A/N: This will probably be a twoshot but there is a chance it could evolve into a multi-chaptered story. I hope this helps remedy the last episode's effects a little bit.
XXXXX
Maura left the corner of Hanover Street and Charter Street in Boston's North End to drive to the Whistler factory, whose plans she had just procured. When she entered the building that was not too far away she could tell how violent the recent fire was. Everything was charred, though some items in the room were identifiable such as a few sewing machines scattered about the room as well as a few still standing dress forms.
Walking further in, ashes crunched under her designer boots. She walked up a couple steps before continuing through the maze of workplace remains. She stepped up to a table and placed the plans down before someone came up behind her.
"You looking for where Craig died?" The tall fireman asked.
Around the corner, Jane and Frost – guns drawn – moved into position.
"Yes." Maura answered, turning to face him.
"It's Kevin Flynn." Jane whispered to her partner.
Kevin walked up to the M.E. and pointed at where she was previously standing. "We found him right about here."
Maura side-stepped away."
"You know my grandfather died fighting the '72 Vendome fire." He said as, outside, Korsak and Frankie listen in while seated in the car.
"I'm sorry." Maura stated.
"City kept cutting back and cutting back. Hard to fight all these fires without enough firefighters, huh?"
The doctor just stared at him as, behind her, Agent Dean got into position too.
Jane noticed this and looked surprised. "Did you follow us?" She mouthed.
He shook his head and then put his attention on what was happening around the corner.
"You shouldn't have come here by yourself." Kevin said to Maura.
"Why not?" She asked.
"You know why not. I had to make sure people understand that they can't just keep laying us off."
"How did you do that, Kevin?"
"You know how. I burned a few buildings." He said with a smug smile. "And then Craig started digging around. Just like you." He started shaking his head as his voice died to a near whisper. "You both should have just left it alone." He reached into his jacket and pulled out his gun, aiming it immediately at the M.E.
"Kevin don't! No!" She yelled as she crouched down, throwing her arms up to cover her head.
A shot rang out from above them. A split second later Kevin was on the ground.
Maura looked up and saw her biological father lower his weapon.
Dean came out, gun at the ready. "Drop your weapon, Doyle!"
"Gabriel, No!" Jane yelled.
It was too late. His shot hit the mob boss in the right shoulder, causing Maura to scream. Patrick returned fire and caused Dean to fall. Jane and Frost came out and saw the scene.
"What the hell?" Outside, Korsak and Frankie could only hear what was going on.
Inside, Jane raised her gun to her best friend's father whose gun was still pointed in her direction. She fired, hitting him in the lower left abdomen as Maura's screams of 'no!' went ignored.
Patrick Doyle fell backward, breaking through the frail wooden beams on the scaffolding before falling to the ground as his daughter looked on in horror.
"Maura!" Jane yelled when she saw the woman go over to the man who was bleeding out.
She paid that no mind as she kneeled down over him.
"Hope." He said.
"Hope? What do you hope?" Her breathing was labored and shaky.
"Hope." He groaned out again.
"Maura!" Jane yelled out, rushing to the other woman. She holstered her weapon and shrugged off her jacket.
"Hope? What do you hope?" She repeated, hoping to get an answer.
"Oh god, Maura." The detective knelt down on the other side of her gunshot victim and started to use her jacket to stop the bleeding.
Before she could even touch the man, however, the doctor freaked out. "Don't touch him." She pushed the article of clothing away. When Jane tried again, she held it back. "No, I mean it!"
Jane looked horrified at the state her best friend was in.
Hate filled Maura's eyes when she glared at the woman. "Don't you dare touch him!"
The yellow clad woman reeled back at the venomous tone. Looking more emotionally hurt than she's ever been in her life, she stood. "Maura… I was only trying – "
"No! I don't want to speak to you again. In fact, if you don't quit your job as soon as we're done here then I will!"
Jane's lip quivered as her mind raced to try to think of something, anything, to say that would change her mind. "You don't mean that, Maura." She whispered gently.
"Oh I do. Now go!" She spat out.
The taller woman backed up, running into Frost. She looked at him and he shrugged.
"She'll be okay in a little while. C'mon, you guys have fought before, right?"
"Yeah but this… this is big."
A crack overhead causes those who are still conscious to look up.
Jane realized what it was first. Without thought to Maura's warnings or her own personal safety, she sprinted at the woman but wasn't even close to being fast enough. The whole roof caved in and collapsed atop of Maura and Patrick.
"Maura!" Jane's blood curdling scream echoed throughout the charred building and out into the streets. She raced towards the pile of rubble but was held back.
"Jane, stop. We have to get out of here." Frost pointed upward where more cracking could be heard. "The whole place is gonna collapse."
She wrenched away from his grip as tears ran down her face. "No…. I'm not leaving without her!" She ran over and started moving pieces of the wreckage until she saw the scratched up face of her best friend. Droplets of tears fell, hitting the doctor's face, as Jane tried to wake her. "Maura… Maura, please don't do this to me." Her voice was cracking under the pressure of such a heavy heart. She wiped her face for the thousandth time and cleared the debris off the rest of her body.
By now Korsak and Frankie had finally joined them.
"What the hell happened in here?" The sergeant asked.
Frost just shook his head. "Roof caved in on Maura and Doyle. We need to get out of here soon, though, or we're gonna be in the same shape Maura is."
Korsak took that as his cue to do something. He walked up to the mess. "Rizzoli. C'mon, let's go. Paramedics are on their way. It's not safe in here." He put his hand on her shoulder.
She pushed it away. "I'm not leaving her, Korsak." She looked down at the body of the woman, now free from rubble. Bits of Patrick's body peeked out but she paid him no mind.
He hesitated but turned around. "Alright, everyone else out!" He waved at Frost and Frankie who were busy picking up the two wounded men.
"What about – "
Korsak cut Frankie off. "She won't listen. Not until Maura's safe."
"Is she…" The newest detective paused, not able to say it.
Knowing where he was going with this, the gray haired man sighed. "I don't know. Just get out of here before we have more casualties." He watched them get a safe distance outside before heading back and helping Jane. In a few minutes they had both bodies uncovered. Just in time for paramedics to come rushing in.
"Thanks detectives, we'll take it from here." One of them said as they pushed them away so they could get to the injured.
As the female detective could barely stand at the moment, he wrapped her arm around his shoulders and let her outside. Moments later, the remaining individuals came out of the slowly collapsing structure.
Jane could barely watch through her tears and heart-wrenching sobs, as the paramedics took her best friend away.
XXXXX
Maura awoke up in a bright room. The bed was uncomfortable and the machines around her let out a constant beep. She tried to remember what happened but each time she ventured into her mind all she came up with was that it felt like something was missing.
Just then, someone walked through the door.
"Hey, Maura." The tall Italian woman greeted. "How's your head feeling?"
She looked up at the woman, confused. When she reached up to touch her head she noticed it was bandaged. "What happened?"
"You don't remember?" She asked. When the other woman shook her head, she answered. "You fell off Walter and banged your head against a rock. We're lucky we went horseback-riding with a doctor."
Maura's face scrunched up in confusion. "Horse? Where am I?"
Jane's face fell as she tilted her head. "You don't know? You're in the hospital, sweetie."
Something came back to her. She remembered falling from a horse but she couldn't tell if that memory was recent or from when she was little. "Right…" She at the woman before her. Though she did seem familiar, something was a bit off.
Her face scrunched up with more worry. "What's that look for? Don't tell me you have amnesia. Do you know who I am?"
"Of course I do, Jane."
That caused a look of relief to wash across said woman's face, though it didn't last too long.
"Though I don't know how."
"Wh – what do you mean?" Her voice was filled with worry.
"I don't know… I – I know that I know you but I can't recall any memories with you before right now."
Jane let out a shaky sigh before standing. "I'll go get the doctor."
"No, wait!" Maura held out her hand. "Stay here?" She was feeling scared and understandably so, since even though the place she was in should be familiar it wasn't and she had no idea what was going on.
Nodding, the taller woman reached over and pressed a button. A minute later, the doctor walked in.
"How are you feeling?" He smiled at his patient.
"She has some sort of weird amnesia." Jane said, answering for her.
"More than likely that will go away on its own. Amnesia is very common after head trauma."
"But it's not just regular amnesia, doc. It's like… she knows who I am but doesn't know why she does."
"Source amnesia? Hmm… that is odd." He mulled it over for a moment. "But I'm sure, just like with regular amnesia, it will go away in time. Just keep trying to trigger her memory."
Jane nodded. "Alright. Will do."
He turned to Maura. "So it looks like your skull wasn't fractured and your brain was unaffected. Aside from the amnesia, you're perfectly fine."
That didn't seem to help her current disposition. "So… can I go?"
He looked at Jane before turning his look back to the bedridden female. "As long as Mrs. Rizzoli-Isles promises to watch over you."
"Wait… what did you just say?" Maura nearly yelled, alarmed at his words.
"That you can leave if your wife takes care of you?"
"My… my wife?"
That caused Jane to collapse into a nearby chair. "You… don't even know…" She sighed. "You don't know we're married? Do you even remember you love me?"
All she could do in response was scrunch her eyebrows.
The doctor just looked between them before clearing his throat. "Okay… I've got patients to tend to so, uh… I'll discharge you and send a nurse to come help you out." He left.
"Jane…"
Said woman couldn't look up. The last time she really gazed into those eyes she found love and affection. She didn't want to know what she'd find now.
"Jane, please."
Her head moved up but her eyes stayed transfixed on her forehead. "Maybe I should just take you to my mother's house."
Maura shook her head. "No, please don't. I'm sorry if I upset you."
"It's fine." She said sarcastically. "You just don't remember our wedding, our honeymoon, the last five years of our marriage…"
"Five years?" She asked incredulously.
"Please stop doing that."
"Sorry." Maura said self-consciously. "Just – please tell me everything."
Jane gulped. "Everything?" How was she going to condense their life together enough to explain it all right now?
She nodded. "Except for you, my mind is blank. You're the only person I can trust right now. I feel safe around you. I can't explain it, I just do."
A slight smile tugged at the edges of the Italian woman's mouth. "Don't worry. I won't leave you alone for one second if that's what you want."
"Thank you, Jane."
"So, uh… where should I start?"
Maura shrugged. "The beginning?"
She sighed and tried to think back. "Well… we met in college. At first you – "
"Wait… sorry. College where?"
"BCU. Boston College University."
"Oh…" Her lips pursed as she tried to scour her mind for proof of why that sounded familiar.
"Okay, so first we really didn't notice each other. You had your group of friends and I had mine. But then we took a criminology class together and really clicked. The last day of class I asked you out and you accepted." Just as she was going to continue their story, a nurse walked in, pushing a wheelchair.
"Hello you two." She said. "The doctor informed me that you've been discharged so I'll help you to your car." She wheeled the chair to the side of the bed and helped her get into it. From there they all walked out of the room and out of the hospital. After Jane ran ahead and brought the car up, Maura was helped into the car and driven home.
After a few minutes of silence, Maura was yearning to know more of what she forgot. "Can you please continue the story?"
"Oh, yeah, sure. Uh… Where were we?"
"You asked me out." She offered, blushing.
"Yeah. Um… we went on our first date at some seafood place." She kicked herself mentally for not remembering the date or actual name of the restaurant. "I thought I completely blew it but you called me the next day asking for a second date." She smiled at the memory. "From then on we were pretty much inseparable. I swear, it only took a few weeks before my mother started to think of you as a second daughter."
Maura frowned. What the other woman was saying seemed really nice and she was a bit upset that she couldn't remember it.
Jane continued expelling all she could remember until they pulled up to a large structure.
"Whoa… we live here?" Maura asked, interrupting the other woman.
"Yeah… but we also work here. I guess I forgot to mention that we run a resort."
"Cool!" The shorter woman exclaimed.
As she got out of the car, Jane smiled. She went around to the other side to help her wife out.
They walked in and were immediately barraged by questions from their family and friends.
"Okay, okay, everyone – not so fast. She's fine." Jane said. "But… she probably doesn't remember you."
"No." Maura answered, looking at each of their faces. "I know all these people."
The taller woman's face lit up at that. "You do! That's great!"
"But… I don't know how."
Commence face falling yet again. "More source amnesia. Great…" She motioned for the others to go away as she spoke again. "I'll talk to all of you later just… get back to work."
"Janey, can't you just tell us what happened now?"
"Later, Ma. I'm going to try to trigger her memory." She said, causing the other woman to pout. As she was already at the stairs, however, she didn't even see.
"What are we doing?" Maura questioned, seeing that she was being led into a bedroom. "I figure we've already had sex but I don't really feel comfortable –"
"No… I just want to show you something." Jane sat the other woman down on the bed and headed out the door. A few moments later she returned. "I thought this might help." Jane said, holding a VHS in her hand.
"What is it?"
"Our wedding video." She answered before popping it into the dusty VCR. She really hoped this works. Though, if Maura couldn't remember loving her then Jane swore to herself that she would do anything it took to make her fall in love with her again.
As they watched it, memories began forming in her mind. Everything Jane had described up to this point became etched in her mind as well as specific details surrounding them. Before it even finished she paused it, remembering the rest. She turned to the other woman and saw her way differently than she had just moments before.
"Maura?"
"You were right." She grinned. "That did help."
Jane let out a heaving sigh of relief. "Thank god."
Maura smiled. "So… how are things here? Do I need to do anything?"
"The resort's fine. You just need to rest." She leaned over slowly, letting the other woman escape if she felt she needed to, before placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Should I call for room service?"
"No." She answered, shaking her head. "I'm not hungry."
"Alright. Then can I leave you here while I talk to the others?" She smiled when she received a nod of the head. She gave another gentle kiss – this time upon the lips – before she got up and left.
The remaining woman in the room picked up the remote and resumed the video. Even though something still felt wrong, she put it off to her recent accident. When the video ended she got up and explored her abode. She found a few more videos tucked away on a bookcase in the main living area, each label representing a different part of their life, and she made a mental note to watch them later.
When she started to enter the kitchen she jumped, hearing a loud ringing. It didn't take too long for her to find the source of it when she saw a phone light up in the corner. Seeing her last name on the caller ID, she answered it. "Hello?"
"Maura? Is that you?"
"Yes, mother."
"Oh I'm so glad to hear your voice. I was worried. Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine.
"Good. Your father and I were worried. I'm sorry we're not there. The soonest flight I could get is tomorrow."
"No need. I'm fine, really. You can come for a visit if you want but all I had was a little bump to the head."
"You were asleep for several hours, though. We'll be there tomorrow. I have to go now, though. Say hello to Jane for me."
"I will. Bye."
"Goodbye."
Maura hung up the phone and smiled. Something about hearing her mother's voice and knowing she was okay calmed her.
"Who was that?"
The Irish woman jumped and turned around, finding Jane standing there. "My mother. She's coming tomorrow."
"Oh, really? That's nice."
"Uh-huh. And she said to tell you hello."
Jane smiled. "So I told everyone you're okay. You are okay, right?"
Maura beamed. "Of course. Even more so now that you're here." She sidled up to the other woman and wrapped her arms around her.
"I am so happy you're okay." The taller woman said, looking down into gorgeous hazel eyes. "I don't know what I would do without you."
"Don't worry. I'll make sure you never have to find out." She assured before leaning forward to kiss the other woman firmly.
When they pulled away, Jane could only say one thing. "I love you."
"I love you too." Maura replied. After a moment, she stepped out of the embrace. "Is it okay if I just walk around for a little bit?"
"Of course. I would go with you but I have a few things to take care of."
"That's fine."
Jane kissed her once again before walking her downstairs. They parted ways at the front desk with a loving gaze.
"Hello, Maura!"
Said woman looked over to see who was calling her name. She smiled when she saw her mother-in-law. "Hi, Angela. How are things going with my favorite activities director?"
"Great! I'm so glad you're feeling better. I know I tell you this all the time but we are all very lucky you married my daughter. You're the best thing that's happened to her."
She shook her head. "No. She's the best thing that's happened to me."
Angela smiled. "Well, let's just agree that you two meeting was a wonderful thing." She noticed a few people approaching and frowned when she knew she had to cut the conversation short. "I would love to talk to you all day, dear, but –" She motioned at the people behind her.
Turning around, she noticed. "Alright. I'll see you later then." She waved goodbye before continuing on.
She couldn't take two steps before noticing someone else familiar. Though, this time, she didn't strike up a conversation as he seemed busy. She watched as Barry Frost helped a couple with their bags. Her gaze went over to the door they had walked through and saw it being held open by the doorman – Vincent Korsak.
She was going to go say hello to the gray haired man but her stomach had other plans. It grumbled quite loudly so she decided to head on over to the kitchen which she found with ease.
"Hey, Maura!"
"Tommy!"
The man walked up to her and wrapped her in a hug. "I'm so glad you're okay. We were all worried." He said when he pulled away.
"So I've heard."
"So, uh, what brings you down here?" He asked, a little worried. Normally when either she or Jane comes into the kitchen it's to talk about a complaint by a guest. Thankfully that doesn't happen often.
"I'm starving."
He smiled. "That all? Want the best sous chef in town to whip you up somethin'?"
"That would be great, thank you."
"Awesome. Then why don't you have a seat –" He nodded over to a nearby table that was normally only used by the cooks. " –and I'll bring you something."
She did as she was told and, a few minutes later, he returned. "Here you go! Peanut butter and fluff. Your favorite!" He grinned. "I even cut the crusts off for you."
"Thank you, Tommy. That was very considerate."
"It's no problem! But I gotta get back to work. You know how Stanley gets when there's a dinner rush."
Maura just smiled and watched him go before she scarfed down the meal. Though it was small it was surprisingly filling, which allowed her to continue her explorations hunger-pang free.
After deciding to head outside, she ran into Frankie.
"Hey, Maura! I'm glad to see you're doing better."
"Thank you." She smiled at the security guard. "Today's been pretty crazy."
"You're telling me. I just caught someone tryin' to spear fish in the pond."
A look of horror crossed Maura's face. "They weren't successful, were they?"
"Nah. And they weren't even close. Not when they were tryin' to use a pool noodle as the spear."
That caused Maura to laugh.
"Anyway, I ran into Jane a couple minutes ago. She said she's waitin' for you out in the gazebo." He looked over to where it was before starting to walk away, calling the last bit over his shoulder. "Have fun!"
"I will!" She said before she practically skipped over to where her love was waiting for her.
"Hey honey!" Jane greeted.
Maura responded not with words but with a kiss. One that was rather passionate and steamy.
"What was that for?" The taller woman asked. "Not that I'm complaining."
"For being wonderful." She stated simply before kissing her again. This tango of lips and tongues lasted for quite some time until they had to break away for air.
The two stood there for a few minutes, looking up at the night sky, until Maura spoke up.
"Did you know that kissing generally uses one muscle – the orbicularis oris – that is responsible for puckering your lips?" She looked over at Jane and pouted at the shocked face. "What?"
"What was that?"
"What do you mean?"
"That was some kind of like Google-speak. It came out of nowhere." She laughed. "Where'd you learn that?"
"Medical school." She stated matter-of-factly.
"Maura, sweetie… you never went to medical school."
"I didn't?" That was weird, she thought. She could have sworn she did. She tried searching her brain again but came up empty. Eventually she just resigned herself to thinking only of the present, as she was too tired today to think about the past.
A few minutes later, Jane interrupted the silence. "So… what do you want to do? We can stay here and make-out or go to the Jacuzzi and make-out or…"
"I'm exhausted. Can we just go back up to the room?"
"Of course, Maura." She said with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "We can make-out there."
Instead of denying that would happen, Maura just sighed and laced their fingers together before leading them both up to their suite.
Though she did want to kiss the love of her life some more, Jane saw how truly tired she was and helped her get ready for bed. Soon, they were slipping under the covers together.
"Night sweetheart." Jane said, smiling at her love.
"Goodnight, Jane." She returned the smile before leaning over and capturing the chocolate-eyed beauty's lips.
Like every night before the accident, the two embraced and drifted off into a blissful sleep.
XXXXX
"Maura? Maura dear please wake up." David Isles tried, for the thousandth time.
Said woman blinked awake. She looked up at the man – who was currently stroking her hair – in confusion. "Father?"
He beamed. "Maura! You're awake!"
"I – What? Where am I?" She asked, looking around.
"You're at the hospital, sweetheart." He paused for a moment trying to think of the best way to word this. "Maura… you've been in a coma for the past few days. Do you remember what happened?"
She could only shake her head. "The last thing I remember is going to bed." She looked around when she realized something was missing. "Where's Jane?"
The male was visibly taken aback. "Jane? She – you told her you never wanted to see her again." He said, recalling the conversation he had with the detective shortly after his daughter was brought to the hospital.
She didn't know why but she had the odd feeling she was experiencing simultaneous amnesia and déjà vu. Nonetheless, she answered. "Why would I do that? I love her."
If Maura asking for Jane shocked him, this made him feel like he had just gotten tazed. "What?" He yelled.