Maura fell asleep on the couch as she watched Jane. She was afraid to wake up to the brunette gone. Jane assured her that she wouldn't be going anywhere any time soon. Not until she knew that Maura was safe.
The lighting from the morning and Bass breaking something in the living room woke Maura up. She stirred on the couch until she finally gave into the day and turned over to the edge of the couch. She saw Jane had taken refuge on the other couch. She smiled for three seconds before she realized what it meant for Jane to be asleep on her couch. It wasn't a dream. Maura thought to herself. She actually left us then came back here. She could hear Jo Friday padding across the room to her, aware that her new owner had been awake.
Jo Friday jumped to meet the available spot next to Maura before she barked. The noise stirred Jane on the other couch. Maura didn't know if she should pretend to be asleep or simply confront the lying woman. Jo Friday left Maura to go greet Jane.
"Hi, girl." Jane's voice was tired. She only opened one eye. She hoped Jo would think she was still asleep, when Jo appeared unconvinced, Jane cracked a smile and let the dog onto the small couch with her. "Are you hungry?" She looked to Maura. "Dog food?"
"First cabinet at the top." Maura yawned.
"Okay." Jane finally noticed what Maura had been wearing when the woman stood up and stretched her neck. She raised her arms to help her blood flow. Maura wore leggings and a tight shirt that belonged to Jane when she was apart of the Police Academy.
"I'm going to shower." Maura announced when there had been a long silence.
"Okay." Jane said from the kitchen as she poured the food into Jo's bowl. "I'll take you to work."
"I can drive myself." Maura stopped just before going up the stairs. "I'm pretty sure he can't get me in my car. It doesn't fit his M.O. to kill me by blowing my car up or something."
"I know," Jane turned to Maura. "I just want to make sure you're safe."
"No offense," And by that she meant 'much offense', "While you were away living your life, he's had someone watching me here. You weren't too worried about protecting me when you left us. You knew he had someone killing people. What made you think that he would just settle for you killing yourself?"
Jane winced at Maura's words. "I'm sorry." She dropped arms to her side. She looked down at Jo, who'd been oblivious to her parents fihgting, then to the door. "I guess I'll just go."
"That would be best." Maura folded her arms. Jane sighed but nodded. She went to the couch she'd been asleep on and grabbed her coat.
"I'll see you...later." She knew that Maura wouldn't be aware of Jane watching her, but she had to make sure the blonde knew she had every intention of making up the last year to her.
"I have one condition." Chief Cavanaugh said to Jane just before she stood up. "You have to see the department therapist. You never really got a chance to mourn your own death and all of this have been and will continue to be very stressful and tramautic. If you can make it an appointment with Dr. Adkins once a week for three months, then I'll reinstate you."
"Done!" Jane was standing now, excited.
"You can go down and get your new gun and badge." He smiled up at the eager detective. "After this Hoyt case, though, you will be on probation."
"Why?" Jane looked at him.
"Because, you'll have to prove you're fit." He didn't just mean physically fit. He meant emotionally and mentally fit. Jane simply nodded. "After therapy is over, I'll talk to Dr. Adkins to see if you're ready to be back."
"Fine." Jane looked at the pictures on his wall. "Does this mean no field work?"
"After Hoyt." He emphasized. Jane grinned and nodded. She left his office without another word. Just as she closed the door behind herself, she noticed Maura exiting the elevator.
"Janie," Vince greeted, eagerly. "God, it feels so nice to have you back. This just feels so right. Doesn't it, Frost?"
"Sure does." Barry said with a slight smile as Jane sat down across from him. "We sure did miss you, Jane. I thought I'd have to raise our 'cute interracial babies' all by myself."
"Oh, God." Jane rolled her eyes. Maura locked eyes with her for a moment but steered clear of Jane. She went straight to Vince Korsak. "You know, that woman had the audacity to plead innocent in court?"
"She was a nutcase, alright." Barry laughed.
"Detective," Maura greeted Vince. "I've got the results back for Abby Lamb. The rape kit came back positive. There are several toxins in her blood but the most amount I noticed was Rufonohl."
"They rufied her, raped her, then killed her." Vince looked down at the paper, not actually reading it. He just wanted to keep his hands and eyes busy as he processed everything.
"What case is this?" Jane asked.
"Seventeen year old girl was found dead, yesterday." Barry answered. "She was found right inside the restroom of the Robber." He shook his head. "Shame."
"Yeah," Vince joined in. "They had to shut the place down." He sighed. "The whole place is considered evidence."
"Where are we going to go for drinks, tonight?" Jane felt bad that had been the one question she'd asked.
"There's a pub down the street from here, opposite of the Robber." Vince closed the file in front of him. Maura had still been staring at him, waiting for him to ask for something else. Vince had a habit of doing so. "Doc, if you want, you can come too."
"I've got plans," Maura placed her hand on her hip as her other leaned her against his desk. "But, thank you."
"Suit yourself," Vince made a face. "Thank you." He pointed to the file. She only nodded and walked away without another word. "Surprised she has a date."
"Yeah," Barry looked to Jane. "She hasn't been right since you left." His choice of words made Jane feel uneasy.
"She's sure been giving me a hard time." Jane rubbed the back of her neck. "He left a scapel on her porch, last night. I stayed the night and she was so eager to get me the hell out of there. Going on about how it didn't fit his M.O. if she took her own car. I just wanted to make sure she was safe, you know?"
"She's pissed, Janie." Vince had joined them, by dropping his chair next to their desks. He plopped down on the seat without missing any part of the converstion. "She had to take care of everything for you. Funeral arrangements. Get rid of some of your stuff. I hear she kept a lot of the stuff to herself in her garage and storage. After your dad left your mom, Doc opened her home with open but grieving arms."
"I think she's taking it harder than the rest of us." Barry commented. "We're just glad you're back." He pointed between Vince and himself. "Frankie is still in shock but he's happy. Your mom hasn't been happier since the day before you shot yourself. No one has got ahold of Frank and Tommy."
"Tommy." Jane echoed. "Where is he?"
"No one knows." Vince chewed on his gum. "Last time I heard, he'd made his way to the streets of New York."
"Where's my dad?" She asked.
"He told your mom he needed a change." Vince's words dripped anger and disappointment. "Ran off with some twenty year old."
"Seriously?" Jane had wondered why she hadn't seen her dad when she'd come back to watch her family. She just assumed he'd left town temporarily.
"Yeah," Vince made a face. "Don't know why anyone would leave that woman." He was staring at the picture of Jane and her mother on her desk.
"Uh..." Jane stared at Vince. "Okay..."
"Back to the Doc." He realized he'd been drooling. "She likes you."
"She hates me." Jane wasn't going to let the subject of Vince and her mother be forgotten.
"She likes you." Barry clarified. "Loves you, probably."
"You guys are idiots." Jane laughed, trying to hide how much she'd hoped they were right. Every day Jane thought of Maura. She could've handled losing anyone but Maura. That's who she'd spent so much time trying to protect.
"Okay, Janie." Vince barked a laugh. "So, your mom's throwing a welcome back party for you tonight."
Barry hit Vince's arm.
"What?" Vince yelled as he attended to his hurt arm.
"It was supposed to be surprise, wise guy!" He hit Vince's arm again. Jane only laughed. She missed her two best friends so much. Although, she hadn't realized they were her best friends until her return. Maura had been much more than her best friend. Maura was the love of her life. Before she faked her death, they were practically in a relationship. Only, Jane was in love with Maura and she was sure Maura felt no such thing back.
"Sorry, Janie." Vince looked at her, apologetically.
She waved her hand, dismissing the slip. "No harm, no foul." She grinned. "I always like a heads up. Means I can dress somewhat appropriately."
"Don't let your Ma know it was me that slipped," Vince looked to Barry for a moment, who'd been looking at his computer. He then mouthed, "tell her it was him", but when Barry glaned up, Vince looked away, quickly.
"Right," Jane looked down at her desk. Nothing had changed. She wondered if Cavanaugh kept it the same because he knew she'd be back or because Barry and Vince had begged him to. "I'm going down to the Deli. Anyone want anything?" She hoped they'd say no.
"Nah," Barry typed away at his computer. Vince only shook his head. Jane smiled, happily. Down in the Deli, she noticed her mother helping a young girl pick out something frm the menu.
"What's that?" The girl asked as she pointed to a sample of soup.
"Tomato soup." Angela informed, with a grin that stretched from ear to ear. Working in service made her really happy. It'd been the first real smile she had in a year. It'd been the first good day she had in a year. "Janie!" Angela threw her hands up. "Kyla, this is my daughter, Jane. Jane this is Patricia's daughter, Kyla."
"I thought she died?" Kyla looked up to her mother who'd been standing directly behind her.
"That was greatly exaggerated." Jane kneeled down to the young girl. "It's nice to meet you, Kyla."
"Nice to meet you, Jane." The girl smiled as she tugged on Jane's hand, passing it off as a handshake. "Your mommy really missed you."
"I know." Jane looked to Angela, who'd still been smiling. "I missed her too." Kyla smiled briefly but skipped to a table, coloring in her book. "Jeez, Ma, looks like you got laid."
Angela's smile disappeared, turning into a glare. "Young lady,"
"At least one of us did." Jane bit her lip to hide her smile. Angela ignored the comment and smiled again.
"Hi," Patricia smiled, clearing her throat. "I'm Patricia." She extended her hand.
"Hello," Jane shook the woman's hand. "How do you two know each other?"
"I'm Maura's neighbor," Patricia informed. "And her girlfriend."
Jane choked. Did she just say girlfriend? Maura has a girlfriend? Maura's gay? What? Since when? What have I been missing? "I'm sorry," Jane brushed her mother off, who'd rushed to her with a drink in her hand. "Did you just say girlfrined?"
"Yeah," Patricia's smile faded, slightly. "We've been dating for about two months."
"I didn't know..." Jane looked down at the floor, trying to recollect on moments that could've given the doctor away as gay. "Congragulations?"
"I suppose." Patricia laughed. "So, you're the infamous Jane."
"Depends on what's making me infamous." Jane leaned against the counter.
"Faking your death," Patricia's finger tips met each other lightly as she counted off. "Probably the best female detective in Boston. Maura's best friend. Local hero."
"I'm not a hero." Jane corrected. "I wish I could say I've heard a lot about you."
"Don't worry," Patricia smiled. "You've been off living an entire different life...protecting your family."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Jane's smile faded. She now could tell that the woman was being sarcastic.
"Nothing." Patricia looked to Angela. "Thank you for the club sandwich." She grabbed the plate in front of her. "I'll see you at the party, tonight." She didn't bother saying anything to Jane.
Jane remembered why'd been in the Deli now. "I don't want a party, Ma."
"Come on!" Angela begged. "You've been gone for a year, Janie. I need to throw something for you."
"Throw me..." Jane racked her mind for ideas. "Throw me a million bucks."
"If I had that money, Janie." Angela said as she cleaned the counter with her cloth that always droped from her apron. "We wouldn't even be here."
"Yeah," Jane sighed. "Who did you invite? And why is Ms. Bitch going?" She shot a glance to Patricia, who'd been watching them instead of her daughter.
"Just some of your friends, coworkers, old friends from school." Angela said, mindlessly as she walked around the counter.
"So..." Jane took a seat at a table. "Basically anyone who thought I was dead?"
"Yeah." Angela smiled. She looked at her daughter again. She couldn't stop looking at her, she'd never ever get tired of seeing Jane ever again in her life. She never thought she'd be able to Jane again until she died, herself.
"Where's this party?" Jane finally recalled hearing that Angela had lived with Maura now.
"Dirty Robber." Angela said, simply, as if it'd been obvious.
Jane sighed in relief. "Thank God." She felt her lips twitching into a smile when she noticed that Patricia had still been staring at her. "Ma, can I get a coffee, though?" It was for Maura. She'd have to inform the good doctor that her girlfriend was at the precinct.
"Sure." Angela got up without questions and went back into the small kitchen. She poured the coffee from holder. "Sugar, creamer, or both?"
"Both." She knew exactly how Maura liked her coffee. She would need three packs of each and let the doctor decide how much was enough for herself.
"Here." Angela slid the coffee across the counter. Jane grabbed and left a five dollar bill in it's place. "I really missed you, Janie."
"I know, Ma." Jane reached over and kissed Angela's cheek. "I'll be down here a lot for the next three months anyway." She didn't give her mother time to ask why. She was already walking away, not bothering saying anything to Patricia or even looking at her.
Jane's POV
I waited for the elevator doors to open, tapping my right foot, growing even more impatient as the seconds ticked on. When I heard the bing and the doors begin to slid, I was out before they were even completely open. Maura was hovering next to her laptop, which had been across the room from the dead body she had stitched up.
"Hey," I smiled as I put the coffee down on the table next to the door. "Got you some coffee." She would have to come over here to get it.
"Thanks." Maura didn't bother moving from her laptop. "Is there anything I can help you with, detective?" She asked as she slid her glove off. Before she could start with the next one, the freed hand had been typing furiously against the keyboard of her laptop. She pulled away to look at me and finish taking the other glove off.
"I was in the Deli," I said as I shifted my weight. "I ran into Patricia."
Maura's fingers froze. "You did?" Her voice an octave higher. I smiled. "W-what did you uh talk about?"
"You two have been dating for two months," I shrugged as if it weren't news. It was a lot of news. Maura sighed, thinking she was safe from my wrath. "Why didn't you tell me Maur...a?"
"It wasnt important." She shrugged. I could tell she was tense, though.
"What do you mean it wasn't important?" I started crossing the room to her.
"My personal life." Her fingers were brushing the keys again.
"You talked about sleeping with guys before." I took a seat on the counter. "Did you think that I would judge you?"
"No." Maura closed her laptop. "I didn't really even find out I was interested in women until you died." The way she said the last word made me flinch as if she was about to punch me.
"How did you find out?" I was intrigued. I wasn't judging at all. Maura knew I was only interested in women as well. I'd come to the conclusion when I couldn't get myself to sleep with Special Agent Gabriel Dean. Maura opened her mouth to say something but one glance towards the door and she closed it quickly. Patricia had been at the door, waiting for Maura's attention. I sighed and slid off the counter.
"Are you coming to the party?" I asked her, demanding her attention.
"Uh," She looked at Patricia then to me. "I have a date." She glanced to Patricia again.
"Maura...it's my welcome back party." I stressed. "You're the one riding me so hard about being back." I internally smiled at my choice of words. I knew they would bother Patricia. "The least you could do is show up and show everyone that you still care."
"Is that what this is about?" Maura turned to me, completely ignoring Patricia now. I would've smiled if it didn't mean that Maura was now mad at me. "You think I stopped caring?"
"I don't know." I shrugged. "You're more pissed at me than relieved I'm alive and that I'm home."
"Maybe I'm just that pissed at you." I could hear Patricia snickering. "Everyone else is still in shock. Just wait. They'll be pissed at you once this is all over. They'll remember that you left them. You could have left without lying to them, Jane. They would've understood the importance of giving off the impression that you'd died. I would've understood."
"You can't lie." I stated.
"I would've done it for you!" Maura threw her hands up. "It was to protect you!"
"Maur..." I stepped closer to her. She glared at me and took a step back. "Fine." I sighed. "So we're not friends? You just don't care anymore?"
"No." Maura looked up at me. "We're not friends anymore."