Thanks so very much for the reviews, they really helped me want to write the next chapter. I really liked the outcome, let's see if you do as well.
Jane was already heading to Maura's office when she got a text from her it was pretty incoherent. It worried her and she got to the building as fast as she could taking the elevator downstairs. Jane was out of breath the time she got to Maura who was on the couch, eyes closed, looking a little pale.
"Shit," Jane muttered, going to the mini fridge and frowning, there was Maura's lunch completely untouched. "Dammit, I told you to eat." She got down on her knees and lightly shook Maura. "Maura, wake up sweetie," Jane pulled out her phone calling an ambulance when Maura didn't even budge. Jane went to go find Kent or Susie to assist her until the ambulance came.
She burst into Susie's office who was focused on something and jumped up from her chair. "Jane, are you trying to scare me to death?" She asked before noticing the look of anguish on Jane's face. "What's wrong?"
"It's Maura, she's not waking up. I called the ambulance, she didn't eat her lunch. I'm freaking out."
This caused Susie to rush into Maura's office with Jane. Susie felt Maura's pulse and could see her chest moving slightly. "Do you know what's wrong? She said she wasn't having any dizzy spells lately. Everything was okay, that's what she kept on telling me... why wasn't she taking care of herself?" Jane frowned, pacing back and forth. "She has to be okay, right? I can't lose her Susie."
Susie looked at the taller woman seeing her about to have a panic attack, her breathing was elevated, Susie grabbed Jane by the shoulders. "Calm down Jane, you're not going to lose her alright? You do need to keep steady breaths, you need to remain as calm as you can. You can't have an episode. I know you're worried about Maura, frankly I am too but you're going to stress the babies and we both know that's what you don't want either."
Jane nodded, listening to Susie's words, trying to calm her breathing as directed. Jane sat down on a chair and leaned back, closing her eyes. "I really need the ambulance to hurry up," she sighed, continuing her steady breathing.
Moments later the ambulance arrived and paramedics were on the scene putting Maura on the stretcher. Jane got up to go with them and Susie told Jane she'd be right behind in her car heading to the hospital as well.
Jane went into the vehicle as it drove to the hospital, she grabbed hold of Maura's hand as they connected her to an IV drip. "Is she going to be alright?"
"I think so ma'am, just getting some fluids in her body," he spoke in a low tone. "They'll do some blood work when we get to the hospital."
"Do you know what it might be?"
"It can be a different variety of things, I assure you we'll do everything we can to make sure that your wife is alright."
"That doesn't exactly reassure me and my thoughts." Jane spoke, her head falling into her hands, trying to keep her breathing steady. She didn't know how she could when Maura looked so lifeless.
Soon the paramedics were bringing Maura into the hospital, Jane in tow going to stand outside the room they brought her into. Jane texted Susie where they were located so she would know where to find them.
What felt like forever was only moments later when Susie arrived, she had brought Kent with her. "Jane..." he spoke as if he was surprised to see her there.
"Kent, I thought you were supposed to be keeping an eye out for Maura when I couldn't. Did you know Maura didn't eat anything?"
Kent shook his head, "No I wasn't aware..." he started only to have Jane cut his sentence off.
"What the hell happened with your face? Did someone slap you?" she asked, observing his face.
"I um yeah, someone might've..." he shrugged. "I didn't mean to leave Maura alone Jane, I thought she was okay." Kent rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm sorry that she's in here."
"So am I," she patted his back. "I hope they find out what's the matter... I hate that she's in here, I wish she was more careful. Here let me go get you some ice..." she told him, figured she'd distract herself while waiting on news about Maura. Kent grabbed her arm, shaking his head.
"That's really unnecessary Jane."
"I'm tired of feeling helpless today, I'll be right back," she told him going to get an ice pack for Kent's face.
Susie glanced up at Kent, "Yes Kent, care to tell me why you got slapped by Maura, I'm sure she didn't do it for no reason."
"I don't think now is the time to talk about it," Kent gave his head a shake.
"I'm going to want to slap you too, aren't I?" Susie frowned when the look of guilt appeared on his face. "Kent, tell me you didn't..."
"He didn't what?" Jane asked as she came back handing Kent the bag of ice as he put it on his cheek.
"Thanks Jane."
"Yeah, what are friends for," Jane shrugged, crossing her arms, leaning against the wall, waiting for the doctor to come out, which he did about twenty minutes later.
"I have the blood test results Mrs. Rizzoli-Isles. Why don't we step over here?" he nodded with his chart and Jane sighed glancing over at the other two before following the man.
"Kent, you did something real stupid, didn't you?" Susie asked when Jane walked away with the doctor.
"You have no idea."
"So Jane, your wife had pretty high levels of THC in her system that we had to flush out..." The doctor started telling Jane who interrupted.
"Wait you mean she was smoking weed? Doc that's crazy, Maura wouldn't..."
"The results don't lie Jane, she also had very low blood pressure which caused her to pass out after the effects of the marijuana. It seems to me that your wife wasn't taking care of herself properly, unfortunately her iron levels were pretty low too. This could take quite the toll on her body and certain organs. Her medical records show that she donated a kidney a few years back. I think the donation is catching up to her."
Jane frowned, feeling tears build up in her eyes, "Doc, are you telling me that my wife is dying?"
"Oh no, I'm not saying that, okay? Maura is just going to have to go through a few things, we're trying to stabilize everything to get her iron and blood pressure levels on track. Your wife may be developing chronic kidney disease, we caught it early, if she didn't come in the next couple of months there could have been a huge problem. She's not at any stage of CKD as of yet and we can take many precautions so things don't get worse. She should be waking up soon. I know this is not the kind of news you were expecting."
"Will my wife need to get a kidney transplant, is that even possible?"
"That's something we don't need to worry about right now, she will have to come in often so we can keep track of any developments, making sure things don't worsen for her. It's going to be a lot of work to keep everything aligned."
Jane huffed, "Thanks Doc, can I go sit with her until she wakes up."
"Yes of course, go ahead. I am sorry I didn't have much good news for you, there is a glimmer of hope though, I reassure you Mrs. Rizzoli-Isles."
"Okay, thanks again for the help."
"It's what I'm here for, your wife is a very well known and she's pretty strong to handle anything."
"That's what I say," Jane smiled slightly before heading towards Maura's room.
"Jane, is Maura going to be alright?" Susie asked, rubbing at her palms.
"Eventually yes, thanks for being here for me and for her, you too Kent, I don't know how Maura and I can ever thank you both for all that you do." Jane rested her hand on their shoulders. "I'm going to sit in the room until she wakes up. I do have something I need to ask you both first, the doctor mentioned she had levels of THC in her system. Maura hasn't been doing drugs, has she? God I feel so awful for even having to ask. She even got so mad at Constance for doing them."
"Jane actually, I had to test some evidence and Maura was assisting me, and well let's just say I put the exhaust fan backwards and our control environment got kind of well... I'm sure you get it." Kent told her in a quiet tone. Jane sighed, Kent was pretty sure it was a sigh of relief.
"Oh thank God," Jane shook her head. "Did you two want to sit in there with me until she wakes up?"
"I think Kent and I will just stay out here," Susie nodded and Jane disappeared into the room. "So when are you going to tell her?"
"I'm sure Maura will tell her. It's better Jane heard it from her."
"Well it was nice knowing you Kent, you do realize what this means right?"
"I think I have an idea, you don't hate me, do you?"
"I just really wish you were thinking correctly Kent, you've gone and screwed things up big time. I don't hate people Kent but I do hate what you've done, or tried to do anyways. I just hope that you're prepared for the outcome."
Kent shook his head, knowing he caused his own trouble, "I don't think I can be prepared enough."
Jane sat by Maura's bedside, holding onto her hand, the color was getting back on her face, Jane was relieved about that, what she wasn't relieved about was how long Maura had avoided the doctor, saying there was nothing to worry about when if this incident didn't happen Maura's kidney could be worse off. It pained Jane that Maura didn't take better care of herself, but it made her angry too. "Why the hell didn't you take things more seriously Maura, I don't get it. I just don't fucking get it," she put her head down, trying to keep her anger at bay.
There was some silence except the beeping of the machine before Jane felt Maura shift slightly in the bed.
"Jane? What happened, why am I here?" Maura moved to sit up after she opened her eyes adjusting to the light.
"You blacked out at work, apparently you had high levels of THC in your system and low blood pressure causing the passing out," Jane spoke, avoiding eye contact with Maura. "What the hell were you thinking Maura? Not the drugs because Kent told me what happened with the evidence, but why haven't you been taking better care of yourself?"
"I didn't want to worry over nothing I just wanted to make sure you were okay."
"Maura, what are you talking about I'm fine. Sure I was a little out of it when I found out I was having twins, but I'm alright now. I've been worried about you even though you say you were fine... honestly, you've gotten good at lying. You don't ever break out anymore."
"Did the doctor say anything bad about what happened?" Maura asked, ignoring Jane's urge comment. "And wait, did you say Kent's here?" she shifted slightly with a frown. Jane took notice.
"Yeah, he said you being exposed to the drugs was an accident... do you not want him here?"
"Jane I never want to see or hear from Kent ever again."
"What's going on Maura, usually I'm the one upset with Kent but we made a truce he's pretty oka-" Jane got cut off by Maura's next words.
"He tried to kiss me Jane. I was feeling dizzy, closed my eyes for a moment trying to recoup and then when I opened them his face was right there... I slapped him, really hard, that bastard deserved it."
At Maura's announcement Jane jumped up from her chair, "I'm going to fucking kill him. I trusted him and this is how he repays us. He's dead." She went to move when Maura pulled her by the arm.
"Jane, wait a minute... you didn't tell me what the doctor said... can we deal with him in a second?"
Jane turned to Maura her anger for Kent still there in the moment, but she seen the scared look on her wife's face. "He said it's early but there's a chance you might develop chronic kidney disease. And that it's a good thing that you came in today instead of months from now or it would be worse than it is right now. I wish you would have went the moment you felt dizzy the first time," Jane gave her head a shake frustrated with her wife as well for not doing the smart thing and going to the doctor. Jane was stubborn as hell but she still went when something was wrong.
Maura didn't like what Jane had just told her, "Maybe I should have never donated a kidney in the first place... Jane, can you make sure Kent is gone, and I don't mean from the hospital, but from my life both personal and professional. I can't have him working for me anymore. And I really don't want him anywhere near me or our family."
Jane nodded, kissing the top of her head. "Got it, I won't let him make you feel uncomfortable ever again. I'll be back, are you going to be alright?"
"As good as I can be I guess," she shrugged, leaning back against the bed, closing her eyes to feel relaxed everything right now just felt overwhelming.
Jane left the room and Kent was talking to Susie. "Hey Kent, come here for a second," she looked at him with intense anger, and he groaned.
"Well it was nice knowing you Susie." Susie just shrugged, not sure if she cares at the moment, she made the moves on her married friend and she didn't appreciate it. Kent walked over to Jane, "Yes Jane?"
Jane grabbed him by the shoulders, pining him hard against the wall. "I had a little chat with Maura, you think she appreciates you trying to kiss her? Apparently you don't understand what the hell off limits means. She told you straight out that she was married and that didn't stop you, did it? I'm sick of guys hitting on married women, happily married women. I don't care for your explanation because you fucked up," she poked at his chest when he tried to speak. "You made Maura uncomfortable, she liked being your friend and she stood up for you everytime I tried to convince her you were into her. She trusted you Kent, all she wanted was a friend, another person to understand her and you fucked it up. I started to trust you, you asshole. I let my fucking guard down and this is what happens. You're dead to me and you're definitely dead to her, she wants you gone, she doesn't need you to work with her anymore, you've been relieved of your duties Kent Drake," she stepped back, turning to Susie. "You better watch out Susie or Kent here might make the moves on you next."
Susie nodded, going back to the crossword puzzle she was trying to finish for the day.
"Jane, can I just say something?" Kent spoke up "I'm sorry for hurting Maura, for making her uncomfortable..."
"Let me stop you right there, you knew it was wrong, but you did it anyway, we don't want your apologies. You knew the damage Kent and you only have yourself to blame. I'd be surprised if Maura doesn't file a harassment charge on you, now get out of here and there better be a letter of resignation on Maura's desk when she comes in next."
"Okay Jane," he threw his hands up in defeat. "I get it, I'm gone."
"Oh and one more thing Kent..." Jane went to knee him hard in the groin area, causing him to falter as he winced out in pain. "I hoped that hurt worse than Maura slapping your face," she spoke to him in a much deeper tone than she normally spoke, before turning to Susie with a normal smile, "Susie, did you want to come inside and see Maura. I'm sure she'd be happy to know that you're here."
Susie nodded, putting the crossword down, passing by Kent. "Goodbye Kent, I'd listen to Jane if I were you, after you get adjusted of course," she patted his back before joining Jane in Maura's room. "That was intense Jane, I wish I had skills to take a man down like that."
"I can always train you, it's all about technique and the right amount of force."
Maura sat up in her bed looking at the two women, "Did Kent leave?"
"He will after his balls feel better," Jane chuckled. "He's going to put his letter of resignation on your desk."
"Well thanks, for handling it Jane. I honestly never want to see him around again, I trusted him and he broke that trust... I mean you even started to trust him when you were right the whole time."
"Let's not worry about him anymore alright? Let's just worry about you and your well being."
Susie observed the two before speaking, "Maura, I'm really glad that you're awake, I was so frightened that you might..."
"I'm sorry for scaring you both, I promise I'll take better care of myself. I really don't like it in here," Maura sighed. "And I'd much prefer things not to get worse."
"Yeah especially since you only have the one kidney because you wanted to play hero for your half sister."
"I didn't want to play hero, I wanted to save my sister's life, I wanted to have and know my family. That's not necessarily something heroic."
"It is in my book, I don't know if I would ever give an organ up for my siblings. Maybe that's selfish of me but I do have my reasons."
"Donating isn't for everyone Jane, I mean it could cause problems and your siblings aren't exactly grateful all of the time."
"I don't trust my siblings to take proper care of any of my organs, I'd trust you though," Jane admitted, squeezing Maura's hand.
"Too bad our blood types are different so we're not exactly compatible there sweetie."
"At least we're compatible in everything else," Jane smiled warmly at Maura, before sighing, "I'm still pretty mad at you for not going to the doctor the first time you had these dizzy spells. I thought you of all people would know if something is wrong you go to the doctor."
"It was against my better judgement. I'll do better I promise. I promise both of you." Maura looked at her wife and then to Susie.
"I'd really prefer not to imagine a world without you Maura."
"I promise neither of you will have to worry, alright?"
"I'd hope not." Jane got up from the chair. "I'm going to tell the doctor that you're awake now and he'll let us know how to prevent that from happening. Keep an eye on her Susie."
"I will Jane, scout's honor." Susie smiled as the woman left the room.
"So did you end up having your lunch with Frankie today?" Maura asked and the woman nodded.
"Yes I did and everything was great. We tried to discuss when we would have our wedding though, he wants a fall wedding, but I kind of like the idea of a spring wedding."
"Well Jane and I got married in the spring and it was really beautiful out. I thought Frost and Tommy were going to get married in the fall and they've been engaged longer than you and Frankie."
"That's what I was telling him, I know I'm excited to marry him but things have been going pretty fast and I think a long engagement wouldn't be the worst thing. It happens all of the time in relationships. I kind of always had this dream of getting married on the beach. Frankie wants this more traditional sort of wedding."
"It seems to me Susie that you and Frankie have a lot more to talk about."
"Which is why getting married in the fall is too soon. There's so much to discuss and often we're too busy or not talking a lot, if you catch my drift."
Maura laughed, "Oh I bet, these Rizzolis sure have this certain hormone in them where they tend to want to have a lot of sex."
"He's quite addicting to be honest, so gentle and caring. I never felt so loved before."
"Yeah, I won't even discuss my sex life, plus I know it would embarrass Jane knowing I'm talking about it."
"I never seen Jane embarrassed before, I mean except where the hazmat team made you two and my boyfriend at the time take those showers."
"She doesn't embarrass easy, sometimes she can be such a hard ass," Maura smirked, stopping herself when Jane came back in with the doctor.
"Nice to see you awake Maura and full of color again. So I was telling Jane of ways to prevent your kidney from getting worse off. There's also some steps you need to take like being watchful of your blood pressure levels. I'm going to prescribe you some iron pills as well so you levels there stay up as well, which were quite low when you came in. Don't want you having iron deficiency or have you have any more of those dizzy spells. You need to be watchful of what you eat and Jane was telling me sometimes you don't eat at all and we all know that's not entirely healthy to begin with."
The doctor continued telling Maura things and she nodded. "Anything else?"
"I told you everything you need to know, if you have any questions just give me a call and I'll answer any of it the best that I can. I'm going to sign your release and hand you off to your wife now."
"Thanks Doc," Jane looked at her wife. "We appreciate it."
"It's what I do," he smirked before leaving for a moment.
"We're going straight home and getting you something to eat, I'm sure we have something on this list he gave us," Jane squeezed Maura's hand. "Susie, you don't mind giving us a ride, do you?"
"Not at all, wouldn't mind spending time with my two favorite people, making sure you're both okay."
"What would we do without you Chang?" Jane patted her back.
"I'm sure that you won't ever find out," Susie smirked, grateful to be in the presence of the two.
Angela grew tired of sitting home alone in her thoughts, she asked Tommy and Frost if they and the twins wanted to come over and spend time with Julian. The twins sounded excited on the phone. Once they arrived Angela thanked the boys and headed to the Dirty Robber to assist her husband with inventory.
Korsak was on the phone when she arrived and he sounded frustrated. "I don't care how much it costs, I need these pipes fixed because I can't have any problems with the bar right now. Yes I know a professional should have helped last time I wasn't the damn owner back then I don't know how many times I need to tell you this. Get one of your men out here, I can't afford to have this place shut down until you decide it's convenient if you to help fix the problem." Korsak got silent for a moment. "That's all I'm asking you... if they don't show up when you say they will I'm going to call back I promise you're not going to like me if I have to do that." He spoke before hanging up the phone.
"I think you might have gotten the point across," Angela told her husband.
Korsak turned to her in surprise, "Ang, what are you doing here? Where's Julian?"
"Tommy and Frost are helping out with him for a bit, the twins were very excited about it. So care to tell me who you were shouting at on the phone?" she asked as she sat down on one of the stools.
"Plumbing company, the toilets are backed up, there's a huge leak in the pipes causing some water damage to the bathrooms so I had to shut the water off. Been on the phone for over an hour, they said they'll get a few men out here in a few hours. Want a drink? I know I'm going to need one in a second."
"I'm actually here to help with the inventory if you needed it. I was sort of tired of sitting at home especially after I was well rested. Julian didn't seem to mind me being gone."
"Well you look well rested that's for sure. I'm actually done with the inventory, this plumbing incident is the last thing I need to handle before I get to go home and hopefully the bar will be able to open tonight, unless something goes wrong."
"Oh well, you seem pretty stressed maybe a night off will do you some good."
"That sounds like something I told you the other day if I recall correctly, but you insisted to work still."
"Honestly, I think we both need a night off, you and I, without Julian. It's been too long and I feel like we've been missing something, a special spark between us."
Korsak looked at his wife with a frown, "You really think we've lost our spark too? I hate to admit it Ang, but I think we have and spending time just you and I sounds like a pretty good idea. What brought this on?"
"It was actually something Ron said the other night, that if you stop complimenting me that he wouldn't mind offering me some nice words. And I don't want someone else giving me compliments, I just want my husband giving them to me and I feel like we haven't been affectionate and it sort of gives this vibe off to someone else that I'm not feeling as loved."
"I knew that Ron guy was up to no good. You know I love you Angela, you know how I feel about you I don't want some guy making you feel like he cares more than I do."
"Yes I know Vince, but it doesn't hurt to hear nice things every once in a while making me feel important. Not getting that confidence, I feel sort of lonely that I need to go to a friend for comfort." She sighed. "I feel like I'm losing my husband and people can sense it, can sense when I'm not happy. And then they think they can just attempt to make me feel better by trying to kiss me..."
Korsak listened to Angela speak, taking in what she said, focusing more on that last part. "Wait, who tried to kiss you, did Ron? When did this happen?"
"It was after he was watching Julian today while I tried to get some rest. I thanked him for helping and I was walking him out when he decided he'd try to make a move on me, I shoved him away and I sent him on his way. I'm sorry that I didn't believe you, and I'm sorry that I was allowing him to say nice things to me making him think there was something there between us, when it wasn't my intention at all. I'm sorry for not being honest with you sooner about how I've been feeling neglected and unimportant to you," Angela managed to get out through her tears. "I didn't want to give him the wrong idea... and Ron's not completely to blame."
Korsak watched his wife break down and he felt like there was nothing to do about it. He got from behind the bar and pulled his wife into a hug. "Angela, I wish you would have told me how you were feeling... all of this could have been avoided. I want to tell this Ron guy off for trying to kiss you, for making you feel wanted when I wasn't. But I guess we're all to blame and I never wanted you to feel unloved or under appreciated. I should have seen the signs, I should have seen that you weren't happy with me. That Ron was making you happy."
"You did see the signs that he was into me though, that he was trying to find a way to get in-between us and I helped him along. I was giving him the wrong impression," she pulled away from her husband. "I could have prevented this."
"Don't you dare blame yourself, I should have been there, making you feel amazing, being the husband I know you always wanted to have. I'll work on it, I promise if you work on being completely honest with me. Secrets aren't good to have, I don't want to ever lose you Angela," he cupped her cheeks, kissing her soundly. "You're the most beautiful woman and you'll continue to be. I'll do absolutely anything I can to make sure you feel loved, how much you deserved to be loved. Because let's face it, I love you and I'd be completely lost without you. I'll take the night off and we'll go to a nice restaurant and we'll get that spark back and you'll feel like your own confident self in no time."
"You promise?"
He nodded, kissing the top of her head, "I promise with all of my heart Angela, because you deserve it."
"I love you Vincent Korsak and I always will."
Korsangela finally had a conversation (they've definitely been lacking screen time), Angela was feeling neglected and Korsak wasn't really aware until she opened up. Who knew Angela was feeling that bad. Maura is okay (for the most part) and Jane reacted properly to Kent trying to kiss Maura and to Maura not taking care of herself better ending up in the hospital. Maura and Susie had a nice talk, and she's definitely our biggest Rizzles supporter in the story, she wished she was bold enough to knee Kent in the nuts getting him to stumble like Jane got him to do. I like when inspiration hits and the chapters come faster, don't you? Tell me what you think.