A/N: Prompt from 67blackbelt, I had to flip a coin for this because it was requested for either a follow up to the sex talk from Last Unbroken Heart or go more into Kris' injuries. The injuries won and I decided to take that from there.

Disclaimer: Read Ch. 1

Does It Go Away?

Jane's POV

It had been a whole year since Adrian Marx's death and a whole year since Maura decided to foster Kris before we adopted her. The first winter snow had come down with Kris shoveling the driveway while Tommy and TJ played in the snow with Jo Friday. I noticed that Maura was standing at the porch with a cup of coffee in hand with one of Kris' leather jackets on.

I had learned quite quickly that Maura loved Kris' jacket. Like with my shirts, Maura adored to wear a certain piece of clothing that reminded her of us. Kris' jacket held a certain scent on the vanilla and cinnamon that Kris gave. I walked out and wrapped my arms around her waist, kissing her cheek. "Kris slaving away," I joked softly.

"She's almost done and I have a cup of hot chocolate ready for her," Maura retorted.

I held my sweet girlfriend close while watching Kris finish the last bit of shoveling before rubbing her arms then her right hand. I gave a sad smile before I asked softly, "How is she doing?"

Maura looked up, "I've try to talk to her about it but she's avoiding it. She doesn't want the negative part of her life to damper the holiday, she said. I think she'd already visited Price."

"I think so too."

"Hey, you guys are going to let the cold air in the house," Kris stated as she quickly walked up to us. She then walked passed both of us to take off her jacket and beanie and quickly walked over to the counter. She lifted the cup up and took a big sip before she hummed in approval, "This is soooooo good."

"Glad you like it, Kris," Maura giggled. We walked back inside and closed the door, letting Tommy and TJ continue their playing before Maura asked casually, "Are you going to do anything with Aaron?"

Kris shook her head, "No, Aaron is leaving for Ireland to spend the holidays with his grandparents."

Then the door opened with TJ and Tommy walking in. TJ had begun to walk early and immediately he began to look for his best friend. He looked up with a smile as he slowly trotted to Kris whose sleeves were roll up with the scars showing. "Kis," he gently called for Kris with his arms open.

Kris smiled and took another sip before she lifted the little boy up. "Boy, you are getting heavy buddy," she stated.

We watched with smiles on our faces of the sight before TJ gently touched the scars on Kris' arms. Maura's breath hitched as I watched Kris anxiously for this was the first time TJ addressed them. He ran his fingers along a couple of them before looking up with a curious look, "Boo boo?"

I bit my lower lip while Tommy watched with us. Kris looked down at her arms before giving a small nod, "Yes, those are boo boos."

"Hurt?"

Kris nodded a bit. Then the next thing that happened literally almost broke my heart. TJ looked up at Kris before kissing her chin then kissing on the scars then softly said, "Beter?"

I watched, as Kris looked at him speechless, tears were ready to spring out of her eyes as she nodded, "Yeah…all better." She walked over to us and handed TJ to Maura before walking down the hallway and entering her bedroom, closing the door.

Tommy went over to Maura, grabbing TJ. "I'm so sorry guys, I didn't expect-"

"It's okay, Tommy. Kris knows that TJ means well. It's just this time of the year, Kris is reflecting about certain things," Maura assured.

I nodded in agreement, "We'll talk to her. We'll see you later, little bro." Tommy nodded and walked out of the house with TJ while I looked back at Maura, "How are we going to do this?"

Maura took my hand and kissed it gently, "We'll handle this together."

Kris' POV

"Does it burn, Kris? Deal with the pain."

"Stop…stop it."

"You are just like me."

It stills a nightmare that haunts me at night. I sometimes think that this life I have now is my mind trying to formulate to escape from the pain. I sometimes think I'm still with Adrian being tortured and that Maura and Jane weren't really but something I created. Then I would wake up and realize that I was still here in my room with my parents down the hallway.

I ran my hand down my scars before tracing the one scar that TJ kissed softly. I adored the little boy so much but I just wished that he didn't have to see them. One day, he would have to find out when he's older. "Kris," I glanced up to see Jane and Maura entering the room.

Maura entered first and sat on one side then Jane set on the other. She touched my cheek softly, "Kris, are you okay?"

"Hmm yeah, I'm fine. I'm just feeling sick that's all," I let out a fake cough.

"Kris, please don't lie. I know that affected you."

I took a deep breath and looked down before looking back at them. "Still gets to me, you know," I told them softly.

Jane rubbed my back and took my right hand. "You don't talk about it and all we know that you were tortured, Kris but you never go into detail about it," Jane pointed out.

I shook my head, "That's because I relive it in my nightmares and I already had to talk to a doctor." I suddenly realized my slip up because I noticed Jane and Maura's expression went from worry to shock. They knew that I was adamant about not talking to doctor, let alone a shrink. Maura looked at me and I sighed again, "Yeah, I've talked with a shrink before."

"I thought you didn't talk to one," Maura mentioned.

I shook my head, "It wasn't my favorite idea but the hospital wanted to see my mental state."

"Kris, I know you don't like talking about," Maura then touched my cheek to make me face her. I looked into her hazel eyes before I looked away, "Please don't shut us out. We are here for you because you are our daughter."

"No matter what," Jane reassured.

I then looked down flexing my hands, "My nightmares become almost life like and I'm not even experiencing it. I'm watching my younger self getting tortured and it just makes the scars sting as if they were brand new." I then ran my finger against the scar, "Sometimes the scars would scab and Adrian would reopen them…" I swallowed the thick lump in my throat, "He would bind me in a chair and just practice with his knife. One or two times at least, giving new scars. After I was unbound, I would use a piece of clothing to cover it. He laughed at my pain and ridiculed at my weakness. I could not fight back. These are just signs and reminders how weak I am."

"That's bullshit," my head snapped up toward Maura.

"You just cussed…"

"I know I did but that's because what you said about you being weak is bullshit. Kris, you are strong and determined. These scars like Jane's are a testament of how strong and courageous you are."

"Maura's right," Jane pointed out. She lifted her hands then took my right hand to compare scars before she stated, "You have fought back and do you remember what you said when I told you to leave?"

"When do I ever listen," I chuckled.

Jane smiled, "You do sometimes but that's because you are stubborn." She rubbed my hand a bit then rubbed my arms before kissing my forehead, "We've been through hell and back, Kiddo. Bullets and knives for us with an occasional fight."

I let out a small chuckle before I looked down, "Does it ever go away, Ma?"

Jane looked down at my hand then lifted my chin up to face her. She gave a sad smile at me then said softly, "It doesn't go away fully. The nightmares and all but the feeling of being broken goes because you have her," she pointed to Maura then pointed back at herself, "and me who love you."

I closed my eyes resting my head on Jane's shoulder feeling her hug me. I then felt Maura lean against my body, hugging me softly as she whispered, "We are here for you, no matter what."

"Always…"

I smiled a bit; Always…I like the sound of that.

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