Authors notes: Thanks to everyone for your lovely reviews, for sharing your thoughts, it's great to hear them. I hope you like this chapter, more of the team.
Patrick's been given his pre-op meds and is struggling to keep his eyes open. They feel very heavy. Teresa can see him fighting against it. She squeezes his arm.
"It's all right, just let your eyes close, I'll still be here. "
Jane looks at her and gives her a lazy smile and relinquishes the fight. Teresa takes hold of his hand and he slightly tightens his fingers around hers. A porter and a nurse enter the room.
" Time to go Patrick. Give your wife a kiss and let's get you sorted. '
Teresa stands and let's go of his hand and strokes his face. His eyes lids flutter open and Teresa kisses him.
"See you in a few hours. Don' t give them a hard time. "
He smiles fleetingly and closes his eyes once more. The nurse places his chart on top of the bed and with the porter's help she pushes the bed and Patrick out of the room. Teresa follows along side holding Patrick's hand until she has to stop. She gives it one final squeeze, with no response, and she watches him disappear through the double doors. The nurse calls to her.
"We'll take good care of him. "
Teresa wipes a tear from her eye and turns towards the waiting room. As she sits down on the uncomfortable chairs Cho turns the corner with two drinks in his hand. She smiles at him and takes offered ungratefully.
"Thanks Kimball, shouldn't you be at work."
"We arranged a late start. It was decided we wouldn't be much use anyway with our minds at the hospital."
"We?"
"Rigsby and VanPelt are here, Rigsby's hungry, apparently he missed breakfast. I left them looking for the cafeteria."
"Thank you for coming."
They sit in silence for a few minutes, Teresa has her cup in one hand and her other arm around her waist, hugging herself. She's trying not to imagine Patrick on the operating table being cut open and his heart stopped. Her fear is if it will start again. She wraps her arm tighter around herself. Cho notices the action and gently lays his hand on her arm and gives it a squeeze.
"Last night I could see a change in Jane, he looked happy. He loves you and wants a life with you and it's been my experience that Jane usually gets what he wants, so if he has any say in it at all, he'll come back to you."
She nods and gives him a quick smile. Just then Rigsby and Van Pelt arrive."
"Hi boss."
"Hi guys, thanks for coming."
VanPelt moves to her and gives her hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"I'm sure he'll be okay."
"Thanks Grace."
She pulls away.
"Why don't you tell us about your trip? It seems to have gone very well."
Van Pelt is grinning at her and she understands what she's trying to do, at first her reaction's to resist but she remembers Jane's instructions not to worry but to believe in them as a couple and she knows that this is just what she needs.
"I'm sorry I left you guys in the lurch like that, I know it was sudden but.."
Grace interrupts her.
"It's okay, we understand. Cho's done a good job standing in. We missed you of course and we're looking forward to you both coming back."
Grace looks quickly to Cho and Rigsby. Cho reacts first.
"It was the right decision boss, but I'm happy to relinquish the reins when you return."
"I can't believe that Cho, you're a natural leader, I'm going to recommend you for your own team."
Cho's taken aback.
"I don't know about that boss, I like where I am."
"I know and I would hate to lose you, but it's time to move on, get your own team."
Everyone's silent at the thought of the team breaking up. VanPelt breaks the tension as there's suppose to be helping.
"You were about to tell us about your trip. Where did you go?"
"Our first stop was Half Moon Bay, we drove through it once on our way to a crime scene. Jane had noticed something catch my attention and insisted that it was a good place to start. And it was, it was perfect. Jane managed to sign us up as dog show judges."
This surprises them all.
"What? How?"
She smiles at their reaction and the memories of that time. It seems so long ago, but images are seared in her memory, never to be forgotten. Not just at Half Moon Bay but throughout the trip. Little could she have guessed how it would turn out, that it would be life changing for the two of them.
"The how's a long story, I wasn't happy but it turned out being a lot of fun and we broke up a dog-napping ring in the process."
Cho remarks with his deadpan delivery.
"Trust Jane not to stay out of trouble."
"Actually he was very responsible and stayed back, calling in the local police for assistance."
"He was able to talk them in to helping?"
Lisbon smiles at Rigsby.
"Apparently Jane's a hero across the state in law enforcement for bringing Red John down."
"Can't argue with that, but it must have made him murder to live with."
"Actually Cho, he never mentioned it again."
Rigsby jokes:
"Wow he was in trouble."
Lisbon's eyes cloud over while Rigsby receives daggers from Cho and VanPelt.
"Yes he was.."
She straightens a little in her chair.
"But he's much better now and he just has to get through this."
She stands up.
"I'm going to stretch my legs and get some more coffee, anyone else wants one?"
Cho and VanPelt shake their heads, Rigsby can't bring himself to look at her. She lays her hand on his arm as she passes by.
"It's all right Rigsby, I'm glad you're here and it good to remember how far he's come...it gives me hope."
He looks at her and nods his head.
"Thanks boss."
She gives his arm a squeeze and heads for the coffee machine.