Chapter 14

Jane was not taking no for an answer from anyone in the precinct when she branded her sponsor form for the Boston Marathon. She and Maura had been training hard for the past three months and they were determined to complete the race. As Jane had discovered it was hard to turn down a policewoman in a wheelchair who was raising money for the Police Benevolent Fund. She had also roped in her entire family and all of her friends to gather as much as possible. True to form the local news media had been ready to take up the story and that brought in some interest from local business as well. Jane had turned into a celebrity for the few weeks prior to the race. For once, with a cause in mind she didn't mind talking to the reporter who turned up to see her practice.

It was the same reporter she had talked to just a few months ago at the award ceremony. This time, Jane made nice to him and let him ask all kinds of questions before they did the interview for the evening news.

The presenter in the studio opened the story. "So viewers may remember Detective Jane Rizzoli from Boston PD who was seriously injured when shot by a fleeing murder suspect last summer. Detective Rizzoli was recently decorated for her actions that day, when she put her life on the line to protect innocent bystanders. Despite wearing a bulletproof vest, she was shot under her left arm as she raised her gun to return fire, just above where the vest stopped and unfortunately her injuries were so severe that she was left partially paralysed from her chest down and has had to rely on a wheelchair since to get around. But in true Boston PD style, Detective Rizzoli fought her way back to health and back to work, but now she has a new mission; raising funds for the Police Benevolent Society by taking part in the Boston Marathon this weekend. Jeremy Wigfield has this report."

Jeremy's voiceover ran alongside footage of Jane getting in her racing chair and pushing along the riverside path that was her favourite training run. "Getting in and out of a racing wheelchair is not easy when you are paralysed from your armpits down, but Detective Jane Rizzoli, who was left a partial quadriplegic after being shot in the chest last year is training hard for this year's Boston Marathon, where she will compete in the wheelchair category for the first time. The road to recovery for the homicide detective has not been easy but now she in independent again, she plans to raise funds for the same organisation which helped make her home wheelchair accessible after the shooting. She's one of several officers from her precinct who will participate for the charity which supports sick and wounded officers and their families and I had the pleasure of talking to Jane earlier today; this is what she had to say."

"Detective Rizzoli, I know you have been working hard for the marathon, how many hours a week have you been putting into practice?"

"I guess I do at least ten a week, depending on work schedules, but more if I can."

"And I gather you used to be a runner before you were injured, how different is it to do the hard yards in a racing wheelchair."

"It's actually pretty similar to be honest, it's just about putting in plenty of miles and hoping you get it right on the day. Obviously the other runners aren't going to be too worried about flat tires like me but that's really the only difference." She gave him a big grin.

"What have the last few months been like for you?"

Jane inhaled deeply. "I guess it's been hard at times. When I woke up in hospital I couldn't breathe on my own so I had a tube in my throat and I couldn't move anything at all, then steadily I started to regain the use of my shoulders and arms; that began the process of relearning everything and fighting to get back my independence."

"I'm guessing that losing your independence must have been particularly difficult for someone who is accustomed to taking care of other people."

"Yeah, I got tired of having to ask for help with a lot of things, but that's been the motivation to push on with my rehabilitation and now I'm determined to repay those that helped me out when I needed them."

"Have your colleagues been supportive since you returned to work?"

"They've been awesome as you can tell by the number completing the marathon with me. I am very fortunate to work with some amazing people who are willing to risk everything to keep the public safe."

"And the fundraising I know has been going particularly well, how much are you hoping to raise?"

"Altogether I think the team has around thirty thousand dollars pledged from friends, family and local businesses so we're really excited to be taking part and hoping we all complete it in a good time."

"Wow, that's a lot of money. I know you have a target time in mind for your race, would you share it with us?"

"The qualifying time was three hours ten and I did my qualifying event in just under three hours so I'm hoping to keep that pace up."

"Well we wish you and your team good luck for the race on Sunday and if any members of the public would like to pledge a donation to Detective Rizzoli, the details can be found on the Boston Police Department website. Jane, we look forward to catching up with you at the finish line but for now, back to the studio."

Back in the studio the presenter finished off the piece. "Thanks Jeremy for that report and good luck to all of Boston's finest taking part this weekend and especially Detective Rizzoli, a remarkable woman. Here's the weather."

At the start line, Jane was alongside some of the World's best wheelchair racers. There weren't that many of them, especially women, but unlike the elite runners in the running event, here she was practically rubbing shoulders with them. They had their start a little earlier than the main race for safety – she wasn't sure whether that was for the wheelchair athletes or the able bodied runners who might just get run over.

She was nervous, expecting the best to set off at a fast pace and leave her trailing in their dust, particularly as she was so inexperienced and probably one of the most disabled. She needn't have worried. As the gun went off the pace at the front wasn't too fast early on as racers jockeyed for position, but as the first mile went by, she had fallen well behind the elite athletes who just edged a little further away with each push. Ignoring this she just kept her own pace steady without trying to match anyone else and soon found herself among the elite runners out on the course at the races merged. All the way, she heard cheering and occasionally her name came over the loudspeakers stationed where the crowds were at their biggest. It was quite nice to be amongst the fastest of the runners, she could only have dreamed of running it this quickly in the past. One of her colleagues was especially good and she hoped they might see each other at least, the rest of her team were likely to finish later.

Of course she could have slowed down to wait for them, but that wasn't her style.

At the finish line, which she crossed in two hours forty three minutes, Jane inevitably had the news crew waiting for her.

"I'm here with Detective Jane Rizzoli from the Boston Homicide Unit, who has just crossed the line and gotten enough breath back to talk to us. You must be thrilled with your time, I know you were hoping for around three hours."

"Yeah, it was a nice course, mostly a little downhill apart from the bit around the twenty one mile mark."

"What was it like out there?"

"Amazing, the crowd were great and the other athletes were all really supportive."

"I know you have been doing a lot of fundraising, remind us again what that is for."

"It's for the Police Benevolent Fund."

"A very worthy cause indeed and can we take a look at your medal?" Jane held it up for the camera. "Congratulations again, Jane and well done to you and your team for all the money you have raised."

To her relief, he let her go and she made her way to the family waiting area. She was desperate to get out of the racing chair and back in her regular one. Eventually she managed to find her mother, who had been waiting patiently for her to make her way through. They shared a big hug as Angela checked out the medal and Jane could see she was brimming with pride.

Help was on hand from some volunteers to help her transfer out, despite all the practice, her arms were like rubber, so she willingly let them hold down the chair and help pull her legs free while she manipulated her upper body.

"When the others get in, we are going to the Mandarin Oriental for a massage and some lunch. Maura arranged it for the both of you."

Jane lay on the massage table two hours later. The masseuse didn't talk much, but was very adept. She had started at the top of her body and was gradually working her way down. At the present time, she was somewhere on Jane's back, which she occasionally felt directly, but more often it was just the movement referred back up to the sensate parts that she detected. She didn't really care. Whatever was happening was nice.

Maura was on the table next to her and occasionally made a comment to her, but for the most part she was quiet as well. Occasionally Maura would turn to look over and check Jane was okay. She had warned the masseuse to watch out for spasms, but she hadn't been phased by having to help transfer her client onto the table or help turn over the lower part of her body halfway through.

The masseuse had asked Jane about her legs and whether she was comfortable with her touching them, but Jane had reassured her that it was fine, in fact it would be good for them to get a massage after they had been squished into her racing chair for about four hours in total that morning. Jane's only regret was that she couldn't feel any of it taking place.