Chapter 12

One week later, Jane was back at Spaulding for her outpatient rehab session. Angela had taken her as Maura was giving evidence in court that day. As the nurse had suggested, Jane's PT had worked on her getting in and out of her chair from the floor. It had been slow going and the frustration had been evident on her face throughout. With gravity helping, getting out wasn't too difficult, Jane just needed to control her descent. The PT had asked a mentor called Scott to come along and give Jane some help as he had the same level of injury. Scott also had the advantage of longer arms and several years of practice. However, with a set of knee and elbow pads to protect her, Jane had managed to copy his method until she was sat cross-legged on the floor without causing any damage. Getting back in was more problematic. Jane's triceps weren't as strong as she needed to make a comfortable lift back into the chair the same way she got down. That said, with just a little help from her therapist, who pulled the waist of her sweats to clear the seat of her chair, she at least knew the technique. Angela kept a steady conversation going throughout the session which at least proved a distraction for her daughter. "Janie, we can practice this at home each day until you can do it on your own." She commented after the session ended.

Unknown to anyone else, Maura who had finished in court a short while before had snuck in the back of the room, along with Frankie. "I think that's a great idea," she called out, having just watch Jane almost make it back into the chair on her own.

"Maur, I thought you were working all day?" Jane's face lit up when she saw her partner and brother.

"I finished up half an hour ago and wanted to be here, so I got Frankie to blue light me over from the courthouse." Maura gave her a grin.

Having finished the session, the PT left briefly and then returned, followed by the OT who was pushing Jane's new wheelchair.

"I didn't want to miss you get your own chair at last," Maura added.

"Frankie should know better than to abuse the blue lights." Jane mumbled.

Secretly, she was looking forward to having her own chair rather than the oversized one she was currently using. As the OT brought it to a stop alongside her, she took in the differences. Hers had a much more compact frame so it would turn in a much smaller circle. The frame was dark silver titanium, but the castors were housed in red forks and the frame under the rear seat was also red. The upholstery was black as was the strap which sat behind her calves to keep her feet in place. The rear wheels had red spokes and black tires, with special push rims that meant there was no gap between the tires and rim where she could easily trap a finger with her level of injury. Finally she had a backrest which curved around the hips slightly to give her a little more lateral support and making it less easy to tip sideways if she overreached. There were two push handles at the back, but at Jane's insistence, they folded flat for when they weren't needed. She didn't want anyone thinking she needed pushing around all the time.

A transfer board was produced, but Jane was feeling buoyed and refused it for the first time. "I'm going to try without."

The OT hovered behind her just in case and looked more nervous that Jane.

Dropping the nearest leg off the footrest, Jane reached over and took hold of the frame. Pushing through her shoulders, she slid halfway so that she had half her butt in the new chair. A brief pause and she pushed again going the rest of the way. Pulling her legs into the frame, Jane immediately felt the difference in how she was sitting, even though she couldn't actually feel the seat itself. "I feel taller," she fidgeted with her legs a little more, tucking them right back into the frame."

"This chair is much better for your posture, it's making you sit up and preventing your lower back from curling in, so you should slouch less." The OT explained. "You're sat higher up as well because of the frame design and your feet at more tucked in which means you can turn quicker. It also means you can tip out easier so be careful until you get used to it."

Jane moved the chair around a little. "I love these rims, they're really grippy."

"That's not actually a word, Jane." Maura teased.

Jane gave her a quirked eyebrow. "Really Maura, that's all you have to say?"

"No I was going to add that it looks much cooler that the other one."

Scott was still in the room and invited Jane to take a lap of the floor with him. "Come on, let's go for a quick ride and leave the bipeds to make small-talk.

"Jane, no racing!" Angela saw the look on her daughter's face as they left to room together.

Maura talked to Jane's physical therapist briefly about her progress, so Frankie sat next to his mother who was looking at the empty wheelchair and had gone very quiet.

"What's up Ma?"

"I'm fine Frankie." She reached in her purse and took out a tissue. "I was hoping when I saw that chair empty it would be because Janie was walking again."

"Ma, come on. Be happy for her, she's doing great. You better stop snivelling before she gets back or she's going to get mad."

"Don't you go telling me what to do. What were you thinking anyway, bringing Maura here with blue lights."

"Give me a break, Ma. It was an emergency!" Frankie gesticulated.

Two months later

The list of Jane's accomplishments since she had been released from rehab had grown steadily to the point she was struggling to think of things to add. The items ticked off her spidery, hand-written list that was attached to the noticeboard in the kitchen were: put on pants; get in and out of chair from floor; go up and down ramp; do sit-ups; get licence; get chair in car (unaided); drive car; wheelies; take Maura dancing; play wheelchair rugby; self-catheterisation; rubber gloves – aaaarrgghh! The outstanding items were: ride handbike; tie shoelaces; go back to work; shoot gun (at police range!); walk; run; jump; cartwheel; kick a perp's ass.

The next item on her agenda wasn't on the list though. She was sat on the bed pulling on her pants. She had the technique down now; wriggle them as far up her legs as they would go, then grab the waist, lie back and slide herself into them. It was remarkably effective, except with jeans. They required a bit more tugging and pulling. Maura had fastened little loops on all her zippers so she could hook her thumb through to pull them up and she had a little gadget which the OT had found for her to hook fasteners and buttons together. She smoothed her shirt into the waistband and then fastened them up. Raising herself back into a sitting position, she lifted her left foot across her right knee and put on the navy blue sock. The right foot was similarly dressed afterwards. Next she slid from the bed to her wheelchair and put on her shoes. Laces were a bit of an issue, but Maura would do them before they left, so she left them untied for the time being. At that point, she left her dressing and gave her partner a shout.

Maura hurried up the stairs and gave Jane a big smile.

"I need a hand with this," Jane waved a tie towards her.

Maura closed the gap between them and took the tie. "I remember doing this for my father when I was a girl." She took the tie and placed it under the collar of Jane's shirt, then she stepped behind her chair and looped it through in the familiar way and tightened it before folding the collar back down.

"Can you put my badge on for me as well please?"

Maura lifted the brass name badge and fastened it above the shirt pocket. "Hair up?"

"I guess," Jane nodded.

Maura retrieved the hair brush and flicked it through Jane's dark mane before fastening it back in a loose ponytail. "Where's your cap?"

"Closet shelf, I can't reach it."

Maura opened the doors and looked up to the shelf above the clothes that hung from the railing. She reached up for the box where it was kept and removed it. She brushed an imaginary speck of dust from it and then handed it over to Jane, who dropped it in her lap. Looking down, Maura frowned briefly.

"What?"

"Shoelaces," Maura sat on the bed and allowed Jane to roll closer. She took her left foot into her lap and tied the lace, checking it wasn't too tight.

"Maybe I should ask if you can get police issue boots with Velcro," Jane smirked.

"Behave yourself," Maura playfully tapped her on the knee.

"Ouch," Jane countered with a hint of sarcasm.

Maura shook her head and lifted the other foot to repeat her action, this time loosening off the laces a little because she thought Jane had pulled it a bit tight and not felt it. "You'll cut off the circulation to your feet if you pull them this tight," she grumbled.

Jane just shrugged and dropped her foot back down when Maura had finished.

"Which jacket do you want? It's pretty cold out."

Jane wrinkled her nose in thought. "I'll take the down parka, it might snow today, you think?"

"Gloves?"

"Oops, no idea where the dress ones are. Maura, forget them, they'll just get ruined by the wheels."

"You can't be dressed improperly, what will the Chief think?"

"You think he's going to notice the lack of gloves when I'm sat in a wheelchair?"

"I'll find them," Maura the perfectionist kicked into high gear. Back in the closet, she hunted until she found them in a drawer. "Okay, ready to go?"

"Your car or mine?"

"I don't mind driving, that way you can have a drink later."

"I wonder if you can be arrested for driving a wheelchair under the influence," Jane smirked again.

"Enough quadriplegic humour, let's get going. I'll drive!"

"Ladies and gentlemen our next recipients are commended for exceptional courage and self-sacrifice under fire in order to protect members of the public. Following surveillance of a murder suspect five months ago, Detectives Barry Frost and Jane Rizzoli gave chase after the suspect ran from arresting officers. The suspect used a firearm to shoot indiscriminately at both Police and members of the public. Putting themselves between the suspect and innocent civilians, both came under fire and Detective Rizzoli was seriously injured as a consequence. Detective Frost was able to shoot the suspect in order to save the lives of all those at the scene. Both officers are commended for courage under fire in the most dangerous of circumstances. In particular I would like to mention that this is the second time Detective Rizzoli has received this award." The Chief turned to Barry and Jane. "Detective Frost," he called. Barry gave Jane's shoulder a squeeze as he stepped forwards to receive the medal from his superior.

"Detective Rizzoli," he called her forwards and Jane flushed a little with embarrassment. She rolled forwards and stopped in front of him. The one thing she wanted to get right was the salute and though her fingers didn't quite snap straight, they weren't far off. The medal went round her neck and was followed by a handshake from the Chief. This time, her hand opened and closed around his and she gripped as best she could as he pumped her arm several times.

"Thank you for your bravery Rizzoli, again." He looked more than a little emotional himself. "You are the finest of officers."

"Thank you, Sir," Jane managed a weak smile in reply.

The audience broke into a huge round of applause for the two detectives who posed for the press and Police photographers. Jane was less self-conscious about the chair than at any other time since she had been injured, but the circumstances were such that she was aware of how short she felt in comparison to everyone else in the room.

The Chief waited for the official photos and then announced as Barry and Jane went back to their positions, "For obvious reasons Detective Rizzoli has been unable to return to work since she was injured, however her commanding officer, Lt Cavanaugh informed me earlier that she will in fact be returning to her precinct next week. The Police Department extends its congratulations to Detective Rizzoli for her recovery and willingness to continue to serve the public of Boston."

Yet another round of applause broke out to which Barry turned to his work partner. "How much are you hating this right now?"

"If I could, I would run and jump out the window to get away from the embarrassment," she whispered back.

Following the end of official proceedings, all the recipients of awards were asked for a brief interview by the local news media people. Of all the recipients, the one they were most desperate to talk to was Jane.

"Officer Rizzoli, you must be feeling very proud today," a female reporter had a microphone extended down towards Jane's face.

"I'm very grateful to the Department for my award," she replied diplomatically.

"Obviously you received serious injuries at the time of the shooting. Are you hoping to return to active duty eventually?"

"I'm just glad to be going back to work," Jane kept her answer very non-specific.

Jane managed to evade any more questions from that particular reporter, but was caught out by another who had obviously reported about her shooting five months ago.

"Detective Rizzoli, I covered your shooting back in the summer, and at the time we were told by doctors that you had been paralysed from the chest down. Obviously your condition has improved a great deal, how optimistic are you that you will be able to walk again in the future?"

There wasn't much avoiding that one in the same way.

"Firstly can I just say a big thank you to the medical staff at Mass General and Spaulding Rehab for saving my life and getting me this far. Unfortunately, I've had to come to terms with the realisation that my injury has left me unable to walk for the foreseeable future, but I continue to work hard at recovering as much function as possible."

"We wish you well in your return to work." The reporter moved on to Frost.

Maura sensed Jane had had enough questions and stepped in behind her. "Your Mom wants us to take a family photo," she whispered discreetly in Jane's ear.

"Never thought I'd be relieved to hear that."

The Rizzoli's made up of Jane, Frankie, Tommy and Tommy Jr, who sat on his Aunt Jane's knee, plus Maura and Barry had their photo taken by Lt Cavanaugh who returned the camera to Maura before turning back to Jane.

"Congratulations Jane, ready for next week?"

"Why'd you have to tell the Chief? I'll be lucky if the damn reporters aren't waiting outside the door for me now."

He chuckled. "I always thought you'd enjoy being the centre of attention."

She rolled her eyes. "I just want to come back to work discreetly, no fuss. It was bad enough having to take the dumb medical last week. Do you know what the idiot asked me?" Jane's eyes widened in disbelief.

Cavanaugh shook his head knowing it must have been ridiculous.

"How did I plan to exit the station in the event of an emergency," she raised her hands in frustration. "I told him it was fine because I had a jet pack strapped under my seat and I could just hit the red button and fly out the window! He was so dumb he almost believed me until I couldn't keep my face straight."

Cavanaugh's laugh rang out and Jane joined in, unable to contain her bemusement at those in beaurocracy.

In a well-rehearsed routine, Jane reached across her lap and pulled the frame of her chair across in front of her and deposited it alongside the car door. She twisted slightly in her seat so she could reach behind her for the wheels. She put the left on first and spun the frame back around to put the right on afterwards. Carefully making sure the brakes were on, she threw the cushion into the seat and lifted her left leg out of the car and onto the ground. Reaching above her head with her right hand, she grabbed the handle and pushing on the wheelchair seat with her left, she lifted her hips from the car to the chair in a smooth manoeuvre. Pulling her left leg across and into position, she then pulled the right leg from the car and deposited it next to the left. Taking a minute to calm her nerves and flick her hair back, Jane adjusted herself so she was sitting correctly. Taking her bag from the footwell, she deposited it in her lap and then rolled back to close the doors.

A wary glance behind her told her the coast was clear; no one was looking or entering the building at that particular moment. She pressed the button on the remote and dropped the keys into her bag and rolled around to the sidewalk. There was a smooth transition between the accessible parking space with her name on it and the stairs. The building was old and so the ramp was added as an afterthought, but at least there was one. She went past the stairs and then doubled back to go up the ramp that had been tacked on to the opposite side. It was a little steep but she was well practiced now in using the handrail for extra pull if the pushing got too hard. She was halfway up the ramp and making steady progress when she heard a shout from behind her.

"Vanilla! You're back," a gruff but familiar voice called out to her.

Jane stopped in her tracks and let her chair roll a quarter turn back, flicking on the brake so she didn't roll all the way back down.

"Rondo, you almost scared the crap out of me!"

"How are you doin?"

"I'm good thanks. Have you been keeping out of mischief while I've been away?"

"Well I'm not going to lie to you, Korsak has been keeping busy in your absence, but I saw the news on the TV last week so I was watching out for you."

Rondo made his way up the ramp to her and just when she thought he was going to grab her chair and start pushing, he gave her a big hug instead. Slightly emotional for a moment, he just held on then let go and turned away. "I'll see you around, Vanilla."

"Thanks Rondo," Jane shook her head a little bemused by the informant's actions.

Making her way into the foyer, Jane wondered if Maura was already hard at work downstairs. She had insisted she was going to make her own way there the first day at least. It had taken Maura an hour less to get ready so she had gone on ahead. She suspected that she might get a concerned visit at some point that morning from her partner.

"Janie," she heard her mother's voice call from the coffee shop. "Are you excited for your first day back?"

"Hey Ma," Jane acknowledged the older woman, but didn't stop to chat. She rolled straight to the elevator and up to her office on the floor above. It was suspiciously quiet with no one obviously around. She looked through the door to see empty desks, although computer screens were on. She guessed there must be a briefing going on, so checked the meeting room, but that was also empty. Finally she made her way to Cavanaugh's office and knocked.

"Come on in."

Jane opened the door, which proved a little awkward, but she eventually got the smooth handle turned. Cavanaugh had the phone to his ear, but waved her forward. It looked like he was on hold. "Just a second," he put his hand over the receiver and spoke quietly. I'll just be a minute, okay?"

Jane nodded and waited for him to finish which he did about thirty seconds later. He seemed to be on the phone to Korsak, something about a report missing. Putting the phone down, Cavanaugh came around his desk so Jane needn't reach too far forwards to shake his hand.

"Welcome back, Detective Rizzoli. You have no idea how long I have been waiting to say that to you."

"I'd take a guess at a little over five months, Sir."

"Funny, Jane. Perhaps I should counter with, why don't you take a seat?"

"Good one Lieutenant, I hadn't thought of that one before," she grinned at him. "If everyone treats me like this, today is going to be fine. You did send them a memo telling them not to be nice to me, right?"

"Well I told them, but its not a breach of contract if they are." Cavanaugh went back behind his desk and opened a drawer, reaching inside he pulled out a badge. "Here, put this back on. We put it on a lanyard so you can wear it round your neck, I figured it would be uncomfortable to clip it to your waist now."

"Thanks," she recognised he was being sincere so didn't reply with sarcasm about not feeling a thing. Hanging the badge around her neck, she looked down at it. It looked a little shinier than she remembered.

"Sorry there's no gun to go with it."

"It's fine, I wouldn't trust my hands to be able to fire it in a straight line anyway."

"You're going to be okay, Rizzoli, you know that right."

"Yeah I know, I just need to get through today."

"Go see Korsak, he has cases for you."

"Thanks, for everything I mean, not just today, but all the support. I appreciate it a lot. No wisecracks this time."

"Get out of here, before you have a grown man in tears again."

She turned her chair and went out, but as she did there was a huge cheer from the entire floor who were all waiting for her to come back out. Jane saw Cavanaugh follow her out and gave him an annoyed look, but he just smiled back at her. Korsak and Frost were waiting with a hug right outside and for the next half an hour, not a lot of work got done as the other squad members and the various support staff spent a little time chatting to Jane at her desk. When the fuss had died down, Frost put in a sneaky phone call for Maura to come up.

The ME didn't waste much time riding up in the elevator and finding the detective at her desk. "I told them you wouldn't want a fuss, but I guess they didn't take any notice." She spoke in a low voice, sitting next to Jane.

"Was it you who tipped them off?"

Shaking her head Maura replied. "My money is on Angela, she phoned me to say you were in the building."

"I think she was on the phone to Cavanaugh when I went into his office too." Jane put an elbow on the desk and rested her chin in her hand.

"What are you working on?"

"Korsak has given me a couple of cold cases they're struggling with. I remember them, so it's a good place to start. I'm just going to take a look over the files now."

"I made lunch for the both of us so join me downstairs when you're ready to eat."

"Please tell me lunch is in the good fridge not the one with the nasty stuff in it."

Maura's face broke into a smile. "I'll see you when you get hungry." And with that Maura went back to work herself.