Again, my apologies for the long wait! I was going to update sooner but I ran out of inspiration/ideas for the chapter and had to stop halfway through :( But it's done now! The chapter at least, I'm no where near done with this story. Thank you to all who reviewed the last chapter! Reviews make my heart smile :D And to those who didn't, do you want to review this one as an early christmas gift for me? :p I hope you enjoy this chapter, it's kind of short but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless. Happy Holidays!
Life or Death
"Lisbon? Lisbon!" Jane asked, trying to get her out of her unresponsive daze. The doctor had left and Lisbon had slumped against the hospital bed, not saying a word.
"Huh? What?" Lisbon asked, distractedly.
"You weren't saying anything, you weren't moving, I had half a mind to call the doctor back and check if you were comatose." Jane said. Despite his teasing words, worry shone through his eyes, something that Lisbon did not miss. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Jane. They've fixed me up good as new." Lisbon said, not meeting his eyes.
"That's not what I mean and you know it. Are you alright with the doctor's news?" Jane said; all traces of humour gone from his face.
"I, um… I don't know. I mean it's, uh, shocking…and I didn't expect…" Lisbon stuttered. "And he's going to jail, which is good… but I'm going to be on my own and…"
"Shh, you're not going to be alone Lisbon, we'll all be here for you." Jane said, trying to give her any small comfort he could.
"It's not that. I'm going to be a single parent. I just, never thought I would be in this situation." Lisbon said. He eyes were unfocused, hazy as if she hadn't quite grasped the fact that this was real, it was really happening.
"You, uh, you know there are other options…" Jane said. He knew that she probably wouldn't consider them but he felt that she should be aware nonetheless.
"No, I couldn't…" Lisbon whispered. She began fiddling with the cross around her neck. "I'm scared Patrick."
"I know." Jane said, sitting on the edge of her bed and wrapping his arms around her. He rubbed his hands up and down her arms, trying to reassure her somehow. "You don't need to do this alone."
"What do you suggest? Get Michael's help from jail?" Lisbon said with a humourless laugh.
"Of course not." Jane said. "But you can accept our help, my help."
"The team can't help me, not with this. And I couldn't ask that of them anyway, it would be like taking away their lives. No, I couldn't." Lisbon said sadly.
"You know, I have had experience raising a child, even if it was cut short. And I don't have a life you could take away. I don't even have a home." Jane said quietly.
"Sure you do, you have your Malibu house and your apartment in Sacramento." Lisbon said.
"A house isn't always a home. Mine hasn't been for a while now." Jane said with a small hint of sadness.
"Are you seriously offering your help raise my child?" Lisbon asked tentatively, afraid that if she spoke the words too loudly they would prove untrue.
"I've never been more serious in my life; I'd be honoured to help you with your child for as long as you need me." Jane said sincerely.
"I may just take you up on that offer. Thanks." Lisbon said. She reached for his hand and squeezed slightly, showing him how much this little comfort meant to her.
xxxx
When Lisbon was discharged from the hospital, after Jane had managed to annoy every single employee on Lisbon's floor, Jane had insisted on driving her home. She hadn't had too much of a problem with this, his car was at the hospital and hers was not. She actually welcomed the ride to her apartment, and that he helped her into her apartment despite her assurances that she was fine, it's just that he never left.
It was almost eleven thirty and Jane was lying on her couch, pretending to sleep. Lisbon had tried to fall asleep, really she had, but it was difficult to fall into a deep relaxation when Jane was just in the other room. She'd managed to convince herself that it was because she was used to living alone and was uneasy when another person was in her house with her at night. She failed to consider the fact that when her brother Tommy visited, used to visit, he would stay with her and she slept fine. She had convinced herself that her not sleeping had nothing to do with Jane's presence, simply the presence of another human being.
She decided that if they were both unable to succumb to sleep, they might as well be awake together. She crept into the living room and became instantly aware of how cold it was in her house. Under the warmth of her covers she hadn't felt the chill, but standing here in her oversized jersey, boy was she feeling it.
"Jane." Lisbon whispered.
"Yes?" He said, at full volume.
"Shh. Not so loud." Lisbon said.
"Why? There's only you and I here. Unless there's something you're not telling me?" Jane said, sitting up on the couch.
"Hush. It's only you and me, but it feels weird disturbing the silence of the night." Lisbon said bashfully.
"Ah of course my dear, then we will whisper as you wish." Jane whispered. "Are you cold?"
"No." Lisbon lied.
"Then why do you have goose bumps all over your legs, Teresa?" Jane said knowingly.
"Hush. I am cold; I didn't realize how cold it gets at night since I'm usually in my bed or at the office." Lisbon said.
"Well then, by all means, let's go to your bed." Jane said.
"What? No. I…" Lisbon stuttered, startled by Jane's forwardness. "What?"
"I don't mean like that. You are cold and you're not going to be able to sleep knowing that I'm awake and unsupervised in your house so this is the easy solution. I won't bite, hard." Jane said with a smile.
"Jane." Lisbon said in a warning tone.
"I'm jut messing with you Teresa." Jane said.
"Well don't. And stop calling me Teresa." Lisbon said, blushing pink.
"Alright my dear, whatever makes you happy." Jane said with a grin.
"No terms of endearment either." Lisbon said. She was desperately trying to keep a professional distance from the infuriating man and he wasn't making it any easier.
"Why not?" Jane asked innocently. "You won't let me call you by your name so what am I supposed to call you?"
"Terms of endearment are used for people in some sort of romantic relationship, that's why. You can call me Lisbon." Lisbon said, not making eye contact.
"But Lisbon is your work name. Here, at home you shouldn't have to be called by your work name. You should be able to relax and feel comfortable. And for the record, I still don't see why I can't call you dear or darling." Jane said, that infuriating smile firmly set upon his face.
"Fine! Call me Teresa when I'm at home, not that you'll be here too often anyway. But at work you call me Lisbon and nothing else." Lisbon said.
"Thank you. But do you really think that I'm not going to be here that often? I said I would help you and that's what I'm going to do." Jane said, suddenly serious.
"I know you want to help and you can, once the baby is here." Lisbon said.
"Ah ah ah. Teresa, you don't really think I'm going to leave you alone throughout your pregnancy do you? You need to eat for two people now, not just yourself and I'm going to charge myself with that task. This means three square meals a day plus a few small meals, snacks if you will. I'm going to help you find a house and get furniture for the baby. I'm going to help you through this just as a father would." Jane said, holding her hand for emphasis.
"Whatever. We'll talk more tomorrow. Right now, I need to sleep so come on." Lisbon said. She was too tired to argue right now but once she regained full strength she would.
Lisbon and Jane headed to her bedroom and Lisbon made no hesitation before collapsing in her bed. Jane on the other hand, simply watched her lay there for a few seconds, not quite sure what to do with himself. But he quickly got his wits together and slipped under the covers next o her. As soon as he did, Lisbon moved closer to him, curled into his side and wrapped an arm around him. Jane would be lying if he said this unexpected move didn't make him feel all fluttery and warm inside.
"Teresa, what are you doing?" Jane said, confused.
"You didn't think I was going to let you wait until I fall asleep and then go sneaking around my apartment did you? You're not going anywhere." Lisbon muttered sleepily. "Now you can't snoop without waking me."
Any thoughts? Questions? Concerns? Send them all my way in the form of a review please! :p Again, I wish a happy holidays to each and every one of you reading this :D Thanks for reading!