Disclaimer: I don't own the characters-no copyright infringement intended.
Before And After: On The Run
Constructive comments are welcome and appreciated. This is my first fan fiction.
Part II
JANE
"You don't understand."
"Help me understand... it's the only way I can help you Jane."
Jane sighed, ran her fingers through her dark, unruly hair. It was a tic, a habit, whenever she was frustrated or upset, the gesture seemed to add an exclamation to her mood.
"I hate this...I...uh... I feel responsible. If I had shot him dead when I had the chance...no one would have questioned my motive...he had every intention of slicing my throat and watching me die. But, instead of taking care of him when I should have: I let him live."
"And now?"
"Aaaahhhh...fuck Doc. You know why!... why the fuck are you making me say it? Because...I chose not to blow his brains out... I ended up doing that to someone else...two people. I executed two people I didn't even know...if it hadn't been for the fact that Hoyt was still a living breathing piece of garbage."
"And?"
Jane laughed, in spite of herself. She gave the shrink a surly scowl and shook her head.
"Great technique Doc...you really know how to win a girls confidence...what is this Psychology for Dummies?"
"I thought that sitting there like a bump on a log and never saying anything was a thing of the past. Aren't you suppose to be telling me something useful? I want to get back in the field - I'm going insane on desk duty. If you want to prevent my rapid decent into craziness, just sign my paper already."
Jane's anger started to smolder, she could almost visualize the flames rising beneath her, consuming her like wild fire. She shut it down. She had to shut it down if she was ever going to convince Dr. Michaelson, (the BPD'S shrink) that she was ready to move on with her life and her career.
"Jane...go back and finish. Why do you feel responsible? I am saying something now...why is it your fault that Maura was kidnapped? Why is it you killed those men to save her?"
"Umm...duh?... because I let Hoyt live when I had the chance to kill him!"
"No."
"No?, what do you mean? Why else would I be so pissed at myself? Why else do I have these fucking nightmares?"
Jane had no compunction about swearing in front of the shrink. She actually enjoyed herself when the conversation got heated enough to actually warrant a good expletive or two. For some reason however, every time she said the word "f*k", she felt herself twitch - like she was doing something wrong, or embarrassing. Then she would get mad at herself because she knew, deep inside, that she didn't want to disappoint Maura. And this would make her even angrier, causing her to shout...fuck,fuck,fuck,...(fudge)."
Dr. Michaelson sighed deeply, watching Jane pace about her office, gesturing wildly, claiming she was "good to go," yet she looked like a wild animal trapped and caged. Her dark eyes were consumed with pain. Two pools of chocolate that threatened to swallow you whole if you dared to look too long. Jane was terrified...and stubborn. If she could only get Jane to admit...to see... to actually see what was keeping her trapped.
It was very simple really. But Jane had to find the answer for herself. She would not reveal, nor even hint at what it was that Jane was so afraid of... what it was that Jane was trying to hide from... what it was that left Jane sweating, weeping, gasping for breath as she woke from another nightmare.
"Tell me again about your dream Jane...all of it, from the beginning... and don't filter the details. I can tell when you edit your memory of what happened because you pause for just a little too long and then you look away. Shifty! It's as bad as a lie Jane - to leave the details out when I might be able to interpret them for you."
Jane gave the Doc a side-eyed glance followed by an evil smirk. Damn. She had to admit the Doc was tight. No chance to slide one by without her noticing. Sigh.
"Okay...um... I have the same dream...er...nightmare is a better word, and I told you this already. Not the Hoyt dream...well, it starts out as the Hoyt dream but then it changes. Every night. Every night since I got home from the hospital."
Jane looked over at the Doc and took a deep breath. Doc was nodding, as if to say-go ahead I know this part already...it's a good start. Her eyes were warm and Jane relaxed. She really did like the Doc. This was just so hard...she wanted to get back to work.
She didn't want to analyze her feelings, she just wanted everything to go back to the way it was before. Before Maura was kidnapped. Before she had the dreams. She wanted things to be the same...wanted Maura to laugh and joke and be weird and geeky with her again. Things had been strained with Maura since the hospital. Maura was different somehow. Far away. What had happened to them had changed their easy friendship, the fond camaraderie. Somehow everything got twisted and broken and she just wanted to piece it back together.
Taking a deep breath, inhale-exhale, like the Doc had shown her. Smirk. Doesn't hurt to pile up the brownie points with the Doc(silent thoughts).
Silence...she told herself... be calm... okay...she decided to tell the part she always left out...come what may.
"I'm still here." Doc was nudging her to move along.
"Okay...you know that after I got shot - Maura dragged us through the woods and stuck us in a hollow log to hide us?"
Nod.
"Well...I was mostly out of it. I don't how she managed to accomplish all that she did...it's so amazing to me...anyway...she stuffed us both in the sleeping bag and... held me...and talked to me. She never said it with her words but I could tell that she was afraid I might die."
"She kept talking to me though, and saying: 'stay with me Jane, don't give up... as long as I'm holding you - you'll be safe.' The whole time I was in and out of consciousness...but aware, sometimes, of what she was saying...and I did feel safe."
Nod.
"I could tell she was scared though, but she would never say that out loud. I don't think she wanted me to be afraid so she tried to act like everything was fine, but I could hear her voice flutter and shake... (sigh)...she said.. 'I love you Jane... I won't let you go, I love you Jane.' "
Nod.
"Um...well, in my dream Hoyt makes an appearance, but then he goes away when Maura comes. And then we're back in that log and Maura is holding me and talking to me. All night long Maura is holding me. All night long she is talking...telling me to 'stay with her, don't let go'...she will stay with me. It's really dark and cold and confusing... suddenly I start to fall, and then I'm falling away... and she's not holding me anymore...and she says...'I love you Jane'... And then I die."
A single tear pooled in the corner of Jane's eye, she could feel it's tiny weight, heavy with potential, quaking with a purpose...
"You've told me this before Jane, what is different this time?"
"I've never told you what happens when I wake up."
Nod.
"Um...I...It seems like an eternity - when I'm falling, like hours and hours...and then I hear those words...'I love you Jane'... and then I die. And...I wake up. And I reach out and I'm looking for her. She said she would hold me. That I would be safe as long as she was holding me. I reach out and she's not there."
Nod.
"I feel betrayed."
Nod.
"I know it's just a dream...I know I didn't die... and, I know she held me close all night long."
Nod.
"But in the dream...I did die. And it feels so real and I can't believe that it happened because she said...she said as long as she was holding me I would be safe."
Nod.
"She let me go. I wake up, I'm disoriented, crying... and she's not there... and I'm alone."
Nod.
"And...I want her to be there."
Nod.
Gravity.
Betrayed twice. Once by a dream, once by gravity. Jane tasted salt and felt the wet of a teardrop gone rogue with it's potential. She wiped away it's snaky path along her cheek and smiled at the Doc.
"Is this what you would call a break-through?"
Nod.
"Yes Jane. This is definitely a break-through."
MAURA
"She won't look at me. I attempt to make eye contact but she stares right through me. I try to make small talk, which is counter to my nature and unproductive, inefficient in all aspects..."
"Maura stop!"
Maura closed her mouth in mid sentence. Not really surprised that Dr. Michaelson had interrupted her...again. She heard the tone of those two words, a tone she had become quite familiar with, a tone that said: stop blathering.
"Sorry."
"It's okay Maura but we've been through all of this before. I want to try something different today. I usually let you talk until you wear yourself out...or wear me out.
Maura nodded, agreeing with Dr. Michaelson... that is precisely what always happened and, if she was honest with herself, she was exhausted by this process. The trauma...the event, was behind her and she felt no lasting scars. The aftermath, however, was unending. The disruption of her life had been colossal.
"Today... I'm going to talk."
"Alright...hmm... that is rather unorthodox...practical studies conclude that the majority of professionals in the field of psychotherapy believe tha..."
"MAURA!"
"Sorry."
"Are you in love with Jane?"
"Um...what?"
"You heard me."
"Yes."
"See, that was easy...it only required one word."
Dr. Michaelson appreciated Muara's honesty. She used it as club to beat her into a corner whenever necessary. Maura was the ideal subject. She did not hide from her perceived reality. It was impossible for Maura to evade, embellish, or twist the truth in order to feel more comfortable with her life. Maura was mercilessly direct, unnerving in fact to most people who had to interact with her.
Dr. Michaelson found this quality refreshing, trying at times, even inconvenient on occasion but mostly -i t was a relief to have a client who was not trying to deceive her. Most of her clients took to self-deception like ducks to water...but not Maura. You didn't need "kid gloves" with Maura so long as you were telling her the facts. Therefore, there was a lot less excavation in the therapy process.
"And yes, Maura, I am going to try something that is a bit unorthodox, but not in the manner by which you were concerned. I am going to break my oath and breach the confidentiality of a client for a greater truth."
"Why?" Maura was stunned. She did not want Dr. Michaelson to do this. "You'll lose your license, your whole career...who could be so important you would risk your reputation..."
"Jane is...and so are you."
Maura had a habit of sitting on the edge of the chair cushion during her sessions. She never sat back in the chair to truly relax, nor did she pace wildly about the room like Jane. She was always on the edge of the seat - like a runner crouched and ready in the starting blocks, just waiting for that gun to signal the start of the race. That was how Maura approached her therapy.
For the first time ever Maura sat back in the leather arm chair. She furrowed her brow and narrowed that hazel gaze at Dr Michaelson... and nodded to herself...she was being played.
"Dr. Michaelson, you are making me uncomfortable. Please state the nature of your intentions hypothetically. Refrain from using names...um... you could substitute identity with case number to protect your oath and your client confidentiality." She nodded at the psychiatrist and offered up a conspiring grin.
Dr. Michaelson laughed out loud. A full bodied raucous guffaw that turned into snorts and chuckles. Damned...if she couldn't see right there why Jane was so twisted up in knots over this person.
She had to fix this mess between these women. They were obviously very much in love and seriously "fucked-up" about what had happened to them. Neither woman could trust the feelings they were having because of the circumstances which enabled them to surface. She firmly believed their relationship would have evolved over a natural course had it not been for the serial killer intervening.
This was going to be tricky but now that Maura understood what she intended, she could form a treatment plan for Jane. If things progressed as she intended, Maura's issues would be resolved as well.
"Okay Maura, I want to tell you about a subject of mine. Hypothetically. Case #117, female, mid-thirties. She has nightmares..."
Maura scooted to the edge of her chair; intensely interested by what Dr. Michaelson had to say.
JANE & MAURA
Jane was nervous and twitchy. Her palms were all sweaty, she ran them down the front of her jeans to slick the moisture off. Maura's call had been cryptic, as usual, but in a weirder way.
"Hi Jane, I wanted to ask if you could come over after work? I need your help."
"Okay, sure...is everything alright? Maura never said stuff like "I need your help." She always had some agenda with a very big outline, which she usually shared in detail, before getting to the actual point.
"Everything is fine Jane. Please, can you come over?" Her voice was a little shaky, and soft and sounded sad.
"Yeah, sure... I'll come, it won't be until around seven... I, uh...have a lot of paperwork to catch up on."
Jane scolded herself. Damn. That was an obvious lie. My paperwork has been done for a week because they won't let me catch a new case until the Doc signs my paper. Damn. Maura knows this too. Maybe just once she won't point out the obvious.
"Okay Jane, I'll see you at seven...and thank you."
Jane wiped her sweaty palms on her jeans again, fiddled with her Red Sox sweatshirt and knocked on Maura's door. Maura startled her by opening the door in mid-knock. Had she been hovering by the entrance just waiting for Jane to knock?
"Hi" Maura, said softly, looking into her friends eyes - trying to hold her glance before it skittered off like a frightened bird.
"Hey" Jane said, and tried for a smile that was real but it didn't quite make it to her eyes. Maura merely nodded, accepting this was all that Jane could give.
She hadn't been to Maura's house since before... well, since before. Now that she was here she felt a little trapped. She could feel an inner tension building that, for some reason, made her angry. That had been the wedge. The anger. She was angry with Maura - unreasonably so, and until recently she hadn't even been able to identify the cause.
Jane had come to realize that she was responsible for the rift in her friendship with Maura. Her sessions with Dr. Michaelson were starting to pay off. She wanted to make things right with Maura, which is why she agreed to come over this evening. She just didn't know how to begin to unravel the mess she had made.
What could she say? Sorry, I've been such an ass because I'm in love with you. Sorry that I can't look you in the eye because I'm so ashamed of my behavior and terrified that I will lose your friendship. Sorry that I got you kidnapped and beaten because Hoyt knew...somehow Hoyt knew how much I loved you...so he took you from me. I'm sorry for putting you at risk.
Sorry that I am so angry at you...for making me fall in love with you. Sorry that I wake up in the night, calling out your name and you're not there to hold me. And I'm sorry I've pushed you away...but I don't want to push you away anymore Maura.
Jane sighed, ran her fingers through her wild hair, stifled the running litany in her mind so she could step into the present moment, this first attempt at healing the hurts she had thrust upon her friend.
"So, what do you need help with?" Jane asked, her husky voice had filled with gravel - she winced internally at how harsh it sounded.
Maura didn't reply. Instead, she reached out, clasped Jane's hand and guided her into the living room to sit on the sofa. Jane remained standing, wearing a baffled expression until Maura tugged at her hand - pulling her down to sit beside her. Maura turned to face Jane, pulling her legs up and tucking her feet underneath.
Postponing her reply for just a moment more, Maura tried once again to engage Jane non-verbally. She wanted Jane to look at her like she used to. She wanted the light back, the gleam and sparkle were gone from her eyes and the smirk was all but non-existent.
Maura was wearing blue jeans, which was curious indeed. It never occurred to Jane that Maura owned a pair of jeans, she had never seen her wear them before. The jeans were soft and faded, they looked well worn but also had that tailored look. Button fly with a low waist, custom stitching on the pockets and the way in which the denim hugged the curve of Maura's hips was a little mesmerizing. Jane swallowed hard and bit her bottom lip, a ball of fire was uncoiling from the center of her being igniting a desire that could no longer go unchecked.
The sweater Maura wore was almost as intriguing as the jeans. A cable knit pattern in sea-foam green, it snuggled tightly against Maura's chest and fell two inches short of the waist of her jeans. This revealed a most interesting stretch of skin on Maura's tummy. Jane licked her lips and continued her perusal, running her eyes up and down the length of Maura, taking in the outfit as a whole.
How long had she been sitting here staring at her friends body? The oddest thing was, she didn't want to stop. She forced her eyes to stray above the neck and drowned herself in hazel green. Jane never could determine the mutable color of Maura's eyes. They always reflected whatever environ she happened to be part of; tonight her eyes were golden amber with specks of sea-foam swimming in their depths, like the highlights of her silky hair and the muted tone of the textured sweater.
Marua was puzzled by Jane's rapt expression, which seemed to be fixated on her torso. At first she thought that Jane was, once again, evading her gaze. But then Jane's tongue slipped out to run along her bottom lip, leaving it moist and shiny. Huh?...oh...Oh! Maura's heart squeezed tight, causing her to catch her breath. She could feel the hairs on the nape of her neck tingle, chills ran up her body while liquid heat was pooling at her core.
Jane was finally looking at her. Two orbs of chocolate, dark and rich and intense beyond anything Maura had ever experienced; pierced her with their vulnerability and melted her with naked desire.
The frozen moment lasted seconds... minutes... hours, years, eons...Jane had no idea. The two of them were locked in stasis. Staring. Each drowning in a singular revelation, fumbling with emotional eruptions that neither were prepared for. Her body knew what the mind would not consciously prompt it to do. And so, almost without noticing; Jane was bending down, tilting her head just so, and moistening her lips in sweet anticipation.
Jane's lips were exquisitely soft and warm, tenderly exploring the contours of Maura's mouth. Mapping out her desire to know the shape and texture and taste, curious and questing. She felt Jane's tongue at the corner of her mouth, felt it gently run it's length to the other side, nudging gently. Asking, not demanding...not yet, but Maura could feel the palpable tension in Jane's body just as she could feel it in her own. An animal part of her wanted to grab Jane, throw her down on the floor and ravage her body with impunity. She parted her lips, allowing Jane to consume her wholly with her passion.
Jane pushed forward into Maura's warm wet mouth, their tongues met - intertwining, caressing, dueling greedily with one another. She reached out and pulled Maura into her arms, desperately pressing their bodies together to make that first full bodied contact. She lowered Maura back onto the sofa, continuing their kiss while pinning her body with her own. Her hands had started to roam of their own accord and she slipped one underneath the hem of Maura's sweater to explore the smooth creamy skin that had taunted her earlier.
Maura gasped into Jane's mouth as she felt Jane's warm hand on her bare skin. She pulled away from the kiss to bury her face in Jane's neck and nip at the line of her jaw, her hips involuntarily thrust up into Jane, urging her forward not wanting her to stop. With her free hand Jane cupped the back of Maura's head pulling her mouth back onto her own. Demanding...deepening the kiss as her other hand wandered over Maura's breast, the palm massaging her nipple through the thin fabric of her lacy bra. Maura moaned from deep within, heat building throughout her body, her taut nipple straining against Janes caresses.
The passion between them had built into a frenzy. Jane pulled Maura up into a sitting position, snatched the bottom of Maura's sweater, pulling it up and over the blondes head in one swift motion. Maura's fingers were tugging and pulling off Jane's sweatshirt before her sweater hit the floor.
They were both topless and panting heavily. Jane reached over to pull Maura back into a kiss and then she stopped herself, hesitating, placing her hands on Maura's shoulders to peer into a penetrating amber-green. The animal lust receded for a moment and gave her pause to think of what they were doing. She wanted to be sure that Maura wanted this as much she did.
Before she could voice her concern Maura reached out and placed a finger over Jane's lips. She shook her head from side to side - a silent no, leaned forward to seal the gesture with a soft kiss, and whispered, "No talking." She reached for Jane's hand, intertwined their fingers and then she stood - pulling Jane up with her. Without a word or a glance behind her, she led Jane down the hallway and into her bedroom.
Maura had no qualms regarding the seduction, she simply took control away from Jane. She pushed Jane backward onto the bed. The startled expression on Jane's face fed the tiny surge of power she felt at having taken the upper hand. She climbed onto the bed and straddled Jane's waist with her legs, lightly settling herself on Jane's hips.
Maura sat for a moment, looking down at Jane's incredible beauty, running her hazel eyes along that flat toned stomach, gazing at firm breasts with hardened nipples still encased by her bra. She allowed her eyes to roam along Jane's collar bones, her strong shoulders, that long sensual neck - her gaze travelled back over Jane's breasts once more, she licked her lips and glanced up to see a look of desire that mirrored her own.
Jane's eyes were a smoldering dark ebony, she growled a low moan before snatching Maura's wrists at either side and pulled the blonde on top of her. They met in a fierce kiss that had them both gasping for breath. Maura's hands were tangled in Jane's hair pulling Jane into a deeper kiss melding their mouths together. Jane clasped Maura's hips and ground them into her own, she parted Maura's legs with her knee and pushed her thigh into the blondes hot center. Maura moaned leaning into the pressure and rode the rhythm that Jane provided with hips and hands - pushing and sliding, creating a wonderful friction.
A struggle for dominance ensued but was played out like a dance. Each understanding the others need to give and to take what was wanted and needed.
Jane rolled Maura on her back to claim the top position. She slid her hand underneath the strap on Maura's bra and released the clasp, pulling the lacy garment away in slow motion and reveling in the heavenly fullness of Maura's ample breasts. Practically undone by the beauty within her hands she started to stroke each hard nipple with her thumbs while massaging the soft creamy mounds of flesh with her fingers. Maura arched into the touch, moaning with pleasure. Capturing a nipple between her lips, she circled it with her tongue, teasing that soft spot along the sensitive rim, circling faster and nipping the hard bud between her teeth. She took her time with Maura's breasts. Moving from one to the other, massaging, licking, gently biting - creating a rhythm that had Maura writhing with need.
"Jane... please..."
Jane shifted, pressing her thigh between Maura's legs feeling the heat at Maura's center through the denim in her Jeans. She kissed her way up Maura's body claiming her mouth, thrusting her tongue inside, kissing her fully - biting her bottom lip and sucking, before retracing her path down the length of that incredible body.
She ripped at the buttons of Muara's jeans, tugging them open and peeling the denim off and away from what she wanted. She tugged off her own bra and jeans tossing them aside and buried her face in the slim silky fabric of Maura's soaked panties. Inhaling the musky scent she shivered with anticipation.
Maura felt long fingers tracing the lacy trim along the waistband of her panties - she raised her hips to aid Jane in removing this final barrier to what she so desperately needed. Jane was kissing her breasts again and bathing Maura's body with her dark silky hair. She felt Jane's hand slide over her wet center, pressing down in a slow circular motion, she felt her finger slide along her wetness, teasing back and forth, the palm of her hand pressing, rubbing against her clit, while her fingers kept sliding through her wetness, "Oh God... Jane... yes..."
Jane was biting her neck and dragging her tongue up the line of her jaw, all the while that hand was sliding, slowly teasing... Jane was sucking, biting her earlobe, whispering into her ear.
"Tell me what you want Maur... tell me what you want me to do to you?"
Maura moaned with frustration, she was so close already she could feel the pressure building all throughout her body, she could feel the fire being stoked within her building, building... burning hot.
"I want... you... I want... fuck me Jane...please...I want you to fuck me."
Jane almost came on the spot. Hearing Maura use that particular profanity, in such raw desperation...it was the hottest utterance Jane had ever heard and every nerve of her body responded - pushing her own need to the boiling point.
She pushed into Maura's wetness with a single finger but followed it quickly with another. Maura arched up violently to meet her thrusts.
Jane slipped in a third finger.
"Yes...Oh God... Jane ...yes."
Jane pushed in and out meeting the rhythm of Maura's bucking hips, circling her clit with her thumb. She pushed harder and faster, in and out, pulling Maura hard into each new thrust and guiding her back.
Feeling the tension in Maura's body build to the point where she knew it was time; she curled her fingers inside, using her hips to push in deeper, finding that tender spot...
"Come for me Maur... please come..." She could hear Jane whispering from far away as her body tensed in anticipation.
Maura was on the edge of a cliff waiting to leap, wanting to fall and Jane was deep inside her. She felt the heat rising...bubbling up to the rim...snatching her off the ledge into the raging inferno. Her body quaked and trembled and shook and Jane was deep inside her. She rode the waves of pleasure to the farthest shore and Jane was deep inside her...guiding her home.
Tears were streaming down her cheeks. Jane was licking the drops and kissing her face while the final climax shuddered through her body leaving her spent and breathless. And Jane was still inside her.
Jane covered Maura in kisses all over everywhere, stroked her with soft loving caresses and whispered words of endearment. She gathered her into her arms and Maura wept. Awhile later, Maura raised her head to look at Jane, smiling a bit shyly - she whispered, "I'm not sad... it was just...so..."
"I know...it's okay Maur...just let me hold you for awhile."
Jane kissed her softly on the mouth and then on top of the head, nestling Maura's head onto her chest. Maura settled back into Janes arms, her body felt incredibly relaxed and sated. She didn't want to feel so tired - she wanted to touch Jane, wanted to reciprocate; make Jane feel as amazing as she did... but she was drifting off and couldn't seem to force herself to stay awake. Jane kept rubbing her back in soothing circles, which were hypnotic to her spent but happy body.
Jane smiled as she watched Maura sleep. She turned the blankets back and tucked them both in. She pulled Maura close and snuggled up behind her spooning them together. She wrapped her arm around Maura's waist and sighed with great pleasure. Lying there with Maura naked in her arms, completely worn out by Jane's skillful love making... Snort. Jane laughed at herself. It was amazing though... what they had shared... Jane sighed again and drifted off to sleep with thoughts of Maura's sweetness running through her mind.
Jane was so contented when she wandered into sleep...it never occurred to her she might have a dream. A nightmare.
Hoyt was there waving that scalpel in her face, gloating, taunting her. The spikes that impaled the palms of her hands were cold as ice and her warm blood was oozing from the wounds in trickles onto the ground. Suddenly, the dream folded and Hoyt faded - screaming as he was cast away into an inky mist. Maura had come.
Maura was holding her close... she was cold... her side was hurting and it was dark, but Maura held her. She spoke to Jane in gentle whispers, "Don't let go Jane...I've got you..as long as I'm holding you...you'll be safe. Don't give up Jane...I won't let you go."
But then Jane started to fall away. Maura wasn't holding her anymore and she was falling, and falling...and falling. From an echo far away she could hear, " I love you Jane. "
She was lost in a black abyss...an eternal vacuum of emptiness, drifting slowly away...she could feel her soul unravel like strands of thread plucked from a tapestry and tossed aside. Ever so slowly, piece by piece, the essence that once was Jane...dissolved into bits of nothingness and she was gone.
Jane whimpered and thrashed about the bed waking Maura from a sound sleep.
"No... no... Maura." Jane was calling out, her voice a husky rasp of anguish.
Jane begged, "Please...Maura...don't let me go."
Waking herself up, completely disoriented, she reached out - frantically looking for Maura...who was right there beside her, pulling her into her arms.
"I've got you Jane...I won't let you go... not ever." She held Jane tight, rocking her back and forth, kissing her damp, sweat soaked hair, kissing her neck and murmuring assurances.
Something deep inside released it's grasp. A dark, clinging thing with claws like spikes - it lost it's grip on Jane and fled in fear.
Maura continued to stroke and soothe Jane...she continued the chant she knew so well.
"As long as I'm holding you...you'll be safe...stay with me Jane...I love you Jane."
Jane looked up at Maura's face in wonder.
A single tear pooled in the corner of her eye, she could feel it's tiny weight, heavy with potential - quaking with a purpose...
Gravity.
Jane tasted salt and felt the wet of a teardrop that had found it's purpose. She wiped away it's snaky path along her cheek and smiled up at Maura.
And whispered, "this is definitely a break-through..."
"...I love you too Maur-."
To Be Continued.
