TITLE: Rizzoli & Isles – Wake Up Call

SUMMARY: Pining over her co-worker for years, Detective Jane Rizzoli is in desperate need of a miracle, or for the object of her daydreams to finally wake up and grasp the meaning behind the none too subtle inferences they've been sharing. The chance comes Jane's way after experiencing a near fatal ending to a case and she finds the courage to set the wheels in motion that result in having her best friend doing a little more than smell the roses along the way. A/U

PAIRINGS: Jane Rizzoli & Original Female Character. Maura Iles & Ian Faulkner.

RATING: M for mature readers.

DISCLAIMER: All characters other than those conjured up by the author's imagination, remain the property of author Tess Gerritsen and television series writers Janet Tamaro, Steve Lichtman & Kiersten Van Home. No copyright infringement to Hurdler Productions, Ostar Productions or Warner Horizon Television is intended. The following story is a work of fiction brought to life for the purposes of entertainment only. No money has been exchanged nor any profit derived by sponsorship.

WARNING: Events follow on from Episode 1 & 2 of Season 3. This tale takes a different course from the television series and features several consensual relationships between women.

A/N: Much gratitude to the comments, follows and favourites.

MUSE WARNING: Keep the tissues on stand by.


Chapter 29

After donning protective gloves, masks, head and shoe covers, Erica led Patrick, Colleen and Jane into Claire's sterile room. Patrick held onto his wife's hand as they approached the bed. Both began to weep while looking down at their coma induced daughter in-law for the first time.

Jane squeezed Erica's hand as Doctor Shepard walked in with a nurse.

Erica introduced him to her grandparents then stood on the other side of the bed. Jane was right by her side and listened intently as the Neurologist spoke.

"Mister and Missus Campbell, we started reducing the dosage of Midazolam thirty minutes ago and Claire should start to wake soon. She will be disorientated at first and will try to remove her breathing tube. Don't be alarmed, it's a natural reaction. Nurse Andrews will assist me in removing it and Claire should settle."

"Will she be able to talk Doctor Shepard?" asked a concerned Colleen.

"Yes, but her throat will be scratchy and sore, so it may be too difficult for her to say a lot. We have ice chips to help soothe the irritation."

Colleen caressed Claire's forearm, being mindful of the cannula, "When will she be able to be transferred to Boston?"

"So far Claire had done remarkably well. Her blood pressure is well within the normal range and after I've conducted some neurological tests; we'll have a better understanding of her expected ability to withstand transportation. If all goes well, she can be moved into a private room as early as tomorrow morning and be transferred to Boston General by the end of next week."

Everyone displayed various degrees of smiles at the prospect and Erica took hold of her mother's hand. Colleen did the same and Doctor Shepard stood back and chatted with the nurse while making notations to Claire's chart.

Two minutes later, there was a beep from one of the many monitors and the doctor and nurse approached the bed as Patrick and Colleen moved to the side and out of the way.

As vitals were checked, Shepard withdrew a pen light and lifted the patient's right eyelid followed by the left. "Pupils are reactive," he declared and Jane exhaled loudly.

Erica looked at her with teary eyes, "That's a good sign honey."

Smiling, Derek continued to lean over the side of the bed, "Claire, open your eyes."

After more coaxing, Claire's eyelids prised open.

"Hello Claire, nice to have you join us. My name is Derek Shepard and you are in UC Irvine Medical Centre Orange. You have a breathing tube inserted in your throat, but I'm going to remove it. I need you to stay perfectly still for me."

Looking into his blue eyes, Claire blinked.

"You will feel some pressure and may feel like gagging, but it will be over quickly. Once the tube is removed, please don't attempt to talk until you have been given some ice to suck on."

There was a responding blink and within seconds, the tube was being carried away by Nurse Andrews while Shepard calmly attached an oxygen nasal prong then resumed his examination.

"Claire, I'm going to hold up my right index finger and I want you to follow its movement with your eyes. Don't move your head."

With Claire blinking again, the Surgeon tested both eyes before saying, "You are doing really well. I'm going to take hold of you right hand and I want you to squeeze as hard as you can."

There was a swift blink and Claire gripped the doctor's and Erica's hands and the same time.

Derek grinned warmly at the patient, "I suppose I should have told you your daughter is holding your left hand."

"Nice trick Doctor," whispered Claire while looking left. "Hello you two."

"Hey mom," replied Erica as she held back the tears.

"Hi Claire," said a smiling Jane.

"I have two more tests Claire," announced Derek. "Then I can stop annoying you." He checked the bottom of her feet for a reflex reaction and was pleased with the response. All her reflexes were congruent to stimuli and by the time Derek made some final notes to the chart, the visitors were ready to scream in celebration.

Instead they remained silent as Shepard went through the injuries with Claire. Erica pressed an ice chip against her dry lips while Jane took over hand holding duties.

"Thank you Doctor Shepard," Claire said once the Surgeon was done.

"You are welcome and I'll check in with you a little later."

"Thank you."

When the doctor and nurse departed, Patrick and Colleen returned to their original positions by the bed.

In a gravelly voice, Claire asked the first question of the many everyone had been dreading, "What the hell happened?"

Erica placed a hand over her mother's left shoulder, "What's the last thing you remember?"

"I was sitting outside Café Orleans with the children. We were waiting for our table to be available. Your father went to a restroom while Thomas and Jennifer were shopping for gifts. I was telling a story about ducks then everything went black." Turning her head gingerly to the right, she noticed Patrick and Colleen were crying, "It's bad, isn't it?"

Her in-laws nodded in unison and Erica struggled to keep the lump in her throat from escaping with a howl. Jane rubbed her lower back and conveyed all the love she could in that simple touch. Her fiancée was having trouble forming the words that had to be spoken.

"Mom, there was bomb."

"Oh dear mercy … no," murmured Claire while trying to sit up, only to discover she couldn't move. "The children, are they okay?"

"They were hurt too, but you received the worst of the injuries."

"Are they here in the hospital?"

"Yes and Braxton and Emma are eager to see you."

Tears rolled from the corners of Claire's eyes and Colleen lovingly dabbed at them with a tissue.

Claire's voice was a mere whimper, "Where's Phillip?"

Colleen gripped her hand and broke down, "He's gone dear."

Jane's heart crumbled as she observed Claire's collapse. Heavy sobs escaped her and Erica pulled her against her own chest.

Closing her eyes, Claire cried, "I'm so sorry Colleen and Patrick. He was such a good man, a loving father and son and the love of my life."

Jane could feel Erica start to buckle, so she tightened her hold around her waist and whispered into her ear, "Together we stand strong babe."

The words fortified Erica's resolve and she squared her shoulders.

Six painfully agonising minutes ticked by before Claire reached for her daughter's hand, "There is more, isn't there?"

Jane let go as Erica leaned down and hugged her mother, "Thomas and Jennifer are with dad. I'm so sorry mom."

Claire's right hand grasped Erica's shoulder, "Did they get the cowards?"

"Yes."

"Was it connected to the attempted bombings on Saturday?"

"Yes."

"The bastards," cursed Claire as anger took over. "I hope they rot in hell."

"They will mom," promised Erica before she went on and explained the children's conditions and plans to have everyone moved to Boston.

Too overcome with grief, Claire just nodded then gave into the beckoning call of the pain medication still being pumped through her veins every fifteen minutes.

-o-

Jane sat with Claire later in the afternoon with Braxton snuggled into his grandmother's right side and Emma on the left. The detective was nursing Jacqueline and Erica was on her way to the airport after dropping a weary Patrick and Colleen to the hotel.

Claire cried along with the kids several times, as did Jane. By the time the baby commenced fussing; Nurse Jones was on hand to offer a warmed bottle. Jane gratefully accepted the formula and looked up to find three sets of eyes watching her every move.

Emma yawned before asking, "Who is staying with me tonight?"

Trailing fingers through the child's fair hair, Claire answered, "Great pa and nanna."

"They seep in my bed," offered Braxton. "I stay hotel."

"That's very thoughtful of you," noted Claire.

"Me love them, you too Grandma. Miss Grandpa, mommy and daddy."

"We all will for a very long time," agreed Claire as Emma cuddled into her neck and closed her eyes.

Following suit, Braxton patted his grandmother's arm, "Me seep now."

"Sweet dreams precious boy."

As the private room fell silent apart from the sound of Jacqueline's sucking, Jane looked to Claire, "Erica has been magnificent the past four days."

"I have the feeling she has drawn her strength from you."

"Yes, and I her."

"I am sorry you two have had to postpone your wedding plans."

"We can wait. All that is important is that everyone recovers."

"I saw how my daughter stared at you while you brought Jacqueline in to visit. I am sure she agonised over whether you were prepared to take on three children."

"She did, but I am going nowhere without her or the children. I spoke with my mother earlier and she will visit you as soon as the city is open to travellers again."

"I look forward to thanking her. Jane."

"Yes?"

"I haven't told Erica yet, but I can't go back to the Long Beach house."

"You don't have to. You are more than welcome to stay with us for as long as you want. Erica has even mentioned buying a bigger home so everyone will have a space of their own when they visit. Bob and Rae are moving to Boston as soon as they can, and I know Erica wants the children to be close to all their grandparents."

Heavy sobs preceded Claire's next words, "I am so grateful for all you and Erica have done."

"We are family and have to make changes for the wellbeing of the kids. That includes ensuring you are close at hand and surrounded by the people who love you."

"And that includes us," announced a weeping Marge as she entered the room followed by her husband Ralf.

Jane got up and placed the baby in the mobile bassinet before greeting the couple with hugs and condolences.

Erica walked in as her grandparents comforted her mother. She didn't even bother to hold back the tears; instead she collected Braxton and said goodbye. Jane picked up Jacqueline and walked out with Erica.

-o-

Once Braxton was placed on the couch in Erica and Jane's suite, Jacqueline was tucked into the crib beside the bed. Maura and Ian had been kind enough the set it up when they returned to the hotel earlier.

With a baby monitor in hand, Erica asked Jane, "Are you hungry?"

"Yes, do you want me to order room service?"

"There's no need. Maura has already organised dinner for us."

"In that case, do you want to join me for a shower?"

"You go ahead honey. Jacqueline will wake soon and be looking for a nappy change."

"Okay and after we eat and catch up with Maura and Ian, we are getting some sleep."

Erica acknowledged with a nod before exiting the room.

-o-

The next three days flew by in flash as Erica arranged the transportation of Phillip, Thomas and Jennifer to a Long Beach funeral home for a joint service to be held on Saturday the sixteenth of March. She had spoken to Doctor Shepard he had agreed Claire would be stable and fit for travel on Tuesday the twelfth.

The journey home to Boston had been quicker than planned with Agent Thompson organising a police escort for the ambulance and two accompanying SUVs. Erica had stayed in the back with Emma while the others shared the driving responsibilities between them.

The travellers were greeted at the Charleston home by Angela, Vince, Barry and Anna. Once everyone stopped crying, Emma was set up in a hospital bed in the study when Nurse Olive Strand arrived.

The slim thirty year old brunette Bostonian settled her exhausted patient down with a story before going over her duties with Erica and Jane.

Angela and Colleen were busy in the kitchen heating up dinner, and by six o'clock, luggage had been delivered to the appropriate rooms and the meal served.

Jane and Erica retired to bed a little after ten. Jacqueline was sound asleep in her crib beside Erica's side of the mattress and Braxton was sleeping with Patrick and Colleen in the second bedroom while Bob and Rae took up the third bedroom.

-o-

Erica got up to feed the baby every three hours and Jane was so tired, she slept through until six thirty when the alarm sounded. Opening her eyes, she immediately noted Erica was not in the bed and the bassinet was empty.

Turning off her phone alarm, she toddled into the bathroom and prepared for work. Once she was dressed in a dark blue pants suit and red button down shirt, she went downstairs and found Erica nursing Jacqueline in the study.

Emma smiled as Jane entered the room, "Hi Auntie Jane. I had pancakes for breakfast and feel much better."

Leaning over the bed, Jane kissed Emma on the forehead, "I'm happy to hear that." Straightening up, she pecked Erica on the cheek, "Morning beautiful."

"Good morning honey and there are more pancakes in the oven."

"Thank you."

Colleen stood in the doorway and greeted everyone before taking the baby from Erica, "Go eat while I keep these two gorgeous girls entertained."

"Thanks grandma."

Holding out her left hand, Jane smiled when Erica took a hold.

The couple walked down the hallway a few feet before Erica stopped and locked eyes with Jane, "Are you ready for all the changes that are taking place?"

"Yes, are you?"

"It's happening so fast; I haven't had time to think about it."

"We are surrounded by people who are more than willing to assist. All you have to do is take a step back and let them do stuff while you have a break."

A slight smile ghosted across Erica's features, "I'll try to remember that."

"Good, now let's eat your delicious pancakes and discuss having babies of our own and buying a bigger house."

Erica leaned in and gently kissed Jane's lips, "Okay and I have checked out a couple of properties on the net."

"When did you do that?"

"I was surfing the net at four this morning while feeding Jac."

Jane ushered Erica to a counter stool, "Sit down and I'll grab us breakfast. Just how much sleep did you get?"

"About three hours in total I guess. I stayed in the living room so you weren't disturbed."

"You didn't have to do that babe," replied Jane while passing over a four stack of pancakes.

"I know, but you have work today and I don't. I'll have a nap sometime during the day."

"You better, because I don't want you to wear yourself out."

"I won't honey and you look really good this morning."

Smiling at the first indication of interest shown by Erica since the tragedy, Jane sat down beside her and kissed her cheek, "Thank you." Her eyes roamed over Erica's outfit of black basketball shorts and white tank top before holding her gaze, "You look scrumptious."

Casting her eyes downwards, Erica dismissed the comment and took a bite of her pancakes.

Jane wasn't about to let the action go by, "You can still show emotion towards me Erica. You don't have to close yourself off from me."

"I can't entertain the idea of being intimate just right now."

"Why not?"

"It wouldn't be right."

"Says who?"

"Me," replied Erica as tears overflowed the rims of her eyes.

Jane wrapped her arms around the blonde, "Don't cry babe."

"I can't help it. I shouldn't be thinking about making love to you while all this crap is happening."

"Sometimes people need to feel close to the one they love when someone dies. It reminds them they are still alive and can feel."

"I know that, but there is this emptiness inside me."

"I feel it too Erica, but I am still in love with you and want to touch you. That emotion hasn't changed. I want to make love with you and lose myself in the connection we create together."

"I don't think I can, not yet anyway."

"Erica, I am not asking you to ravish me this very moment. I just don't want you turning away from me."

"I understand and maybe in time, I will be rid of this blackness inside my heart."

"Oh sweetheart," replied Jane before kissing Erica on the cheek again. "I am right here whenever you need me."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

Any further discussion was put on hold when an eye rubbing Braxton ambled into the kitchen, "Hi, me ungry."

Erica jumped off her seat and picked him up, "Lucky for you, I made pancakes."

"Yummy for me," he cheered. "You crying?"

"Yes, but I'm okay." Erica sat her nephew on a stool and went to the oven.

Jane finished her meal in silence then went upstairs to collect her equipment. Returning to the kitchen, she pecked Braxton and Erica on the head before saying goodbye to Colleen and Emma.

-o-