As Maura was taking the lift to Jane's floor she hoped that the girl was still getting on with them all well. Millie and Jane getting along was paramount, not just for her own selfish reasons but also so that Millie could have a good time whilst she was in Maura's care. Maura knew nothing about children and she was terrified of saying or doing the wrong thing, add to this Millie's troubled yet unknown past and she wasn't completely sure she was made for the role of caregiver, especially to a child. As the elevator sprung to life she let her mind drift back to her old boarding school and to Millie's mother, she had always been the child that was in trouble so I guess it was no surprise that it had come to this. However, she always looked out for Maura. Made sure the older and younger girls didn't pick on her when she googlemouthed or said something silly in a common social situation, and for that Maura had been grateful. Maura couldn't say she'd had many friends throughout her childhood but Millie's mother was probably the closest she had ever come. She was the one who convinced Maura that she could become a doctor, because she was intelligent and sometimes the awkward intelligent people win and that was okay. It was better than any advice her mother or father had given and something she tried to cling onto in times of desperation. She found it becoming her Mantra through the whole Hoyt saga. She heard the ping of the elevator and was ripped from those thoughts, which was probably a good thing. Thinking about Hoyt never did anyone any good, he was gone that's all that matters and that was a day the intelligent people won.
As she nervously exited the elevator and shuffled past the stereotypical donught eating cops she was met with a sight which she certainly wasn't expecting, but a sight that melted her heart none the less. Frost was on the floor on all fours with an excited Millie on her back using a scarf as reigns and telling him to be a good horsey, whilst chasing Korsak who had Jane tied to a chair with another scarf. Maura wanted to see how this panned out so leaned against the door without alerting anyone to her presence.
"Hurry, Mr Fro't" she heard the girl squeal with a gaptoothed grin, causing frost to grab the girls legs to prevent throwing her from his back he bucked up on two legs and ran after Korsak with Millie now in a piggyback."Mr Kor'ak! Stop! This is the police and if you carry on my horsie will bite you!" shouted Millie throwing a mock glare in Korsak's direction, the older man through a look of fear around the room and realising that no one was going to help in, he followed Millie's instructions and finally released Jane from her chair. Maura giggled and shook her head causing the four of them to look at her, the adults blushing and Millie running over and throwing her arms around Maura's legs.
"Aunty 'aura! I missed you. I gots my own badge LOOK! Mr Captain even gave me a badge holder so I can be a proper police officer! Mr Kor'ak kidnapped Janie but it's okay I gots her back for you so you don't have to be sad. Can we go get ice-cream please please please?!" the girl babbled animatedly pointing too each of her new 'friends' as she went back to reciting the story of how her noble stead fro't had helped her catch the evil Kor'ak to save Janie so that Maura could be happy.
"Well little bug it sounds like you've had lots of fun! I love your badge sweetheart, pinks a much better colour!" she smiled ruffling the little girls hair as Millie ran over to Janes desk and whispered something in her ear before taking a small folder and running back to Maura.
"Janie said you'd say that! She's so clever! Not as a clever as you though Aunty 'Aura you're the celeverest . WE MADE YOU ONE" she squeeled, shoving another bright pink 'badge' into Mauras hands whilst looking up at her shyly.
"Well objectively I'd say ... Thank you little bug! It's perfect, I'll carry it around with me all the time, just in case!". Maura had started to explain to the little girl that firstly she was smarter than Jane but it was just simple science as well as the fact that 'cleverest' wasn't a word, but Jane shot her a look and she managed to quash down those feelings and join in with the little girls excitement. See, she definitely needed Janes help if she was going to pull this off, she didn't have a clue what she wasn't. Millie suddenly became tired and surprised Maura by holding out her arms for her to pick her up. Maura thought she would have preferred Jane to carry out the task of hug giver.
"I sleepy aunty' aura!" she whispered snuggling her head into Maura's neck to claim her comfort. Maura winked at Jane over the little girls head
"Well if you're to sleepy for ice-cream I guess I could take you home and put you to bed" the little girls head whipped up and she looked like she was going to cry, Maura was acutely aware that she may have said the wrong thing and like her own childhood hers was full of broken promised.
"Just kidding little bug! We can get you the BIGGEST ice-cream they have" exclaimed Maura with a wide smile, trying to forget the nutritional content that ice-cream held and gain back the smile and love of the small girl. She tickled her side gently as if to prove she really was joking and the girl squeeled happily clapping her hands together and telling Jane her news. The pair looked over the little girls head worriedly and made a note to look into this later. Maura readjusted the girl at her side as Jane took her bag from her and whispered to Korsak to try and find whatever they could about Millies past, before they left.
"that's gonna be hard without a last name Jane" called Frost as they nodded, both women stopped and nodded before Maura took the role of questionmaster
"Baby bug, what last name did mummy give you?" she asked gently.
"Isles. I don't know why cause that's not mummy's name she said i'd be safe" the girl babbled not quite understanding the ramifications of her words. The two women nodded at Frost who sent them a worried glance as they left for the ice-cream parlour.
