A/N - Thanks for all the reviews :) You guys are life for me. Been having a few crappy days, but coming here makes me soooo happy! :)

Even though Lisbon's muteness would pop up again every so often, it normally lasted for a couple of hours at the most. However, when, a week later, she was rendered speechless for the better part of a day, she started to worry.

Jane had reassured her numerous times throughout the day that it would only last another hour, that it was just a fluke, that it didn't mean she would end up completely mute again.

But it hadn't helped. She was terrified of the hopeless feeling again, of being stuck in her brain.

She was mentally and physically exhausted, but she couldn't fall asleep, not even as she was wrapped up in Jane's arms. It must have been somewhere in the middle of the night when she slowly got out of bed, careful not to wake Jane, and went into the bathroom.

Jane had woken up, though. He lay motionless on the mattress, listening for any sounds. He'd heard her close the door behind her, but she didn't turn on the light.

After nearly ten minutes of absolute silence, he got up. He had to check on her. With bleary eyes, he padded down the hall to the bathroom. Ear upon the door, he couldn't hear anything other than a few unintelligible sounds. He didn't know whether to knock or call out her name.

In the end, he did neither. He quietly opened the door, which had been left unlocked this time. At first, he couldn't see anything in the pitch darkness. But, after turning on the light, he found her, back against the bath, arms locked around her shins. Her face was buried into her knees, but even an idiot could tell she was crying.

"Oh, Lisbon," he said softly. He sat down next to her, wrapping an arm around her. She sniffled, but otherwise didn't respond. "You'll be okay, Lisbon. This doesn't mean it's come back again."

She moved to bring her hands up to her eyes. She shook her head, but, even so, shuffled her body so she was leaning against Jane.

He used his free hand to brush his fingers through her hair. "You suffered a brain injury. There is going to be kinks in the road. The neurologist said to expect this to happen a few times, remember?"

She nodded. After her first two-hour long silence, they'd revisited the hospital to make sure everything was okay, which, apparently, it was. It hadn't put her mind at rest, however; rather, it made her feel more anxious, just awaiting the next attack.

"If it makes you feel better, I'll take you back to him in the morning." He was still speaking softly, trying to make her as calm and comfortable as possible. He kissed her temple. "What ever will make this easier."

She nodded again, this time moving her head up from her knees to look at him. She felt, and probably looked miserable, so upset and disappointed in herself. But Jane was her light. Lisbon wiped her eyes with her sleeve before she wrapped her own arm around Jane. She kissed his cheek, then lightly grabbed his chin, turning his face so they were looking directly at each other. Jane knew she was asking him to read her.

"I know, Teresa. I love you too."

Lisbon leaned forward and kissed him gently.

She wasn't able to fall asleep even after he calmed her down. They'd migrated to the couch, where they'd cuddled up with each other and turned on the TV to 'The Wizard of Oz'. Jane had fallen asleep not long after.

He was roused by the smell of chamomile in the air. He flicked his eyes open, weak sunlight filling his vision. He turned his head and found Lisbon tucked up next to him, sipping a mug of tea.

"Hey," Jane said quietly, his voice rough with sleep. Lisbon smiled meekly, reaching over to the coffee table to pass him his own mug of steaming tea. He took a swig. "Have you-"

She shook her head before he finished talking, shrugging simultaneously.

"And you haven't slept yet either, right?" This time, Lisbon didn't answer. He noticed her eyes were bloodshot, bordered with dark bags. Jane knew it was at least 24 hours since she'd last slept. "Don't fret, okay? It'll all be fine." He reached out with his free hand, lifting her chin to kiss her on the lips. "Let me take a shower, then we'll go back to the hospital."

Lisbon nodded, relaxing into the couch as Jane got up. She was absolutely exhausted, but every time she closed her eyes, her brain sprung into overdrive, filled with worries and doubts. As she got up to put her empty mug in the sink, she was silently (huh!) praying that the chamomile would knock her out.

Unfortunately, it seemed her fatigued brain couldn't process two things at once; just before she stepped into the kitchen, Lisbon tripped over her own feet.

"Shit!" she exclaimed as the cup shattered into large fragments on the floor. She started to carefully pick up the shards before she realised something. Shocked, and with a piece of mug in her hand, she whispered "I can talk?", her voice tiny but steady. Suddenly, the fragment of cup dropped onto the tiles again, as Lisbon ran through the house.

"Jane! Jane!" she shouted, pushing the door of the bathroom open.

"Teresa? What's wrong?" he asked immediately, beginning to turn off the hot water, but was stopped as Lisbon pulled open the glass door of the shower, immediately drenching herself.

She beamed up at him. "I love you!" she said loudly, laughing at the surprise on Jane's face. She must have seemed mad, absolutely mad (which, to be honest, she probably was at this stage), but she didn't care. The relief she felt at being able to literally voice her thoughts, to say a simple 'yes' or 'no', was something she took for granted all too often. She pulled his face towards hers, and whispered, "I love you so, so much," and kissed him.

Still startled, Jane managed to turn off the water blindly. Once that was managed, he kissed her lovingly back, only retreating to pull a towel around his waist. "Your voice! I told you!" He hugged her tight, her clothes completely soaked, and his hair dripping on hers. "I love you, too, Teresa. But I think you're a little sleep deprived," he added, tugging on her shirt, which was stuck to her skin.

She laughed and kissed him again. "Sorry for barging in!" she teased, drawing a line up and down his back, before she almost skipped out of the bathroom, a towel in hand.

"Absolutely mad," he muttered, chuckling as he dried his curls.

A/N - This is all leading somewhere guys. Shit gets serious next chapter. ;) See you then