Author's Note: This has taken entirely too long and I don't blame anyone for abandoning this story. For those of you that haven't…thanks for sticking around!

Bail

Chapter 38

Maura applied some lip gloss and checked out her reflection in the mirror. It had been a merciless week, both professionally and personally. At the sink next to her, a woman politely smiled then placed her hands under the automatic faucet. The tightness in her shoulders and back begged for a masseuse's attention. Maura sighed and fiddled with her hair.

"I feel like a criminal every time I come here."

"Well, it is a facility that houses offenders and the accused." The tentative smile on the medical examiner's face drooped when the other women looked displeased.

"That don't mean they gotta treat me like a criminal."

Washing her hands, Maura spouted, "In the mid-seventies a panel of experts from the penal system and a few leading sociologists embarked upon a decade long study—"

"Hold up!" The woman held out a hand like a crossing guard, flipping her hair over her shoulder with the other one. "Are you like for real? Are you some kinda lawyer or like one of them shrinks my Alonso has to see or something?"

Puzzled, Maura considered the woman's questions, unconcerned by the growing silence between them. "Actually, I'm the Chief Medical Examiner for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I do have a medical degree, forensics pathology—"

"You're the Grissom!"

"My name isn't—"

"How the hell you don't know about CSI? It's like based on you people and shit."

Maura pulled a sheet from the paper towel dispenser and dried her hands before replying. "It's a common misperception about the responsibilities of a medical examiner—"

The woman clapped her hands then pumped a fist in the air. "I knew it! You're the Grissom. Oooh, I need a selfie with you, girl. Aint nobody gonna believe I met—"

Politely, Maura demurred, explaining, "I'm here on official—"

"Somebody got killed? Who is it?" The woman became overwrought, fingers clutching Maura's wrist. "Oh, my god, not my Alonso!"

Intending to allay the woman's anxiety, Maura placed a comforting hand on the woman's shoulder. "I'm unaware of any descendants in the facility at this time although I'm often not paged—"

The woman cocked her head, frowning. "What else a Grissom got to do but get the body? What other things you gotta do being all official?"

Maura checked her watch, her brows arching in surprise. "I'm sorry but I have to—"

"Oh, say no more, girl!" She made a turning key movement over her lips. "On the downlow. Say no more."

If she could have spared a few minutes, Maura would have questioned the lady's vernacular but Jane was waiting. Three days had gone by since she last saw her girlfriend, each day bringing its own brand of frustration. A few hurried, impersonal phone calls did little in the way of relationship sustenance. The last thing she envisioned was spending the visitor's hour with someone other than Jane. Maura smiled, murmured some courteous words then left the restroom.

Jail décor was minimalist, following institutional design principles that touted function over beauty and low budget over lavishness. Dressed in the latest fashion and accessories, Maura glided through the hallways like a strange and exotic apparition. Eyes, hardened by years of an authoritarian environment, surreptitiously followed her progress. No man, from trustee to guard, was exempt from noticing, from appreciating. Blind to the attention she accumulated, Maura's thoughts were turned inward. With each step, it brought her closer to seeing Jane, perhaps even touching her, although she was aware such contact was frowned upon, if not prohibited. After the robotic pat-down and metal detector sweep, Maura was being guided through a set of double locking doors.

When the door was opened, she held back, only to acclimate herself to the noise level and to search the tables for a particular brunette. The plastic chairs and tables were reminiscent of preschool furniture although of a larger size. Mostly women populated the room, a few men scattered throughout, presumably relatives and boyfriends. Several young boys were in attendance as well, either sitting on their mother's laps or showing off. Maura systematically combed through the faces until, finally, she found Jane's who was sitting at a table in the back row. All else receded into the distance as their eyes held. Maura made her way through the maze of chairs and tables and people. Her heart beat a little faster with every inch she covered across the shiny linoleum floor. Hardly aware of grinning, Maura easily slipped into a chair.

"Hey." Jane said, voice a little gruff.

"Hey back."

They absorbed the sight of one another without a thick Plexiglas barrier separating them. Maura noticed the strain around Jane's eyes and the lines cradling her mouth.

"Did you get the transfer—"

"Yeah, thanks for putting the money in the trust account." Jane's smile was wry, one brow elevated as she said, "Five hundred was a little excessive. I thought there were limits?"

"Gotta make sure your books is flush so you can go to the A&P."

Jane kept her jaw in place but there was little she could do about the sparkle in her eyes. "Um, did Frost put you up to that?"

The pleased smile spreading across her face was answer enough but she expanded, "I practiced it in the mirror for days." Maura frowned. "I searched YouTube for videos of actual ex-prisoners—"

Jane began to laugh, partially covering her mouth with spread fingers. "You really rock that prison-speak, honey."

Eagerly, Maura replied, "The term 'books' refers to your trust account, 'flush' means financially viable and 'A&P' is the commissary."

"No more hanging out with Frost." Mock-frowning, Jane's hand rested on the table then slowly crept further, until the tips of her fingers touched Maura's forearm.

"Barry assured me the vernacular would be suitably—"

"You did great, baby." Jane's fingers swirled across Maura's skin, leaving tiny bumps in their wake.

"Have you met with your lawyer today?"

"Prentiss said he's coming by sometime. He thinks he may have—" Distracted by the commotion across the room, Jane stopped talking. Two guards, one carrying a vest, were suited up in riot gear and making their way toward them. "Something's going down, Maur."

Before she could reply, the guards were on either side of Jane.

"Put this on." One ordered, thrusting the vest at Jane while the other stood by protectively.

"What's going on?" Maura asked but remained seated, warily eying the men.

Jane obeyed, shrugging into the body armor, her face expressionless.

"We've received a threat." Although Maura was the one to ask, the guard directed his answer at Jane. "Visitation is over, ma'am."

"Get in touch with Prentiss, Maura. Everything's gonna be fine, okay?"

Incapable of remaining seated, Maura rose, chin held defiantly. "Who's threatened her?"

The guard nearest to Maura advanced upon her while the other one yanked Jane back by the elbow. Immediately tension filled the air. Jane struggled to maintain her composure but Maura's expression clearly displayed fear.

"It's going to be okay, baby." Smiling, Jane quirked an eyebrow. "They're just protecting everybody by putting me in isolation."

An unwilling half-smile curved Maura's lips upward but the worried frown remained. "Don't…don't let anything happen to her."

Without comment, the guards escorted Jane away. Watching for as long as possible over her shoulder, she tried to impart confidence and reassurance for Maura's sake. The last thing Jane saw was Maura's shoulders collapse from their stiff, straight posture.

XXX

Arriving at the precinct, Maura's emotions were once again hidden by a cool veneer. Eyes downcast, she made her way through the crowded lobby and then security. Anxiety filled her. Although Jane was safely sequestered, the knowledge didn't have the reassuring impact Maura would have assumed. The reason for such measures hadn't been explained and thus added an ominous pall, one that heightened the stress. The only way to dissipate it was to embark upon a fact-finding mission. With haste, Maura descended the stairs to the morgue, intent on reaching her office. No one detained her as she weaved her way through the dimly lit corridors, the clicking of her heels the only sound breaking the stillness. Before locking herself in the office, Maura sent Criminalist Chang to the biochem lab across town with some 'urgent' samples that required testing. When Suzy looked at her, Maura concocted an excuse, too preoccupied to notice the other woman's perplexed expression.

Finally ensconced within the walls of her locked office, she dialed Jane's attorney.

"Reginald, I've just come from the jail visiting Jane. They took her into protective custody. Evidently, someone threatened her."

"That's rather fortunate news, Maura."

"You need to explain that."

"A threat upon her life will help expedite matters."

Maura stifled an exasperated groan. "What 'matters', Reginald, and for God's sake stop being so cryptic!"

"The bond posted but she'll still need to process out which can take several hours—"

"And you'll use the threat to get her out faster?"

"Precisely."

Trapping the phone between her shoulder and cheek, Maura began to grab her things. "I'll meet you—"

"It may take a few hours regardless and there's no reason for you to rush over there only to stand around waiting. I'm cautiously optimistic I'll have Jane out by the end of the business day if all goes well, Maura."

All she really wanted was to go to the detective. Being as close as she was earlier hadn't been enough, restricted as they were by jail rules. It had been a mixture of torment and comfort but now that she realized Jane's arrival was impending, the urge to finally touch her overwhelming. Excitement raced through her veins, nearly making her giddy. Unable to focus, Maura made a uncharacteristically quick decision.

"Keep me informed and bring her to her parent's house."

"Of course."

Before he could ring off, Maura absently pressed the end button and slid the phone in her back pocket. There were calls and arrangements to be made in anticipation of Jane's homecoming. Maura signed onto the desktop and checked her Outlook calendar, relieved to find she didn't have anything she couldn't reschedule. When Suzy returned Maura informed her she was taking personal time for the rest of the day.

"Excuse me, Dr. Isles, but they're sending over a victim—"

"Yes, thank you, Suzy, but I've already spoken with Dr. Morgan. She'll be coming in early."

With a few last minute instructions, Maura felt more confident leaving, procuring a promise from the other woman to call if a problem arose. A weak twinge of guilt wasn't enough to change her mind, especially when compared to the avalanche of trust that told her she was doing the right thing.

XXX

Frost and Korsak were the first ones to arrive after Maura. Angela was busy in the kitchen while her husband perfunctorily vacuumed the carpet in the living room. Tommy was oddly absent although everyone assumed he would eventually attend his sister's impromptu reception. After all, Maura had left a voicemail.

"We haven't had a chance to chat, Maura. Hand me that wooden spoon, would yah?"

Obediently she retrieved one from the small stoneware crock pot jammed pack with other utensils. A miniscule chill travelled down the length of her spine, causing fine hairs to raise. Countless hours had been spent in Angela Rizzoli's company but this was the first time Maura experienced an ounce of insecurity. The last few months had been fraught with so many dramatic changes, she hadn't had the chance to evaluate the repercussions.

Maura deferred to the older woman's inclination, mutely leaning against the kitchen island.

"So…you and my Janie?"

Red flared briefly in her cheeks but Maura's gaze didn't fluctuate. "Yes."

With studied nonchalance Angela stirred the bubbling tomato sauce then carefully tasted it. "Needs more oregano. Ever since Janie was a little girl she was always so rough and tumble, hated to be made a fuss over, you know?"

Maura's lips curved upward as she sipped some wine.

"When the boys came along, she was more like a big brother than sister. I didn't know what to make of it, Maura. Always so stubborn and independent! Everybody else's little girls were so sweet, like little miniatures of their mothers." Angela tossed some grated parmesan into the sauce, then swirled it in with a few strokes of the spoon. Satisfied with it, she lowered the burner and commenced to heating up a skillet on the other front burner.

"Well, she certainly looks lovely in a dress now."

Chuckling, Angela poured some olive oil into the pan and stocked it with sweet Italian sausage links. "She cleans up well, that one. I didn't hafta worry about her, you know? Janie was born knowing what to do, how to act—not like Tommy and even Frankie to a point. Now, them, they ran around wild and if it wasn't for their big sister keeping them in line, who knows how they woulda turned out!"

Maura smiled outright.

"With all that, I knew her path was gonna have a lot more bumps than most girls. I told Frank too many times to count how worried I was our Janie wouldn't find someone, wouldn't settle down. 'Course we thought it was gonna be with a man…"

Shifting slightly, Maura asked, "Are you…disappointed?"

There was a moment of absolute stillness while each woman gauged the other.

Angela answered, "Can't say that I am, Maura. You're a good influence on my daughter and I've never seen her so happy."

The breath she didn't know she had been holding eased out of Maura slowly. Tears pricked her eyes as gratitude wound its way around her heart. Such approval hadn't been on her list of considerations. If Maura were honest with herself, with everything going on, she hadn't taken the time to reflect upon all the changes. Angela's unprompted revelation was a moment Maura cherished because it signified she finally belonged, that she had a place to go and she was definitely welcomed.

"I'm in love with her."

"So…when you guys gonna make it official?"

Perplexed, Maura waited a beat. "Being gay isn't something you have to apply for, Angela. There's not a certificate or official document."

"Oh, you got jokes!" Angela playfully wagged a finger in front of Maura's face. "No, seriously, when are you two gonna get married and have grandbabies?"

Eyes wide and mouth open, Maura was completely nonplussed. Still in its infancy, her relationship with Jane wasn't mapped out. She hadn't discussed anything with her. They did, however, broach the subject of cohabitating, a fact she didn't feel the need to broadcast as yet. The pressure mounted. Maura shrugged noncommittally and offered a rickety smile.

Saving her from further embarrassment, Korsak entered the kitchen. "I was just gonna get something to drink." His look went from one woman to the other trying to decide if a cold beer was worth being caught up in something men generally didn't want to partake in.

Angela opened the refrigerator and withdrew two bottles of beer. "Give one to Barry."

Again, his gaze bounced between them, uncertainty making him tentative. "Um, okay. Thanks Angela."

"Vince, lemme ask you somethin'."

A sinking sensation overtook Maura's stomach. Quickly she searched for a diversion but came up empty. Dread teemed in her chest. For his part, Korsak knew enough to be suspicious but not enough to know about what. Trapped, all he could do was nod.

"If Janie's the top—or dominant one that makes Maura a bottom, right? So, does she carry the baby?"

Korsak's head swung in Maura's direction, his bushy eyebrows crinkled. His cheeks puffed out then he released the heavy breath, eyes pleading with Maura. She turned away, fingers pressed against her lips. Korsak suddenly realized he was on his own.

"Uh, I think…I hear Frost." Cautiously he backed away, beer cans clutched in his fists.

When he left, Angela looked at Maura and asked, "What's the matter with him?"

"I…don't know."

Angela returned to the sausages, moved them around the pan with the wooden spoon. "I can tell you I sure am glad they let Janie out on bail." Adjusting the flame, her expression softened. "I don't know how to thank you, Maura."

Voice husky with suppressed emotion, Maura murmured, "There's no need."

"Hey, Ma!" Frankie burst in, the undercurrents barely registering. "I walk in on somethin'?"

"Have you thanked Maura for posting bail for your sister?"

Frankie's dark lashes swept downward as he gnawed on his bottom lip. His mother expectantly waited, the wooden spoon creeping higher, at the ready.

"Maura, we really appreciate it. Seriously." The huskiness in his voice was reminiscent of his sister's contralto albeit a shade deeper. Dark brown eyes looked into hers with a sincerity that touched her heart.

For a moment, she was disarmed, a little embarrassed, but mostly humble. Frankie usually came across as a wise-ass, eager to point out the humor in things but when he decided to be earnest, it could soften the heart of the hardest person.

"You're welcome." She replied, the slight blush on her cheeks visible.

"Well, you are family, Maura." He said, a smirk developing on his face. "So, don't expect we're gonna pay yah back or nothin."

Angela shooed him out of the kitchen, remonstrating about his uncouth jokes. Maura dodged a small splatter of tomato sauce when the older woman waved the wooden spoon, yelling threats at her retreating son.

"Oh, hell, would yah look at that? I'm soooo sorry, Maura."

Before Angela could assist in any way, Maura politely evaded her attempts. "You missed me by a mile, Angela. No harm done."

Frost burst into the kitchen carrying a case of beer. "Frankie said to bring you this." Sans jacket and tie, he appeared more relaxed.

Angela doled out directions while she plucked the sausages out of the frying pan and into the sauce pot. Once Barry unboxed the beer and placed the bottles on the lower shelf, he grabbed a few and winked at Maura.

"Have you spoken to Tommy today?" Maura asked quietly, her back turned to Angela to offer some sort of privacy.

A frown spoiled the smoothness of his face. Covertly he watched Angela but spoke to Maura in low tones. "Something isn't right. He's blown off all my texts and calls."

"I wonder if everything's alright…."