Jane had jumped.
She had made the split decision to go in after him. She hadn't truly thought it through.
She left Maura on the bridge.
Jane had jumped, leaving a distraught and shocked medical examiner to stand and scream on the bridge. She wanted to jump in after her but unable to swim she knew she wouldn't be much help to the woman.
She couldn't see her at all. She couldn't see any signs of Jane in the water.
It was hours later and finally Jane emerged from the boat that had pulled her from the water. Maura found herself relieved that Jane was safe, relieved that she was alive but furious that she had jumped. Furious that she had put her life at risk without a thought for herself or anyone else.
Jane stepped forward, biting her lip gently, she had secretly hoped that she would be greeted by a pair of warm arms, wrapped in a loving embrace and safe.
Maura however didn't do what Jane had imagined or at least hoped she would. Instead she got questions, and a cold shoulder.
When Maura saw her jump, she could do nothing about it, she couldn't reach out and pull her back or grab her and stop her from doing it. She could simply scream. A scream that was really the sound of her heart breaking in two at the concept of losing the woman she secretly loved. Everything seemed to fall apart before her eyes, all of a sudden the idea of never being able to confess her feelings to her was a reality.
Jane stood in front of her, soaking wet and wrapped in a blanket, after a while of questions and comments, all she could say was, "Survivor's guilt" and in her eyes was the guilt of jumping without thinking. She could tell that her actions had a huge effect on the medical examiner, and she knew in her heart that she had upset the woman. Something she hated doing. She never wanted to upset the medical examiner. Not truly.
Maura looked confused, "What?" she asked looking at Jane, having broken half way through telling her what she thought of Jane's thoughtless decision.
Jane tilted her head softly, "Survivor's guilt.. you know it's…." she said softly before being cut off by Maura when she said, "I know what it is Jane, but I can assure you that this has nothing to do with survivor's guilt" she said simply.
Jane put her hand out to Maura but failed to get any reaction from her, she stepped forward and took her hand without permission and simply refused to let go, "Then talk to me" she said softly
MAura sighed, "You didn't think Jane! You didn't think about anyone, not even yourself! How could you do that JAne? You didn't even think of what it would be like for us…. I thought I'd lost you Jane… I thought I had lost the woman I love… but you didn't even care enough to…" she was stopped mid-sentence by Jane's wet and cold lips pressing against hers.
At first shock took over and she froze but within milliseconds her lips were moving in sync with the detective's. When they finally split from each other, the rest of the medical examiner's sentence was forgotten and she simply rest her head against Jane's head, "This… this doesn't get you out of it you know?" she said softly, "I'm still mad at you" she said with a smirk
Jane smiled, "I wouldn't expect any less Maur'" she said with a smile as she pressed a soft kiss to the woman's lips, "and Maura? I love you too"
"LEt's get you home", MAura said softly as she wrapped her arm around JAne and led her to the car, she herself was also partially wet now from being held against Jane and even though it was cold out, neither cared.
Their day ended in front of a warm fire, in their nightwear, watching a movie with hot chocolate and most importantly they were in each other's arms. It had taken them a while but finally they were exactly where they needed to be.