The hospital released Maura later that day, with instructions to come straight back if she had any concerns about bleeding or her blood pressure. She could tell Jane was nervous about her leaving the hospital, the way she hadn't been able to sit or stand still since they'd started the process of discharging Maura.

"Will you help me get dressed?" Maura asked. She knew there was nothing sexy about this situation, but she wanted to do something to calm Jane down and distract her from her worry.

Jane jumped up from her seat and took Maura's arm, guiding her to the adjoined bathroom.

Maura wasn't used to asking for things, at least not without Jane first asking her what she needed. It was strange to know how much Jane relied on being useful to her. Being there for Maura, doing things to help her, these were things Jane had always been good at, but Maura was starting to see that allowing Jane to support her was perhaps even more beneficial to Jane than it was to her. And she wanted Jane to get as many benefits as possible from their relationship.

In the bathroom, Maura leaned against the sink and watched patiently as Jane rummaged through her overnight bag, visibly shaking. "Jane," Maura said softly.

Jane didn't look up, still completely focused on Maura's bag.

"Baby," Maura said, a little louder this time.

The term of endearment caught Jane's attention and she stood up and turned to Maura. "What is it? Are you okay?"

Maura grabbed Jane's hands, brushing her thumbs lightly over the scars, and placed them on her own hips, bringing Jane closer. She looked up at her and gave what she hoped was her most reassuring smile. "I am going to be fine. Physically, I am already in the healing process. I know the risks. I know what to look for. I will make sure nothing goes wrong. Trust me, Jane."

Jane nodded. "I do trust you." Jane kissed her forehead. "What do you need from me?"

"I need you to calm down and be strong for me. I am going to be okay physically, but this is difficult for me." Maura's eyes filled with tears. "I need to know you can be strong for me."

Jane nodded. "Okay. I'm sorry. I'm here. I got you, okay?" Jane murmured the affirmations to Maura in between little kisses on her tear-stained face, then wrapped her in a tight hug.

Maura smiled into Jane's shoulder, steadied and calmed by the familiarity of being in Jane's strong arms. For years now, a hug from Jane was what she needed most to feel protected and secure. In Jane's arms, Maura was home.

—-

Jane took Maura home and got her settled on the couch with a medical journal and a cup of green tea. She needed to get some clothes and a few other things from her apartment, but didn't want to leave Maura alone, so she asked her mom to sit with her.

When she returned, Maura was still awake and Angela left to run errands. Jane sat on the couch at Maura's feet and Maura sat up and moved to rest her head in Jane's lap before speaking. "I don't need incessant supervision, Jane. You can go do anything you need to do. You should get back to work. I will only be out for another week or so."

"I have hundreds of vacation days. I'll go back to work when you do. They've already brought in a floater to help Frost and Korsak," Jane assured her. "And Ma will be with you if for any reason I need to run an errand or go home for something."

"Home," Maura mused. "It's strange that your home is not with me."

"I feel the most at home when I'm with you. My apartment is just the place for my stuff," Jane said.

"Perhaps your stuff should move."

Jane looked down into Maura's eyes and saw a pleading there. "What are you saying, Maur?"

"It isn't efficient to keep your apartment when you could save the money and live with me." Maura looked away from Jane, feeling vulnerable, unsure of what the response would be.

"Are you being serious right now? You want me to move in with you?"

"You stay with me most of the time anyway. It seems like a logical decision."

"You wouldn't get sick of me?" Jane laughed and put her fingers lightly to Maura's face, along her cheekbone and temple.

"I love you, Jane. I could never get sick of you."

Jane was thoughtful for a moment. "Let's get through your leave. I'll stay the entire time. And if at the end of the week or two, when we're back to work, if this is still what you want, I'll move in."

"You think I'll change my mind?" Maura asked.

"I want to make sure I don't scare you off after a couple weeks of really being together. I know it's been a long time coming and it doesn't feel that different, being a couple versus being best friends secretly in love with each other. But it might be different. We've gotta figure out the best way to navigate that. Especially with all you're going through."

"Jane. We've been waiting for this for years. Move in with me."

"What if I drive you crazy?" Jane asked softly, running her fingers slowly through Maura's hair.

"You know I hate what ifs," Maura answered. "You already drive me crazy. I know everything about you, Jane. There's nothing left to scare me away."

Jane's eyes filled with tears, shocking her. "Okay," she whispered. "I'll let my landlord know."

Maura broke into the biggest smile Jane had seen from her in weeks. "Good."

"I'll do anything to see you smile like that."

"Anything?"

The playfulness in Maura's voice made Jane want to cry for a whole different reason. The woman she loved deserved all the happiness and light and peace and fun and love in the world and Jane wanted to be the person to give her all that. She'd always wanted to be that person for Maura. "Absolutely anything."

Maura sighed, not unhappily. "Remind me of that in a few weeks when I have the energy to put those words to the test."

Jane's face reddened at the realization of what Maura was referring to, what she was insinuating she wanted from Jane. "I can prove it to you in other ways until then. She lightly massaged Maura's scalp with her fingertips.

"That feels really good," Maura said slowly, her voice sleepy.

"Go to sleep, my love. I got you," Jane whispered.

A/N: There ya go! I tried to put in as much fluff as possible after the tragedy of the last chapter. I'll probably do a little time jump for the next.