The Boston streets had thawed by the time Captain Frankie Rizzoli gave his niece a gun and badge for the homicide unit. It was no coincidence he'd given AJ the same identifying number as her mother – Victor 825. They'd both shared a somber pause in his office that day as AJ traced a thumb over the cool, shiny metal.
Her first few weeks on the job consisted of getting adjusted to her new workplace. The homicide unit didn't have a partner for her yet and AJ spent most of her time learning the ropes from other detectives. When she wasn't at the station she was at her mother's house on the North Shore.
AJ and Maura were getting along well enough. Maura was busy teaching pre-medical courses at Boston College, peer reviewing articles on several medical journals, teaching forensic seminars to law enforcement agencies, and volunteering at a low-income clinic as a general physician. Dr. Maura Isles-Rizzoli had always been busy, but since becoming a widow, she was sure to fill as many hours as she could with activities. Whenever AJ and her mother had the same hours off, they would share dinner, listen to music, or every once in a while, she could convince Maura to watch a Bruins hockey game. James made frequent visits, which also helped the tension.
But so far AJ hadn't built up the nerve to ask her mother about the Denton case. Part of her wanted to learn about it herself first. She always felt guilty for opening old wounds and bringing back terrible memories for her mother. She would wait until it was absolutely necessary to go down that path.
That's why instead she found herself huddled over a small metal table in the corner of the BPD records room, a cardboard box filled to the brim next to her. It was long past her shift and most of the other detectives had gone home for the evening. But AJ quietly stayed put, frantically reading each line of the Denton case files under a single lamp.
Her chocolate gaze lingered on one of the photographs related to her mother's kidnapping. A full close-up, color photo showed a bullet wound in Maura's shoulder. It was taken by evidence. Maura's face wasn't in the photo – just her stitches and porcelain skin – but AJ could recognize the mark anywhere. She'd seen the scar as a child and it always sparked curiosity. Her parents eventually told her Maura had been shot but didn't elaborate. Now seeing it in the flesh put an uneasy feeling in her stomach.
"Can't say I'm surprised to find you down here."
AJ jumped at the sound of her uncle's voice. Frankie appeared around the corner of one of the tall aisles of boxes.
"Didn't mean to scare you," he said.
"It's all right," AJ muttered.
She nervously shifted in her seat but made no attempt to hide the files in front of her. Frankie slowly eased in behind her, staring down at the evidence. Another photo was on the table. It was a dead female police officer. Her vest was gone and she'd been cleaned of the blood, revealing a wound at her neck.
"Denton case, huh?" Frankie asked. "Figured you'd dig this up eventually."
AJ slowly put down the photographs and adjusted the sleeve of her blazer. She wore a silk white blouse under her tweed jacket, along with pressed navy slacks. Like Jane she was stoic, tough and an officer of the law, but AJ also had Maura's fashion sense and striking femininity. It was a dangerous combination that often made her effective undercover.
"How much did they tell you about it?" Frankie asked.
"Not much. It was always a secret. They never wanted us to know about the bad times," AJ said. She grabbed the picture of the dead female officer again. "This is who Owen is named after, isn't it?"
Frankie gave a sad nod.
"Officer Emily Owens," he replied. "Jane – I mean, your ma – never forgave herself for that one."
AJ grimly picked at one of the papers.
"She blamed herself for Emily's death," she muttered.
"She told you?"
"No," AJ said. "I just know her."
Frankie found a nearby chair and carefully drug it over, taking a seat next to his niece.
"Emily helped save Maura that day," he muttered.
"What was it like?" AJ asked.
"Why are you looking into this case?" Frankie asked in return.
AJ leaned back in her chair, watching as her uncle fiddled with his gray tie. It made the salt and pepper mixed into his hair even more obvious. He raised an eyebrow at his niece.
"They never found Olivia Denton. I think she's still out there. And I think whatever web was weaved to keep it quiet needs to be broken," AJ confessed.
"Does Maura know you're doing this?"
"Yes."
"And what does she say?"
"She says not to do it," AJ shrugged. "But that shouldn't surprise you. Now will you tell me about that day?"
"What day?"
"The day mom was shot," AJ continued. "In the woods that night. You were there, weren't you?"
Frankie gave a slight frown, staring at the photos on the desk. His eyes lingered on the images of Maura's wounds. Of the bloody cabin and bodies. There was even a photo of the back of his SUV that night, covered in red.
"I didn't get there until it was over really," Frankie confessed. "I drove your mother to the hospital. An ambulance wasn't going to get there in time, and she was losing blood quickly. It was the scariest drive of my life."
"But you made it," AJ said.
"Yeah," Frankie murmured. He shook his head. "I thought Janie was going to lose it. I knew if we lost your mother, she'd never be able to live with herself."
…30 years earlier…
Jane ran to keep up with the gurney. Her hand was wrapped around Maura's, covered in the woman's blood. Frankie had sped as fast as he could to the hospital, even getting a police escort for the last two miles. All the while, Jane had screamed at him to go quicker and begged Maura to keep breathing.
By the time the doctors and nurses pulled the medical examiner from the backseat and put her on a gurney, she had come to. Her green eyes fluttered open as the white walls and lights blurred around her.
"Jane," she whimpered.
"I'm right here. I'm right here, Maura," Jane said. She squeezed in between one of the doctors and nearly elbowed a nurse out of the way to show Maura her face.
"Are we at the hospital?"
Her pale face twisted with pain and Jane used her other hand to push sweaty hair from Maura's forehead.
"Don't talk. The doctors are going to take care of you," Jane whispered.
"Keller?"
"He's dead. He's gone," Jane told her.
"We really need to take her into surgery," one of the doctors told Jane.
They were approaching a set of double doors where Jane wasn't allowed through, but she continued to run next to the fast-moving bed, not letting go of Maura's hand.
"Don't leave me…"
"You're going to be okay, honey, I promise," Jane said, doing her best to stay strong. Still tears welled in her eyes as the gurney stopped.
"Say goodbye here," the surgeon advised. "We need to take her now."
"I love you, Maura. I'm going to be there when you wake up okay? You hang on," Jane whispered hoarsely. She kissed her lips and forehead.
"I love you too," the medical examiner wheezed. She squeezed Jane's hand before letting go. Her stare was glassy again and she looked ready to fall back asleep.
"You take care of her," Jane glared at the head surgeon.
"We'll give you an update as soon as we can," the doctor nodded.
Jane kept eyes on the gurney, trained on Maura's scared face until they were out of sight behind the double doors. As soon as they were gone, Jane allowed herself to falter. Suddenly her legs were weak and the tears flooded her gaze so quickly that she could hardly see. Panic stifled her chest and she clutched at her collar, unable to breathe. It was then she saw the blood all over her. On her fingers and shirt, jeans and white shoes, beneath her nails and up her arms.
"It's okay," Frankie soothed, sneaking up behind her.
He grabbed her into a tight hug without a word, holding up his sister who quickly collapsed into him. Jane sobbed in the middle of the sterile hallway, ignoring the nurses, doctors, other patients and families. She cried heartedly onto his shoulder, allowing the absolute terror of the last thirty minutes sink in.
"I can't lose her," Jane sniffled. "I can't lose her, Frankie. I love her. I love her so much."
"You're not going to lose her," Frankie whispered, blinking back his own tears. It was rare to see his sister in such hysterics. Jane was known for keeping her calm. "Let's sit down."
He led them to a pair of chairs and helped her to sit. A few nurses lingered, watching them anxiously. He gave them a signal to give them space. Jane grabbed a few tissues from the nearby table and wiped her tear-stained cheeks.
"Shoulder wounds are sustainable. It probably didn't hit anything too serious…"
"Jane, I know you're worried, but you need to focus," Frankie cut her off.
Her eyes widened at her brother in confusion.
"This is about to get bigger than you and Maura. Agency heads, internal affairs, reporters, everyone is going to be here soon. You need to start thinking about what you're going to say," Frankie explained.
"What I'm going to say? We found Keller and…and…"
"And you didn't wait for back-up. You are not a detective anymore and you approached a suspect with a rookie police officer who is now dead," Frankie replied. "I'm not blaming you, Jane. I'm just reminding you of the facts before you get too lost in this. You need to keep your head a little longer."
Jane's stomach sank but she was also hit with renewed focus. She wrung her long, red-stained fingers together, suddenly back-tracking her mistakes. The image of Officer Owens getting shot, begging Jane to stay by her side, tormented her. She pulled in a careful breath.
"I can't leave the hospital," Jane decided. "She won't wake up without me here."
"I'm sure Internal Affairs will talk to you here," Frankie said. "We can delay as long as possible."
They looked toward the lobby. Red and blue lights could suddenly be seen in the parking lot. Police would soon be swarming, not just to find out what happened, but to show their support for the medical examiner and the deceased Officer Owens.
"I'm going to call Ma…"
"Don't Frankie."
"It's better for her to hear from me than the news in thirty minutes. Besides, she can bring you new clothes."
Jane looked down at her bloody wardrobe and frowned. Her brother squeezed her shoulder before walking away with his phone pressed to his ear. Jane ran a hand up her forehead and swallowed back more tears. She knew she was facing an intensive investigation that had the potential to ruin her career but all she cared about was Maura. She needed to be back at the woman's side. She needed to tell her how much she loved her. She needed to see that she would be okay and not picture her lifelessly strewn across her lap.
"Ma'am? Excuse me? Ma'am?"
A nurse was in front of her, doing her best to get Jane's attention. She wasn't sure how long the woman had been speaking.
"I'm sorry, what-what?" Jane stammered.
"I asked if you were hurt," the nurse said. "You're-you're covered in blood."
"It's not mine," Jane whispered.
The nurse nodded in understanding. "Would you like to get cleaned up?"
"I-I uh better wait for the police," she replied.
"Your friend will be okay," the nurse told her. She gave another empathetic glance. "I'll get you some water."
Jane's hand trembled as she pulled out her phone. Her finger hovered above the contact on the screen with regret. It was a call she hoped she'd never have to make. The dial tone rang for several beats before giving way to a voicemail. Jane cleared her throat, doing her best to not break down.
"Constance, this is Jane Rizzoli. I'm calling about Maura. Something has happened. She's been shot and she's at the hospital. We're at Sacred Heart outside Halifax. I can explain more later but you need to get here as soon as you can. I'm going to try Hope Martin as well. She deserves to know. I'll call you as soon as the doctors tell me more."
More tears fell as Jane finished the call. She stifled the desire to cry aloud, instead thanking the nurse as she handed off a bottle of water. The former detective stared off into the distance, covered in blood, silently praying for the woman she loved.
…30 years later…
AJ could hear the fire crackling from the living room as she took off her long peacoat in the front hall. It was a quarter to ten o'clock and she was surprised to find her mother was still awake. The house was quiet and still except for the warm glow coming down the hall. AJ slowly made her way toward the light, hands in the pockets of her slacks as she found her mother. Maura was lying on the couch, a blanket and notepad on her lap. She was busy grading papers, which were piled high on the coffee table next to her.
"You're up," AJ greeted.
"It's the end of the term," Maura said gently. She smiled up at her daughter, peering past the reading glasses on the edge of her nose. "You're home late. Tough case?"
AJ smirked, taking a place on the end of the couch near her mother's feet. Maura stretched out her legs across her daughter's lap.
"I thought you didn't like talking about my cases," AJ chuckled.
Maura simply shrugged, grabbing her mug of tea from the table.
"I like that blazer on you," the doctor changed the subject. "Herringbone?"
"Yes," AJ replied with a smile.
The two sat quietly, allowing the fire to pop between them along with the subtle churn of the ocean outside. Maura scribbled a few notes down before clearing her throat.
"So are you going to tell me about the case?"
"It's an old case," AJ answered. "The Denton case."
Maura put her pen down and nodded. "I see…"
"Uncle Frankie told me about some of what happened the day Keller took you," AJ said. "I mean, most of it was in the case files."
"It was a horrible day," Maura whispered.
AJ guiltily looked down at her hands. "I can't imagine. Do you remember much?"
"Unfortunately, yes," her mother replied. "But I was unconscious for a lot of the aftermath. I think it was harder for your mother than for me."
"Really?" AJ asked in surprise.
"Yes," Maura nodded with a slight sigh. Her cheeks fell with sadness. "And I know because I speak from experience. Whenever your mother would get hurt on the job, long before you kids, it put the fear of God in me. The thought of losing her when she got shot…it was the worst feeling. Not worse than actually losing her of course."
AJ frowned and looked away. "I'm sorry."
Suddenly her mother's hand was on hers and AJ found Maura's gaze. The doctor had stretched across the length of the couch to hold her hand.
"We both walked away that day with a lot of scars," Maura shared. "But I think it was the first time your mother was really scared. At least that's what she told me later."
"She was afraid to lose you," AJ muttered.
"Yes," Maura nodded. Her green eyes sparkled as though hit with a memory AJ couldn't see. "We'd just reconciled when Keller kidnapped me. She found me in record time. But Officer Owens died and I was wounded and your mother blamed herself."
"Yeah, I've been reading the report from Internal Affairs," AJ said.
"They made Jane out to be some irresponsible, selfish, reckless cop, which we know she wasn't," Maura replied. "You see there was a lot going on behind the scenes that I didn't realize. I was just in a hospital bed and your mother was getting grilled from all sides."
"She didn't tell you?"
"Not at first," Maura said. "She wanted me to focus on healing. But she was still shaken up and scared. So scared, she actually ran away."
"What?" AJ cut in. Her gaze widened in shock. "What do you mean ran away? I thought you two had reconciled and…"
"Oh, you have no idea about your mother and I, Alexandra," Maura smirked. "And I think maybe now you're old enough to hear the full story."
AJ watched in confusion as Maura set side her work and pulled the blanket off her lap. She slowly got up.
"Wait, where are you going?" AJ asked.
"The kitchen – I think this story requires a bottle of wine," Maura said.
…30 years earlier…
"So you decided to pursue the lead on your own? Even though you have no jurisdiction – and you're not even a cop?"
"I have a concealed carrier's license and I was brought on as special consult by BPD. Not to mention, I'm credentialed through the FBI…"
"You're not a fucking agent!" the internal affairs officer barked back. He and his partner sat on one side of the table across from Jane. They'd wasted little time arriving at the hospital and demanding a statement from her. Korsak and Frankie had done their best to stop it, but they were outside of Boston with little say.
"So you decided to play vigilante?" the taller of the two men asked. He had gray hair and a matching beard. Jane guessed he was a former cop, resentful of his position at internal affairs.
"I decided to search for Dr. Isles. Her life was in imminent danger and we were running out of time. So yes, I used my best judgement…"
"And is it true you have an intimate relationship with Dr. Isles?"
"Excuse me?"
"Do you have a romantic relationship with Dr. Isles? Yes or no?"
"What does that have to do with this?"
"We would like to know what motivated you – and whether or not it was a conflict of interest for Boston Police to bring you in to consult."
"So, what's your relationship with Dr. Isles?" the other officer asked. He was smaller and clearly new to the job. He wore a clean suit and kept his brown hair cut close. He stared out from a pair of thick rimmed glasses.
"Dr. Isles is my friend," Jane lied.
The men exchanged unconvinced glances.
"And your brother was on this case with you?"
"Yes," Jane replied.
"And did he know you were going after Dr. Isles on your own?"
"I left the station," Jane answered. "I didn't tell him where I was going."
"And Sergeant Korsak also let you leave to pursue this lead?"
"Again, I did not tell them where I was going."
"Why not?"
"I thought it was a lead I could handle on my own. I didn't know I'd stumble upon Maura and Keller."
"Then why go?" the gray-haired officer asked.
Jane stayed silent, clenching her bloody fingers together. She was sweating beneath her stiff clothes, still stuck in the stained shirt. Her foot tapped anxiously beneath the table as she stared the clock. She wanted to get the interview done as quickly as possible so she could be back with Maura.
"How much longer is this going to take?" Jane asked.
"Why did you take Officer Owens with you?"
"She had a patrol car and I needed a ride. She agreed to take me," Jane answered.
A lump swelled in her throat as she thought of the young officer. The woman was excited to help Jane that day. She'd likely entered the cabin in the first place just to prove herself to the former detective.
"Were you aware that she was a rookie cop – just three months on the job?"
"I didn't know how long she'd been at BPD. I knew she was new…"
"So you thought you'd manipulate her into going on this crusade with you?"
"That's not what I did."
"You were told to wait for back-up. Why didn't you?"
"I heard Dr. Isles call for help and I thought she was in danger. I told Officer Owens to stay behind as I approached the cabin."
"But she followed you."
"Yes."
"And did you fire your gun at any point during this exchange?"
"No, sir. Like I told you – Keller shot Dr. Isles as Officer Owens entered from the rear side of the cabin. He then shot Officer Owens who fired three shots and killed Keller."
"And did you provide first aid for Officer Owens?"
The question brought Jane to a standstill. She was wracked with such intense guilt that she couldn't find the words to express herself. Another lump of tears grew in her throat. She remembered Maura calling out from across the cabin. She remembered all the blood and fear.
"I did not."
"Why not?" the officer with glasses asked.
"Because her wounds were more severe than Dr. Isles'. I knew Officer Owens wouldn't make it, but I knew if I provided pressure to Maura's gunshot wound then she might survive. I had to make a choice."
"And you chose Dr. Isles; the woman that many say you've had an intimate relationship with."
"I did what I had to do."
Vince Korsak was waiting by the door when Jane exited the conference room. He gave her a sympathetic glance.
"How'd it go?" he asked.
Jane shook her head. "They want someone to go down for this. Don't say…"
"Sergeant Korsak, we'll speak with you now," the taller of the internal affairs officers announced. He gave Jane a glare before opening the door wider for Vince. The Sergeant patted her arm as he went in.
Left alone in the hall, Jane allowed her shoulders to slump. She leaned against the white wall, unmotivated to move or do anything except wait for news about Maura. Her stomach was still a tangle of nerves and if she wasn't still so deep in shock, she would have probably collapsed in tears. Instead she stared off, consumed by the memory of Maura bleeding out on the gurney. Jane placed a hand over her mouth and squeezed her eyes shut.
"Please let her be okay…"
"Janie?"
Angela appeared at the mouth of the hall, a bag over her shoulder and her face stoic against the grimness of the situation. Without a word Jane and her mother took careful steps toward each other. Angela threw her arms around her and without a fight, the brunette surrendered to the embrace.
"How is she?" Angela asked after holding her daughter for a few silent moments.
"I'm still waiting to hear from the doctors," Jane whispered.
"And you?"
"I'll be okay once I know she is," she answered.
"She'll be okay, Jane. She's strong," Angela nodded, wiping one of her daughter's tears away She did her best to not be affected by the heartbreaking image. Jane looked like something out of a horror movie in her blood-stained clothes and the permanent terror streaked across her face. "I brought you something to change into. You should clean up, Janie…"
"What if a doctor comes…"
"I'll be here. I'll get you."
Jane was too tired to argue and stumbled to the nearest bathroom. Her head was swimming. She hadn't eaten anything since morning but rather than hunger, she only battled unbearable nausea. The feeling became worse as she caught a glance of herself in the mirror. Traces of blood, Maura's blood, had found its way to her face. She already knew her clothes were dark with the mess but to see it on her skin, in her hair, and on her neck, made her tremble. She could hardly turn on the sink and frantically splashed the water across her face. She watched pink remnants of the bloody wounds swirl down the sink.
She let the droplets fall down her chin once she cleaned all the gore away. The memory of Maura, lifeless in her arms wouldn't leave her. She could see her green eyes falling shut as if she was dead. And Jane was helpless. A singular thought bullied her as she stared at her own reflection; It's your fault. You only bring death. You only hurt the people you love; innocent people. It's your fault.
Jane frantically pushed her way into an empty stall, retching into the toilet. A combination of nerves and leftover adrenaline made her sick. Sweat made her back sticky as she finished vomiting. She pressed her head back against the stall door and closed her eyes.
"I have to protect her," Jane murmured to herself.
By the time she finished cleaning herself up and changing into a fresh pair of clothes, Korsak, Frankie and Angela were gathered together in the hallway. They looked up at her with a sympathy that made her want to be sick again. Jane carefully made her way over, not saying a word as she took a seat next to her mother. The lobby was a short distance away, filled with uniformed officers, troopers, detectives and first responders, all waiting to see if Maura would be okay. Jane could feel their eyes on her. A television glowed in the lobby. A reporter stood a distance away from the crime scene but Jane still recognized the cabin in the background, surrounded by yellow tape. Keller's photograph flashed on the screen. Then Maura's. Then Officer Emily Owen's.
"Ms. Rizzoli?"
She perked up at the sound of the doctor's voice. A woman in surgical scrubs approached, hat in hand. Jane and the rest of her supporters bounced up to stand.
"Are you Jane?" the doctor asked.
"Yes-yes," she said.
"Before surgery, Maura gave us permission to tell you her condition. She says you're her partner," the doctor continued.
Jane nodded, ready to pass out as she waited for the news. Angela stood behind her, placing a hand on the small of her back.
"How is she?"
"She's going to make a full recovery," the doctor nodded.
Frankie and Korsak gave sounds of relief behind her and tears of gladness sprang to Jane's eyes. Angela immediately wrapped an arm around her daughter.
"The bullet passed through her right shoulder clean. It was a simple procedure, but she lost a lot of blood," the doctor continued. "She also sustained a hip fracture. We'll insert screws during surgery tomorrow, but we wanted to give her some rest. She's sustained a lot of trauma; lacerations and several bruises to her face…I know you brought her in, but I don't want you to be alarmed when you see her."
Jane nodded vigorously with every word the doctor said, doing her best to stay composed and rational. She would need to be strong for Maura.
"Can I see her?" she asked.
"Yes," the doctor nodded. "Just you for now. She's on a lot of pain killers and may not be coherent when she wakes up. Follow me."
"Tell her we love her," Angela whispered, giving Jane's hand a squeeze before she took off down the hall.
Maura was asleep when Jane entered the hospital room. The lights were dimmed above her bed but even in the pale illumination, she could see a purple bruise around the doctor's left eye and swelling around her cheek. Dried up blood surrounded a nasty cut on Maura's lower lip. A breathing tube rested underneath her nose and even in the drug induced sleep, she looked like she was in pain.
Jane grabbed onto Maura's limp hand, unable to keep a sob from escaping her.
"I'm so sorry," she sniffled. "I'm so sorry I let this happen to you."
She carefully tucked a piece of Maura's hair behind her ear. Jane watched her chest rise and fall, listening to the monitors track every breath and heartbeat. The machines were a strange comfort, assuring her that she was still alive.
After thirty minutes, Jane rested her head on the edge of the mattress, hand still wrapped around Maura's. That's how the doctor found her when she finally opened her eyes. She blinked the haziness out of her gaze, first taking in the pristine hospital room. Her body ached with pain and she recognized an IV coming out of her arm. And then she spotted Jane hunched over in a chair at her bedside, her dark head resting uncomfortably near her lap. Maura reached out, gently intertwining her fingers with Jane's dark locks. The lanky woman sat up.
"Your awake," Jane said, her brown eyes sparkling with childlike delight.
"Hi," Maura managed softly. Her throat was dry from unconsciousness and she hid the pain that shot through her shoulder.
"How are you feeling?" Jane asked. She kept her voice low as if speaking too loudly would hurt the doctor. She rubbed her thumb across Maura's hand as she held it.
"I'm okay," Maura whispered. "How are you?"
Jane's mouth quirked into a familiar, sarcastic smile. She shook her head. "Only you would wake up in a hospital bed and ask how I am."
Maura managed a weak smirk back, filling Jane with warmth. Despite her injuries, the doctor's eyes glowed with love.
"I'm going to be okay," Maura told her.
Tears formed in Jane's eyes. She brought Maura's hand to her lips and kissed it. She hid her face as it faltered with more sobs.
"Hey, look at me," Maura said, her voice cracking. "Jane, honey, look at me…"
Jane gave a few more whimpers before looking up. The doctor's gaze held sympathetic tears.
"I thought I lost you," Jane confessed. "I was so scared. I thought I lost you, Maura."
"I'm right here. And I'm safe because of you," she said.
She reached out, wires still dangling from her wrist, and caressed the side of Jane's face.
"This my fault. You're here because of me…."
"Shhhh," Maura cut her off. "Please, don't do that. We're here now and it's not your fault. I held on because of you Jane. For this."
A few tears spilled down the doctor's cheek. Jane's whimpers stopped and her feelings of inadequacy slowly melted away.
"I love you," Maura whispered. "I love you so much."
"I love you too."
Jane leaned in, careful to not bump or hurt Maura in any way as she softly kissed her bruised lips. The fact that someone had hurt the doctor so badly filled Jane with renewed rage. The tenderness of Maura's lips and the way she tried not to flinch at Jane's touch had the brunette swallowing back more shame. When she pulled back, Maura grabbed her arm.
"Stay with me," she whispered.
"I'm not going anywhere," Jane assured.
"Hold me?" Maura asked softly, her eyes glassy and scared.
"I don't want to hurt you…"
"You won't," she insisted.
Maura carefully scooted over on the small hospital bed, making room for Jane, nearly pulling her down to the mattress. Jane cautiously maneuvered onto the bed, wrapping a long arm around Maura who instantly sunk into her. Jane's smell brought her comfort. Maura pressed her face into her shirt and let more silent, content tears spill down her battered face. Jane gently stroked Maura's hair and rested her head back against the pillow.