Thank you for dropping the reviews, they urged to make me write faster. This is the last chapter unfortunately, but don't go crazy, I'm writing a follow on from this! I can't help it, I'm adoring the way these stories turn out. I'm pretty sure you guys wont mind another one... right?
Time broke.
Nothing was moving fast, a ripple of hatred infected and intoxicated every cell in Jane's body.
Click, bang, shatter.
The first bullet shattered the back of Logan's head, the flesh rippled and blood sprayed from his cracked skull. He wobbled, his body crumbled to the floor in a flail of British limbs.
Jane stood over his lifeless body and shot again, straight through his heart. The sound of the bullet pounding his chest, the jerk his body made and the spurt of blood that rained out of the wound left Jane sickly contented.
Maura fell to the floor, writhing from the bullet that had been fired seconds prior. Jane fell to her aid, the Detective's gun clattered to the floor and Tommy struggled to get Kristen back into the room, wrestling against the hysterical child.
Logan was a poor shot.
The bullet had grazed her leg deeply, blood rained down the wound in a small river. Maura panted, trying to wriggle from the pain. She knew it wasn't major but it stung. The bullet had created a small, trench like wound in the soft tissue of her left thigh, the edges of the wound were blackened from the bullet residue. Jane estimated the wound to be as deep as a centimetre, the length was that of her index finger. Jane pulled her shirt off and rolled it up to compress the wound, tying it tightly.
"Hey, Doyle!" Tommy snapped and Doyle turned with pained eyes. "Fucking help her" Tommy barked. Doyle ran into the kitchen, pulling out the contents of the cupboards and draws to find the antiseptic ointment, knowing Maura she'd have some.
Applying it upon a kitchen towel then carrying the bottle over, he crashed to his knees to aid his daughter. Jane glanced at Doyle and gently pulled down the shirt so he could apply the ointment. Maura knew what they were doing was right, she just couldn't place her words to correct them if they did something wrong. Jane held onto her hand and felt it shaking.
"Maura, it's going to be okay" Jane spoke shakily, her voice cracking. Kristen's cries broke through the house. Tommy held the girl to him to stop her assault. Kristen shook as she sobbed into his side. Tommy looked over to his sister, Jane looked broken, her eyes were red raw and her skin was pale.
"Janey" Tommy shouted over, still struggling to get Kristen into her room. Jane looked over at Kristen, the Detective whined, sounding much like a wounded animal.
"Shit, Tommy get her in her room" Jane instructed, her voice booming.
Tommy picked her up and walked into the room, locking the door firmly behind him.
Maura cried out as the wound began to burn. Doyle heard the sirens and the red and blue lights shone through the window.
"I'm sorry Maura" he backed away and ran for the back door.
"Doyle!" Jane shouted after him, her mind told her to run him down but Maura was her priority, her heart told her that this was the place she was needed most. Maura had sweat beading her forehead, making her hair clammy.
"It hurts" Maura hissed and Jane felt tears trail down her face. She was scared, she was so, so scared but she had to be the strong one, she couldn't break down.
"I know baby"
Maura felt a tiredness attack her limbs, she was suddenly insanely tired, like her body would just shut down.
"Just concentrate on me" Jane's voice was soft.
Maura opened one eye and gulped.
"It's nothing major... I'll be fine" Maura panted and Jane manoeuvred Maura gently so her head rested on her knees.
"I don't think this place will be" Jane joked, laughing shakily to cheer Maura up, to be the happy distraction from the pain. "The kitchens busted, Doyle ripped out nearly all the cabinets" Jane spat the name Doyle. "And I think there's a injured guy out back and two guys dead on the front lawn, oh and the two guys in here"
"I didn't know we had that much company" Maura chuckled through her pants.
Jane let out a deep chuckle.
"Really? This is the only time you can actually tell a joke?"
Three police officers ran into the sitting room and called in a paramedic.
"We'll need a hella lot of body bags" the paramedic ran back out to fetch more help.
"Somebody get that damn medic back in here" Jane shouted and clutched Maura's hand tightly.
"It's gonna be okay M, I promise you"
Jane was resting in the arm chair next to Maura's bed as she was tended to.
Angela had taken the girls away, probably to Frankie's house. Jane was wrapped large grey knit sweater Tommy had tossed at her when they'd piled into the ambulance and she still felt every little breeze affect her, like her flesh was exposed.
The false white light hurt Jane's eyes as it lit the cream walls and bounced from the grey flooring.
"Dr Isles, you're lucky it hit the soft tissue" Dr Park grinned at Maura and checked over the dressing again.
"I think it hurt more with shock..." Maura had purple rings around her eyes and her skin was still pale. "What time is it?"
the M.E's voice was thick and heavy due to much needed sleep.
"Around two thirty in the morning" Dr Park left the room on that note, he too looked tired.
Jane was holding Maura's hand loosely. Jane still saw dots of blood on the back of her own hand and some on Maura's palm from where she'd clutched her wound instinctively.
"I'm sorry" Jane whispered, resting her head lazily on the back of the chair, she couldn't find any strength to sit normally, she was scared if she did she'd end up in tears, seeing Maura like this had hacked a chunk of her heart out.
Jane's chest ached as she looked up at the ceiling.
"Why are you apologising?"
"I didn't shoot him fast enough" Jane shrugged, trying to distance herself in her regret.
"Jane" Maura heaved herself into a sitting position, wincing as she felt the skin tug. "Don't blame yourself, I know it's only natural to dwell on it, but please don't" Maura rubbed her thumb over the back of Jane's hand. Jane looked her in the eyes.
"I just feel like..." Jane lugged her body and lay on the bed next to Maura, positioning herself so Maura could nuzzle into her without hurting her injured limb. "Maura, I'm terrified" Jane gulped down, feeling the thickness of tears threaten.
"Jane" Maura faced the Detective and kissed her quivering lips. Jane snuggled into Maura's side and sobbed into her shoulder. She wrapped her arms around Maura's petite body and held her close.
"I don't want to loose you Maura" Jane rasped and Maura hugged her back, kissing into her hair. "It happened again and this time, it was you who got hurt, I don't think I can... take it"
"Let it out" Maura whispered and Jane fell apart.
"Maura" Jane sniffed and sat back up, wiping her eyes. Maura cupped Jane's cheek. "I'll live with you... I want to be there to protect you properly, I want to be there for Kristen and Emma, it's stupid but I think they need me too"
"We all need you" Maura drew their faces closer. "I need you"
Jane pressed her lips to Maura's the contact soothed Jane. Letting Maura's lips move with hers Jane felt the pain in her heart subside. She knew where she should be for once in her life, she knew where she had to be to make her life function. It was always had been and was going to be at Maura's side.
"I think you should wear baggy jumpers more often" Maura stated pulling away and Jane grinned down at herself. Her nose was still red, making her look cute with her dishevelled hair and large brown eyes.
"This is coming from the woman who hates me to look scruffy"
"Scruffy can be cute" Maura smiled, it lit up her once troubled eyes. "And sexy"
"Sexy?" Jane raised her eye brow and leant in closer once again.
"Only on you it can do both" Maura chuckled and kissed her Detective.
Maura was discharged at ten later that day. Jane happily helped her walk out, she even looked good on crutches. Angela had brought some of Jane's old clothes previously so Maura could walk out looking presentable.
Clad in a black cotton blend long sleeved tee and a pair of jeans, Maura giggled to herself during the car ride to Jane's apartment.
"What are you laughing at?" Jane tapped her fingers on the steering wheel.
"My Mother is coming to your apartment" she started to laugh harder. Jane frowned, but still held a smile.
"Why is that funny of all things?"
"Because she'll get to see that Mauraish home you were talking about"
"At my apartment?"
"You're part of me so why wouldn't it be a Mauraish environment?"
"Because" Jane chuckled "you haven't attacked it with a mop yet"
Maura's grin faded and moulded into horror.
"You mean to say it's not clean?"
"Whenever is it clean?"
"When we get there you are cleaning it top to bottom"
"...But Maura" Jane whined and Maura gave her a scolding look.
"Don't use that tone with me Jane, you are cleaning and that's final"
"Christ, you sound so, Mom like, it's freaking me out"
"It's my job Janey" Maura's voice turned cute and she rubbed Jane's right bicep.
"Wait... does that mean the turtle is coming too?" Jane span her head around the honey blond.
"Yes"
"Really? So the perv turtle will be in my house, great"
"Perv turtle?" Maura scoffed in disbelief. "He's a tortoise"
"I don't care, if he starts to stare at us while we're... well"
"Oh so you've already planned out what we'll be doing?" Maura cocked an eyebrow and gave Jane a sexy smirk.
Jane looked straight ahead flustered.
"Well the girls presents are at my apartment"
"What did you buy?" Maura went along with the swift change in conversation with ease.
"Just bits and bobs... why what did you buy?" Jane stepped on the break as they came to a red light.
"It's a surprise"
"Ah" Jane chuckled.
Korsak was sat in Jane's kitchen, with Jo on his lap and Bass wondering around the new surroundings.
"Doc, you're okay" he beamed and Jo bounded over to Jane.
"Hi Jo" Jane knelt down and rubbed the terrier behind her ear.
"I'm fine thank you Vince" Maura smiled looked down at her crutches. "Apart from these"
"You look bad ass" Korsak chuckled, his belly laugh making both women grin. "Oh, Kristen and Emma's presents are on the coffee table, Frost got them some stuff too"
Jane glanced at the table, he was true to his word, it was clustered with parcels.
"Thanks Vince" Jane pulled him into a hug and Maura did the same, to the best of her ability.
"I have to head off, I've got stuff to do" Korsak left with a small wave and Maura turned to Jane.
"You promised to tidy" she smirked and Jane lugged her body to grab the hoover.
"I hate hoovering" Jane mumbled as she plugged it in. "I hate tidying"
"Get used to it" Maura sat carefully on the sofa and pulled out her phone to text Angela to bring the girls over.
In the midst of mopping the kitchen Bass wondered in front of Jane's aggressive scrubbing.
"What the hell?" Jane stopped and let him pass. She poked her head around to see if Maura was busy, luckily she was taking a call. Jane sniggered then mopped his shell. Jo trotted over and barked at Jane for the action.
"What? Oh so you're now his little friend?"
Jo grunted and guarded Bass as he wondered.
Jane huffed and continued to mop, glaring at Bass. Jo trotted along with him.
"You can't have babies!" Jane yelled at them, jerking her hands in their direction. Maura looked at Jane, who from her angle appeared to be shouting at herself.
Maura swiftly ended the call.
"Jane?"
Jane span around, the floor was damp and the tread on her shoes were poor. Loosing balance Jane slipped and fell onto her back. Maura grabbed her crutches and hobbled over.
Jane lay on her back with her arms crossed and a pout.
"That thing is out to get me I swear" Jane aimed her words at Bass who was now banging into the counter. Jo nudged the tortoise in the right position.
Maura let out a loud aw.
"They're helping each other" Maura made large puppy eyes at the two animals.
"Unlike you with me" Jane dead panned and got up groggily, her clothes were now soaked.
"As you would say, you just turtled yourself" Maura stated a matter of factly and Jane narrowed her eyes and mocked her voice in a high pitched nagging tone.
"I do not sound like that!" Maura jabbed Jane with her crutch.
"You do" Jane gave her a charming smile, reaching no further response from Maura than another jab.
"That's improper use of medical equipment" Jane teased and jogged across to the sofa, Jane sank down onto it and looked around her apartment. For once is was actually pristine.
Maura stood blocking her view with a frown on her tired features.
"Don't mock me" Maura huffed and Jane looked up at her, running her licking her bottom lip Jane grinned.
"Don't give me that look" Maura warned but Jane had already ran her hands up to tug on the belt loops of Maura's jeans.
"We have half an hour to kill" Jane tilted her head, toying with the M.E.
"Jane" Maura tried to resist but those eyes promised love. Dropping the crutches Jane stood up to stabilise the M.E. Running a hand into Maura's hair, Jane kissed a trail down Maura's neck. She felt Maura's contented purr through the skin.
"Half an hour" Jane's husky whisper inflicted electricity within Maura. "Oh what could we, you and I do in half an hour?" Jane mused, chuckling through her words.
Maura let out a small gasp as Jane nipped the skin.
"I hate you at times Jane Rizzoli" Maura moaned and she felt Jane smile into her skin.
"I though I was cute and sexy? How can you hate that?" Jane kissed a trail back up and kissed Maura softly.
"It's very easy" Maura played with the stands of hair at the back of Jane's neck, pressing their foreheads together. Jane rubbed their noses together and Maura kissed Jane again, running her tongue over Jane's bottom lip to gain a further stage in kissing.
Jane happily granted it and ran her hands down to cup Maura's behind.
Maura moaned into Jane's mouth and Jane rubbed her tongue with Maura's.
Angela opened the door with the spare key and let the girls in first.
Kristen recoiled, her emotional state set off it to a flurry upon witnessing her Mother and Jane in very personal contact, she found it offending that Jane would kiss Maura while she'd been injured.
Emma blushed and turned to Angela for refuge. Jane and Maura broke away, blushing.
"Ma! Really?" Jane flung her arms about in frustration.
"Angela..." Maura touched her lips and hobbled to sit on the couch.
"I didn't realise you two were busy" Angela smirked and looked down at irritated Kristen.
"Kris why don't you tell them what I got you?"
"I'm going to go and feed Bass" Kristen frowned and found the heaven that was Bass. Emma winced at her sibling's reaction.
"Grandma got me a diagram book on birds... well it's their an..ana..." Emma frowned, struggling with the word that had escaped her.
"Anatomy" Maura aided the young girl and Emma nodded.
"Now, we have presents for the both of you!" Maura voiced, Emma sat by Maura, fully aware of her injury. Kristen didn't show, Angela caught Jane's line of sight and glanced in the direction of Kristen. Jane nodded and touched Maura's shoulder, passing through the words
going to calm Kristen down.
Maura nodded and handed Kristen her neatly wrapped present.
Yells of happiness sounded from the sitting room as Jane sat next to Kristen. Jane rested her back on the cabinet, Kristen blanked her.
"You're too young to be moody" Jane ran a hand through her hair and look at the girl who was feeding Bass a few sticks of celery.
"You're too old to be kissing in a sitting room" Kristen snapped and Jane raised an eyebrow.
"Kris, sorry" Jane crossed her arms.
"Yeah, you know she got shot last night and then you're kissing her like nothing happened"
"It's better to move on Kris" Jane suddenly knew what was happening in Kristen's head. "Listen, I know it's pretty messed up seeing your Mom like that"
"How would you know about it being messed up?" Kristen hunched over.
"Because I've actually been shot" Jane stated and Kristen shrugged. She had to admit, that was kinda bad ass.
"So what? You just went and kissed Mom after it?"
"I couldn't"
"Why not?" Kristen still wasn't facing the raven haired woman.
"Your Mom and I weren't together then"
"I thought you'd been together forever" Kristen, turned her head.
"Nah, all I wanted while in the hospital was your Mom, I wanted her to make it better" Jane rested her head back and sighed.
"I don't like guns" Kristen pulled her knees to her chest. "I don't like... bullets"
"They're pretty screwy"
"Then why are you a Detective then?"
"I want to protect people, but I don't harm them unless I need to"
"Then why did that guy harm Mom?"
"He was the bad guy, he wanted to purposely hurt your Mom, I wanted to protect her"
"Did you want to protect us? Mom said you wanted to"
"Yeah, Kristen, why would you think I wouldn't wanna protect you?"
Kristen was silent. The sound of Bass chewing on the celery was the only sound between the two. Kristen bit on her lip and drew a shaky breath.
"Jane" she mumbled.
"Yeah?" Jane looked at Kristen's slumped shoulders.
"Thank you Jane" Kristen leapt into the woman's lap. "I love you" Kristen hugged Jane tightly and Jane closed her eyes hugging her back.
"It's okay baby, I love you too"