A/N: For janezzoli – a tumblr prompt which picks up where 4x14 ended.
Long after Angela has returned to the guest house, and long after the clock hand has past midnight, Jane and Maura sat together on the doctor's couch, legs curled underneath them, blanket thrown over their laps. The television provides suitable background noise, leaving the pair to their thoughts.
Every so often Maura looks up, her gaze shifting travelling from Jane's hands, which she has been ringing obsessively since her father's departure, to her chest, moving sporadically, almost as if she keeps forgetting to breathe, to her face, cheek pulled between her teeth, grinding back and forth.
Her friend's brain is whirring, almost loud enough to be heard by the doctor.
It is only when her eyes catch that of the clock face that she makes any attempt at breaking the silence.
"Jane," she says gently, reaching a hand over and resting it upon her friend's knee. "It's past midnight."
"Hmm," Jane mumbles, taking her eyes off her lap for only the briefest of moments to acknowledge that Maura had spoken.
"Would you like to stay here tonight?" Maura asks.
A small, almost imperceptible nod of Jane's head is the only answer she receives, but she is not offended. She understands Jane's need for some time to process everything that had happened in the past few days.
It is another few minutes before Maura speaks again, her hand still resting on Jane's knee.
"We really should go to bed, Jane," Maura says, the words barely louder than a whisper.
Jane doesn't move.
Neither does Maura.
Not until she feels the couch begin to shake slightly, watching as her friend crumbles in front of her.
The tears flow, hot and fast, while silent sobs escape Jane's open mouth.
Her breath is shallow and pained, her body trembling as she folds in on herself, curling into that foetal position she was talking about earlier in the day.
But before she can close herself off from the world completely there are two arms, warm and safe, pulling her into a tight embrace. Her head fits snugly into the blonde woman's neck, wet eyes hidden from the world against soft skin.
Maura allows one of her hands to massage Jane's back, while the other remains firmly secured around her shaking shoulders. She knew this was coming, could tell by the way Jane held herself, by the tone of her voice. She was just glad that she could be there to anchor her friend; glad that she could be the tether that Jane so desperately needed.
"Shhh," she hums. "It's okay, sweetheart. Just let it out."
Hands move up, taking hold of Maura's arms, clinging to them like a life raft.
"I've got you, honey. I've got you," she continues, soothing away the tension from between her friend's shoulders.
Jane coughs and splutters, her breaths becoming more ragged as she tries to talk.
"Mau-ra. I-I can't…don't…please don't…s-stop…jus-st stay…sorry…"
"Jane," Maura soothes, "it's okay. Just take a breath, sweet girl. Just take a breath."
"Maur, please," Jane manages.
"It's okay, Jane. It's okay."
"Pl-lease d-don't go," she hiccups.
"Oh, honey," Maura whispers. "I'm not going anywhere."
Gathering her friend in her arms, Maura leans back into the couch cushions, holding Jane close.
This is how the pair fall asleep, when Jane's breaths finally even out, and Maura's hand falls still.
And this is how Angela finds them in the morning, safe in each other's arms.