A/N: hi every one. I am so sorry for the long wait. I was very busy, then I had problems with my car and got stuck at work for a few days. I am back now and I'll try to update faster next time. There are only 2 chapters left.

I also wanted to explain something. Jane calls Allison his sister, but she is not. She's his siter in law. He likes to call her his sister as she is his only family left. I hope you will like this new chapter.


Chapter 7: Jane POV


I was awake but the Doctor who had examined me had not told me anything. Then I heard voices in the hallway. The doctor who examined me was trying to explain the situation to my colleagues. That made me mad that the Doctor would tell Cho before me! I heard the voice of Cho thank him also Lisbon's voice too. I was sick at heart. She really seemed to have feared for me I had to admit that I too feared for her.

I had the fright of my life. It was not for me but for her. When the man had the gun pointed at her then he had that crazy eyed look I acted instinctively. I threw myself on her. I was trying to protect her as best I could. I never imagined that I would take the bullet. I just wanted to prevent her from being hurt. I lost consciousness shortly after. I had at the time heard her begging me to open my eyes.

So I was rushed to the hospital half way there I started arguing with the EMT. They strapped me down so I would not move around. Then they rushed me straight to the OR prep room. They had me hooked up to IV's. I was awake when they came to examine me. They wanted to operate and they wanted my permission. I would not give it. So I was stuck waiting impatiently for the doctor to gives me the green light to get out of here. I never liked hospital and it was not going to start now.

I wanted only one thing at this moment. It was Lisbon I wanted to see. She was the woman for which I had risked my life. It felt funny to think that. As a general rule it was she who took the risks. I was afraid of a weapon that was no secret. I didn't even know why I act this way, or rather, yes I knew. I didn't want to see her die. My feelings for this woman were much stronger than I thought. Once faced with the life or death situation I found my feelings were much stronger than I ever knew. All I knew that Lisbon was the most precious thing which must not come to harm so I pulled her down and covered her.

Finally, the door opened then the doctor came in and came directly over to me. Since I was the only person here I was not surprised. I sat up on the bed then winced a little. The slightest movement hurt, but I didn't want say it. I didn't want him to decide to keep me longer. The pain in my face did not escape his notice.

- "I'm fine… I can get out of here" I said.

- "Mr. Jane you have a bullet lodged in your abdomen. We need to operate. It needs to be removed. You have to sign the consent forms." The doctor said.

- "Look I told you I don't want you to operate! Get me my release forms so I can get out of here and get some competent Medical Treatment." I said raising my voice hoping that would get through.

I saw red then I pointed out the bullet to them.

- "It barely has penetrated the skin. See there it is! Get your forceps and take it out!" I said lifting my bloody shirt "if you are so worried."

- "It is not that simple there could be complications." The doctor said.

- "Look I appreciate your position with insurance claims and such. But it is barely a graze. True the bullet is lodged between skin layers but I guess my fat prevented it from going any further. Look if you want it out hand me a scalpel. I'll dig it out myself!" I said.

- "I will do not such thing…Mr. Jane I must protest!" The doctor said.

I ignored him then grabbed a scalpel then sliced my skin. There was a little blood but then out popped the bullet in pretty good condition too. I noticed Cho and Lisbon had entered the room.

- "Cho there is your evidence I suggest you bag it and someone get me a suture kit!" I hollered.

Cho quickly bagged the evidence and placed it in his pocket. The Doctors gave me the kit as I did a good job closing the incision. I spread some antibiotic cream on the stitches then covered it with gauze.

- "Now you can not say anything to your insurance company. I did it myself!" I said.

The doctor was flabbergasted. Finally, he left me with my release forms and left the room muttering that I was insane.

- "Finally, Lisbon let's get out of here these Quacks will try to kill me!" I said placing my coat on.

- "Jane…What reason do you have in performing surgery on yourself?" Lisbon asked.

- "What this bullet wound…? In the Troop we often had worst emergencies than this." I said. "Often we were far from any doctor. I had to learn otherwise most of the people in the Carney would not been alive. Besides I knew what they were trying to do.

- "What was that Jane?" I asked.

- "They were trying to scam the system Lisbon. They wanted to bill for a full OR staff. That would cost the insurance company about 100,000. Talk about scam artists at least we in the Carney do it honestly." I said.

I noticed that Lisbon had been crying. I didn't like to see her cry. Looking around I saw Grace and Wayne coming toward us. I knew Rigsby felt guilty for what he said, but I could not blame him. Grace approached Cho.

- "Is that the bullet?" asked Grace looking at the piece of evidence.

- "Yes it is Jane took it out of him by himself." Cho said shaking his head.

- "Was he conscious when you got here?" she asked.

- "Yeah according to the EMT's he awoke during transport." Cho said.

- "So if the bullet wound was so minor why so much blood? Why was he unconscious?" She asked being still a bit worried.

- "According to the doctors the blood was the way the bullet cut across the abdomen it was not a deep cut but a fairly long one. As for the unconsciousness they think it was because of the emotion, stress and fear." Cho said.

- "It is understandable" Rigsby said who was also relieved it was nothing major.

- "He will therefore be able to get out of here soon" said Lisbon as her tears had dried.

I watched them converse. Lisbon still had my blood on her hands.

- "Why not take advantage of the facilities" Grace said pointing at the drying blood on her hands.

Lisbon agreed and darted into the nearby restroom and washed her hands then return.

- "I'm sorry for my behavior at the crime scene." I heard Lisbon apologized.

- "There is nothing to be sorry for boss" Grace reassured her.

Suddenly I noticed a woman come running down the hall holding a baby in her arms. She went directly to Lisbon who had immediately lost her smile. It was Allison.

- "Are you happy for what you did?" cried the woman.

- "Allison" Lisbon said trying to calm her but the other did not give her the opportunity to continue.

- "He gave you time, he waited for you to come. He came back to you," she said "And all for what? Being in the hospital the same day of his return?"

I was still getting dress and I did it even faster. I didn't like the way Allison was talking to Lisbon. It was not her fault and I wanted her to understand that. Then, when I was totally dress and left the room with my discharge papers in hand.

- "Allison… Calm down! Lisbon had nothing to do with this. I am fine!" I ordered stepping out in the hallway.

- "What Pad..d..dy? You're alive?" Allison said.

- "Aye I'm alive and this scratch was nothing more than when Shamus shot old Brog. You remember what that was? Old Brog was cursing up a storm. You were there. Allison it was like that. I'm fine woman now apologize to Lisbon!" I commanded.

-"I'm sorry Lisbon I over reacted but what with the police car coming to pick me up. What was I supposed to expect? Everyone in the camp knew!" Allison said.

-"So what…? We are not staying there anymore! Let them talk!" I said.

- "Were not? Paddy we discussed this…" Allison said.

- "Yes we did and you agreed you would stay here in Sacramento where My Nephew could grow up free of that life." I said. "Or are you reneging on your word?"

Allison thought back she had given me her word. Something in the Carney culture was the worst offense that of breaking your word. I had put her in her place.

- "Aye Paddy you got me I did give you my word." Allison said.

- "Fine…Now will someone take my Sister in Law and Nephew to the CBI?" I asked.

- "I'll do it. Jane" Grace said volunteering.

- "Ok Van Pelt… You and Rigsby take them to the CBI. Jane, Cho and I will follow." Lisbon ordered. "Oh Van Pelt there is a Baby seat in the back of my vehicle you will need it."

- "Right Boss" Grace said walking down the hall leading my family away.

- "I'll get the car running" Cho said walking away

He was giving Lisbon and me time alone.

- "I was so scared…" Lisbon said beginning to cry.

- "It alright Lisbon let it out." I said holding her to my chest then gently rocking her.

I winced a bit from the stitches pulling but with me holding her Lisbon was able to get out all those bad emotions.

- "Can we leave now? I don't like hospitals" she whispered

-"Can I tell you a secret?" I confided.

Lisbon nodded her head.

- "I don't like them either…Cho is waiting for us let's go." I said walking toward me.

We got to the car then we ended up at the CBI. I collected Allison and my Nephew from the team and directed Cho to the location of their new home. I got out and told her.

-"Allison this is for you... I'm not going to be back tonight so don't wait up." I said after changing my clothes.

I could not continue wearing those items filled with my blood and Lisbon's tears.

Allison could not believe the place I had but I left her looking around. There was someone else I needed to see.

- oooo -

Cho was still driving when he stopped in front Lisbon's apartment. I thank him then exited the vehicle. We headed toward the door and went inside. Getting inside away from prying eyes Lisbon broke down and clutched my shirt then cried. I rocked her gently as I encircled her tiny body then pulled her close. We stood there me immobile and her holding on to me as if her life depended on it. Cautiously I lead us back to the couch where we could sit still entwined.

Once on the couch Lisbon sank more against me by sitting on my lap. I tighten my arms around her protectively. I let her cry as much as she wanted. It was good for her. She needed it. I wanted to cry too but I kept my tears in check. I had to be strong for her. Since, I was the reason for her sadness and tears. I did not know really why I left. Yes I did know. Allison was that reason. I could not leave her. There was a mole in the CBI or the police. That is why her husband had always returned to inflict more damage on her. Even though I thought I had dealt with the problem. He always returned. I knew I had to walk away. I was so sorry I had inflicted on her so much pain. She had always been there for me. She always looked after me and I had hurt her.

Gradually, her tears dried up then she shifted a bit. She raised her bright eyes to me and smiled tenderly. I smiled back and leaned toward her to kiss her forehead. One of her hands came up to rest on my cheek which sent a series of chills through my body. Pictures of our night together came to mind and I wanted to kiss her again. It was not the time for those kinds of thoughts. She needed me and not my body at least not yet.

- "I was so afraid Patrick" she whispered.

- "I too was afraid for you," I replied. "I thought he was going to kill you and that I would lose you again."

- "And I thought you were gonna die. Why'd you do it Patrick? Why did you risk your life like that?" She asked.

- "I did it for you." I simply said.

She looked me straight in the eyes trying to see if I was lying or not. She had to see the sincerity in me as she leaned over to me and put her lips on mine. I let myself be overwhelmed by a flood of feelings and sensations. Finally, I was living again. Teresa was everything I needed. I placed a hand in her hair to bring her closer to me. I felt a part of my body come to life and I felt uncomfortable. She smiled against my lips.

- "Not tonight Patrick," she whispered while disengaging. "But soon…"

- "I'm sorry Teresa, if I knew what you were going to live ..." I apologized.

But she cut me off with a finger on my lips.

- "Now I understand Patrick. It does not mean I don't blame you anymore. You hurt me leaving like that. It was not you leaving that hurt me the most. It was your silence. You should had at least could have given me a word." She said.

She took a break and waited. She still had things to say and I was not going to interrupt her now. She needed to remove all those feelings she was keeping trapped deep inside her. I needed to know everything.

- "I thought ... I thought you had used me…That you had what you wanted and then you were gone. I thought you just needed a little physical comfort." She said.

- "Teresa ..." I began to say then she stopped me.

- "When I saw you, I wanted to come to you then take you in my arms. I also felt all this confusion." She said looking down.

Her body was trembling. She fought against the tears that threatened to spill again. She wanted to stay strong and I admired her for that.

- "I came to see you later. I wanted to talk to you and I saw you with Allison and her son. I thought you had replaced me that you had found a woman who could give you what I could not a family." She admitted.

I had a lump in my throat. I could not talk as I wanted to cry. She had suffered in silence and it was all my fault. I still wondered why she agreed to let me into her life.

- "Allison came to see me. She explained everything to me and now I understand. I love you too much to blame you all my life for your past mistakes. Don't you ever dare decide to leave me again. This time it would be the end of us." She said.

Instead of answering her with words I plunged to her lips then kissed her with passion and love. It was really great and outstanding. She forgave me when I had to be the one who had given her the most pain. I didn't know what I had done in my life to deserve a woman like her. She pulled away from me. She stood and took my hand then helped me to my feet. She led me up the stairs to her room.

Teresa made me move to the bed. She pulled my jacket, gently, and then attacked the buttons on my shirt. She undid them, taking all her time. The clothes were left on the ground and I didn't do anything to stop her. Her fingers then attacked my belt and the fly of my pants. She took care of me before to take care of her own clothes. I did nothing, I watched being fascinated. She undressed then stood before me in her underwear. My greedy eyes alit over every curve. I wanted to take her in my arms then make love to her for the rest of the night. I respected her choice. She had said not tonight and I would not do anything.

She offered me a hand and I took it then we settled into bed. She came to tighten against me then resting her head on my chest. She put a hand over my heart which was beating strangely fast. I wrapped an arm around her waist then tighten her against my body. I felt good to have her next to me again. It was something I never thought would be possible but yet here I was. I felt alive again. Teresa was in my arms. I never wanted to let her go.

I felt her fingers trace the outline of the long bandage I had on my belly and I shivered. She looked up at me.

- "Does it hurt?" She asked.

- "A little" I said as I would not lie to her not even on that.

She smiled and then leaned over me then asked for a kiss. She was so kind that I felt a variety of emotions overwhelm me. She slid her lips on my stomach, my chest, my neck and over my lips. She moved against me. I made a grimace then a groan when she pressed on my injury. I didn't want her to leave even if it caused me a bit of discomfort. I wanted to keep her for the rest of my life. I thought everything was fine. We would fall asleep like that then she spoke again.

- "And for Allison…?" She asked.

- "What about her she has a fine new house…?" I replied.

I knew exactly what she wanted to know. But I wanted her to give voice to her fears. Only then could I remove them completely.

- "You had lived with her. You helped to raise her son. Please don't tell me you have no feelings for her. I know she does not like me very much. She will not let you go like that..." She said.

- "I know that is true I did help her. She is my Sister nothing else. It's you that inhabits my heart! It's only you who I love. I know it will not be easy. She will eventually understand." I said then added. "She is not jealous of you Teresa…She is just needy…She will be fine after adjusting of not being on the road. I think that will be her hardest challenge. The road and our ways is all she knows."

- "She's mad at me." She stated.

- "Yes she is because she thought you were careless. I got injured. That affected her. We are family and family stick together. I have never done anything to make her believe that it was anything more than a family concern. She knew from the beginning that it was you that I loved and I would come back to you one day." I said. "I was just her protector. That husband of hers terrorized her…I could not let that happen again. She understood that."

- "That does not stop the feelings. You know. When I met you I knew that you loved and will love your wife forever. I knew it could never be anything between us. That did... not stop me from falling in love with you." She sweetly said.

I understood what she was doing. She wanted to make sure someone else would not suffer for her to be happy. I knew she would be willing to let me go if it meant prevent someone else to be unhappy. I did not love Allison as I loved her.

- "Teresa, the person Allison loves is the memory of who I was before when we were still children. I want her to find a good man. It would have to be a man who will love her and her son then treat her right." I said.

- "But it will not be easy." Teresa stated.

- "No it will not I know I'll always be there for her if she needs me. I can not turn my back on my Sister after what she did for me. She will need help to adjust. I was hoping you and her would be friends eventually. She wants to change her life and I will help her." I said.

- "I will help too." Teresa added.

I could not help but smile. Teresa was serious I saw it in her eyes. She wanted to help the woman who she thought wanted to steal the love of her life. I never loved her more than now. She once again kissed me before getting comfortable in bed then squeezing against me. We still had a lot to say. Now was not the time. She was tired. She needed rest and so did I. I closed my eyes and let myself be carried away by sleep with Teresa comfortably on me. I felt her arms tighten around me and kissed my cheek before falling asleep.


TBC ...


A/N2: next chapter as soon as I can, I promise.