Author's Note: So, here's the next chapter. I'm still trying to shake the laziness and I had some family stuff, so sorry about the wait. I hope you still enjoy this chapter, it's a bit longer so maybe that makes up for the wait. I hope. Thank you to everyone who reviewed! I hope you all enjoy and I hope that you all are having a great winter break!
Disclaimer: I don't own the Mentalist.
"Hello." Jane picked up the phone immediately when it rang again, seeing Lisbon's name and face pop up on the screen.
"Is this Patrick Jane?" Asked a male voice on the other end of the line.
"Yes." Jane's stomach dropped in fear of what he was about to be told.
"I'm officer Franklin with Sacramento PD. I'm afraid I have some bad news for you."
"W-what happened?" Jane's throat was very dry suddenly.
"Miss. Lisbon has been involved in a car accident."
"Is she okay?" Jane took a shaky breath. She had to be okay. She just had to.
"She was conscious for a moment before she was put in the ambulance and she told me to call you. I think she'll live. She's on her way to the hospital."
"Which hospital?"
Officer Franklin gave Jane the name and address of the hospital, which Jane made sure to store in his memory palace before thanking the man and hanging up. He hurried up the stairs and into the guest room where Melody was still sleeping, unaware of what had happened. As quietly as he could, Jane walked over to the bed and gently tried to pick Melody up. The young girl stirred slightly and Jane shushed her back to sleep as he cradled her against his shoulder. On a second thought he grabbed Sir Stitch-a-Lot and headed back downstairs. On his way out he slipped Melody's sandals on her feet with one hand.
"What're y'doing?" Melody slurred tiredly, rubbing her eyes.
"We just have to go out. It's okay. Go back to sleep."
"Wher'we going?"
"Just out."
"Teresa?"
"We're meeting her there."
"Where?"
"It's a surprise. Go back to sleep." Jane patted Melody's head.
Melody rested her head on his shoulder again and closed her eyes, falling back asleep quickly.
"There you go." Jane whispered, rubbing her back. He grabbed the first jacket he saw and placed it over Melody as he left, using Lisbon's keys to lock the door with one hand while holding Melody with the other. He placed Melody in the car seat, covering her with the jacket he had grabbed and put Sir Stitch-a-Lot on the seat next to her. Then, he climbed into the driver's seat and drove to the hospital carefully.
"I'm here for Teresa Lisbon." Jane told the nurse behind the counter quietly.
The nurse looked up at him from her computer. "The waiting room is just down the hall. First door on your left."
"Thank you." Jane nodded and started to walk down the hall when a loud alarm went off, causing him to flinch and startling Melody into consciousness.
Melody looked around for a moment, blinking. "Is this the hospital?" She asked, looking at Jane.
He just looked back at her, unsure of what to say.
"Why are we at the hospital?"
"We're here to…play doctor."
"Where's Teresa?"
"She's playing doctor. With the doctors."
"That's stupid." Melody frowned. "You don't play doctor with doctors at a hospital because doctors can't play when they're being doctors."
"You have no proof they can't have a little fun."
Melody looked at Jane worriedly. "She's in the hospital isn't she?"
"It's going to be-"
"She is!" Melody's lower lip quivered. "I want to see her."
"You can't right now." Jane shook his head.
"I want to!" Melody demanded.
This was a whole other side of Melody that Jane hadn't seen before and he had a feeling that wasn't the worst of it. "Calm down. We will be able to see her in a little bit." Even though he was still trying to calm himself down.
"No." Melody tried to get out of his arms. "Now. We have to see her now."
Jane fumbled with Melody struggling in his arms for a moment, but got a good grip on her again. "We can't. The doctors need to be with her now."
"No! Now!"
"You have to be quiet, Melody."
"No! Nonono-!" Melody continued to struggle.
"Hush." Jane told her. "Yelling isn't going to get her out here any sooner. We have to be patient. It's hard, I know. But, that's what we have to do." He hugged her tightly and she placed her hands on his shoulders, trying to push herself away to no avail. After a few minutes she submitted to the fact she wasn't going to get away and started to cry on his shoulder.
"It's alright." Jane whispered. "You don't have to cry. I'm sure she's going to be just fine." He rubbed Melody's back and bounced her a bit. "I know you're worried. I'm worried, too. I want her to be okay as well."
"Is there something I can do?" The nurse from behind the counter asked, standing up.
"Maybe a lollipop?" Jane asked. "Do you have any?"
"Yes." The nurse nodded and opened a drawer, rummaging around for a moment. "What flavour?"
"What flavour lollipop do you want, Melody?"
"I don't want a lollipop." Melody sobbed, her voice muffled by Jane's shirt.
"It's yummy."
"I don't care."
Jane looked at the nurse. "Um. Orange, I guess." Melody had told him that she liked orange freezies, hopefully she liked orange lollipops too. "Thank you." Jane said, taking the candy from the nurse and walking down the hallway into the waiting room. He sat down, still cuddling Melody and trying to console her. He made sure that the jacket that he'd grabbed was wrapped around her well enough to keep her warm and kissed her head. Jane did his best to make her feel better and finally got her to eat the lollipop. Not long after finishing the treat, Melody fell back asleep.
A little while later Jane was feeling really sleepy until a doctor walked into the waiting room. The room was basically empty aside from himself and Melody, so he stood up when the doctor walked in, knowing it had to be news on Lisbon. "Can I see her?" was his first question.
The doctor, a short man with faded eyes and short red hair, looked at him for a moment and then glanced at Melody. "She has a mild concussion as well as minor bruising and some nonfatal cuts. She'll live, but she's asleep right now and we will keep her in the hospital overnight. We will see how she is tomorrow."
The 'she'll live' part made Jane feel like a huge weight had been lifted from him chest. "Thank you. Can I see her now?" He repeated.
"Yes. Don't wake her up and be gentle when you talk to her."
Jane nodded. The doctor told him the room number and he eagerly made his way to it. He opened the door a crack and peeked inside, his stomach twisted a bit at seeing her in the hospital bed and he wasn't sure if it was in relief that she was alive or sadness at seeing her harmed. Either way, he pushed the door open enough to walk in and then closed it gently with his foot behind him. He placed Sir Stitch-a-Lot on one of the chairs and made his way over to the other side of the bed.
Lisbon had some small bruises and scratches on her face. The one that really drew his attention was the bigger cut that ran over her left cheek that was covered with gauze and medical tape. The beeping heart monitor told him that her heart was beating well. Steady and strong. Lisbon's arms were also covered in cuts and bruises, but they didn't seem that bad. Her right arm had an IV in it that Jane was careful not to disturb. Jane walked around to the left side of the bed, still carrying Melody, and then placed the small girl gently down next to Lisbon. Melody nuzzled closer to Lisbon in her sleep and Jane covered her with the blankets as well, then placed the jacket back over her for good measure. He leaned down and kissed Lisbon's head, breathing in the scent of her shampoo. "It's going to be okay." He murmured into her hair, more to reassure himself than her. "You're going to be fine." Then he pulled a chair up next to her bed and sat in it, taking her left hand in both of his. She was not as warm as she usually was and that didn't do anything to calm Jane's nerves, but he kept holding her hand anyway. He wasn't sure how exactly, but sitting by her bedside and holding her hand was how he fell asleep.
-Mentalist-
He was woken up at some ungodly hour in the morning by one nurse that had come to check on Lisbon. The clock on whatever gadget he saw told him that it was three AM. At the nurse's suggestion and with her help, Jane shifted Lisbon and Melody over gently so that there would be room for him on the bed. After a quick washroom break, Jane kicked off his shoes and climbed on top of the covers, protectively cuddling Melody and Lisbon until he woke up again.
The second time he was woken up there was sun shining in the hospital room's window. Jane slowly opened his eyes, trying to give them time to adjust to the morning light. He saw Lisbon and Melody sleeping next to him and he smiled. Lisbon's eyelids flickered and she grunted as she began to open her eyes, also not appreciating the bright light as she tilted her head to the side and looked back at him.
"Morning." Jane said softly, smiling. "You don't know how good it is to see you awake. You scared the hell out of me, Teresa. Don't ever do that to me again."
"It wasn't much fun for me either." Lisbon replied groggily.
"How are you feeling?"
"Great. I think I'm just gonna go run a marathon." Lisbon said quietly and sarcastically. "I feel like crap."
"Language. There are little ears here, Teresa." Jane gestured with his head to Melody.
Lisbon's gaze fell on Melody, who was still asleep. "Have you two been here all night?"
"Yeah. Pretty much." Jane propped himself up on one elbow. "Melody just about had a fit when we got here and couldn't see you."
"Thank you."
"For what?" Jane tilted his head. "For being so good with her. You didn't have to stay all night. You could have gone back, you know. And come see me in the morning."
"Melody wouldn't have been happy."
"I'm sure she'd have been much easier to handle after a good night's sleep."
"It doesn't matter. What's done is done." Jane brushed some hair out of her face.
Melody yawned and shifted a bit before opening her eyes slowly. She blinked a few times and looked around. "Teresa!" Melody cheered as she scrambled to sit up and then leaned back down to give Lisbon a hug, nuzzling her face into Lisbon's neck.
"Good morning." Lisbon smiled, despite her sore body, and hugged Melody back with her left arm.
Melody kissed her nose and then sat back up. "Are you okay?" She asked worriedly. "Does it hurt badly?" She reached out and gently touched the bandage on Lisbon's left cheek.
"I'll be alright." Lisbon assured her. "I hear you were a bad girl and had a tantrum."
Melody bent her head slightly and looked away. "I'm sorry. But Patrick didn't let me see you. I said I had to and he said no. And I couldn't see you by myself either. And he wouldn't let me go-"
"Excuse me. I'm right here." Patrick said from behind her.
Melody turned to look at him. "You lied. You said she was playing. I told you. See? I told you doctors don't play when they're doctors. I told you."
"Okay, okay. You were right. I'm sorry."
Melody seemed satisfied with that.
"You're all up."
Lisbon, Jane and Melody turned to see Millie standing in the entry to the room.
"Hi, Millie." Melody waved.
"Hello, sweetie." Millie smiled and walked over to the bed.
"Hello." Jane smiled, swinging his legs over the side of the bed and sliding his feet back into his shoes.
"How are you feeling, Teresa?" Millie asked.
"Tired. Sore." Lisbon answered.
Millie nodded and checked some of the machines. "Maybe Patrick and Melody should go get some breakfast. The doctor will be here to see you in a few minutes."
"No." Melody shook her head. "I want to stay."
Lisbon looked at Jane and it was clear to him that she didn't want Melody to be there while the doctor was.
"Aren't you hungry?" Jane asked Melody. "I know I'm hungry. We'll go find something yummy."
"No."
"But I was hoping that you would bring me back something tasty. Like a cookie." Lisbon pouted at Melody. "Please? I'd really like a cookie. You have to go and make sure we get the best cookies that the hospital could make."
"Okay." Melody agreed, reluctantly.
"Thank you." Lisbon smiled at her and Melody smiled back.
Melody let Jane pick her up.
"We'll be back in a few minutes." Jane said, taking Lisbon's hand and giving it an encouraging squeeze before leaving.
-Mentalist-
"So, what do you want to eat?" Jane asked Melody as he carried her into the hospital cafeteria.
"I want a hot dog."
"That's not very breakfast-y."
"You asked me what I wanted, not what breakfast food is."
"How about some pancakes?" Jane suggested.
Melody looked around at her choices again. "Tacos."
"That's not breakfast-y either." Jane shook his head. "Something for breakfast."
Melody frowned at him and then sighed. "Fine. Pancakes."
"Pancakes it is." Jane nodded and got in line at a place that had pancakes on the menu. They quickly got their food and ate.
"What about the cookies?" Melody asked as they were gathering up their used napkins and things.
"We'll get those right now." Jane told her. "Now. You have to give me your expert opinion on which of the cookies are best." Jane picked up the tray and walked over to the nearest garbage can, discarding the trash and placing the tray on the ledge with Melody following him. They got in line at the small bakery place and Melody all but pressed her face against the protective glass, looking at the large assortment of treats in front of her.
"Next?" The cashier called.
Jane stepped up to the register and looked down at Melody. "Okay. Tell the man what you want, Melody. The three best cookies you see."
"Okay." Melody nodded and took a few steps, walking beside the glass. The bakery employee followed on the opposite side of the glass. "This one." Melody pointed. The baker grabbed some gloves, took the selected treat and put it in the bag. "And one of these." Melody pointed at one a few rows to the left and one row down. Again, that was placed in the bag. "And this." Melody pointed at one on the lower row to the right. When Melody saw that item being placed in the bag as well, she hurried back over to stand next to Jane.
The bakery employee returned to stand behind the cash register. "Is that all, sir?"
"Yep." Jane nodded and forked over the cash required as his purchase was rung up. "Thank you." Jane picked up the bag and took Melody's hand as they made their way back up to Lisbon's room.
-Mentalist-
Lisbon was sitting up in her bed when Jane and Melody returned. Jane was glad to note that Lisbon no longer had the IV in her arm.
"How did it go?" Jane asked as Melody shut the door.
"Okay, I guess." Lisbon gave a small shrug. "Did you guys have a nice breakfast?"
"Yeah." Melody said as she hurried over to Lisbon's bedside and tried to find a way to climb up.
Jane handed Melody the cookie bag and she took it. Then he picked her up and placed her sitting next to Lisbon.
"We got you a cookie." Melody said excitedly. "Just like you asked. Patrick let me pick it out and everything!"
"Wow." Lisbon smiled. "Good job."
Melody opened the bag and looked inside before reaching in to grab the cookie that she had specially picked out for Lisbon. "Here." She held the food item out to her aunt. It was a chocolate chip cookie with almonds.
"It looks delicious." Lisbon took the cookie from Melody. "Thank you very much." She took a bite.
"You're welcome." Melody reached into the bag and pulled out another one to hand to Jane, which he took. He had gotten chocolate fudge. Melody had selected a sugar cookie for herself.
"Did you call the team?" Lisbon asked Jane after swallowing another bite of her cookie.
"No. I didn't think to." Jane was now sitting on the side of the bed.
"Would you? Please?" Lisbon asked.
"Sure." Jane nodded and did as he was asked.
-Mentalist-
The team was there within a half an hour and crowded into Lisbon's hospital room. Predictably, Van Pelt was a bundle of worry, Rigsby was full of friendly concern and Cho was as stoic as he usually was but Jane could tell there was genuine concern in his eyes.
"I'm fine." Lisbon insisted as she slowly tried to get off the bed, working her sore and tired muscles.
"Don't overwork yourself." Van Pelt got out of her chair to stop Lisbon from getting up.
"Well, she's been overworking herself for years. It's not much of a surprise now." Jane said.
"Shut up." Lisbon told Jane, still trying to get off the bed.
"Such harsh words in front of such young ears." Jane gasped dramatically, grabbing Melody and pulling her to him.
Melody flailed her arms and legs for a moment, not prepared for being grabbed so suddenly. "Hey!"
Jane kissed her head.
They spent the rest of the day there until the evening when the hospital allowed Jane to sign Lisbon out.
-Mentalist-
"I'm sorry." Lisbon said as Jane drove them all home in Lisbon's car. Melody was sitting in the backseat playing one of her videogames and paying no attention to the adults in the front of the car.
"What for?" Jane asked.
"Your car. I'm pretty sure it's ruined. But, if it can be fixed, I'll pay for it. I promise."
"No." Jane shook his head. "Don't worry about it. That's not important."
Lisbon gave him an odd look. "Really? You loved that car. It was a deathtrap, but you loved it."
"Oh, I did love that. Don't get me wrong. And your poor opinion of her really did hurt her feelings." A smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
"Let me tell you how sorry I am." Lisbon stuck out her tongue. "Never would I want to hurt your poor car's feelings."
"Apology accepted." Jane chuckled and glanced at her.
"Seriously, though. You really don't care?"
"That's not it." Jane shrugged. "Just…there are some things more important. I can find another car. Maybe I'll even get lucky and it's not beyond repair or I'll find one just like it. But I'll never find another Teresa Lisbon."
A smile slowly spread across Lisbon's face and she blushed, turning to look out the window. "Thank you."
"I talked to one of the officer's on the phone earlier, after they got your statement and left." Jane said quietly. "He told me that if you had been a foot further back, the drunk kid would have hit the driver's door instead of the driver's side back door and you'd probably have been seriously injured or dead. I asked the nurse when I was signing you out if that was true and she told me it was." He pulled into Lisbon's driveway.
"I guess I was very lucky, then."
"You were." Jane turned off the engine. "Let's head in then. Wait. I'll help you out." Jane opened his door and quickly got out.
"I don't need help." Lisbon protested. "I'm fine. Jeez." Lisbon opened her own door and moved awkwardly with her muscles still sore.
Jane grabbed her hand and helped her out anyway, ignoring her protests. He grabbed Melody out of the car seat and locked the car as they walked toward the front door, his arm around Lisbon's waist for support, and he unlocked it so they could step inside.
"I'm still going in to work tomorrow." Lisbon said after changing into her pyjamas and sat on the side of her bed.
"Don't be ridiculous." Jane told her. "You're not."
"You're going to stop me?"
"Am I going to have to?"
"You don't have to." Lisbon rolled her eyes. "Just because you want to make me the reason you don't go to work, instead of the fact that you are just lazy, doesn't mean I'm going to let you."
"That's not it at all."
"Yeah, right." Lisbon smirked and turned off the light.
Author's Note: That's it for now. Hope you liked it. Please leave a review. See you at the next chapter. :)