Jane swore he would rethink his ways and means, since he couldn't change hers.

"Hey." Lisbon whispered, her head turned to the side, looking at him sleepily.

"Hey." He smiled his first genuine smile in what felt like forever.

She tried to take in her surroundings without moving her head.

"Hospital, Quarter past 4 am." He answered the unasked question.

She smiled at his mind reading, "What are you doing here?"

"You got stabbed."

"I know. I'm Ok. You said it's 4 am."

"Told Matt and Charlie I'd guard you while they get a decent coffee."

"Matt and Charlie? Guard me?"

He nodded, smiling, "You know, your brothers." He added, as if testing her memory.

"Yeah, remember them." She assured him deadpan, ending with a yawn.

"Something to drink?" He asked, springing into action.

She nodded, sipping on the straw he held to her lips, sinking back into the cushions.

"Promise me you won't do that again."

She reopened her eyes and squinted at him, "What?"

He cocked his head, answering her question with raised eyebrows, even at 4 am and under drugs she had to know what he was referring to.

She closed her eyes again, "It's my job, you know."

"No it's not."

"It's what I do." Eyes still closed, head turned towards him, burrowing into the cushions, half asleep again.

"I won't do it again!", he resolved the matter, deadly serious, still wearing his smile, eyes fixed on her closed ones.

Lisbons deep chuckle seemed to fill the room and all the slow and automatic movement ceased, time reached it's normal tempo again, everything was back to normal.

"You will do it again Patrick. That's your job!" Taking a deep breath, falling asleep, with a reassuring smile for him.

'Patrick'? curious.

A/N: Thank you very much for reviewing Habeous Corpus, jisbon-sessed and mavzus

depressing and unrelated A/N 2: Wanted to update yesterday but then I plunged into a deep crisis, because I missed a deadline (had written down 5 of 8 pages for that stupid paper, was drowning in literature and than I decided it was all bullshit and I wanted to go to sleep). now I'm pretty much convinced I should stop studying because I'm not meant for it and really, I'm incapable of formulating full sentences... what a strange day to write fanfiction *sigh*

A/N 3: reuploaded the chapters and worked in the corrections the wonderful Margarita Rosa provided. Thank you very much!