Disclaimer: I don't own the Mentalist.
A/N: Firstly: My wedding was great! Honeymoon = even better. Patrick took me home to Italy. It was just as beautiful as I remember and we visited my grandparents. The sweetest part, he insisted that we bring Ara because he knew how I hated the thought of leaving her for so long. That being said, she met her great grandparents and spent a lot of time with them so we could still have the whole 'honeymoon' aspect. :D Enjoy the new chapter. Plenty of J/L in this one and more Ara Cho TIME!!!
Hospitals were something Lisbon had never liked. The only time she had been okay with staying in one was when she'd given birth to Arabella. She understood the importance of the hospital but she just didn't like them. She didn't like how big they were, or how easy it was to get lost. She'd been with Nellie since arrival, only leaving when asked and now that she knew the girl was sleeping, she felt she could try to find Jane. She wanted to tell him what was happening and she wanted to know that he was okay. She managed to pester the doctor enough to know that he was mildly concussed and had bruised ribs, two cracked but otherwise fine. The cranky doctor had even mentioned that Jane was just as annoying as she was which had her smiling a bit, but she had to see him before she'd fully believe he was okay.
They made quite the family, Ara was sick, Jane and Nellie had just been rescued from a psycho and her face was still healing from a run in with a rock weilding moron. She worried about all of them, her baby was on her way though. Cho was bringing her and if she didn't start feeling better, she was taking her down to the emergency room. Might as well make sure everyone was okay all in one visit.
She really hated hospitals, the only good part was the gift shop which she'd already hit. She bought a panda and a shirt for Nellie and one for Jane knowing that they'd need something to wear home considering their clothes were dirty, shredded. She figured if they kept them overnight, then she'd have time to go home and get them a full change of clothes but this was precautionary. She'd also got Ara a little pony. She left the plushy animals with the sleeping girl upstairs and only brought the men's shirt with her on her journey to find Jane's room.
Finally stumbling upon the right number, she didn't bother knocking. She probably should have in case the doctor was in there or a nurse but she wasn't thinking at the time. All that was running through her head was that she needed to see him, needed to see that he was breathing, to see that he was alive.
Upon entering the room, she noticed the empty bed before anything else and panic immediately rose in her chest. Then her gaze drifted a little to the left and she saw him, her heart fluttering in absolute relief. He was standing by the window, buttoning his pants. She knew what that meant, he was either free to leave or he was escaping. Leaving the shirt on the bed, she slowly walked over to him, stopping just inches from his chest. Her hand reached out first, fingers grazing over the harsh bruising covering his middle.
Tears welled up in her eyes before she could stop them, marring his skin were angry reds and purples. Neither of them had spoken, she wasn't sure she could. She hadn't even looked up at him yet, she still kept picturing him half conscious with blood coating his golden locks. She tried to keep her touch as light as possible, barely even skimming along but she must have put a little too much pressure on one sensitive area because his hand caught hers, encasing it and pulling it away from his side as a hiss left his lips.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, sorry." She felt like a blabbering fool and probably looked like one too but she hated the fact that she'd caused him more pain. She'd fractured, bruised, and broken ribs before, she knew how much it hurt.
"S'okay. How's Nellie?"
"She's dehydrated, has a broken wrist, several bruises and superficial cuts. They're keeping her to pump the fluids and antibiotics for the infection from her head wound. Right now she's sleeping. The nurse gave her something to knock her out for awhile, she couldn't calm down." Lisbon squeezed his hand as he dropped his head, she knew what he was thinking. "Don't do this to yourself, you fought to keep her safe Patrick."
"Yeah." Waiting for the rest of his statement, she let her free hand rub up and down his arm. "Was she...did...did that bastard touch her?"
They both knew what he meant, both knew he couldn't bring himself to associate their Nellie with sexual assault but Lisbon knew exactly what he meant by his question. She'd asked Nellie but she said she didn't remember anything after seeing Jane hit the floor so Lisbon had pushed for the rape kit. It wasn't up to her though, it'd been the battered young woman's decision and thankfully she'd agreed. It was easy to tell that she hadn't wanted to and Lisbon couldn't blame her for that. After being held captive and beaten, thinking she wasn't going to make it out, Lisbon didn't blame her at all for being scared and reluctant.
"Teresa?"
"N-no, we got there in the time. You kept her safe." Wary of his injuries she wrapped her arms around his neck and stepped closer to him. She didn't want to hurt him again but when his hands gripped tightly at her back, she knew she wasn't. She didn't squeeze him in any way or try to rest any of her weight on his battered side but they were both comforted nonetheless. "Don't you ever scare me like that again."
Hiding the watery tone to her voice was harder than she'd expected, it was impossible and she knew he noticed. Anyone would've noticed but she couldn't hold it back. She'd been so worried, scared and then Ara got sick which only added to it. She'd felt like everything was going wrong, like she could lose the man she loved and the girl she claimed as her own. A few tears leaked down her cheeks hitting the bare shoulder she had her face pressed into but she didn't move away.
"How's your shoulder?" He seemed confused by the question, silence answering her until she lifted her head to meet his gaze.
"My shoulder? It's fine, why?" Without giving him a warning she lifted her hand, balling it into a fist for the second time in one day and punched him. Not as hard as she'd hit Brett but hard enough to get her point across. His shoulder wasn't so fine now but she couldn't bring herself to feel sorry for him when he abruptly stepped back and rubbed the area that she knew probably ached. It'd be fine in a few minutes, she wouldn't seriously injure him when he was already suffering. "What the hell was that for?"
"You're an idiot. You could have been killed! What kind of buffoon lets himself be kidnapped?" Her hand was beginning to feel the effects of the punch she'd thrown earlier, the intensity with which she hit Brett in the face. It was starting to feel heavy, a sort of dull pain coming from her knuckles but it was worth it. "I get what you were thinking, okay and I know it helped us find you two but Jane...everything just....Ara's sick and I thought..."
Her voice cracked, it had started strong but had become more frantic towards the end and by the time she reached his name, she couldn't go any further. She wiped at her eyes, and dropped her head in an attempt to hide how worked up she was. She wanted to be there for him, for Nellie but she was battling her own demons too. She didn't know how to make it clear to him that she'd thought she was going to lose him like she lost Chris.
Staring at the floor, she watched the tiles even though she knew they weren't going to do anything. Jane's feet filled her line of vision, but she didn't look up, she couldn't bring herself to. Warm arms wrapped around her, a groan of pain falling from his lips and relaxed into the hold. She leaned herself on his unbruised side and let him lift her chin to brush away the wet trails on her cheeks.
She was startled by the moisture she saw building in his eyes, she wasn't the only one worked up and when he dipped his head to brush his nose along hers she let her hands cup his cheeks. He was okay, he'd be fine and with a shaky sigh, she urged him closer until their lips were touching. She knew he was hurting, she knew they couldn't get wrapped up in the passion of the moment but she reveled in the feel of him so close again.
Ghosting her mouth over his, she waited for him to reciprocate and when he moved his lips with hers, exploring the territory that was becoming familiar, Lisbon knew that she hadn't lost him. The kiss was affectionate, compassionate, everything she needed from him for reassurance. She whimpered when he pulled away, her bottom lip quivering a little and her eyes drifting back to the expanse of bruises covering him.
"I'm okay, Teresa. What's this about Bunny being sick?" He wasn't okay, he was hurt but he was alive and she chose not to argue when he pressed his lips to her forehead.
"Stomach bug, high fever. She's been miserable but just before we came to save you guys, I gave her a dose of medicine which seemed to help." He didn't say anything, just stroked her cheek and stared. "Are you actually being released or are you escaping?"
Hesitantly pulling away from him, she quirked her eyebrow in a questioning manner which earned her an attempt at a smile. It was better than nothing.
"Released. Already finished the paperwork, I just have to run it by the desk." Blowing out a thin stream of air between her parted lips, Lisbon couldn't even begin to describe the relief that coursed through her. He didn't have to stay which meant she could keep an eye on him better without having to leave Nellie unless absolutely necessary.
"Let me help you with your shirt and shoes and then we'll go."
A small warm hand held tightly to his own as Cho searched the hospital halls for the right room. The little girl hugging her bunny to her chest was feeling better and insisted that she could walk. He could tell by the look in her eyes that she still wasn't back to a hundred percent but her fever had stayed down and she'd eaten some soup over an hour ago. Her temp was still high, but nothing like it had been and Lisbon had asked him to bring her.
"Why are hospitals like a maze?" He'd muttered it under his breath, not expecting anyone to hear him but Ara being Ara, looked up at him with her sleepy eyes and tilted her head to the side. She looked so much like her mother it wasn't even funny.
"Me 'unno." He couldn't help but smirk, she was adorable. Even more so when she was tired and considering how late it had become, she was definitely fighting sleep. Cho knew that's the whole reason she was so set on walking. He was just happy she was starting to act more like herself. It worried him when she didn't jabber, eat or even move.
Following Lisbon's directions, he turned left at the coke machine and bent down to scoop up the toddler trudging behind. It wasn't that he was against her walking but he wanted to hurry and her little legs just weren't long enough. It was clear she'd probably be short, just like her mother.
"No Cho! Walk." He ignored her protest and pushing hands, shifting her to his hip and watching the room numbers pass by. Just a few more doors.
"You'll see mommy faster if you let me carry you."
"Mum-mum..." The rest of the team had already beat him, they were already waiting in Nellie's room and he was anxious to see how she was doing. Lisbon had briefed him over the phone, but he needed to see for himself. The rooms passed quicker as he took long strides, and he could see the door they'd been searching for.
The pouty and sick girl in his arms had given up her fight, settling her head on his shoulder and hugging her bunny tighter. She'd been asking for Lisbon since the medicine had kicked in and he knew she'd see things his way as soon as he mentioned her mom. Finally reaching Nellie's room, he knocked softly and pushed open the door. Greeted by a dimly lit room, he immediately let his eyes wander to the the girl in the hospital bed. Her eyes were closed, chest rising and falling with deep breaths while Jane was standing at her side and stroking her hair. It was easy to see he'd been doing it for awhile.
"Nellie s'eepin' shhh." No one had noticed their entrance until Ara spoke and Lisbon was turning around with a smile on her face and reaching for the squirming baby who was trying her best to leap towards her mother. In her defense it'd been hours since they'd left for the rescue and Ara had been so out of it, he doubted that she could remember.
"Hey baby, you feelin' better?" Lisbon took her daughter from Cho, immediately feeling her forehead and cheeks to see if her fever had stayed down. She was still warm but nothing like earlier. The heaviness in her chest lifted a little more and she whispered a thanks to Cho who simply nodded. "Nellie will be out the rest of the night, they gave her something to help her sleep."
"Do you want me to stay with her so you and Jane can go?" It wasn't Lisbon's voice who answered and everyone was a little startled to hear something from the consultant who hadn't spoken much.
"No, we're okay." The team argued, seeing Lisbon drop her head and kiss her daughter on the cheek, they all knew she was exhausted and Ara was still sick. Grace put in a 'you should go', Rigsby added a 'yeah, we can stay' and Cho was the one who took it to the next level.
"Jane, Lisbon's tired. Look at her. Arabella's sick and you already know that Nellie will be okay. She's just sleeping and there's no point in you standing around in pain. Go home, it's already late. You can come back in a few hours. She won't be here alone, we'll work shifts."
"I..." Deciding it was time to speak up for herself, Lisbon rested a hand on Jane's arm while balancing Ara against her chest. The little one was already nuzzled into her. She hated to admit any weakness but she didn't want to be in her bedroom alone, not when the picture shoved in her pocket was still plaguing her thoughts. It didn't matter that Brett was behind bars, she just wasn't comfortable yet.
"Patrick, I have to take Ara home and I don't want to go by myself. Please, we can come back in few hours just like Cho said. Grace can come stay with Ara while we do. I have to wake you up every two hours anyway." His face showed no signs of caving, his hand still stroking through Nellie's curls but when Lisbon squeezed his arm a little harder, he finally turned to look at her. She knew her eyes conveyed everything she wasn't saying and after several seconds, he finally nodded.
She felt triumphant, it wasn't that she wanted to leave either. She knew she had to but she was just like him, she didn't want to when Nellie had to stay but she had a daughter to take care of and a sick toddler didn't need to be forced into spending a night sleeping on uncomfortable hospital furniture. Especially not after Lisbon had already made her stay at the CBI, she felt horrible for that and she wanted her little girl to get a good nights sleep in her own bed so she could get better. She also wanted to talk, really talk with Jane about some things. Some very important things that would either ruin the relationship they'd been building or strengthen it. She wasn't sure which.
an2: Next chapter is pretty much all Jane/Lisbon. Don't worry Nellie will be back in the chapter after that one. There's probably going to be 5 more chapters. :D