Chapter 4: Family

A/N: Just a short one for today.

Jeffersonian Institute Medico-legal Lab, Washington, DC: 12:02pm EDT

Maura squatted down to Isla's level to look at the picture the little girl was showing her.

"Look, Aunt Maura, that's you," Isla said, pointing to the tallest of the three people in her drawing. "See, you're holding my hand and Theo's hand." She pointed in turn to the shorter, dark haired little girl and boy on either side of the blond woman.

Maura felt herself tear up as she looked at the picture. She'd never had a child draw a picture that included her, let alone one of her two favorite kids. How did these kids burrow into her heart so quickly?! "You did a wonderful job," she said thickly, trying to hide her emotions.

"It's for you," Isla said with a huge, hopeful smile. She held the picture out to Maura.

"I love it!" Maura said, no longer to stop the handful of stray tears that escaped down her cheeks. "Thank you so much, sweetie."

"Will you put it on your fridgerator?" Isla asked hopefully.

Maura glanced at Jane when she heard the other woman chuckle. She knew what Jane was thinking – that she would never put something up that didn't match her décor – but this time Jane was wrong. "I am absolutely going to put it up at home," Maura said. "I might even frame it and put it somewhere that I will see it all the time."

"Really?" Isla squealed.

Maura laughed. "Yes, really," she said happily.

"I made one for you, too!" Theo interjected, shoving his own picture in front of his sister to show Maura.

Maura took the picture from him with a smile. "Oh, look at these dinosaurs," Maura said. "This is a great picture. Thank you, sweetie."

"Will you frame mine, too?" Theo asked, his eyes sparkling in excitement.

"Yes, I will," Maura replied, and she definitely planned to follow through on framing both pictures. She was going to keep these – the first picture Isla and Theo gave her – forever. "Thank you both so much. Can I give you a hug?"

Both kids threw their arms around her. She squeezed her eyes shut as she fought the feelings threatening to bubble over.

They were interrupted by a knock on the office door.

"Hey," Aubrey greeted. "I'm going to run to the Royal Diner to pick up lunch for everyone. What do you guys want?"

"I'll have a cheeseburger, and…" Jane turned to the kids. "What do you guys want?"

"Chicken fingers," Isla answered.

"Grilled cheese, please!" Theo said.

"Please!" Isla added quickly. "I forgot to say please."

"Good job, sweetie," Jane said gently caressing Isla's head as her daughter stood next to her.

"Dr. Isles?" Aubrey asked.

"Oh, um, do they have anything healthy?" Maura asked. "I really haven't had a healthy meal in days."

"Well, Aubrey knows the entire menu," Jane quipped. "And he's tried everything."

"Ha ha, funny," Aubrey said sarcastically. Then, speaking to Maura, he added, "Okay, she's not wrong, but Dr. B knows the healthy stuff best."

"I'll just have whatever Dr. Brennan ordered, then," Maura replied.

"Uh…quinoa burger?" Aubrey said, looking at his list.

"Perfect," Maura replied.

When agent Aubrey returned, arms overflowing with bags of food, everyone gathered in Dr. Brennan's office and ate together. Uncomfortable around so many new people – especially so many people who knew so much more about Jane and her kids than she did – Maura sat off to the side. She spent most of the time listening to everyone else talk, only speaking when asked a direct question.

After lunch, Jane and Maura stayed in Dr. Brennan's office with the kids until they fell asleep for their naps while Michelle took a break.

"Are they asleep?" Michelle whispered when she stuck her head in the door a little while later.

"Yeah, they're out," Jane said quietly as she extracted herself out from underneath Isla. Before standing up completely, she ran her fingers lovingly through Theo's hair. She gave each of them a kiss before leaving them on the couch, sound asleep with their heads next to each other in the center of the couch.

Michelle smiled. "I can sit with them now if you guys want to get back to the case," she said, pointing over her shoulder in the general direction of the lab.

"Are you sure? You didn't take much of a break," Jane said.

Michelle shook her head with a soft smile. "Really, I'm fine," she said earnestly. "I'm going to get some stuff done on my computer while they sleep. But honestly, I know not as much as you, but I'll just feel better when this is over."

"Thanks, kid," Jane said as she clapped Michelle on the shoulder, and Maura could hear the exhaustion creeping into her voice. Turning to Maura, Jane added, "Can I talk to you for a few minutes alone, first?"

"Oh, sure," Maura said in surprise. She definitely wasn't expecting Jane to want to talk to her alone right now. Maybe she should have – they hadn't had a single conversation alone yet – but she figured they wouldn't have a chance until they caught the person or people who had taken Isla and Theo. Maura suddenly felt nervous at the prospect of talking to Jane alone.

Maura felt an unexpected warmth flood her body when Jane placed her hand on the small of Maura's back. Jane gently guided Maura out of the office and around the outer edge of the lab. They went up the stairs to the second floor, which consisted of a sitting area overlooking the platform and a walkway that want around the opening that looked down to the first floor.

Jane sat on the small couch in the sitting area and pulled Maura down next to her. Jane leaned against Maura and rested her head on Maura's shoulder. "I know we have a lot to talk about, but…" Jane started, but Maura stopped her.

Maura grabbed Jane's hand and pulled it into her lap, giving it a squeeze. "Jane, you don't need to worry about me, about us, right now, okay? I'm here to help in any way that I can. I'm here to help you, Isla, and Theo; I'm here to help with the investigation; I'm here to help with anything you need, okay?" Maura said. Before she could overthink it, Maura let go of Jane's hand and wrapped both of her arms around Jane's shoulders, holding her close.

Jane brought both hands up and held onto Maura's arm. It was an awkward hug, but it was exactly what she needed. She had missed this. She had missed Maura – the woman who always knew what Jane needed.

Jane's eyes fluttered closed when she felt Maura leave a soft kiss on the top of her head, and she squeezed Maura a little tighter.

"Jane, look at me for a second," Maura whispered into Jane's hair, giving her one more kiss on the top of her head before Jane sat up. When Jane was looking at her, Maura grabbed both of Jane's hands in hers and continued, "We will talk, I promise. But right now, we both need to focus on this case. I'm not saying you can't take a break – and I will sit here with you as long as you need. We both know that taking the occasional break will only increase our productivity in the long run. What I am saying is that I'm not going to leave again like I did last time."

Maura paused and ran her thumbs across Jane's knuckles. "I need you to know that I've never regretted anything more in my life," she said quietly but firmly. "I won't do that to you, again. I won't do it to either of us. And I definitely won't leave without saying goodbye to the kids. I already love them more than I ever thought possible." Maura's eyes fell to their linked hands as a mixture of shame, embarrassment, and vulnerability overtook her.

Jane tugged at their hands to pull Maura closer before letting go and wrapping her in a hug. "Thank you," Jane said thickly. She paused before adding, "I've really missed you."

"I've missed you, too, Jane, so, so much," Maura replied, pulling Jane impossibly closer.

When they separated, Jane spoke, "I know you're uncomfortable around everyone here. It's gotta be weird that they all know me and the kids so well, and you don't know them at all. I know it would be for me if the situation was reversed. Anyway, I really, really appreciate that you've stayed to help. More than you know."

"Jane, I would do anything to help," Maura said with a slight laugh. "Being slightly uncomfortable around people who love you is the least of my concerns. Your team cares about you and the kids so much, Jane. The fact that you're surrounded by people who love you makes me happy. Besides, I'm awkward around everyone."

Jane laughed lightly.

"Actually, speaking of people who love you, I'm shocked that your family hasn't shown up yet," Maura said, just now realizing that Jane hadn't said anything about her mom or brothers.

Jane laughed much louder this time. "Trust me, they'd all be here if it were up to them," she said. "But we still don't know who took Isla and Theo or why. I basically had to force ma to agree – and I think Frankie may have done some convincing – but the whole family is under protection in Boston.

"And Nina's due any day now. I'm just praying we figure this out before she goes into labor. I don't know how we're going to protect them in the hospital. The FBI and BPD are both contributing to the protection detail, but they can only provide so many officers and agents."

"I could hire private protection for them," Maura said quickly. "I can get as much…"

"What? No, Maura, no!" Jane cut her off. "You've already done…Maura, you paid $15 million in ransom. No, absolutely not."

"Jane, it's not about the money," Maura said. "I can't…Jane, I know it's been five years, but the time apart has only shown me how much you and your family means to me. I loved my parents, and I know they loved me, but I never really understood what a family could be until I met your family." Maura tilted her head before continuing, "There's no amount of money that could…I would give every penny I have to be a part of a family like yours, and I will pay anything to keep my favorite family safe."

"Okay, first, you are a part of my family," Jane said firmly, and Maura felt tears burning her eyes. "You're the smartest person I know, so I know you know the definition of unconditional."

"Of course, I know the definition of unconditional," Maura said, confusion written all over her face. "It means…"

Jane laughed. "Maura, it means there is nothing you could do – ever – that would make me or my family stop loving you," she said, trying to catch Maura's eyes.

"Jane," Maura said softly. She couldn't find any words to describe how she was feeling in that moment, how much Jane's words meant to her, but Jane knew. The way Maura said her name told her everything, just as it always had.

Jane took a deep breath. "Let's leave the FBI and BPD protection for now, but if Nina does go into labor, we can have another conversation about it," she conceded.

"Okay, but I meant what I said, Jane. There's no amount of money that is too much to keep your family safe," Maura replied.

"Thank you," Jane said. "Also, I'm really sorry about your parents. I tried to…" Jane suddenly stopped talking, her gaze falling to the side as she fell deep into thought.

"Jane?" Maura asked tentatively, confusion lacing her voice.

"How did the copycat find you?" Jane asked suddenly, her eyes flying back to meet Maura's.

"What?" Maura asked.

"I tried to find you," Jane said. "I looked for you for weeks – months actually – after you left, and I looked for you again after your dad died and again after your mother died. I couldn't find you, so how did the kidnapper find you to make the ransom call?"

Maura opened and closed her mouth a few times in her surprise and confusion. She was torn between shock at the fact that Jane looked for her not only when she left but when her parents died as well and concern about how the kidnapper actually did find her.

"Come on," Jane said, standing quickly. "We need to go talk to Angela." Jane grabbed Maura's hand and pulled her up before running down the stairs with Maura just behind her. Maybe this was the break they needed.

A/N: I'm fairly certain that the second-floor walkway around a space that's open to the floor below has a specific name, but I cannot, for the life of me, remember the word!