Standard disclaimers still apply.
It had been several hours since she had arrived and honestly she couldn't tell you much of what had transpired over that time. Angela had stopped talking about an hour ago but tears were still occasionally still streaked her cheeks. Shortly after sitting down she had grabbed Maura's hand grasping it tightly and as she looked down she noticed that they were still clasped.
Looking up into Angela's face it wasn't hard to see the emotion etched in her face, worry, but then she saw there was something else. Something she hadn't seen earlier. Tilting her head just slightly looking intently at Angela she tried to grasp what it was. Suddenly like a light bulb had been turned on she knew what it was. She would have noticed it sooner but her own emotions had taken center stage and everything else was blocked out.
Angela sat staring straight ahead at the doors to the surgical wing silently willing them to open. She could feel her watching her. She knew what was coming but she didn't know if she was ready yet.
Maura whispered, "You know" she said slowly, "don't you?"
Angela never turned to look at her continuing to stare straight ahead she simply nodded
"Sean came down to the café and took me aside. He told me Jane had been shot." her voice was low. "He said they were taking her to Boston General." Angela continued slowly tears gently falling, "He had an officer with him ready to take me here. I was so panicked, so scared, and I don't know why I remembered. I don't know why" she repeated, " but I remembered Jane had left with Frost. She stopped in with him for a cup of coffee just before they left so I knew they had gone out together."
Maura continued to listen as her own tears started making their way down her face again.
"I asked Sean, if Frost was hurt too as I grabbed my purse. He didn't answer. I looked up right into his eyes. He never answered. He didn't have too. I don't even remember getting into the car"
There was a slight pause as Angela continued. Her voice still low and quivering, "Ever since Jane joined went to the academy I have spent hours afraid that one day someone would come, knock on my door, and tell me my daughter was dead. Hours and in all that time never once did I think about it being anyone she worked with. Anyone I would know."
She paused a moment to compose herself smiling slightly as Maura grasped her hand tighter. "We're a family Maura. A family, and since I've worked at the precinct I've seen it. I see it everyday. We are a family and I feel like I lost a member of my family and it really hurts. But I also feel terrified. Terrified that when the doctor finally comes out I will have lost Jane as well."
With that the tears came harder and her body started to shake.
Maura wrapped her arms around Angela feeling grateful when she returned it. She felt the same. She hurt. No one she ever thought of as a friend, no one this close to her had ever died before and later she would need time to stop and process all her feelings but like Angela she was terrified. She thought about when she first received the call that she was needed at a crime scene and that an officer was killed. They didn't tell her who it was, she didn't ask. But for some unknown reason it never crossed her mind that it was Jane or anyone close to her. That thought had comforted her until now.
Neither woman noticed that at the same time from two different directions three men were walking towards them.
Susie signed for the body. She knew Dr. Isles would be at the hospital. She wasn't exactly friends with the detectives she worked with but she had worked directly with Detective Frost on a few occasions. And even outside of work as she smiled at the memory of the softball game.
Clearing her thoughts she handed back the clipboard and began the preparations that she needed to complete. She would work and leave the rest until later.
A sedan moved through the streets of Boston heading towards Boston General as fast as the evening traffic would allow.
The two occupants locked deep in their own thoughts, No words were spoken, no thoughts were shared but each one at some point had the same thought. After tonight nothing will ever be the same.
TBC
Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, favored, or is following this story. Being my first I didn't know what to expect. Your kind words and encouragement mean more than I can put to words. There will be 5 chapters one tomorrow and Friday.
