Chapter 29
It's been exactly two weeks since Jane had first seen and spoken to Sam and things had continued to steadily improve.
Jane was still seeing Dr. Liberty three times a week, but they had decided to soon dial the sessions down to twice or maybe only one time a week. Which was okay because she was getting a little better every day; yet she had a way to go.
For one, she still suffered from nightmares. However she didn't have them as frequent as before, and there had actually been several times, when she slept through the night without having any at all. And when she did have them she was able to snap out of them more quickly. Dr. Liberty had told her that in time they would disappear completely. The brunette had just shrugged her shoulders at the comment, but she hoped the doctor was right.
Jane also still suffered from the occasional flashback during the day time as well, sometimes certain things would just trigger them. But thankfully, even those had become less frequent and intense lately.
One day she had tried to explain her progress to Maura. She had said that in the beginning her days were mostly filled with darkness, and the light would shine through only rarely. But now it started to be in reverse, where her days became light again, just once in a while the darkness would creep back in.
Sometimes she still had a bad day, where things would feel bleak and depressing. But as time passed by, the good days started outweighing the bad ones.
Today was definitely a good day, and an important one as well. Jane was almost bouncing with nervous energy. She had an appointment at the hospital that afternoon, and they were going to take a scan of her hand and leg. If everything looked like it should, the casts were coming off today. Jane couldn't wait to not have to deal with the annoying nuisances anymore.
Part of her felt a little apprehensive as well, because it meant the real physical recovery would start. Jane knew from experience the pain and frustration that comes with physical therapy. She knew that no matter how much you prepared for it, you never really were. And if she was honest, she was nervous about the damage that was done to her hand and leg. The bullet that had hit her leg, had not only broken the bone, it had also done damage to the muscles and nerves. Maura had told her that when the cast came off, she would have to rebuild her quadriceps and hamstring muscles back to full strength. It would take time and it would be painful.
Jane affectionately glanced sideways at Maura, smiling, while taking in the beautiful woman next to her. She couldn't resist brushing some of the blonde's hair behind her ear and to place a tender kiss on her cheek.
They were sitting side by side in the kitchen eating breakfast. Jane with a bowl of cereal; Maura next to her with a bowl of fruit. Things between them had definitely improved a lot over the past few weeks. They had been pretty great actually. After their conversation in Jane's apartment, Maura had kept her promise. She now let Jane do most things on her own, if she was able. She also stopped constantly checking up on her and she had gone back to work on Tuesdays and Thursdays; which were Jane's no therapy days. The other days, if at all possible, Maura stayed home, she just wanted to be around after Jane had one of her sessions. She never pushed her to talk, but if the brunette wanted to discuss something, Maura would be there to listen to her. The past few weeks they had really reconnected with each other, and the result was that they now felt closer than ever.
Jane was just about to say something to the woman next to her, when they got interrupted by a knock at the back door.
"Morning," Angela said cheery, poking her head around the corner.
"Good morning, Angela," Maura responded.
The older woman now completely stepped through the door and inside the kitchen.
"So big day today, huh?" Angela said, while directing her attention to her daughter.
The brunette resisted the urge to roll her eyes, "yup", she said briefly looking up at her mother before directing her attention back to her breakfast.
See, not everything was getting better. The relationship between Jane and Angela had actually gotten worse, strained. After Angela's interference with David and Sam, the brunette had tried to talk to her mother. Angela had apologized to Jane, but the older woman was convinced that her actions had only helped her daughter. 'It worked out, didn't it?' she had said, infuriating Jane. Angela just didn't get it. And the result was that Jane had started to shut her mother out, unable and unwilling to keep trying to explain why her actions had been wrong.
It wasn't like she couldn't forgive her mother for what she had done, she could, and in a way she already had; she knew the woman's intentions had been good. But the backhanded set up had hurt Jane deeply, and it could have hurt the relationship between her and Maura as well. She just wanted her mother to acknowledge that fact. She wanted her mother to understand. But instead Angela just acted like nothing had happened, like she had done nothing wrong.
Initially Maura had been angry with Angela as well, but she had let it go. This was something between Jane and her mother. Even though Maura stood by Jane on the issue, she did it without ignoring Angela.
It was a delicate balance, but one that the blonde was able to navigate properly. And Jane didn't want Maura's relationship with her mother to change in any way either; that wouldn't be fair to anyone.
This was between mother and daughter and eventually they would work it out. But in the mean time, Jane was holding a bit of a grudge. She was never downright mean to her mother, she was just short and distant.
"You want some coffee, Angela?" Maura said friendly while grabbing a cup from the cupboard.
"Yes, thank you Maura. So, ...are you excited?" Angela tried again, looking back at her daughter.
"Mhmm," Jane pushed her bowl away from her and reached over to grab the morning paper, opening it immediately to the sports section.
Maura looked at both women and just shook her head, pouring the cup of coffee. "Here you go," she said handing the cup to Angela.
"Thanks, honey." the older woman grabbed the cup from Maura's hands and sat down next to Jane. Almost instantly the brunette pushed back from the table and stood up.
"Going to get ready," Jane mumbled behind her and she left the kitchen.
Angela sighed, "is she ever going to forgive me? ...I'm trying here."
Maura took a sip of her own coffee before answering, "I can't get in between the two of you, Angela. You know that."
"I know. I just don't know what to do."
Maura took a deep breath and sat down next to the older woman, holding her coffee cup in between her hands. "It's going to take time, Angela. Maybe just give her some space."
"If I do that, she might never talk to me again," Angela said, half joking, trying to keep her voice light, but mostly failing.
A few hours later Jane and Maura where sitting in Dr. Clint's office waiting for the results of the X-rays.
Dr. Clint was looking at the scans, his eyebrows closely knitted together. "Hmm," he said taking his time. After a minute or two he looked up at Jane. "Okay, it's time to remove those casts."
"Really? After freaking me out with your hmm-ing like that?" The brunette feigned annoyance, but her voice was playful.
Dr. Clint smiled at Jane, he was happy to see his patient so different from the last time he'd seen her in the hospital.
A nurse came out and took Jane into a separate room, where she took out a saw to cut the casts off. First the one on her leg and then the one on her hand. "Don't move them around too much yet," the nurse said, "the doctor needs to examine them first."
Jane nodded, and the nurse left the room to get the doctor.
The brunette looked at her leg and hand and frowned. Maura leaned against the examination table where Jane was sitting, and she was just about to ask what was wrong, when Dr. Clint interrupted them, stepping into the room.
"So, let's see what we have here." He said, while starting his inspection of Jane's limbs.
He first looked at her leg; checking her range of motion. "Jane, as I explained to you before, besides the broken bone, there was significant damage to your muscle. And even though during surgery we repaired most of the damage, it's still going to take some time for it to fully heal. Your leg is going to feel stiff and your range of motion will be limited for a while. Right now the muscles are atrophied from disuse and you will have to rebuild them to regain back your strength. But you have to take it easy for a few weeks. Don't overdo it with PT, because that won't make your recovery go any faster; it will just put you in a world of pain. And you are still going to need some extra support when walking, at least until your leg gets stronger. Either use one of your crutches or get a cane."
Dr. Clint looked at his patient, noticing the woman didn't look very pleased with the news, "It's going to take time, Jane. But I'm confident your leg will get back to normal, okay?" He tried to encourage her.
Jane nodded in agreement, however Maura could see the defiant and stubborn look in her eyes; but she decided to let it go for now.
"Okay, lets take a look at your hand," Dr. Clint carefully took a hold of Jane's left hand and inspected it. Gently feeling the muscles and bones. "Can you try and make a fist for me?"
Jane tried to do as the doctor asked but her hand wasn't cooperating. Her fingers barely moved, and when they finally did move she flinched in pain. She glanced at Maura with a scared look in her eyes.
"Its okay, Jane," Dr. Clint said trying to reassure his quickly panicking patient. "It's not what I hoped for, but it's not uncommon or unexpected either. Lets put this brace on it for right now and we can move back into my office."
Jane quickly moved off the table before Dr. Clint could warn her, and as soon as she put weight on her leg it gave out under her. Thankfully both Maura and Dr. Clint grabbed a hold of her, before she could fall to the ground. They helped the frustrated woman back on the examination table.
"Jane, your leg is unable to bear your weight at the moment. I know it's an inconvenience, but you have to use your crutches until you start to regain the strength in your muscles." Dr. Clint said his voice friendly but stern.
Jane's mood was quickly turning from excited to frustrated. She had really hoped, even though she knew better, that she could just walk out of the hospital like a normal person.
On the way home Jane had been quietly moping. She had hoped for a lot more than she had gotten. Yes, her casts were finally removed, but no she couldn't really use her leg yet, and no, she couldn't really use her hand either.
Maura knew Jane was disappointed and she wasn't really sure what to say to make things better. She knew Jane didn't want to hear statistics or common platitudes, so she just let the woman sulk for a bit.
When they got home Jane decided she wanted to change her clothes. With her leg cast gone, she figured she could at least wear a pair of jeans again. She took off the sweats she had been wearing, but instead of getting dressed again, she just sat down on the bed and looked at her hand and leg. For long moments she just stared at the newly exposed scars.
After a while Maura decided to see what was taking Jane so long and she found the brunette sitting on the bed, deep in thought.
"Hey," she said while taking a seat next to Jane.
"...It's ugly," the brunette said tracing the scar on her leg with her fingers.
"It's not ugly, Jane."
"It's all red and wrinkly."
"It will turn white and smooth out, it will become less noticeable over time."
Jane stayed silent, an unreadable expression on her face. Maura moved a little closer and leaned her head on the brunette's shoulder.
Jane looked again at her leg and hand, "and they look funny. Like from an old person, all wrinkly and weird. I got an old person's leg, Maur," she was whining a little, "and hand."
"It's normal, Jane. It's just dead skin, it will come off. It's going to need time to heal, get back to normal."
Jane lifted her hand closer to her face, "it smells funny too."
Maura grabbed Jane's hand and pulled it closer to her face, scrunching up her nose.
"It's not too bad. Considering you haven't washed it in six weeks." Maura repressed a chuckle.
"Did you just joke...and laugh? At my stinky, old hand?" Jane said, trying to withhold her own smile.
"I wouldn't dare," the blonde replied, her voice feigning innocence. "Thankfully I have a solution for this problem," she said, a grin on her face, "come on."
Maura pulled Jane up and supported her while walking to the bathroom.
She drew a small bath of warm water with soap and gently urged Jane into it. After having the brunette soak her leg and hand for about twenty minutes, she carefully rubbed them dry with a soft towel. Then she took Jane back to their bedroom and had her lie back down on the bed. Where she started to gently massage some lotion on the sensitive skin.
When she was done, she lied down on her side of the bed next to Jane. The brunette moved on her side as well, facing Maura. "Thanks, Maur," she said, softly sighing, "it looks better already."
"I'm sorry today wasn't what you had hoped it to be," the blonde said.
Jane nodded, and moved a little closer on the bed to Maura, lying her hand on the woman's hip. "S'okay."
They just lied there for a while and looked at each other, when all of a sudden Jane's mouth turned up in a goofy smile.
"What?" Maura asked.
"'I'm just glad they don't smell funny anymore."
And with that, the mood turned light again. But they didn't move from their position on the bed, they just stayed right where they were and enjoyed each others company.
"You know,"Jane said after a while. "There is a least one good thing about not wearing this cast anymore."
"What's that?" Maura responded, stilling her hand that had been playing with Jane's hair.
Jane moved even closer to the blonde, wiggling her left leg in between Maura's. "This." Both of them entangled their legs as much as possible without putting too much weight on Jane's still healing leg.
"Ah yes, I've definitely missed this." Maura said, smiling sweetly at Jane. "I'm glad you're looking at the positive side of things."
Jane shrugged her shoulders, and leaned in for a kiss. "I try. The rest will come right?"
"Right," Maura said, pushing herself closer to Jane and moving in for another kiss.
A/N: So I was planning on wrapping up the story before the new winter episodes/Nov 27th. But I don't think that's going to happen, unless I rush the end and just wrap it up in an epilogue. I think I'd rather take a little longer and finish it the right way. Hopefully all you lovely readers will stick with me while I move into the last arc of the story.
For everyone that celebrates Thanksgiving, enjoy the time with your loved ones.
*gobble gobble* (It's turkey-ish for leave a cookie aka review)
