Chapter 26

I own only this story. Because if I owned TNT, this show wouldn't have been cancelled…grrrr! I'm already in mourning.

Maura turned up the TV as she heated another bag of blood, careful not to make the volume too loud, knowing how well Jane could hear. She then washed out Jane's glass and placed it in the dishwasher.

Taking the empty bag out of the sink, she couldn't decide how to dispose of it, not wanting to just put it in the trash. After all, it could be a biohazard, the medical professional in her taking over. She settled on an empty trash bag that she could take to work tomorrow and dispose of it properly there.

She also began considering where to put a biohazard container in her home. If Jane was going to be staying here, then she felt responsible for taking care of her feeding schedule and the disposal of the bio waste.

Suddenly, the reality that Jane's feeding schedule just might also become her feeding schedule, as well, came crashing into her mind. She fought the fear, calming herself by breathing deeply. She would cross that bridge when she came to it.

She also wondered just how safe Jane's blood supply was, considering that it wasn't regulated. She didn't know how a vampire's physiology compared with her own. Could Jane even get sick? Could his blood that she'd been drinking make her sick? Once again, she decided to blindly trust her mate.

Standing and waiting for the timer to go off, she watched the TV absentmindedly, flipping through the channels, finding nothing of interest. What was she supposed to do with the next four hours while she waited for Jane to sleep, anyway?

Her mind was preoccupied with what the next few hours had in store for her…for them. She was trying not to think too much about it because she had no control of any of the events that would transpire. She was just happy that Jane didn't insist on her staying here, because she very well could have. After all, Maura had absolutely no experience in any of this.

However, deep down, she felt like she was going to be okay. Once again, she couldn't explain her gut instinct, she wasn't even used to having gut instincts, but she wanted to trust it, nonetheless.

Suddenly, Jane's phone began ringing. It was still on the counter where she had left it after taking the last call. The face that popped up on the screen was Korsak's. Maura didn't know whether or not to answer it, feeling that she was being intrusive, but she also didn't want to disturb Jane. After three rings, before it went to voicemail, she decided to pick it up.

"Hello, Vince." She said quickly, "It's Maura. I'm sorry, but Jane is sleeping. Is this important? I can wake her."

Korsak laughed, "Not at all. I just forgot something at your house and I was hoping to come back for it. I don't have your cell number, yet. Do you mind?"

Maura laughed, as well. "No, absolutely not. Please do."

"Good, thanks. I just didn't want to scare you by showing up again unannounced. I'll be there in five." He said, lightheartedly, "Bye."

"Goodbye, Vince." Maura said, tapping the phone and disconnecting the call. She held Jane's phone in her hand, feeling a connection to her. This was something that she touched everyday and Maura could sense the importance of it. She put it back down on the counter in the same place where she found it. She realized she was missing Jane, even though she was just upstairs.

The timer on the microwave had gone off during the call and Maura moved to it. She had a brief mental struggle as to whether or not she wanted to drink again in front of Korsak, but she didn't want to wait either. She was still hungry and decided that if this might be a new part of her life then she didn't want to feel like she should be ashamed of it, so she took the bag from the microwave, kneading it as Jane had done earlier.

Jane would've been proud of her decision.

She opened the valve over her glass, once again mesmerized by the deep vermillion color of the rich liquid as she filled it. She emptied half the bag and then replaced it in the fridge. She took a sip, relishing how it coated her tongue, that now familiar taste immediately calming her hunger pangs and her nerves. She stood in her kitchen slowly sipping the blood, fighting the urge to down it in a few mouthfuls. She wanted to exercise some decorum.

After all, it was one thing to be drinking human blood. It was another to completely lose control while doing it. Control was what she needed right now. So she stood, exercising the best she could muster.

As she sipped, she heard the cruiser pull up in her drive. She walked to the door, glass in hand and opened it, looking outside. But he wasn't there.

She looked outside at her driveway and it was empty. She stepped outside, clearly still hearing the cruiser, her face set in confusion. She tilted her head slightly, the sound of the cruiser growing louder. She was sure that it was already in her drive when she opened the door.

A few minutes later, Korsak pulled into her drive as she stood in her doorway in her pajamas, holding her forgotten glass of human blood. She had heard every piece of gravel crushed under the tires as it had approached from down the street and every tick of the engine cooling as he switched off the ignition.

It was so clear that she could close her eyes and envision the pebbles being pulverized under the tires and the fluids flowing through the engine as the vehicle cooled.

He jumped out of the cruiser smiling, holding up his hand. "I'm so sorry. I don't mean to interrupt."

Maura recovered quickly, once the engine was turned off. "You aren't interrupting anything. She's napping." She stepped aside, smiling, allowing him in and then following him into her house, the peculiar episode forgotten.

Korsak smiled. "Good. I was hoping she would sleep. She's good when she's tired, but she's wicked good when she's rested." He looked at her, noticing the glass of blood she held. "You should drink that when it's warm. Janie swears by body temp blood."

Maura was taken aback by his nonchalance.

As he walked towards the stairs, he said softly, "It's crazy how I can remember every detail of Jane's life but how easily I can forget something so simple as the keys to my own apartment."

She closed the door behind them, watching as he climbed the stairs. She looked at the glass she held in her hand. She abandoned all pretense and downed it in four quick gulps, her body and mind suddenly feeling sharper.

As she walked to the kitchen to add her glass to the dishwasher, her hunger sated, she suddenly remembered that her car was a wreck. She knew it was drivable, but she was more concerned that if it was still street legal anymore. It was the vehicle in which she and Jane were going to track down Colin and after all that it had been through, she was skeptical.

She looked for her key ring and found it in the same spot she'd left it, hanging from its hook, next to the door that opened into the garage. The key ring was different, somehow, missing keys. She felt it in her hand.

She looked down at them as she opened the door to her garage, fully expecting to see the black Mercedes Benz, albeit trashed beyond recognition, but her car still sitting there, waiting for her.

It wasn't.

"Oh and I forgot to give you these." Korsak suddenly appeared next to her, pushing a fob into her hand. "See? I'm sometimes a scatterbrain. Sorry. You wouldn't have gotten far without them."

R&I R&I R&I

Flipping on the light, Maura stepped into the doorway, her mouth slightly agape, her brow furrowed. Her Mercedes had been replaced with an Audi sports sedan, brand new, yet the same jet black. She could smell the new leather interior even though the windows were up.

"It's a beauty, isn't it?" Korsak asked, standing behind her looking over her shoulder, a grin on his face.

Maura turned and looked at him, her face displaying confusion, her brow still wrinkled. "Where is my car?"

"Oh, this is a loaner." Korsak explained, "until your new one is ready. Jane ordered it this morning. It's being built right now. But it won't be ready for a couple of weeks, so she thought this one would be okay. What do you think? She thought it suited you. So do I."

Maura folded her arms across her chest, stepping into the garage, her bare feet tingling on the cold concrete floor. "It's beautiful, Vince. But I'm confused. Jane bought me a new car?"

Still grinning, he nodded, "Yeah."

Maura wanted to be tactful with her next words. "I'm sorry, Vince. Don't take this the wrong way, but my Mercedes was a hundred thousand dollar automobile. I went to Germany and specially ordered that particular model. I had specific modifications added to it to make it uniquely mine." She looked at Korsak, trying to gauge his reaction. She didn't want to sound condescending or entitled.

He just stood, waiting for her, a look of amusement on his face.

Maura shook her head, "How would she be able to afford that on her detective's salary?" She just went ahead and said it.

He laughed out loud. "There is a lot you don't know about Jane, Maura. She lives the way she does because that is how a detective lives. She doesn't want to draw attention to herself. But the truth is, she's loaded."

Maura looked somewhat embarrassed at her assumption of Jane's finances. "I'm sorry, I had no idea."

He shook his head, holding up his hand, "No need to apologize, Maura. That's how she wants to keep it. The less people know about her, the better."

Maura didn't want to pry, but the questions came tumbling out before she could censor herself.

"How does she hide it? I mean, doesn't it show up on her tax returns?" She chided herself for her nosiness. "I'm sorry, that's none of my business."

"It's okay, Maura. She would've told you all this herself. She's all about transparency when it comes to her mates. She just hasn't had the chance, yet." He said, smiling. "And to answer your questions, she doesn't hide it. It's all tucked away out of country. She has an account in the Cayman Islands and several in Europe. She pays taxes on what she earns here in this country, but the other money has been in her family for generations, since before modern banks were even set up."

Maura nodded, "Well, it looks like I'm not going to be the primary breadwinner in this relationship, does it?" She smiled.

Korsak, laughed and nodded, "Well, according to both of your tax returns, comparing them side by side, you are. And as for your car, it'll be exactly like the other one. Even with all your modifications."

"Got it." Maura nodded. " Vince?" She asked. "She knows a lot more about me than I even suspect, doesn't she?"

He nodded, "Yes, she does. Don't take offense. It's how she operates. She needs to know how to protect you."

Maura smiled, thinking of her Jane sleeping upstairs in her bed. She missed her terribly now.

They walked around the car, admiring it's curves and clean lines.

"You're right about it being a beauty." Maura said, "But she really shouldn't have. I could've taken care of this myself."

Maura was used to being an independent woman who could take care of herself, having been somewhat isolated and alone most of her life.

Korsak reached out and touched her forearm. "Maura, you'll learn this soon enough about Janie. She's as unselfish as they come. So that means she's gonna take care of things…and you. It's just in her nature. If you are truly uncomfortable with that, you should tell her. She will back off, a bit, but not entirely. So prepare yourself to be pampered."

Maura smiled at his disclosure. "Well, thank you for the warning. I'll keep that in mind."

"Especially on your birthday." Korsak, whistled, "I mean wildest dreams kinda stuff." He laughed and she joined him.

They turned to walk back into the house, Maura leading the way.

"Maura." he said as she closed the door to the garage, placing both key rings on the hooks.

She turned to look at him, "Yes, Vince?"

"I have to tell you something else about Jane. I've known her for a very long time. Even before I became her watcher, my family has been looking out for her for generations." He said, looking into her eyes, seriously. "So I can honestly tell you this. I've never seen her this happy with anyone. I've seen her bond before. But nothing like this. And so fast. I can't believe I've only known you for three days. You feel like family to me already. And I wanted to thank you for letting me crash here last night."

Maura put her hand on his arm, tenderly. "I feel the same way about you, Vince. Know that you are welcome in my home anytime. I'm going to have keys made so that you don't need to call me to let you in. Obviously, Jane will have a set, as well."

Korsak looked down, blushing slightly. "Thank you, Maura. But I'll always call before I come over." He pointed to the upstairs bedroom. "That one has no boundaries when it comes to public displays of affection. And…other things. She does what she wants, when she wants and where she wants. I don't want to walk in on anything. And considering that I've interrupted you two at least twice already, I think calling before is a good idea, don't you?"

Maura began to blush, as well, thinking of what happened on the barstool not too long ago.

"Fair enough." She laughed.

With that, he made his way to the front door, turning before he left. "Good luck today. With Colin, I mean. He's mostly all bark, no bite. No pun intended. Jane will keep you safe. Does she know where he is?" He sighed as he walked out the door. "Kinda upset that I'm gonna miss it."

Maura laughed, "Yes, she does. Someone called with a tip. I'll fill you in with all the details when this is over."

He laughed as he nodded his farewell, closing the door behind him. She followed and locked it.

She stood in her living room alone, looking around, trying to find something to occupy her mind while she waited for Jane. She looked at the clock on the wall in her foyer. It read 1:03 p.m. She had almost four hours to kill before she could wake Jane. She decided to review her notes on the autopsy she performed on Friday, before her life turned upside down.

She found the case file in her briefcase and thumbed through it, sitting on the sofa, the tv muted in the background. Nothing of consequence. In other words, nothing to hold her attention. She placed the file back into her briefcase, closing it and leaving it on the table by the garage door, where she could easily retrieve it for work tomorrow.

Finally realizing it was no use kidding herself any longer, she clicked off the tv and made her way up the stairs, quietly. She wanted to be near Jane.

She padded softly into the bedroom, allowing her eyes to adjust to the darkened room, her curtains still drawn. She could see the prone body of her mate, laying on her side, back to her, uncovered, in a t-shirt and sweat pants, her legs bent and her hands tucked under her chin. As she stood quietly watching her sleep, her heart swelled with love.

Her eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness and she walked to the end of the bed. She could see Jane's distinctive tattoo on the bottom of her foot and she did her best to keep herself from reaching out and touching it. She couldn't see its movement in the dim light, but she knew that it was moving, morphing from the sun into the moon and back again, a moment when both were visible as one as it cycled.

As she watched, she noticed that Jane wasn't breathing as she slept.

'She must be exhausted,' Maura thought, 'for her to drop the pretense of breathing.'

Jane suddenly spoke, sleepily. "Are you going to stand there all day and watch me sleep or are you gonna get in bed so we can snuggle?"

Maura smiled. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you, baby."

Jane rolled onto her back, reaching out to Maura, her eyes glowing softly in the darkness of the room. "It's okay. Just get in bed. I missed you."

Maura crawled onto the bed, moving into Jane's open arms, her head naturally finding its place on Jane's shoulder, her face buried in her neck. Jane leaned her face onto the top of Maura's head, closing her arms around her petite body, pulling her close.

Maura maneuvered her leg over Jane's thighs, moving as close as she could get to her vampire.

Maura felt Jane's cold body begin to heat up as she pressed herself next to it. She also began breathing again, her chest rising and falling rhythmically, her sweet breath washing over Maura's face delicately.

"Thank you for my new car." Maura said, quietly.

Jane kissed the top of her head. "You are welcome, my love." She said, sleepily. Soon Jane was sleeping again, her breathing slowing.

Maura, who wasn't the slightest bit sleepy when she entered her room, found herself drifting off, safe in Jane's arms once again, a slight smile on her face.

Don't worry, avid reader! Colin is coming up next! Thanks to all that reviewed! Keep 'em coming!