It is the day before Christmas Eve when Maura, after sitting in a room with her parents and treatment team, is given permission to leave the facility.

"Constance, Arthur, thank you so much for joining us today," Lucy smiled as she gestures to the couch where Maura was already sitting.

"Of course," Constance replied as she took a seat on Maura's right side, her husband sitting on his daughter's left.

"We've made Maura a promise to support her so there was no way we would miss this," Arthur adds with a gentle pat to Maura's knee.

Maura simply smiles as she feels her parents sitting snugly next to her.

"That's what we like to hear," Lucy smiled. "I'm sure you remember Dr. Porter who is our head psychiatrist here and has been working with Maura in regards to her medication."

The older gentleman sitting in an arm chair nodded at the three Isles in front of him.

"As you know, Maura has successfully titrated up to what we feel is the most effective dose of Fluoxetine for her," the man began. "She also has been taking a tablet to help her sleep at night and has a prescription for an as needed anxiety tablet."

"Which I haven't needed more than a few times," Maura explained softly.

"Even so, I don't think it would be wise to not give you at least a month's prescription just to see how you get on when you're not in residential treatment," he explained.

"No, of course."

"There's nothing to be ashamed of," Constance reassured her daughter gently. "You take them if you need them."

Her daughter could only nod.

"Regardless of what is decided today in regards to where Maura goes upon discharge, I would like her to have monthly blood checks for the first 3 months just to monitor for any changes or unwanted side effects," the psychiatrist continued.

"Shall we have the results of those tests be sent to you?" Arthur asked.

"They can be sent to whomever her care provider is upon discharge, so her GP or another psychiatrist. She has tolerated the medications quite well so far but as they build up in her system we just want to be on the lookout."

"As a doctor, I'll be more than capable of noting any adverse reactions," Maura mused.

"But for those of us who aren't doctors," Constance smiled, "are there any side effects in particular we should be looking for?"

As her parents and psychiatrist began to discuss side effects and the ins and outs of her new medications, Maura allowed her mind to wander.

Jane, she imagined, was probably only just waking up. Maura smiled as she imagined the number of times the detective would hit the snooze button before finally rolling out of bed to begin the day.

Maybe Jane had the day off and would be awoken by TJ, pleading with her to don ice skates and race around the local ice rink. Or perhaps Jane was being dragged by Angela through the streets of Boston, into every shop to pick up last minute gifts and food for the feast that she had no doubt already begun to prepare.

The doctor longed to call Jane. To even send her a text to let her know she was finally being discharged and that the ever present threat of drowning that had nearly broken Jane's heart was finally gone.

But despite her longing, Maura knew she still wasn't ready.

"Darling?"

Her father's hand on shoulder brought her from her musings.

"My apologies," Maura said quickly. "Dazed off thinking about Christmas, I suppose."

"Excited to finally eat something other than hospital food?" Lucy asked with a grin.

"If there isn't a tarte Tatin in my stomach in the next 24 hours, I may riot," Maura laughed.

Constance and Arthur both looked at each other before laughing with their daughter. It still shocked them how much she had changed in the years since she moved to Boston and they often found themselves delightfully caught off guard.

"All jokes aside, I need you to be really present right now, okay?"

"Yes, of course. I'm sorry."

"No apologies needed," Lucy reassured the doctor. "Now, Constance and Richard. When you brought Maura here one of your biggest concerns was that Maura might not be safe in terms of hurting herself or attempting to take her own life. Constance you reported that you walked in and saw Maura staring at her prescriptions bottles."

"One of the most worrying moments of my life," Constance said, her voice shaking as she reached out and took Maura's hand in her own. "She told me she didn't intend to harm herself, but I'm not sure even she believed her own words."

"I didn't," Maura admitted. A few tears slipped from her eyes before Arthur produced a small handkerchief with a flourish. "Thank you."

"We've worked really hard during her time with us to create a safety plan as well as some preventative tools so that way Maura doesn't get to the point where she is feeling unsafe," Lucy explained.

Reaching down into the bag at her feet, Maura pulled out three stacks of paper, each bound with plastic spirals.

"I may have gone a little overboard, but here is what I've come up with," Maura said as she gave a copy to each of her parents. "I have sections on coping skills, important phone numbers of people I can call when I need support, a checklist to ensure I am taking care of myself physically, and more. Then, should those sections fail, I have my safety plan. What to do if I am unable to 100% contract for safety. I plan to keep copies at home, work, my car, with J…" Maura trailed off, catching herself before saying the detective's name.

"I think sharing with Jane would be a very smart idea," Constance said. "The more people who are aware of this plan, the stronger your support system will be."

"I agree with your mother," Lucy said. "When you get home, I want the three of you to go through this book and become familiar with it. Paying particular attention to what Maura has identified as warning signs that she is struggling. Preventing the bad days is just as important, if not more, as treating them when they arrive."

"Of course," Arthur agreed. "We are fully committed to sharing the burden of Maura's treatment."

"Not that she or her treatment is a burden," Constance quickly interjected when she saw her daughter's face fall.

"It's fine, I understand-"

"No," Constance interrupted her daughter firmly. "You take priority over everything. You cannot be a burden when you are the most important thing in your father and I's lives. Do you understand?"

Maura remained silent as she allowed her mother's words to sink in. Though she and her parents had progressed in their relationship, she still found herself hesitant in accepting their affection.

She felt both her mother and father reach out and take one of her hands in their own, linking the three Isles together.

"I understand," Maura smiled.

"Good."

"Maura and I have also discussed having a chat with her employer, just giving him a few details so she is in the clear for further treatment appointments or if she needs any accommodations," Lucy said, smiling at the compassion shared between the three people in front of her.

"Does that mean you'll be going back to Boston?" Arthur asked.

Maura breathed deeply as she felt her mother's thumb run over her hand.

"This was something Maura and I hadn't been able to come to a decision on," Lucy explained, giving Maura time to collect her thoughts. "She's made immense progress but reports it still feels overwhelming to think about returning to her usual schedule. But because she is feeling safe and can give us that guarantee she'll be safe, having her stay here feels a bit too much. So we're in a sort of Goldilocks situation where we have to find the treatment that's just right."

"What about the day program?"

"That's looking like the best option," Lucy agreed. "Maura could come to the centre during the day, either full or half days, and still get the group sessions, one on one counselling, and medication reviews but would spend the evenings and weekends with you."

"What do you think of that, love?" Arthur asked.

Maura nodded her head.

"Sorry," she quickly added, realizing she would need to speak. "I think the day program would be my preferred option."

"The only caveat is we need to make sure Maura isn't using her treatment as a means to escape from or shirk her normal life back in Boston," the psychiatrist noted from the corner.

"No, of course not," Maura quickly replied. "I've progressed but I am nowhere near ready to return to Boston. I would love to see Jane, and Angela, and everyone else but…" she trailed off. "I'm still feeling unsteady. I would rather wait a few extra weeks to ensure I'm well and truly recovered instead of returning now only to find out I'm still too unstable."

"Than that is what we'll do," Arthur smiled.

"I think given that it's nearly Christmas, and as long as Maura can contract for safety, we can discharge her from inpatient treatment today and allow her to return for the day program on the 26th," Lucy suggested.

"How does that sound?" Constance asked.

"That sounds lovely," Maura smiled.

"And in regards to keeping yourself safe?" the psychiatrist asked, all eyes turning to watch as Maura twisted her hands together.

Maura nodded, and her release papers were signed with a flourish.