Reader, take note. This story makes reference to physical assault and most specifically rape. If this is a trigger for you or makes you uncomfortable, please think twice about reading this.

Nearly an hour later after securing some coffee in the cafeteria and gathering his wits about him, Cho softly opened the door to Lisbon's hospital room only to see in the dim light of the room, Lisbon sleeping peacefully and Jane asleep as well in the chair next to her bed. He was remiss to want to disturb Jane, but he needed to speak to him. Moving cat-like and silent into the room, Cho lightly tapped Jane on the shoulder. His target startled awake, and Cho motioned toward the hallway. Thankfully, Lisbon was not the least disturbed by this, and continued slumbering. Jane gave a longing look to her, but then quietly moved from the room with his colleague.

In the hallway, Cho motioned Jane to a small sitting area mere feet from Lisbon's door.

"How is she?" Cho asked.

Jane ran a hand over his strained features. "She's not awakened since you left and the doctors were last in to check her." Cho realized that Jane looked older in the brighter hallway light.

"Any developments?" Jane asked.

"Well, that's why I called you out here."

"What?"

"I spoke with Hendricks a few moments ago. They found him, Jane."

"Who?...Was it...?"

"Yes, it was Haibach."

Jane stood angrily while a deep exclamation of frustration emanated from his depths. He slapped his hands against the wall and turned his back on the senior detective. His head drooped dejectedly. Cho understood that he was beating himself up for all the failed interaction he'd had with the crazy sociopath throughout the years. He wondered how he would react to his next bit of information.

"Jane." The dejected consultant did not respond. "He's dead, Jane. Haibach is dead."

Jane turned to Cho with a look of anger and disbelief on his face. The blonde man had more expressions than any one person should be allowed to have and Cho briefly tried to figure out the myriad of emotions playing out with his friend and colleague.

Brief images of encountering Haibach flashed through Jane's mind. He couldn't help but remember Haibach locked in a closet after being mutilated by creepy Homeland Security director Kirkland, or a gloating Haibach after his freaky sister had shot Rigsby, or his vengeful cold eyes when he had been about to chop off Jane's finger in retribution for his own.

"How?" he whispered.

Hendricks said his agents received a tip from southern Oregon, and when they followed up on it, they found Haibach in a secluded cabin with two gunshots to the head. He was alone, and the agents say it looks as though someone surprised him and it was intentional.

"Did they find anything else?"

"You mean in relation to Lisbon?"

Jane nodded.

"That's the weird thing, they found three photos in his jacket of her. They appeared to have been taken in Washington secretly as if he'd been surveilling her. After investigating the cabin, their forensics team found only fingerprints and evidence from Haibach. They don't think that Lisbon was ever in that location, and they found no representation of anyone else."

Jane shook his head and tried to figure out what was happening.

"So, do Hendricks and his team think Haibach had an accomplice or accomplices who turned on him?"

"That is their supposition at this point."

Jane sighed. "I'm going back in to Lisbon, Cho. I don't want to leave her alone. Keep me apprised?"

"Most definitely. Hendricks and his team are setting up another field office downtown, and I think I will go down there and see if I can assist."

"For sure." Jane nodded in agreement while stepping back toward Lisbon's door.

"Jane?"

The consultant looked back over his shoulder, his eyebrows raised.

"Lisbon's strong. She'll be OK."

"I sure hope so, Cho."

For the rest of the early afternoon, Jane continued his sentinel watch next to Lisbon's bedside. He was exhausted, but watching her face for any movement or change was the only option. Now that he had her back safely in his sight, he planned to never lose sight of her again. He only hoped that she could come through this set back, they could talk, she could heal, he could make his declaration of devotion, he could apologize for all lost time, and then they could move on to building a life together. He felt himself being pulled down a dark, despondent rabbit hole of impossibility, but he metaphorically shook himself and decided he would stay positive and look forward. He focused on her peaceful face. He wanted Lisbon to heal and be his tough, spunky friend again. What he wouldn't give at this moment for her to wake and smile her lopsided come-hither smile at him again. He wanted to look into her beautiful eyes, forget their disheveled past and take care of her for the rest of all time. Nothing more.

Of course, as the day wore on, the long hours of vigilance led to a lot of thought about who had hurt Teresa and who was responsible for killing Haibach. He actually clenched his fists and jaw when he thought about some stranger touching her. He'd kill…. No. He couldn't go that route. He would just do everything in his power to LOVE his sweet Teresa back to health, back to herself. Jane had a lot of time to think and he wondered many things but the most debilitating was why Haibach had even come looking for Lisbon. They had both heard that he had been released from prison in New Mexico on a technicality relating to his most recent trial, but that had been nearly six months ago, right about the time Jane had finally come back stateside. Why would the slimy creep show up again now, and apparently accompanied by an even creepier accomplice? Jane was duly confused. He looked back at Teresa and her peaceful sleeping form. The room was still dim, and the only sound was the gentle hum of medical machinery. The door opened and Dr. Barrow, Teresa's psychologist, entered followed by a nurse.

She greeted the handsome and tired looking consultant.

"Mr. Jane. Any change?" She kept her voice purposefully quiet.

"No. She hasn't awakened since the last time you were here."

The doctor nodded. "That's a good thing. She is obviously making up for emotional and physical trauma. When a body is forced into survival mode and she has to fight with all her strength both physically and emotionally, then it wears a person out. She is rightfully rejuvenating."

As the doctor spoke the nurse recorded Teresa's vitals in her chart.

"She's been sleeping for an awfully long time," said Jane.

"Yes, and again, I am not too worried. We want to allow her plenty of time to recoup." Looking at what the nurse had recorded, the doctor continued. "All of her vital statistics look very good. Dr. Shaw has said that he will be back one more time tonight too." She looked at him rather askance. "And you, Mr. Jane? Have you been able to get away and get some rest?"

"I really don't want to leave her." He placed his hand on Teresa's arm again.

"I understand. But, Teresa will need a lot of support when she does decide to join us again, and she is going to need you to be strong with and for her." She looked at her watch. "If it would make you feel any better, this is the end of my shift and I would be happy to sit with her for a half hour while you go… uh..hhmm… refresh?"

Jane looked at the tall red-headed doctor for the first time as an actual person. She was kind and smiling genuinely at him. She reminded him of an older version of Grace Van Pelt Rigsby. He realized that he hadn't been out of the hospital in well over 24 hours. It would do him good to go take a quick shower. Before he'd left, Cho had given him a key card to a room at the Comfort Inn down the street. He cleared his throat.

"I'm hesitant, doctor,' he said, "but I do appreciate it. Are you sure you don't mind? I will just run to my hotel room and be back very quickly."

"I am happy to stay with Ms. Lisbon, Mr. Jane. Please go take a moment. When you come back, you'll feel better able to handle the next few hours." The doctor now took on a motherly role, and nearly shooed him from the room. "Go. We will both still be here when you return."

Jane sighed, and whispered next to Teresa's ear that he would be back very shortly. He continued looking back at her as he left the room and then hurried to the hotel nearby.

At the downtown FBI office set up by Scott Hendricks and his Washington team, Cho found himself quickly in the middle of a methodical yet thorough investigation. Haibach was indeed dead, and his body was being prepped for autopsy in the Tillamook County medical examiner's office, but the detectives from Hendrick's team were moving quickly to try to identify Haibach's associates and track their movements from the time they had kidnapped Teresa Lisbon more than 72 hours prior. Cho looked over the shoulder of one of the detectives pouring through footage from security cameras from Cannon River and following the HIghway south.

"Any luck?"

"Nothing yet, sir, " the young agent said.

Cho watched for a few more moments and then he went in search of Hendricks. He had to admit that he was slightly impressed with how fast the team could close up one field office and then relocate and open another field office so efficiently.

"Agent Cho." Scott Hendricks reached out his hand to shake Kimball's.

"Hendricks. How can I help?"

"'Well, right now we are really trying to establish a timeline and figure out if anyone remembers seeing two or more men with a woman who looks like Lisbon. We are working through video security camera footage, checking rest areas and convenience stores on the route the perpetrators could only have taken from Cannon River to Salem here. There just aren't that many routes, and someone must have seen something."

"Do we have any idea what they might have been driving?" Cho asked.

"No, but we have determined that Haibach rented a car in Portland 4 days ago. The only problem is that the rented vehicle was found abandoned at a rest area on the Washington/Oregon border."

Hendricks rubbed a hand over his tired face. "I feel confident we will get a break soon, but thus far, we really don't have much. Has Ms. Lisbon awakened yet?"

"Last I heard, no," said Cho.

"Well, hopefully she will have regained her memory and we can get a lead that way."

The two men continued to talk for a while, and then Cho went back to helping some of the agents look through security footage.

Jane had taken a quick shower at the hotel, and now he was about to enter Lisbon's room again. He felt as though he'd been gone too long, when actually it had only been a few minutes. But, he had to admit, taking the shower and changing clothes had "refreshed" him. Pushing open the door, he was surprised to find no Lisbon and no bed, but Dr. Barrow still there.

" Don't worry, Mr. Jane. Ms. Lisbon did wake up a few moments ago when Dr. Shaw was here. They took her quickly to take another X-Ray of her broken wrist. They will have her back shortly. "

Jane released his breath in relief and then smiled gratefully. He grasped the doctor's hand saying, "Thank-you, doctor. I do feel mighty refreshed."

He looked more seriously at the doctor.

"Doctor Barrow, can you tell me any more about Teresa's assault? Just so I am more aware of what truly happened to her?"

Barrow grimaced. "Oh, Mr. Jane, I sense that you and Ms. Lisbon are very close, but as you know, because of HIPPA laws, alas, I cannot."

"Could you at least answer yes or no to a few questions?"

The Doctor thought for a moment. Then nodded slightly.

"So, Teresa was physically assaulted?"

"Yes."

"Was she assaulted sexually?"

"Yes."

Jane covered his face and turned his back on the doctor. He sighed and his shoulders shook for a moment in despair. He wanted to cry out but knew he had to keep it in.

"Was she examined with a rape kit?" He was still turned away from her, anger now overtaking his despondency.

"Yes."

Doctor Barrow placed a gentle hand on Jane's back.

"Mr. Jane. I've said too much. You are the best thing to help Ms. Lisbon through this. She has suffered, yes. But she can overcome this and move forward. But, you have to believe that if she is to believe that. She has a good medical team, and it would seem an even better team of friends and colleagues. She smiled gently as he turned around again. "We will all get her through this." The doctor glanced at him one last time and excused herself and then left the room.

Jane stared out the window bleakly saddened by his conversation with the doctor, but resolved at the same time to be a strong monolith for Teresa. I mean he loved her. He'd finally admitted that to himself, and he was determined to share that with her when the time was right. For the time being, he would just be there for her. Be exactly what she needed, when and how she needed him.

A few moments later the door opened and two nurses wheeled Lisbon back into the room. She was pale in the bed, and her eyes were closed, but she was awake. The nurses moved the bed back into place, told her to continue resting and that dinner would be in in a few minutes. Lisbon's eyes opened and she nodded slightly. She suddenly became aware of Jane and her eyes grew wide. The last nurse tucked her blankets around her, asked her if she needed anything else, smiled at Jane who had moved enthusiastically to Teresa's side, and left the room.

"Jane?" Teresa's voice was horse and quiet, but she tried to smile. "I thought I dreamt you…" He touched her arm gently and smiled widely. "It's me, Teresa. I am so glad you are awake."

"But you were in Texas…" Her voice came a little stronger.

"Yes, I was. Dennis got word that you might need some help in Cannon River, so he sent Cho and me to check it out." It wasn't exactly the truth, but at the moment, it was all he was willing to tell her.

"Why is your hair wet?"

Jane laughed. "You would comment on my appearance after having slept for the past 24 hours. For your information, I just got out of the shower, ma'am." He did a little bow and then pulled his former chair to her bedside.

"Jane, what happened to me?" She looked confused.

Jane's face became solemn. "You don't remember, Teresa?"

"No… it's like... it's a blank screen."

"What's the last memory you have?

"I don't… know. I think I was at work… in the office?" She looked at him with confusion. She furrowed her brow. "I just can't… Why can't I remember, Jane?" A tear slipped down Teresa's cheek.

Jane was flummoxed. He reached out a finger and wiped away the lone tear. "Teresa.." He whispered. "It's going to be ok."

"I know," she sighed. "Just tell me." It didn't take long for the cop to come back.

"Teresa, I don't know if…"

"Please, Jane. Just tell me."

"Maybe we should wait for the doctor…" Jane trailed off with a strained look on his face.

"Jane...please." She implored him with her eyes. "I'm a big girl. Tell me."

He nodded and launched in.

"I don't know all the details, Teresa, but I will tell you what I know."

Her eyes were stuck to his face.

"Five days ago, you were kidnapped." Teresa did not look away. "Dennis found out about it first, and then he let Cho and me know. Of course, we came to Cannon River right away. You had apparently gone home on the 16th at your regular time, but then when you did not show up to work the next day, your staff got worried and went looking for you. When they got to your home, there was a sign of a struggle and you were missing. Nothing of value appeared to have been taken, so they didn't think it was a burglary. We got to Cannon River as soon as we could, but it was 3:00 pm on the 18th when we arrived. The FBI had set up a field office and they'd been on the scene for the day, but they had no leads. You were just gone."

At this point, Jane's voice faltered and his hands trembled. He stilled them flat on the side of the bed. Teresa's eyes were large in her face, but they remained stuck on his face.

"Go on," she whispered. Jane cleared his throat and continued.

"Cho and I went over to your house and we looked around too, but we found nothing out of order either. That was about 6:00 p.m. The FBI figured you had been missing at that point for more than 24 hours."

"Teresa." Jane looked at her seriously. "I was as scared as I've ever been. I saw the remnants of you in that house...It smelled like you… cinnamon and vanilla, but you were…"

He slid his fingers over her arm. Teresa's embarrassed eyes dipped for the first time. He knew what she smelled like? She'd think about that later. His touch on her arm was soothing and brought her back to the moment. She didn't pull away. Jane took a deep breath and went on.

"About 9:00 pm, the FBI got a tip from Oregon. A young woman matching your description had walked into a hospital in Salem, Oregon, more than 400 miles from Cannon River. She was disoriented, disheveled, and not speaking. She had no identification on her. The thumb on her left hand had been sliced nearly clear through, and her right wrist was broken. She had bruises and contusions on her face and torso and she was barefoot."

Teresa was still rapt in listening to what Jane was relating. He looked at her to see if any of it was jogging her memory. It appeared that her memory was still blank.

"As soon as we got the news, and the hospital had sent a photo of the woman to Hendricks, we knew it was you. Eager to get to you, Cho and I jumped back in our rental car and drove, very fast mind you, here, to Salem. And it was you!" Jane could not keep the happiness out of his voice. He grasped her arm and smiled at her with all the love and charm he could muster.

"You're leaving something out." Teresa knew him too well.

"Maybe-" Jane shrugged and looked down knowing she was on to him. He was saved when the door to the room suddenly opened and Cho walked in.

"Cho!" Jane exclaimed, never so happy to see the Asian agent.

"Jane. Boss!" said Cho with a grin, "Good to see you awake."

"Cho," Lisbon smiled back, "you know I am not your boss anymore."

He smiled and moved to her bedside.

"Thank-you for bringing Jane and yourself here so quickly." He nodded.

"Any news?" Jane asked.

"Plenty." His eyes flickered from Jane to Lisbon displaying uncertainty.

"It's fine, Cho," Lisbon entailed. "Jane has filled me in on what happened." Jane shook his head barely perceptibly, and Cho immediately understood that he had not filled her in on EVERYTHING.

For the next few minutes, Cho brought them both up to date on the most recent developments from the FBI. Teresa looked shocked and confused when the issue of Haibach came up.

"Richard Haibach? Really?"

"Yes," Cho said.

Teresa got a blank yet grim look on her face. She felt so helpless. Haibach? How had that sociopath come back into play. She turned her eyes away from both men.

"Teresa, Cho and I are going to step out into the hall for a moment, OK?" She nodded and closed her eyes, sighing deeply.

Jane closed the door behind him quietly and looked at Kimball Cho with concern.

"She doesn't know the whole story?" Cho asked.

"I don't know the whole story…" said Jane. Cho nodded.

"I guess we will leave that to the doctors."

"Do Hendricks and his team know any more?" Jane queried.

"Well, that's why I came down here."

"What is it?"

"Well, as I told you, Haibach is deceased. At first, the detectives thought he might have been working alone when they discovered no other evidence of anyone in the cabin they found him in."

"But?"

"There was just a break. They had a couple things come in right on top of each other. A trucker reported seeing two men with a woman matching Lisbon's description at a rest area near the Washington border. They were driving a small older model motorhome. And then, one of Hendrick's analyst's was able to secure security camera footage from a Love's truck stop about 50 miles north of Salem here and apparently only about two hours before Teresa walked into the hospital."

"Do they know who the accomplice is?"

"At first, no. But then right before I came here, they were 90% sure that he was a younger cousin of Haibach."

"And?"

"This is a bad, dude, Jane. Looking at his record actually makes Haibach seem like a gem." Jane raised his eyebrows at this new detail.

"Name?"

Cho had to pull out his notebook.

"Zeke Colton."

A rattling sound behind them let the men know that dinner had arrived for Teresa. The aide was pushing open the door to take Lisbon's dinner in. With both her hands bandaged, Jane knew she would need help eating, so he made to follow the woman inside.

"Cho?" he said over his shoulder.

"Yeah?"

"I want to join the investigation, but I'm going to stay with Teresa for now."

"I will let Hendricks know. Did she remember anything new?"

"No."

"Well, I'm sure he will want to come down and question her himself, but I'm sure it can wait until morning."

"Yes, it can. I'm also hoping," at this he lowered his voice and took note that the dinner aide was distracting Teresa, "I want Doctor Barrow to visit with her about…" he paused, "... about the rest."

Cho nodded and looked at Jane with silent support.

"Tell, boss, I said bye. I'll catch up with you later."

TBC