The air was tense as they drove along the highway to Boston. Jane had tried to reason with Maura about the long trip and had ended up sleeping on the couch. Maura had accused her of disrespecting her wishes and Jane had argued that she only wanted Maura's best.

None of them had spoken since leaving New York this morning. Now they were four hours into the drive and Jane was slowly getting unnerved by the tension. She decided to stop at a gas station to fill up the car and use the bathroom. Maybe take one or three steps to stretch her legs which began to hurt from staying in the same position for too long.

"I'm going to get some coffee from the shop. Do you want anything?" Jane asked Maura through the rolled down window on the passenger's side. Maura had remained stubbornly seated which drove Jane crazy.

"No, thank you." Maura replied kind of cold. Jane huffed and turned around to pay for the gas and buy the beverage. While waiting ´for the queue to advance she glanced around and found some chocolate bars and snacks which she added to her shopping. She also grabbed a banana and an apple for Maura.

After paying for it all she walked back to the car and handed the fruits to the doc. "What is this?" Maura asked and Jane gave her a worried look. "No, I can see that its an apple and a banana. But what is it for?" Maura was kind of aggressive, looking to pick a fight. Another symptom of the tumor as Jane had learned by googling for information while sleepless on the couch that night. She sighed. "We have at least four more hours Maur. I thought you might get hungry." Jane sounded calm.

Maura raised an eyebrow but remained silent. So, Jane drove off again. She remained short over the speed limit, trying to get home as quick as possible. It was approximately one hour later when she watched Maura unpeel the banana from the corner of her eye. She felt relieved but acted as if she didn't notice.

She had to notice though when Maura reached for one of her chocolate bars which rested in the console between them. "Life is short." Was all that the doc said as if this was an excuse to steal Janes snack. Jane recalled all the times Maura had stolen fries and food from her plate and tried to tame her emotions. Good and fun times. According to a statistic she had found late at night while laying on the couch in her exile was that Maura's kind of tumor had good healing chances.

Acting like she usually would she wined "Mauraaaaaa!" and rolled her eyes playfully. The doc chuckled as she took a bite. "Mhmmmm these are really good." She exclaimed to Janes pleasure. When she held it out for Jane to take a bite too, the brunette felt like a stone was falling of her chest.

She took a bite and munched on it. "Can I have some water please?" she asked, and Maura opened the bottle for her.

"Can we stop at the next gas station? I need to use the bathroom." Maura replied while Jane drank.

"Sure. The next one should be in 12 miles." Jane answered after checking the meter on the car. Maura's hand came to rest on her thigh and she cupped it with her own.

"You know that I love you." Maura said and Jane nodded. "I know baby. I love you too." Jane had gotten kind of used to the mood changes which were also a symptom.

"I'm sorry for letting you sleep on the couch last night. Its just that this tumor is driving me crazy. The fact that it is there makes me mad." Maura apologized and Jane gently stroke over her hand. "I know. I can't even imagine what it feels like." Her voice was hoarse, and she felt Maura turning her face to study her.

"I just can't help it. I know that you want the best for me. Don't you ever think that I don't see what you go through to make me feel save and comfortable. Its just that… I don't know." Maura's voice trailed off.

"I'm okay. And I get it, really." Jane swallowed back the lump and some tears. Maura stayed silent.

"You are not okay, Jane. How could you? You always carry the weight of the world on your shoulder because you care. I know that you haven't slept more than 5 hours since I went to the hospital."

Despite trying hard to hold them off, the tears began streaming down her face and Jane turned into the next parking area. She unbuckled herself and jumped out of the car. Maura found her sitting on a stone in a nearby picknick area, sobbing.

"I'm sorry Jane." Maura touched her shoulder from behind. "So sorry."

"Don't be. Its not your fault." Jane whispered as she stood to wrap her arms around her wife. Maura's words had unleashed the emotions that had built up under the pressure of the past days. "Neither is it yours Jane." The soft voice said, and Jane hung her head.

"I don't want to lose you Maur. You are my love, my life, my everything." Jane whispered and swallowed hard, wiping some tears of her face but they kept coming. "How am I supposed to live without you?"

Maura pulled her back into a firm hug. "I don't want to die either Jane. And we both know that it doesn't has to be this way" She murmured into the brunette's ears. They stood there for a long time, not noticing the soft drops of rain falling onto them. "Let's go and find us a motel. We can do the rest of the drive tomorrow." Maura calmly said.

"But you want that shit out." Jane protested and Maura gave her a crooked grin. "According to statistics one day more or less until starting the treatment wont matter." She winked.

Jane was searching her mind, not recalling the statistic, despite looking for it to prove to Maura to take it slow. "Which statistic?" she narrowed her eyes, having a hunch.

"My personal statistic." Maura called over her back with a sly grin as she had already turned to walk back to the car.

"Dr. Isles. You can't invent statistics." Jane scolded her playfully while whipping some tears of her face with a crooked grin.

Maura stopped and they hugged again. "I can." Maura gave Jane a loving smile. "We both need a shower and food and rest."

The sky was getting darker by the minute and soon a thunderstorm was raging while the rain poured hard against the windshield. Jane had a hard time to see and drove slowly. But they didn't care. They enjoyed themselves. It was nobody's fault that fate had hit them in form of a damn brain tumor. And making jokes or having fun didn't make it go away, but neither did fear or a sad face.

Jane silently mused that this was what life was going to be for them in the upcoming time: A rollercoaster with ups and downs. But she knew that there was no other person she would dare to face this than Maura.

R&I

The room was cozy, and Jane immediately tested the bed. She was tired. Maura had been right. She had hardly slept more than five hours and she needed a rest. Maura undressed in front of her, slowly, teasingly.

Jane watched her with a smudge grin. "Care to join me in the bathtub?" Maura didn't have to ask twice. They enjoyed the warm water on their skin and Maura rested her back against Janes front while Janes arms were wrapped around her body. The brunette kissed Maura's shoulders and took up the lead the doc had laid by undressing in front of her.

She caressed Maura's belly and took her time as if they made love for the first time. She felt Maura shiver and her own wetness pooling between her legs. She kissed the neck upwards and the blonde turned her head to catch Janes lips before leading Jane out of the tub.

"Let's continue in bed." She whispered and the brunette followed her. She lay on top of Maura and let one of her legs slide between Maura's. They made love until they both came. Then they spooned up like they always did, with Jane being the big spoon to Maura's little one.