"You just call out my name and you know wherever I am I'll come running to see you again"
Maura had called Jane from the airport when she arrived in Africa. She wanted to let Jane know that where she and Ian would be based would make regular communications difficult. She'd promised to check in with Jane as often as she could. Jane hasn't heard from Maura since and it's been over a month. Her one saving grace is it's been busy.
She, Frost and Korsack have just wrapped up a difficult murder. Timely too; as it's Friday evening and Jane has a weekend off. Jane, Frost and Korsack are sitting at their desks finishing off paperwork when Frankie walks in.
Jane notices her brother's attire. "Wow you're all dressed up; what are you up to tonight?"
"Me and Frost thought we'd hit the town seeing we both have tomorrow off. What are you doing tonight?"
"Me? Nothing; probably have a drink at the Robber before I go home."
Korsack joins in. He's been aware of Jane's loneliness outside of work. "That sounds like a good idea Jane; I'll join you for one or two." He looks at Frost.
Frost recognizes Korsack's stare, "Sure; we'll have a drink there too before we go out."
Jane catches on. "Guys I'm not some pity party; you know what? It's OK I'm just going to head home."
Frankie grabs her as she stands, "Janey it's not pity; we would do this even if Maura was hear you know that. Frost and I are going out but we're having a beer at the Robber before we do. I don't know what Korsack's plans are for the evening but he usually finishes a case by having a beer with us. So stop feeling sorry for yourself and come and have a drink."
Jane pulls out of Frankie's grasp and smiles "OK; OK I'll come and have a beer."
They're all sitting in the Robber. It has a nice energy as most patrons are unwinding for the weekend. "So what are you up too with your weekend off" Korsack asks Jane.
"Actually Casey called the other day. He asked if I'd come to one of his training sessions tomorrow. I said I would."
"How's that going" Frost asks.
"He still runs hot and cold but I try to be there when he needs me."
Frankie chimes in "how good a shot was that you pulled off today Janey. That guy was intent on hurting one of us; he was crazy."
"That idiot; Pike" Jane exclaims. "I can't help thinking if Maura had been on the case I wouldn't have had to shoot a paranoid schizophrenic."
"Maura would have picked up his symptoms earlier in this case; that's for sure" Korsack adds.
"What's going on with filling her role" Frost asks.
"I don't know" Jane adds.
"Cavanaugh says they're holding the position for Dr. Isles for six months. Just in case things don't work out over in Africa" Korsack explains.
"You're kidding right?" Jane's quite surprised at this information.
Korsack's ads "I don't think it's a reflection on the marriage Jane; I just think they know how hard it is where she is and I think they're hoping she'll want to come back."
Jane laughs, "She won't leave Ian; that I know!"
They all continue to chat for a little while longer. Jane is the first to get up to leave. She wants to make sure they're not still sitting around for her. "Well I'm off guys; you all have fun tonight. Don't break too many hearts." She pats Korsack's shoulder "that goes for you too big guy!"
As she heads for home Jane decides to call on her mother. Turning the car towards Maura's place is like putting it on auto pilot. When Jane enters Angela is having a cup of tea and reading a book. "Hey Ma" Jane walks in and kisses her mum.
"Hello Jane; what are you doing here on a Friday night?"
"Nice to see you too" Jane responds and heads to Maura's fridge.
"I'm sorry I just thought you'd be out and about."
"Yeah how sad am I; the only person I can find to hang out with on a free Friday night is my mother and it sounds like even she doesn't want me around." Jane flops on the lounge and turns on Maura's TV.
Angela goes and sits beside her. "You're welcome here anytime love; you know that."
"Thanks Ma."
"So you still haven't heard from Maura?"
"No I haven't. Ma; can I ask you something?
"Sure"
"Does it strike you as odd that Ian wouldn't tell Maura that there were no communication services where they would be living?"
"Yes it does and Constance is furious."
"So it's not just me then. Huh…"
When Maura arrived in the little community on the outskirts of Segeneyti in the Debub province in the south of Eritrea she's taken aback. She is still feeling a little uneasy that Ian had failed to mention that communications with home would not be easy. She's also mad at herself for a most uncharacteristic mistake. It's not like Maura not to check into every detail of the destination she would be living. Still, Ian had painted such a different picture, at least that's what she thought. She realises with sadness that her emotions had clouded her judgment.
A month in and Maura finds she is missing home more than she thought she would. Oh she knew she'd miss the people; especially Jane but she's thrown by how much she's missing her work. Her time with Ian is magical but working on live, disadvantaged families causes her more distress then she remembers. She has a sinking feeling she has let Ian rush her into this and that it's going to be much harder than she had first thought.
The area where Ian has set up his business is dry and dusty. The people are predominantly dark-skinned and practice either Christianity or Islam. The population of Segeneyti is only around nine thousand and their base could not play home to more than a couple of hundred people. The town has suffered much hardship as it's between Ethiopia and the Eritrean sea ports. When Eritrea secured its independence as a nation Ethiopia had become a land locked nation and a lot of conflict and death had occurred.
Ian has told Maura to be alert and aware at all times. This is cold comfort to her, especially when Ian takes his trips to collect the drugs he needs to keep this community healthy. She hates being in the town on her own. It wouldn't be so bad if she could talk to her friends and family back home and admits that when Ian is not with her she is desperately lonely and often very frightened.
Ian walks into their little mud brick home and wraps Maura in a warm hug. She turns and kisses him. She loves it when he's home. Maura has done her best to make the house homely and comfortable and it is proving to be a much-needed sanctuary. "Ian the next time you go into Asmara can I come, I am desperate to talk to Mother and to Jane."
Ian smiles at Maura as he tucks some of her loose hair behind her ears. "Sure; I'm heading there in two days."
Maura can't contain her excitement and the next two days seem to take an eternity to pass.
Jane is dead to the world when her cell phone starts to ring at three in the morning. No, no, no she thinks, I'm not working this weekend. She pulls the pillow over her head and then her judgment gets the better of her and in a sleepy voice she answers.
"Rizzoli"
"It's me; Maura."
Jane is instantly alert. "My God Maura; how are you. It's so good to hear from you?"
"Jane is your lap top handy, I'm in an internet cafe and I can Skype you. I'd like to see you."
"Sure, hang on a tick." Jane rushes out of her bedroom and grabs the lap top she's left fired up on her kitchen bench. She takes it and runs and jumps back in to bed. Her Skype is already ringing. As she answers the video connection fires up. "Maura; I was starting to worry."
Maura starts to laugh "I forgot how terrible you look when your sleep is interrupted." Jane's not concerned by Maura's comment as she runs her hands through her hair.
"Funny you don't look like you're about to strut down a fashion runway Missy." They both laugh.
"So tell me everything Maura, how's Ian; what's it like there; is it everything you were expecting?"
"Oh Jane Ian is wonderful. He's working so hard and doing so much good work for our community."
"What about you?" Jane interrupts.
"Well I'm poking needles into lots of live people Jane." Maura laughs.
Jane and Maura quickly lapse into their easy way of talking and their natural banter starts to flow. They talk for hours.
Ian makes sure Maura is safe and settled in the internet cafe and then heads off to his business meeting. He knows she and Jane will talk for hours. As he approaches the building he's meant to be at someone places a gun into his back and drags him down a nearby ally.
"White man; you have the drugs. No?" Ian is looking into the dark angry eyes of an Arab soldier. The man is carrying a semi automatic rifle over his shoulder and has an automatic pistol pointed straight between Ian's eyes.
Ian raises his hands "mate I don't have any drugs I promise?"
"Then where is the money?"
"I was just on my way to see Akil; I have a shipment of medicines coming in from Australia later today." Ian tries to reason.
"It is not Akil you have to worry about white man it is Al Hakam who is angry with you."
"I am doing everything Al Hakam has asked of me. Half of this shipment is for him. I need the other half for my community or people will get suspicious." Ian is nervous and he's struggling to keep up his composure.
"Come!" The soldier points the gun in the direction he wants Ian to move and Ian complies.
"How's Casey Jane?"
"I saw him today Maura. He runs hot and cold but he wanted me to come to his training session, so I went."
"How was it for you?"
"It's hard Maura. I'm trying to be supportive but it could be weeks before I hear from him again. It's really hard to see where all this is going."
"I'm sorry Jane."
"Don't be Maura; we can't all be swept off our feet by the perfect man. So tell me are you happy? No regrets?"
"Ah… it's all wonderful Jane; I couldn't be happier."
Jane picks up on the slightest hesitation and starts to frown. "Maura; this is me. come on give it to me straight."
"Well… I do love being here with Ian; I really do.
"But"
"Oh Jane I hate the work and I miss my lab; I'm not cut out for working on live people even if it's just routine checkups and immunizations."
"Hey; you just need to adjust. Give it more time."
"It's more than that Jane; did Ian ever mention to you that I wouldn't have any communications from our home?"
"It's funny you say that. Ma and I were only saying the same thing last night. Your mother's not happy either."
"I haven't been able to speak to her yet; I'm calling her when we finish up."
"You know Maura you were both so wrapped up in each other when he proposed there are probably a lot of things that will hit you both over the next little while."
"Yes you're probably right Jane. Well I have nothing but time to see how things go at the moment and Ian is being wonderful."
For the first time in their conversation there is an easy pause. Maura breaks the silence. "It's been so nice to talk to you at last. I miss you my friend."
"So we'll only get to chat once a month; I can live with that. Call me any chance you get though Maura."
"I will Jane; say hi to everyone."
When Jane lays back down she notices the sun is coming up. She doesn't have anywhere she has to be and tries to get back to sleep. She tosses and turns; she can't shake an uneasy feeling that has crept into her cop gut.