Chapter 8.
Lisbon sat next to Jane in the back of the ambulance, at the same time trying to stay out of the way of the paramedic who had the work cut out for him in trying to keep the man in his care alive until they arrived in the hospital and at the same time trying to hold on to his hand. His hand which was limp and cool to the touch and which she hold on to for her dear life.
When they arrived at the hospital Jane was whisked away to the weak protest from Lisbon. His hand being torn away from her, leaving her fighting tears in the middle of the admission bay until a kind nurse approached her and led her to sit down in a quiet corner of the room.
"I'm sorry ma'am, but they have to move very quickly. We received the status of the patient before you arrived and we have the best trauma team waiting for him", the nurse explained while Lisbon sat staring at her hands that were covered in blood.
The nurse recognised the signs of shock and gently led Lisbon first to wash her hands and then gave her some scrubs to change into and a blanket and a pillow. She went to get her something warm to drink and all this time Lisbon had been uncharacteristically docile, doing what she was told to do, but she could only see the deathly still form of Jane, still hanging from the chains covered in blood. Oh god, all that blood.
The nurse came back with a cup of tea with lots of sugar and made sure the woman drank all of it. Only after that she quietly asked for her name and what her relationship was to the man brought in and whether there was anyone they needed to call. Lisbon answered all the questions quietly, not quite sure all of the sudden how she had gotten there. The nurse answered all her questions, not mentioning that she had actually explained everything earlier as she knew that the woman in front of her was in shock.
The nurse took Lisbon to the waiting room outside of the operating theatres and promised that someone would update her about Jane's condition as soon as they had anything. She also made Lisbon lie down comfortably and tucked her in under the blanket. Before leaving, the nurse made the other nurses on the floor to promise that Lisbon would be looked after. They all knew by now that an agent had been tortured brutally and might not survive and the nurses were more than happy to look after the agent in the waiting room.
XXX
Lisbon closed her eyes, exhausted both physically and mentally. The adrenaline high was fading and the worry about Jane hit her in full force, her shock finally taking over. Although she didn't want to close her eyes as she was flooded immediately with images of Jane. She shuddered to think what he must have gone through. And all alone. They hadn't had any idea that he was in trouble. What did that say about them? Lisbon continued to blame herself while lifting the blanket up to cover her face and she finally let the tears fall.
XXX
Cho, Van Pelt and Rigsby were directed to the waiting room, but once they saw Lisbon's prone form shaking under the blanket, they stopped in their tracks. Rigsby wordlessly took Van Pelt's hand and whispered to Cho that they were going to see if they could find something to eat, to which Cho gave a ghost of smirk. Rigsby and his food. Cho stepped in to the otherwise deserted waiting room and sat quietly to the chair next to Lisbon's head on a pillow. Now he could hear that she was indeed crying, even though she was trying to muffle her sobs with the pillow. Cho wasn't sure what to do, but hesitantly started to stroke Lisbon's hair, the little he could see peeking from under the blanket. As Lisbon didn't object, he continued until the shaking lessened and finally stopped.
When Rigsby and Van Pelt returned to the room, they were met by the sight of Cho sleeping sitting on a chair, his arms crossed in front of him leaning against the wall and Lisbon's dark hair peeking under the blanket, her breathing slow and steady. The other two agents sat down with cups of coffee in their hands, Van Pelt leaning against Rigsby, preparing themselves for a long wait.
XXX
The hours went by. Lisbon and Cho had awoken while Rigsby still slept leaning against Van Pelt. Lisbon seemed to be better, although Cho kept a very close eye on her. He had gotten everybody some breakfast and they were once again sitting in silence.
All of the sudden an exhausted surgeon walked to the room and asked, "Anyone for Patrick Jane?"
The team jumped up from the chairs and crowded around the doctor, who didn't look surprised to be confronted by so many people as he knew the patient worked for CBI and this must surely be his team members.
"How is he?", asked Lisbon breathlessly looking up at the doctor, the worry and fear evident in her eyes.
"He's alive, but in a very grave condition. We concentrated on the most severe injuries, however we have to examine him again soon to see about the rest of the injuries", the surgeon said and continued to the stunned silence.
"He has two fractured ribs that led to a punctured and collapsed lung and a punctured liver, which led to internal bleeding. He also had ruptured spleen which added to the internal bleeding distending his stomach visibly, especially as his clotting factors couldn't keep up with all the injuries. He has a severely dislocated left shoulder, which tore through his muscles and ligaments. We also repaired his severed Achilles's tendons in both ankles. He also has swelling in the brain and evidence of recent bleeds although none active at present. Then there is the matter of the second and third degree burns covering his torso, which have led him to have a bad case of septicaemia. We have also sutured the largest cuts that he suffered. Then there are all the bruises and other cuts, but we have to look at the rest of them tomorrow", the doctor said frankly to the group of people in front of him.
"Will he be all right?", asked Lisbon quietly, the fear taking over her features.
"We don't know", said the surgeon honestly.
"We are keeping him in a coma to give his body a rest and at the moment he is stable. If he can make it for the next 24 hours and he won't succumb to the infection, he's chances for survival are good", the surgeon answered. Cho noticed that he didn't say anything beyond whether Jane would live, which worried him. He kept quiet though as the main thing now was that Jane would live.
"Can we see him?", Cho heard Lisbon asking.
"We are transferring him to the ICU now and as he needs to be isolated due to his burns and sepsis, only one person can see him. I'll tell the nurses to teach you the procedure", the doctor said before disappearing again behind the doors.
Lisbon sagged down to the chair and covered her face with her hands. She then looked up to Cho who was sitting next to her and said, " At least he's alive, right?" Cho nodded trying to dispel some of the fear and worry in her eyes, but before he could say anything a nurse came to take them to the ICU.
Once in the intensive care unit, Cho, Rigsby and Van Pelt made sure that Lisbon was the one who went to see Jane promising to come by later that day. They would go home to change and head back to the office to see what Minelli had found out so far.
Lisbon didn't argue, but followed the nurse, who would teach her about the isolation procedures. The rest of the team left the ward, worried for Jane as well as for Lisbon. They didn't notice a man at the nurses station looking at Jane's room.
XXX
When Lisbon finally got to sit next to Jane, the tears started again and this time she didn't bother hiding them. The nurse had explained what all the machines were for and how to call help if she needed anything. She had also explained that it would be good if she could talk to Jane and to keep in some form of physical contact. When Lisbon had looked at Jane, who seemed be covered in bandages, wires and tubes, she had felt completely helpless. She didn't know how it was possible to touch him, but the nurse had encouraged her and pointed out that his hands were free of tubes as he had a central line for the infusions in his neck. So here she was. Stroking Jane's hand with her shaking fingers with tears choking her leaving her wordless.
The dawn arrived coating everything in it's brilliant red golden light, touching the face of the ashen man in the silent room and the woman holding on to his hand. Promising a day of brightness and warmth. But in the silence of the room the shadows prevailed.
TBC