A/N I really do apologize about taking so long to update… and I know it's not really a valid excuse, but I was kinda deterred by the lack of response from the last chapter. I know I'm incredibly inconsistent when it comes to updating, but I do try my best.

As always, the internet can only provide so much and I'm sure there are medical errors in there somewhere.

Anyway, here's the next chapter for those who are still with me =]

"Ok, we're done. Close her up."

Dr Howard left the O.R, to go and inform his patient's friends of her condition. The surgery had been a success, but she still wasn't out of the woods yet. The right kidney had been removed successfully, but the left was still rather unhealthy. He was hoping with time and care, the kidney would start to mend, but until then, she would be on dialysis three times a week at the very least.

He rounded the corner to the waiting room, to find the number of the occupants had doubled. The red head now sat by a larger man, and an Asian man currently resided in the other seat. Mr Jane was sitting in a corner chair by the door, with his head down.

All four occupants looked up at him upon entering.

"How is she?" the red head asked, coming to her feet frantically.

"The surgery went well." Doctor Howard replied. "We have her in recovery now, and will be moving her to the ICU soon." He paused for a moment. "We're going to keep her sedated over night, while we get rid of the excess salts and drugs from her body and rehydrate her."

He looked around the room, gauging the Agent's reactions. The red head's eyes were slightly red, whether she had been crying, or she was just exhausted, he didn't know. He had seen some of the coverage on the search for one of the CBI's best Agents on the news, and he knew the investigation had taken a couple of days, he had just had no idea that it was Teresa that had gone missing.

The taller man kept looking at the red head, as if he was waiting for her to break. He took her arm softly and guided her back to her seat, waiting to hear more about his boss and friend. The Asian man on the other hand, looked completely emotionless. Howard wondered for a split second if the man just didn't care… but after a moment he decided it was just a practiced façade. He wouldn't have been here for over four hours during her surgery otherwise.

Mr Jane on the other hand looked completely ragged. Howard could only guess he hadn't slept during the entire investigation. He also remembered having heard from the hospital grapevine about a blonde man watching over his "wife" at nights, not allowing himself to fall asleep. He had to be absolutely exhausted. Howard did the quick mental math and realised the man probably hadn't slept in four nights… five if he was counting tonight. It was around two am now… it was a wonder he hadn't collapsed yet.

"Where do we go from here?" the red head asked, breaking him from his assessment.

"We have her on strong IV antibiotics to help fight off the infection… I'm hoping now the dead tissue has been removed, she will make a quick recovery. Once she has been transferred to the ICU, we will start he on dialysis straight away, to help filter out the excess matter from her blood."

"What about her mental ability?" Jane asked, speaking for the first time since Doctor Howard had left to do the surgery.

The other three agents looked at him worriedly, before returning their gaze to the Doctor.

He walked the few paces, taking a seat next to the Asian man.

He cleared his throat, paused and then started talking. This was the part of his job he really hated; giving bad, or potentially bad news.

"Due to the fact this is the second high grade fever she has had within a week, the extreme and intentional dehydration, and the fact we have no idea yet what other drugs her captor may have had her on, there is a possibility Agent Lisbon might have some altered mental status. We're waiting for the Tox-screen results and post-op bloods to come back from the lab." He watched as the red head's eyes started to fill with tears again. The taller man's hand shot out immediately, trying to offer her some support. "We won't know anything until she wakes up and as I said, she will be medically sedated until morning. The best thing you can do for her at the moment is go home, get some rest and come back tomorrow."

Everyone in the room looked hesitant to leave, and Mr Jane looked like he was about to throw a full on fit.

"Although she will be asleep for the remainder of the night, you may leave your contact details with the nurse, so if we need to get a hold of you, we can with ease." He said indicating to the three agents. He watched as they began to gather their things and stand up. "Mr Jane? May I speak with you for a couple of minutes?"

The other man nodded in reply and Doctor Howard watched as the three agents left the room, each laying a comforting hand on Jane's shoulder on exit.

The doctor smiled at Jane's skeptical expression.

"I'm willing to cut you a deal." Howard said.

"Now what could you possibly want?" he replied shaking his head. "Contact your dead loved one and you'll up her morphine dosage?" Jane asked sarcastically.

The Doctor shook his head. Of course he had read about Jane's past and his family's tragedy.

"Actually I was more going for something that would benefit you completely."

Jane looked at him, slightly shocked.

"If you agree to take a sleeping pill and get a decent night's sleep tonight…" he was cut off by Jane starting to protest. "Let me finish, I told you this was going to benefit you." The Doctor said, and Jane sat back in his seat, closing his mouth like a naughty child. "If you agree to take a sleeping pill and sleep through the night, I will arrange for a cot to be bought into the ICU, and you can sleep next to Agent Lisbon."

Jane stared at him, completely taken aback.

"Why… why would you do that for me?"

Howard smiled. Obviously this man still felt after all these years he didn't deserve kindness.

"Because I can see how exhausted you are… don't deny it." he added at Jane's protesting stare. "and because I know you won't even try to rest if I send you away from this hospital."

Jane smiled sheepishly.

"Go to the bathroom and clean yourself up. I'll have a nurse come and get you once she has been settled in the ICU. I'll be bringing you that sleeping pill myself, and watching you take it."

Jane rolled his eyes, but then nodded.

"Thank you." Jane replied, and the Doctor knew he really meant it. He nodded in acknowledgement.

"I will see you in about half an hour." Howard said standing up and shaking Jane's hand. With one final nod, he left the waiting room, to go and change his scrubs and check on some of his other patients for the night.

OOOOOoooooOOOOO

Jane sat in the waiting room, staring at a spot on the wall for over five minutes after Doctor Howard had left. He was trying to delay the inevitable. Once asleep, it would be almost as hard to rouse him, as it would be to wake Lisbon right now. He had gone five nights without any decent sleep. He had only had the small cat naps and the couple of hours he had spent pillowed on Lisbon's lap. He had been running on pure adrenaline trying to find Lisbon, but now he was running on empty. With sheer determination, he knew he could keep himself awake for a little longer, but the Doctor did know how to make a good deal. This was probably the only way he was going to be able to stay with her tonight… but he really didn't want to do it sleeping. How could he protect her if he was completely out to it?

Good thing he's a Mentalist…

He was quickly coming up with a plan… he knew a five year old could probably pull this off… but at the same time it did help being a stubborn git, and being able to control your vitals.

He heaved himself up and made his way to the bathroom, thinking the Doctor had a point when he said he should freshen up. The idea of having cold water splashed on his face right now, sounded so refreshing, he almost wanted to run to the bathroom.

He exited the men's room ten minutes later and made his way back to the waiting room. After about ten minutes of staring into space, a nurse came in and told him he could go up to the ICU now.

He got up and followed the nurse to Lisbon's room.

To say he was shocked by her appearance would have been an understatement. He knew she was going to look bad, but he didn't quite expect all of the machinery.

The first thing that caught his attention was the Dialysis machine. He could see the tubes leading from Lisbon's arm to the machine and back. He watched as her blood did a full circuit before moving his gaze to her face. If it wasn't for the heart monitor emitting the steady beep of her heart, he would have thought she was dead. She had oxygen tubing up her nose and an IV line coming out of the arm not containing the Dialysis lines.

He took a deep breath steadying himself. This was going to be by far her biggest and longest recovery she has ever had to go through. He took a moment to make a silent vow that she wouldn't have to go it alone.

He turned to the nurse.

"Thank you for showing me up here."

The nurse smiled sympathetically. She had heard from Rosie about how he would refuse to sleep until he knew the Agent was going to be ok.

"Doctor Howard will be along shortly. Go ahead and make yourself at home." The nurse said leaving the room. She knew it was only very special cases when friends or family got to stay with patients in the ICU. Usually they only allowed it for children. But they had managed to put Lisbon in an empty room with a spare bed. If, however, another critical patient came along in need of the bed, he would be asked to leave immediately. Doctor Howard had always been good at bending the rules if he had to, and from what the nurse had heard, and also what she could tell, at the rate this man was going, he was going to become a patient soon if they weren't careful.

Jane made his way over to the chair beside Lisbon's bed and sat down heavily, taking her appearance in again. He couldn't help but feel that this was his fault. He had known when he walked into the CBI that day he was going to put her in danger on his quest for vengeance… he just hadn't counted on her meaning so much to him at the time.

"Oh Lisbon…" he whispered sadly, "What have I done?"

He reached out, intending on grabbing her hand, before backtracking. She had so many tubes and wires protruding from her body, he didn't want to hurt her any more than he already had. Deciding on a compromise, he reached out gently and delicately stroked her pinky with his thumb and forefinger.

"I'm so sorry Teresa." He said numbly.

Five minutes later, Doctor Howard entered the room to find Jane sitting beside his patient with his head bent holding onto her small finger, with a grip so soft, he was sure he had probably done this when his child had first been born. He checked a few things on her charts before turning back to Jane.

"Say goodnight Mr Jane. Time for you to go to sleep too."

"Yes Mom." Jane said sarcastically.

Howard could hear the mocking tone in his voice, but he could also see in his eyes, that he really was grateful.

Jane kissed his fingers before placing them gently on her forehead, before getting up and making his way to the bed.

"These should work pretty fast." The Doctor said handing over the medicine cup containing two pills.

Jane looked at the Doctor standing, watching him, with raised eyebrows.

"You're really going to watch me take them?" he asked with a smile.

Doctor Howard only nodded in return.

Jane lifted the cup to his mouth.

"Bottoms up." He murmured, before tipping the pills into his mouth.

"Goodnight Mr Jane." The Doctor said before turning and leaving the room.

Jane waited until the Doctor was out of sight before he slipped the pills out from under his tongue and spat them in his hand. He popped them inside his inside vest pocket and turned for the bed.

Shrugging out of his jacket and vest, and toeing out of his shoes, he hopped on the bed and lay down.

Ten minutes later when the Doctor came back and popped his head around the corner, Jane was lying on the bed, feigning sleep. Jane had allowed his pulse to steady out, should the good Doctor decide to check his vitals. After Jane was sure he had left the room, he opened his eyes and looked back at his sleeping partner.

"I'm right here if you need me Lisbon." He whispered softly. "I'm not going anywhere. I promise."