A/N: Hey there, it's been awhile. Heads up - a sad one, rather.


"Jane?"

"Maura?"

She flips the light switch.

Jane's crumpled form is huddled in the corner.

Maura goes to her.


"Jane?"

"Maura?"

Her eyes are wide and red; her eyes are puffy and swollen.

Her hands hold hers; her hands hold hers, so red, so mangled.

"I'm here."


She pulls her into a hug; she holds tightly onto her.

"Maura?"

"Yes, Jane?"

She takes a deep breath to hold herself together.

She lets out a held breath knowing she'll be safer.

"It's okay," strong fingers uncurl curls, "It's okay."

She tries to stop her tears.

"It's okay, it's okay," hands holding onto each other.


She kisses away tears, whilst trying to hold back hers.


"Was it –"

She buries her face against her shoulder.

How many more. How many more breakdowns and tear-filled terrors.

She holds her closer to her.

"I'm sorry Maura," she wants to hold her closer, she wants to tear herself away from her.

"Was it another nightmare Jane?" She finishes her sentence.

She nodded.

"I should have known that it wasn't real, that –"

She presses her lips to hers.

"Hold on to this moment," she brings her hand to her chest, "Hold on to this moment," she presses her hand against her heartbeat, "Hold on to us together."

She presses her lips again to hers.

She wraps her arms around her.

"I'm sorry Maura."

"I'm sorry too Jane."

I'm sorry too.

She rests into her embrace. Glad to have her detective back. Glad to have Jane lucid again.

"Tomorrow we'll talk. Tomorrow I'll ask." She whispers words against her shoulder. She mumbles, she mutters, ashamed that a part of her hopes that she doesn't hear her.

That this nightmare will end.

She nods and holds onto Maura. She nods and holds onto her doctor.

Not trusting her words as responses, not trusting if she ought to carry on this confinement.

Not trusting her own judgement.


She holds onto her; she holds onto her.

I'm sorry, they both silently send to each other.

For you, I hope I'm stronger, they both whisper a promise so grand.


She holds onto her, and she holds onto her.

Sleep evades the tired couple and yet –

Comfort hopes to linger.


A/N: The draft I had in my head differed. The draft I had in my head was to self comfort. The chapter that comes to be read by others instead perhaps reflects, my acknowledgement that it's difficult. That it's difficult for both partners. That - for your sake, dear one with no code name, our friendship is a destructive toxic thing that I hope I have the courage to allow for its ending. I am not an easy burden. And I will not hurt you any longer. I must first myself, be stable. Stronger. I promise too a promise, I hope not too grand. Thank you for reading - thank you for your time. Thank you for every memory, smile, and gift.