A/N: Thank you all so much for your lovely reviews of the last chapter. We're on the home stretch, now; I've about four or five more updates for you before we bring this story to a close. But keep this in mind- it may not be the end of the tale. I might have something more up my sleeve…;)
On another note, I've a little something for you all at the end of this chapter. Brace yourselves, and don't forget to review! Happy reading!
It was sunlight that roused Jane from a deep sleep the next morning. She yawned enormously and groggily attempted to open her eyes. God dammit, I forgot to close the curtains again? Squinting up at the ceiling, she grumbled out a number of curses and lifted a hand to rub sleep from her eyes, only to suddenly become aware of an enormous weight on her chest. Blinking rapidly, she stared down her body and came face-to-head with a mess of flaxen hair, attached to arms, a torso, two legs entangled with hers…oh, shit.
"Crap, Maura…"
At the sound of her name, the medical examiner stirred. Jane let out a low growl and dropped her arms, one of them landing across Maura's stomach. "We fell asleep during that damned movie."
Slowly rousing, Maura let out an enormous yawn and attempted to stretch her legs. "That's okay," she muttered, absently dismissing the fact that she couldn't really move her bottom half. "Jack dies saving Rose, she takes his name as her own in memoriam, and ninety years later she's lived a long and happy life with kids and he winds up on a beach in Limbo."
Jane looked down at her sleepy friend, surprised. After a few seconds she started to laugh. "Okay, this is the last time we watch two DiCaprio movies in a row."
Maura yawned again and slid her fingers in between Jane's. "It's been a number of weeks, but you get the point." She tilted her head upwards and smiled at the lanky brunette. "Hi."
"Hi." Jane grinned back. "You've got a walk of shame to go on today."
Maura laughed. She sat up on the edge of the couch and lifted Jane's arm over her head. "Well, I took today off, so nobody who saw me yesterday will necessarily see me in these clothes again." She stretched her limbs as far as she could stand it, and Jane sat up as well.
"Yeah, except for my babysitter out there…" The detective rubbed a hand over her face and felt her stomach clench uncomfortably. "Shit, they switch off every evening, don't they?"
"I believe they do." Maura gave Jane's knee a squeeze before she stood up. "Don't worry. I'll find something to change into so it doesn't look like a booty call."
Jane's stomach flipped again at the casual innuendo. "Aw, Maura…" She shoved a hand through her hair and called over her shoulder as the blonde walked down the hall. "You're not staying for breakfast?"
"Well, considering the fact that I plan on being back here for lunch, I wouldn't want to impose on you for a meal I'm not very hungry for," came the answer from the bedroom.
"You wouldn't be imposing," Jane muttered to herself. She was tugging her hair back in a loose ponytail when something cold and wet on her ankle caused her to jump. She looked down to see Jo Friday staring up at her with wide eyes. Smiling slightly, the detective picked up her dog. "You, on the other hand, have no problem begging me for food, do you?" she said, carrying the mutt to the kitchen.
Maura came out as Jane was pouring coffee into a travel mug, dressed in a light green blouse and simple black pants that she'd left at the apartment a couple months before. "These smell surprisingly fresh for having been sitting in a drawer for weeks, Jane," Maura remarked, tugging at the sleeves of the top.
"I tossed them in the wash with some of my things a few days ago. Thought I'd give them back to you at some point."
"Well, that was very considerate. Thank you." Maura accepted the mug with a grin and took a sip. Jane leaned back on the counter and gave her friend a quick once-over, anxiety settling into her stomach.
"You sure you don't want to stay?"
Maura lowered the coffee and looked the taller woman in the eye. "I just want to get today over with, Jane," she replied softly after a pause. "Ask him what I need to ask him, say what I need to say…I'd like to finally be able to move on."
Jane nodded slowly. Move on. "Okay. I understand."
Maura smiled gently. She took a couple steps forward, grasped Jane's wrist, and kissed her cheek. "I'll be back this afternoon." With that, she turned around and headed for the door. Jane watched her as she donned her jacket and grabbed her purse, and smiled when the doctor looked over her shoulder with a grin. "Bye."
"Bye."
The door shut. Jane dropped her head back and let out an enormous sigh. "Am I overreacting, Jo?"
The dog ignored her.
Maura exited Jane's building, digging for her keys in her purse. She shot a friendly smile at the uniform parked on the sidewalk, who did a double take when he saw her. He waved back half-heartedly when she raised a hand at him, and Maura turned away, suddenly feeling nervous. The only responsibility Jane's detail had was to make sure she didn't leave the city until the trial was over, but when she glanced back over her shoulder, Maura noticed the man was still watching her.
Is this…conflict-of-interest? Being with me couldn't hurt their chances in the trial, could it?
Shaking her head, Maura got into her car and started it. You're just worried about seeing Patrick, she thought as she turned onto the street. Stay focused on getting through the rest of this morning.
Jane flopped down on the couch with a bowl of Trix and flicked on the television, settling back into the cushions. She stared unseeingly at Sports Center's Red Sox predictions, too busy worrying about Maura to care. It's perfectly reasonable that she should want to see her father before he's imprisoned for the rest of his days. She needs some sort of closure. She has to properly shut that door and start moving forward…start looking for Hope.
Jo Friday padded around the couch and jumped up next to Jane, lying so her muzzle was in the detective's lap. Jane set her cereal down on the coffee table and stroked the dog's head gently. "I hope she gets a last name out of him, at least, Jo," she said. "I want her to find her mother."
Maura walked towards the visitor's entrance attached to the hospital's parking garage, nervously tugging at her clothes. She had no idea what Paddy would say to her once she was inside, or if he'd even say anything at all. He must know why I didn't come to see him. He must know what his actions put me through.
All she really wanted was a name. Yes, it would be nice to know how he found out about the entrapment mission at the warehouse, or if he was actually aiming to shoot either Jane or Frost after taking down Agent Dean…but her desire for those facts paled in comparison to her need to know her biological mother's last name. I have to be able to find her. Ask her why she left. Why she didn't want to know me. Did she keep in touch with Patrick? Maura shut her eyes and rubbed a hand over her forehead, continuing to walk towards the door. Breathe, Maura. Just breathe. You'll know soon enough.
A knock on the door cause both dog and owner to look up from their respective spots on the couch. Jane glanced over her shoulder at the clock on the wall, and noticed it had only been about ten minutes since Maura left. "You think she forgot something, Jo?"
The dog woofed. Jane stood up and walked towards the entrance to her apartment, a smile creeping onto her face. "You know, if you forgot something, you can just pick it up later, yeah?" she called out, and opened the door without further ado.
"If I forgot what?"
Her smile disappeared, and all the color drained out of Jane's face. She gaped open-mouthed into the hallway for several long seconds before she finally found her voice again.
"Ma, what are you doing here?"
About twenty yards from the visitor's entrance, Maura unexpectedly felt a hand clamp over her mouth. Her arms were pinned to her side by another from behind, and she was dragged sideways into the shadows of the garage. Terrified, Maura struggled fruitlessly to get free, but whoever had her came to a standstill just out of view of the hospital door. She whimpered when the grip on her tightened and suddenly felt hot breath on her neck.
"Don't scream, Doctor Isles."
A/N2: I'm giving you a choice, dear readers: do you want to see Jane's chapter next, or Maura's? I know exactly how each of them will play out, and whichever one goes first does not affect the storyline at all, so tell me what you want! Would you like to know what's happening to Maura, or read the much-anticipated Angela chapter first? It's all up to you guys!