Notes:

I am extremely sorry for abandoning this story during 2020 – 2023. During the pandemic I contracted COVID pneumonia and barely made it through that illness. Life, since then has been very difficult as I have long COVID. The numerous hospitalizations and doctor visits I've had since then have been difficult and time-consuming.

I also couldn't continue with this story as I myself had a near-death experience during COVID. Such an event is traumatic and considering the fact that my story has its main character in the hospital, it all felt too traumatic for me.

I've finally been able to muster up the courage to write this story again. I hope people will still read this! Thank you to all of you who were invested in my story, I hope you come back and join me in this crazy storytelling adventure!

Chapter 14: Intervention and Protection

I'm seated near Jane's bed and find myself thinking about a hundred things at once... When will he wake up? Will he be in pain? Will it all be too scary for him? How do we protect Luke? How should we protect Jane here? My mind is overwhelmed with these questions. The Red John development in the case is an unexpected one and it has shaken me up a bit. I admit to myself that I am terrified for Jane right now, but he doesn't need the worried me, I need to be strong, alert and my confident self for him and the unit. Before heading out of the room, I hold Jane's good hand in my hand and say a small prayer for him and ask God to protect him from whatever evil is out there. I kiss his forehead (which now feels like a little bit back to normal temperature) and tell him that I will be back in some time.

I leave his room and walk towards mine with a heavy heart due to what has happened so far, but there's also a tiny bit of happiness that I feel when I think about the fact that Jane might open his eyes soon. I open the door, and I find Grace crying silently while keeping an eye out for any new news pertaining to Jane or Red John. I hug her, and she cries harder, but I let her cry. The stress bottled up inside each one of us is going to come out one way or the other, so I let her cry while I try to remain as stoic as I can.

After a few minutes when she calms down and has had some water, she speaks up.

"Boss, I'm worried about Jane. What if Red John reaches here too? What are we going to do about this whole thing?"

"I think we should inform Hightower. She had asked us to keep her in the loop anyway."

"Yeah, that would be a good idea boss." Grace sniffles.

Now the problem is, I can't leave the hospital, and I need Grace by my side for any assistance that might be required, so I decide to have a Skype call with Hightower. I don't even bother messaging her to ask if she has the time right now; I simply try my luck and hope that she's available for a video call.

I dial out and she answers.

"Agent Lisbon, I've been waiting to hear from you. How is Patrick?"

"He's okay ma'am. He went through a rough patch in the last 24 hours due to a high fever and infection. He is still being kept in isolation, but the good news is that his fever is reducing and the doctors feel he might wake up today."

"That's great!" Hightower beams at me... "But I see a 'but' coming...? What is it Lisbon?"

"Have you heard the news ma'am?"

"No, what's happened?"

"The two suspects who we were going to interrogate with regards to the shooting, one of them has been found murdered while the other one is severely injured and has been hospitalized. Also, the suspect Pete, something was done to him before his murder."

"What is it Lisbon? Hightower's tone turns serious.

"The word Jane was carved on the victim's chest. We think it is Red John." I try to sound as calm as I can, but I know that Hightower can feel and see the worry, anger, and frustration etched across my face and through my body language.

"I am terribly sorry to hear that, Agent Lisbon." Hightower looks shocked, but she composes herself quickly.

"What do you need from me?"

I look over to Grace who's sitting right next to me but is not visible in the call. Our eyes convey the same thing to each other and I feel a sense of relief within me that my team members are thinking along the same lines.

"Ma'am, we need more security at the hospital here as well as at the hospital where Luke is being treated. I've asked Rigsby and Cho to be in his room at all times, but it's just the both of them there. I will be a little less worried if we have some more security there... but there's a problem."

"What?"

"We have heard about some reports of an association called the Blake Association, which is comprised of law enforcement agents and other people in the judiciary system. These people follow Red John's orders. Apparently, the association has people from the lowest level to the highest level, so we don't know if we can trust anyone."

"What? How and when did you get to know about this Agent Lisbon? Why wasn't I informed earlier?" Hightower sounds a bit angry...

"It was just about two weeks ago that we got a slight hint of this association's existence through a random shooting that happened in our county. When we reached the location, the victim uttered two words—Tiger Tiger. We didn't realise what it meant back then, but through some more investigations done by Jane, we've come to realise that those words are like a codeword used by the members of the Blake Association. There are officers in the FBI as well who are a part of this organization, so this is why we need more armed security at both the hospitals, but we need officers who have been thoroughly vetted."

Hightower looks shocked; she takes a minute to respond.

"Agent Lisbon, I will get to work on this matter immediately. However, I will need someone from your team to be at the office to coordinate things with me."

"I will send Agent Van Pelt to be with you ma'am."

"Very well, Agent Lisbon. I understand the difficult aspects of this case, so I just want to say that you hang in there. We will get Jane out of this safely. You have my word."

"Thank you, ma'am"

"Until then, be there at the hospital, Agent Lisbon, and keep me informed of Jane's progress."

"Yes, I will. Thank you ma'am"

Van Pelt has heard the conversation that took place with Hightower. She looks at me for further instructions.

"You heard the call. Agent Hightower wants you to be with her, so go and help her with whatever she needs."

"Yes boss, but what about you?"

"I'll be okay here and so will be Jane. Call me if you need anything and keep me informed about what's happening."

Grace leaves, and once again I'm left alone with the innumerable thoughts in my mind.