The situation from the day before repeated.
A soft knock on the door sounded through the morgue before Nina came in.
Today she held not only two Starbucks cups but a paper as well.
"Good morning Nina," Maura smiled and accepted the immediately offered coffee.
"Morning. So… How are you today? Did you sleep?" Nina went straight to the point.
Maura sighed and took a sip. "For three hours, then the nightmare hit again, I woke up sobbing and apparently I woke up Dylan, because she was crying as well…"
"I'm so sorry… Do you… Do you just wake up crying, or is there something else? Like somatic symptoms?"
"Nausea and vomiting." Maura admitted shyly.
"I'm sorry for being so intrusive and nosy, Maura, but… I visited a psychologist yesterday and asked her about this issue… I tried to describe it as well as possible and – please, let me finish it – and she wrote a list of things you can do on your own, to help, and offered that you can come to her, so on the other side of this you have her address and phone number…"
Maura didn't know what to say. She just stared at Nina and waited for – what was she waiting for?
Nina wasn't sure what to do, so she looked into the notes and started reading.
" Reassure yourself that you're safe and it's NOT happening at the moment. Breathe slowly and deeply. Relax muscles. Locate yourself in the present. Have a drink of water. Wash your face or have a warm bath or shower. Focus on something else: read a book or magazine, watch TV, listen to the radio or relaxing music. Talk with a partner, friend… Those are the most important things, the rest is also written here…" Nina hands over the paper, but avoids Maura's gaze.
"Thank you so much, Nina." Maura took the paper and put it with the coffee on her desk. Then she hugged Nina.
Nina hugged her back and said "Not at all. Anytime."
That night Angela stayed, just as they agreed.
Maura let her read the advices as well, so if she panicked, Angela could save the situation.
It was unusual. Weird. It's been 8 months since the other half of the bed was occupied – except the few times, when Dylan slept there, but that was not the same. So Maura was a bit reluctant when Angela lay next to her.
Maura fell asleep.
Nightmare arrived again. Just as Maura started twitching, Angela turned to her and sat up.
"Maura, Maura wake up!" She shook Maura's shoulder gently.
"Maura, it's just a dream, wake up, it's me, Angela."
Maura opened her eyes and horrified gaze met Angela's.
"It's okay sweetie, you're at home, in bed, safe, those things aren't happening right now. You're safe." Angela whispered while rubbing Maura's upper arm.
Maura was hyperventilating and looking frantically around the room to remind herself where she was.
"You have a glass of water on your nightstand… Do you want to talk about it?"
Maura gulped half of the glass and tried to even her breathing.
"It's still the same. Jane being shot and I can't help."
"I'm sorry Maura," Angela whispered and kept on caressing Maura's arm. "Do you want to take a walk or something?"
"No, I will try to sleep again, thank you… Will you wake me up again, if-" Maura trailed off.
"Of course. Good night."
"Good night."
Maura woke up in the morning, Angela snoring lightly next to her. She sat up in the bed and looked around. Everything was still. She stood up from the bed and tiptoed to the crib to look at Dylan.
"I did it, ladybug. I slept 6 hours without having a nightmare." She whispered as silently as possible.
And for once, she really felt like it was going to get better.
"Hello Nina!" Maura greeted as soon as Nina stepped into the morgue.
"Good morning Maura," Nina smiled, happy to see Maura content after a while, and handed over a coffee. "Did those advices help?"
"I fell asleep and after nearly two hours I had a nightmare, but then Angela – Mrs Rizzoli comforted me and helped me to calm down – and I slept for 6 hours without any interruption."
"That's great! I hope you sleep even better tonight."
"I hope so too." Maura smiled and fell silent for a while, as if she was hesitating to do something. Nina watched her, studying her tired features.
"May I hug you?" The question escaping Maura's lips was meant well, but sounded so utterly sad, it made Nina wonder what this beautiful woman had gone through to feel the need to ask about such thing.
"Of course you can." Nina replied and stepped closer to wrap her arms around Maura, but only briefly, because the fore coming question slightly shattered her confidence around Maura.
"The Saturday is still-?" Nina trailed off.
"I hope so?" Maura half declared-half asked to which Nina only nodded.
Suddenly a knock resonated through the silence that fell between them.
Maura turned to the glass door and saw Korsak smiling and gesturing if he may come in. Maura motioned for him to do so.
"I hope I'm not interrupting…" Korsak started.
"Not at all," Maura smiled and looked at Nina, who shook her head.
"I just wanted to tell you great news. Well, two news. First one – I'm retiring."
Maura gaped at him without sound. She liked him a lot, he accepted her into their family along with Jane. She didn't want him gone.
"And the second thing – I bought Dirty Robber. So we're still going to see each other – if you ever come by, which would be great, that's why I came – this Sunday there's gonna be a party as a new start with new head of the pub." Korsak smiled at the sudden change of expression as Maura's eyes got happy again.
"That's great! I'll be there." Maura promised.
Korsak nodded and looked at Nina. "I'll come too." she smiled.
"Good! Start is at 6pm, I'll be looking forward to see you there."
"Are you going to sing as well, Vince?" Maura asked before he left.
"That was gonna be a surprise, Maura. How can you see right through me?" Vince smirked and shook his head. "Wanna sing a part with me?"
"What? No, I don't sing, I've never-"
"Yes, Maura, do it!" Nina pushed.
Maura turned to her "I really-".
"I won't push you, but there's the possibility." Vince ended up the persuasion before it grew.
Maura smiled thankfully at him and they exchanged goodbyes.
This will be the first time she's in Dirty Robber without Jane.