I apologize for not having made this clearer sooner, but for the sake of the story, both Maura and Jane are 28 years old.
As usual, all mistakes are mine and I don't own the television series or any recognizable characters.
Omniscient P.O.V.
Jane stood vigilant over her sleeping partner as Susie and a few other healers helped clean the woman off and tended to the various cuts and scrapes that littered her skin. A few times, the elder healers had to physically move her back and out of the way, not giving a second thought towards her flaring temper. After the fifth or so push back, the brunette's cat intervened.
Back off…
Let them do their job and help Maura…
I know that you want to be close to her right now, but I'll take over if you can't control yourself...
She growled internally at her symbiant, but heeded her words nonetheless. Jane backed up into a corner away from the hustle and bustle and made sure to keep the blonde woman in her sight.
The healers had the doctor patched up in a little over an hour; keeping note of the frighteningly familiar crescent wounds on the prone woman's shoulder blades. With the last of the gauze wrapping secured, the older women departed and left Susie in charge with the remaining care.
Beckoning the worried warrior over, she pushed up a chair and motioned for the taller woman to sit.
"From what we can see, Maura is fine. There are no broken limbs or ribs but she's got some pretty nasty bruising and a few cuts that we have to watch for infection. The only thing we can't be sure of until she wakes up is a concussion." Jane took in her words and felt relief rush through her body. For the most part, her partner was going to be okay. She leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees.
"When will I be able to bring her home? I want her to be as comfortable as possible." Susie mulled the idea over and came up with a solution that would appease both the Cat and the Elder Healers.
"Once she wakes up and we're able to determine that she doesn't have a concussion, then you can take her home."
"And if she does?"
"Then she'll have to remain here for a day or two for monitoring. After that, you can take her home." The other woman nodded in agreement and sat back in her chair.
R&I
Throughout the remainder of the day, Jane stood guard over the slumbering woman. A few hours before, her mother had shown up with dinner and practically forced her eldest child to eat and doled out threats if she didn't. Her brothers had stopped by to visit to check on the woman who would soon become their sister and to provide some distraction to their blood sibling. Despite their efforts, it was ultimately the presence of her nephew that softened her face from its steely mask.
Although the young boy had no concept of what was happening, he knew something was going on. Whether it was because he could feel the emotions in the room or because he understood more than people gave him credit for. Nonetheless, he provided the perfect distraction to the woman who looked like his father.
Suddenly, he was deposited into his father's lap and was about to protest the sudden move when movement from the bed opposite him caught his attention: A woman who had hair similar to his mother's had began to move and his aunt rushed to her side.
"Maura? Can you hear me?" Jane took the disoriented woman's hand in her own and brushed back a few locks of hair.
"Jay...where am I? What-what happened?" Maura squeezed her eyes shut as the remaining daylight seared her sensitive eyes. She took a moment to catalogue her injuries and feel for what was hurting. For now, her body just felt heavy, sore, and tired. She would worry about pain later.
"You're in Sanctuary with the Healers. They got you all fixed up."
"I made it?"
"You made it, Maura. You made it back in one piece and now you're gonna rest and get better so we can all celebrate, okay? But first, Susie needs to make sure that you don't have a concussion." Jane motioned to her brothers and a moment later, Frankie entered the little room with the young healer in tow.
"It's nice to see you awake, Maura. Do you think you can answer some questions?" Susie took note of the other woman's nonverbal responses. Maura nodded and the younger woman began firing off a volley of simple questions.
"Alright, what's your full name?"
"Maura Dorthea Isles."
"When is your birthday?"
"August 7, 1976"
"What are your parents' names?"
"My mother's name is Constance and my father's name is Arthur."
"Who's this?" Susie pointed at the man with brown eyes.
"Frankie."
"Very good, Maura. Last question and I promise I'll stop bothering you: Who's this?" Susie put her hand on Jane's shoulder and Maura's gaze locked onto the deep brown ones she had become so fond of.
"That's Jane...Jane?"
"Yeah, Maur?"
"Can I go home now?" The brunette looked to the asian woman and she nodded. Turning back to her partner, she helped the blonde sit up.
"We can go as soon as you're ready. Ma already made a bunch of your favorite foods and she's probably gonna feed you until you feel like a Thanksgiving turkey." Maura smiled and threw her legs over the side of the cot. She took a moment to sort herself out before taking Jane's proffered arm. She wobbled on her feet, unsteady, and Jane wasted no time in scooping the smaller woman into her arms once more. Sending a thankful nod to the healer, Jane left the cabin and headed in the direction of her house with her brothers at her flank. Along the way, people cheered and whistled, delighted that they would soon have someone else to join their ranks.
R&I
"Janie! Maura! You're home early! How are you feeling, honey? Do you need anything? Are you hungry? I can go warm up some food and bring it right over. I've got some tea if you're thirsty. It's an old recipe that helps with sore muscles." Jane settled Maura into one of the kitchen chairs upon request and shot her mother a glare. Before she could fire off a retort, the blonde made a request of her own.
"I would like to wash up before I do anything else. Some of your excellent cooking and that tea you mentioned would be very welcome...if you don't mind, of course." Angela gawked at her daughter's other half as if the woman had grown another head.
"Of course not! Janie, you go and take Maura down to wash up while I throw something together. I'll have everything ready for when you two get back." Jane gathered the necessary items Maura would need and threw them into a satchel before picking up the blonde woman once again. While she would never admit it aloud to anyone, Jane very much enjoyed having the blonde in her arms. Once Maura had the satchel secured in her arms, Jane began the short walk to the bath house.
The bath house wasn't really a house, per say, but a decent size alcove on the side of the cave wall where a stream of deviating water from the falls on the opposite end leaked in and provided the people with a source of clean water. Over time, the water was navigated by various miniature aqueducts and routed through different areas of the alcove to be able to be used by multiple people at once within the privacy of cordoned off stalls. Since the water was continuously flowing, the chances of bacteria and other microorganisms being present were far less than in some of the local stagnant lakes and ponds.
Gently lowering the woman's legs to the ground, the warrior hovered nearby as a precaution. Once she proved to be steady on her own two feet did Jane move a few steps away.
"Do you think you can manage by yourself or do you need help?" Maura took a moment to think before shaking her head.
"I might need help getting my arms out of my shirt. They're sore and lifting them too high pulls on my muscles." Maura's cheeks darkened with a blush. Jane just chuckled and motioned for Maura to turn around. Between the two of them, they managed to work one of Maura's arms from its sleeve, over her head, and the down the opposite arm. Jane took a glance over the doctor's bare back and memorized every dip, curve, freckle, and ripple of muscle; the flare of her hips curved into a slim waist then expanded once more around her ribcage before elongating to strong arms and shoulders. The warrior could make out the knobs of her spine and the arch of her ribs. While the blonde hadn't been out on her own for a long period of time, she had gone long enough without food for her body to begin consuming itself.
"Thank you, Jane. I should be able to take the bandages off myself." Nodding, the Cat turned and busied herself with laying out fresh clothes and clean bandages for her partner. Now that she was back, Jane was going to make sure that Maura was properly taken care of.
R&I
While the cool water had helped loosen the bandages, Maura took delicate care in removing the now soiled gauze. Over the course of time she had been out, her wounds had stopped bleeding but the gauze had stuck to her skin, proving to be a tad bit painful.
Sighing, Maura turned back under the water and peeled off the remaining wrappings and bunching them up, left them in a corner of her shower area to be picked up later. After being out in the open for so long with no way to properly clean herself, the blonde took her time and used most of the soap Jane had packed.
Over the years, Maura had found that the best times and places to think where when she was showering; no one bothered you and there was no noise outside of the sound of the running water. Before all of this had happened, she would easily spend a half an hour thinking about the upcoming work she needed to complete as she stood under the expensive shower heads while lathering exquisite smelling soaps into her hair and others onto her skin. Now, she had nothing but the soft wax soaps made by a few of the women in the village and she was fine with that. While the expensive stuff she had once found comfort in, she now thought of them as nothing more but fanciful desires. Here in Sanctuary, she had simple soaps that were made using local ingredients by people she saw and talked to every day. She didn't need anything special to be happy. As long a she had the basics, she was fine.
Her time out in the Middle had showed her that as long as she had clean water to drink, food to eat, clothes on her back, and a warm place to sleep, she didn't need anything else. Of course, Jane was the only exception. No matter where she went, Maura would always be in want of the tall brunette. Now that she was just one more step closer to having Jane all to herself for the rest of her natural life, the bond she had to the woman was quickly cementing itself, becoming entangled with Jane's own bond and settling into something she had never felt before.
As Maura Isles washed away the soap and the remnants of the last few days, she also washed away everything of what she was before. She washed away all the nuances and the perfections; the insecurities and the doubts. Now, all she needed was her knowledge of medicine and just the base foundations of who she truly was.
Her name is Maura.
She is a doctor (although one of the unconventional sort, now).
She is nearing the end of her twenty-eighth year on this planet.
She knows which foods she does and doesn't like and which ones are best for a variety of situations.
She knows that doing yoga in the morning helps her relax and prepares her for the day ahead.
She knows that while this new world she found herself in is beyond anything she could have ever imagined, she found herself fitting in almost seamlessly.
And the most important: If there is no Jane, then there is no Maura. Like yin and yang and the sun and the moon, Jane and Maura were inexplicably tied together. Just the mere notion that she was now bond to this ethereal woman for eternity scared her a little. Never in her life had she ever felt so strongly for someone that her body physically ached when Jane wasn't near.
Rinsing the last of the soap off, Maura called out to Jane.
"Jay? Can you hand me the towel, please?" She only had to wait a few seconds before the soft fabric appeared over the makeshift stall. The blonde patted herself down and rung out her hair before wrapping the now damp towel around her middle and stepping out. To her amusement, the other woman had clamped both hands over her eyes. The sound of her chuckle drew the Cat's attention.
"You decent over there, Maur? Let me know when I can see again." Keeping her eyes covered, Jane turned in the direction she had sensed Maura in. She could smell the soap and the essence that was purely Maura. She could hear the gentle rustling of the fabric as the blonde dressed. A gentle tug on her hands loosened them from their position and she drank in the sight in front of her:
Maura, hair dark and dripping, clothed in a pair of shorts that fell mid thigh and a thin blue button down shirt was the most beautiful sight Jane had ever seen.
Despite the fact that Maura had been back for a half a day now, Jane still couldn't wrap her mind around the fact that the blonde was here to stay. She wasn't stumped, per se, but it was more of an amazed feeling. She no longer had to worry about being alone or keeping her walls up 24/7 because now she had a someone who could be told the deepest of secrets and would lock them away.
"What? Did I forget to wash off some soap?" Maura stepped back but was stopped by Jane's warm hand on hers.
"You're beautiful." Jane grinned at the blush that began to creep up on the smaller woman.
"Thank you. I've, uh, I've left the bandages off to let the wounds air dry before I wrap them up again. I might need your help later dressing the wounds on my back...if you don't mind, of course." Jane just smiled and helped Maura gather her things before heading back to Angela's home.
Along the way, people stopped to congratulate her and a few of the kids had even handed her flowers picked from the surrounding fields. Maura thanked them kindly and continued on with Jane. By the time they made it back to the little house, Angela had already prepared quite the feast. Just about every available surface was covered with something and the older woman was still throwing ingredients together. Frankie met his sisters gaze and merely shrugged. Nearby, Tommy struggled to keep his son from digging through a bowl of leafy greens.
"I think you've got enough food here to feed half the village, Ma. There's only five of us and the little half pint. We're not going to be able to eat all of this." Jane snooped around the bowls and platters and Maura couldn't help but smile.
"You don't gotta eat it all now, Janie. I didn't know what Maura would have liked so I figured that I would make a little of everything and whatever doesn't get eaten tonight we could eat tomorrow. Besides, Maura needs to get some weight back on those bones." Stepping in the placate a growingly frazzled Angela, the younger blonde interrupted.
"I'm sure I would have enjoyed anything you made, Angela and I thank you for making such a wonderful meal." The older woman beamed and shot a look at her daughter who merely raised an eyebrow in response. T.J. squealed and Jane realized that she still had introductions to make.
"Maura, this is my brother Tommy and his son T.J. Tommy, this is Maura." Smiling, Maura shook the younger mans hand and gave a gentle smile to the baby in his arms.
"It's nice to finally meet you. Ma's been talking almost nonstop about you for the last few days. I'm pretty sure you're her favorite kid now." He whispered the last part despite the fact that he knew his siblings would be able to hear him clearly. Frankie draped an arm over his brothers shoulder and nodded.
"Maura is definitely the favorite. Over the past few months, Jane has been far nicer than I've ever seen in my life. Sometimes I'm not sure that's even our Janie in there." Frankie barely had time to dodge the cup that was hurled in his direction when he found himself pinned to the ground and his sister kneeling above him. There was no malice or aggression in the stance but the younger man surrendered to his sisters annoyance and slight embarrassment.
"Are you two twelve? Janie, get off your brother and Frankie, quit teasing your sister and come help me." Standing and taking her nephew into her arms, Jane began cooing to the baby and bouncing him on her hip. Maura watched on with apt fascination.
"I'm happy that Jane found someone to keep her together. You've probably heard this from Ma already, but Jane really didn't have it easy when we were younger. Before our parents split, there was a time when things had gotten...tense...between the two of them and instead of doing something productive with my life like Janie or Frankie, I started looking for trouble. At first I felt like the whole world was out to get me. I broke stuff...damaged property...stole, but every time I got caught, Jane was right there to take my punishment. She was always there until one day she wasn't. When Ma and Pop split, I couldn't stand to be here anymore. I had alienated everyone so I figured a new start with a new life would make feel better. I left with Pop and instead of getting my life together, I became a drunk who felt like everyone had turned their backs." Tommy paused and watched his son playing with his aunt for a moment before continuing on.
"I got arrested for drunk driving and hitting a pedestrian. I spent three years of my life in jail and it made me realize that the only person responsible for me is me. When I got out, I helped Pop start his business and I went to weekly meetings. A few years later, I met Lydia and the moment I met her I knew that she was it for me. It wasn't the same kind of imprint that you and Jane have, but it's all the same, I guess. I can't imagine my life without him and I'm going to make sure that he doesn't turn out as screwed up as I am. 'Sides, he's got Jane to look out for him which pretty much makes him the safest kid on the planet." Maura laughed and couldn't help but mirror his wide smile.
"You're doing pretty good, Tommy; don't sell yourself short. T.J.'s lucky to have you for a father. If there's anyone in the world who's learned a thing or two about responsibility, it's you. Just keep doing what you're doing and T.J. will turn out to be a fine young man." Jane's compliment made her younger sibling blush and she slung an arm across his shoulders in a half hug. A moment later, Angela declared the food ready and the five of them crowded around the table.
R&I
Maura helped Angela clean up the dishes and store all the leftovers for later while Jane and her brothers talked about the upcoming ceremony. T.J. was content to sit on his uncle's lap and play with the figurine Jane had carved for him.
"So, Maura, you ready to join our motley crew?" Tommy asked and the blonde nodded.
"Very much so. For the first time in my life, I feel like I fit in somewhere and I want to spend the rest of my life here. Obviously, having Jane here is a big incentive, but I can get used to calling this place my home." Maura meant every word she said. Since the moment she woke up dazed and confused on Jane's single cot, she had felt an unexplainable pull to Sanctuary. Later on, she would come to realize that part of that pull was due to Jane and the bond they now shared, but there was still a part of her that couldn't quite put into words how or why this pull had such an effect on her.
"Well, a fine doctor such as you will be an amazing addition to our little "motley crew". I know for sure that the next time I get hurt, I'll come to you." Frankie joked and Jane made a gagging sound.
"You are such a kiss ass, you know that? Maura, just ignore him, that's what I do. Anyways, as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, Cavanaugh has agreed to let you pick and start a career the day after your ceremony if you choose. Usually, we have the new member wait a week or so to choose, but given the fact that you're coming in from the outside, you were a doctor before you came here, a-"
"And because you're bonded to his best warrior…" Jane glared at her brother and continued on.
"And because it seems you have made an impression on him, he's willing to bend the rules a little. Are you gonna stick with the Healers or have you been thinking about another career?" Maura's honeyed hair swayed with the shake of her head.
"I've been in medicine for most of my life. I'm not sure what I would do if I had to pick something else."
"Well, you're a genius, so maybe you could teach the younger kids? Ya know, you can always change careers. Many of the Warriors who get old or start families will switch to being a Watcher or a Hunter. We don't have much in the way of medical technology like the big cities do, but I'm sure there are things you could teach us from recent medical advances." Jane nodded along with Frankie's spoken thoughts.
"I love being a warrior, but I'm not going to stay a warrior forever. Maybe I'll go to being a Watcher, or a Hunter, or I may even just teach the recruits about fighting and defense like I do now. 'Sides, you don't have to decide right away." Jane's soft smile quelled the anxiety rising in Maura.
The five of them stayed a little longer until Tommy declared that he was going to put T.J. down for the night before turning in himself with Frankie claiming that he had to report to the training grounds early the next morning. Not wanting to be stuck with the full attention of her mother, Jane quickly excused herself and Maura for the night. Giving the older woman a tight hug, she allowed Maura to do the same before ushering the shorter woman out the door and into the darkness beyond.
Despite the fact that there were still a few people milling about and the Watchers were switching out for the night, Jane linked her hand with Maura's and kept them tightly entwined the entire walk to her own home. Neither woman said a word, but basked in the quiet contentment that flowed from the other.
When they made it to the door of the small house, Jane relinquished her hold of the blonde's hand and instead crossed her arms over her torso. Maura mirrored her position and folded her hands demurely in front of her.
"So…"
"So…"
"Are you going to go back to your mother's?" Jane shook her head and made a face.
"Nah. It's too crowded and I don't want to be interrogated by my mother. I made a deal with the twins and I'm taking over Xavier's patrol tonight so I'll be out and about until morning." Maura nodded and both women were silent once more, neither not knowing what to say. Finally, after a handful of minutes, the shorter woman spoke.
"Please be careful Jane. I know you can handle yourself and I trust you implicitly, but I don't trust everything that's out there." Her voice had softened and Jane took a half a step closer. Tucking a strand of hair behind Maura's ear, she let her hand come to rest of slim shoulders.
"I promise you I'll be careful and I promise you I'll do my best to stay out of trouble. You don't have to worry about me, I'll be fine." Jane squeezed her shoulders and rubbed her thumbs over smooth skin in hopes that the action would calm the smaller woman. Finally, the blonde acquiesced and nodded.
"Goodnight, Jane."
"Night, Maur."
Jane watched the woman who was quickly becoming the love of her life disappear into the house for the night. Once the soft glow of one of the lanterns could be seen through the curtains did Jane continue on.
Stepping into the shadows provided by the side of the house, the Warrior quickly shed her clothes and shifted before taking off into the night.
This is just a little filler chapter to serve as something between what happened in the last chapter and the Ceremony in the next chapter. After the next chapter, I have a few more ideas of what I want to do and where I want this story to go, but if any of you guys have and ideas you want to share or have anything you want to see, let me know and I'll see what I can do.
-Until next time,
SilentDaughter