Thank you all so much for the kind reviews! Thought I'd get nothing. But we all got through the great "Breakdown of 2017" in one piece! I was truly upset because I was so proud of the last chapter and so scared that no one would get to read it! Y'all found it! (Thanks LUCKYPENGUINBUDDY for your help…wink, wink!). I love so much that I'm living up to your high expectations, thus far, post after post! (No pressure, huh? Haha!).

And extra thanks to those that played along with my hidden Easter eggs!

Afret2010, dlfngrl05 and SteltZ nailed the Drusilla reference! Kudos and thanks for your feedback! I actually met Juliet Landau at a ComiCon in Orlando and she's super sweet! I asked her to say something to me as if she were Drusilla and she immediately went into character and slayed me! It was nuts! Loved it!

Also met James (Spike) Marsters that same day…he has very soft hands! Swoon!

And for dlfngrl05, you went above and beyond and tried for the double play! But sadly, you didn't find my second egg…so here it is!

"Don't let them bury me! I'm not dead!" is from the movie "the Serpent and the Rainbow" starring a very young Bill Pullman.

And here is my next offering senza distractions…

Jane doesn't need them right now…she's got a lot of shit on her plate…more than even she knows.

Listening to Elvis...Can't Help Falling In love. Maura loves Elvis.

Chapter 50

I only own this story.

Korsak wheeled the generator back into the garage, making sure it was repositioned exactly where Maura had left it, knowing that the doctor was a stickler for precision and order...a place for everything and everything in its place.

Even though he hadn't known Maura for very long, he could tell by the way she kept her house and her vehicle, she was unapologetically organized and scrupulous. One look around the garage testified to that fact. Not only was every tool that she owned hanging in its spot on the pegboard and labeled, the floor of the garage itself was absolutely showroom spotless.

He knew that being an accomplished and highly sought after CME in such a large city demanded this attention to detail.

Her lab and morgue would probably only confirm his assumptions. Even though she'd only been on the job for less than a day before her life took an unexpected turn, he was certain that she'd already put her stamp of excellence on everything she had touched thus far, demanding the same attention to detail from her staff, accepting nothing less than their very best, briefing them all about her high standards as soon as she took office.

He was also pretty sure that the entire staff were immediately just as enthralled with their new superior as he was, secretly pledging amongst themselves to do their best very for her.

Maura had that effect on people…blind allegiance. She was a born leader, the Council most likely having a hand in her abilities.

Korsak didn't care about any of that, however. He knew that Dr. Isles was more than the sum of her parts, the Council's influence be damned. She brought more to the table then just what the Council "engineered" her to bring.

At any rate, she would be a welcomed departure from the bumbling and incompetent Dr. Pike.

Korsak also knew that the Commonwealth was lucky to have landed her. From everything he'd heard about Dr. Isles, she could've had her choice of promotions and jurisdictions, not only stateside, but internationally, as well.

He knew nothing about the Council's involvement in her appointment.

He wasn't privy to anything outside of his given dictation unless Jane told him herself. He kept his head down and his mind sharp, asking no unnecessary questions, needing no answers…a true Watcher.

Had he not known anything about the woman who lived here in the house he was currently watching over and protecting, he might've jumped to the conclusion that she was bordering on slightly obsessive about organization and symmetry. But since he did now know Maura, he dismissed those thoughts, understanding she just needed order in her own space only…but she could be flexible.

After all, she had allowed both Jane and himself in that same space for the past five days without complaint or quarrel, never restricting their access or questioning their motives, trusting them out of hand.

Plus, Maura had spent almost two days with Jane in her apartment, not once trying to reorganize, alphabetize or rearrange, much to Korsak's amusement because he was pretty sure she had wanted to several times.

Jane was an exemplary Sentinel, detective and friend, but a housekeeper…she was not.

Korsak laughed to himself at the thought of Jane's messy apartment as he moved the empty gasoline containers to the side, lining them up all together against the wall next to Maura's loaner Audi, readying them to be refilled at his earliest convenience. He had often ribbed her gently on her less than stellar domestic skills.

She had merely told him on more than one occasion that if he thought she needed a maid, then he should just hire her one and stop riding her ass about a few dishes in the sink, an unmade bed and an occasional pile of dirty clothes littering her living room floor. She was a Sentinel, not a housewife!

Shaking his head and chuckling, he walked to the door that led into the house and hit the button that lowered the overhead garage door itself, waiting until it was flush with the floor of the garage before opening it, turning and surveying the area once more. Satisfied that nothing or no one had entered, he flicked off the light and closed the door behind him, turning the locks soundly into their housings.

The power had been restored and the generator had automatically shut off only an hour or so ago, the rain finally stopping but the wind still occasionally whipping around the house. He had leaned over and walked under the half opened overhead garage door earlier to make sure that the entire neighborhood had power and not just Maura's home, the wind rustling the leaves on the trees in the small front yard.

Vampires with a vendetta could be sneaky.

It was completely alight, overhead lamps illuminating the street in front of Maura's house and down the block as well, the wet pavement shining in their glow, broken tree limbs, big and small, littering the entire area.

He had stood in the middle of her driveway and turned slowly around in a complete circle, eyes scanning for any activity, paying extra attention to her roof and trees, the wind ruffling his salt and pepper hair, fluttering the black raincoat he still wore.

Nothing seemed amiss. He'd walked towards the garage backwards, eyes scanning everything, ducking under and then picking up the gas containers.

After he'd locked the garage door, he walked through the house and opened the front door, flipping on the porch light, walking out into the middle of the yard. He turned and looked back at the house once again, just to be vigilant, scanning the roofline one last time.

Vampires with an agenda could also be stealthy.

Many, both good and bad, now knew about Maura's turning. His sources and informants had been texting him diligently with their information throughout the last few days. He'd made sure that Jane knew nothing of it. He'd had her "blacked out" since she'd begun the turning process with Maura. Her own informants were now forbidden to contact her until the process was finished, one way or the other.

Only the Council itself was exempt from his order.

This was when he was in his element and as much as he hated to have to do it, he knew it was necessary, to keep both Jane and Maura safe.

Protecting Jane was his calling and he was good at it, but keeping her in the dark about certain issues that he knew she didn't really need to concern herself with was an art.

She was very astute and observant to a fault, which is why she was an exceptional detective. However, keeping her mind centered on the things she should be concerned with was, at times, tricky. She felt that she needed to be informed of everything that was happening around her, even the most trivial of events. This was Jane's need to assert control and power over her life.

Which is why she was an exceptional Sentinel, as well.

Korsak was her buffer, telling Jane only what was necessary to insure she did her job to the best of her ability, not cluttering her mind with meaningless and irrelevant twaddle.

Maura was Jane's priority right now and he needed to keep her on task and focused. He would take care of everything else.

The last time he'd checked on Jane, she'd been snuggled up behind Maura, spooning her, arm thrown protectively over her mate, asleep, as she should be. They both needed their rest desperately, but Jane especially. She was exhausted, both mentally, as well as physically.

She was his charge, after all, and she hadn't been taking care of herself since she and Maura had bonded.

He overwhelmingly wanted to allow her to rest, giving her as much time to sleep as he could, but knowing he would wake her shortly to feed. This was not up for debate.

Feeding for Jane was a necessity that she'd been neglecting as of late. He planned to remedy that soon, even if he had to badger and bully her into it.

This time, he would not be denied.

He knew that Jane was still feeling guilty about the misery and suffering that Maura was now enduring at her own hands, so she was punishing herself at every given opportunity. Not feeding properly was one of them.

She knew that Maura couldn't eat right now, so in a show of solidarity and keeping with their bond, she was denying herself, as well.

Korsak couldn't allow Jane to continue with this behavior. He absolutely would not allow his Sentinel to fall into hibernation, even if it was accidental, especially now that Maura was coming into her own and needing Jane's experience and guidance to set her up for success in her new life…their new life together.

He looked at up Maura's beautiful house once more, the air whipping around him.

Maura's flag caught the wind, sounding like a canvas sail catching the breeze.

The sound grabbed his attention. He looked up at the flagpole, still swaying with the rhythm and bluster of the wind.

'She's gonna have to replace that now. Looks like it's been through the War of 1812.' He thought, shaking his head, looking up at the fabric barely clinging to the flagpole, gallantly hanging on for dear life, the storm reducing it to tatters, but still clearly definable.

Maura, of course, used to the best, owned the best. Her American flag would fly through a hurricane, if need be.

'I'll replace it myself. Give this one a proper send off." Korsak thought proudly, feeling a deeper connection to Maura than he ever thought possible. Not many people had a flagpole in their front yard…especially in Beacon Hill.

He took out his pad and pen and scribbled down his reminder. This was something that needed to be done.

Satisfied that he'd covered his bases and done his best, he checked the trees and roofline again.

Steeling himself for the possible argument that was about to occur between Jane and himself about her feeding, he squared his shoulders and walked towards the house, glancing back over his shoulder one last time. Satisfied that he was alone and no one was lurking about, he closed the door softly, locking it and turning off the porch light.

Unbeknownst to Korsak, he was not alone. Someone was watching Maura's residence and had been for the past few hours. Several houses down, near the street, hidden by a large stately oak tree, a lone form stood in the shadows, light brown eyes trained squarely on his broad back as he retreated into the house.

Once the porch light went out, the figure quietly made its way back to the nondescript sedan that was parked nearby, moving the stray wet leaves from the windshield that would block the view, climbing into it and closing the door silently, eyes settling once again on the dark house, waiting…and watching, a slight smile forming.

Things were going as planned.

R&I R&I R&I

Her preternatural senses waking her involuntarily out of deep sleep, Jane knew someone was on their way up the stairs long before she heard the footsteps. She opened her glowing eyes slowly, then squinted, instinctively pulling Maura closer into her body. Fangs dropping, a low panther-like growl emanating from her chest, she alerted the intruder that she was awake, aware and still very much prepared to protect her mate to the death, if necessary.

She had heard Korsak check on them earlier, remaining docile, eyes closed, recognizing his footfalls. These seemed different somehow...slower and more calculated.

Maura had turned in the night and now she was facing Jane, their legs intertwined, Maura's hands curled into her own chest between them, foreheads touching. She'd been laying this way for hours without any interruption or movement. Jane had been relieved that her beloved was finally resting deeply. She didn't outwardly appear to be in any pain, either.

Jane pulled Maura into herself, encircling her body, both arms around her mate, legs pulling her closer, sliding her own body slightly up the bed above Maura's head so she could get a better view of the door behind her inamorata.

Jane was ready to strike, if need be, eyes on the door of Maura's bedroom, her hands encircling Maura's slender waist, ready to flip her over and launch herself at the intruder that was slowly making his way up the stairs.

Jane continued to growl, much as a big cat would, pulling in air and slowly letting it out, distributing the sound of her territorial dominance throughout Maura's bedroom.

Anyone who has ever owned a domesticated cat would recognize the sound.

Jane was keenly aware that the storm had passed, only the wind still making itself known now, her vampire hearing acutely tuning into her new situation, weeding out and ignoring the unnecessary sounds, letting in the useful ones.

Maura's door slowly swung open, the light from the hallway moving across the room, a shadow standing in the middle of it.

"It's just me, Jane!" Korsak whispered frantically, hearing Jane's panther vocalizations, knowing what they meant, holding his hands up, palms out, trying to calm and soothe her. "It just me!"

Jane immediately went silent, her body relaxing, fangs ascending, her grip on Maura easing as Korsak approached the bed, hands still held out in front of him.

"What's wrong?" She asked him, gently extricating herself from around Maura, careful not to wake her, rolling her onto her back. She didn't stir, her breathing slow and deep. Thankfully, it sounded like the congestion in her nose and chest was finally breaking up. One good blow and cough should clear it completely. She debated using the bulb syringe again, but quickly dismissed the idea, giving Maura the chance to clear it on her own the next time she woke up. "Something happening? Your footsteps sound different. You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired." He answered, quickly. "The power is back on. I just wanted to tell you in case you wondered why the generator was off." He readied himself. "And you need to eat something."

"Soon." Jane said softly, standing and covering Maura again up to her chest with the bed linens, smoothing out her own t-shirt, running her long fingers through her hair and stretching.

"I need a shower." She said, stifling a yawn.

"I mean it, Jane!" Korsak said forcefully. "Not soon! Now!" He was already prepared to have to goad her into feeding.

"Of course, Father!" Jane answered in her best English accent, smiling slightly, then reverting back to her natural American accent. "I will. Just give me a minute, okay?"

Korsak folded his arms across his chest, nodding, looking at his watch. "One minute." He said, relieved that she wasn't fighting him, but still unconvinced that it was going to be this easy, silently pleased at her light mood.

Jane moved around the bed, switching on the bathroom light and cracking the door, giving Korsak some light.

She took Maura's temperature, smiling, again pleased with the results.

100.2.

"How's she doing?" Korsak asked, genuinely concerned. Maura appeared to be sleeping peacefully, although her lips were now deeply chapped and her face appeared gaunt, the dark smudges under her eyes still visible.

Jane showed him the thermometer. "It's still high, but it hasn't changed at all for the past twelve hours or so. I think that just might be her new baseline body temperature."

Jane was secretly thrilled that Maura still had a body temperature. She loved feeling Maura's warmth next to her while they slept. It was very quickly becoming addictive to Jane, much as everything else about her new mate had become over the past few days.

"That seems logical." Korsak theorized, nodding to himself as he spoke. "If she's still half human, her body probably needs the extra warmth and energy to maintain her new…abilities."

Jane leaned away from him, smiling. "Look at you, Professor Korsak!" She laughed. "Getting all savvy on vampire/human hybrids! Maybe the Council should hire you as a consultant or something!"

Korsak threw his hands up, shaking them at Jane. "Oh, no! I'm perfectly happy being your Watcher. Don't go putting any crazy ideas into their heads! I mean it, Jane! Don't even play like that!"

They both laughed quietly, still cognizant of Maura's need for sleep.

As their laughter died down, Jane turned again to her mate and reached out, running her fingers gently through Maura's hair, lightly scratching her scalp, knowing that Maura liked this. She leaned over slightly and tilted her head, her raven hair falling to one side of her face, cascading over her shoulder, observing her beloved as she scratched, eyes full of devotion. Goosebumps rose on Maura's neck and arms, but she didn't move or sigh as she had done in the past.

Jane was disappointed. She loved hearing the small noises of pleasure and satisfaction that Maura sometimes made, even in her sleep.

Instead, Jane sighed herself, running her fingers down Maura's face, tracing her jawline, then leaning in to kiss her closed lips lightly, feeling just how chapped they were.

Korsak looked away quickly, giving the couple their privacy, already knowing that Jane had no qualms with public displays of affection. He wasn't uncomfortable, having seen this side of Jane before in the past, but never as early or as frequently in the relationship as she'd recently been exhibiting with Maura. He was just pleased that Jane now had someone with whom she could share and express her affections.

Because, even though Jane was a respected, feared and, when necessary, savage Sentinel, she had a surprisingly warm, soft heart and a long, wide romantic streak that ran right through her middle, top to bottom. It was rarely seen by outsiders, but Korsak knew it well. Jane hadn't had many romantic interludes since Claire, but the few she did encounter, she'd woo'd completely and with gusto.

Jane needed Maura to balance her.

Jane needed Maura, period. She'd been alone for far too long, in his opinion.

He smiled to himself as he focused on a point across the room, allowing his Sentinel her moments with her new mate.

Jane kissed Maura once more, breathing in her exhalation, before she stood and found the little tin of lip balm on the table, unscrewing its lid, dipping her index finger inside. She carefully applied it to Maura's lips, covering them completely, before returning the tin to the table, lost in thought. She was experiencing the strangest feeling that something was not right with Maura, even though, by all appearances and given the present situation, she seemed fine, her unusual reactions to the turning process notwithstanding. She shook her head trying to clear it, a jolt of foreboding unexpectedly rushing down her spine.

Turning to Korsak, Jane suddenly snapped her fingers quietly, attempting to banish the unwelcome feeling. "Oh! I forgot to show you something! You are gonna love this!" She walked around him and the chair to the end of the bed, gently uncovering Maura's feet, pointing to her left one. "Check this out!" She whispered.

He followed Jane to the end of the bed and stooped over, looking at the ball of her foot, taking his reading glasses out of his shirt pocket and putting them on, squinting.

"What the hell is that?" He asked, reaching to touch it.

Jane quickly stopped him, remembering how tender Maura had said it was.

He looked at her quizzically.

Jane shook her head. "Don't touch it. She said it's painful. Just look at it."

He stood up, deadpanning. "I can't see it, Jane. It's too dark in here." The dim light from the cracked bathroom door barely reached the end of the king sized bed.

"Shit! Sorry." She said, quickly retrieving the flashlight from the table, shining it on the bottom of Maura's foot.

He leaned over again, studying the raised mark on the ball of her foot. He reached up to touch it again, finding it almost impossible to leave it alone. He was drawn to it.

"Korsak!" She hissed at him quietly, grabbing his hand. "Don't touch it!"

He looked up at Jane, sheepishly. "Sorry. I really want to, though. It's like it's calling to me." He returned his gaze back to her foot. "Is that what I think it is?"

Jane nodded. "Yes, I believe it is…or it's going to be." She smiled. "Exactly what you think it is."

If Jane had any questions about the mark that was slowly forming on the bottom of her mate's foot, Korsak's reaction to it confirmed what she already suspected.

Maura was getting her very own birthmark.

And judging by its size and shape, it was going to be unlike any mark that either of them had ever seen before.

Once again, Maura was just brimming with surprises.

R&I R&I R&I

Jane had moved the big armchair back next to Maura's bed and was sitting in it, slouched down, sweat pant clad legs splayed open, elbow propped up on the arm, head in her hand. Her lips were pursed, eyes trained on a sleeping Maura, studying her.

She was still on her back where Jane had positioned her earlier, once again, not moving for hours. It was also, once again, extremely disconcerting for Jane.

All humans moved in their sleep, unless in a coma, either natural or medically induced. Even if they were exhausted, they still moved. Or, at the very least, they dreamed. Maura was doing neither, moving or dreaming.

Something was wrong and Jane could feel it. She just couldn't put her finger on what it was and it was torturing her, eating at her mind like a termite chewing through wood.

It was as if she were searching for a word that was on the tip of her tongue, but having it constantly flit out of her mind just before she could grasp it. Jane could almost see it, touch it, say it…but then it was frustratingly gone. She knew it would eventually come to her, but she also felt that if it didn't come to her soon, something catastrophic was going to happen to Maura.

This feeling was not only adding to her sense of urgency, it was also feeding her own newfound lack of self confidence that had slowly settled over her since this whole debacle began.

However, one thing that she could grasp was that Maura was just too quiet…and too still. Something was wrong…very wrong.

She'd discussed her feeling with Korsak in the kitchen earlier while she waited on him to prepare her blood.

She had sat at the island watching Korsak's back as he busied himself with the glass and blood bag, but not seeing him at all.

"Something's off with Maura, Vince." She'd finally admitted, trying to work out the conundrum by herself, but deciding that getting his input could only be beneficial. "I'm missing something."

Her Watcher was usually extremely insightful and helpful when she needed him to be. She'd counted on him in the past on many occasions. He saw clearly when she didn't, his human mind uncluttered with vampire business.

She hoped that, once again, he wouldn't disappoint.

He turned to look at her after he'd set the microwave timer, setting the tall glass in front of her as they both waited for it to go off. "What do you mean, Janie? She seems fine to me. Maybe a little underweight and sleepy, but that's to be expected, isn't it?" He finished, referring to Maura's recent malaise, as the timer went off.

He kneaded the bag, filling the glass to the top before placing the rest back into the fridge alongside the other bags. Alex had come through with her delivery as Jane slept and now the entire top shelf was filled with them.

Jane ignored the glass, her mind elsewhere, her left knee nervously moving up and down as she continuously bounced the ball of her foot on the barstool, over and over. Her upper body moved slightly with the movements of her foot. She chewed her thumbnail, as well, staring to her left at the light that was slowly making its way across Maura's dining room, casting long shadows around the dining table, the sun having risen some minutes before.

Birds sang happily in the back yard, completely oblivious to the serious happenings just inside the house.

Korsak had opened all the curtains and blinds on the first floor of the house at sunrise, explaining to Jane that he thought it needed to be as Maura would've wanted it, had she been well enough to see it. He'd noticed that when they'd arrived days ago everything was open and inviting.

Jane had agreed with his choice, tears in her eyes, remembering that Maura, as well.

Maura was not a creature of the shadows…of the darkness. She was a being of the light. She was the light…light in the flesh, if such a thing could exist.

Jane secretly pleaded with the Council in her mind, metaphorically praying that they had found a way to bestow upon Maura the ability to walk in the sun.

She feared that if they had not, Maura wouldn't make it. Even if she lived through the process itself, Jane was certain that Maura wouldn't, or better yet, couldn't, survive never walking in the sun again.

She would die slowly. Like a rare and beautiful plant, that once starved of the sun and it's glorious radiance, a radiance that mirrored its own inner light, would just quietly and decidedly wither away, with no amount of care and attention able to bring it back to its former splendor. It's bloom and flower would never quite be able to adjust to a life without sunshine, unable to flourish in anything artificial. Then once gone, it's like would never be seen again, extinct forever.

That was Maura, a rare and beautiful being that needed the sunlight to thrive and grow.

Korsak stood silent, watching his Sentinel ponder, her eyes vacant and shimmering with unshed tears, as she studied the countertop in front of her, still chewing her thumbnail, her glass of blood never even acknowledged.

"Jane." He said softly, leaning over the island, moving her hand away from her mouth gently. "You need to eat."

Jane looked at Korsak as if she'd been in a trance, confused and lost, her mind incessantly trying to work out what she was forgetting…what she was missing…that word that was just dancing there on the tip of her tongue, waiting to be spoken, releasing the secret that would, perhaps, save Maura's life. She knew that it was a matter of great importance now. The longer the puzzle stumped her, the word not remembered and spoken, the closer to the edge of the precipice Maura moved.

Her beloved inched towards it with every passing minute, every passing second.

"Something's wrong, Vince. Very wrong."" She said again, finding his kind blue eyes. "I'm missing something. What am I missing?!" She asked, desperately, pounding her fist on the granite countertop, the glass jumping slightly.

He walked around the island and stood next to his Sentinel, picking up the glass filled with warm blood and placing it into her hand, cradling the bottom of it.

"I don't know, Janie." He pushed the glass towards her mouth. "Feed and then we'll figure it out together, okay?"

Her desperate wide eyes held his. "Help me, Vince. Please. I don't know what to do." She covered her mouth, stifling a sob, looking down at the countertop again.

He placed his hand on the small of her back, comforting her softly with his gentle touch, until she recovered.

Once she was able, she quickly downed the blood meal, more for Korsak than for herself, appeasing him, but her thoughts never once left Maura. Finished, she handed him the glass and swiftly made her back up the stairs.

So now she sat, completely focused on her sleeping mate, listening intently to her steady breathing, studying her face, her sunken cheeks and dark circles haunting the vampire.

She could also hear Korsak unloading the dishwasher downstairs, his movements quiet but still easily overheard by Jane.

Then she clearly heard him uttering under his breath. "Fuck! That can't be it…can it?!" Suddenly, shattering glass.

Jane jumped, sitting up straight in the chair, coiled and ready to spring if necessary.

"Shit!" She heard him curse, then his footsteps as he quickly thumped loudly up the stairs, turning into Maura's room, breathing loudly, slightly winded.

"Jane." He said calmly, trying to control his voice and his breathing, clearly not wanting to alarm his Sentinel. "When is the last time Maura had anything to drink?"

Jane stood up, looking at him, concerned. "What happened? I heard something break."

He shook his head, dismissing the question's seriousness, answering offhandedly. "Nothing. I just dropped a glass. I'll clean it up in a minute. Now answer me, please."

"What are you asking me? How is that important?" She asked, quizzically, referring to his question.

He held up his hands. "Please, Jane. Just humor me. When? And not blood or alcohol. I mean like water or juice, I don't know, Gatorade…something like that."

Jane thought about it. "I think Sunday night when we came here for the first time. I know I made her drink water then. I had to slow her down, in fact, before she made herself sick. I think she might've been slightly dehydrated."

He nodded, clearly onto something in his head. "But nothing since then? Not blood, Jane. Think about it."

She shook her head. "Not that I'm aware of." She looked at him intently. "Why, Vince? What are you thinking?"

He ignored her questions. "Has she…" He trailed off, looking down then back up, clearly embarrassed by what he was needing to ask.

Jane was becoming angry. "Has she what, Vincent?!"

"Has she…peed in the last few days?"

Jane thought about it. "No, she hasn't. But she's been asleep most of the time. Why?"

"Not even in the tub?" He asked, still embarrassed.

Jane shook her head. "No. I would've smelled it. Vince, what the hell are you getting at?!"

"I'm not sure, but it could be a possibility." He explained, moving farther into the room, looking down at Maura. "She was sweating like crazy and then she just stopped, right? Even though she's still got a fever." He found Jane's brown eyes. "You know human's die in threes."

Jane looked confused.

He quickly elaborated, counting them out on his fingers. "Three minutes without air, three days without water and three weeks without food!" He waited for Jane to understand, watching her eyes widen as she slowly began to realize what he was insinuating.

"Jane." He said, quietly. "I think she's dying of thirst."

R&I R&I R&I

Ironically, Jane felt the realization wash over her like a tsunami, water everywhere in her mind's eye, covering the world, drowning her.

The word that she'd been chasing all night suddenly crashed into her brain, immediately drying her mouth and making her eyes tear up simultaneously.

It whispered through the room in Jane's mind, like a phantom, settling over Maura like deadly smoke, encircling her frail body, cradling it, mocking Jane herself.

De-hy-dra-tion.

She stood quickly, her calves knocking the chair over backwards, her hands flying to her head, fingers pulling her own hair, eyes immediately morphing ice white!

"NO! Nonononono!" Jane repeated, eyes finding Maura's pale, sunken face. "Oh, my God! I'm so fucking stupid!" She screamed. "That's why Maura's congestion cleared up so soon after starting! She doesn't have enough moisture in her body to produce any more!"

She turned and pushed her fist through the drywall between the bathroom and the closet.

"I'm a fucking idiot!" She screamed, her voice dropping into a growl, drawing her fist back again, intending to punch the wall once more, intending to punch the entire house down.

Korsak grabbed her bicep, holding it firmly, trying to get Jane's attention, knowing full well that if she wanted to jerk her arm out of his grasp and punish Maura's wall further, he couldn't stop her.

"JANE!" He bellowed at her, doing his best to break the anger lock she'd suddenly thrown herself into. "STOP! MAURA NEEDS YOU NOW!"

Jane was growling freely and Korsak knew that she was very close to losing complete control of herself, her sane Sentinel mind swallowed by the vampire that she was deep down.

He'd never seen her like this.

She turned her white glowing eyes on him, fist shaking, ready to plunge it back into the wall.

He knew he had only one chance.

He found her white eyes with his own crystal blue, holding them firmly. He was her Watcher, and regardless of her current situation, he needed her to feel the connection that every Sentinel and Watcher always held.

Jane continued to growl, waiting for him to drop his eyes, essentially giving in to her dominance, as anyone other than her Watcher would do.

He held her fiery gaze, challenging her with his own. He knew she would never give in to him, but he needed her to know that he was no pushover.

A stalemate…just as Korsak wanted.

Jane jerked her arm out of his grasp and, just as quickly as the conflict had started, it was over.

Korsak righted the chair and stood next to Jane as she turned her full attention back to Maura, who hadn't stirred during the entire episode, confirming to both of them that something was utterly and undeniably off with the doctor.

"Jane." He whispered. "I could be wrong."

Jane turned on the lamp and looked at the table.

The intravenous set up and the needles of varying gauges that she had somehow felt compelled to add into this particular turn kit practically screamed at her.

Her stomach dropped at its obvious inclusion now. The answer to Maura's salvation had been sitting on this table, hidden in plain sight, all along.

She'd explained to Maura not four days ago that she'd had no idea why she'd included this new addition to her kit after her last turning. It was now as clear as crystal.

Jane began to assess Maura, throwing the covers off quickly, uncovering her body completely, her past lives as an EMT guiding her, that same detachment and professionalism suddenly taking over her actions, stifling her emotional connection to her mate.

"Jane!" He repeated loudly, feeling Jane's urgency. "I could be wrong!"

"You're not." She said firmly, gently moving Maura's body to the edge of the bed. "You're not wrong at all, Vince."

She leaned over the bed and pinched the skin on Maura's forearm several times. Each time it remained raised, ridge like, instead of spreading back out over her muscle as it should. Jane smoothed it out with her palm before performing the same test on her neck and thigh with the same results.

She opened Maura's mouth, noting her tongue. It was dry and white, no moisture at all present.

She took her blood pressure, not needing the stethoscope that most would use, instead listening to Maura's faint rapid heartbeat with her own ears as she slowly released the pressure cuff, clearly unhappy with what she was hearing.

Finally, she carefully opened Maura's eyes, left and then right, shining the flashlight directly into each, back and forth, looking for a reaction.

What she saw devastated her.

Maura's pupils were fixed and dilated.

She dropped the flashlight onto the carpet as she fell to her knees beside the bed, her hand covering her mouth.

Korsak stood next to her, reaching out as she collapsed, watching everything happen in slow motion.

"What, Jane?!" He exclaimed. "What?!"

Ignoring him, Jane leaned forward on her knees, her hands finding their way back to Maura's dry warm body, one settling on her thigh, the other curling around her forearm, her head slowly dropping over onto the bed at Maura's hip.

"I'm so sorry, Maura." She whispered.

"What, Jane?!"

She turned her head slowly, looking up at Korsak, her white eyes distant and unbelieving.

"You were right." She rasped, her voice cracking with emotion. "She's dying."

Happy Memorial Day, everyone! Take the time this holiday to remember those that sacrificed so much so that we can live in the greatest country in the world. Remember, lest we forget…freedom isn't free.

Thank you all for your continued support and patience! Sorry so long in between posts, but I've said before, writing Maura like this is hard. It's so unlike her. She is always so full of energy and life. And writing Jane so vulnerable and lost is just as hard now, too. But the story must be told. So hang in there, dear reader! It's always speaking to me and through me.

For those that have recently favorited and followed this story, thank you. And for those that take the time out of their busy lives to write a review, it means more to me than you know. I'm honestly astounded at how many this little tale of mine has garnered thus far! XOXO!