The boys of the BAU and BPD had become fast friends once the
tension and anxiety over Jane had eased.
They all visited daily with her and Korsak had even gone so far as to
kiss her on the forehead when he thought she was sleeping, before realizing
that Jane was watching him with one eye open.
Jane had made it clear to him that she was not going to let him live it
down.

The third full day after Maura shot Rodriguez, Jane was
sitting up in bed waiting for Maura when Emily and JJ stopped by.

“Hey, if it isn’t the walking wounded,” Jane said.  She sounded more like her old self, though
there was still breathlessness in her voice.

“Hey none of that, at least we’re walking…” The smile on
Emily’s face was mirrored in Jane’s.

“I’ll be there soon enough, here’s hoping I’m outta here
soon.” Jane’s griping about getting out had started yesterday.  Maura was already fed up with her.

“Jane’” JJ said, “you know better than that.  You’re doing better but you have to let
yourself heal…you almost died…more than once…” JJ’s voice was serious.  She herself still bore the ill effects of her
run in with Rodriguez.  She still favored
her healing ribs; Her right hand was still wrapped and the bruises on her face
were turning beautiful shades of purple.

“I know JJ, believe me I’m not to keen on ending up back here.  How are you guys feeling by the way?  You okay at Maura’s?”

“We’re good,” Emily moved her arm around in the sling,
“still hurts, but you know…”

“Yeah I do…” Jane said, today was the first day she had been
able to sit up, and the pain she had felt initially was only just subsiding,
“pain meds are highly recommended right now.
Did you see Maura?”

Nodding JJ said, “she’s on her way, she wanted to stop and
pick something up first.”

Eyebrow raised, Jane couldn’t remember Maura saying anything
about that. Shifting in the bed she hissed in pain as she tugged on the staples
along her second surgical incision.

“Jane?”

“I’m fine,” she said through gritted teeth, glancing over at
the monitor she had grown to hate, she watched as the monitor reflected the
erratic beating in her chest.  Forcing a
grin, “really guys…just pulled at the staples.”

Emily and JJ just looked at each other and shook their
heads; Jane was the most stubborn person they had ever met.