Chapter 9
"Jane!" Maura screamed again. She scrambled out of the passenger seat and ran around to the driver's side. She wrenched open Jane's door and put her hand up to Jane's neck. Pulse weak and thready, Maura noted. Where is the blood coming from? Maura carefully turned Jane's head so she could see better. Maura sighed in relief when she noticed there was no bullet wound but only some grazing at the side of Jane's head.
"Maura?" Jane said weakly as her eyelids fluttered open. Maura tried to calm herself down so she wouldn't scare Jane.
"Yes, Jane?"
"What the hell just happened? Did we have a car accident?"
"Someone was chasing us and you did a pitt maneuver to stop him. Just as you did so there were shots fired and you were grazed on the side of your head."
"Oh, is that all?" Jane said. Maura's head snapped up and she noted the small smirk on Jane's face.
"Don't tease about this, Jane. I live in fear of this happening some day where it isn't just a graze," Maura said softly. Tears began falling down Maura's face.
Jane reached up and gently wiped away the tears. "Don't, Maura. I hate it when you cry, especially when I'm the cause of it."
"Ma'am?" Maura turned to find two EMTs walking up to Jane's car. "We need to see how she's doing," the one EMT said, nodding at Jane.
"I'm a physician, gentlemen, specifically her physician. Her pulse is weak and thready. I don't have my bag with me so I haven't been able to take her blood pressure. Why don't I change places with you so you can attend to her? I want to call the precinct anyway." Maura moved out of the EMT's way and pulled out her cell phone. Jane noticed Maura moving away and called out to her. Maura reached in and touched Jane's shoulder.
"I'm right here, love. I'm calling Frost so he has the update and can meet us at the ER if he chooses. I want him to also call out a CSU that can take care of this whole scene."
"We need to transport you, ma'am," the other EMT said to Jane.
"I'm Detective Rizzoli. Taking me to Mass Gen?" she asked. "Tell Dr. Death over there so she can come along."
One EMT looked at the other and back at Jane. "Ma'am are you having any delusions or anything? Any dizziness? Seeing spots?"
"No, should I be?" Jane asked.
"No, it's just that you called your friend 'Dr. Death.'"
Jane chuckled. "That's her nickname around the morgue."
"You work in a morgue, Doctor?" one EMT turned to Maura.
"This is Dr. Maura Isles, she's the chief medical examiner for the city of Boston," Jane spoke for Maura. Both men nodded, relief showing on their faces. Jane supposed it wasn't usual for their patients to speak of a friend in such a way without the patient having a medical condition, such as a head injury that explained erratic behavior.
Maura snapped her phone shut and approached Jane and the EMTs. "Frost is meeting us at the emergency room, Jane. He has some updated information for us."
Jane's eyes never left Maura's. Fuck, I did it again, she thought as she was loaded into the back of the ambulance. Jane feared someday Maura would get tired of receiving phone calls from the hospital or from one of her partners, telling her once again Jane had been injured and would pack up and leave. Tears began falling sideways into her hair. A hand reached out and brushed them away.
"Jane, love, you're fine. No need to cry," Maura said softly.
"I'm afraid," Jane said. The EMT moved over to records Jane's vitals and to give the two women a little more space.
"You'll be fine," Maura said. "It's just a graze, Jane. You lost consciousness so I asked the EMTs to transport you to get you checked out. It's just a precaution. You'll probably be home in a couple of hours." Maura continued to stroke Jane's hair and face. Jane closed her eyes and leaned into Maura's touch.
"No, I'm afraid you'll leave me," Jane said. She glanced at the EMT who appeared to be paying no attention to anything other than Jane's vital signs.
"Why, Jane? We just got back together and we're trying to build a life together. We love each other.'
"Is it enough? I mean, Maura, take a look. Where are we again? In the back of an ambulance with me being transported to the hospital with another injury. I'm afraid that someday you'll get tired of this and walk away."
"No, Jane, I won't. I don't like it when you get hurt but that's part of your being you. You put yourself out there to protect the rest of us. Yes, I fear the day Frost or a uniform comes to me, telling me you're gone. I want us to grow old together, maybe living our last days in my parents' beach house, watching the waves day after day. We'll be talking about the children, maybe grandchildren, and thinking how fortunate we are to have had each other all these years. I am a very lucky woman to have you in my life, Jane Rizzoli. Don't you ever forget that, or think I'll just pack up and leave. You are my life."
Jane didn't hold back the tears now, holding Maura's hand as Maura's hand stroked her face.
"I love you, too," Jane managed to choke out as the ambulance stopped in the emergency bay.
"Okay ladies, time to roll," the EMT spoke as he jumped out of the back and started to pull Jane's stretcher out. "Let's go, doc." He helped Maura out of the back of the ambulance.
Exactly four hours and thirteen minutes later (Jane kept strict count) Maura helped Jane into her car. Frost brought it over to the hospital for her. Jane was tired and she knew it was from the emotions of the day. She held onto the discharge instructions she was given as well as the mild painkiller. Jane doubted she'd use the pain killer since she didn't like the fogged-in feeling they gave her but took it anyway, just in case. Maura slipped behind the steering wheel. Jane reached over and took Maura's right hand and squeezed it. Maura squeezed back
"What did Frost tell you, Maura?" Jane asked.
"He said the man killed in the accident was Michael Herlihy, Joey's second in command. The question remains as to why he was following us."
"I don't understand that, either. If it was a hit on us you'd think he'd have one of the lower level goons assigned. And why, with Joey being gone, are they focusing on us?" Jane asked.
"Maybe it's because Joey's dead. Although it was Doyle's gang that killed him he was trying to kidnap Angelo and Caitlyn at the time and you were riding the hood of his car."
"Maybe, it just doesn't seem right, Maura. I can understand going after me if Joey was still alive and wanting clear custody of the children but with him dead? It doesn't make sense." Maura reached over and claimed Jane's hand again.
"Let's hope it was a mistake and they'll leave us alone now."
"I'd like to bring it out in the open, Maura. I was thinking about this earlier. I want to talk to Doyle," Jane said. Maura drew in a sharp breath.
"Do you think that's wise, Jane? The Shannon Clan might take it as you baiting them."
"I think that's the chance I have to take, Maura. If I-we're-being targeted the Clan will have someone watching us so they'll know of the meeting with Doyle. But this way I can talk to Doyle, see if he has some inside information as to why I'm still being targeted and I can confront the Clan. Short of Doyle's mob and the Clan having an all-out war and killing each other I'd like to find some way off their radar."
Maura didn't reply. She focused on driving, thinking over what Jane said. Finally she nodded her head.
"I think you're right, Jane. We can meet with Doyle."
"We? No, Maura, just me. I can talk to Doyle without any distractions and keep you out of this as much as possible."
"No, if you meet with Doyle we both go. In or out, Detective, what shall it be?"
Jane looked at Maura and sighed. Damn the woman drove a hard bargain.
TBC
