Accidents Happen

This is a fanfic about Patrick Jane from the TV show: The Mentalist.

Chapter 1: A Day to Remember

It is the last week of work before the Christmas break, and Jane looks so exhausted—Lisbon thought to herself. Sure, he always looked like he was ready for a nap, but this year the strain was so evident on his face, and she didn't know why.

(flashback to September - doctor's office)

Doctor Mark Anderson's office

Specialty - Spinal Injuries (Orthopedics)

"Mr. Jane, please take a seat; Doctor Anderson will be with you shortly." The polite assistant showed me into the doctor's office, where I waited with a patient look on my face but with a storm brewing inside. The assistant looked at me and gave me a small smile in a feeble attempt to ease my obvious discomfort, and it looks like she might have succeeded. I smiled back genuinely.

Although doctors and hospitals are not on my friends list, I've come to like my current one - Dr. Mark Anderson. After my attempt at self-sabotage by crashing the car in a tree, my neck has been off. Sure, the neck brace helped for a few days, but it became more of a hindrance rather than aid me in my recovery. This led me to ditch the brace way earlier than recommended, thus leaving me in considerable pain ever since.

Just then the door opens, and I see the doctor walking towards me. This brings me out of my self-deprecating thoughts. Mark smiled as I shook his hand, and he led me to his desk. "How have you been, Patrick?"

"I've been better, doc. It's a big day today."

"Yes, your reports must be ready; give me a minute." With this, Mark calls his assistant to get my reports. A knock on the door, and the reports are handed over. He then puts up the films against the tubelight-lit surface to examine them. He correlates the written report with the actual films, and his face turns serious.

"What is it?" I ask almost immediately, noticing the change on his face. I was hoping it wouldn't be something serious, but who was I kidding? I had outdone myself with that car crash. My flexible neck was finally retiring; I almost laughed at that thought.

"You see this here?" he asks me, pointing towards my MRI films. "This part here that you see is the fracture in your cervical spine (neck). You've essentially fractured your neck between these three vertebrae - C3 to C5, and that's the root cause of your pain. The tingling in your shoulder and hands is because your nerves are getting compressed and the building pressure is causing all your symptoms. I believe it is because of the car accident that you had a few months ago."

I think I looked shocked, and I feel a little lightheaded. The sudden headache causes me to wince in pain, and I instinctively grab my head in my hands. Looking downward, I momentarily close my eyes as a sudden wave of dizziness sweeps over me. "Hey, you okay?" Mark almost jumps out of his seat. I take a deep breath and nod, and then I try standing up much to his bewilderment.

The next thing I know, my world goes black...

About 30 minutes later, I open my eyes, and I slowly try to take in the new surroundings. The constant beeping and the feeling of something stuck in my arm remind me that I am still in the hospital, but why am I in a bed attached to these things is beyond my comprehension. My head hurts, and I let out a groan. I guess something must have changed, which brings in an elderly-looking nurse to my room.

"Mr. Jane! Good to see you awake. Stay right here; doctor Anderson will be here shortly to check on you." With this, she moves towards the monitor to note down the readings. It's funny at times how medical professionals treat you. You are lying hooked up in your bed to all sorts of monitors, and they say to the patient, Stay right here! Yeah right! As if I am going to go for a walk! I simply close my eyes and wonder why I even woke up in the first place?