Chapter 14 - The Morning After The Night Before.
Jane was soon passed off fit at the hospital apart from a bit of bruising but Lisbon's injuries needed further investigation and she needed to be kept in overnight for observation to ensure the blows to her body had not caused any internal bleeding. An increasingly fractious Jane was soon at odds with the Doctor, who was trying to send him home and was refusing to let him wait with Lisbon.
"I know she needs rest and I'll let her rest but when she wakes up she needs to know she is not alone." Jane remonstrated.
The rather supercilious Doctor responded condescendingly. "Really Mr Jane, I do think we know what's best for the patient and in my medical opinion the patient needs complete rest, waiting here will do no good and besides you are hindering the medical staff. So take the advice from someone better qualified than you to judge and go home."
"What take advice from some petty tyrant in a white coat, who hasn't even fully read the patients notes? Do you have any idea what she has been through tonight?" Jane exploded.
"Calm down Mr Jane; histrionics won't do you or the patient any good perhaps we should give you some sedatives as well." He smirked at the nurse in attendance who looked admiringly at him.
"Sedatives you moron! A serial killer has just tried to abduct us and has beaten the crap out of my partner and you think I'm over reacting. Do you even listen to what anyone else says or are you too wrapped up in your own self importance? Maybe if you spent more time concentrating on your patient's needs and less time ogling your nurse it would be better all round." Jane turned to the nurse "I don't know what he's told you but he'll never leave his wife. I'm guessing her family is privileged and moneyed, attractive as you are he's not going to forgo membership of the Del Paso Country club for a roll in the hay, I am afraid it's just a fling to him he's just indulging his inflated ego."
Abbott stepped in to defuse the situation seeing things were in danger of getting out of hand. Flashing his FBI credentials he said "Doctor, I'm not sure whether you are aware that the patient has suffered a traumatic attack and may still be in danger even within the hospital, it's imperative that she has a guard with her and in the circumstances Mr Jane is the best person to do that. I just need to debrief Mr Jane while you conclude your examination. I must stress she is not to be left alone at any time."
Jane was lead away muttering about charlatans in white coats, Abbott had some sympathy with him but lashing out like that was unproductive.
Clearly shaken by events Jane kept nervously flexing his fingers as he tried to regain his composure, the adrenaline rush was wearing off though there was still a residual tremor in his hand and his heart was still racing, he was far too agitated to try using his biofeedback mechanism.
Abbott gradually coaxed the story out of a somewhat recalcitrant Jane, who described how he was driving home through a quiet area and a car pulled out in front of him then before he could take evasive action a van pulled up behind him and two men dragged him out of his car and bundled him into the back of the van.
"It was all over in a flash there was nothing I could do, they bound and gagged me and took me to Angela's grave. They didn't say anything to me so I could only guess that they were laying a trap for Lisbon and that Mashburn would make an appearance for a theatrical finale." Jane shook his head thinking how easy it had been to abduct him.
"They clearly weren't expecting Lisbon to appear at that juncture, I still don't know how she found me." Jane looked at Abbott enquiringly.
"She tracked your phone Jane, technically illegal but we'll let that one pass - good job she did." Abbott informed him.
Jane smiled wryly "That's my Lisbon."
"Lisbon sent texts to alert us that she needed assistance, I came as soon as I could. There was someone else in the graveyard, I saw him making his escape as we arrived - were you aware of that Jane?"
"No but it makes sense - Lisbon really did save the day again." Jane appeared to be talking to himself at this point. "I couldn't have done better myself bluffing them, such presence of mind." He spoke with obvious pride.
"I guess something of you must rub off on her after all this time, not that I'm sure it's all good. From what I hear Lisbon used to be a stickler for rules - now she's prepared to throw the rule book away." Abbott mused.
"Meh, rules are made to be broken. I doubt you would do anything different in the circumstances." Jane looked Abbott straight in the eye trying to get the measure of the man; he had a feeling Abbott would not be averse to bending the rules to get results.
Abbott refused to be drawn and pressed on. "Jane you can't carry on like this, you got away with it this time but this will end in tragedy if we don't do something. Playing sitting ducks is no longer an option."
Jane nodded "I know, it would have all been over if they had captured us both." He paused reflecting ruefully "even if I gave myself up, I know he would still come after Lisbon regardless. He will not be satisfied until he has taken us both out."
"We're going to interview your assailants in the morning to see what they know, assuming we can get anything out of them." Abbott said
"You're assuming they'll still be alive in the morning. Red John's accomplices have a habit of mysteriously dying. If you want to interview them I'd do it as soon as possible" Jane said cynically.
Abbott paused wondering who had been assigned to guard them; he did not know all the agents personally yet. "Oh Crap. I suppose I'd better get them out of state, we don't know how far Blake extends. Look Lisbon needs to recover my advice is to find a safe haven for a week or two then we will regroup and work out a plan."
Returning to Lisbon's side Jane looked ruefully at her battered face, fortunately it was only her nose not her eyes that had taken the beating, There was some swelling around the jaw and redness but the worst of it would go down in a few days, it did not look so bad now her bloodied nose had been cleaned up. Jane gently bent down to place a kiss on her forehead before taking her hand as he settled down for the night. Lisbon's eyes flickered at the feel of his touch and she groaned in discomfort though blessedly the pain meds were strong enough to keep her asleep.
Jane could barely contemplate how this bird like woman found the strength to put herself through these ordeals; he recalled the numerous occasions she had put herself in the line of fire, often without a thought for her own safety.
He tried to drift to sleep but was haunted by the thought of Lisbon being captured by Mashburn, it was all too easy to superimpose Lisbon's head on the image of mutilated bodies already etched so deep into his psyche. Mashburn had always liked Lisbon, would he have left her alone if they had not gotten together? Had he endangered Lisbon by his public display of affection? It was too horrific to contemplate that both the women he loved could die because of his actions.
At some stage he finally fell asleep for a few hours but was woken by the nurse coming in to check on Lisbon, who was still in a deep drug induced sleep. He asked where he could get a drink not wanting to be far from Lisbon and the nurse kindly agreed to get him some tea, he didn't want Lisbon to wake up alone.
Eventually the drugs started to wear off and Jane could hear Lisbon groan and a little furrow appeared between her eyebrows as she frowned with the growing discomfort. She drowsily opened her eyes taking in her surroundings, she felt someone holding her hand and saw Jane's tousled hair backlit against the window, her eyes came into focus then she saw his tired and concerned face. She smiled weakly – ooh that hurt!
"Hey you" Jane smiled back at her. "Teresa you are safe now don't worry, just rest and sleep it off."
Her eyes closed and she drifted off again, it was some hours later before she woke fully. She groaned as she tried to move; that son of a bitch had left his imprint on her she dreaded seeing how bruised she was, she ached all over and guessed her ribs were bruised if not cracked. God she would kill for a coffee now; her mouth was dry and parched, her tongue was sore and swollen - she guessed she must have bitten her tongue at some stage. She felt a gentle squeeze of her hand, at least that did not hurt.
She looked over to Jane, who gently brushed her hair away from her pale face.
"Welcome back, I guess you could do with a drink. I'm afraid it's water for now but let's try and get something down you and sort out some pain meds for you." Lisbon winced as her raised her to take a sip of water, those pain meds could not come soon enough. The nurses gave her some lower dose meds that would not cause so much drowsiness and slowly she started to feel a bit better. Typically she insisted on making her own way to the bathroom, anxious to see the damage to her face.
She felt a bit woozy and could not stand for long but was pleased to see no lasting damage had been done, though not a vain woman it was natural to be concerned about her face. She called Jane in to help as she started to wilt and he gently helped her back to bed.
The doctors said apart from rest there was no reason for her to be in hospital and were happy to let her go home later in the day provided that she had someone to look after her. Jane arranged for some loose fitting clothes, she would not be wearing her jeans for a few days with all that bruising. Needless to say Lisbon wanted out as soon as possible so they arranged for a taxi to take them home.
Jane gingerly helped her undress, she could see his watery eyes as he observed the vivid bruising down her side. He knelt down and gently kissed her bruises his eyes looking at her as he did, then he worked his way up to her lips. His voice was hoarse with emotion when he said "I can't let him do this again. This has got to stop."
Lisbon put her arm around his neck and they just lay there as Jane struggled to contain his emotions, she felt the moisture on his cheek but just let him get it out of his system, taking some comfort from his unadulterated display of affection. Jane covered her over and they just lay there happy to be home together again.
Lisbon could not have asked for a more attentive nurse, Jane tended her every need making fresh soup to try and get her to eat something and helping her in and out of the bath as she tried to soothe her aches away. His ministrations were tender and gentle but Lisbon was not used to being fussed over and soon began to re-assert her independence.
"I'm not an invalid Patrick just sore, I need to move around." She insisted.
"I know but it wounds me to see you struggling, I just want to help you sweetheart." Jane felt every ache with her.
Lisbon raised her hand and stroked his cheek "I know Patrick and you do help but it's just going to take time to heal. Now please stop fussing."
Lisbon had a restless night and was having a lie in to recuperate; she was still in bed when Friedman made a surprise visit.
"So Patrick you had a close shave by all accounts?" Friedman said hoping to draw Jane out of his shell. Jane just nodded his head not looking Friedman in the face.
"Patrick it may help to talk about it, even if you just want to bounce ideas off me."
Jane stared sulkily into space he did not particularly want to talk - he did not know what to say, he felt inexplicably emotional and he felt no need to keep his guard up with Friedman.
"You should have seen her Doctor, I just had to watch there was nothing I could do. Apparently she had tracked my phone without telling me - otherwise who knows what would have happened. I can't see her get hurt again, I've got to stop it."
"How do you propose to do that?" Friedman asked gently.
An almost deranged smile passed Jane's lips as he turned to the Doctor. "I've got to kill him, that's how. That's the only thing that will stop this."
Friedman was at a loss for words, he could understand the logic but did not want to sanction such actions. "Before you do something you may regret, let's talk this through. Tell me something about Mashburn to see if we can find a way forward."
Jane knew Friedman would not let this drop so he started to think things through."Mashburn has an easy charm coupled with a ruthless streak, he can manipulate people his network is extensive, we can't rely on any of the agencies being untainted, individuals perhaps but not the institutions.
I remember our first meeting when he was a key witness in a murder case and he revelled at being under the spotlight. He loved the thrill of being a suspect and loved his fast cars and boats; I remember he contended nothing is dangerous if you plan it well enough. He exerts complete control over all aspects of his life."
"Can you exploit his weaknesses draw him out into the open? People in his position are often prone to hubris" Friedman suggested.
Jane's eyes lit up at this, "I do believe you may have given me an idea Doctor, I need to think this through."
"Can I help?" Friedman asked
"Deniability Doctor – it's best you don't know what I'm thinking." Jane said apologetically.
As soon as Lisbon was well enough Jane arranged for them to disappear for a couple of weeks, he jokingly told Lisbon they were running away to the fair. Pete Barsocky arranged for someone to pick them up and he sorted out an old airstream for them to stay in. They would not be staying with the carnies as there were still suspicions about Sean Barlow and they did not want their whereabouts to become known but Pete and Sam would be joining them for company.
Jane let it be generally known that they would be back in 2-3 weeks time so that Mashburn would not think they had run away and be tempted into taking any precipitous action to make them return.
Jane hadn't told Lisbon the fine detail of his plan yet, he was saving it until they were safely away before outlining the full plan. He would need Pete's help to see the plan through and that may necessitate leaving Lisbon with Samantha for a few days, Jane knew Lisbon would object so he would save that news for later. Hopefully they would recharge their batteries before the next onslaught.
A/N This is a transitional chapter and was a bit of a struggle - it reads a bit clunky but no amount of editing seemed to help!