The More Things Change, Part 28 of 30

Pairing: Jane/Maura

Spoilers: Through "When the Gun Goes Bang, Bang, Bang"

Warnings: Nothing that I can think of.

Disclaimer: The only thing that's mine is the plot, such as it is.

Note: I looked up photos of Fenway for this section; I've only been in baseball stadiums on the west coast and wanted to be at least a little accurate. I'll keep up the post-a-day for these last three (gulp!) parts; going on a trip starting Friday, and I want to make sure this whole thing is posted before then.


"Are you sure you don't need to rest?"

Jane groaned, glaring at Maura out of the corner of her eye.

"It's just that you're…well…you're quite short of breath. You had bruised – it's quite normal for the lungs to – " Maura winced. "I'll stop now."

Jane slowed to a stop, hoping Maura wouldn't notice her relief as she leaned against a convenient cement post. She took a moment to catch her breath. "I'll be okay. We're plenty early. Game doesn't start for forty-five minutes."

She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, smiling despite herself. There was just something about Fenway.

Jane had loved the place since the first time her parents had brought the family to a game. They'd had to sit in the nosebleed seats and needed binoculars to really see anything, but there was something special about seeing a baseball game in person.

Maura shook her head and just waited, hands knotted together in front of her.

Jane reached out and took her hand, tangling their fingers together as she pushed off the post and kept walking.

She soaked up the atmosphere as she and Maura walked slowly through the hallway. She'd never been on this level of seats; she was close enough to smell the freshly cut grass.

When they stopped at their section, she stared in awe. "Maura…these seats rock!"

She smiled, relieved. "Thank you." She squeezed Jane's hand. "I did a lot of research – "

She politely ignored her muttered, "Of course you did."

" – into the best possible location. Some people recommended sitting over the dugout, but most people suggested that behind home plate."

They stood there for a moment, until Jane finally had to admit to something that had been worrying her as opening day had grown closer and the pace of her rehab had slowed. "There's…only one problem."

She saw Maura's eyes dart to the steps and to the seats and back, and knew she'd been – if not consciously – at least subconsciously aware of the same thing.

"There's no hand rails," Jane said. "I don't know if I – "

Maura frowned. "If you would just use the cane the physical therapist prescribed for you…."

"No."

"You still have significant weakness in your right side."

"No."

Maura sighed. "I'll help."

"I've got twenty pounds on you," Jane protested. "I fall, we're both gonna hurt." She eyed the dubiously clean steps with a faint scowl. "I can sit."

Maura followed her gaze and winced. "Jane, I'll risk it."

"But – "

"You are not sitting on those steps."

A sigh. "Okay."

Maura glanced at the seat number in the top row; they'd have to go down the equivalent of a flight and a half of stairs. "What do you need?"

Jane shrugged. "Somethin' to hang onto."

"Do you want me to face you?"

She sighed huffily, though Maura understood that she was more frustrated with herself and the situation than anything else. "Probably…yeah."

"Okay."

Maura turned and held her hands up; Jane gripped them tightly and made eye contact. The look in her eyes was the only outward sign of how uneasy she was. She was about to take her first tentative step down when a man appeared at her side.

"Hey, can I help?"

Maura smiled gratefully, while Jane directed the full force of her glare at him.

"I saw you on the news…what…a couple months ago? You're a cop, right?"

Jane looked at him warily. "Yeah?"

"My cousin's a uni. He was there that day. You're looking good for havin' some holes in you."

"What's his name?"

"Josh, but he goes by 'Big Guy.'"

At that, Jane relaxed into a smile. "I know him. Stand-up cop."

"So…now that I'm related to a good guy, can I help you? My name's Matt, by the way."

"She has a very difficult time accepting assistance," Maura volunteered helpfully.

"Maura!"

"Please? It would be my pleasure, really."

She sighed. "All right."

"The muscular damage from the shooting is primarily on her right side."

"Thanks, Doctor Isles," Jane muttered as Matt took her gently by the right elbow and steadied her.

She immediately felt much more secure and, though she supposed that should piss her off, nothing could really get in the way of the fact that she was at Fenway Park, on opening day, so close to the field that she could practically count the blades of grass.

When Maura had first given her the tickets on her birthday, she hadn't really paid attention to where they were – just knowing that she would get to see the Sox on opening day was enough. When she'd realized they were in the third row, she'd almost had a heart attack right there on the spot.

When she'd realized they were behind home plate, she'd almost kissed Maura right there and then in the middle of the restaurant.

Jane rolled her eyes at the memory, morbidly wondering how many other times she'd almost kissed her friend, and how she'd explained it to herself each time.

"These are bitchin' seats!" Matt said.

Jane grinned, though her focus was still largely on not falling on her face as they slowly made their way down the steps. "Birthday present."

"Really? From who?"

Jane gestured at Maura with her chin.

"Wow." He sounded suitably impressed, though vaguely disappointed. "So you guys are tight, huh?"

"Could say that."

"Huh," he said speculatively, then shrugged and let his apparent disappointment go. "You got good taste, lady."

"You talkin' to me or to her?"

"Yep."

Jane grinned widely. "Hey, listen…thanks for the help."

"No problem," Matt said, stepping back a little. "Good to meetcha. And you too…."

"Maura. Isles."

"Oh, Doctor D – " He caught Jane's fierce glare and cut himself off. "The…uh…?"

"Chief Medical Examiner," Jane said pointedly.

"Right. Sorry."

"It's quite all right," Maura said. "You're certainly not the first person to call me that."

"Well, sorry anyway," he said sincerely. "It was good to meet both of you."

"Good to meet you too," Jane said, mollified. "Tell Big Guy thanks for…whatever he did…" She darted a glance at Maura. "…that day."

"I will." He disappeared back into the crowd.

Jane eased her way across the aisle to their seats, then sank down in some relief. She turned to find Maura smiling widely at her.

"What?"

"You accepted help, Jane. That's personal growth. Nicely done!"

Jane just shook her head in amusement.