Chapter 10

Jane carefully opened the door to Maura's room and peered inside. She smiled to herself when she found the brunette medical examiner sleeping. Her head was tilted to one side and her long hair had fallen away from her neck, revealing one of the deep cuts in her flesh. Jane quietly closed the door behind her and made her way around the bed on her tiptoes. She pulled up the chair in which she had slept earlier and sat down. She never took her eyes off Maura. She looked brighter than she had done earlier this morning, Jane thought. There was some colour in her face now.

"It is rude to stare" Maura whispered and her eyes fluttered open as she turned to look at Jane.

Jane didn't answer but merely smiled.

"You're clean" Maura observed and Jane now openly smiled. "That's quite an improvement. Maybe now I can tell the nurses you are no longer considered to be a bio hazard."

"Very funny, Dr Isles" Jane smirked and placed her hand on Maura's. It felt warm hers and her fingers intertwined with Maura's effortlessly. It was such a natural feeling. "I wouldn't quite consider a career as a stand-up comedian just yet though.

Maura looked at their linked hands. "I didn't think you were coming back…"

"Maura…" Jane realised that Maura had known exactly what had been going through her head and she instantly felt guilty. "Maura, I'm sorry."

"I understand, Jane. Really, I do"

"You do?"

"Ever the tone of surprise" Maura smirked and Jane's dark eyes twinkled. "But yes, I do"

Jane didn't answer. There were so many things she wanted to say. So many things she felt she had to say. She wanted to apologise. She wanted Maura to know, to really know, that she never meant for any of this to happen. And yet she knew that the other woman understood. Maura had always known exactly how she felt. And that last thought suddenly made Jane sit up and she looked at the younger woman in surprise. She frowned. "Exactly how do you understand?"

"You feel that because of our friendship Pike targeted me. He did that to get to you. And you feel that if you're keeping your distance I'll be save" said Maura and Jane was struck by how theoretical it sounded. But most of all she was struck by Maura's clear voice and reasoning. She seemed so much stronger now than she had done earlier this morning. Jane shook her head. She was slightly lost for words and a sheepish grin fell over her face.

"You, Maura Isles, are amazing."

Maura smiled at that statement and both women giggled for a little while before Maura eventually took a deep breath. "Any sign of Pike?"

"Nothing" Jane answered and looked at Maura's hand lying in her own. "We can't seem to find him anywhere. He's probably gone off the grid somewhere. If he managed to set all of this up I don't doubt that he can make himself disappear and…" Her voice was cut off as the thought hit her and she looked at Maura. "Hang on, I need to call Korsak"

She leapt up and made a bee line for the door before Maura could call her back. She made sure to check the door was closed behind her and then dug her cell phone out of her pocket and dialled Korsak's number. He answered after the second ring.

"How's the wonderful Dr Isles?" he questioned.

"Fantastic" Jane answered and her eyes nervously darted around the corridor. Two doors down one of the nurses just left one of the rooms and she was about to tell Jane off for using her phone but she quickly flashed her badge. The nurse seemed startled for a second but then carried on doing her duties. Jane focused on Korsak. "I need you to do something for me"

"Sure" Korsak answered. "And I take it Cavanaugh doesn't have to know about this?"

"Unless you want to count pencils in the storage room for the rest of your career…" Jane said and she heard Korsak snort on the other side. She ran her fingers through her hair and her heart pounded in her chest. She couldn't believe she was actually about to do this but she had no idea what other options she had left. She had to protect Maura. She had to protect her family. "Go in my drawer and find me that file I keep in there for emergencies…"

"File? What file?" Korsak clearly did not understand what Jane was trying to say.

Jane groaned and her eyes fixed on another nurse walking her way. She turned around and pressed the phone a little tighter against her ear. "The file that is stashed in the back of my top drawer…" There was a hint in her voice. A hint she knew he would understand. She took in a sharp breathe and waited for him to answer. It took a few seconds for the penny to drop.

"Oh…." He paused. "That file…"

"Yes" Jane answered and swallowed. Her heart hammered against her ribcage and the palms of her hands became clam. "Can you bring it to the hospital? And don't let Cavanaugh see you!"

Korsak hung up without answering and Jane put her phone back in her pocket. She rested her back against the wall for a few minutes and ran her fingers through her hair. She was about to do something she had never believed herself capable of doing. Once she felt reassured the worry was no longer visible on her face she went back into Maura's room and sat back down in the chair beside her bed.

"Did you get hold of Korsak?" Maura asked and Jane looked up, slightly bewildered.

"What? Yeah. He's coming over to drop something off" she answered without making eye contact. She quickly change the subject of their conversation. "Have the doctors said how long you have to stay in for?"

"My blood pressure is normal, the stitches are all still in place and there are no signs of any permanent trauma" Maura recited and she brushed her hair aside, revealing the cuts on her skin. "If I can keep my food down they said I can leave tomorrow but…" She sheepishly smiled and Jane met her gaze. "They recommended someone look after me for the first few days"

"I'm sure Ma would love to help you with that" Jane smirked teasingly and Maura pulled a face. She cocked her head. "Oh you want me to babysit you?"

"Jane…"

Jane laughed and arched an eyebrow. "Glad to see you got your sense of humour back. Or some form of it anyway…"

Maura rested back in the pillows and her hazel eyes fixed on Jane's face. There were so many things she wanted to say. She watched the lines on the dark haired woman's face. The dark rings under her eyes, the slight gaunt expression. Jane looked tired. Maura could see that. She wondered when the last time was the raven haired detective had slept. She searched for Jane's hand and found it. "When I said I understand…"

Jane shook her head. She wasn't sure if she was ready for this. "Maura…"

"We need to talk about this, Jane" Maura urged and Jane's eyes snapped up. It wasn't often that Maura looked stern or strict but now that she did Jane realised how frightened and hurt the caramel haired woman really was. She could see it in those intense hazel eyes. She wasn't the only one experiencing a rush of emotions. Maura was just as torn up inside as she was.

"Can we talk about this another time?" Jane said softly and looked down at Maura's hand covering hers. "I promise we'll talk but… not now, OK?

"I am scared too, Jane" Maura admitted and she swallowed. Her words were but a soft whisper. "I am scared too."

"I know you are, sweetie, and I am so sorry. None of this would have happened if I had just managed to keep my feelings under control. You would not be lying here if Hoyt had not learnt the truth" Jane sighed and the emotions rushed through her. She had never been so desperate in her life. "God, I can't wait till we're home and we can talk about this, Maur. I just want all of this to be over. I want to move on, far away from this."

"I know" Maura whispered, still holding Jane's hand.

They looked at each other for a while without speaking. The atmosphere between them betrayed the electricity and sparks. Their eyes said more than words ever could. They both knew they had to talk about this but they also understood there was no way things could ever go back to how they were before. Too much had happened and things had changed between them. Maura and Jane both knew that and they did not have to talk to understand. They would have to find a way forwards from here, whatever way that was going to be. But for now they both just lived in the moment of being together, their hands linked, skin to skin. And then Jane smiled.

"We are some fools, aren't we?" she asked.

"Generally, admitting sexual attraction can cause quite a mental imbalance in people" Maura answered and watched how the dark haired detective rolled her eyes. "Sorry"

"It's all right. It is quite refreshing actually" Jane smiled sheepishly. "Though I don't think with you in a hospital bed this is the right time to talk about it and…" She was cut short by a soft knock on the door and both women looked up. A young doctor appeared and his eyes immediately found Maura. He then glanced at Jane and smiled. His gaze eventually dropped on their united hands.

"Good to see you so alert, Dr Isles" he said with a smile and ticked something on the notepad he was carrying. "How are you feeling?"

"All right, considering the circumstances" Maura replied.

"You'd be pleased to know that your partner never left your side, doctor" he said without looking up from his notes. "The nurses said she camped out in this room the moment you came in. She was quite the topic of conversation. Personally I don't think the bloodied clothing helped…" He looked up and found Jane and Maura staring at him in amusement. "What, did I say something?"

Jane smirked. "No…" she answered with a giggle. "Nothing at all"

The door opened again and Korsak poked his head around. Jane almost leapt out of her chair after squeezing Maura's hand and walked up to her partner. She carefully closed the door behind her and turned to the older detective. Her eyes narrowed. "Very funny, Korsak. Did you tell him to say that?"

"Tell who what?" he asked, looking shocked. Jane's expression however was priceless and he had to bite his lip so he wouldn't laugh at her.

"The doctor!" Jane gestured at the door. The moment he had walked in and looked at her and Maura's she had suspected there was something more to it. She cocked her head. "He called me Maura's partner…"

"Well, you are, aren't you?" Korsak winked and dodged a punch aimed at his shoulder. "Oh come on Jane… you sat at her bedside for hours. You even slept there. You didn't want to go home, you didn't sleep, you didn't eat and you were holding her hand. Is it so surprising that people assume there is more between you and Dr Isles than just friendship?"

Jane thought about those words for a moment and frowned. "Maybe not." She looked back up. "Did you bring the file?"

"Strangest file I've ever seen" Korsak said as he put the phone in the palm of Jane's hand. His grey eyes found hers as Jane's fingers closed around the hard plastic. It felt safe, secure. It felt right. "Are you sure you know what you're doing?"

She shrugged. "What is right and what is wrong now? Fact is we can't find Pike. He has vanished off the surface of the Earth. Doyle has methods of finding him we can only dream off. Besides, Pike hurt is daughter. I am sure Doyle will have a thing or two to say about that…"

"I had Frost look into the Irish mob" Korsak said and Jane's eyes narrowed. "After you called Doyle and said someone took Maura. He said he'd do his own investigation. We had a look through the last homicide cases reported but none of them link back to Doyle. If he did do his own research, he didn't have anybody killed because of it"

"That makes me feel loads better" Jane groaned and gave Korsak a look. He immediately understood that deep down she felt conflicted about this but she would do whatever it took to protect her family and Maura was her family, her everything. "Go sit with Maura for a while, OK? I need to make a call. If she asks where I am just tell her I went to get some coffee"

Korsak nodded and Jane watched as he disappeared into Maura's room. She slipped the cell phone in her pocket and then made her way down the corridor, past the nurse's station and eventually out of the ward and towards the elevators. She pushed the button and weighed alongside a heavily pregnant woman and a nervous looking teenage boy before stepping in. She made her way down into the entrance hall of the hospital, made her way through a crowd of patients, visitors and doctors. She eventually stepped outside and her lungs eagerly expanded with the fresh air. The wind played with her hair and she found an empty bench to sit on a few hundred feet away from the main entrance door.

She pressed the speed dial button and placed the phone by her air. It rang. And it rang again. By the third ring somebody answered and she immediately recognised Doyle's voice.

"Detective Rizzoli" he said. "Where's my daughter?"

"She is safe" Jane answered and she would swear she could hear him sigh in relief. "She is at Boston Medical Centre though I am afraid family visiting hours do not include mob fathers" She paused. "She is recovering well and the doctors say she should be good to go home tomorrow. You know Maura. She's a fighter."

"Yes, she is" Doyle answered. "She is so much like her mother."

"Don't give me the crap about how much the protection of her mother means to you. If it really was that important to you, you would have told Maura the truth by now" Jane snapped and her eyes drifted around the small patio area she was sitting in. People strolled by on their way to visit their friends and loved ones, the same way she had done. She took a deep breath, held it and then let it escape. "There is something I need you to do for me, Doyle."

"Boston's finest are asking the mob for help?" He seemed to be taunting her.

"Desperate times call for desperate measures" Jane retorted sharply.

"So you said before." He reminded her of the previous time she had called him. She hated admitting she needed his help but right now it was the only way. She would deal with the question of right and wrong later.

"Maura's kidnapper is a man by the name of John Pike. He is a medical examiner and works in Western Massachusetts. He is the one who hurt your daughter but the police are unable to track him down. They suspect he might be hiding somewhere in Springfield but if you ask me, he could be anywhere. Men like him rely on their familiarity and safety and Pike suffers from OCD. There will be things he needs to do." Jane said and she listened to Doyle's heavy breathing on the other side. "I need you to find him."

"Find him?" Doyle asked. "And kill him?"

"That depends on the situation" Jane answered through clenched teeth. She felt contempt though she wasn't sure whether it was solely aimed at Doyle or whether it was aimed at herself as well. This was what she had become, what she had allowed herself to turn into. She closed her eyes and took a deep breathe. "What is it you guys say again? Don't mess with my family? Maura is your family as much as she is mine. "

Doyle's answer was simple and clear. "I know that, detective. You do know that there is no way back now, do you? You cannot pretend these words were never spoken. You can never undo what you just asked of me."

"I know that" Jane answered and her heart tightened in her chest. It hurt, it ached. "God help me, I know."

"Very well" said Doyle slowly. "Consider this a favour, detective. A repayment for the safety you offer Maura. I know she loves you dearly. When she mentioned your name her eyes glistened like diamonds. Look after her for me."

"She can look after herself"

"Yes, so she told me. But it can't hurt to have you watching over her" Doyle said and if Jane didn't know better she would have almost believed he sounded like a kind, loving father. She sighed. Doyle's voice rang in her ears. "This is where our paths separate, detective. You never made this call."

"Goodbye" Jane said and suddenly thought of something. She was about to hang up.

"Doyle?"

"What, detective?"

"No ice picks"