After Everything

Pairing: Jane/Maura
Rating: M
Disclaimer: Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles do not belong to me.

Warning: Major Spoilers for Episode 3.10

Summary: This story happens in the aftermath of Episode 3.10 BUT I am completely ignoring the baby on the doorstep so this story will not have any baby stuff. It will focus on Maura dealing with the aftermath of the events with Dennis, and Jane and Maura's friendship/possible developing relationship. The story will probably be 3-4 chapters. This first chapter just sort of gets the ball rolling.

Saturday afternoon Maura knocked on Jane's apartment door and when Jane opened the door to let her in Maura simply said, "I'm on my way out of town. I'm taking a trip."

"What?" Jane said in surprise.

Maura walked into Jane's apartment and explained, "I need to get away from...my life. I put in for two weeks vacation. I don't know if I'm going to be gone that long but I will probably be gone for at least a week."

"Where are you going?" Jane asked.

"My family has a house in New Hampshire, near North Conway in the White Mountains. It's only about a three hour drive."

A concerned look overtook Jane's features and she absentmindedly chewed on her thumbnail before saying, "Maur, I'm not sure I like the idea of you going up there alone. After everything you've gone through and you know, just in general, I don't think it's a good idea right now.

"That's why I'm here. You can come with me. If you want," Maura added, sort of shyly shrugging her shoulders.

Jane looked at Maura in surprise. "I thought you wanted to get away from your life."

"Yes, in the sense that I want to get away from Boston, from my house, from work and the morgue. I need a change in scenery. But I never want to get away from you."

"Yeah, right," Jane said, rolling her eyes. "Um, if you're sure, I can make a few calls, take some vacation time too." Jane had moved directly in front of Maura and put both hands on Maura's shoulders. "I just hate the idea of you being alone right now."

Maura nodded in understanding. "I'm sure you'll get the time off. Go pack while you make the phone calls. We can be there by dinner time."

"Okay, I'm on it," Jane said, heading to her bedroom to pack.

"Pack at least one dress and your bathing suit," Maura called after her.

A little over three hours later the two women arrived at the Isles family vacation home nestled at the base of the White Mountains. The house looked modest enough from the outside but when they entered the downstairs, Jane said, "Jesus H. Christ, look at this place."

"It is my family's house. I have seen it before," Maura replied.

Dark wood on the walls and floors and exposed wood beams on the ceiling of first floor gave the feel of a rustic cabin, but the rest of the decor was undeniably modern. The first floor consisted of a large, well-appointed, modern kitchen that opened onto a large living room with a huge entertainment system that covered most of one wall. The opposite wall housed a large fireplace with an over-sized mantle.

"I was expecting something rustic, maybe even quaint. This looks like some fancy billionaire's secret hideaway. Which, I guess it kind of is," Jane joked.

"I'm not a billionaire, and my parents, mostly my father actually, were responsible for all of the renovations and the decorating. I would have probably gone a little more rustic in appearance, and much simpler in decor, but this is what he wanted. He's the one that wanted this house and uses it the most. I don't know why he wanted this large kitchen with all of these appliances though. He hardly ever makes any food for himself."

While Maura was talking, Jane was wandering around, opening doors and cupboards and looking inside. She opened the door that led out the back of the kitchen and her mouth dropped open. "Maura, there's a fucking pool, indoors, right here off the kitchen."

"Jane, I know. My father usually comes here in the winter to ski, and it's nice to swim after skiing, so yes, he had an addition put on the house with an enclosed pool."

"It looks like the pool is clean and ready to be used. Were your parents here recently?"

"No. They have a caretaker who looks after the property when they aren't here. I called him this morning and told him I was coming and wanted the pool available for use."

"This is crazy," Jane said shaking her head. "I'm afraid to look upstairs."

Maura grabbed Jane's arm and pulled her towards the stairs. "It's just the bedrooms upstairs. Come on, I'll show you your bedroom and then we can both shower because I want to go out to dinner."

After they were seated at the restaurant Maura had raved about during their entire fifteen minute drive, Jane leaned across the table and said, "You've been here before right?"

"Yes, of course. I was telling you how good the food is so obviously I've been here."

"Then you already know that we are both insanely overdressed. We are at a restaurant that can only be referred to as the local pub. A very family friendly, no frills, don't bother wearing a dress, pub. I can't believe you told me that I had to wear a dress, and put my hair up, and wear these heels so we could eat together at a pub. I thought you couldn't lie."

"I didn't lie. I said you should wear the dress and heels. I never said why. You look beautiful when you dress up and I knew that once we went to dinner once you would know that everything and everyone in town is very casual and you would refuse to wear the dress," Maura explained.

Jane could only shake her head. "I feel ridiculous."

"You shouldn't feel ridiculous. You look lovely," Maura said seriously.

"Well, as my best friend you have to say that," Jane said blushing slightly.

"I don't have to say that. But I appreciate that you indulged me for tonight. Don't worry the rest of the week you can wear whatever you want."

"To make up for this dress, the rest of the week you should wear whatever I tell you to. I'm gonna find some old man sweaters and make you wear those to dinner."

Maura couldn't help but grin. "Don't pout. You are going to absolutely love the food whether or not you're wearing a dress."

"Fine. What do you recommend?"

"The corned beef and cabbage or the meatloaf. They also have wonderful steak," Maura added.

"Are you serious? You would never let me to eat these things at home. The meatloaf is wrapped in bacon! Are you sure you're feeling okay? Now I know why you made me wear the dress, so I couldn't completely stuff my face with this food. If I eat too much I won't be able to walk in this thing," Jane said picking at the tight fabric clinging to her midsection."

"We came on this vacation to seek comfort and this restaurant specializes in comfort food," Maura said simply. "For a few days we can eat this delicious food and not worry about how unhealthy it might be."

The waitress came to take their orders and once she left, Jane asked, "How often do you come up here?"

"I used to come up a few times a year or more. Recently it's been less often. Since I moved back to Boston, it's been the place I always visit when I need to get away from everything," Maura replied.

"I don't think I've ever heard you mention coming here."

"It's been awhile since the last time I was here. I haven't felt the need to come up here recently. And I've never brought someone else with me," Maura admitted.

Jane reached across the table and took hold of one of Maura's hands. "Thank you for inviting me. I'm really happy to be here with you."

"I'm really happy you came here with me."

In the middle of the night, Jane woke to a whimpering sound. She looked at the clock and She made her way across the hall to Maura's room. Maura was on her side and her back was to the door. Jane gently pulled back the covers on the empty side of the bed and slipped under them.

Maura flinched when Jane got into bed with her and tried to wipe away her tears. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."

Jane put her hand on Maura's back and rubbed soft circles. "It's okay to cry. In fact I think you deserve to have a good cry. I know you haven't wanted to talk about yet, but I'm here to listen if you do want to talk."

Maura sniffled, still trying to stop crying. "I just feel so stupid."

"You had no reason to think Dennis was going to try to harm you," Jane said gently.

"You didn't like him. On some level, even if you weren't conscious of it, there was something that made you not like him."

Jane didn't respond to that, she just kept rubbing Maura's back in soothing circles.

"That's not even exactly why I feel stupid. It's not that he almost killed me, it's that I fell for everything he said to me," Maura said, still fighting back tears. "All it took was him saying a few words about how his parents had a perfect marriage and he never thought he could have that until he met me. And I totally fell for it. It makes me feel so gullible and so desperate and pathetic."

"You have no reason to blame yourself," Jane tried again.

The tears came back in full force. "Is it so wrong that I want someone to say something like that to me and really mean it?"

"Of course you're not wrong to want that. Try to get some sleep, honey. You'll feel better in the morning."

"Stay here with me?" Maura asked softly.

"Of course."

Maura reached behind her and took Jane's hand, which had come to rest on her back, and pulled it around her waist. Jane snuggled in closer to Maura's back and they both fell back asleep in that position.