"Yes, Alison?" Coach Danver's pointed to the blonde reporter in the middle of the room. The Ringer's front office released a statement this morning regarding the article that was published a couple of days ago. Here they were, Coach Danvers, Jane, and the team's head lawyer. The grease ball lawyer Jerry, sat beside her at the conference table. Coach Danver's was on her other side. After a long day of practice, the last thing Jane wanted to do was to stay after a hard two-a-day practice and talk about her personal life.

Coach Danver's and her had a meeting this morning regarding the article, and of course Jerry was there. Jane laughed at the memory of Jerry trying to talk about her relationship with the doctor.

They sat in Danvers' office, Maura and Jane opposite the coach, with Jerry standing in the corner behind them. "You should have reported your relationship earlier," Jerry huffed.

"Why?" Jane sighed. "We were on the off season and I was a free agent at the time. Matter of fact, the season just started this week. So what does it matter what I was doing on my off time?" Jane was getting frustrated. She's never had to explain the extent of her relationships before, and she certainly didn't want to explain this one to anyone. They were both adults and could do as they please, without having to answer to anyone.

"Jane," Maura sighed beside her, trying to contain Jane's attitude that was beginning to make its appearance. "We were going to report the relationship on the first day of the season," Maura explained. "This relationship did begin before I officially began working here so, I don't see the problem."

"You knew each other prior to being in this facility?" Jerry asked. "Did you know about this?" He turned to look at Danvers.

"I knew Jane was in the beginning of a relationship, but it was none of my business who she was seeing," Danvers explained.

"It's nobody's business who I'm seeing. Except mine and the person I am seeing," Jane inserted herself into the conversation in front of her. "Maura and I are two consenting adults in a grown up relationship. I don't understand what the big deal is."

"It is our business when you both are employees. We have our star player who just signed eight years here dating our new team physician. To me it looks either two different ways. Either you," Jerry pointed to Maura. "Took this position to get close to Jane or Jane signed a long term deal to be with you," Jerry's face reddened as he spoke.

"Jerry," Danvers sighed. "I don't think it looks like that at all."

"Jerry," Maura stood. "I don't believe the media sees it like that at all. The media response has been very positive," she defended. "We can clarify any questions the media has this afternoon at the press conference."

"No," Jane countered. "You will not be at the press conference. You don't need them attacking you. I will sit there, answer appropriate questions about our working relationship, and I will leave. That's the extent of what I'm willing to do," Jane stood and crossed her arms. This was something she wasn't backing down from. She was the soccer player who was in the limelight. Maura was the team doctor, behind the scenes. Maura didn't need her face out there and she shouldn't be forced to be berated by the press. "That's all I'm doing."

"Jane you don't have to do this alone," Maura comforted the brunette by placing her hand on Jane's shoulder.

"I know I don't have to," Jane sighed as she turned to look at her girlfriend. "I would love to have you by my side. But, it's not fair for you to have to do this. I couldn't ask you to do that for me," Jane sighed. She dropped her hands and stared into the green eyes in front of her. "I can do this alone and I'll see you when it's over," Jane smirked and winked at the doctor. "I promise."

"If you're sure," Maura sighed. There was no use in trying to convince Jane, she had already made up her mind.

"I think it would be best if you were both there," Jerry piped in from his corner.

"I'm glad we don't care what you think Jerry," Jane rejected. "It's just going to be me, you, and Danvers," Jane confirmed. "Maura has her job to do."

"How has your relationship with the team's doctor affected your relationship with the team?" The blonde reporter asked.

"It hasn't affected the team, I play just as hard as I did last season," Jane scoffed at the stupid question."

"Rizzoli's performance on the field should not be put into question. She was named captain of this soccer team for a reason," Coach Danvers stuck up for her. "She always puts the team first."

"As released in our statement yesterday," Jerry began. "Jane Rizzoli is a part of this organization and will continue to improve her game, just like she has before."

"Yes, Richard?" Danvers pointed to a guy in the front row.

"The photo that was released of you in the hospital looks rather intimate, when did you begin dating?"

"The length of time Dr. Isles and I have been together is irrelevant. Dr. Isles and I are in a committed relationship and that's all I have to say on that matter," Jane defended.

"Karen?" Danvers pointed to a woman in the middle of the audience.

"What details can you give us on how you ended up in intensive care?"

"Did you read the article?" Jane watched the woman nod her head. "Then you know what had me in the ICU," she stated obviously. These reporters were asking the questions they already had the answers to. Karen wanted details, and Jane didn't want to give any. "All of my medical records were released to the proper people and do not need to be released to the public. I had some complications that can occur with rib fractures and I'm healed now. Back to one hundred percent. Anything else is irrelevant," Jane stood. "That's enough questions for today," she unclipped the mic on her shirt and walked out of the conference room.

She knew Maura was still in her office, she wouldn't have left Jane. She knocked lightly on the door. Her frustration, she knew was from the questions from the media, was making her emotional. Tears started to form in her eyes. All she wanted was to hug her girlfriend. "One minute," Jane heard from the other side of the door.

One minute? Jane questioned to herself. Who would be here this late, spending time with the team doc? Jane stood outside Maura's door and leaned up against the wall. She crossed her arms and willed the tears away from her eyes. She was out in the open, she couldn't be seen crying in the hallway. She wanted to be in the privacy of her girlfriends office and in her girlfriends arms.

She took a few deep breaths and tilted her head to the ceiling. Finally, the door next to her opened and revealed Ruby Baker, laughing with her girlfriend. "Thanks doc," Ruby smiled brightly as she walked through the doorway. "Oh hey Rizzoli," Ruby did a once over. "You didn't fracture another rib, did you?" She laughed. "What's with the tears?"

"There's no tears," Jane laughed, her obvious attempts to will the tears away didn't work. "It's exhaustion, from beating you in practice these past couple of days," she pushed. Trying to put Ruby back in her place. "You'd know what it feels like if you tried to give more than fifty percent."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night Rizzoli," Ruby laughed as she brushed past the brunette.

As Ruby walked away, Jane stepped into Maura's office. "Everything okay?" Maura sighed as she looked into her girlfriend's eyes. The once red and slightly wet eyes, which could be confused as exhaustion were now dripping with tears. The pair did arrive extra early for their meeting this morning and Jane has been going extra hard at practice. But, one look at the brunette now? She was upset, the tears built up in her eyes and slowly spilled down her cheek.

Maura pulled the brunette closer and pushed her office door close. Jane hasn't said a word, just the comfort of Maura's arms around her gave Jane the push to let the tears fall freely.

"What happened?" Maura whispered to the tearful brunette. "Did the press conference not go well?"

Maura felt the brunette shake her head on her shoulder. Jane's arms were resting on her upper back, tightly grasping at the fabric of her dress. The frustration and the exhaustion of the past couple of days came spilling out of Jane as she broke down in Maura's arms.

"I love you," Maura whispered as she rubbed circles on the brunette's back. "You know that right? No matter what you said today, I still love you."

"I know," Jane mumbled into Maura's neck. "I love you too."

"You want to tell me what happened?" Maura pulled back slightly so she could look Jane in the eyes. Jane lifted her head and shook it, she leaned in to pull Maura's lips in a kiss. "You want to get some take out and go to bed early?" Maura asked as she pulled her lips from Jane's.

"The second one please," Jane whispered against her girlfriends lips. "I'm so tired."

"I know," Maura laughed. "Do you want to get a burger?" Maura watched the brunette's tired eyes light up. The last ounce of energy she had left for the day was going to be spent eating her favorite food. "We can get you a burger, if you tell me why you're so upset."

"I'm just so exhausted Maur," Jane sighed. "The reporters were asking how I ended up in the ICU and how long we were dating. Our life together isn't something for the tabloids to exploit. You and I are not just some couple casually dating. I love you so much and I don't want this to pull us apart," Jane's teary eyes looked into Maura's beautiful green orbs.

"This is just a small bump we were expecting," Maura smiled up at her girlfriend. The usually stoic and sarcastic brunette, was expressing her vulnerability. Something Maura hasn't seen since Jane broke down after her mom left five months ago. "This is not going to tear us apart," she leaned in to kiss the brunette in front of her. "Let's go get your burger and get you into bed."