Thank you all so much for the encouraging reviews! It was lovely to read such nice words. I'm glad you guys are enjoying this story. I have it all mapped out for the most part. It won't be terribly long, but they'll for sure be a few more chapters. This chapter isn't really plot heavy, but it's necessary to move the story forward. Happy reading!

Jane continued to sit on her couch and think about the conversation she had just had with her mother. She'd never admit it to Angela, but if Jane was honest with herself, she knew that her life right now closely resembled Maura's. Jane had thrown herself into her new job, often staying late or going in early. She spent most of her free time at the gym. She didn't have anyone to socialize with outside of work. She knew it wasn't healthy, but she thought she could deal with it if it meant Maura was happy and moving on. All of this was okay if Maura was happy. Maura still had her friends and family in Boston, a job she loved. Jane had no idea Maura was having such a difficult time. Jane knew Angela was right; Maura didn't want her to worry, so she didn't tell Jane about how she was doing. It hurt, but she understood. Hell, Jane was doing the same thing. She didn't want Maura to know how unhappy she was. We're quite a pair, Jane chuckled to herself. The negative paths their lives had taken individually only further confirmed to Jane that she and Maura belonged together.

Jane began to put her plan into motion. She didn't want to ambush Maura with what Angela had shared with her, but Jane could at least make sure Maura knew, without a doubt, how much she was loved and that she wasn't alone. It was Thursday. That meant Maura would be at Hope's clinic tonight. Still holding her cell phone, Jane opened the messaging app and clicked on Maura's text message thread.

Jane: Hey! Can you call me when you get home from the clinic tonight?

Maura: Hello, Jane! Of course. Is everything all right?

Jane: Yep :)

Jane next set out to ensure Maura would be able to take time off of work during her visit. She wanted to spend as much time with the doctor as possible. Jane shot Kent an email explaining her surprise visit and asking for his help in covering enough of the duties to allow Maura to take a few days off.

Jane then booked her trip to Boston. She lucked out and found a cheap last minute flight into town, but she'd have to drive back to Virginia. She figured that was actually perfect since it gave her some flexibility on when she could head back. She already knew she was going to have a hard time leaving Maura again and would wait until the last possible minute to do so.

Later that night when Jane heard her cell phone ringing she looked over and saw one of her favorite pictures of Maura staring back at her. She couldn't help but smile.

"Good evening, Doctor."

"Hello, Jane. How are you?"

"Good, good. How was the clinic tonight? Any good stuff? Anyone get anything stuck somewhere they shouldn't have?"

Maura laughed at her friend's ridiculous question. "No, Jane, only acceptable items were found in our patients' orifices."

"Ew! Maura! Really?"

Maura laughed again. It was just too easy. "Flu season appears to have started early here in Boston. Many of our patients this evening complained of nasal congestion, nausea, and…other stomach maladies."

"I appreciate your discretion."

"Mm-hmm. It's wonderful to hear from you, Jane."

"Yeah, we haven't talked today, so I thought I'd call. I just wanted to see how you were doing. You're doing all right?"

"Yes, I'm doing very well, thank you."

Jane wondered if this could count as a lie. She had no idea how Maura was defining "well." At least she could hear the smile in Maura's voice and knew that in this precise moment she in fact was doing well.

"That's good. Hey, I was wondering how many times you've been to the Hyman Bloom exhibition at the MFA? I saw some posts about it on Facebook."

"Oh…" Maura paused briefly to gather her thoughts before responding. "I've not made it to the MFA recently. I'm looking forward to it though. I hear it's quite extraordinary."

Bingo. Jane didn't like the idea of asking Maura these sneaky questions, but she needed to corroborate what Angela had told her. (Once a detective, always a detective). She knew her mother was telling her the truth, but she needed to hear it from Maura. The fact that Maura hadn't been to this exhibition was a big deal. About eight months ago, when the exhibition was announced, Maura had Googlemouthed Jane's ear off for 18 straight minutes (Jane timed it) about it and had conveyed numerous times since then how excited she was to attend the exhibition. It had opened nearly three weeks ago and still Maura had not been. It was very out of character for her. If she was still in Boston, Jane knew that Maura probably would have dragged her to the exhibition at least twice by now.

"How come? You were so excited for it to open!"

Jane noticed Maura pause again. She knew Maura was carefully crafting her answer to avoid a lie.

"I was excited for it. I still am! I've—I've just been working a lot."

Vague. Jane knew she was being intentionally vague. Maura wasn't lying, but she wasn't fully answering the question either. Jane just nodded her head, understanding what Maura was really saying and knowing the real reason why Maura had not been to the exhibition yet. Jane knew how much Maura would love that exhibition. She decided she would take Maura to the exhibition when she came to town. She'd take Maura every day if that's what Maura wanted.

They spoke for about another forty minutes, the conversation flowing easily between them like it always did. When they ended their conversation, Jane's tone was more serious than usual.

"I miss you so much, Maura. You know that, right?"

Jane thought that maybe if she was more open with how she was feeling Maura would follow suit and open up to her as well.

Maura was caught off guard my Jane's honesty. She blinked back the tears that sprung to her eyes. "I know. I miss you very much as well, Jane."

Jane went to bed that night thinking her trip to Boston couldn't come fast enough.

The Hyman Bloom exhibition is actually at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston right now. The MFA website says Bloom's paintings depict "the human body after death, of autopsies, skeletal trees, and archeological excavations." Check it out real quick, if you have the time. It's something Maura TOTALLY would have geeked out over. It's so her. The idea that she wouldn't even go because she was so sad kind of broke my heart.