It was well into the morning when Liam finally came home, stumbling into their bed smelling of booze and women. MAura tried to be angry, but she couldn't. She tried to hate the man who lay beside her, his hands feeling up her tired body. But, all she felt was admeration. She did not know why. He was turning his back on her and their family. There was part of her that was jealous, though. She had allowed him to come and go at his convience, yet when she attempted the same stunt there were concecequences. His hands caresed her body clumsily, and all that she could think of was Jane. And it excited her. Had things changed so drasitcally that her love for this mand was only fueled by agreater love?

Angered she damnded Liam take his hands off of her. She had to think, think about the situation with Jane. she could not keep hurting them both. She felt as if she was using Jane's love against her. But at the request to remove his hands, he reached up and decked her in the face. Maura yelled out in pain which only fueled Liam's anger. Little did Maura or Liam know that otuside their open bedroom door lingered Shannon who watched the night's events unfold in horror.

It was four in the morning and pounding urgent knock was placed on her door. Sleepy, but curious Jane pulled herself out of bed. Half asleep she opened the door. Standing in her hallway bleeding was Maura with her children. At first, Jane was rendered speechless as she ushered the scared trio into her apartment. Maura offered no details to Jane as she asked if the children could sleep in Angelo's room since he was with her father. Jane offered no arguement, she could not deny Maura. Especially in the state she was in.

She studied the M.E. curiously, noticing the deep purple bruises and the scratches. Jane had already put two and two together and realized it was Liam who was responsible. Legally, she could not touch him until Maura came forward. But, that did not mean she would not find the prick and beat the hell out of him. Jane followed Maura to her couch and waited for an explanation, but no words came from her friend. There was just an uncomfortable silence.

"Who did this?" Jane demanded.

"Keep it down so they can sleep," was the only reply the M.E. could come up with. But, Maura had the upperhand here- from years of lying to Liam about where she was and who she was with and what she had done on those fateful nights when she left the good doctor had become some hwat of a good liar. Not that she was about to brag about said progress.

"What happened?" the detective demanded, both her voice and temper flaring.

"Nothing."

"Don't tell me nothing."

Silence, more of it ensued and then, then there were the eventual tears. Tears streamed down Maura's face, they were shameful tears. Tears of anguish and confusion burned her face. Jane could not stand to see her friend like this. She drew Maura tight and allowed her to cry onm her shoulder. Jane held her until what seemed like forever, and then Maura turned from her- her eyes avoiding Jane's/

"Tell me the truth," her tone was demanding and firm, yet it was also comforting and reassuring.

"Nothing. Plain and simple," her tone even and her voice unwavering.

"Look you and I both know that I know what happened. Your eyes tell the truth, all I need to know. But, I can't legally protect you until you come clean, so tell me." Jane explained hoping Maura would realize just how graven her situation would be.

"Nothing happened. He is my husband and I love him. We...we just had an arguement." Her stammering was unconvincing to Jane.

"An arguement, huh? Some arguement that his words cut you and made you bruised and bleeed," she clucked eyeing Maura disapprovingly.

"Don't be like that Jane," she mused disapprovingly.

"Like what? I love you Maur, and I am worried to death for you. Not to mention that at anytime he might turn on your children too."

"He would not, he loves them just as he loves me," she argued.

"So much that he drives you to me?"

"Look if you don't like me being here I would gladly leave. I just figured giving what we have you;d rather me here," her tone was defensive and hurt.

"That isn't what I meant and you know it," Jane retorted back.

"Just drop it Jane. i'll be gone tomorrow," Maura offered.

"I'll drop it but it doesn't mean I want you to go back to him."

"I have to. He's my husband."

"No you could just leave him."

"And go where?"

"You could stay with me. I mean we already you know, and you know that I love you and would proterct you. You would be safe here and so would your children. Shannon would have Angelo to hang out with too. Plus you'd be safe, I mean come on Maur, your pregnant and he is beating you," Jane practically begged.

"I never said he raised a hand to me. And besides, it isn't just easy to walk away from everything you have," Maura offered.

"I know."

"I don't think you do. I think you only know what is like to be walked away from where you don't have to give up a thing. You get to be a the good guy, and the one who leaves gets to be labeled the parent who ruined it all."

Jane was offended, and Maura understood that. Jane had every right to be offended, but she still felt guilty. Jane did know what Maura meant by being the good parent versus the bad one. She was the good parent and Angelo had labeled Antonio the bad one who ruined his happiness and family. But, Angelo had gotten over it. Hell, Jane could see the disappointment and fear in Maura's eyes and it was not the typical fear she had seen in abuse victims- it was deeper and more alerting. The truth was Maura was afraid of what her children might think or how they might react.

The next morning, Jane awoke to an empty house- Maura and her children were gone. At work that morning Jane found every reason to avoid Maura. When she was called down to autopsy to gather evidence she had collected from the corpses, Jane flaked and sent Frost. Janew meanwhile had took Frost's job of alerting the two identified victimss families of there deaths. Maura was nearly certain Jane would come up with some type of excuse to back out of their lunch date. But when, the brunette came strolling in autopsy complaining that they better not go to an expensive pizza joint, the M.E. grinned.

Half an hour later Maura was sitting across from Jane slicing up her pizza skillfully with a knife and fork, much to the detective's dipleasure.

"Seriously Maur, a knife and fork? You are suppose to eat it with your hands, like this," Jane demonstrated as grease and oil dripped off her slice as she took a bite out of it.

Jane's free hand was restong on Maura's and both could not deny an eletric like current that was transpiring between them. Jane grinned at the honey blonde as she ate.

"Maur, I'm worried about you," she offered kindly.

"Don't be. I can take care of myself and my children. Liam loves us he wouldn't dare," the M.E. protested.

"Maura, I am telling you I have a funny feeling about him- always have- and you showing up like that did not help. I love you and it scared me," Jane explained calmly her hand caressing Maura's.

"Jane, you are just being over protective," the M.E. continued to argued for Liam.

"Maur, it isn't how it seems, my gut is telling me something is wrong. Just look at that case I have already found one of the women, Jannet McClintock was involved with Liam. I know he is cheating on you, and I know he has been abusing you. I will find out the truth."

"Jane, it simply a coincidence that they were involved. And, so what if we argue and things get physical once in awhile? He doesn't hurt me and I don't hurt him," she argued.

"It doesn't give him the right to lay hands on you," she was skeptical about him not hurting her, she could tell the doctor needed stitches.

"IF you love me, and your children you would leave him," Jane continued casually.

"I can't, the children need their father, and the baby. What about the baby?"Maura started to panic.

"It is only a matter of time before he hurts you when you're pregnant. You don't want to loose another a child."

"He did not cause the loss of my child. It was unpreventable."

"I never said he did."

"Can we just eat?" Maura asked tears streaming down her face. Jane agreed, but silently she vowed she'd make Liam regret what he had done to her Maura.