Firstly, I wanted to apologize to anyone who was confused by the author's note at the bottom of the previous chapter. It was totally the wrong one! It was actually for a Doctor Who story I posted just a few minutes before this one (when I write fanfiction, I tend to post in groups for whatever reason). Anyway, thanks to everyone who answered that question. I got a lot more answers to it than I expected. Thanks also to my readers and reviewers. You are greatly appreciated. Now, on to chapter two!

Lisbon was asleep when Jane came by that evening. He watched her for a moment, a sad smile on his face, as her sleeping form brought back a memory of another night when he had come home to find his wife asleep on the couch, waiting for him. Jane shook his head slightly to clear the memory away and placed thirty more cranes quietly on the table. Giving one last look at his boss, Jane left, softly closing the door behind him.

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Lisbon didn't feel any better when she woke up the next morning. If anything, she felt worse. Her nose wouldn't stop running and her head felt like someone had stuffed it with cotton balls. Needless to say, when Patrick Jane waltzed in, grinning, she was in a much less than pleasant mood.

"You look miserable," he told her brightly.

"And you look entirely too happy," Lisbon grumped back, though she noticed the circles under the consultant's eyes were darker than ever. Jane handed her the bag full once again with paper crances and moved away into the kitchen, probably to make more tea. As before, Lisbon began to count, but before she could start, Jane reappeared.

"I made thirty more yesterday if you didn't notice. Don't forget to count those." Then he had disappeared again. Lisbon listened to him puttering about the kitchen, humming tunelessly to himself, and then began counting. One hundred thirty-one, one hundred thirty-two, one hundred thirty-three . . .

Lisbon couldn't help but smile as she admired the two hundred eighty cranes on her table. It was obvious that Jane was using whatever materials he could find: wrapping paper, newspaper, magazines, and who knew what else. Laughing softly, she picked up a smaller crane made from a sticky note. There was a clatter from the kitchen and Lisbon realized that Jane had had more than enough time to make tea.

"What're you doing in there?" she asked, contemplating getting up to go see.

"Making you some chicken soup. You don't have to get up, I'm know what I'm doing." Lisbon froze and settled back.

"You can cook?"

Jane laughed. "Barely, but I can make chicken soup. It's my specialty."

"If you say so," Lisbon teased.

"Now, now, don't judge 'till you've tried it." She heard him get out silverware and a bowl. Soon, he was standing before her, bowl of soup balanced on a plate. Lisbon sat up and he placed the plate on her lap with a smile. Expectantly, he watched as she took a sip. Her eyebrows went up in pleasant surprised.

"It's good."

"See? What did I tell you?" Lisbon smiled and had another spoonful while Jane sat down in the armchair, pulled several partially-folded cranes from his pocket, and continued his work.

"So, how did chicken soup become your specialty?" Lisbon asked, curiosity getting the better of her.

"I used to make it for my wife and daughter when they were sick."

"Oh," she said quietly and was silent. Jane set a crane on the table.

"Two hundred eighty-one," he stated and began another. Lisbon finished her soup and Jane, ever observant, was there to whisk it away to the kitchen.

"Do you want more?" he asked.

"Not right now, thanks." He nodded and seated himself again. Lisbon blew her nose before lying back down, curling into a ball under her blanket. Jane watched her for a brief moment and placed another crane on the table. As he began work on the two hundred eighty-third crane, his weariness began to catch up with him until at last he allowed his eyes to gently close.

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Lisbon drifted in and out of sleep, trying to ignore her pounding head and stuffy nose. Eventually, she could stand it no longer and sat up, grabbing a tissue as she did so. She blew her nose miserably and was about to curl up again when she saw that Jane was still sitting in her armchair. She smiled a little when she saw that he was asleep, hands in the midst of folding another of his paper cranes. His face was relaxed into a small smile and Lisbon could tell he was dreaming.

Suddenly, his expression changed, becoming fearful and apprehensive. Lisbon's smile faded. Jane's breathing became faster, more agitated. His mouth moved, silently forming a single word: "no." With sudden wrenching clarity, Lisbon knew exactly what he was seeing. She called his name, her voice hoarse and scratchy, but it had no effect. Her concern mounted as he became increasingly panicked, the blood draining from his face. Finally, with a strangled sound, his eyes flew open, wide, scared, and anguished. As his mind registered where he was, Jane closed his eyes again, trying desperately to calm down and erase the images burning in his mind.

"Are you okay?" Lisbon asked, knowing that it was a stupid question but not knowing what else to say. Jane nodded wordlessly, not having to look to know that her green eyes were watching him with concern and pity.

"Is that why you haven't been sleeping?" she pressed gently. He nodded again and stood up, pacing.

"My daughter's birthday was today," he said quietly, not looking up.

Lisbon's expression changed to one of understanding and sympathy. "I'm sorry." He nodded a third time before looking up and flashing her a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"You should rest. I'll be back later with more cranes."

Lisbon wanted to argue that she wasn't tired, but had the feeling that Jane needed to be alone for a little while so she said simply, "Okay." Gently, Jane tucked the blanket in around her and was gone. Lisbon stared after him, knowing exactly what he must be going through.

Yes, this is the correct author's note:D This chapter really is sad. Sorry. I'm not sure where the birthday thing came from. It just ended up on the paper and later on my laptop. Hope you guys are still enjoying the story. There will be one more chapter probably. Reviews are loved:)