Sorry for the delay. My job is eating me at the moment. So much to do right now and I barely find time to write :-( I love every review and you are so kind and lovely to me. Thank you for still following my story. This chapter is a bit short but better then nothing ;-) Really hope to find more time in the future! Many greetings to all of you!


Maura stood in the doorway staring her friend straight in the eye. Her hair was damp with sweat and her face ashen. Obviously she was still tortured by nightmares.

"What's going on?" the blonde asked, barely audible.

Korsak and Frost looked nervously at the floor. They didn't want get into the crossfire of both women. Korsak cleared his throat loudly.

"Hey Doc, how are you?"

"Thanks for asking, Detective. I'm doing quite well," lied Maura and held onto the door frame.

"I'm sorry, Maura. This is an official meeting and I can't talk to you about the case," Jane tried to explain.

"An official meeting? I have a right to know what's going on here. You spoke about my father and my life is at stake here. So don't tell me that you can't talk. For some inexplicable reason, you don't want to talk."

Jane took a deep breath and she covered her face with her hands. Normally she spoke with Maura about current cases but now she found it really hard. Whenever her past caught up with her, Maura changed. She pulled away from her friend and her presence. Jane was afraid that Maura shut herself off again.

"Is Paddy Doyle involved in the attack, Jane?" Maura whispered weakly.

"Okay, we better go now. We'll leave the file with you Jane. The forensic report is attached at the back and all we have about McNeill is in the red file," Frost suggested, giving his colleague a pat on the shoulder.

"You don't have to go, guys. I could order pizza and I still have beer in the fridge. You can't say no, boys!"

"Oh yes, we can Jane. I could have saved a couple of divorces, if I hadn't meddled into women prickly affairs," said the gray-haired cop.

While Maura was still leaning in the doorway, Jane led her colleagues to the front door.

"Bye, Doc. Get some rest and get well soon," Frost said goodbye while Korsak waved.

"Goodbye, and thanks for all Detectives."

After the cops had left the apartment, Jane remained at the door for a few seconds. Maura sat down on the couch in the meantime and stared blankly into the room. Jane strolled across the room and sat on the armrest. She rested her hands on her thighs and looked at her friend worriedly.

"I'm sorry, Maura. I just want to protect you and therefore I haven't told you much. We have some hints for the involvement of the Irish mob in the assault but we still have no clear evidence..."

Jane described her suspicions and tried not to worry Maura. She mentioned the autopsy with no word.


"I don't need to be protected, Jane. I want to join you tomorrow. How is that actually possible? Paddy Doyle is in federal prison in Lewisburg."

"He was transferred to the Massachusetts Correctional Institution for the process. And that won't happen, Maura. You are not going to join me. This is a police investigation and I'm going alone," Jane said with emphasis.

"But Jane, I ..."

"No buts, Maura. As long as your life is in danger, you're not going to leave this apartment. You are under strict watch 24/7."

Maura crossed her arms over her chest. Her body was trembling and cold sweat stood on her forehead. Jane jumped up and took a blanket from the bedroom. She put it over Maura's shoulders and pressed the trembling body to hers.

"I'll heat the soup and you you are going to it, Maur. Ma will kill me if you don't eat and get your strength back. Don't argue! Maura, I'm worried about you. I want you to talk to me about it. I wanna help you."

"There is no need to worry, Jane. These are the aftermath of my injuries. It's sweet that you care about me," Maura whispered and smiled.

"Maybe you are really suffering from PTSD and ..."

"I suffer from nothing Jane! I'm fine. Only my injury hurts a bit. I'm living with the death every day! This is my life. Death and violence! There is no reason for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder! Just leave me alone! "Maura said angrily.

Jane was shocked by the outburst. She had never seen Maura so angry. Tears ran down Maura's cheeks and she sobbed heartbreakingly. Without words Jane got up and went into the kitchen. She couldn't bear to see her friend suffer. The slender, dark-haired policewoman opened the fridge and lingered for a few seconds. With all her strength she tried to suppress her tears. She blinked away the tears and wiped her nose on her sleeve. Then she took the soup and put it in the microwave.

"Soup is hot in a couple of minutes," Jane cried desperately.

"Jane?"

"What?" hissed the Italian.

"I'm sorry, Jane. I'm indescribably sorry. I don't know what got into me."

Jane went back to the couch and knelt in front of her friend on the floor.

"You'd almost died, Maura. No need to apologize. But let me help you. Do you remember when I almost shot myself? I was down and out. The nightmares were horrible. I didn't sleep for days. I had no appetite and shrinked into myself. It took three months for me to recover. I know exactly what you're going through. I wouldn't have survived without your help. So please, Maura, let me help you."

Maura nodded cautiously when Jane got up and sat on the couch. Carefully the blonde doctor put her legs on the lap of her friend. Jane was right, she knew exactly what was going on in Maura.