Huge shoutout to Strongsouljah for her help in this chapter. The sweat you're going to feel over the first scene is all thanks to her ;)
Warning: Explicit sex & drug use ahead.
As she approached the bedroom, Jane could hear the shower running. She entered the room and sat on the bed waiting for Maura so they could hopefully try talking again.
Jane realised she had approached the situation completely wrong. Instead of trying to defend herself, she needed to put herself in Maura's shoes. The problem was, she had never done empathy very well and had no idea how to proceed.
When the doctor finally emerged from the bathroom, she was clad in a silk slip and robe. Jane stood, wiping her sweaty palms on her jeans. "We have to talk about this." She said, reaching out for Maura's hand as she tried to walk past her.
The honey blonde turned around, snatching her hand out of Jane's reach. "Don't." She hissed. She couldn't handle anymore. "I trusted you, Jane." It seemed like her shower had given her just enough time to get worked up into a fit of rage again.
"Maur, what are you talking about? You can—"
"Trust you?" Maura laughed sarcastically. "I would believe that if I hadn't found out about your girlfriend! God, you're all the same! Did you need another notch on your bedpost? Was fucking her not enough for you?!" She spat, her voice getting louder with each syllable. "Of course it wasn't! How many more women are there for me to find out about? How many have you slept with?"
Jane was beginning to lose her composure. The comment about the notch on the bedpost was a slap in the face. Usually, it would have been a valid accusation, but not with Maura. Why couldn't she see that?
"I told you she's not my fucking girlfriend! I- After we slept together, I- I fucked her once, ok! That was it. I haven't touched anyone since you— Since you went down on me." Jane flushed with some embarrassment.
"Don't lie to me!" Maura shouted angrily. Without thinking about the taller woman's injuries, she stepped forward and shoved her.
The biker allowed the force to rock her back but her reflexes allowed her to grasp the thin wrists as Maura made contact. "Maura!" Jane yelled, looking into her eyes with so much hurt. The doctor's fury caused her to attempt another push but Jane stood firm, only moving slightly. She kept hold of the hands at her chest. "Please… don't hurt me." She whispered, using the momentum to pull Maura close to her and look into angry hazel.
Maura could hear the desperation in Jane's voice. She could see the distress in those dark eyes. For a second the anger she felt dissipated and a flash of want appeared. She couldn't explain it and had no control over it. Jane's mouth was so close she could feel the warmth from her breath. Just as quickly, the anger in her eyes was back in place.
Jane caught the almost imperceptible change in Maura and ran with it. She pulled her close and kissed her roughly. The smaller woman returned the kiss with the same intensity, grasping Jane's muscled shoulders and digging her nails into them.
The mechanic snatched the robe open and it fell to the floor as she forced the doctor backwards to the bed. Turned on beyond belief but unwilling to look Jane in the eyes any more, Maura moved her body to face away and braced her arms on the bed, displaying a bare ass underneath the slip. Jane bent over her and pressed herself as close as humanly possible, breathing heavily in her ear. She pulled at the slip, tearing the front, grabbing Maura's breast with one hand while the other slipped between her thighs and stroked engorged wetness.
Maura could hear Jane's animalistic growls and she ground her ass into her. She reached behind and grasped a handful of dark curls as she ran her nails up Jane's thigh. She felt Jane tear the remnants of the slip from her body and then moved away momentarily. She groaned when she felt Jane's naked body return, her hips pressing hard against her backside.
Jane forced them further onto the bed to lay down, her fingers stroking Maura's hardened nub as she ground her clit against the honey blonde's ass. The rage fuelled sex quickly brought both women to climax. No names were whispered, no loving words of encouragement, or pleas for release. Only the sounds of laboured breathing and furious meeting of wet flesh were heard.
Jane rolled Maura over and the doctor finally complied, too turned on to fight it. She grabbed the biker's fingers and forced them to her entrance. Jane immediately responded. Out of her mind with lust she pounded Maura hard and fast, as the smaller body dictated, and sucked at her shoulder whilst grinding herself against the doctor's leg. Small fingers ran their nails up and down the strong back and across the toned ass roughly, forcing Jane to intensify her strokes. After a few minutes Maura used her yoga-honed agility to flip them over so she was on top. She rode Jane as hard as she could, never once making eye contact.
Feeling the coil in their lower bellies, they both groaned and panted hoarsely, signalling their achieved release. Breathing heavily, Maura finally made eye contact again and swallowed hard as her eyes pooled and she allowed the tears to run down her cheeks, falling onto her lover's face.
They may as well have been several more harsh slaps to the biker. They sucked all of the air out of her lungs and she looked down to their joined pelvises with contempt. Her hips stopped moving and she dared to look back up at Maura's face. The open, vulnerable look, the tears spilling down her cheeks, devastated her.
This was Maura. The woman she had promised herself to treat as precious. The woman she had just emotionlessly fucked as though she were another nameless and faceless woman, to be used and forgotten like the rest of them. She tore her gaze away, disgusted in her actions.
Maura was so confused at the array of emotions that crossed Jane's face. Fear, awe, care, love… She knew the biker loved her; was in love with her. She shifted slightly and curled into Jane, exhausted from the adrenaline that had just coursed through her system from both anger and arousal. It left the women spent and they both fell asleep.
Jane awoke with Maura still on top of her, her fingers still buried deep inside. She slowly turned her body, rolling Maura carefully. The doctor blinked open sleepy eyes and winced slightly.
"Sorry, baby." Jane whispered as she removed her fingers and rolled back over to face the smaller woman. She reached out to brush back golden locks. "Maura." She spoke softly. "I would never do anything to hurt you. I'm so sorry." She held the smaller woman tenderly, running her hands over her back and kissed the side of her neck.
Maura opened her eyes to Jane's confession. Deep in her heart she knew her lover's words were true. She savoured the touch for a moment and pulled back to look at Jane. "I- I think I know you wouldn't- do anything to intentionally hurt me, Jane." She touched the biker's cheek and whispered painfully. "But I can't be with you. Not like this." Maura's tears spilled over and ran down her cheek to the bedding beneath.
"But I love you." Jane didn't understand.
"I know… I love you too but… I just— It would be too hard for us, for me. I must sound like a hypocrite." She scoffed humourlessly at herself and caressed Jane's face. "I want a normal life, Jane. I help Paddy and Colin because they're family. There's nothing I can do about that, but you… I would be choosing to be with someone who—"
"What if I got out?" Jane asked desperately, pulling the smaller body more tightly against her, as though she couldn't bare to be separated from it. She couldn't. The thought of not being with Maura was eating her alive.
"What?" The doctor whispered back, unsure if she had heard correctly. She pulled back to search the dark eyes.
"I'll get out. I'll do whatever it takes, Maura. I love you. I don't want that life, I want you. I want normal too." The biker confessed with absolute conviction.
It rendered the smaller woman silent. She had no idea how much she meant to Jane until now.
"H- how?"
"I dunno. I'll talk to Paddy. I'll talk to Gemma, she—"
Maura frowned at the name of her brother's mother. "She won't care."
"She will. Gemma loves me." The biker declared. She knew that Gemma was a hard woman but she cared deeply for the brunette and would do anything to help her.
"She loves no one but herself!" Maura pulled away, unwilling to listen to anything about the horrible woman that had Jane fooled.
"Ok, ok, baby, please! I don't want to fight with you. Please, Maura?" The tattooed woman reached to pull the doctor back into her body, "I'll figure it out, ok?" She whispered into the delicate ear and pressed a kiss just below it.
"Ok." Maura clung to her, conflicted and not knowing what to think.
"Um, about this afternoon… I didn't mean to be so intense. I- I wasn't— You aren't just a quick fuck to me. I don't want to use you like that." Jane spoke fiercely. "I adore you, Maura."
Maura smiled into the tattooed shoulder and kissed it affectionately. She breathed in Jane's unique scent and let it wash over her. She had to decide right now whether she was going to give Jane another chance or let everything go.
The thought of letting Jane go was too gut-wrenching. The thought of it caused her heart to race and grief overwhelmed her. She kissed Jane's shoulder again and nuzzled her nose into the tattooed shoulder.
"I know, sweetheart… It's ok… I— I really want to be able to give you what you need." She didn't really understand fully what she was offering but Jane did. She didn't want that at all.
"You already do, babe." They kissed again, more gently than their earlier activity. Jane groaned in pain when the blonde grazed her shoulder. "I think I need some more Tylenol and a shower."
Maura's worried frown returned and she sat up, reluctantly letting go and got out of bed. "I'll draw you a bath, darling. You can't get your stitches wet." She gasped as she saw the nail marks all over Jane's back and ass, visible even on top of the tattoos. "It looks as if we both got carried away."
Jane smirked back at her and stepped into the bathtub. "I wear those scratches with pride." The smirk left her face and she squealed when the hot water hit the scrapes, stinging worse than the cut AJ had inflicted on her arm.
Maura chuckled at the pout Jane pulled. "Maybe we shouldn't have sex when we're angry?" She suggested, sitting on the edge of the tub and wrapping her arms around strong shoulders.
"Mmm, maybe." Jane claimed the soft lips and ran her hand over Maura's thigh tenderly. "As hot as angry sex might be, I think I prefer making love to you."
Tears pooled in Maura's eyes. "Did you ever make love to Amy?"
Jane frowned at the question. The doctor still didn't get it. She got up on her knees and pulled the smaller woman against her. "Maur, I have never made love with anyone. Only you." She confessed with conviction and kissed her again, more tenderly than she had before.
It moved Maura to release the tears that had gathered in her eyes and she let the conversation go for now, enjoying the vulnerable connection that Jane had initiated.
They would need to talk about it but later, once she was more settled and in a headspace where she was able to fully believe what the biker was saying to her.
For now, she let Jane hold her until she felt more secure.
The next morning Colin and Barry turned back up at Maura's house.
"Hi guys. Come in." Maura opened the door for them with a relaxed smile.
Colin raised his eyebrow at his sister in question. "You seem better?"
"Much." She confirmed and led them into the lounge room where Jane was resting.
"Hey." Jane sat up carefully, her body still battered, bruised, and aching.
"Maura, can you give us a minute?" Colin needed privacy for what he needed to tell Jane.
"No." Maura denied the request and sat next to Jane, lacing their fingers together.
Jane grinned at him and bit her lip. "Baby, um, you probably don't wanna hear—"
"I'm staying." The doctor stated defiantly.
Barry chuckled and Colin took a deep breath. "Alright sis. You've been warned… Uh, Jay, we went back to The Southie right after we left you here and AJ and 3 of his guys were gone by the time we got back but 1 of 'em— Uh, he didn't make it."
Maura gasped in shock. Surely they didn't kill someone. Not her brother. Not Jane.
Jane cringed at the news. "What the fuck happened after I was knocked out?!"
The doctor watched Jane's reaction. She seemed genuinely upset and it caused Maura to feel relieved.
"Well, we thought AJ was gonna kill you."
"He would have!" Barry piped in.
"Yeah, so we shot 'em." Colin ignored his sister's gasp. "It's ok, the weapons are gone but- Jay, your blood was all over the ground. The cops, they're lookin' for you."
Maura tightened her hold on Jane's hand and tried not to cry at the news.
"Fuck." Jane hung her head. She was going to go back in for this. They couldn't prove that she killed anyone but she believed it was enough to put her back behind bars. She was surprised she didn't have any missed calls from her parole officer yet.
"Her blood at the crime scene doesn't prove that she was responsible." Maura declared and reached Jane to rub her back. Her hand slipped up to the biker's nape and she scratched the base of her skull soothingly. Her defence and tenderness made Jane want to weep.
"Doesn't matter, babe. I- I'm not supposed to be anyway near Mario's family. It's against my parole conditions."
"Did you know he would be there?" She looked into Jane's dark eyes, waiting to see if her lover would tell her the truth.
Jane hung her head again in shame. "Yeah. I knew."
"Sweetheart, why would you—"
"I wanted to fight him. I wanted to kill him or die trying." The brunette confessed.
Maura had no words. She didn't understand why Jane would do this. "Why would you—"
"You need to tell her what kind of shit you've done, Jay. What we've been up to." Colin instructed. He was all for them being together and he really liked the brunette, but he was protective of his sister. She meant the world to him and he didn't want her feeling in the dark about everything, like Jane had already made her feel.
The biker tightened her hold on the doctor's fingers and looked at the confused beautiful face. "Yeah, ok." She whispered out like a confession.
"Do I need to know?" Maura surprised them all with the question. At their shocked faces, she clarified what she meant. "Jane doesn't want to stay in the club. She doesn't want to do any of that anymore. That- that's enough for me. I don't think I'm ready to hear about what you've been involved in. Maybe soon, but not yet." She professed, not sure if she would handle it. Her imagination was capable of conjuring up a good idea. She had seen enough of the news and heard stories of Paddy's exploits.
"Listen, Maura, Jay has to get outta town." Barry suggested, changing the topic for now.
Jane's head snapped up and she ignored the dizziness it induced. "No! No way. I'm not looking like I'm runnin'."
"That's right! They will take her for questioning but they wont be able to tie her to the murder because they haven't got any evidence of that… Do they?" Maura asked her brother.
"Nah, they can't have. Jay didn't do it." He thought for a moment. "Yeah, they can't tie you to it, Jay. You might get a rap on the knuckles but it shouldn't be enough to put you back in. Just say you were eating dinner and had no idea he was gonna be there and that he attacked you. They can't prove anything."
"Yeah, ok." Jane sighed defeatedly. "I better head home so they don't think I'm tryin' ta bail out on them."
"I'll take you home." Maura offered and moved to stand but Jane pulled her back.
"No, Maura. I don't want you there if they come lookin' for me. I- I don't want you caught up in this and I don't want you to have to lie to cover for us."
"Jane, I'm not going to let you—"
"Please, baby? Just- You need to trust me. They will make your life hell if they know we're involved. The less they know, the better."
Maura's shoulders sagged and her brow wrinkled with worry. "I can't lie anyway."
Colin chuckled. This he knew to be true.
"What do you mean?" Jane asked curiously as she caressed the hand in hers.
"I- I get hives if I lie."
"Holy shit! Uh, ok. So, you need to make sure you don't know anything then and guys, we really need to make sure the cops don't find out about her!"
They all agreed and Maura felt a weird sense of safety. They were all trying hard to protect her.
"Ok, we better go." Colin and Barry stood to leave and Maura walked them to the door while Jane went to get her stuff. "Any word on Amy?" He asked his sister.
"I haven't checked. I'll call Nina and find out later."
"Ok. Don't tell Jay though. She's already stressed out enough." Colin kissed Maura on the cheek and the pair left.
"What was he whispering to you?" Jane asked curiously.
"He wanted to know how Amy was."
"And?"
"I'm not sure, Jane. I need to call Nina." She answered in a neutral tone and walked into the kitchen to make a coffee.
Jane got up and stood behind the doctor, placing her hands gently on slim hips. They stood like that for a moment, looking out into the street through the window.
The biker sighed and stepped closer to the smaller woman, wrapping her arms around her middle and nuzzling her neck. "I love you, Maura Isles… But… I also care about Amy. I've known her since she was 13."
"So, for what? 5 years?" Maura asked sarcastically and ran her hands lovingly over the tattooed forearms around her body.
Jane chuckled at the joke and kissed the honey blonde's shoulder. "15 actually… I feel responsible for her, Maur. I- I don't know how to explain it but my feelings for her don't come close to what I feel for you. You don't need to feel jealous." She turned the doctor around to face her and held her close. "You're just- everything… You're everything to me and I'm so in love with you." She sealed the declaration with a tender kiss.
"I love you too, Jane. So much… God, you make me feel so out of control." Maura caressed the sincere face and kissed her reverently. "I've never felt so strongly about someone like I do for you." She kissed Jane again and opened her mouth to deepen it. They stayed that way, kissing one another with passion until they were interrupted by someone knocking on the door.
Jane gave Maura a worried look and moved to open it. She almost feinted in relief at the sight of her brothers on the other side. "Jeez, you scared me!"
Their worried faces reflected that they knew the cops were looking for her. They wanted to know all about it.
Jane decided it was best that they had the conversation at her apartment.
The doctor clung tightly to her, not wanting her to go but Jane kissed her goodbye and promised that she would let her know everything as it happened. Reluctantly parting ways, Jane got on her bike and rode back to her place with Frankie and Tommy following.
Maura called Nina and was surprised to hear that Amy had woken up just that morning and looked to be slowly improving, despite her scans and blood work showing significant damage to her kidneys and liver. The doctor pushed down her jealousy when Nina informed her that Amy had been asking for Jane. She decided to retreat to her study and do some research. It was the only thing that would occupy her mind enough to keep her worries about Jane in the background.
Right after her brothers left, another knock sounded on Jane's door. She knew it was the police this time.
She opened the door and was shocked to find her mother's boyfriend on the other side. "Uh, hey Detective." She greeted calmly.
"Hello, Jane." He formally responded, upset that he had caught this case. He really didn't want to arrest his girlfriend's daughter. He took in her disheveled appearance but was unable to see any of her injuries. "Do you know why I'm here?"
"A homicide detective at my door… No, I'm not sure." She answered and opened the door wider, stepping back to invite him in. She closed it behind him once he got inside and she motioned him to the couch. "You want a coffee?"
"Yes please." He watched her intently, noticing that her movements seemed controlled, not natural. Like she was injured.
She made the drink in silence and he waited until she sat down before he proceeded.
"Why don't you tell me about Alphonse John Gangitano." He requested and sipped from his mug.
She huffed slightly at the name and slumped back in her seat. "Mario Gangitano's brother. A fucking hothead and in charge of the Gangitano crime family." She informed him but she knew he already knew all of that.
"Uh huh. You wanna tell me why his blood and your blood were found in the back alley of The Southie Bar, along with the body of Danny Multari?"
Jane decided to be honest. She kinda liked Vince and thought that if anyone would want to help her, he would because of his relationship with her mother.
"Ok, look…" She sat forward and stared hard at him. "I know I got history and on Saturday night I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He wanted to fight, so I did. He cut me open and stabbed me in the chest." She pointed to her stitched up arm and pulled the collar of her t shirt down to show him the bandaged area just below her collarbone. "Then smashed my head into the ground and I don't remember anythin' else. I had no idea about Danny." She sat back and watched him process the information.
"Anyone else with you?"
"Nope." She lied. She was happy to tell him about her but she wasn't going to rat out her friends.
"Your brothers?"
"No. They were in Milton." That was the truth.
"Ok. You got any weapons?"
She scoffed. "You know I'm on parole, right? I don't have weapons."
He sighed in relief. "Alright kiddo. I gotta say, you seem like you're tellin' the truth but it doesn't look good with the history you have."
"Yeah, I know… I'm tryin' to stay clean, Vince." She offered with sincerity. "It's hard to do when you're stuck in the same state as the assholes that you've been runnin' with for years and can't leave coz of parole. You guys make it pretty fuckin' hard for us to get a win." She accused without any heat in her words. It was a partial truth. She hadn't wanted to get involved with Paddy again but had given in easily. She now had a great motivation to get out and stay clean.
"Yeah, it's a tough system, Janie. I'm sorry about that but… it shouldn't be us versus you. I'm on your side if you're truly doin' the right thing. Come see me anytime you need to, ok?" He walked over to the door and opened it. "Lay low for a while. And, if you have someone you can be with, it's probably best to have an alibi at the moment. You never know what shit is gonna go down with AJ's man turnin' up dead."
"Yeah, ok." Jane nodded in agreement and closed the door with a sigh of relief.
She picked up her cell phone and called Maura to let her know that she was ok.
The doctor answered the call on the second ring.
"Jane?"
"Hey, Maur. A BPD homicide detective just left my place."
"Oh god. What happened?"
"He just asked me some questions. He went easy on me, Maur. He's, uh, dating my Ma."
"Are you serious?" Maura chuckled at the unbelievable news.
Jane laughed along with her. "I know it's crazy but, yeah, he is. He's actually pretty nice for a cop."
"Can I come over?" The doctor asked shyly. She felt so anxious and didn't want to be away from the biker for a moment. Not with everything going on with the police.
"Um, god Maur, I really want you to but I don't think it's a good idea." Jane huffed in frustration and grinned at the whine on the other end.
"Sweetheart, I want to look after you."
"I want that too but— don't you have work?"
"Not until tomorrow morning." Maura made up her mind, she was going to pack an overnight bag and go over anyway.
"My place is a mess."
"Don't care. I'll see you soon." The doctor ended the call before Jane could protest.
Maura arrived at Jane's an hour later with an overnight bag and her work clothes on a hanger.
Jane leaned against the doorframe with a smirk at the presumption. "Staying the night?" She moved back after she received a quick kiss hello and a nod.
The honey blonde put her things in the biker's bedroom and Jane followed. "Sit on the bed, Jane. Let me check your wounds." Came the soft command.
Maura yelped at the hands that wound themselves around her waist from behind. Jane kissed the side of the doctor's neck and held her tightly. "Why are you so good to me?" She kept kissing all the way up to a delicate ear.
The blonde turned to look into the brunette's eyes. "You know, I'm not sure." She teased and claimed the mechanic's mouth gently. "I think it has something to do with a serious impairment in cognitive function when I'm around you." She chuckled and allowed herself to be led to the bed.
"Very funny, Dr Isles." Jane responded as she removed their clothing and settled herself between the smaller woman's legs.
"I should really check your chest, Jane." Small fingers ran along the edge of the bandaged area.
"It's fine, Maur."
Maura sighed at the gentle way in which Jane was treating her. The biker really did have such a soft, sweet side to her that made her fall a little more in love. She brushed dark curls behind Jane's ear and she smiled at the affectionate look she was being given. Thoughts of how caring her lover was led her to think about the woman that was apparently now awake at the hospital and asking for her.
The doctor stopped the wandering hands and reached for Jane's face right before her mouth enclosed over an aroused nipple. The biker frowned at the interruption and became concerned at the look on the blonde's face.
"What's wrong?" Jane asked as she settled back into a position so she was face-to-face with her lover.
Maura bit her lip, not quite knowing how to bring it up. "I called Nina earlier."
"Oh." Jane realised why the doctor had suddenly become unresponsive to her touch. She cautiously continued the conversation. "Uh, how is Amy?" She pushed herself up by her arms on either side of the blonde's shoulders and brought a hand up to run lovingly over a soft cheek.
Maura leaned into the tender touch and breathed deeply. "She's awake… and asking for you."
"Really?!" Jane couldn't help but smile in relief. She let her head drop to the bare shoulder and placed open mouthed kisses there. "That's great news." She kissed her way up Maura's neck, eliciting a moan. "We, um- we can go see her tomorrow." She suggested and continued her attention on the doctor's body, helping her to relax and release the stress of the recent events.
The next morning Jane got up at the same time as Maura and put on a nice pair of fitted jeans, a button up shirt, and her best leather jacket. She stood at the kitchen counter, drinking her coffee, waiting for the doctor to get ready.
When the honey blonde came out of the bedroom wearing a high waisted grey skirt and dark blue shirt, her hair and makeup done to perfection, Jane almost spat out her drink. "Wow."
Maura smirked at the reaction. She enjoyed the lust-filled gaze aimed at her and ran her eyes appreciatively over the biker's attire. She sashayed confidently toward the taller woman and pressed herself against her body, wrapping her arms around her neck with ease. They were almost eye-to-eye because of the 4 inch heels she was wearing. The mechanic's hands slid down and found purchase on the toned ass and she pushed her hips into Maura's with a groan. "You're a tease."
The doctor gave her a mischievous grin and claimed the waiting mouth. They lost themselves to the kiss for a few moments until Maura's pager sounded and they had to leave. Maura brought her hand up to Jane's face and ran her thumb over moist lips, wiping at the corner where her lipstick had smudged. "Not your shade, baby."
Jane's heart leapt at the endearment and she smiled coyly. "Thanks, beautiful. We should go."
They hesitantly separated.
"Are you going to ride your bike?" Maura asked with some concern.
"Uh, yeah." Jane answered as she slipped on her boots.
"Ok, sweetheart. I'll see you there." She gave the biker one more kiss and they left the apartment together. Maura watched as Jane put her helmet on and revved the motorcycle. She felt a pang of arousal and worry simultaneously and shook her head to expel both as she watched Jane expertly manoeuvre the vehicle onto the road. She started her car and followed the short drive to the hospital.
Maura parked her Mercedes in the staff carpark and entered the emergency room. She couldn't contain her smile when Jane stood there, arms crossed casually across her chest.
"Hi." The doctor greeted cheerfully, surprised that the biker had waited for her.
"Hey." Jane pushed away from the wall and reached for the doctor's hand. Maura happily accepted it, lacing their fingers together, and they walked the narrow hallway towards her office. "Did you think I was gonna ditch you?"
Maura turned her head to look shyly at her lover. "I- wasn't sure what you would do once you arrived."
They stopped outside of Maura's office door and Jane faced her lover. "I'm gonna go see Amy for a bit. Are you looking after her today?"
"No, she's under Nina's care but I can come with you if you want?"
Jane stepped closer and held Maura's face in her hands. "Yeah, I'd like that." She whispered and closed the distance between them.
Their kiss was interrupted by the sound of someone nearby clearing their throat. Startled, Maura pulled herself away, knowing she was acting very unprofessionally in her workplace. She was relieved to look toward the noise and discover that it was only Nina.
The African American woman looked at her with amusement and a hint of attitude. "I assume you're here to see your girlfriend, Ms Rizzoli?" Nina emphasised 'girlfriend' and looked pointedly at the honey blonde, unimpressed at her weakness.
"Uh, she's not my um—"
"They're not together, Nina." Maura defended and kept a hold of Jane's hand.
Nina raised her eyebrow in disbelief at Jane and shook her head angrily. "You try tellin' that to the woman in there." She shucked her thumb over her shoulder in the direction of Amy's room.
Jane ran her free hand through her hair and rubbed the back of her neck. "Yeah, it's uh- complicated." She understood that Nina was Maura's friend and only wanting to look out for her.
"Well, your complication is not out of the woods yet. Not even close. She has two rapidly failing kidneys and a severely damaged liver. We have her on an oral detox but she is still quite agitated." Nina looked the biker up and down. "She might settle when she sees you."
"Ok, thanks."
Jane turned back to the smaller woman and grasped both of her hands, pulling her out of earshot. Her heart melted at the trusting hazel gaze locked on her own. "Maur, you understand that Amy has relied on me for a long time, right?" She whispered, looking over at Nina and hoping the other woman couldn't hear.
"I think so." Maura really was trying to understand the dynamic and trust Jane.
"It's going to take a bit of time to help her grasp that she can't rely on me anymore; that I'm not gonna be available to her. Are you gonna be ok with the time it might take?" Jane asked as gently as possible. The doctor was a genius, she would be able to grasp the complexity around Jane and Amy's relationship.
Maura nodded, not very happy about it but with understanding. "I'll try and contain my jealousy."
Jane smiled softly and pulled her in for a hug. "You don't need to be jealous, baby. I love you."
"I know." They kissed quickly and Jane let go so that Nina could take them to Amy's room.
The skinny woman's grey eyes lit up when she saw Jane. "Jay?! Oh honey, where have you been?" Amy asked shakily and reached for the brunette.
Jane sat cautiously on the bed beside her and allowed herself to be pulled into a clingy, desperate hug, kisses peppering the side of her face and neck. She returned the embrace, fighting tears. Amy looked terrible and she couldn't help but feel responsible. "Sorry, I got into a bit of trouble and had to lay low. I'm here now."
Maura watched the scene and was moved with compassion. She saw the way Jane held the smaller woman and surprisingly didn't feel an ounce of jealousy this time. She moved further into the room and Jane pulled away so the doctors could talk to them both. Amy kept a hold of Jane's hand and laid back, exhausted from the effort of sitting up.
"Miss Reynolds." Nina addressed the bleached blonde.
Jane and Amy both flinched at the surname. It reminded them of a horrible time in their past and Maura noticed the adverse reaction.
"Just call her Amy, doc." Jane corrected.
Nina easily adapted and informed them both of the woman's current predicament. She was on dialysis and would need a transplant as soon as possible. They were going to keep her at the hospital until she was stable enough to leave but it didn't look hopeful. By the end of the conversation, Amy was asleep, and Jane was able to let her hand go and stand up.
Maura had stayed observing the whole time and listened carefully to the conversation. When Jane stood up, she ran her hand over the jacket-covered arm lovingly. "I'm so sorry, Jane."
"I'll just be in my office if you need me." Nina excused herself and Jane thanked her.
The biker enveloped the doctor and buried her face in her neck. She felt hopeless. "Maur, I don't know what to do."
"One day at a time, darling."
Jane pulled away, swiping at her eyes. "I, um, I'm gonna go see Ma and then go for a ride. I'll probably just go home after that but can come by your place later if you want?"
"I want." Maura pulled her back and kissed her chin. "Please ride carefully."
"I will."
Right after Jane left, Gemma pulled up at the hospital and entered Amy's room.
She sat in the visitor's chair and waited until the skinny woman woke up.
Amy frowned when she saw the older woman sitting there, staring at her.
"So, you fucked yourself up pretty good, hey?" Gemma sneered at her.
"What? No I— you gave me sh—"
"Shut up." Gemma stood up and handed Amy a small bag. "Make it count this time." She smiled sinisterly and got up and left.
Amy opened the bag and her heart pounded in her chest. She had a choice, give in to her cravings, or throw it away and be rid of her addiction. Either way, there was a good chance she would die. She zipped the bag up and tucked it under her pillow and contemplated her decision.
The beeping sounded loudly as the medical personnel rushed into the room. "Oh shit!" The African American doctor pressed her fingers to the side of the woman's throat. "No pulse!" She noticed the syringe sticking out of the skinny arm. "Fuck! Look at this?" She yelled, pulling the needle out, and hastily retrieved the medication that she needed to try and counter the severe overdose.
Maura, Nina, and two emergency nurses, frantically worked to revive the young woman but they were unsuccessful. Nina sighed heavily as she announced time of death.
Maura slumped into the chair next to the blonde and stared at her lifeless face. Her eyes watered and she allowed the tears to fall at the tragedy. "God, Jane's going to be devastated."
Nina placed her hand on her friend's shoulder and patted it affectionately. "C'mon. The nurses are going to prep her. Medical Examiner is on his way. Let's go clean up and get a coffee before I have to fill out the shitload of paperwork."
"I need to call Jane."
"Ok, you can do that when we go and get a coffee."
The pair cleaned up and Maura retrieved her cell phone and called Jane.
"Hey babe." Jane's raspy voice induced a soft smile from the honey blonde. Then she remembered why she was calling and sobered up.
"Jane, where are you?"
"I just got home and was about to get in the shower. I'm naked." She teased and frowned when Maura didn't react to her words. "What is it?" She sat down on the bed, preparing herself for the worst.
"Oh Jane, it's Amy… She— she overdosed again and we couldn't revive h—"
"She's dead?" Jane whispered in disbelief.
"Yes… I'm so sorry, sweetheart." Maura offered with sincere sympathy.
"I, I just saw her. She was just- how the fuck did that happen?!" Jane growled, not meaning to get angry but she just couldn't believe what she was hearing. "How did she OD?"
"I don't know, Jane. We went to her aid when the machines were alerting us to her heart failure. She had a needle sticking out of her arm."
"Did you call the cops?"
"What? No, I didn't think of that. Why would we?" Maura was alarmed that they may not have followed the correct protocol.
"I dunno. How could she have gotten the drugs, Maur?" Jane sobbed.
"I'm not sure, darling. I'm just finishing up with Nina and I'll come right over."
"Ok." The biker responded and threw her phone on the bed when the call ended. She got up and paced her apartment until Maura arrived. As soon as the biker opened the door, the doctor led her over to the couch and she collapsed into the comforting embrace.
