A/N:So, life certainly does have its ups and downs. I had hoped to post this sooner but with the passing of my beloved mother in law, everything was kind of on hold. This will be our first Christmas without her. My wife is still in New York with her brothers and sisters as they prepare for the Novena and I'm here in Florida. Just doesn't feel like Christmas right now for me. Anyway, my gift to all of you…another chapter. Enjoy and Happy Holidays.

Dr Reynolds opened the door and smiled. Her patient's fiancée had dozed off in the chair, hand wrapped around a journal. She frowned as she saw the scar on the back of her hand and tapped her gently.

"Detective."

"Mmmm…" bolting upright, she looked around, "Maura?"

"Relax, look."

Jane followed where she was pointing and saw that Maura was indeed initiating the machine, she let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding and put a hand against her chest.

"Detective?"

Jane looked at her, tears spilling onto her cheeks. She had been so scared, this was a good sign, and she knew that. She wasn't out of the woods, but it was a good sign.

Dr Reynolds smiled as she looked at her patient. This had been hard fought. The damage had been extensive, reckless. Thankfully Maura was strong, physically and mentally. Glancing at Jane, and she had something to live for.

"Let us know as soon as she wakes. I'll be on this floor for a while longer."

"I will." Jane watched as she left, "Hey Doc? Thanks."

"Of course."

Jane ran a hand along Maura's cheek. "God she loved this woman."

"Maura? I hope you can hear me. You're doing really good so far. Your mom is here. I don't know if you know that yet. She dropped everything to be here with you. I'm not going anywhere okay? Just like you I plan on being here for you, always," she whispered.

Maura could hear her, that beautiful husky voice she fell in love with years ago. She sounded so sad, so tired. She tried to move and stopped when the pain overwhelmed her again.

"Maur? Honey open your eyes, please." Jane's plea was heartfelt. She needed to look into her eyes. Reassure herself that Maura was still with her.

Maura's eyes fluttered open and she took a breath, wincing at the pain, but letting herself focus on the dark eyes above hers.

"You're back…" Jane's voice was wistful and the tear that escaped was noticed.

Maura reached for Jane's hand and squeezed it, hard.

"I'm gonna call the doctor, okay?" Another squeeze brought a small smile to Jane's face. Pressing twice for the nurse she turned her attention back to Maura, glancing at the ventilator for just a second, reassuring herself that Maura was doing the breathing.

"You scared me baby." Jane's voice was soft, tender. She knew she loved this woman but the thought of losing her was more than she could bear. She wasn't as strong as Maura. She doubted she ever would be.

Maura understood. She held onto Jane's hand tightly until the doctor came in. By then she could feel sleep pulling her back but she fought to stay awake. For Jane's sake.

"Well…" Dr. Reynolds looked at the ventilator and smiled. The numbers were much better and pressing a button she looked at the numbers for the past hour. "Very good Maura." Looking at Jane she smiled before addressing Maura again.

"We're going to remove the tube Maura," pressing the call button she spoke to the nurse who responded before turning back to her. "As you know, the feeling will not be pleasant. Quite frankly its going to hurt like hell and I don't want you to try to speak until we get some ice chips down, okay?"

Maura squeezed Jane's hand and nodded her head imperceptibly.

Jane stepped back as they prepared, watching anxiously. When the nurse came back in, the Doctor nodded and looked down at Maura.

"Maura, I want you to try and take some even breaths and then cough when I tell you okay?"

Jane watched Maura breath slowly and gasped at the sound of pain that came from her when the doctor told her to cough. Quickly pulling the tube out, the nurse reached for the cup of ice chips and placed a few in Maura's mouth. Her whimper tore at Jane's insides. She wanted them to stop hurting her.

Carefully laying her head back down, the nurse reached past the bed and pulled the oxygen hose forward, looping it around Maura's head and making sure it was affixed properly. Jane watched as Dr. Reynolds checked Maura's vitals and waved a hand for Jane to come forward.

Maura's eyes were filled with tears. "Hi" it was barely a whisper, barely a breath, but it was Maura.

"Oh God…" Jane broke down on the side of the bed. She didn't even realize when the doctor and nurse left. She felt Maura's hand in her hair and looked up at her. "I'm sorry Maur…I shouldn't have…"

"Shh…" Maura chest was on fire and throat felt like she had a cabanero pepper stuck in it so she really couldn't speak yet, but seeing Jane like this was something she never wanted to see.

"Sleep," she whispered as she closed her eyes, hand still entwined in Jane's hair.

Exhausted, Jane let her head rest where it was and followed Maura into sleep.

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Angela stood in the doorway with Constance and watched their daughters sleep. Seeing Maura's hand tangled in Jane's hair and the intubation tube removed brought a smile to Angela's face. Quietly backing out she turned to her counterpart.

"We'll give them a little time to themselves?"

"Certainly." Constance walked away with Angela to get an update on Maura from the doctor. When Angela had told her about the letter and all that had transpired she had been shocked and amazed at her daughter's devotion to the detective, but now, seeing Jane's devotion to her daughter, she realized she needed to re-evaluate the things she viewed as a given. Constance was a firm believer that you don't choose who you fall in love with, and if you're lucky enough to have them love you in return, then you are one of the chosen few who find their soul mates. From what she had seen so far and heard from Angela. Her daughter had found her soul mate in the person of one Detective Jane Rizzoli.

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Maura ran her fingers in Jane's hair reveling in the feel. She felt like the luckiest woman in the world. She was surprised to still be alive. She didn't know the specifics quite yet but based on the monitors and the intubation she guessed that Mrs. Jenkins had indeed cut something important. She shuddered as she remembered the fear she felt. Not about dying, but about not being able to do this, what she was doing right now. Be with Jane.

Jane smiled at the feel of Maura's fingers in her hair, even as they lingered over her scar. She didn't deserve this happiness, that's what scared her. To have the woman she loved and the career she loved after all they had been through? But she had it. Sure it would be a long road for Maura, but she would be there, every step of the way, just like Maura had been and still was for her.

Slowly picking her head up she felt Maura drop her hand away. Looking into her eyes, Jane felt herself fall in love all over again. Leaning in she kissed her. Not deeply, not urgently, but tenderly. She reveled in the feel of Maura's lips under hers and it felt like home. Stepping back she wasn't surprised to see the tears in Maura's eyes.

"I love you Maura Isles."

Maura smiled and swallowed before whispering, "I love you Detective."

Jane's crooked grin tugged at her heart, 'detective'. She had gotten her out of there, her mother was right, she was still Jane Rizzoli.

"Your mom is here, would you like to see her?" Jane brushed the hair from her forehead as she spoke. She needed to keep touching her, make sure she was real.

Maura nodded, not trusting herself to say anything. She watched as Jane pulled out her phone and texted her mother. Looking back at Maura she smiled. "She's with my Ma"

Jane chuckled at the surprise on Maura's face, "Don't worry they're fine. Ma's been filling her in."

Maura closed her eyes and started awake when she felt Jane's hand on her face. "Okay?"

Maura nodded, "meds…" Jane looked and saw that Maura's pain meds had just dispensed. She could see her fighting the effects.

"Its okay baby, sleep. I'll let the moms know."

"You too…" Maura whispered sleepily, "Rest…blood pressure…please…" she squeezed Jane's hand before drifting off.

Jane shook her head and kissed her on the forehead.

"How does she do that?" Jane sat on the recliner and picked up her journal. This relaxed her and she knew she was pushing herself to hard. She would listen to Maura and rest. She needed to be there for her no matter what. Opening her journal she continued the letter she had started. She didn't know if she would ever show it to her or not, but she needed to write it.

Looking up Jane shook her head and smiled, "Lord I know you are testing us and that you don't do it without good reason, but I really hope we passed…I really do." Putting pen to paper, she continued the letter she was writing, this one wasn't a goodbye, she knew now it could never be a goodbye.

No, its not over, not yet…plus you all still have to read the letter, no? Anyway…hope this went over well. If anyone is so inclined, please feel free to let me know your thoughts.

On a side note, I think I've published my book on Amazon, still waiting for it to populate, blah, blah, blah…anyway, its called Beauty of Fear by LE Perez (thats me) It should be up and available by Christmas. My Christmas present to me…Peace