When Jane awoke around 12 pm she felt a terrible headache. Frankie and Korsak were already drinking coffee and chatting in the kitchen about the case. Jane poured herself a cup of coffee thinking about how it had become strange between Maura and her yesterday. Just like it had in France. Had she done something wrong? She asked herself. Or was it just a coincidence? She had spent a lot of time in the hospital with her friend and always kept her posted on the case. Her mind searched for anything that could have upset Maura but couldn't find no reason.
Maura had written her while she was sleeping, that she would be ready to be picked up at 2pm and Jane had to admit that she was scared that the mood between them would be still award. She decided to wait and see and to go as it went.
The autopsy was set to be around 4 pm by a colleague suggested by Maura. So, the agent would stay home and prepare everything for her girlfriend and only drive to the precinct after picking her girlfriend up.
The awkward feeling was still there when she entered the room at the hospital. Maura would barley kiss her or talk which was strange because her girlfriend used to talk a lot. But Jane knew better than asking. She silently helped her friend into the car and drove her home. It was almost November and most of the leaves had fallen from the trees already.
If you give me a list, I can buy you some books or journals that you like she offered to Maura who still didn't talk much. "No, its ok Jane." she muttered and crawled under the covers. Jane fought with herself whether to ask if something was wrong but decided to leave everything like it was for the moment. Maybe she would ask when she came home from work.
She greeted the officer in front of Angela's house with a nod and hopped into the car.
The autopsy was well underway when her phone buzzed. She quickly read the message from Maura, who suggested to check the body for …. Well she couldn't even read the word. But the Me nodded as she showed the phone to her.
The victim was a Jane doe, because unlike the previous time they hadn't been able to identify her yet. This time the body was in much better shape as the fire men hadn't waited as long as they had the last time to extinguish the fire. Only a little part of the head was burned while the rest of the body was intact.
"They are getting sloppy", Korsak noted and Jane agreed with a nod thinking that she would discuss the autopsy report with Maura in the evening, if her friend was up to it.
When she came home at 7 pm, Maura was sitting in the kitchen watching Angela cook.
"Taking some cooking classes?" Jane tried to sound light and funny when greeting both women. There was not much of a reaction. So, Jane sighed and slipped the autopsy report to Maura who barely glanced at it.
"It also includes the results of the blood tests from our last victim." she stated and saw her mother giving them an odd look. What the hell was wrong? Jane thought while standing under the shower.
She got dressed and went to dinner. There was still silence, expect for her mothers talk about various topics.
"For heaven's sake Maur. Just spill it!" Jane said, when they were settling in the guestroom for the night growing weary about the situation.
"Jane….." Maura answered. "There is nothing wrong, I'm tired. I just want to sleep."
The brunette hesitated for a moment then spoke more softly. "Maur I know that something is wrong. You re barley looked at the autopsy report. You barely spoke to me in the last days. I have the same odd feeling I had on my last days in Paris. I don't want this to happen again." She pleaded. And it was true. She couldn't take it if Maura bailed out on her after starting a relationship with her. But the actual mood was even harder to take.
Maura sighed and turned of the light.
Jane felt angry and scared and tried to make herself comfortable by crossing her arms under her head. She could hear the other woman breathe.
"Is it because I refused to give you a gun?" The agent finally asked.
"Nooo, I knew that you wouldn't give me one anyway." Maura replied.
"So, what is it then?" Jane asked gingerly, bracing herself.
Maura sighed again. "I'm scared." she finally whispered into the dark.
Jane lay in silence, waiting for further explanations, giving her girlfriend time to find the right words and the strength.
When nothing more came, she silently asked: "Are you breaking up with me?"
Maura's head flew into her direction. "Do you want to break up?"
"No" Jane said without further comments.
She could feel Maura nodding on the other side of the bed. "Me neither." she whispered.
Jane relaxed a bit.
"I got a visit from my mom the other day." Maura told Jane. "I told her about us. I've never seen her look so deceived and it hurt me. I mean she of all persons…. How can she judge me?" Her voice shook.
"Oh Maura," Jane said and rolled over to her to put an arm around her. "I'm so sorry. That must really hurt."
"I knew that there is a lot of discrimination against homosexuals. But I just didn't expect that from my birthmother you know?" The blonde choked on some tears.
Jane held girlfriend close as she cried. "I'm so soo sorry. That is not fair." She whispered. "Maybe she was just shocked and turns around." She then suggested.
"I don't think so", Maura replied and whipped away some tears. "I realized that you are my family. You were always there when I needed someone. You always took care of me. I didn't mean to be rude to you. I'm sorry. It's all just so overwhelming."
"I missed you Jane." Maura finally said after a while. "I missed us…. I would never break up!" she stated.
"I missed you too.", Jane said and could feel that she was about to cry herself.
The next day Jane found Maura sitting in the kitchen, reading the autopsy report.
"Good morning Jane." She greeted with a smile. "I made you some coffee."
They kissed and Jane helped herself to a cup. "You know you should rest, do you? You had a severe operation." The brunette scolded a little, worried that Maura would overdo it.
She took a sip and sighed. "You make the best coffee in the world though." she muttered and smiled.
"Right, as if you would do that." Maura nudged her friend who was standing next to her at the counter.
Jane smirked knowing that Maura was right. She would also move around and do stuff instead of staying in bed.
"I found some interesting things in the report." Maura stated. "There is a substance which is only used for antifreeze normally."
"What the hell?" Jane replied, furrowing her eyebrows. "Why would they do that? Torture?"
"I told you not to swear Jane! And for heaven's sake, let Maura rest!" Angela ranted as she entered the kitchen.
"Maaa!" Jane exclaimed.
"I don't know. I once read an article that Nazis did some similar experiments to the Jews during the second world war." Maura replied ignoring the typical Rizzoli exchange. "But that's probably why they didn't want us to find the autopsy report and killed the ME."
"Maybe it's less about a witch hunt than covering something else. Anyways, it would explain why the brunt the victims." Jane mused.
"You know I don't speculate." Maura chuckled.
"Good, because that is my job." Jane replied and rolled her eyes and chuckled.
"Good", Maura said and chuckled too.
Jane felt much better after knowing that everything was ok between her and Maura. The crowd gathered later in the squad room and talked the case over while a security company was setting up cameras at Angela's property.
There was a lot of pressure and things were speeding up as the lab was able to present some interesting evidence on the fire from the new incident. The riddles were definitely getting sloppy and this was really good.
When the lot returned home, dinner was already ready, and they dug into Angela's delicious self-made Ravioli.
Maura snuggled comfortably into Janes arms when they were settled in bed.
"I gave my notice to the university today." Maura said.
Jane rose an eyebrow. "Uhh so it's serious?" She asked and couldn't help but smile.
"Yes. They were very sad, but its ok. With my qualifications I can find a job everywhere. I was even offered to be the chief medical examiner of Boston again."
"So, when will you return to the states?" Jane asked.
"By the end of this term. So, in January." Maura stated." But there is no pressure. We have lots of time to think what we want to do."
Jane nodded considering her own wishes.
"I've always wanted to have a small house with a garden." She said to Maura.
"Me too." The blonde answered. "Like the one of the professors."
It felt kind of strange to both women. None of their relationships had ever come so far as to move in with their partner. They got silent for a while, contemplating this situation.
"So, do you want to wait with moving in together?" Jane asked. "Or do we move in together when we return to Boston right away?
"No." Maura replied. "You?"
Jane shook her head. "No. that would be great. Scary but great she chuckled. I mean we've already spent so much time together, that it already qualifies as living together." She chuckled when recalling all the sleepovers.
"True." Maura admitted laughing.
"So at least we have clarified this one now."
"Yeah puhh." Maura joked.
"I've got offered a job by the BPD too." Jane noted.
"So, where does this lead us?" Maura asked with furrowed eyebrows. "Going back to the jobs we fled?"
"Could you imagine doing so?" Jane asked.
"Actually yes. I don't like to teach anyway."
Jane tilted her head. "No, I don't like teaching either. And I can't believe I say this. but I'd like to move back to Boston."
"Your mom will be delighted." Maura mused and Jane smirked.
"So, Boston it is?" the brunette asked.
"Yes." Maura confirmed.
With that settled they turned on the TV to watch some movie together and to relax. Both ended up falling asleep before it had finished, being absolutely exhausted.