Authors Note: I wasn't planing to post today, but I have a bunch writed, and I have a hard time being stingy. I'm not a doctor. I couldn't even make it through the cadaver lab at school with out throwing up so I will never be a doctor. As such, most of what is described in the chapter comes from watching TV, except for the survival part. That's what the doctors said when my Ex's best friend fell asleep behind the wheel and ran into a semi truck. Also thanks to Ebony 10 for being my beta.
Disclaimer: After the next couple of chapters you'll probably be glad that I don't own them.
They were all in shock. No one wanted to believe that Jane could be in the hospital, that he could be dying. He was Patrick Jane. He was supposed to be invincible. That's how he seemed to them every day.
Cho was the first one to move. "Do you want me to drive?" He asked quietly.
"Thanks, Cho." Lisbon said, slowly standing up from her desk. "I need to tell Minelli where we're going. I'll meet you all outside."
The team slowly exited the office with Lisbon bringing up the rear. She went into Minelli's office as the rest of them grabbed their stuff and headed out the door. It didn't take long for her to inform her boss that Jane had been in an accident. He told her that the team should take the rest of the day off and the next day too if they needed it.
As Lisbon was exiting the office, she looked over at the worn brown leather sofa. It seemed so bare without him on it. What were they going to do if he didn't make it? She stopped her thoughts right there. There was no point in negative thinking. It would only make things worse.
The ride to the hospital was one of silence. No one wanted to talk. No one wanted to say what they were thinking. That Jane might already be dead when they got there. The cops said that he was still in surgery, but that he was already listed as critical condition.
When they got to the hospital, Lisbon took charge. She was the boss after all and taking over that role would make her worry just a little bit less. The woman at the front desk directed them to the elevator and to the fifth floor where the operating rooms were. They told the nurse at the nursing station that they were here for Patrick Jane and were directed to a waiting room where there were already two other groups of people waiting. None of the other people looked up as they came in.
They didn't talk for hours. Every once in a while they moved around a bit. Rigsby paced around impatiently and put himself in charge of getting coffee not only for the rest of the team, but for everyone else who was also waiting.
Every time a doctor came into the waiting room, everyone stood up. Two times doctors came and both times it was for other people. Now they were left alone in the waiting room. Cho was sitting in a chair with his book out, but it was obvious that he wasn't reading. Van Pelt and Rigsby were sitting close together talking quietly. Lisbon was just staring off into space. She was trying not to let fear overcome her. She didn't know what she would do if Jane died. It was one of the worst feelings she had ever had.
She was startled from her thinking by the arrival of a doctor. "Who is it that's here for Patrick Jane?"
The whole team stood and moved to be around the doctor, but Lisbon was the one who spoke. "We're here for him. Is he ok?"
The doctor decided not to answer her question right away and instead introduced himself. "I'm Doctor Jones. I was the lead surgeon in Mr. Jane's operation."
Never one for pleasantries in a time of crisis, Cho asked the question now. "How is he?"
Dr. Jones saw that there was going to be no avoiding it and finally decided to answer. "Mr. Jane came into the ER with massive internal injuries and severe head trauma. It was pretty much a miracle that he was able to tell the police anything. He has a punctured lung, three broken ribs, and we had to remove his spleen. Most of those injuries were a result of his seat belt. We also had to operate to remove pressure on his brain."
"Is he going to be alright?" It was Van Pelt who asked the question this time.
Dr. Jones hesitated. This was always his least favorite part. "Mr. Jane is in critical condition. His chances of survival at this moment are very slim. There is good news however." He paused here and noticed that every single face around him seemed to brighten just a little bit. "If he can make it through 24 hours, his chances of survival will double. Each day he makes it, his chances are improved."
This was not the good news that Lisbon had been hoping for and it showed on her face. She was too tired to hide it right now. She looked at the doctor and asked "When can we see him?"
"Mr. Jane," Dr. Jones replied, "is on his way up to the ICU on the sixth floor. Once he's settled you'll have to check with them on how many visitors and when you can see him."
As soon as he said what floor Jane was going to be on, Lisbon and Van Pelt walked off towards the elevator. Cho followed closely behind. Rigsby shook hands with the doctor and said, "Sorry about them. We're all just a little worried. The boss is a little temperamental at the best of times and right now is not one of the best times."
"That's ok. I understand what you all are going through." Just then Rigsby heard his name being called out from by the elevator.
"Thank you, Doctor." He said, quickly shaking his hand one more time and ran towards the elevator, not wanting to be left behind.