The More Things Change, Part 14 of 30

Pairing: Jane/Maura

Spoilers: Through "When the Gun Goes Bang, Bang, Bang"

Warnings: A little discussion of Hoyt in this one. He does things that some may find uncomfortable to read about.

Disclaimer: The only thing that's mine is the plot, such as it is.

Note: As a response to a couple of questions – yes, this whole story is written. I am posting it in parts because I've been giving each part a last once-over and editing before sharing it with the world. I apologize if anyone has assumed any malicious intent from the fact that I didn't post this whole story at once – that was very much not my intention. I simply wanted to make sure I got the whole story posted before season two started and rendered the whole thing AU at best, and I knew that if I didn't start posting, I would never have the impetus to do that last editing run in time. Again, I apologize if anyone is upset by how I've been sharing this story; I simply did what works best for me as a writer. This is the longest story I have ever written and is a new experience for me. Thanks.

Jane drifted in and out for most of the afternoon. She was vaguely conscious of Maura tidying up, putting her things away in the guest bedroom, and even – she was fairly sure she hadn't been dreaming – giving Jo Friday a tour.

She became fuzzily aware that Maura must have been cooking something for dinner by the smells emanating from the kitchen, but she was content to let time float past her until she was startled awake by the ringing of the phone.

She dimly heard Maura's voice as she spoke quietly in the kitchen, but couldn't really focus on the words and drifted out again until she felt the couch move as her friend sat down. "Jane?" she said quietly.

"'m 'wake."

"Oh, yes, you sound quite alert."

That got a wide-eyed stare and a wry grin. "You're really getting the hang of this sarcasm thing."

"I had a good teacher. You're quite obvious when you're employing sarcasm."

"That's good? That I'm…obvious?"

"For someone who isn't very good at reading other people? Yes."

"Glad I could help."

Maura smiled and patted her shin. "Dinner'll be ready in about fifteen minutes."

"You didn't have to cook."

"I enjoyed it," she said. "I like to cook; I just don't often have enough time to."

She spent some time absorbing that and must have drifted off again, because the next thing she was aware of was Maura's gentle hand on her shoulder. "Jane?"

"Mm?"

"Dinner's ready. Can I help you sit up?"

Jane forced her eyes open. "Let's sit at the table."

Her eyes widened. "Are you sure you can?"

"Table's closer than the bedroom. Think of it as practice for tonight."

Maura acknowledged her logic with a tilt of the head. "It's…it'll hurt, to stand up. You know that, right?"

"Gotta do it sometime."

Maura sighed. "Okay. Let me help you sit up first, then I'll help you stand, okay?"

"Okay."

"You have to let me do it, Jane. You've got far too much muscle damage to – "

"I get it. It would hurt."

"If you're even able to yet, it could pull your stitches. The internal ones. You could – it would be very dangerous." She frowned. "And it would hurt. A lot."

She grasped Jane's hands and pulled her upright, waiting for a few moments for her friend to regain her composure.

"Okay, I'm going to do this like the nurses showed me. This is how they move immobile patients. You don't have to do anything. Okay?"

"Okay."

Maura reached around Jane's torso, being very careful to avoid the still-healing wound on her back, and planted her feet firmly on the ground. "I'm going to lift on three. Don't – "

"I get it, Maura. Go ahead."

"Okay," Maura said. "One – two – three."

She carefully pulled Jane to her feet, wincing at Jane's quiet groan and muttered "crap."

"You okay?"

Jane rested her hands on Maura's shoulders as she swayed on her feet. "Peachy."

"Sarcasm."

"Naw, really?"

Maura shook her head with a grin. "Ready?" She wrapped a steadying arm around Jane's waist, and slowly led the way to the table.

"So what's for dinner?"

"Spaghetti and meatballs."

Jane grinned. "Ma has the best recipe for – "

"I know. She gave it to me."

Her jaw dropped. "My Ma gave you the recipe for her meatballs?"

"Yes."

"My mother, who still hasn't given me the recipe for her meatballs, gave you the recipe for her meatballs?"

"Yes?"

"So…just to clarify here – I get Ma's food, without Ma."

"…yes?"

Jane grinned. "Sweet!"

Maura shook her head and went to retrieve the food.

"Did I hear the phone earlier?" Jane called after her.

"Yes."

"Korsak or Frost?"

Maura frowned as she set the food down. "How did you…?"

"I'm a detective. I have excellent analytical skills."

"Actually, you have excellent deductive skills, even if your line of reasoning is sometimes more…impulsive and emotional than would be ideal."

Jane tilted her head and frowned. "Did you just…compliment me…or insult me?"

"It was both."

"A compliment and an insult?"

"I was on the phone with Frost when Korsak called."

Jane rubbed her eyes. "You're avoiding the question."

"Maybe."

She scowled. "Maura, I'm hurt and drugged up and I've got about a third of my brain actually working. Come on, give."

Maura didn't answer, and she found she had neither the energy nor the desire to press the issue and rolled her eyes. "Okay, fine. Forget it. What did…they…want?"

"To make sure you got settled all right."

Jane sighed. "I suppose I'll have to…."

Maura contemplated that in silence for a long moment. "This is delicious. My compliments to your mother."

"Thanks."

Finally, Maura touched the back of Jane's hand. "If you're not ready, it's okay. I know you like to appear…" She paused to search for the right words. "…a certain way in front of the men you work with."

Jane winced. "You put it like that, it doesn't sound very flattering."

"Well…I think it was expected of you. Female detectives are still so rare – let alone homicide detectives."

They ate in silence, and it was only when Maura began to gather up the plates that Jane finally said quietly, "It's the damndest thing."

"What?"

She waited until Maura came back and helped her stand and walk to the bathroom. "Bedroom," she gasped as Maura helped her stand again. "I get down, I won't get up again tonight."

"Okay."

Finally, she glanced up from where she sat on the edge of the Maura's guest bed. "It's the damndest thing," she said again. "It's usually not just…it's not just the guys at work."

Maura didn't say anything as she helped Jane slip out of the oversized Patriots jersey Frankie had loaned her and into the soft cotton night shirt her mother had brought.

"It's everybody," Jane said as Maura helped her crawl under the covers. "I fell…hard…off the playground in second grade. Needed eight stitches." She glanced at Maura, then away. "Didn't make a sound. Didn't want anyone to see me…you know…hurt."

Maura froze in the act of tucking Jane into bed. "But I – you – "

"I know. Damndest thing."

She stood, unusually hesitant, for a moment. "Are you…comfortable?"

"As I can be." She watched Maura walk to the doorway, hesitate, walk back, and hesitate again, a faint frown on her face.

"I didn't ask for much. I don't think I really knew how."

Jane sighed, watching her.

Maura look back, fidgeting, wringing her hands back together, then bowed her head and turned for the door.

Jane felt a surge of warmth along with the sympathy she was already feeling. It was strange to think that that if Maura were to look at her right now, she'd be wide open to her – but it was true. It was though her mother had opened some kind of door, and here she was, following right along with a smile.

She debated internally for just a few moments. It's late, I'm tired, everything hurts like hell, and I can barely think. Damn it, I'm not ready for this.

But she just couldn't leave Maura looking so sad and lonely, so she closed her eyes to gather herself and took a deep breath. "Maura?"

"Hm?"

"Stay here?"

Maura smiled widely, clearly relieved. "Sure. Just have to change and lock up. And I should bring Jo in from the yard."

Jane smiled back. "Good."

When Maura came back a few minutes later, Jo Friday was hot on her heels. Jane grinned when she knelt down to look the dog in the eye. "You may not," she said, "sleep on the bed at my house."

Jo whined, but then noticed the doggy bed in the corner of the room and curled up happily.

Maura flicked the lights off and slipped under the covers. "Are you all right?"

Jane smiled. "Yeah, I'm okay."

They lay there in silence for a few moments. Jane's thoughts were drifting again, to the point that even she wasn't really sure what they were, but she did know they were making her smile.

And it was those thoughts that led her, a few minutes later, to reach out and lightly grasp Maura's hand in her own. She heard Maura's sharp intake of breath and smiled again.

Despite it all, at that moment, life was good.