And another one. You really seem to enjoy this one, hm? ;-)


Chapter 7

When Frankie got the call from Maura it seemed like his world had stopped spinning. A seizure. Another surgery. Heart had stopped. Those were the information Frankie clung to until he arrived at the hospital and Maura filled him in again. Both had decided not to tell Angela what had happened. It was still early that day and she had to work at least for another five hours.

Waiting is a bitch, Frankie thought. After a short update from the nurses, Maura knew that Jane had another subdural hematoma or better known as blood clot. She was relieved to know it was just that because it was a typical side effect of the shunt. To prevent another bleeding the doctors had told Maura they would insert a bigger shunt tube this time. But they told her at the same time that the healing process would take longer due to the bigger hole in Jane's skull. I think there are other wounds that acquire longer time.

After three hours of surgery Jane was wheeled into her private room in the CCU again. Her head was now under much more gauze hidden and out of it came the new shunt tube. Okay it is bigger, Maura thought when she saw that it was as thick as her small finger. But if it keeps Jane alive…

Frankie had excused himself after seeing his sister alive and in good hands again. He didn't want to stay away from work to long or else it would look suspicious. So he left the hospital early afternoon and told Maura he would check on both of them after his shift.

Maura settle herself in the chair again and took a nap. She was emotional overwhelmed and needed to calm down. So best thing was to cool down a bit and get a clear head.

That was six days ago. Six days with no change. Grateful Jane hadn't experienced another seizure or stroke but unfortunately she had not woken up either. Maura had now taken most of the tasks of the nurses. She washed Jane every second day and changed the dressings on her incisions. With the help of Stephanie her favorite nurse she moved Jane into different positions to prevent bedsores. Maura was surprised that Jane's two incisions healed perfectly but she wouldn't wake up. It scared her. She was afraid that the possible brain damage wouldn't allow Jane to wake up for a long time or ever again. After the fifth day they had taken of the stiff neck. It wasn't necessary anymore.

Since then the nurses had arranged a bed for Maura. She refused to leave her at night and arguing with Dr. Maura Isles wasn't an option. Korsak and Frost had understood that she wouldn't come to work soon but were on the best way to madness. Pike now worked the homicide cases and he wasn't nearly as good as Maura. The came on a now daily basis to get updates from the doc it was every day the same though.

Two days after her second surgery a young man came by and told Maura that not only Jane had to be moved into different positions but moved as such. And by that he meant moving her legs, massaging her legs, moving her arm and massaging him too. He showed her how to do that and left her some massaging oil. It was necessary to move Jane in every possible way to prevent thrombosis. So Maura followed these instructions. It also was a nice distraction from just sitting there and waiting. Is this how it goes from now on? She asked herself when she pulled up the blanket from Jane's legs. But can't she at least be awake and bug me like she always does? She started to massage Jane's left foot and went up to her inner upper thighs. She still had problems touching Jane's sex when it came to washing her body or massaging her. Think like a doctor Maura. But she couldn't. It was her girlfriend lying there; her best friend, her family. So she did what every good partner did, she cared for Jane in every possible way.

Stephanie stepped in and greeted Maura with a warm smile. "Hello Maura how is our girl today?"

Maura, sitting on the edge of the hospital bed massaging Jane's upper thigh, looked up at her. "Well, it seems that she responds to my voice. Every time I talk to her there is movement under her eyelids." Stephanie went over to the heart monitor and checked her vitals.

Maura liked her more than the other nurses. She was a mid-forty old woman with a shade of gray in her hair and kind brown eyes. She wasn't tall and not the thinnest person but she had a big heart and always talked to Jane when she had to work on her.

"Well I got some good news for you two." She said and moved to Jane's head. "Dr. Norton will remove her shunt today. She will be here in a minute." Maura smiled and gently stroke Jane's hand.

"Have you heard darling. They're going to take out the tube in your skull. One step at a time but see, you get better. You just have to wake up." Stephanie smiled at Maura's statement. She knew real love when she saw it. And they both definitely had it, well at least Maura. She loosened the gauze around Jane's head for the doctor to remove the tube. That's when Maura saw it the first time. The little hole in Jane's skull. Most of her side was shaven and you could see the part where they had opened her up. It was at least a square inch big. Short behind it they had drilled a hole into the skull tin insert the shunt. But today Jane would get rid of it. A good sign, Maura thought. That means the bleeding has stopped and the swelling went down.

Dr. Norton had come by to look after her patient almost every day. And every day she came to the same result. Patience. All they had to do was waiting for Jane to regain consciousness. At least Jane's wounds healed nicely and they only had to worry the outcome of her brain and spinal cord injury.

"How is she today?" she asked when she entered the room. Maura turned around and greeted her with small smile.

"She is doing well." Maura said. "Stephanie told me you would take out the shunt." Dr. Norton stepped closer to Jane's head and inspected the head injury and the shunt tube.

"Yes, I will." She replied and put on some sterile gloves. "Her swelling is completely gone and the shunt doesn't drain anymore fluids. So everything is perfectly fine." Maura stepped a little closer to watch both women remove the tube. It was a very easy procedure but it looked weird seeing someone removing something out of a skull. Stephanie taped the hole and wrapped new gauze around Jane's head. Dr. Norton and Stephanie tripped of the gloves and threw them into the bin.

"We'll see if we can remove the chest tube tomorrow. Her lung looks good as well at least on yesterday's x-rays." She turned around to Maura and looked her in the eyes. "She will wake up Dr. Isles give her some time. It's not uncommon for patients like Jane who suffered as much as damage as she has suffered from to be in a coma that long." Maura sighed and ran a hand through her hair.

"I know Dr. Norton but I just want her to wake up. I just want her to be okay." She slumped down in her so common chair. "What if she won't wake up? What if she suffered immense neurological damage? Can't move, can't talk or even has lost her memory?" Maura shook her head and wiped her eyes. Dr. Norton looked kindly at her.

"You have to have faith. I know we can't take her of the respirator, yet but if she is able to breathe on her own she will get rid of this tube, too." She took Maura's hand in hers and gave it a light squeeze.

"Keep faith in her and tomorrow we will see about the chest tube." She gave Maura her brightest and most honest smile and left their room. Stephanie hadn't said anything until now.

"She is right. I'll pray for her every evening. And if I have faith in her you have too." She wrapped up the trash and left a very stunned Maura behind.

"Faith, Jane. They say I have to have faith." She took Jane's hand in her own and kissed her on the now available forehead. "You have to live for me Jane, please." A single tear rolled down her cheek and wetted Jane's. And then out of the blue Jane squeezed Maura's hand.

"Jane?" Maura asked and looked questioning over her whole body. "Jane if you can hear me squeeze my hand again, can you do that?" It took a little moment but Jane squeezed again.

"Darling, hey Jane, can you try to open your eyes for me?" Maura almost begged. Suddenly all of her emotions came crashing on her down. She was exited, happy but also afraid. Jane cracked her eyes open and closed them again. The light must be painful for her.

"Hey Jane you have to stay calm okay. I'm gonna get Dr. Norton. Please stay calm and let the machine breathe for you okay? Jane squeezed her hand in response. She understands me.

Maura opened the door and called for Nurse Stephanie that Jane was awake. Both Doctor and Nurse reacted straight away and came running to Jane's room. Dr. Norton stepped close to Jane.

"Jane, can you please open your eyes for me? She asked in a soft tone. Jane complied and cracked her eyes open again. She blinked several times to adjust to the light.

"Maura certainly told you to let the machine breathe for you. We gonna intubate you in a minute but first" she pulled out a small flash light "I need to check you out." She flashed into her eyes to look for any brain damage.

"Can you please follow my finger Jane?" Jane complied. Maura who stood at the end of the bed watched the whole scene with relief. Nurse Stephanie deflated the little bladder that held down the endotracheal tube. "I'm gonna count to three and then I'm gonna pull that tube out, okay?" She counted and then pulled the tube out of Jane's throat. She coughed a little and then it was out.

Stephanie loosened the restrains around Jane's wrist and casted arm. She disconnected the whole respirator system and then stepped outside the room. "If you need me, ring."

Maura moved around the bed and stroke Jane's uninjured side of the head.

"There you are. I've been dying to see those beautiful dark eyes again." Maura said gently and gave her a kiss on the forehead. Then Dr. Norton stepped closer. Jane still hadn't spoken a word and that worried her. At least she seemed to recognize Maura and hadn't flinched when she had touched her.

"Jane, can you tell me where you are?" Dr. Norton asked and scribbled something down on her chart.

Jane blinked and opened her mouth.

"Hos…" was all that came out. She tried again but failed. Maura looked over to Dr. Norton with a worried look.

"It's okay Jane." She said and signed Maura to step out of the room. "Just rest and get some sleep. I'll check on you later again." She left the room and waited for Maura to follow her. Maura bend over to Jane and saw her worried look.

"It's okay sweetheart. You suffered from a massive brain injury. Everything will be fine, I promise." She kissed her forehead again and left the room. Outside Dr. Norton stood with a worried look on her face.

"I think Jane's Broca-Areal is damaged."


Go on? Reviews allowed ;-)