Chapter Seven (epilogue)

Hours later Lisbon woke up feeling much better and rested in a private room with drawn curtains. An IV was still dripping into her hand but other than that, there was nothing tying her down to her bed. Van Pelt rose from her chair as Lisbon woke. "You're back," Van Pelt said with a relieved smile. "You've slept quite a long time."

"What time is it?"

"About 5 p.m. They've done tests on your ears and scans on your head. You slept through it all. The damage to your ears should repair itself in the next few weeks; the doctor said you're going to be hearing a slight ringing tone for some time. No music, headsets or loud noises aloud. Fortunately you don't have a concussion."

"My headache is gone," Lisbon reacted surprised.

"They sedated you to allow your body to rest."

"Where are the others?" Lisbon asked, leaning back into her pillows. "Where/how is Jane?"

"He's doing quite well all-considering. They still have him on the ventilator though. Rigsby is dealing with the bodies in the desert, he drove up there with the police and coroner to retrieve them. Cho is with Jane."

"Is Cho alright?"

"Yeah, he's fine. He slept a couple of hours and looks as if nothing happened."

"That figures," Lisbon smiled. "If it weren't for him –"

"Don't say that too much to him," Van Pelt smiled. "The police were all over him, congratulating him and he took off. You know what Cho's like."

Lisbon laughed. "Can I see Jane?"

Van Pelt pushed a call button. "Let's ask."

A few minutes later a nurse, followed by a doctor, entered her room. Lisbon waited patiently until they examined her ears and asked questions about her headaches and her eyes. Satisfied, the doctor approved her release. The nurse brought a cup of soup and sandwiches that she devoured. It had been almost a day since she properly ate and she felt famished. Her IV was then removed and the nurse helped her out of bed, watching her as she stood firmly on her feet. She felt fine.

Van Pelt waited outside while Teresa dressed. Together they walked over to the small ICU where five patients lay hooked on machines. As they entered Jane's cubicle, Lisbon held her breath, staring at the many machines that monitored Jane. She was used to seeing this, but it still hurt.

Cho saw them and took Lisbon in his arms like he had done the night before. "You okay, boss?" he just asked.

She leaned into him, realizing that this past night had created a new bond of trust between all of them, having come so close to disaster. "I'm good. How are you?"

"Perfect," Cho grinned, smiling for the first time since it happened. He took a step backwards then and allowed her closer to the bed.

Jane's chest was bare, a new tube running out of it. A thick, stretchy bandage covered his entire torso, holding the broken ribs into place. There was a medical pad where he had been operated, covering the wound. His right arm was strapped against his chest. An IV was stuck in his hand, hooked onto three different bags, another drip pushed fresh blood into him. The ventilator was still in his throat. He looked as white as the sheets covering him. But his face was finally pain free. Lisbon hoped and prayed he wouldn't remember the excruciating pains he had been in on the aircraft, realizing at the same time that his brilliant mind would remember every single detail.

"It looks worse than it is," a nurse said, coming in with a chart and blood pressure equipment, checking his temperature and vitals. "The ARDS is under control; his lung is filling up again and doing fine. The broken ribs will take some time to heal but they won't cause any more problems. We're keeping his right arm elevated to release some of the pressure. When he's up and about, he'll have to wear a sling for some time. And his fevers have gone too, the antibiotics are working nicely."

Lisbon took it all in and just nodded, realizing once more how lucky they had been.

"Thank you," she just said.

"I'll get you some chairs."

"I'm going to grab some coffee," Cho said.

"I'm coming with you," Van Pelt reacted.

Before Lisbon could say anything, they had left, leaving her alone with a lot of machines and her consultant in between them. Mixed emotions washed over Lisbon as she relived the events of the previous night. She couldn't push her cold fears away, replaying it over and over again in her head.

Quietly she sat down and watched her sleeping friend for hours, her hand clutching the small cross lingering over her throat. If there was a God, he would have to listen to her. All the time, Jane didn't stir a single muscle.

Hours later, or so it seemed, when darkness had already fallen over Palm Springs and people were chanting 'Happy Birthday' to someone on the floor, movement came from the bed. The first thing she noticed was that his left hand was shaking. It moved up and down on the bed, his fingers tensing.

Then his head moved and she could tell he was trying to open his eyes. As he did, she saw fear and panic in them. "Jane," she said, jumping up so fast that her chair fell backwards with a loud smack on the tiled floor. "Jane, it's me. Stay calm."

She knew his instincts were telling him to fight the tube in his throat. Frantically she pushed the call button but nurses were already on their way, alarmed by the falling chair.

"Mr. Jane," a young blonde woman spoke, placing her hand on his shoulder to calm him down. "You're in a hospital and we have a tube down your throat to help you breathe better. Don't fight it."

Jane made gurgling sounds, hating the tube inside of him but calmed down nonetheless.

A female doctor walked in and examined him. "Looks like he's back," she said with a smile in her voice. "Mr. Jane, I'm going to pull the tube out of your throat. It will feel strange. Try not to fight it as I pull it out, alright?"

Quickly and efficiently the nurse and doctor removed the tube from Jane's throat, replacing it with an oxygen tube under his nose. "There," the doctor said kindly, "much better, isn't it?"

Jane had difficulty talking. His throat felt raw and dry. The nurse placed an ice cube into his mouth, which he sucked on gratefully. He watched as they spoke amongst themselves, checking the bandages on his chest, taking and discussing his vitals.

"It seems the worst has passed," the doctor said to Lisbon with a smile. "Fever is down, heartbeat is regular, breathing is returning to normal. If this keeps up, we can transfer him in the morning."

"That's fantastic news, doctor," Lisbon spoke, a smile finally forming on her stressed face. "Can I stay here tonight?"

"Miss Lisbon, why don't you go home and get some rest? You look exhausted."

Lisbon smiled. "Thank you but I'm fine. I am staying right here."

The doctor nodded, leaning over Jane. "You're very lucky to have someone that looks out for you like her."

Jane delivered the perfect smile as he looked at Lisbon and replied, "Yes, I am."

As they were left alone, she reached for his left hand and squeezed it. "We look out for each other," she said softly.

He brought her hand to the side of his face and closed his eyes as she leaned forward and kissed his forehead, knowing they had made it through another day.

For now, that was more than enough.

The End