just transform her from being a rather attractive woman into someone who makes him go a little weak at the knees. She storms directly up to Jane and pokes him roughly on the chest.

"What the hell did you think you were doing, Jane?" she seethes and turns on her heels before she receives an answer. "You know what, I don't care. What's the point? You never listen anyway."

He isn't surprised that he cannot respond but somehow, he manages to quickly glances over her shoulder to see the rest of the team staring at him. Rigsby nods gravely in agreement with Lisbon, Van Pelt looks quite upset for some reason and Cho is as unreadable as ever. It's nice to see the team together, as he likes working with them even if they do doubt it on occasion. As their boss has left, the rest of them quickly scatter, leaving him standing in the hallway alone. If he could have, Jane would have sighed. He doesn't like being on his own. That's when the dreams and nightmares come back to haunt him. They remind him of what he has lost and what he could have right now. At least he can still hear the cheerful chatter in the bullpen. If he focuses on that, then maybe he doesn't have to think and maybe he will stay here. He dreads the idea of where he might land up next, otherwise.

***

"Damn it, if only you'd listened, Jane," she murmured, "then maybe, we wouldn't be in this mess."

She rubbed her temples, having only just noticed the tension headache that was developing. The marvels of medicine could bring people back from the brink of death and save people from all manner of diseases and health complications. But to stop a rampaging headache, hell-bent on making her life a misery? Of course, they had no such luck. Then again, she knew that if it was a choice between a miracle headache cure or getting Jane back on his feet again, she knew which one she would choose every time. It wasn't really a choice at all, really.

"Hi, boss," Rigsby spoke, "I thought I'd find you here."

"Am I becoming that predictable?" she replied weakly.

"Yeah, sorry," he answered, "Cho told me that we've gotta go. There's been a murder in some postage stamp of a town and they want us."

"Great," she mumbled angrily. She'd only been able to spend five minutes with Jane. "Just what I wanted."

The chair legs made a loud screech as she pushed herself to her feet and consequently, the piece of furniture backwards. Rigsby cringed at the noise and tried to look at anywhere but Lisbon and Jane as she bid him farewell, not that their consultant was particularly aware of his surroundings or company. Along with the others, Rigsby had been told about how talking to people in comas could be beneficial, but he thought it was a load of rubbish. But it seemed to bring about comfort to the boss and Van Pelt and that, from his point of view, was a good thing. They both seemed particularly concerned for their colleague and friend, after all. Eventually, Lisbon turned to face him, looking at him expectantly. Seeing the rabbit caught in the headlights expression he was wearing, she immediately softened her gaze and bit her lip slightly. For some reason, she liked the fact that she could intimidate people a foot taller than she was with ease.

"Boss?" Rigsby asked tentatively, "are you okay?"

"Just peachy," she muttered. "Come on, let's go. You can tell me more about the case as we walk."

***

He watches on as Lisbon draws her weapon and creeps towards the garden shed tentatively, with Cho at her heels. Jane has already decided that he's going to be in a foul mood with her when she gets back, partially because she didn't listen to him when he said that this line of inquiry would prove to be a dead end. He just knows that she hasn't, for some reason even if he can't quite remember his theories for this specific case. For now, he simply glowers at her while reclining against the SUV, not that he actually has much choice either way. Even if he was capable of movement, she wouldn't need to tell him to keep back; he knows that when weapons are involved that it's best to leave it to the professionals. Even if he does have an almost overwhelming urge to wrap one of said professionals up in cotton wool and never let her go. And Jane honestly doesn't know how he feels about that. Is it cheating on his wife or tainting her memory? Is it heading towards the realms of replacing her? He shakes his head and refocuses on the two agents in front of him. Lisbon would probably hate the idea of someone else being so overprotective of her, anyway.

"CBI," she calls out, sounding as authoritative as ever. "Open the door and come out with your hands on your head."

Everything happens at once and in the blink of an eye, her knees buckle and she is on the floor. Cho runs after the perp who has just hit Lisbon over the head and escaped in the furore as Jane tries to leave his spot beside the SUV and rush to her side. Again, Jane is glued to the ground and only able to watch in horror as she stumbles back to her feet with eyes swimming and a nasty bruise developing on her temple. He blinks, wondering why he is being forced to endure visions of people he cares about being tortured in front of his very eyes. Worse still, is not being able to help them.

"Jane, please help…" she calls before collapsing again.

It is so unlike Lisbon to beg for help and it is hurting him more than he cares to admit. As Jane is enveloped in blackness once again, he decides that time is playing some very funny tricks on him. It's like everyone else is moving, changing and developing while he, he is frozen in time. He is fixed to the spot while everyone else is able to, no, has the privilege of being able to live their lives like normal.

TBC…