Authors notes: Thank you for the lovely reviews and follows and favs. and to all who are reading. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Doctor Polly enters the Patrick Jane's room. He's dressed in light beige casual trousers and a white and light green finely striped button down shirt, the sleeves rolled up just below the elbow. She's taken back to last time she dismissed him from hospital, Then he was dressed in suit trousers, a light blue shirt and a waistcoat. She mentally shakes her head, that she remembers is a testament to the man sitting on the bed in front of her. But then she hasn't had many patients like Patrick Jane. She corrects herself, she hasn't had any patient like Patrick Jane. He came in to her life as a battered man, who'd been through hell. The physical torture was plain to see on his body, and as the doctors worked on him a quiet reverence had fallen on the room as his injuries testified to what he'd been through. That they were treating him was a witness to his strength.
What wasn't visible was evidence that physical torture had not been enough for his captor, he'd also sought to degrade him and fill him with shame. This had almost had the most damaging effects, as the shame drove Patrick to hate himself, to push help away, push those closest to him away, and lead him down a path of self-destruction.
She looks to Teresa Lisbon, sat on the bed next to him, she has a magazine in her hand, from which she was sharing something with him but she set it down as Doctor Polly entered the room. If not for this woman, this story may well have had a very different ending. Doctor Polly knew about Patrick's past by the time he was conscious and knew that she was in for a challenge. She read about his stint in the mental hospital and wondered if his ordeal would send him there once more. From the start she could tell that Patrick was closing in on himself, that it would be a hard road to open him up, but it soon became obvious that he held a strong connection to his partner, who barely left his side and it quickly became clear that she would be the key to his recovery. Teresa never gave up on him, despite his attempts to push her away. She knew how to reach him and she continued until she achieved it.
To Doctor Polly it was obvious they loved each other and from the talk around the coffee machine they were the only ones who didn't know it. But all that has changed, they're engaged, deeply in love and Patrick is ready to live in a different world. A world where Red John is behind bars, never to be released, put there by Patrick, when Red John attacked him once more in the hospital bed. In fact from what she's learned his allowed himself to be a target, relying on his colleagues to rescue him in time. Now she can also give him a clean bill of health, a few weeks of slow recuperation is all it should take to complete his recovery.
"How come you're dressed, it's not official that you're leaving."
Patrick beams at her.
"Positive thinking, and I'm leaving today, whether you give me the all clear or not?"
As she expects Teresa objects:
"No you're not, you're only leaving if the doctor says it's okay."
Patrick looks at Teresa, smiles a 'that's what you think' smile and looks back at the doctor, who's studying his chart. She's read the information that she needs ten times before Patrick coughs and she looks up. She frowns at him.
"There's something here that I don't understand, I would like a test done just to check it out before I feel I can discharge you."
Patrick stares at her and then smiles.
"You're going to have to do a lot better than that to fool me doctor…good try though."
"You can go home Patrick and restart your life. The nurse has the discharge papers ready and the medicines you need to take home. I instructed them to have them ready so you could go home as soon as I'd been in."
Patrick jumps off the bed.
"Whoo oo!"
Quickly he has the Doctor enveloped in a hug. He pulls away.
"Thanks doctor for everything you've done. Not just being a doctor but a friend too. Keep an eye out for a wedding invitation."
It takes Doctor Polly a moment to recover herself.
"Thank you, I wouldn't miss it for the world. Just take each day one step at a time, as long as you don't rush things you should be fine in eight weeks and be able to live a normal life."
Patrick's reply is heartfelt.
"A normal life will be good."
Teresa interjects.
"I'm certain my life will never be normal again. Thank you for everything and I'll make sure he behaves."
"Good luck."
Patrick answers:
"Thank you."
Doctor Polly nods her head towards Teresa.
"I was talking to her."
She smiles and opens the door.
"Take care the two of you."
And then she's gone.
Patrick and Teresa look at one another. Jane leans in and gives her a kiss.
"I'm looking forward to you taking care of me."
"That's what you say now, in two days you'll be calling me a spoil sport and a jailer."
Patrick looks at her in horror.
"I disagree, it'll take at least four days."
"I better make the most of these four days and then ear plugs and a gun for the rest."
"Always good to have a plan."
A nurse enters with discharge papers and medicines and they're soon on their way home. As Teresa drives out the car park Jane resists an urge to have one last look, he takes Teresa's hand and gives it a squeeze.
"I believe we have a ring to buy."
Teresa rolls her eyes.
"Don't start, you promised me four days."
Jane sighs. Teresa looks at him out of the corner of her eye.
"There's always the internet…"