A/N: I have enjoyed so many of your fan fictions and this is my way of saying thank you. I will try to update as soon as possible. This won't be a long fic. Thank you in advance for any comments or favs that you offer. I truly and sincerely appreciate every one of them. Over 4000 fics for this couple. That tells you how beloved they are. I'll miss them.

And then there was this time, Maur, that I was an old western stagecoach robber and you were a woman doctor, which was a very rare thing back then. They called me - get this - Calamity Jane! Can you believe it? Anyway, we fell in love. It was a great love. That dream even had a sequel.

The contradiction of Jane's smile and the tear that was falling down her face could not be missed. The beeping of hospital equipment and Maura's still presence dulled some of the pleasant memories of Jane's dreams. Only now, with the uncertainty of Maura continuing to be with her and being unable to understand anything Jane was saying, did Jane have the courage to talk about what she was and what she wanted.

There was something comforting about letting it all out there, though. Giving voice to the intensity of her secret love - the one that had invaded her sleep nearly every night for so many years. Over and over again, her mind would fill with countless love stories between them.

It was as if thousands of poets, writers, readers and romantics paid tribute to them every night in her dreams.

There were dreams like this, too, Maur. One of us would get hurt or something, and the other would then confess their love. I was in a horrible train wreck in one dream. You all thought I was among the dead. It was such an amazing comeback for me and us. You helped heal me in that dream. We had a very happy ending. Oh, what I wouldn't give for a happy ending, now.

The past 10 days had been the hardest of Jane's life. Yes, she rescued Maura from her captors, but not before she was severely wounded. As the days went on, Maura's chances of survival and quality of life were still in question.

I was a superhero in some of my dreams... a werewolf in others! I have traveled through space and time. But no matter what I became, you were always my perfect mate. The one I belonged with. The one my foolish self found her way to.

Jane rose from the chair. It was getting late and she knew she couldn't stay in the hospital another night. Maura's condition was such that she was not in immediate danger and so Jane would make her way home.

I will be back tomorrow, Maur. I hope you are getting a kick out of my crazy love. I swear if you wake up, I will tell you how I feel. I will do anything you ask.

For the first night in over 10 days Jane slept peacefully. Perhaps it was the series of old dreams that ran through her mind; like a rerun marathon of her favorite television shows. Jane and Maura raising children. Bass and Jo Friday conspiring to matchmake their humans. If not them, then that big lughead, Giovanni Gilberti.

The waking up wasn't as good though. She was alone with the reminder that she had been mistaken in thinking she had all the time in the world to tell Maura about her feelings. Hopefully today would be the day that she would finally get the chance to say and do what she should have said and done so long ago.

Coffee in hand, Jane makes her way to her desk for what would probably be another non-productive day at the office. Usually her job is the one place she can retreat to to find some inner peace from any demons that have been conjured up in her, but not this time. Being here is a reminder of the 2 weeks spent trying desparately to find Maura, only to discover her in the condition she is in now.

Even worse, Jane has nothing to do about what happened. She is glad she caught the bastard that hurt Maura, but now she has nothing else to get mad at. Nothing to take her frustrations out on, except...

"Frankie, if you try to touch that second donut I will widdle your fingers down using nothing but a nail file," Jane threatened. She never moved her gaze from her computer, but she could still take in Frankie's threat to her unhealthy breakfast.

What she wouldn't give to hear Maura's stilletos making their way over to her to berate her about her food choice. There may have been a dream or two about that, also. The thought made her smile a little.

"Geez, Janie. I know you are upset about Maura, but you gotta lighten up a bit. I am sorry, but for the last 10 days you have been quite intolerable," Frankie commented - realizing he was at risk of receiving actual physical harm.

But Jane was too tired. Too low to put up much of a fight about something she was sure he was right about anyway. "I'm sorry, little brother. This is just harder for me than you know," She said. For a brief moment she wondered what he may think of that comment, but then again she didn't care.

She seemed to get her answer when he responded, "Jane, I know, more you than realize perhaps, just how important Maura is to you. You just remember to do something about it when she wakes up," and with that, Frankie left to get his own donut.

Jane was a little stunned at first. What exactly did Frankie mean? Part of her wanted to go after him to find out; to make some kind of excuse or lie if he actually guessed correctly about what was going on. After all, that is what she would have done before. She would have denied her romantic interest in Maura until her last breath.

But not today.

It should have never been that way. And today was as good a day as any to start owning it.

... So, yeah, I was a pirate, Maur. Arrgg! Of course, you were doctor from a wealthy family. I just realized that in my dreams I am usually the hero. What a foolish thing when you think about it, since you have saved me so many times. Not just physically, but emotionally saved me.

These silly dreams, Maur, they allowed me to have the kind of life with you that I wanted so badly. Did you catch that, Maur? I used Mr. Adverb..

Jane looked up at Maura and smiled at her own comment, but Maura's expressionless face and closed eyes stole her joy.

Maura, I want to have a real life story with you. I have no idea what you will think about all of this when you find out, but find out you will.