Disclaimer: I don't own Rizzoli and Isles

A/N: Thanks to my lovely beta for this story- marvelous-fanwriter!


In Sickness...

-by MegannRosemary


"Jane?" Maura called softly through the door, adding a soft jaunty knock.

"It's open." A weak, scratchy voice called from inside.

Maura turned the knob and ventured into the dim apartment. "Hey, Frankie said you were sick." She sat down on the couch, smoothing the hair out of Jane's face.

"Euch, go away, I'm fine."

"You just told me to come in."

"I just have a cold...my head hurts, it's all stuffed up, and I'm hot then I'm freezing and my muscles ache...and I'm ready to die. So if you want to stick around to see that that's fine...or you could come back when I'm better."

"That's not a cold, that's the flu."

"My stomach is fine."

"Not the stomach flu, that would be Norovirus or Astrovirus..." She looked off around the room, not taking anything in, just thinking, "Or Rotavirus, which is usually the cause of the stomach flu in children, it can also cause disease in adults. It has been shown that adults who voluntarily ingest –"

Jane shuddered, "Maura, now my stomach –"

Maura kept going, "You likely have Influenza or perhaps Parainfluenza, Coronavirus-"

"Maura! Really. Stop now. Please. My head." Jane squeezed her eyes shut.

"Huh?" she came out of her daze, out of the world of science. "Oh honey, I'm sorry."

"Do you try and diagnose yourself when you get sick?"

Maura didn't- or wouldn't- answer, just got up to get some painkillers, which effectively answered Jane's question. She tried to think of a quick comeback, but there was nothing, just a head full of cotton balls.

She came back with a pink pill and a glass of water, "Here, take this."

"I took two already."

"When?"

"I don't know." He voice was small, making her sound like a child. "Please, just go."

"Would you rather I go get your mother?"

"No!"

Maura settled back on the couch, pulling Jane's legs into her lap, "Good then I'll stay right here."

"Fine."

Maura was up again, rummaging about in Jane's kitchen.

"I thought you said you were going to stay right here." The sudden loss of the vibrant presence beside her hit her in the heart. She wished for the comforting contact and told herself it was only because she wasn't feeling well.

"I'm making you tea."

"I hate tea."

The kettle started hissing in response and Jane resigned herself to the torture, turning instead to attempt to concentrate on the television.

The voices were finally registering when a delicate and manicured hand appeared in front of her face, holding a steaming mug.

Jane took it, cupping it in both hands, the warmth did feel good, and it soothed her. The tea smelt weird, "Its crap Maura..."

"It will make you feel better. Drink up."

She couldn't say no to Maura, not when her beautiful, bright eyes were pleading at her. She took a sip, then another, "Crap that's good."

Maura opened her mouth to speak but Jane interrupted her, "Don't tell me what it is because I know I'll never drink it again."

"Fine."


They sat together on the couch all night watching television show after television show. They only moved when Jane started burning up again. Maura got a cool cloth and sat with Jane's head in her lap, the cool cloth on the woman's head. She squirmed uncomfortably, sweating profusely and moaned softly. Maura reassured her, speaking in low tones, anything and everything that would come to mind.

She didn't hear much, just the comforting sound of Maura's voice. It kept her sane as the heat threatened to melt her alive and her back ached most uncomfortably.

"I don't want you to see me like this."

"Honey, I've seen you at much worse. It doesn't matter to me you're still beautiful."

"I just feel so gross." A tear trickled from the corner of her eye, exhaustion overcoming her.

Maura helped her up, "Come, you go have a shower and I'll put fresh sheets on your bed."

"I don't want to shower."

"You'll feel better." She steadied Jane who was dizzy from lying down for so long and pushed her towards the shower.


Jane stood under the spray. It was too hot and she kept turning down the hot water. Finally it felt right and she relaxed. When she stepped out, she felt clean and fresh for the first time in what felt like a long while. She managed to brush her teeth with arms that felt like lead weights and put on the t-shirt and sleep pants Maura had left for her.

She stumbled out and fell on the bed, letting Maura pull the blankets over her.

She leaned down and kissed her forehead, "I'll see you tomorrow, get some rest."

The kiss shocked her, burned her skin which made her wonder if the fever was gone. She reached a hand to her forehead in wonderment, but it still felt warm.

"Maura," She called. Any quieter and the other woman wouldn't have heard her.

"Yeah, do you need anything else?

"Will you stay?"

"Stay?"

"With me."

"Oh, sure." She didn't even hesitate, just climbed right in beside her, lying on her back. "I'll stay, you just get better ok. I don't like seeing you so not yourself."

Jane's eyes were already struggling to stay open and she grunted in response, curling in to Maura's side, her nose pressed into her hair.


A/N: Ummm apparently two longer stories...Maybe even a third because you wonderful people asked so nicely. Let me know what you think/has this totally been done before?