Chapter 37

Maura sits in her car staring blankly out the window. Her cell phone sits on her lap, she stopped checking it about ten minutes ago. She was waiting for Dr. Becher's phone call, waiting to hear that Jane is alive and asking for her. Maura never made it out of the hospital parking garage, she had no idea where to go, she was lost without Jane. Just as she began to wipe at the tears that were flowing freely from her cheeks with the palms of her hands she was startled by a knock on her driver side window.

Maura stared at the stranger standing outside her car, He had a smug smile on his face and stood with his hands in his pockets. Maura asked "Yes , can I help you." Through the window.

The man used his hand to gesture for Maura to roll down her window. "We need to talk Maura."

Maura was startled that the man knew her name, but decided to roll her window down anyway. She was feeling somewhat safe in the busy garage, and not thinking to clearly as her mind was elsewhere. "Is there something I can help you with."

"Flannigan sends his regards, he wants you to know that Jane's debt has been paid. You and your family are safe now."

Maura was stunned at the mans audacity to approach her just a mere hour after Jane's passing. She was outraged that they would smugly rub this fact in her face. The man had already turned and began to walk away when Maura stepped out of her car slamming the door behind her. "How dare you, you smug little bastard. You tell Flannigan that His days are numbered I will spend the rest of my life making his miserable, do you hear me?" she shouted.

The stranger kept his back turned to Maura until she got within inches of the man when he spun around on her and pulled his Jacket back revealing a hand gun, he smiled "Why don't you do your self a favor and move on, there's only one way this can end for you, you end up just like your beloved." He stated

Maura reached her hand out to slap the man across the face, but he was quicker than her. He grabbed hold of her wrist and pulled her in to him, so that it would appear to passing strangers that they were merely hugging. He put his lips to her ear as she struggled to free her self. " Listen bitch, if you're as smart as they say you are you'll turn around and drive away, forgetting all about this. If not than you'll have two dead children to go along with that dead wife of yours." He freed Maura from his grasp, she stood there glaring at him. Maura decided that if she wanted to keep her kids safe she would not provoke the man further, she just reminded herself that soon men like him would no longer have control over her.

Maura began to walk backwards before turning towards her car, as she reached the door she stopped and looked over her shoulder, thinking to herself that she would make this man pay for threatening her children's lives. She than got back in to her car and pulled out of the parking space as the threatening stranger stood and watched. Maura started out for her home needing to be close to her children, just as she pulled in to her driveway her phone rang.

Maura's bluetooth screen read out Korsak. Maura closed her eyes trying to settle the beating in her chest as she thought the call would have been from Dr. Becher. She reached out to hit the accept button on the screen, it all seemed to be happening in slow motion to her. There was silence for a minute before Korsak spoke up. "Maura...Maura...you there?"

Maura opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. "Maura talk to me." Korsak said.

"Yes...I'm here Vince." Maura stated.

"Are you ok?" Korsak asked.

Maura thought as how to answer his question, she was in no way okay, but there was nothing he could do to make things better. She inhaled deeply than responded. "What can I do for you detective Korsak."

Korsak could tell by the shake to her voice and the way in which she responded to him that she was not okay, he also knew not to push Maura when she was deeply troubled. "I just wanted you to know that I'm here for you, and everything will be ok soon."

"Thank you Vince, I appreciate the sentiment." Maura responded.

Maura disconnected the phone call, she sat in the car for a moment more calming herself. She knew she had to face her children and there many questions about Jane. Maura knew that she could not lie to her children, but she did not want to break there hearts when she knew in hers that Jane would be coming home to them. She had to be believable though seeing as there was audio devices in her home, the ruse had to continue for now. Maura took a few deep breaths and checked her self in the rear view mirror before shutting her car off. Just as she opened the door and was set to step out her burner phone began to ring again. Not wanting to get her hopes up again she stepped out of her car and closed the door before she looked down to the screen of her phone. Maura's heart began to beat fast and her hands seemed to shake uncontrollably to the point she almost dropped her phone.

"Hello." Maura said.

"Maura can you talk freely?" Dr. Becher asked.

"Give me one minute." Maura said as she simultaneously tried to get back in to her car. She was sure there was no audio devices in her car, but she didn't want to talk out in the open. Maura slammed the door shut, took a calming breath and spoke. " I'm ready."

"There's someone here who needs to talk to you." Dr. Becher said.

There was a few moments of quiet before Maura heard the sweet sound of Jane's raspy voice. "Hi babe, we did it." Jane said.

Maura placed her hand over her mouth to hush the sob that came forth. Her eyes were immediately filled with tears, she was so relieved to hear from the one person she has been craving. As happy as she was initially she soon became filled with worry as her brain caught up with her heart and she registered the strain in Jane's voice. "Jane, sweetie, are you okay?" Maura asked.

"Me, I'm terrific." Jane responded with a chuckle that turned in to a cough and gasping. This terrified Maura she screamed over the phone. "JANE...JANE...WHAT'S HAPPENING?"

"Maura it's Dr. Becher Jane can't talk right now..." He was interrupted by Maura. "Why can't she, what's going on?"

"Maura we had to place Jane on a non-rebreather to give her some oxygen. There was a complication..."

Maura cut the doctor off again. " What kind of complication? You should have called sooner, where are you?"

"Maura, Maura please, try to calm down I'll explain everything to you when you get here. Meet us at North Shore Hospital in Salem, are you familiar with it?" Dr. Becher asked.

"Yes, yes I am. How will I find you?" Maura asked.

"Call me when you get here and I will meet you in the lobby. I had to call in a few favors but Jane was admitted here under a false name. we just arrived a short while ago, I would of called sooner but this was the first time I could get to a secluded phone." Dr. Becher said.

"I'm sorry Dr. Becher I know you are doing all you can to help us..I...I just." Maura couldn't continue as she began to cry, desperately clutching her hand to her lips to muffle the sound of her sobs.

"I understand Maura...Just drive carefully, Jane needs you as much as you need her." Dr. Becher said.

"I will, please tell her I love her and I'll be there soon." Maura said as she heard the doctor agree to relay that information to Jane before hanging up. Maura leaned her head back against the head rest and closed her eyes letting the sobbing cries that were absorbing her body take over. After a few minutes Maura was able to get her emotions under control, he looked in the mirror once again and noticed just how exhausted she looked. As much as she needed o get to Jane she knew she should take five minutes to go in the house and freshen up up her face, it would do no good to have Jane worrying for her if she showed up looking the way she did.

Maura walked in to the house quietly not wanting to wake the kids or Angela up as she was sure they must be sleeping by now. As she made her way to her bedroom she stopped to look at a picture that hung in the hallway, it was one of Jane and her sleeping in the hammock outside. She placed two fingers on Jane's face and said. "I'll see you soon love."

Back at the hospital Jane was struggling to catch her breath and the doctors were doing all they could to help. Jane began to panic as she was unable to breathe. "Mrs. D'renda we are going to give you some medication to help you relax, if that doesn't help you breathe easier do you wish to be intubated?"

Jane shook her head yes, she was attempting to sit up as she held on to the side rails of the bed, but her body was to weak. She looked over to where Dr. Becher stood, her eye's open wide silently pleading with him, he understood immediately. He walked closer to Jane, placing his hand over hers on the rail. " I'll tell her Jane...I'll tell her everything."

Jane placed her other hand over there hands on the rail and shook her head yes, she moved her lips trying to talk, but was unable. She squeezed his hand staring straight in to his eye's, she could hear faint noises in the room but it just sounded like she was underwater. The room started to become dark until there was nothing but blackness and the sound of her heart monitor flat lining.

A/N Next chapter will be up shortly, so don't worry I won't leave you hanging like this to long.