The recovery nurses had been weaning Jane off of pain meds all week, and he was getting restless.

"Teresa, I've got to get out of here."

"I understand, Jane, but you're still healing."

"You know how I despise hospitals. It was tolerable as long as the pain meds were making me floaty, but now…"

"I know, love - soon."

"Speaking of floaty - this was so strange - I hallucinated again earlier today I think." He mused.

"Angela and charlotte?" Lisbon asked, curiously.

"No, it was…" he stopped, staring nervously at the ceiling.

"It was?" Lisbon shrugged impatiently at his hesitation.

"Erica Flynn, of all people." He sighed, rolling his eyes at having to bring up her name.

Lisbon froze, eyes wide, at hearing that name for the second time in the past 12 hours.

"Teresa? Are you okay? What is it, love?" Jane asked, clearly concerned.

"Are you sure it was a hallucination?" She asked - almost demanded.

"Honestly, with the drugs I've been on, I'm not sure of anything. But - you look pale, love. What is it, Teresa? Clearly something is bothering you?"

Lisbon tried to cover - he was still too weak to have this distraction, she worried. "I just don't trust that woman. I know how she's tried to manipulate and use you in the past."

"Teresa, you have nothing to worry about. Even on drugs, I promise to keep my guard up against all figments of my imagination that may arise. Even if Erica really did appear here, this tray could be used as a weapon." He quipped with an ornery grin.

He wasn't taking this seriously. Maybe he should know what the FBI had uncovered, she wondered?

"Something else is troubling you Teresa - what is it?" His face grew serious with concern, his eyes actively reading her face.

Damn it, she thought, I'm gonna have to tell him or he'll worry himself to death.

"Okay Patrick, I didn't want to burden you with this while you're still healing, but I know you won't let it go - AND if Erica really may have been here, I worry that you might be vulnerable, so here it is:"

Lisbon filled him in on the FBI's lead, and told him all about Erica & Pike's conspiracy - as well as Peter's good wishes.

Jane was suddenly closed, as she finished - which panicked her more than a little.

"Patrick, where'd you go just now, love? You're worrying me."

She knew he was probably as irate as she was about Pike's charade, but there was something more troubling about his demeanor. It reminded her too much of the old Jane. The one who would close himself off and run away when he couldn't handle something.

Leaning close, she whispered "Please don't shut me out, Patrick. I need you, love, and so does our baby. Tell me what's troubling you - And if it's absolute rage at the way I was played by Pike to try and manipulate you, you're in good company - I'm way ahead of you on that!" She growled that last part more harshly than she intended.

"It's not that," he whimpered. "I mean yes, I AM outraged at how that slime Pike tried to use you - you are worthy of so much more than that, Teresa." He looked petrified, and that was sending all kinds of alarms through Lisbon's mind.

"Thank you for that, Patrick," she kissed his forehead. "But if it's not that that's sending you off the deep end, then what IS it?" She begged. "You're scaring me, Jane. I haven't seen you this closed off since…" She couldn't finish… refusing to bring up that monster's name in front of their unborn child.

"I know," he started, "and I'm sorry, Teresa. It's just that there's something I need to tell you and I'm scared of how you may react. But, especially after what you just told me, it's important that there are no secrets between us - especially where Erica is concerned."

"Agreed," Lisbon grew more fearful, holding back the urge to mention that they should have no secrets PERIOD - Erica or otherwise. She controlled her breathing, determined not to spiral into unchecked anxiety, as he began to explain.

"Years ago, back at the CBI, when Erica made that deal to get out of prison so she could help us with a case?"

"MmHmm…" Lisbon barely managed.

"She was trying hard to seduce me in her hotel room the night before she disappeared, and I admit that I was very attracted to her," he explained as tears began forming, clouding the blue of his eyes. "Please understand, Teresa, that this was before I even remotely thought that I could ever be more than a friend and work partner to you."

Jane intentionally made solid eye contact for his next point, if she understood nothing else, he wanted her to fully understand his next sentence: "Erica has always paled in comparison to you, in every way." He spoke those words with emphasis and desperation, wanting her to feel secure in his love for her, and her alone.

"But that night, knowing - or at least believing - that I could never hope to have you, my control failed enough that I kissed her. Once. In her hotel room." Jane said no more, trailing off into sobs and tears. Feeling horribly guilty for such a lapse. Even though he and Lisbon weren't a couple then, he still knew it had been a breach of her trust. "I'm so sorry for breaking your trust, Teresa," he whimpered between sobs.

Lisbon's heart did feel bruised at his confession, but she was also a little relieved that he hadn't confessed to a full affair, or to actively assisting in Erica's escape plan - She'd always wondered about that. And she couldn't hold him to mistakes made in the past. Hadn't she told him on the beach that their scorecards had been wiped clean? Since that night, he had been open, honest, devoted and faithful to her, and she knew that would continue for their whole lives. She had to remind him of that.

Embracing her sobbing husband - as best she could, in a hospital bed - she reassured him. "Sweet Patrick, please don't cry, love. Didn't I tell you that the past had been wiped clean? You have nothing to feel guilty about, and I have never loved you more than I do right now," she promised, through tears of empathy and love.

"Thank you, dearest Teresa… I love and adore you - more than I'll ever be able to express to you." He sobbed, grasping the fabric of her shirt so tightly as he held her to his nearly-healed chest, kissing her ebony hair.

They spent the next several moments in a desperate embrace, the understanding passing between them that they were okay, all was forgiven, they were as strong as ever, and their gratitude and love for one another had never been greater.


Exhausted from such an emotional morning, Jane had been sleeping soundly ever since breakfast. He was utterly content, as well, after enjoying his first post-operative plate of non-hospital eggs with 'real' tea, secure in the knowledge that he and Lisbon were connected more powerfully than ever.

While he slept, Lisbon slipped into the hallway to make a call - careful to stay within sight of his door.

"Good morning, Abbott," she spoke quietly, one hand over the phone to keep her voice from carrying too far. She realized how paranoid she was acting, but Jane had possibly been visited by Erica Flynn, so she felt she had to assume the most cautious tone possible. "There's a chance that Erica visited Jane's room at some point last night. I don't want him to be alone from here on out."

"I agree, Lisbon. Let's work together on a schedule. We'll make sure one of us is there with him whenever you need a break."

"Okay, but not just FBI - make sure it's one of our team - someone we absolutely know and trust."

"Of course."