This is a follow up to Red Daze. I would suggest reading that first. Jane hijacked this story and I've no idea what he's up to, but he is really twisting the heartstrings of his CBI family. Warning Jane pain.

This is for Anna, krystknght, and allanon9 because they wanted more after chapter 5 of Red Daze.

The Statement

Jane slept through the night mostly due the pain meds and later sedation when his nightmares threatened to pull out stitches. Lisbon didn't have the heart to wake him, but now it's morning and she needed a statement to catch the bastards that did this to him.

She spoke softly, "Jane. Jane, wake up."

She lightly touched his hand. His entire body jerked, brow wrinkling. He breathed out a small groan and settled back into slumber. She fought back guilty tears, knowing it was better to get it done now so he could rest and recover. He's been through so much. Deep contusions covered his body. Surgery repaired the torn ligaments and deep lacerations, but they will take time to heal. His shoulders and broken ribs will be painful for weeks perhaps a month or two. His jaw was swollen and badly bruised. One eye nearly swollen closed. Wait, not closed?

"Jane, I know you're awake."

"Tired." He muttered, good eye fluttering open.

Lisbon frowned. "I know you're tired and hurting, but we have to do this."

"Water?"

"I need to raise the head of the bed so you can drink. Ok?"

He blinked back at her. She pushed the button; the bed motor whirled, slowly raising Jane into an upright position.

"Ow!" A grimace covered his entire face. He gritted his teeth distorting the swollen jaw.

"Sorry. I'll get you some water." Lisbon nervously poured water into a plastic cup and dropped in a straw.

He gave her a pitiful look as she held the cup for him to sip from the straw. He took a few sips and closed his eyes. She put the cup on the bedside table and pulled a recorder out of her purse. Deciding the best place for the recorder, she put it on the bed next to her chair.

Jane looked at the recorder then up to Lisbon. She had never seen him pout so.

"Jane, cut the guilt trip."

"What?" giving her the innocent boy look.

Lisbon smiled sweetly. "If I could find a place that wasn't already bruised, I would punch you!"

"You're welcome to look."

Lisbon looked away waiting to stop blushing. She cleared her throat and glared back at him. She turned on the recorder. "Jane, you understand I am recording this interview."

He looked at her bewildered. "Oh… yes?"

"I need your full statement about what happened."

Jane stared off nervously grasping the bed sheet. The gauze covering his wrist peeked out from under the sling. She wanted to tell him it was ok, he was safe, he could talk about what happened. She knew not to rush him. Finally, Jane whispered. "I… I didn't call in. I'm sorry."

"What? Jane, I'm confused. You didn't call in?" Lisbon was starting to worry about his ability to cope. Could it be the pain meds?

"Yes." His eyes wondered up to hers. "I didn't call in because I was in the hospital."

Lisbon blinked a couple of times trying to wrap her head around what he was talking about.

"This is about me missing work Tuesday." He looked at her imploringly.

"No, this is about why you are in the hospital. I need your statement. Tell me how you ended up in the hospital."

"Because that cop thought I needed an ambulance…" Lisbon jumped up and paced desperately trying to regain her composure. He was playing her. She needed to get her anger under control. "And the ambulance brought me here. " He watched her pace and think.

Her shoulders slumped and she went back to his bedside. With a big sigh, she sat in the chair. "Jane, who beat the hell out of you and why?"

"I don't know I was blindfolded."

"What about your super powers? What did you hear, what did you smell?"

"Nothing, I've got nothing."

"Jane, I've had enough!" Lisbon stood up and grabbed her purse. "I'll be sending Cho and Rigsby over to take your statement." She stomped to the door and turned around. "If you don't cooperate, I'll have Rigsby give you a shoulder massage!"

"I have your threat on the recorder!"

"Damn it, Jane, why are you doing this!" She stomped back, picked up the device and bolted from the room, slamming the door in her wake. She had no preparation for him to be… well Jane, under these conditions.

"Jane. Wake up." Cho waved his hand over Jane's eyes. There, a small twitch of the eyelid.

"I know you're awake."

His bed was still in the setting position. Jane started to stretch and yawn, but his body protested loudly. "Gawd!"

"No, Cho."

"Hurts Cho!" Jane moaned.

"Don't care. You pissed off Lisbon."

Rigsby towered over the bed. "Yea, and she's making our lives miserable."

Cho turned on the recorder and put it on the bed between him and Jane. He sat down in the chair and mentally prepared for the interview.

"Special Agent Kimball Cho, CBI, interview with Patrick Jane, case number A20100830-9023874. Mr. Jane, do you understand that your statement is being recorded?"

"Water?"

"Mr. Jane, do you understand that your statement is being recorded?"

"Yes. Can I have some water now?"

"No. Tell me what happened after you left CBI headquarters on Friday."

"I got in my car." Jane coughed then groaned. Rigsby frowned at Cho and grabbed the cup on the bedside table. Jane took a few sips. "Thanks Rigsby."

"No problem." Rigsby put the cup down and stood back placing his hands on his hips.

Cho remained stoic, studying Jane's body language looking for answers. Lisbon warned him about Jane's odd behavior. While under the influence of drugs, mental stress and great physical discomfort, he still his wielded his strongest defense weapons, manipulation, teasing and lying. Cho would take as long as it took to find the answers. "Tell me what happened this weekend."

"I went to the grocery store and bought…"

"Jane, move on to Saturday. We know you got gas near Watsonville on Saturday." Cho voice was steady showing no agitation.

"Saturday, I woke and decided to take a drive on Highway 1. I had breakfast at Murphy's." Jane's voice became weaker. "I stopped for gas and took the long way to Gilroy for the Garlic Festival…"

"Then what happened."

"I don't remember."

"You're lying."

Jane shook his head moaning, "No."

Cho frowned. "This was personal." Jane became very still.

"I'm not going to file a complaint. Just drop it." Jane's lips were hardly moving, voice uneven and low.

Cho leaned back in the chair deep in thought. Rigsby watched both men. Jane looked very uncomfortable; staring at his hand clinching the sheet, a pink dot colored the bandage on his wrist.

Cho stood up and got into Jane's face. "It's obvious by your injuries, that you pissed somebody off." Jane's expression was completely blank, he stared through Cho, not at him. Cho pressed on, he had him cornered now. "It's not Red John. There were no life threatening injuries as long as you received treatment in time. They dumped you in a public place. Mafia."

Rigsby gasped. "He's protecting us!"

Cho nodded and rubbed the back of his neck in frustration. Rigsby's shock deepened. Cho is upset and Jane is trying to protect us while displaying no emotion. Did they just switch bodies?

Cho walked away from the bed, then back again, an expression of guilt plainly written on his face.

"I'm sorry man. There will be an investigation regardless of your cooperation. The CBI will be pressing charges for assault on one of its employees."

"No, leave it alone…" Jane's voice trailed off and he closed his eyes panting, he broke out into a sweat.

"Rigsby, push the nurse call button. I need to get back to CBI. You…"

"I'll stay here with Jane."