The Fire to the Third Bar

Chapter 12: My fingers in creases

Author's Note: Well hello there ;) Hasn't it been a while. Yes, I've missed you too!

"I did hear, Teresa. I heard what you told me. It means the world to me; you mean the world to me. You always have. I love you Teresa Lisbon." Patrick chocked out. The surgery and drugs along with all the endorphins rushing round his body was most certainly taking effect.

He couldn't believe it. She'd waited for him. After all he'd put her through... His mind reeled at what had just happened. She was hovering above him, careful not to put any of her weight on him at all. Delicate, considerate Teresa.

"Patrick, I -I..." The tears cascaded down her cheeks and onto him, leaving a mark on the sheet covering him. Damn her! Why did the words not just roll off the tip of her tongue like they ought to. Instead she opted to bury her face into his shoulder and let the emotions take over.

It took her a while to calm down. Relief mixed with horror, lust and shock was not an easy combination to deal with. All the while he just held her close and stroked her hair soothingly.

She shifted herself so that she was lying on her side next to him, she could see him this way. So pale in comparison to normal yet warmer than usual.

"Teresa, if you will allow me to do so, I will never leave your side again." Words still appeared to be a problem as she opened her mouth but there was nothing but silence. She responded with a slow nod and gently pressed her lips to his, to tell him the deal was sealed. A low chuckle shook her slightly as he smiled up at her. "That's my girl." he said with a wink.

Neither one could manage many words, the silence spoke volumes to them both.

Jane spent the next few hours with Teresa in his arms, sleeping. Teresa; his Teresa, only his. He would protect her, nothing would ever hurt her again, she deserved it. The whole world owed this woman an awful lot after what it's put her through, he was determined to pay its debt. He'd hoped that he had at least proven his love and commitment to her by saving her life. He wasn't messing around this time, he meant business with this relationship, he was going to give Teresa Lisbon all that was left of him, they had forever as far as he was concerned and he was going to make that happen. But first, to get his sorry ass out of the monotony of this hell hole.

"Nurse..?" he asked as the clearly young and inexperienced girl helped him move the still sleeping Lisbon to the chair so his stitches could be checked.

"Mr Jane." she replied without looking up.

"You know what I could really do with?" he said, attempting to cover the mischievous twinkle that was threatening to appear in the corner of his eye.

"No, Mr Jane." she answered with moderate concern.

"I could really do with a cup of tea. Do you do those here? Can I go get one?" he begged with his best puppy-dog eyes.

"I can get you one, but you must remain here Sir." she said firmly as she started prodding at the stitches. They hurt a little as she pressed harder, he winced but didn't say anything. "We'll keep you in under observation for a few more days Mr Jane. I'll go get your tea." She turned round and walked off.

Brilliant, he could escape now and leave Teresa a note to explain. However, his grand scheme quickly came to a halt when he sat up. It would appear that his sustained injury would prevent him from moving any further. Stuck until he could move, not in control. There was nothing worse.

There was no shortage of visitors to him over the next few days. The team all came round at various points throughout the duration of his stay, bringing him sweets and cups of tea made his way. It was pleasant. The one thing he didn't like, other than being stuck, was the lack of Teresa Lisbon. She had left whilst he had fallen asleep after his failed escape attempt. He asked everyone he saw where she was; every answer was either an 'I don't know' or 'resting'. Had he done something wrong? Maybe he was too forward, but she'd kissed him back too right? Had he put too much pressure on her? Perhaps she only meant the kiss as an outlet.

"You really don't see it, do you?"

"Unless it's blistering, searing pain. Then no." he said sarcastically.

Lisbon sighed as the paramedics arrived and immediately swarmed the scene.

"I love you, you idiot!"

She had said it. She must have meant it. Where was she?

That kiss, his arms, those words. She couldn't get them out of her head. Like a calming yet somehow worrying mantra. She ought to see him. He must be distraught. It had been three days since she had fallen asleep in his arms and woken up on the chair, she was having so many issues sorting through her feelings, time had just flown by.

Making the first decision in days, she got up, grabbed her coat and ran to the hospital. It couldn't be left any longer.

When she got there, all she found was an empty bed. "Excuse me." she asked the person re-making the bed on which her love had lain for the past week. "But where is Mr Jane?"

"Are you Miss Lisbon?" answered the rather tanned young man.

"Yes, where is he?" she snapped, not the she meant it, she just needed to know.

"Ah, errr..." he stammered, looking rather uneasy. "He's, uuhhh, not here!" was the best he could manage.

"I can see that." she snarled in return.

"Mr Jane told me that you would come looking soon. He's gone home. He says for you to meet him there, he said he may need your help with something, he didn't say what." She spun around and was gone in a flash, yelling a "Thanks" behind her.