Thank you for all the reviews, follows and favourites, you encourage me to continue. I hope you enjoy this chapter, I am discovering this is not an easy story to write.

"Right! Are you going to be okay?"

Lisbon looks anxiously at Jane. He's settled on her couch with a Sudoku book and reading material laying next to him. The tv remote is also within reach and on the coffee table is a steaming cup of tea, along with his medicines.

"I'll be fine Lisbon, I'm a big boy, I can handle being on my own for a few hours. It's only for the morning, what could possibly happen?"

Lisbon groans.

"Now you have me really worried."

Jane gives a smile

"Don't worry Mom, now off you go."

"Yes, I'm going."

Lisbon grabs her handbag and opens the door, she turns and takes one more look at Jane. He smiles and waves at her, she smiles weakly back and then she's gone.

The smile vanishes along with Lisbon. Jane reaches for his tea, then sits back in to the couch, closing his eyes as he savours the refreshing taste of the warm liquid. Settling in hasn't gone as well as he'd expected. Getting back into 'normal' life is proving difficult, but then there's nothing normal about his life. Yes he's out of the hospital, but, he's in Lisbon's apartment, rather than his own space. Not that he's complaining, she's very welcoming and it's better than being on his own. It's just, it's very strange having her looking after him, being very attentive, he's not sure how to act around her, and there have been some awkward moments that have never entered their relationship before. It's like they're defining their parameters once more. It seems wrong to push her buttons when he's beholden to her. It's all so polite.

And there's the question of his place in the world. He has nothing to do. Of course he had nothing to do in the hospital, but, he's out now, he's healing, he's bored. There's also the question 'what is he going to do?' Does he go back to the CBI? Does he want to go back to the CBI? It was a means to an end, but now he has friends, people who mean a lot to him and, he's discovered, he means a lot to them too. But will it still keep him interested? Does he still want to look at dead bodies.

Finally the biggest 'un-normal' thing in his life - no Red John. He's been a shadow over his life for so long. Occupying every moment of free thought. His time and energy focused on getting the monster, and it's left a gaping hole he's not sure he can fill. The shadow has lifted, and the world outside of the hospital is light, full of bright colours, warm and free. He feels like he's a space traveller that has landed on a new planet, not dissimilar to his home, but, one where there are different rules and no one is able to tell him what they are.

He's always been able to adjust to any situation before him, his brain able to put together and sort through information at speed and present him with an answer, or a plan, so quickly that it seems he doesn't skip a beat. But it's failing him. He's in a fog of indecision and he's can't understand why, or what to do about it. Of course he hasn't mentioned any of this to Lisbon, she has enough concerns without worrying about him.

Lisbon's worried. She's never seen Jane like this before. He doesn't know how to act around her, he seems lifeless and there's no sparkle in his eyes. He seems lost. He wasn't like this in the hospital and she doesn't understand what has happened. . A pain to everyone, anxious to leave. He was in good spirits, welcoming all visitors and when he wasn't being annoying, winning people over with tricks, and was his old self in the last few weeks in the hospital. All the trauma put behind him and ready to move on with his life. They hadn't discussed his plans for the future, she admits to herself, she was afraid that they would take him away from Sacramento, the CBI and her. The first couple of days at her apartment had gone as she'd expected. He was picky, irritating and insufferable. She was ready to call Cho and send him to his place, but she would have that back. Now, he's quiet and submissive and things seem awkward between them, he's so polite. He's not eating well and looks tired and haggard. She's close to calling the doctor. She's ashamed of herself that she was a little relieved at going in to work today, being away, even if only for a few hours. She doesn't know how to react to this Jane, she feels at a loss.

Jane has had his shower, decided not to shave, and has thrown some clothes on. He hasn't been allowed to go shopping yet and so is still in his old clothes. He looks at himself in the mirror. A stranger stares back at him. The clothes hang off him, he's certain he's lost more weight since leaving the hospital. His skin looks dull and his eyes are sunken and tired. He tries a smile and it looks so unnatural on his face that he wonders if he really is fooling Lisbon. With Lisbon gone he'd taken the opportunity to use her shower, he'd been right, it was better than the one in the bathroom. He sits on her bed, feeling tired from his exertions.

Lisbon throws open the car door and realises that, in her haste, she hasn't put it in park. She corrects the mistake, cursing herself for the delay. She fumbles in her bag for her key as she rushes up the steps. She curses again as she drops them as she gets to the door. She calls out Jane's name as she's unlocking it. When she pushes open the door, Jane isn't where she left him, though his phone is on the table flashing away, informing her of the many calls from her that have gone unanswered. There are no signs of anything out-of-order, no struggle has taken place. In the kitchen she finds his cup rinsed on the drainer, the bathroom hasn't been used that morning. She knocks on his bedroom door and gently calls his name, she opens it carefully when there is no reply to find it empty. Each moment she's becoming more frantic, but also relieved at no Jane passed out on the floor, lying in a his blood, after bumping his head. The only room left is hers, but, they had established rule number one was that he didn't enter her room without permission, but this is Jane! She opens the door to find curly blond hair on her pillow and a consultant fast asleep under her covers.

Jane!