Author's Note: And we're safely out of cliffhanger territory! Thanks for bearing with the ending of the last chapter. I tried not to break it there, but the tone of this chapter is so different that in the end I decided I had no choice. Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed despite the cliffhanger warning—I really appreciated the support!

Chapter 55

Lisbon woke with a tremendous headache, alone in a hospital room smelling strongly of antiseptic. Her head hurt so badly that she wasn't even aware her shoulder ached until she tried to move. A dim memory of being shot came back to her. At least it wasn't the same shoulder as last time. God, was the baby okay? Would she know if something was wrong?

What happened after she was shot? Had they gotten away? But surely if they'd succeeded, Jane would be here, or one of the others. The fact that she was alone argued she was in another Visualize medical facility.

Grimacing, she slid out of the bed, then gingerly made her way to the door and tugged. It resisted for a second, then opened.

This could be her only chance to escape. She had to take it. Pushing down the pain, she slipped into the hallway, looking in both directions. There was an exit sign to her left, so she turned that way, keeping a hand on the wall to steady herself.

She paused at a corner, took a breath, and stepped forward—then let out a shriek of surprise and pain as she ran into a man coming around the corner too quickly. He grabbed at her, so she did the only thing that occurred to her—she kneed him in the balls and ducked out of his grip as he doubled over.

As she stumbled away, she heard a strangled croak. "Boss!"

Boss? She turned, blinking, and realized the man doubled over in front of her was a friend. "Rigsby?"

"Teresa!" The frantic shout came from her room, and she looked up as Jane ran into the hall, skidding to a stop as he saw her. He was missing his vest and jacket and his shirt was only half buttoned; obviously he'd been changing clothes.

Her head was throbbing so badly she could hardly speak, so she was grateful when Jane gently put his arms around her, bracing himself as she leaned most of her weight on him. He grunted a little as if in pain, and she realized there was something thick around his waist. "You're hurt?" she demanded, trying to pull away from him.

"I'm in much better shape than you are," he replied. "Come on, back to bed."

"Sorry, Rigsby," she murmured, embarrassed, as she shuffled past him, Jane's arm around her waist helping her stay upright. "Patrick, the baby?"

"Fine," he replied. "This kid is as tough as you are." He gave a little chuckle, cut off by a grunt of pain. "Beating up poor Rigsby fresh out of your hospital bed is a little extreme even for you, though."

"I didn't know where I was. When I woke up and you weren't there, I just..." She trailed off as they reached her room.

He pressed a kiss into her hair, careful of the bandage covering the back of her head. "Sorry, love. I wanted to change before you woke up. My clothes all went into evidence, and I look terrible in scrubs. Rigsby just got here with my bag."

"What happened?" she asked, frowning.

Jane eased her onto the bed and helped her lie down. "How's your head?" he asked. "They didn't want to give you anything until you woke up."

"Hurts," she admitted. "You told them about the baby, right? They won't give me anything bad for her?"

"I told the EMTs, and then the admitting nurse, and then your doctor. Repeatedly," he assured her.

"What happened?"

They were interrupted by a nurse, who asked her a series of annoying questions, followed by a doctor who did the same. Apparently she had a nasty gash on the back of her head, but the bullet had just grazed her shoulder, so she wouldn't need all the physical therapy she'd had to do last time. She'd be very happy about that later, she knew, but right now she was far more interested in what had happened while she was unconscious.

Lisbon kept hold of Jane's hand and tried to be patient, struggling with her pain and curiosity. Once or twice she looked at him, hoping he'd get rid of the medical team for her, but he just smiled down at her with a tenderness that took her breath away.

When the doctor and nurse left, Rigsby put his head in the door. "Hey, you guys want anything to eat?"

Lisbon groaned in frustration, and Jane said, "No thanks, Rigsby. We're good."

"Back in a minute," he assured them.

"What happened?" Lisbon asked again, just as the nurse returned with pills for her to swallow.

Jane didn't make her ask a third time, speaking as soon as the nurse was gone. "What's the last thing you remember?"

"Begging you not to commit murder," she replied.

"And I listened. Then Schultz shot you—just a flesh wound, fortunately. But you smacked your head on a rock when you fell. Rigsby got Schultz in the leg; she's in surgery now, but her life's not in danger."

"What happened to you?" She let go of his hand to feel his stomach through his shirt. There was definitely a bandage there, a large one.

"I dropped the knife when I tried to catch you," Jane said. "Haffner grabbed it and slashed me. It's all a bit of a blur now, but I must have found the gun you took off him. He's dead."

Lisbon grabbed his hand again, and he hurried to reassure her, "Self defense, I promise. Rigsby saw the whole thing."

She let out a sigh of relief. "Are you okay?" she asked softly.

"Never better," he replied breezily.

"Don't do that," she said, frowning at him. "Don't put on your mask with me."

He sighed, abandoning his false cheer and reaching out to stroke her cheek. "I'm tired, and in a little pain. But mostly I'm just grateful we're all alive."

"Are you happy he's dead? Does it make you feel better?" She'd never been convinced it would, but she very much wanted to be wrong.

Jane looked off into the distance. "Not...like I hoped it would. It doesn't change what happened. Angela and Charlotte are still dead. That still hurts. It always will, and I was stupid to think killing him would ever lessen that pain."

The slash on his torso, combined with his clothes being taken as evidence, gave her an idea of how gory Red John's death had been. "Did he say anything?"

Jane shook his head. "I don't think so."

"You don't think so?" she echoed in astonishment. He couldn't have missed something that important.

He grimaced and said hoarsely, "I thought you were— I didn't know how badly you were hurt. He was just an obstacle I had to get out of my way so I could reach you." He paused. "It's odd, but over the years I built him up in my mind into some big, scary monster. But after all, he was just a man. It only took one bullet."

"You did the world a favor," she said. "And spared us a trial."

"Oh, I think there will be enough of those in our future." Jane recovered his composure. "I look forward to Bertram's. You'll be visibly pregnant by then, which will drive home the magnitude of his crimes."

"They got him? What about Grace—is she okay?"

"Right as rain. And yes, we got him. Stiles gift wrapped him before he vanished into the night. I'm sure he won't surface until he's safely at a Visualize facility in a country without a U.S. extradition treaty." Jane didn't seem too upset about it, but then Stiles had been the one who reunited them. "Cho is rounding up the night staff at the facility for questioning. Anybody in particular you want to press charges against?"

"That doctor," Lisbon said. She wondered if she should mention Allie, but decided not to single her out. She'd done nothing to hurt her, after all. "But they all had to be in on it, I guess. God, Jane, what about all the other disciples?"

"We'll get them," he said softly. "I think Schultz can be a big help. She'll cut a deal if she knows what's good for her. Prison is not a good place for an FBI director."

Lisbon still had so many questions—she had no idea what town they were even in—but sleep beckoned, promising relief from the pain. "You'll stay?"

"Of course I will," he said, gently amused. "You'll have to beat me with a stick to get me to leave your side from now on. Though I would like to finish getting dressed, I'll wait until Rigsby's back so you won't wake up alone again." He squeezed her hand.

"I want to go home, Patrick," she whispered, closing her eyes. "Please take me home."

"The very moment the doctor says you're fit to leave," he promised, stroking her hair.

"All this time, I just wanted to go home." The longing was unbearably strong. She wanted to curl up with him in their bed and feel safe and loved.

"I know," he whispered, pressing a gentle kiss on her lips. "Soon. I promise. We'll go home together, just the three of us."

She smiled, and slept.

mmm

In between nurses' visits, Jane caught perhaps two hours of restless sleep in the chair beside Lisbon's bed, giving up on any more as the sun rose. He stood and stretched, then bent to kiss Lisbon's cheek. She was curled up on her left side, her only comfortable option since both the back of her head and her right shoulder were bandaged.

He really wanted a cup of tea and maybe some eggs, but he'd promised not to let her wake up alone again, so that would have to wait. Hopefully one of the team would be by to check in soon. Meanwhile, maybe he could sweet talk a nurse into bringing him a cup of tea.

Sticking his head out the door, he was surprised to find Rigsby asleep on a hard plastic chair in the hall, obviously on guard. The poor man was going to be sore in several places, Jane noted. It would really be a kindness to wake him. Glancing back at Lisbon to check that she was still sleeping soundly, he called softly, "Rigsby!"

The agent woke with a snort, flailing for a moment before finding his balance on the chair again. "What?" he muttered, looking around and blinking before recognizing Jane. "What happened?"

"Nothing," Jane assured him. "The chair in here is far more comfortable, if you'd care to occupy it while I search out some tea."

"And coffee?" Rigsby said hopefully, getting to his feet.

"I'll do my best," Jane replied. "I don't think she'll wake up in the next few minutes, but if she does, let her know I'll be right back."

"Yeah, sure." Rigsby failed to smother a yawn. "Hey, Jane, be careful, okay? Cho thinks some of the disciples might be out for revenge."

"Ah." Jane paused, thinking that explained why he was sleeping in a chair instead of at home in bed or out helping Cho. "I'll be careful. Just stay with her."

"Got it."

Jane waited until Rigsby was settled in the chair beside Lisbon's bed, then went to the nurses' station. It took no effort to charm directions to the vending room out of the tired woman there, especially when Jane offered to refill her coffee mug. He made that delivery first, then took his paper cup of liquid purporting to be tea and Rigsby's coffee back to the room.

"Thanks," Rigsby whispered, getting up to take the coffee. "Grace texted that she's on her way. She's going to bring something for breakfast."

Jane thought that Rigsby's anticipation was doomed to become disappointment when he realized Grace's healthy eating habits were going to be extended to him during her pregnancy. He'd be lucky to get a whole wheat bagel, if not some kind of granola. Hm. Maybe he could entrust Lisbon's diet to Grace on occasion and take poor Rigsby out for a cheeseburger. It was going to be an interesting seven and a half months.

Jane realized he was grinning like a fool and composed his expression.

"What?" Rigsby asked warily.

"Just thinking about the shift in team dynamics now that four out of five of us are expecting," Jane answered.

Rigsby didn't share Jane's lighthearted view of the situation. "Yeah, well, Grace is talking about finding a cyber security job. She says one parent getting shot at on a regular basis is enough for any kid."

"She's right." Jane decided not to mention his evolving plan to get Lisbon promoted out of the field.

Part of the plan was to make her think it was her idea, so telling Rigsby was an unnecessary risk. "We'll miss her, though."

"Yeah, well, with her and the boss both out of the field for the time being, we'll have a lot to adjust to," Rigsby sighed. "Nice timing, man."

"I could say the same to you," Jane retorted. "And I wasn't the one buying the cheap condoms!"

"Yeah, because you weren't buying any, just stealing mine!" Rigsby shot back.

"I put money in your pocket at reasonable intervals," Jane argued. "In fact, I even upped the amount in hopes you'd spring for better ones."

Lisbon sniffed loudly. "Coffee?" she murmured, blinking.

Both men looked down at her. Jane had the feeling his smile was unbearably sappy, but when she smiled back, he didn't care.

"Are you two seriously arguing about birth control? Isn't it a little late for that?" She started to move, grimacing as she tried to sit up.

Jane immediately helped her sit up. "Easy there. And no, you can't have any coffee. Unless Grace brings you decaf."

Lisbon stuck her hand out. "Rigsby."

He looked alarmed. "Um, yeah, Boss?"

"Give."

Jane gave Rigsby a look threatening dire consequences if he complied. The poor man suddenly looked like he was facing a firing squad.

"Oh, relax," Lisbon snapped. "I just want to smell it. It's the only thing I've smelled in ages that hasn't made me want to throw up."

Rigsby handed her the cup, glancing at Jane as Lisbon took a deep breath and smiled. "Well, uh, since you're awake now, Boss, I'll give Grace a call and let her know about the decaf."

"Thanks, Rigsby," Lisbon said, handing him the cup back.

Rigsby grinned briefly at her and left. Jane waited until the door closed before saying, "I asked them to give you something for the nausea. You need to eat."

"Yeah, I'm actually hungry," she said, sounding surprised. "What time do they serve breakfast around here?"

"When Rigsby gets back, I'll go find out."

"Then we'll get out of here, right?" She tried to sound commanding, but her eyes were hopeful rather than determined.

"We'll talk to the doctor," he replied.

She scowled. "Oh, don't give me that. You've broken out of jail. You could break me out of here and take me for a big diner breakfast without even breaking a sweat."

She certainly knew how to appeal to his weak spots, he reflected. "If it were just you and me, maybe. But we have someone else to think about now."

"Oh, now he decides to play by the rules," she muttered, but he could tell she accepted his reasoning and wasn't really upset. She looked at him for a minute, seeming puzzled. "How are you feeling?"

"Me? Never better," he smiled. "Why?"

"Just wondering if you're on pain meds. You seem kind of...manic."

He chuckled. "My dear, I'm positively giddy. I have you back, I'm going to be a father again, and the psychopath threatening us is dead. What more could any man ask?"

That didn't ease her look of concern. "I guess I just expected...there's a lot to process."

He sat carefully on the edge of the bed, taking her good hand in his. "You mean you think I should be off somewhere brooding? I'm sure I'll find time for that after I've got you safely home, tucked up in bed with a full stomach and a catalog full of ridiculously expensive baby furniture." He paused. "Do you want to start looking at houses? Something with a nice backyard?"

Lisbon scrunched up her face. "And which one of us is going to mow this backyard of yours?" she asked suspiciously.

He chuckled again. "A lawn service, of course."

Predictably, she rolled her eyes. "Next you'll be bringing me resumes of nannies."

"I'm not opposed to daycare if we can find one we both like. But I admit I'd rather have a nanny for the first year, at least."

"You've known about this baby for what, twelve hours, and you've already thought about all this?" She looked incredulous.

"We've been married for almost four months. I've thought about it in theory for a while now." He didn't think it would help to point out that he'd been through this before. A new thought occurred to him, making his stomach hurt. "I know you're still getting used to the idea, but if this is something you don't want—"

"No," she said immediately. "Of course I want the baby. I just...for the few days I've known, my main concern was whether you'd ever meet her, or ever even know you had another child."

He carefully slid his arms around her, mentally kicking himself. Of course she was traumatized by what she'd been through, and he needed to give her time to recover before making her face all the changes their life was about to undergo. They could move after the baby was born, and daycare could wait too. The only urgent issue at hand was her recovery.

"Well, you don't have to worry about that anymore. I intend to be one of the first faces she sees." He paused. "I notice you keep saying 'she.' Do you think it's a girl?"

"How would I know that?" She grumbled into his chest. "I just started thinking that because Red John wanted a boy."

He smiled; that was his contrary Lisbon, all right. "Okay, she's a she unless the ultrasound shows otherwise." Because of course control freak Lisbon would want to know the baby's gender as soon as possible. There was no way she'd want to be surprised, and given her current frame of mind, he wouldn't tease her by arguing the merits of not knowing.

"But you said you wanted a boy, back when we were pretending," she frowned.

"It doesn't matter," he assured her. "I'm just thrilled to have another chance, either way."

There was a knock at the door, and Lisbon sat back as a nurse came in. "And how are we feeling today?" she asked brightly.

Lisbon replied, "Hungry."

"That's a good sign. Breakfast will be here in a minute. I just need to check your vitals."

Jane took the hint and moved off the bed, reclaiming his spot after the nurse left for the few minutes until breakfast arrived. Lisbon tore into it ravenously, looking up midway through. "You want some?" she asked with obvious reluctance.

"I am not nearly hungry enough to take food out of my child's mouth," he assured her. "Besides, I'm sure Grace will be here any minute."

Sure enough, Grace arrived just as Lisbon was finishing. She smiled brilliantly as she came in, trailed by Rigsby staring disconsolately at the bran muffin in his hand. "Boss, I'm so glad you're okay," she said, handing her what smelled like a latte. "And congratulations! I'm thrilled for you."

"Not me?" Jane teased.

"Of course, you too," Grace said, reaching into her bag and handing Jane a blueberry muffin.

"Hey," Rigsby said, "how come he doesn't have to eat bran?"

"He's hurt," Grace replied. "How's your appetite, Boss? Because I got you a bear claw, but if you're—"

Lisbon practically snatched the bag out of her hand. "Grace, you are a godsend!" She tore into the bear claw like a starving woman, and Jane took a big bite of his muffin to disguise his grin.

Grace turned to Jane. "Cho said to tell you he and Moore are on their way. They need your statement, and he figured it was easier for them to come to you."

He grimaced, and Grace continued, "Go get some real breakfast before they get here. The boss and I have a lot to talk about. I'm so glad to have a pregnancy buddy!"

Jane purposely ignored Lisbon's pleading look, though he was sure he'd pay for it later. He needed the fortification of eggs before he relived last night, and he'd rather not be in here when Moore cornered him. It would be easier to avoid Lisbon hearing the whole story that way. He clapped Rigsby on the shoulder. "Come along, Rigsby. I guess we get to be pregnancy buddies too."

Rigsby choked on his muffin, but he followed Jane out the door. Female laughter followed them down the hallway.

Yes, Jane reflected, he was definitely going to need reinforcements.