The wait in the hospital was insufferable, the blood on her face was now dry and hitching, and her wrist was a big blue bump. Her patience was running low and she thought a few time to hurry things flashing her badge... But she didn't want to justify a right of way for a personal matter. If only Jane would be there with her, either to hold her or to annoy the nurse so she would release her too happy to get rid of them. The hurting was not so bad if she sat totally still, leaving her her mind as only occupation. Remembering the scene in the alley, she couldn't do anything but wonder how old were those boys, maybe 13 utmost 15, it was hard to tell. The one who fled first was about her size dark short hair and brown eyes. The other one, who had pushed her to the wall, was taller, but less than Jane, with red-brown short hair and green eyes. Their clothes had nothing especially uncommon for their age... Lisbon jumped to the ringing of her phone, which cause her a shot of pain in her arm.

Slowly she took her phone from her inside pocket, hurt written all over her face from that move. Jane's name flashed another few times before the call ended into voicemail. There was no way Lisbon could bring herself to answer now in the middle of the emergency waiting room, not to mention that he would hear the hurting in her voice even on the phone. Willing to protect him from worrying and protect her from more exhaustion and endless explanation, she didn't pick up when it rang again ten minutes later.

- Hey beauty, I guess you must be resting... Wanted to wish you good night, LU

She smile sweetly reading his message, refraining to send him an answer straight away. Before she could thought further on what to do, a nurse came looking for her to send her for an x-rays. A small sigh of relief escaped her lips replaced soon by the gritting of her teeth, while she stood up to follow the white coat in front of her.

When she finally breathed a free air outside the hospital it was rather late and she was worn-out. A taxi brought her home, where she headed directly to the kitchen pouring herself a glass of water and swallowing the prescribed pain-killers. Not able to eat anything she soon found herself in her bathroom watching horrified at herself in the mirror, making quickly the summary of her injuries: the right side of her face was swollen with a dozen of red scratches and two or three deeper cuts, a casted wrist and some small bruises here and there on her body. How could she explain that to Jane without him panicking? And if it could be the trigger of his definitive leave? At that thought Lisbon's breathing started to accelerate and with her uninjured hand she gripped the sink as if her life had depended on it to stay afloat. Shutting her eyes tightly she forced herself to calm down. When she could breathe better she headed towards her bedroom with shaking legs. Undressing had been a living hell so she slipped on one of Jane's old shirt - easier to put on in her state -, before collapsing in her bed.

She woke up late next morning, stiff and in pain from the encounter with the teenagers. Her phone stated she had 3 missed calls and 4 messages, all from Jane growing worry with her silence. Lisbon decided to call him straight away, what was better than a morning voice to cover her state? He picked up on the first ringing, hiding badly his panic...

"Where have you been? Where are you? Why didn't you pick up my calls?"

"Hey Jane...", she said with a small and sleepy voice.

Slowing his breathing, he started again, "umm, I'm sorry, hope I didn't wake you up... Hey Love... I was worried..."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to worry you... I was exhausted when I came home yesterday and I slept until now", which was true alright.

"Ok... Where have you been?", Jane asked with real curiosity, for she didn't go out since her return from the hospital. Lisbon knew he didn't mean as an inquisition, but she was cranky from not eating the night before and from her injuries. Rather than being rash on him she kept silent.

"Hey, are you still there?"

"Yes, yes, sorry I'm hungry and still sleepy."

"Well than you should feed yourself woman! How is it that you forget to eat when I'm not around?", he said with a smile in his voice to lighten the mood.

"mmm", was all she could say, feeling a bit guilty to handle him like that.

Jane was a bit at lost even though he knew Lisbon was no morning person. "So I guess I will leave you to your breakfast and call you later, alright?"

"mmm"

"Teresa... Love, are you okay? What's wrong?", he sounded a bit more irritated.

"Uh... nothing, really, I have a bad start today, that's all..."

He had a real strange feeling about their discussion, but didn't want to dig further. "I wanted too to tell you that I'll be home tonight. We wrapt the case earlier as predicted. Don't wait for me though, I'll be in quite late."

"Oh, that's nice...", she said in an unconvincing voice.

"Teresa, I know we have to sort things out and you were rejoicing having so time alone...", he sigh, "if you want I can go and sleep in the airstream for the next days, I understand you need space...", his voice now sad.

"No, no! I'm sorry Jane... I have things to tell you, but it will wait until you're back home. Don't worry it's nothing bad really. I'm fine and I do look forward to seeing you. I'm going to shower now and then have a nice breakfast or lunch... Have you seen what time it is?", she told him trying to sound slighter. Jane knew at that point that there was something going on, but thought better than to push it, they would talk when he will be home. After exchanging nice love words, they hang up, Jane with a bad feeling settling in his stomach and Lisbon with a headache starting, what she really didn't need in her condition.

.-.-.-.-.

NB: I cannot thank you enough for the reviews and follows, it's really nice and encouraging!

I hope the story is not too slow... I enjoy writing and hope my mistakes are not too bad.