Chapter Eleven
"You really should have that looked at, Jane." Korsak was trying hard to make up for laughing at Jane earlier by showing true concern and a hint of remorse in his tone. He had not realized how hurt she had gotten while chasing Pryor. "I'll drive you if you want."
"That's about all you're good for Korsak… driving." Korsak took the hint and went back to the pile of paperwork on his desk.
"I've got an ace bandage in my car. I'm going to go down and grab it; tell Frost to meet me down there once he knows where we're going."
Jane winced every time she put her weight on the injured ankle. By the time she got off the basement elevator, she was moaning in pain with each step. It did not go unnoticed.
"Jane? Oh my, Jane? What happened? Are you alright?"
Maura rushed over to the detective.
"I'm fine, Maura. Just twisted my ankle. It just needs to be wrapped."
"Let me look at it. Can you make into the morgue?"
Maura had already brought Jane's right arm over her shoulders to support the detective while she hobbled to the M.E.'s office.
"Really, Maura. It's not that bad."
"Here; up on the table."
"Maura, you're not serious. It's just a twisted ankle; I really don't think I need to lie on the dead people table. I know it's killing me, but that really is just a figure of speech."
"Don't be ridiculous. The table is clean and I want to take an x-ray of the talocrural joint to make sure nothing is broken." Maura pulled over the x-ray machine while she explained, "The talocrural joint, more commonly known as the ankle, is remarkably strong. It is bound by the deltoid ligament and three lateral ligaments: the anterior talofibular ligament, the posterior talofibular ligament, and the calcaneofibular ligament."
Maura gently touched Jane's ankle in each of the places where the ligaments lay and traced their anatomical path. It was sending goose bumps all over Jane's body.
"The joint is most stable in dorsiflexion while a sprained ankle is more likely to occur when the foot is plantar flexed. Sprains most frequently occur at the anterior talofibular ligament." She touched the spot yet again.
Jane was staring at Maura. She couldn't help it. Didn't Maura know that Jane was mad at her for saying those things earlier? And here she was spouting off about Jane's toga-fabulous joint or something like that…
"Oh, good. It's not broken. Just a sprain. It will hurt for a while and you should try to stay off of it for a couple of days."
"Umm… thank you?" Jane made a motion to get up.
Maura was quickly at the head of the table before Jane could do so and placed her hand on Jane's shoulder.
"Jane, I'm sorry."
"For what?" Jane was suddenly aware of the doctor's close proximity to her; over her.
"For what I said at the sandwich shop. For not apologizing sooner. For spouting off about your talofibular joint instead of just saying that I was sorry. I tend to ramble when I'm nervous and don't know what to say."
"It's okay…"
"No, it's not, Jane! I really am sorry. What I said earlier today was… insensitive. I can't imagine how hard your job is. I know I certainly couldn't do it. I can't read people like you. The fact is you sacrifice so much… emotionally… to do your job. You have to get close to people and keep your distance at the same time for the protection of all parties because your duty is to the victim; not anyone else."
Jane was staring at Maura in disbelief.
"Well, say something." Maura was looking at the floor.
"Maura," Jane rested her hand on top of Maura's that still rested on Jane's shoulder, "thank you. Thank you for the apology and for understanding what is probably the hardest part about my job. Really."
Jane held Maura's gaze for a long time.
"I still feel as though I need to make this up to you." Maura voice was soft yet filled with intent.
"Listen, how about you help me wrap my ankle and get to my car? I have a feeling this case is about to resolve itself. Afterward, maybe you'll give me a ride home? And if you really want to make it up to me, you can stay and have dinner with me. There's a Red Sox game on tonight and I really need to show you that baseball is more than just trigonometry."
Jane's smile warmed Maura through to her core.
Maura began delicately wrapping Jane's ankle with her own supplies. She could feel Jane staring at her intently while her hands worked carefully; long fingers curling the wrap over and under Jane's foot and ankle.
"Eh-hem. Jane? Are you ready?" Frost immediately felt uncomfortable for walking in on what appeared to be an intimate moment between the doctor and Jane.
"Huh? Oh yeah. Maura was just wrapping my ankle for me…" Jane looked sheepishly from Maura to Frost.
"Jane, I really don't think you should be putting any weight on that ankle…"
"I'll be okay; you did a great job. And if I hurt it again you can just throw me back up on the table… for another x-ray."
Frost coughed as he swallowed his gum. "You okay, there Frost."
"Yeah… yeah. I'm good. We should get going though; we've got about a 45 minute drive."
