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I hope you all will like this chapter too :)
Chapter 13: Home is where the patient is
Morning arrives too soon and although I'm exhausted, I find myself awake by 8:00am. I look towards Jane who appears to be sleeping comfortably; nothing to indicate that he might have moved during the night. I realize that I'm still dressed in scrubs as Jane is to be kept under isolation and observation, but as I'm getting up, I realize that one of my fingers is buried under Jane's palm, and one of his fingers has curled up against my finger!
There's a sudden moment of joy as I realize that there has indeed been some change during the night! I also remember the doctor's words that some movements are just a result of the sedation wearing off, but I try to keep my hopes up. He curled one finger and he held on to the one thing that he could grasp - my finger, that's good enough for me.
I suddenly feel overprotective about him and feel like giving him a tight hug, but since that's not an option, I settle for kisses. I give him a gentle kiss on his forehead and the back of his palm.
I'm in my own world busy showering my love on Jane when I hear someone clearing their throat; ahem, it's the nurse!
"Sorry to disturb you but it's time for Mr Jane's check-up. Could you please wait outside for some time?"
Thoroughly embarrassed and blushing, I tell her that I'll be outside the room and might make a quick trip to the washroom.
The nurse advises me to discard the surgical scrubs in the trashcan in the adjacent changing room before I can proceed to the washroom.
"Please take your time , you've been here all night. There's a bathroom in your room where you can freshen up. I'll inform someone to bring you a fresh pair of scrubs for use during the day if you wish.
"The lilac ones?" I ask the nurse...
She smiles and says, "For the day shift it is blue, but if you don't feel comfortable in it, there's a small convenience store that we have on the ground floor where you can purchase a basic tracksuit at a nominal cost."
I thank her for the information and leave the room. I realize that I'm ill-equipped to stay at the hospital without proper clothes and that I need to have a plan, because leaving Jane and going home even for a short while will make me feel uncomfortable in spite of the guard posted outside his room.
I sit outside the room and then call up Grace and ask her to pack a bag of essentials for me for the next 3 days at least. I feel the need of a good hot breakfast to help me get fueled up for the day ahead, but I am in no mood to go to the big cafeteria downstairs in these lilac scrubs, so I head over to the pantry on the floor meant for the family members of the patients. To my surprise it is well-stocked with a variety of food items in different vending machines!
I first head to the tea/coffee machine and get myself a latte. Beside the machine there's a tray full of complimentary crackers and cookies. I pick up a pack of crackers. I also pick up a small tray from the pantry counter and proceed to sit down on one of the many colourful chairs in the small but cosy pantry area. There's no one else around in the pantry for which I'm thankful because I'm in no mood to make small talk with anyone.
I finish having the coffee and the crackers and head back to my room which is right next to Jane's room. It's right outside the SICU doors, but it is technically the next one to Jane's room, so I reassure myself that I am not too far away from him. I must admit that I feel safe here on this floor. There are a minimal number of visitors in the SICU area and even on the rest of the floor there aren't too many patient relatives hanging around. Before leaving Jane's room I make sure to let the guard know about my whereabouts and that he should call me if required.
In my room, I switch on the TV to distract myself. The news is mundane and I'm almost about to switch off the TV when a name catches the breath in my throat - Patrick Jane. I turn up the volume to hear what's the news about. The news show is talking about Red John and Jane's history, but I wonder why? I continue watching...but what I see makes me feel uneasy.
In Nevada there has been a murder near the High Desert State Prison - the place from which Pete and Luke have escaped. I see Rigsby and Cho in the video and immediately call Cho.
"Cho, what's happening, I've just seen the news?"
"Boss, it's not good news. The men we were looking for, Pete and Luke? Pete has been found murdered and Luke is in the hospital barely hanging on to life."
"What?" My voice is dripping with anger and concern.
"Do we have any other details about this?"
"Yeah."
"Well what is it Cho?"
"The local PD arrived first on the scene and found the word 'JANE' carved on Pete's chest. This looks like Red John boss."
I am shocked but I maintain my composure and tell Cho to not let Luke out of his sight as Luke is the one who holds clues to our investigation. I also tell Cho to not trust any other law enforcement officer and that either he or Rigsby should be in the room with Luke at all times.
"Understood boss. Will keep you updated." Cho hangs up and I sit there numb in front of the TV thinking about Jane...
Just then my phone rings, it's Grace. I ask her to come upstairs to my room so that I can have a private conversation with her. The hospital staff knows about us and the case and thus they have no objection with Grace coming up to the room that has been allocated to me.
Grace has heard about the news too and she too is worried about Jane. We discuss how to improve the security as we know about the Blake association. The escape from the prison and Pete's subsequent murder has only proved what we were afraid of; someone on the inside of law enforcement has a hand in all this, so whom do we trust?
As we sit pondering about these situations, we hear a knock on the door. It's Nurse Sandra and she has a smile on her face.
"Good news Agent Lisbon, the treatment seems to be working. The fever has reduced and we are going to decrease the sedation a little more. The doctor has requested you to come to the room during the procedure."
I can't believe what I am hearing and I get up and go give Nurse Sandra a tight hug.
"Thank you Nurse Sandra, this is the news I've been waiting to hear!"
" Would it be okay if Agent Van Pelt accompanies me? She would like to see Jane too."
"I don't think that should be a problem. Give me a few minutes while I confirm this with the doctor and get back to you." With this the nurse leaves the room and Grace and I look at each other with happy tears in our eyes.
Nurse Sandra returns a few minutes later and confirms that it would be okay if the both of us wanted to be in Jane's room during the procedure. She reminds us to put on the scrubs before we enter his room.
Putting on the scrubs is a new experience for Grace and she seems a little uncomfortable, but I handhold her and try to get her relaxed before we enter the room. As the team leader I understand how important it is for me to be a source of support during tough times. We are all grieving, but Grace is our newest member in the team and even though she has been with us for more than 6 months, lending support wherever required is a part of my job and I take pride in that.
I've been in and out of Jane's room more times than I count, so I think my sore eyes have gotten used to the sight of the injured man on the bed in front of me, but not Grace. She had seen him for just a few moments after his surgery, so I make sure I mentally prepare her before we walk inside Jane's room.
We have worn the full set of scrubs and we know we look ridiculous and if Jane were awake right now, he would have teased us about it; that thought makes me smile a little.
"Okay Grace, push the door. I'm right behind you."
She does, and when she sees Jane like that she bursts into tears. I understand her reaction and offer the sole chair in the room for her to sit down; the one on which I was seated a few hours ago and I quietly stand next to her rubbing her back in an attempt to soothe her. The doctor and the nurse are standing on the opposite side of the bed. They give us a few moments to settle down.
The doctor and nurse Sandra brief us about Jane's current condition and proceed to start lowering the sedation.
"Agents, you should be prepared for the possibility that in a few hours or so we expect him to open his eyes as a result of the reduction in sedation. He will still be very groggy as a result of the medications but this time he will be able to open his eyes. We don't expect him to be in pain as he is still receiving the medication via IV as well as the topical solutions, but he might slowly become aware of the ventilator down his windpipe. This usually is a scary experience for patients but we request you to not panic. Someone from the nursing staff will be there in the room with you whenever this happens."
"I don't want to scare you, just wish to let you know how things might progress from here on. Also I'm sorry, but only one of you can remain with him in the room. We have already relaxed the visiting hours for him as this is a special case. The room right outside the SICU has been allocated to your team. Please feel free to use it as much as you need it. I'll be in my office should you need me."
"Thank you so much , it's very kind of you. Please allow us 5 minutes with him."
"Sure, take 10, but then one of you must leave the room as it's the hospital policy."
"Yes, we understand doctor."
The doctor leaves and I see that Grace has calmed down a bit. We look at each other with a renewed sense of hope and then look towards Jane who is still comfortably sedated. These moments of silence continue and then I decide to finally speak up.
"Jane, look who's here!" I encourage Grace to hold his palm and talk to him.
"Hi Jane, it's me Grace. I want you to get well soon and come back to the CBI soon. Rigsby misses you and so does Cho. Take care champ."
Grace barely says what she wants to say and bursts into tears again. Poor Grace, the baby of our team. I hold her hand tightly and tell her that he's going to make it and that we have to be strong for him. She nods and agrees. I ask her to go to the room given to us by the hospital and relax there for some time. I tell her I'll be back there in a few moments and then we can talk some more. She dutifully goes back and I'm once again alone with Jane...