Jane stumbles backwards until she hit the wall and she can't go any further. She can't take her eyes off the women in front off her. As much as she knows she doesn't want this to be true, she can't help but notice the unmistakable resemblance to the women and Jason. Jason was the spitting image of his mother.
Maura walked over to where Jane was leaning against the wall. She placed her hand on Jane's arm and waited a few seconds until Jane looked at her. "Are you okay, Jane?" Maura asked softly, placing her hand over Jane's, which was pressing against her gun shot wound, she pulled her hand away pulling Jane's away as well.
Jane shock her head. "She's...Jason's mother..." Jane paused for a few seconds so she could collect herself. When she finally was ready to continue talking she looked at Jason's mother. "You...you're meant to be dead. He told me you were dead."
"Let me guess...a car accident?" The woman asked. When she saw Jane nod she continued, "I was in a car accident a few year ago. Actually it was the day I left Robert."
Jane just nodded. "He said it happened a few year before I met him."
"Can we move this to the lounge?"
Maura stood forward a little but still kept her hand on Jane's arm. "Jane..."
Jane turned to face Maura. "I'm okay. Just..." Jane didn't know what she wanted to say. She lowered her head before she took a step forward. She didn't trust her legs at the minute, they felt like jelly. The quicker they got back into the living room the better.
Maura stayed by Jane, her hand had moved to Jane's lower back. "The living room is just through there." Maura said pointing towards the living room. She stayed next to Jane while she watched Jason's mother walk towards the lounge.
"Maura..." Jane said on a shaky voice. "I don't..." She paused to take a shaky breath. "I don't feel...I feel like I'm gonna faint."
"Jane..." Maura said, voice full of concern. She threw Jane's arm around her shoulders and moved her hand from Jane's lower back to wrap around her waist. "Lean on me. Let's get you to the couch."
Jane nodded. "Stay with me. Don't leave me alone with her. I can't...I not..."
"Jane, I won't leave." Maura interrupts. They step into the room and Maura can't hide the shock expression her face when Jason's mother came and grabbed Jane on the other side.
"Is she okay?" The woman asked. She saw the shocked look on Maura's face and laughed softly. "What? I'm not here to cause trouble."
Maura just nodded. "We haven't eaten today. In fact we haven't eaten much lately. Think it's just caught up with Jane. She'll be okay when she gets some food."
"Are you sure? I mean I can phone for a ambulance to take her to hospital."
Maura shook her head. "No, she'll not want to go to hospital. She'll be okay."
"I'm fine." Jane said, as she lowered herself on the couch. "I don't need an ambulance..." She looked at the woman who had just blown everything she thought was the truth out of the window. "But, I do want some answers. Who are you?"
The woman sat down opposite Jane while Maura sat next to Jane. "I'm Sarah Taylor. Jason's mother." She saw Jane lower her head and she leant over the small gap between them to place her hand on Jane's knee. "I'm not here to cause trouble and I'm defiantly not here to blame you. I'm here because I wanted to meet you, I wanted to see who my son was living with and...and I wanted to thank you, Jane."
Jane's head snapped up at the last few words hit Jane. "Thank me?" Jane questioned. When she saw Sarah nod, she asked, "thank me for what?"
Sarah smiled softly. "My boss told me that it happened because you were leaving and taking Jason with you. I was trying to take Robert to court, I wanted Jason as far away from his father as I took take him, but I needed to do it the right way so he couldn't get Jason back. I didn't want to leave New York. But you...you were willing to leave your family, friends and your job to get both of you away from him. So, yes Jane, I wanted to thank you. You put your life on the line to try and save my son. So, thank you."
"How can you thank me?" Jane asked. "I didn't get Jason out safely. How can you thank me for getting him killed?"
Sarah stood up and took a small step towards Jane before she crouched down in front of her. "Jane, do you honestly believe that Jason died because of you?" Sarah waited for an answer but after a few minutes, with still no answer from Jane, Sarah took one of Jane's hands in her own. "Jane, none of this was your fault. You was doing what was best for you and Jason and for that I'm grateful. You had the guts I never could find. Jane, no one blames you for this. I don't blame you for this."
Jane met Sarah's gaze. "I blame me for this." She whispered.
Sarah gave a small smile. "Well you shouldn't. You didn't know this was going to happen. On the drive down here I have blamed everyone Jane, everyone but you. Stop blaming yourself. It'll tear you apart."
Jane nodded. "That's what Maura keeps telling me."
"Because it's true." Maura says.
Jane just nodded and lowered her head again. She knew this wasn't her fault, but she couldn't stop the guilt from eating away at her. She went over everything that Sarah had said to her and if Sarah wasn't blaming her she knew she shouldn't be blaming herself either. "Wait a second..." Jane said as she remembered something Sarah had said earlier. "Your boss?" She saw the confused look on Sarah's face. "You said earlier that your boss told you what happened. Who's your boss? Where do you work? Why did he tell you about me?"
"I'm a cop, Jane. I work Vice in New York. My boss...she was helping me try and get custody of Jason. The legal way. She kept me up to date on things. But I have only just found out about this cause I was undercover, hence the clothes I'm wearing. I came straight here..." Sarah explained to Jane before turning to face Maura. "I'm sorry that I called ahead for your address. And for attempting to slap you earlier. Like I said, I'm undercover, I never know if I'm being followed."
"It's fine." Maura said, smiling softly.
Jane nodded. "He told me you were dead. That you died a year and half before I met him. I believed him. If I had known..."
"Don't..." Sarah interrupted. "Believe me I've gone through every possible scenario I can. The outcome stays the same. I just wish I could've gotten him out sooner."
"What happened between you two?" Jane asked, looking Sarah in the eyes.
"It was never physical with me. He never actually laid one finger on me. It was emotional. I only got out because I broke down one day at work in front of my boss. I went home later that day and told him I was leaving. He was okay with it, even told me himself that things weren't working out between us and it'd be for the best. I didn't take Jason because I didn't know where I was going too and I didn't want to pull him out off his home. Not when he was safe." Sarah said. "I knew he would never hurt Jason. Anyway...a few days later I woke up in hospital after being involved in a serious car crash. My boss...she told me Robert had me ran off the road, but no one could prove it."
"He tried to kill you?" Maura asked, voice full of shock.
"He was at home with Jason when it happened. But he got someone to do it. We could just never make it stick. I mean I was going after an FBI agent. He knew all the right people in the right places. More than what I do and a lot higher than I know people. We didn't stand a chance." Sarah explained.
"A few weeks later he moved to New York." Jane said, more of a statement than a question.
Sarah nodded. "I've not seen him since but I knew where he was. He didn't cover his tracks. It's like he was daring me to come after him and Jason. I was going to, but my boss, Amanda, she made me realise that I needed to do this the right way. I've been fighting ever since, but it's hard when he keeps getting people to put the breaks on everything, or to scare my lawyers."
"I'm..." Jane started but went quiet again when there was knock at the door. "That'll be dinner." Jane said.
"I'll get it." Maura smiled as she stood up and went to answer the door.
A few minute later Maura walked back into the lounge. "Sarah, do you want some Chinese?"
Sarah turned to face Maura and stood up. "No, thank you. I actually have to get going."
Jane stood up. "You could...I mean if you want, you can stay."
Sarah smiled. "I'm still on the clock, Jane. But..." She paused as she dug about in her bag, once she found what she was looking for she looked back at Jane and handed her a card. "Here's my number. Call me if you ever want anything. Or if you happen to be in New York some time. I'd love to get to know you better."
"I will. Thank you." Jane smiled for the first time since Sarah came into her life. "Are you sure you don't want to stay? There's plenty of food."
Sarah smiled. "I wish I could, Jane. But I have a long drive back and they'll start asking questions soon."
Jane handed Sarah a piece of paper. "Then at least phone or text me when you get home safely." Jane took a few steps closer so she could walk Sarah to the door but she felt a hand press against her shoulder.
"Jane..." Sarah said, "sit down. You need to eat something before you attempt to do any walking. Maura will see me out." Sarah smiled as she leant forward and placed a kiss to Jane's cheek. "I mean it, Jane, stop blaming yourself." She whispered before she moved away and headed towards the door.
Once Maura and Sarah were at the front door and out of ear shot from Jane. Maura spoke up, "I want to thank you, for not blaming Jane. She's been through a lot, and I don't know what she would have done if you showed up here blaming her."
"I meant what I said, Maura. I never once blamed her. I couldn't, she was there for my son when I wasn't. If anyone's to blame it's me. I'll never forgive myself for leaving Jason that day." Sarah said, taking in a few deep breaths. She knew she had tears in her eyes, but she promised herself she wouldn't cry until she was alone. Sarah opened the door before turning back to look at Maura. "Tell Jane she can phone whenever she wants. Goodbye, Maura. Again I'm sorry about the ambush."
Maura smiled. "Don't worry about it. Bye Sarah. It was nice meeting you."
"You too." Sarah said as she took a few steps outside before stopping and turning to face Maura again. "Look after Jane."
"I will." Maura answered. She watched Sarah get into her car and waited until she could no longer she car before she closed the door and went back inside to serve dinner.