“Yeah, Frost, we’ll check back in twenty minutes.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Rodriguez thanked the pretty nurse for the use of the
telephone and struck up a conversation.
She was beyond chatty, talking about everything and everyone to include
asking and discussing what was going on the floor.  The FBI agent who walked past the desk paid
him no mind as he spoke with what appeared to be the hospital administrator.   By the time he was done talking her up,
Rodriguez had her phone number, address, a date for Friday and knew exactly
where those ***** dykes were.

Strolling down the hall, he watched as the lights flickered
a bit.  He knew they were going to have
to reboot most of the system, which meant that very soon he would be free to
move about to his heart’s content.

Chapter 18

“Crunchy on the
outside and soft on the inside? Really Garcia…you called me a cannoli?” Jane
said softly

“Yup,” Garcia smiled widely as she realized her previous
comment had helped lighten the mood in the room.

Smiling to herself Jane understood now why her previous
comment had resulted in laughter.  She
fought against the exhaustion that threatened to pull her back.  Briefly closing her eyes, she took as deep a
breath as she could and was shocked at the pain that snapped her eyes
open.  Hissing in pain, she sought
Maura’s eyes.

Maura squeezed her hand and whispered, “its okay honey, even
breaths, don’t try to breathe deeply Jane not yet.  Reaching for the oxygen mask she moved to put
it on her.

“No…give me a sec…please Maura, this,” pointing to the
oxygen tube around her face, “is enough…I’m okay…I’m okay…” Jane’s breathing
stabilized as she focused on Maura.

Garcia and JJ could only watch as their new friend struggled
to do the most natural thing in the world, breathe.

“Sorry guys…” Jane looked over at JJ and Garcia with a
lopsided grin, “we make…a hell of a pair…don’t we?”

Smiling sympathetically, “We certainly do,” JJ looked at
Garcia and saw that she had been affected by the episode, “Pen? You okay?”

“Hmmm?” she didn’t realize she was staring, “I’m sorry, yes,
I’m fine.” Looking from one bed to the other, she shook herself. “I’m fine
really. So my lovely ladies, do we want an update?” she looked questioningly at
Maura knowing Jane would be the most affected.

“Please…” Jane’s raspy voice carried more forcefully.