A/N: Thanks again for all the reviews. I am glad so many of you are invested in my little story. It was a crazy idea and it feels so good to know that you all are enjoying it so much. This chapter was emotional for me to write, hence the delay. It is much easier writing banter and sexy times but I wanted to do this story justice. I hope you like how this turned out.
Jane hadn't known where she was going. She just knew she had to get out of there. Seeing that look of accusation on Maura's face had brought the full weight of her guilt toppling like a ton of bricks right onto her head. She couldn't breath and had ran as fast as she could to get out of the stifling hospital environment, an environment she had caused for her best friend.
Jane didn't really know where she was. The Navy Medical Center was located in Balboa Park, a sprawling urban cultural park that had museums, a world renowned zoo, and acres of gardens and walking paths.
Somehow Jane had ended up near the Japanese garden by the outdoor organ pavillion and she decided to settle down on a bench to try and catch her breath. The energy that had fueled her run was now completely exhausted and all Jane could think about was sitting down.
As she sat heaving, the image of Maura's face kept flashing through her mind. It was a combination of pity and anger and Jane couldn't even blame her for it. Jane had caused this entire ordeal because of her need to constantly prove herself to be the best. And if this accident proved anything, it was that she wasn't. Maura definitely was because she had walked away with her RIO and best friend able to walk with her.
Oh god, Jane thought. She hadn't even been thinking about Susie. She had heard Susie's cries somewhere in the back of her mind but she had been so focused on Maura that she hadn't paid the poor woman any attention. Now that Jane's thoughts were clearing up, she could see in her mind's eye Susie draped across Frost's unconscious body. That image now caused Jane to dissolve into uncontrollable tears.
x-x-x-x-x-x
Maura had run out of the room and had frantically asked anyone she saw if they had seen a tall woman with dark hair running away. Some nurses had been able to point her in a direction but soon Maura was outside in the vast park and had no idea where to go. Luckily Maura had parked close by and decided to try to drive around to see if she could spot Jane.
As she was driving up hill toward the many museums in the park, Maura contemplated what her plan of action should be once she found Jane. Because she was determined to find Jane. Failure was not an option here. And that is what she felt had happened at the hospital. Maura had failed Jane. She was supposed to be there for her and give her the support she needed while her best friend laid in a coma but instead Maura had judged her. Maura shook her head. How could she have chosen that moment to be judgemental?
Maura continued to berate herself as she meandered along the winding road and was beginning to feel that she would never find Jane. That is until she suddenly saw a slim body hunched on a bench in the organ pavillion. Her heart raced as she recognized the slumped form of the woman she loved, the woman she was resolved not to fail again.
Maura desperately searched for a place to park and not wanting to give Jane a chance to slip away again, decided she would just pay for the valet that was in front of the Prado restaurant. Practically throwing her keys at the young valet, Maura hustled out of her car to where she had last seen Jane, praying to a god that she still didn't believe in that she was still there.
x-x-x-x-x-x
Jane was all cried out. She had collapsed into herself at some point and Jane was starting to feel the ache to her back. As she went to straighten up, Jane heard the sound of rushing heels clicking toward her and turned in the direction of the sound, wide eyed, to what could only be a hallucination of Maura Isles.
Jane rubbed her tear-dried eyes, trying to clear the spectre from her vision, but the image of an assured Maura still racing toward her remained. Jane tried to compose herself, not wanting to show any more weakness, but gave up once she saw the expression on Maura's face. Gone was all the judgement and accusation and all that remained was love and concern.
Jane felt tears she didn't think she still had prick her eyes and made to turn away from Maura but couldn't as Maura's strong arms were wrapped around her before Jane even realized what was happening. The warmth and firmness of the embrace allowed Jane to let go.
Now slumped in Maura's arms, Jane released all the pain and anguish and yes, even guilt, she had been feeling these last few hours. Maura was here and from the grip on her tear-wracked body, the woman Jane loved wasn't letting her go.
x-x-x-x-x-x
She had found her. Maura was still in a bit of shock. She had actually found Jane. In a park that encompassed over 1200 acres, Maura had found the woman she knew she couldn't live without. This long, hellish day had confirmed that for her. Maura Isles could not live without Jane Rizzoli.
Jane was beginning to calm down in her arms, the sobs turning into muffled sniffles. Maura was running her hands in soothing circles against Jane's back, trying to ease the anguished pilot as best she could. They had yet to speak but in this instance, Maura didn't feel like she needed words to know what someone else needed. Her heart was so in-tune with Jane that for once in her life Maura wasn't awkward. Jane needed Maura's strength in this moment and she would give every last drop of it to her.
After Jane have finally quieted down, Maura took the fragile woman in her arms and moved her hands to gather the beautiful tear stained face she loved so much. Moving Jane's chin to force Jane to look her in the eyes, Maura said with all the conviction she could muster, "I love you."
Those words seemed to shake Jane out of whatever dark thoughts she had been having. Her deep pools of brown, reddened from the tears, widened and her mouth dropped open. "M-m-m, huh?" was all Jane seemed to be able to stutter out.
"I, Maura Dorthea Isles, love you Jane Clementine Rizzoli," Maura said lovingly, with a slight grin forming at Jane's reaction to Maura saying her middle name. She had overheard it during their first night together when Barold had shouted at Jane over the phone and Maura had been waiting for the right time to use it. Judging by the look on Jane's face, Maura's timing had been perfect.
"Really, Maur, the time to middle name me is not the first time you tell me you love me," Jane rasped out hoarsely. Maura would have been offended if not for the glimmer in Jane's eyes that showed she was clearly teasing and that Maura's declaration had been well received.
"Well, I thought telling you I loved you would have gotten a better reaction than you blubbering at me," Maura teased back. She was glad she could distract Jane a bit but knew that she would have to get back to the reality at hand because she needed to tell Jane that Barold was awake.
"Pff, well you did just drop a major truth bomb on me after I was literally blubbering all over you. Oh my god, I can't believe I just left snot all over your clothes. That dress probably costs more than I make in a month, and-" Maura decided to halt Jane's rambling with a deep, passionate kiss that relayed all the feelings that her declaration of love hadn't conveyed.
Pulling away slowly and staying just inches away from the lips that Maura could never get enough of, Maura whispered, "As much as I want to continue this, we need to get back to the hospital. Barold is awake."
Maura felt Jane tense in her arms and then she stood up abruptly once again and looked down at Maura with a wild look. "Frost is awake!? Maura why didn't you lead with that?" Jane shouted.
As Maura felt her face morph into one of hurt, Jane quickly recovered and lifted Maura into her arms, showering her face with kisses. "Maura, sorry, I'm a mess. Thank you for your words. I want to respond, trust me I do, but right now, I have to go see Frost. You understand right?" Jane rushed out between kisses.
Maura knew she couldn't hold Jane accountable for the whiplash inducing mood swings she was going through right now. Accepting Jane's last chaste kiss to her lips, she stepped out of her embrace. Gently grabbing Jane's heavily bandaged hand in hers, Maura began to walk back toward where she had left her car.
"Come along Jane, let's go see Barold." Maura felt Jane squeeze her hand and follow dutifully behind her. She may not have gotten the words back from Jane but she knew that they were on the same page. Maura could wait until after this crisis had passed to hear the three words that would make her whole.
A/N: How many of you guessed Maura would be the first to say ILU? This story has a mind of its own and I am just trying to keep up with it. Let me know what you think. Reviews really do help motivate me to write.