**Disclaimer I do not own R&I**
"You are special to me Maura so I want you to have it. I mean you gave me the necklace I want you to have something of mine."
"Jane. I love you too so much."
"I know you didn't have much of a school experience, and neither did I, the least I could do is give you this to show you my devotion. I wish I would have known you then. Maybe I could have realized sooner. Maybe I would not have been so afraid, who knows?"
It will be a placeholder for now, Jane thought to herself.
"It's okay really."
"I don't know about my father. I could tell he started drinking again. I, I don't feel bad about it though. I don't care if it is my fault, because if you are the reason, if we are the reason." Jane corrected herself. "I'd choose you any day Maura. Everyone would choose you. I don't care what anyone thinks anymore and you did that. I know you are strong and I'll do my best to let your family see that, see all of it, really see you."
"I will too Jane. Believe that also. I won't let them take you away from me, not when we barley found each other once more."
They slept the night away. It brought a calming emotion. They once more did not know what the future held but whatever it was they would not let something else come between them. They learned that they could not be without one another. They learned they bettered each other. Actions did not need to show anything, it was there, they were there.
Jane walked into the room once more. The alarm had gone off and she got ready, letting Maura sleep in just a little longer. She didn't hear the phone ring when getting ready, and did not expect to hear Maura on the phone. She was near tears. Jane quickly became nervous until she heard the words coming out of the woman's mouth.
"Yes-Yes I know. Oh Hope, I am so happy you approve. I- I don't know what I would have done with… Yes I am going to tell her! She is coming soon and- yes my father too. No, don't tell Doyle. He is not my father- well actually I don't care. Just let him know that if he tries to come between us- well, that will ruin everything even more so. That if he thinks I hate and disown him not, he has yet to see anything. Let him know that if he tries to hurt her or even touches like when he kidnapped me then he should watch his back. If he tries to get to her he has to go through me. Oh yes, I don't know where it will go I'm just happy it finally happened. It was difficult there for a while as you remember but we have been getting the help we needed. She didn't want to tell anyone but she was finally ready, and I'm so happy to share with you."
Jane did not tell her she heard her tell hope, it was not needed, but it did warm her heart.
When she hung up she knocked on the door right after she said goodbye she saw Maura jump.
"Uh I'm sorry. Are you ready?"
Maura smiled.
"Just give me a few." was said with a giggle.
"Whatever you need, I'll be waiting in the car." And that is exactly what she did.
"So, where will your parents be staying?" Jane asked with concern.
"Oh they will probably get a hotel. You know it is not as bad as it used to be, I don't feel so rejected when they do."
"Well that's good. You should never feel bad about yourself. Even when your walls are down, it's when I see you at your most beautiful."
They were off to their jobs, a new case arose rather quickly and they still had some things to handle with a few others, mainly the two of them testifying in court.
They were surprised that they had not undergone anger with a delinquent that had been set behind bars. When Maura was on the other side of the law the prisoners knew she put them away but she was under high surveillance and protection because she was the Chief Medical Examiner of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Maura and Jane quickly got on the scene.
They saw grieving parents at the door.
"Oh honey what are we going to do?" The woman asked
Jane saw the wedding rings. They were worn out bands, they had obviously been married for a while.
"I-Where are the other officers?"
Korsak came halfway down the stairs of the house when he heard Jane's voice.
"We are upstairs Jane." He said pointing up taking the lead
She followed him up the stairs with Maura in her heels, clicking behind.
"Oh god, she, she is so young. How is this an unattended death? Someone should have been with the girl." Jane said.
"Mom and dad said she was fine, accidental drowning. I believe it. There does not seem to be any sign of resistance." Korsak added.
"Yes there is a blow to her head that matches the tub. Hit her head, became quiet, parents would not have known. What a tragedy. I will inspect the body further but it seems as if this is a closed case."
"Alright you heard the lady." Jane told the other on call officers. "We should get going. It does not seem that there is anything left to inspect. I'll check out the kid's room."
She went in. When she looked around she saw the little girl's bedroom she had to admit it was nothing she would have done, but she was never a girly person. It was pink all over. Jane smiled to herself. The poor 6 year old, she did not know what was happening. She saw a teddy bear and picked it up, gloves still on.
"You know, I used to have one like this." She said as she heard Maura go in the room with her
"Really?"
"Yeah it's hidden with the other boxes I moved into your house when you were gone."
"I didn't know that."
"My father gave it to me; he said he wanted to be the first one to give me a stuffed animal as a baby, so he made sure he did. She was just a kid, it's no fair Maur. This is what makes the job tough."
"We should go sweetie."
"You're right. Come on we have a lot of things to focus on."
Jane was happy that she could still let go and be serious with Maura. She was still her best friend who was there to listen no matter what it was that was on her mind. They could talk about the tough cases. It was even easier now, which they were both grateful. Others now realized they could not tell one without telling the other, they had always known that simple fact but now it was that much more blatantly obvious.
"Oh, I am sorry."