Yellow Ledbetter

Just Breathe

A few more days had passed since they tried to wake up Jane. Cristina decided to slowly lower the vent to see how much Jane could breathe on her own.

Jane made significant improvements and the discussion to see if they should put her on oxygen came up again.

It had been another six days since the first attempt and Maura was worried.

She wanted for them to try again, but the only person to hold back on advancing anything was JD. He was worried about Jane's heart rate racing again.

He felt guilty that he was holding everything back, since Jane's lungs were clear of any fluids. He had called home and explained that he needed an extension due to the case.

Knocking on the door, he poked his head in, "I hope I'm not disturbing anything." "No, no, come in." Maura looks up from her phone.

JD closed the door behind him, "I didn't see the kids in the waiting room." "They're flying back in a couple days. I told them to make sure that everything is packed." "Shit, that's right. School is starting back up."

"Yup." Maura set her phone down as he took a seat next to her. "I'm sorry if I came across as rude the other day. I really thought that she'd respond a hell of a lot better." He slid his hands into his lab coat pockets.

"It's okay, you were just doing your job." "No, I got too greedy. I've worked with kids the last four years and forgot that the bounce back quicker." He chuckled, "Your wife on the other hand, is progressing incredibly well and I just assumed that she'd be ready."

"I thought she'd be ready to. Doctor Yang said this morning that her heart has recovered very well and that you are looking at taking the stent out sooner." Maura played with her wedding ring.

"Yeah...if things continue to heal as well as it has been then it can be removed a few weeks earlier." "Would you be doing the removal surgery?"

"If she's back in the states by then, yes. My resident and I will fly up to Boston. However, it'll more than likely be Doctor Yang. She still has a long road to recovery." JD watched the monitors.

"How long after she wakes up will you have her start physical therapy?" Maura asked. "Depends on how soon Amelia feels her brain is functioning well enough." JD looked at Jane briefly before back up to the monitors.

The two sat in silence for a minute before JD spoke again, "I think we should try to put her on oxygen...tomorrow." "Really?" "Yeah...she looks so close to breathing on her own that-"

He was interrupted by shrilling. He looked and found Jane gasping. "Shit! Page Doctor Yang and Shepherd, now!" He yells, going to the side, "Okay, Jane, hold still, this will feel uncomfortable but I'm gonna remove the tube okay?"

Jane manages to give a slight nod. "Okay, deep breath. Can I get some water?" JD turned to the nurse briefly before slowly and gently pulling out the tube. Once it was out, Jane began to cough.

"Okay, good." JD says helping her sit up. Maura rubbed her back as she began to wheeze for a little bit. Once her coughing fit was done, the nurse helped her get a drink.

"Much...better..." Jane croaked out as JD put the Nasal Cannula on her. "Alright Jane, I'm Doctor Burr-Montgomery and my colleagues, Doctors Yang and Shepherd will be here shortly. Can I have you lean a little bit forward and take some breaths for me?"

"Sure." Jane winces as the nurse helped lean her forward. "Alright, deep breath."

Jane did so, gingerly. "Good. Now, I'm gonna listen to your heart." JD says helping her lying back down, "Excellent."

Cristina and Amelia ran into the room and froze. JD motioned for them to come over.

"Hi Jane, I'm Doctor Shepherd and I'm gonna do some basic neuro tests." Amelia pulled out a small flashlight as JD took Cristina to the side and spoke to her in a hushed tone.

"Good, now can you tell me your name?" "Jane..Rizzoli-Isles." "Your age?" "I think 49." "Can you tell me your wife's name?" "Maura...where is she?"

"I'm right here." Maura moved onto the bed into Jane's eyesight. "Where?" Jane asked, "Everything is blurry."

Maura looked at Amelia, alarmed. JD and Cristina turned back.

"Okay, uhhh how many fingers am I holding up?" Amelia says holding up three. "Two..? No wait...uh four?" Jane squints.

Amelia looked over to Cristina before back to Jane, "Okay, I'm gonna get some tests run on you to see what's going on with your vision. In the meantime," Amelia paused and guided Jane's hand into Maura's, "this is Maura's hand. She's right in front of you and I want you to talk to her while I go speak with my colleagues in the hall. Okay?"

"Sure Doc." Jane says, trying to look around. "Okay, we'll be right back." Amelia smiled before ushering out Cristina and JD.

"Maura?" Jane asked. "Yes, I'm right here." Maura scooted closer. "I'm sorry." "For what?" "For not coming home." Jane's eyes began to tear up, "I understand if you hate me and never want to-"

"Jane," Maura said, "I'm not mad at you. I was scared that you wouldn't come back to me. The last four years I wondered if you were okay. But now that I see you, breathing, everything that had scared me has been washed away."

"I wish I could see you." Jane cried. "Me too, Jane, me too."

Meanwhile outside, the trio was trying to figure out what was happening.

"Did you accidentally nick something?" Cristina questioned. "No, if I did the CT and MRIs would've picked it up." Amelia began to pace.

"Why don't you check again in twelve hours to see if there is any improvement." Cristina said.

"Okay. I'm just hoping that it's just temporary from the sedation." "What if it's permanent?" "I don't know. I don't know."