...'Cause I Already Know...

The Rhythm Starts

Grace Van Pelt was awoken by her cellphone, notifying her that someone is calling her.

She peers over the screens with half-closed eyes and saw the caller ID.

Patrick Jane.

Why is Jane calling her at this time of night? Was there something wrong?

Think, Grace. If Jane has a problem, he’ll call Lisbon first. Unless…

“Good Evening Jane. Something wrong with Lisbon?”

“...She...she’s in the hospital. Alexian Brothers.”

“Is she okay?”, she said while tying her red hair with her free hand.

“She’s… she’s unconscious, Grace. It’s all my fault.”, she heard Jane. A second later, she heard a sniff, which she’s guessing is from her caller.

Patrick Jane doesn’t call any member of the team their first names unless he is in an extreme emotion - either happiness or sadness.

“I’ll be there in an hour.”

What the hell happened to Lisbon? Is she okay? Would she wake up? Was she shot? How come Jane knows?

These were the questions that were swirling around Grace’s head while she hurriedly changed to her clothes. Skipping the make-up, she dashed to her car, and started it up. Feeling relieved that it’s already nearing midnight so there weren’t much cars on the road, she made it to the hospital 4 minutes early. 

Going directly to the Emergency Department desk, she asked the person currently there for directions to Lisbon’s room.

“Excuse me, can I get the directions to see Teresa Lisbon?”, she said with the sweetest voice she can manage at that time.

The stereotype is true, cops love their coffee. 

“I’m sorry, visiting hours has been long up, lady.”, the nurse tactfully replied.

That’s it.

“Don’t “lady” me, bitch. I am a state agent. I need to know where the room of Teresa Lisbon is for she was injured during her line of work. I can arrest you for…”, Grace said in a menacing tone, showing her CBI badge to frighten the nurse.

“Okay, okay Ma’am! I’m so sorry! She’s in the ICU room 2. It’s on the left.”

That’ll show her. 

Not bothering to say her thanks, she goes to the direction she was told to go. She didn’t care when she was called a bitch by the nurse using a faint voice.

ICU? Why?

Seeing the room, she opened the door to look inside and she saw a sight so very rare.

Jane is beside Lisbon. Holding her hand tightly, giving it squeezes.

More importantly, Jane looks like he bawled his eyes out. His blond curls disheveled, his clothes wrinkled and full of blood.

Blood. 

She took the courage to look at Lisbon and she was horrified.

Lisbon’s face was pretty banged up, and her head and neck was wrapped around by thick bandages. Bruises of different degrees and sizes were scattered throughout her body. She would think the brunette is dead if the heart monitor wasn’t present.

She looks vulnerable.

Jane took the courage to speak.

“Physically, she… she’s fine. Nothing serious. But she wouldn’t respond, she’s just like this, sleeping without an idea of what happened to her.”

“...What happened to Boss, Jane?”

“Red John… he knocked her unconscious by hitting a bat on her head. So does Angel’s boyfriend, the suspect in the current case. Already gave him to the local P.D., confessed after a while.”

Grace couldn’t believe the story that was just told to her. She feels like she is about to cry, but she needs to stay strong for Lisbon, for Jane.

Red John? How did Jane know it was him? Why the sudden change of M.O.? Why now? Why Lisbon?

“Grace, if you want to read it, here you go.”

Jane handed her a note which which hopefully answers the questions that were bothering her.

“You seem so sloppy with the cases already, Jane. I’m here to help out a friend, hope there won’t be any distractions in that goal of catching me.”

Signed with the bloody smiley face of Red John.

Jane made sure that she was done reading the note before he spoke.

“It was my fault, Grace. I’m sorry.”

After that statement, Jane cried, showing that he was tired of holding back his feelings.

There were a lot of firsts at this moment.

It was the first time she saw her Boss, the woman that Grace look up to as her inspiration, this vulnerable and damaged.

It was the first time to see Jane without his calm and cheery facade.

Confused. Not knowing what to do. Overcomed with grief. Crying.

For once, Jane wasn’t checking over a Red John victim to get information from them before they die, but because he cares for the one his nemesis had hurt.

Grace soothes the back of her fellow team member, trying to make him feel better about the situation. She doesn’t fight the tears now, and lets it flow freely from her tired eyes to her cheeks.

“It isn’t your fault, Jane. Also, she’s alive. Everything will go back to normal, just so you wait. There’s still hope. God will help her get over this.”

I forgot that he doesn’t believe in God.

“I’m… I am truly sorry, Jane. I forgot…”

“I just hope that your God actually help Teresa.”