Just a super short little drabble that I've debated posting. It's really short and part of me wanted to lengthen it but part of me wanted to keep it short and simple, which means I could never decide if I wanted to post it or not. But here I go!

Set in the future, Rizzles is not established.


Like countless times before, Jane and Maura found themselves sitting on Maura's couch with a blanket draped over their legs. Each woman sat at the end of the couch, turned sideways to face the other with their legs resting in between them.

"It's been six years," Jane said as she picked at the paper label on her beer bottle.

"Pardon?" Maura asked, not understanding why Jane chose to broke the lengthy silence with that statement.

"You asked why I've been so distant and in a funk today and I'm telling you why," Jane said, keeping her eyes focused on the bottle in her hands. "It's been six years since Hoyt pinned me to that basement floor and fucked up my hands for the rest of my life."

"Jane," Maura breathed, setting her wine glass down on the table. "I had no idea. I'm so sorry I didn't realize what today was."

"You don't have to say sorry," Jane shrugged. "I just wanted to explain why I wasn't really present today. Why I've been so quiet and out of it. I thought it would get easier but every year it just hits me, ya know?"

"Are you having flashbacks or nightmares?"

"No," Jane shook her head. "It's nothing like that. It's just, like…It hits me. It hits me that so much time has passed but that not a lot of time has passed at the same time. Like, you were in college for more years than I've had these scars. It hits me that the rookie mistake I made of making the choice to not have back-up still affects me. And it sounds silly but every year on today's date it hits me that my hands still fucking hurt."

"May I?" Maura asked, scooting a few inches closer to Jane and holding out her hands.

Nodding, Jane also scooted a bit closer and placed her left hand—the dominant one that often caused her more pain—into Maura's.

Gently, Maura began to massage Jane's hands with both of her own, her own nimble fingers working over the scarred palms of her closest friends. When she and Jane began to grow closer, Maura had reached out to specialists, physical therapists, and masseuses to ensure she had the skills to help massage the pain out of the detective's hands should the woman ever ask for such a comfort.

Since then, Maura became attune to Jane's hands and was able to notice when they caused discomfort and had spent hours in her office, both of their homes, or anywhere else helping reduce the pain her friend felt.

"I'm so sorry you had to go through today alone," Maura said softly as she focused on working the ache Jane was certainly feeling out. "But I understand why you choose not to bring up today's significance to those around you."

Jane made a sound of acknowledgement, her eyes fluttering closed at Maura's gentle ministrations.

"I love your hands," Maura mused. "It's a bit odd, I admit, but when I think of hands, yours are the first ones that come to mind. Hands that are so strong and can fire a gun or fight off an attacker but also can tickle TJ's stomach in the way that makes him giggle so loudly or knead gnocchi dough with your mother. They've been through so much but they are, without a doubt, my favorite pair of hands."

With that, Maura placed Jane's left hand gently onto the blanket before moving to begin gentle ministrations on Jane's right hand, working over the palm and fingers with as much love as she could muster.

"Did you know that otters hold each other's hands while they sleep so they don't float away from each other? Don't get lost in the big and scary oceans alone."

"I did know that," Maura smiled as she watched Jane's eyes remain closed, face relaxed for the first time that day.

"You're the only person I let touch my hands," Jane admitted as she opened her eyes to meet Maura's gaze. "Even after all these years, I don't let anyone touch my hands like I let you touch them."

"You trust me," Maura stated.

"With my life," Jane replied as she swiftly moved her right hand to lace her fingers with Maura's, looking at the blonde for any sign that what she had done was unwelcome.

Silently, Maura reached her free hand over to grasp Jane's left and laced the fingers together, squeezing both of her hands gently and offering a soft smile.

"If there is anyone I want to be lost in the big and scary oceans with, it's you," Jane said, a lump forming in her throat as she locked her gaze with Maura's.

"I have a good sense of direction so I don't think we'd ever be lost in a big and scary ocean," Maura said with a gentle smile. "But if there is anyone I want to explore the big and scary oceans with and have at my side as we experience them fully, I would choose you."

Jane chuckled gently at Maura's response, feeling a tear she hadn't realized was welling in her eye slip down her cheek.

"Now what do we do?" Jane asked, making no move to let go of either of Maura's hands to wipe the tear track from her cheek.

"Come here," Maura commanded gently, tugging on Jane's hands until the detective realized what Maura was trying to do and, chuckling, moved until she was lying in front of Maura, the doctor pressed against the back of the couch and Jane pulled flush against her. "Now we go to sleep," she whispered.

"You'll hold my hand so I don't float off into the big, scary ocean without you?" Jane asked.

Smiling, Maura moved her arm to rest over Jane's own arm, lacing their fingers together and squeezing gently.

"I'll never let go."


Super short but lemme know what you think!