28 Thanksgiving

When she woke up the next day, she felt Maura's eyes resting on her. She stirred a little and thought about her mother's words not to forget the first dream In the new home. She had been so tired that she couldn't remember.

"Are you watching me?" Jane mumbled and heard her friend chuckle.

"Yes. I had to." you look so sweet when you sleep.

Jane snorted and rolled to her side to glance at the smiling; stunning blonde woman next to her.

They snuggled a little bit until she felt awake enough to go downstairs and have breakfast.

Ignoring the boxes, she sat at the kitchen island and watched the blonde make coffee and pancakes. After the first sip of coffee she asked Maura about her idea and if she had been able to find something which would help them solve the case.

Her friend put two plates on the counter and sat down next to Jane.

"I asked myself about the purpose of the substance in the blood." Maura spoke while putting maple sirup over her pancakes. "Is it really torture? I honestly don't think so. I once read an article in a medical journal about pharmaceutical companies who were conducting illegal tests on people. So, I asked Michael from the lab for help me because I know that his bachelor work was about medical testing. One can earn a lot of money with it. An in our case the culprits would earn double, because they get money from their so-called service and money form the companies. And the best: they don't even have to look for probands."

Jane put down her fork and looked at Maura. "You could be right, she stated. You are a genius Maura!"

Maura smiled. "Thank you! But as I've said. Its just a theory so far. We still need to prove it. The next question is how the substance was brought into the body. And if it is a testing, then we need to know if the people died because of it or if they were killed afterwards to finish the job – kind of."

"When will you know?" the brunette asked, silently grinning and holding back a comment about Maura's humbleness.

Maura shoveled a piece of pancake into her mouth and shrugged. "I hope soon. I checked the stomach content again, but the substance was not in it. Nor did I find an incision wound. So, either it's a substance which vanishes from the Stomach after a while, or the incision was brought into a place we can't check, because the bodies are burned. Unfortunately, we have no intact body." Maura reminded Jane.

"Damn!" Jane muttered. "This is one of our hardest cases."

"I'm sure detective Brook is delighted to start his career with it" Maura chuckled, and Jane smirked.

After putting the plates into the dishwasher both women started to arrange the furniture and Maura unpacked some boxes. As Jane didn't have much stuff there yet, she helped her girlfriend. It was an easy task and Jane teased Maura claiming that the blonde had much more stuff than she would probably ever have.

Soon it was time to shower and drive to Angela's place. Jane wasn't sure whether to feel relieved to leave the chaos or if she would rather stay, and clean up a bit more.

The turkey already filled the house with a heavenly smell when they arrived at the Rizzoli mansion. Jane and Maura first went into the living room to greet the clan. After saying hello, Maura, Michelle and Kiki went into the kitchen to help prepare the dinner. In the meantime, Jane watched a football game with her brothers. She was glad to see Tommy again, who had brought TJ, his son. Jane and Maura used to take care of him when he was a baby. After moving away with his wife, Tommy had finally returned with his son. Lydia, TJs mother had married some other guy, and left Janes brother with his son. So, Tommy was back to Boston and had opened his own little plumber business, living in Janes former flat. Frankie had told her during one of their surveillances that Tommy was very successful, and she was happy to hear that her little brother was doing so great.

At first, TJ was shy, hiding behind his father, but he finally opened up to Jane. She had no clue why, but all kids loved her. She joked with the 8-year-old and chuckled as she earned some silencing looks from Frankie and Tommy, who wanted to watch the game.

"Let's go outside TJ." Jane said and helped the little boy into his jacket. Angela had bought some pumpkins to carve. Jane decided to show her nephew how to do it. She tried to sound terrifying when making a grumbling sound and the boy couldn't stop laughing at her faces and jokes.

"You are no good at imitating a monster." he giggled, and Jane laughed too. "But don't worry", he continued, "dad also never gets to scare me."

"Yes, that's because we Rizzolis are so nice. We can scare no one." Jane stated with a serious face, suddenly noticing that Maura stood in the doorway. "Hey baby!" she greeted her and held a pumpkin towards her.

"This is my friend Maura" Jane introduced her to TJ. "We used to babysit you together when you were a tiny baby." "Really?" The boy asked, less shy than with Jane. "I can't remember that." The boy said and both women chuckled.

"That's because you were so little." Maura said and gestured the size of a baby with her hands.

He looked at them thoughtfully. "But now I'm sooooo big!" he stated and put his hand over his head.

"Yes, you are a big boy now" Maura stated, laughing softly at the kid.

They spend quite some time outside. Maura carved a spooky tree into her pumpkin and then they played hide and seek in Angela's garden. Jane was astonished that tj's talent to hide. She sat down on a bench as she needed a break and watched Maura playing with the boy. She knew that Maura once wanted to have children. She wondered if the blonde still wanted to have some. Did she want to have kids herself? If one had asked her a few years ago, she would have said no. children came with a lot of responsibility. Of course, they were sweet and fun too. She just didn't know if she wasn't to old for it by now.

She sighed as she felt her mothers' hand on her shoulder. "You are a good aunt." she stated. Jane waited for her to comment that she needed her own children. But Angela was clearly evolving in giving her space.

"I remember you, when you were his age", her mom said instead. "You were this little tomboy, so clever, no one ever found you at hide and seek." She chuckled. "I was always more worried about you then your brothers, because you were so wild." Jane lifted her hand and put it on her mother's which still lay on her shoulders. She apologized but her mother snorted. "I knew that you were special the moment I held you in my arms. I know it sounds like a line from a fishy soap opera, but that's the way a mother feels I guess."

"I don't know if I could raise a kid." Jane stated. "You were great ma. But I don't think that I'm really good at that."

Angela chuckled. "You always give so much care to the people you love. That's the most important thing. Well, I have to admit that you cost me some good nerves." She chuckled again and rolled her eyes. "But you know what? If I look at you today, I feel proud of you. You are all great and talented, and it was all worth it."

Jane glanced to Maura who was still playing with TJ.

Angela sighed. "I don't want to tell you that you need kids." She said in a soft voice. "Of course, I wouldn't mind, but its your choice. And if you don't want any its ok, Janie. But if you don't want them because you think that you would be a bad mom, then you should think it over. Because you would make a great mother."

Jane felt tears dwelling up her eyes. She stood to hug her mother who stroke over her back.

As Angela went back into the kitchen she sat down again. The boy and Maura were smiling and had red cheeks from the cold. Tj ran towards her, jumping like a horse, followed by the blonde who had glooming eyes.

Jane felt the urge to hug Maura and to kiss her. She went towards her. "I love you!" she whispered while wrapping her arms around the small waist. The blonde pushed her away a little to look into her eyes.

"Are you ok?" she asked, worried.

"I don't know. I guess I just realized how much you mean to me and how much I need to feel you close."

Maura furrowed her eyes. "I love you too Jane. And If you need another hug…."

Later that evening the family was sitting around the table. Tommy got to cut the turkey. Another brother who has grown up Jane thought. We are all getting older.

The food was delicious as usual and today it was Frankie's and Tommy's turn to wash the dishes, while the women settled down in the living room. They were sipping some wine and talking until it was time to go home.