Waking up, Maura hears the familiar sound of BEEP BEEP BEEP. Glancing to her right, she can see the heart monitor and that she is in the hospital. Trying to sit up in the bed causes a wave of nausea to ride up from her stomach to her throat. The movement also makes her head start to throb. Wanting the feeling to stop, she decides to lay back down. Closing her eyes and raising her hands to her face. But something is wrong. Instead of feeling her fingers she feels something cold and smooth on her skin. Opening her eyes quickly, in front of her she sees both her hands are in plaster.

For a millisecond there is confusion, then the memories come rushing back to that awful moment in the abandoned building. The adrenaline and fear starts to rise inside of her, making her heart beat faster causing the alarm on the heart monitor to go off. Ignoring it, Maura tries to pull out the cannula in her arm, but her potted hands make it very difficult to grab at it.

Suddenly the room is full of nurses and a doctor rushing in and trying to calm the panic stricken woman. "Maura...you need to stay in bed," one of the nurses says.

"No...I need to find Jane...WHERE'S JANE!" Maura screams. Fighting the medical team who are trying to stop her from getting out of her bed.

"Whose Jane?" The doctor asks, trying his best to hold the blonde down in bed. Despite her injuries he is surprised by how incredibly strong she is.

"My Wife" Maura screams again. "Is she alive...I need to see her" She demands, getting more and more frantic.

The doctor knows he needs to get this situation under control now. Looking at the nurse to his left he gives her a slight nod. No words need to be spoken but the nurse understands. Letting go of Maura she walks to a cabinet and starts to inspect various vials of medicine until she finds the correct one.

"I'll find out for you...but you need to calm down. You have had a serious head injury" the doctor says, trying to distract his patient.

"NO...Let go of me….NOW!" Maura screams, fighting even harder against those that are trying to restrain her. In her frantic state she doesn't see the nurse coming to her side holding the needle in her hand before It's too late. The needle swiftly pierces her skin, releasing its calming contents into her body.

"What!...No" she says, starting to feel all that anger and fear starting to ebb away as she succumbs to the effects of the drug. "Jane" was the last thing Maura said before peacefully passing out.


The next time Maura awoke, she saw the familiar, loving faces of friends and family. Feeling someone's hand on her arm, turning to look, she sees the warm face of her mother-in-law, Angela. Looking into the older woman's eyes, all Maura can see is sadness. Oh God, no! She thinks to herself. "Jane's dead isn't she?" Is all she can get out before crying.

Hating to see her daughter-in-law's beautiful face battered and bruised. That bastard had broken her nose, but because of the head injury, it had resulted in two black eyes, more commonly known as raccoon eyes. So, her face looks swollen and puffy. "Oh no sweetheart….she's still alive" the older woman says. Leaning in closer and trying to hold one of her potted hands. "But she's very ill, she's in critical condition….but she's fighting, she's holding on" Angela says, letting a stray tear fall from her check. She can feel someone place a hand on her shoulder. Offering her support and strength, She doesn't need to look behind her as she knows it's her son, Frankie.

Trying to compose herself, but with everything that has happened lately, Maura can't help it. All the stress, fear, tension, hate, and love just seems to be released. "I need...to...see her" she says through hiccuping sobs. "Please".

Turning to look at her son, Frankie. "I'll see what I can do," the younger Rizzoli says to Angela before disappearing out of the room. Returning her attention back to the small blonde lying in the hospital bed. "Oh sweetheart….you know Janie is a fighter" she says. Trying to believe her own words, but after seeing her daughter laying there and being kept alive by the machines she's not so sure this time.

"Oh Angela, I really hope so," Maura says. "But her body has been through so much trauma over the years. What if this time it's too much" she says with tears still flowing freely down her face.

The older woman doesn't say anything; deep down inside her, she knows Maura's words are true. Her daughter has been through so much, has died, and been brought back time and time again. It doesn't matter how strong-willed Jane is. There is physically only so much the human body can take before it eventually gives up the ghost.

Minutes later Frankie returns with one of the nurses and a wheelchair. "This nurse is gonna take you to see Jane, but only for a short while, ok?", he says.

She doesn't care for how long; she just needs to see her wife. "Thank you Frankie" Maura says to her brother-in-law. She gently tries to shift herself across the bed, but her potted hands are making it extremely difficult. Seeing her struggle, Frankie gently puts his hands under her arm whilst the nurse does the same on the other side. They both gently lower her down into the wheelchair.

"Ok Maura….you had a nasty knock on the head. You have a fracture at the join of the parietal and occipital bone. 5 minutes is all you are allowed, ok?" Before Maura can protest, the nurse holds her hand up to silence her. "The first sign of you showing any kind of feeling unwell we're coming straight back here, ok!".

Not wanting to argue with her, knowing that she means business. The nurse starts to wheel Maura out of the room. "One second" she says to the nurse, turning the chair around so she can face Angela and Frankie.

"You're not coming?" Maura asks. Seeing sadness etched across the older woman's face.

Getting up and walking over to her daughter-in-law, Angela places a hand on her cheek. "No hunny...you need to be alone with her. So you can say what you need to" She says, trying to hide the tears in her eyes.

Understanding her mother-in-law. Maura slowly nods her head. Her wife is fighting for her life. And it could be the last chance for her to say what she needs to say to her.

The nurse breaks the silence by turning Maura around in the wheelchair and heading down the corridor and towards the elevator.

The last thing Maura sees before the elevator doors shut is Angela breaking down and being comforted by her son.


To say Maura wasn't prepared at all for what she was going to see was an understatement. Looking so small and fragile laying on the bed, is not just her wife, her lover, her friend, but her whole world. Seeing and hearing the machines physically breathing for Jane, terrifies Maura to her core.

The nurse can see Maura's hestitance so without saying a word, in silence she wheels her over towards her wifes bed. Wanting desperately to hold Jane's hand but her potted hands stopping her doing so. Inside she can feel the anger and frustration starting to rise. For Fucks Sake! She thinks to herself. Staring instead at her lover's face. Maybe, just maybe if she stared at her intently, Jane would wake up and be okay. But she knows that is just wishful thinking.

One of Jane's doctors comes over to talk to Maura. "Mrs Isles-Rizzoli?" he asks tentatively.

Breaking out of her trance, Maura looks at the man standing next to her. She assumes he is a doctor, even though he isn't wearing the stereotypical 'white coat'. He gives off the air of confidence and someone of importance. Not a particularly old man, probably in his 40's if she had to surmise. "Erm...Yes...Yes I am" she answers.

"Has anyone spoken to you about your wife's current condition?" He asks; clearly seeing how distraught the woman is in front of him. She doesn't answer him, she just shakes her head. Glancing around the room, his eyes landed on what he was looking for, a spare chair. Picking it up and placing it next to the wheelchair. Sitting down he takes a deep breath before he begins. "I know you're a doctor, so you'll understand what I'm saying" he says looking at the blonde woman. "Jane underwent emergency surgery because of confusion, a decreasing blood pressure and increasing tachycardia. A median sternotomy incision was made and after establishing cardiopulmonary bypass, a 7 cm wound in the left ventricle and a smaller wound in the left atrium were repaired".

So far Maura had already speculated that this was the possible outcome for treatment for her wifes injury.

"Jane suffered 2 Intraoperative cardiac arrest during surgery, which resulted in her having a stroke, probably due to prehospital hypoperfusion" He says delicately as he can.

Unable to hold her shock, a loud gasp escapes Maura's lips. Not only is it bad enough that Jane died twice on the operating table but she had a stroke too. Even if she gets better, there's no way of knowing if she has suffered any damage from it until she wakes up. And that's a big IF at the moment. "Do you know if she has suffered any brain damage?" she asks, trying to hold back tears.

This was one part of his job he hated the most, he can see that she so desperately wants him to give her some hope but he unfortunately has none to offer her. "Her brain levels appear to be normal, but as you are aware, until she wakes up from her coma there is no way of knowing". Letting out a big sigh before getting up and putting the chair back to where he originally found it. Turning to face Maura, "I know you can read and understand your wife's medical chart. Her oxygen and blood pressure are still dangerously low. We can only do so much for Jane now. We just don't know if she will make it….I would suggest you say what you need to say to your wife...just in case". And with that he leaves the two women alone.

Sometimes Maura hates the fact that she understands medical jargon, at least if she didn't she could be blissfully ignorant to Jane's situation and convince herself everything was going to be alright. But in reality it wasn't. Staring down at the 'sleeping' brunette she can see how pale her skin looks. Her body has gone through so much. She really hopes the love of her life can pull through this.

Leaning over and placing a gentle kiss on her wife's lips, a single tear falls from her face. She doesn't want to break down, she doesn't want her crying to be the last thing Jane hears. "Hey, my sweet, sweet girl," she says. "I wish I could hold one of your hands right now, but I can't…..but I am right here beside you". Swallowing hard, she can feel the tears coming. "I need you to fight as hard as you have ever done...I need you to fight for our little girl….and I need….need" she says nearly losing it. "I...need...you!...You hear me Jane Clementine Rizzoli-Isles". All the energy she has, she can feel it ebbing away, and the start of a headache is starting to form. Pinching the brow of her nose and closing her eyes she tries to push it away.

The nurse that brought Maura here, decides it's time to go after witnessing the discomfort that her patient is in.

Leaning in close again, whispering into the brunette's ear. "I love you Jane….I'll love you forever" Maura says before placing a kiss on her wife's cheek before resting back in the wheelchair. All her energy was spent.

"Sorry Maura...I'm afraid I have to take you back to your bed now" The nurse says with a hint of sadness in her voice. Knowing that this could be the last time the two lovers are together again. When the blonde doesn't respond she starts to become concerned. "Maura...you feeling ok?"

Closing her eyes and putting her head back. "No….I have a terrible headache and i'm incredibly warm" Maura says.

Putting her hand on the smaller woman's forehead. "Ok Maura, I'm taking you back right now. You feel like you're burning up. Which is a potential sign of an infection". The blonde woman doesn't react or say anything, whilst being quickly wheeled her towards the elevator.

When they return back to the room, Angela and Frankie have been waiting for them. They take one look at Maura and both become extremely concerned.

Frankie is the first one to say something. "Is Maura ok? She doesn't look so great" he says with worry in his voice.

"No she is not...If you can help me get her back in bed please. Then I need to go and get the doctor" the nurse says calmly.

Helping the nurse, Frankie gently lifts Maura and puts her back into the hospital bed. He can see the beads of sweat that are forming on her brow. Closing her eyes she starts to groan slightly.

Turning around, Frankie wants to ask the nurse something but she has already left the room. Instead he just looks at his mother. Her face mimicking how he is feeling on the inside. They just look at each other in silence then back at Maura laying in the bed.

The doctor rushes into the room. And starts his examination of Maura. He then says something to the nurse which neither one of them understands. They watch her leave the room. The doctor then turns to them. "After a quick examination It looks like Maura is starting to develop an infection as a result of the compound fracture" he says.

"Wha..what does that mean?" Angela asks, trying not to break down.

"It means that if it was left untreated it could potentially be life threatening….but don't worry we knew this could be a potential outcome due to the type of fracture that Maura sustained. We're gonna start her on antibiotics and she should be right as rain". He says trying convery that he isn't too worried and neither should they. "But like with any infection, Maura is gonna feel pretty awful for at least a few days, and with the head injury as well, don't be too worried if she is groggy," he says with a smile.

"Thank you doctor" Frankie says. Turning to face his mother, he can see the worry on the older woman's face. "Ma...Maura's gonna be ok!".

Looking at her son, Angela just doesn't know how much more she can take. "But Janie won't" she says as she finally breaks down.

Wrapping his arms around her, Frankie holds her tight. Pulling her into his chest as he can feel the sobs escaping from his Mother. Glancing over to his sister-in-law who seems to be peacefully asleep now. He hopes his mother isn't right, but deep down he knows that his sister may have pushed her body too far this time. Jane has always thought she was indestructible, that she could survive anything. But not this time.


"Doctor, I don't know how to explain it, but when the patient's wife was here. For that short time I believe that she was responding to her presence" the nurse says holding Jane's chart in her hand.

Taking the chart from the nurse, the doctor is thinking the nurse needs a break. "Impossible, medically there is no grounds for that" he says whilst flicking through the paperwork.

Moving in closer to the doctor. "I know, but she isn't responding to anything else, and the only time she did was when her wife was here". The nurse doesn't give the doctor anytime to respond as she continues. "I know it doesn't make any sense, but either way that patient is dying...If for some reason that we can't explain medically...that just the mere presence of her wife being in the same room keeps her alive, isn't that something we should explore".

Looking at the chart once more, the doctor can clearly see her vitals improved slightly at the time of the visit. He knows medically there is nothing more they can do for this patient other than to keep her comfortable. Looking at his patient What have we got to lose! He thinks to himself. "Ok nurse...I know it's unorthodox" he says looking at the nurse. "I want you to transfer the patient into a private room with enough space for another bed," he says. "We're gonna bring the wife up and see if by some miracle it helps save her".

Smiling and nodding at the doctor, the nurse starts arranging for the private room to be set up to support the medical needs of her patient. Once that is done they will then arrange for her wife to be brought up as well. Keeping her fingers crossed that this actually works.

After a few hours have gone by, Frankie and Angela decide to go to Maura and Jane's home to get something to eat and to freshen up and try and get a couple of hours of sleep. The past 48 hrs have been exhausting. As soon as they both got that phone call telling them what had happened. Neither one of them hesitated, Angela felt it would be better leaving Amelia with family instead of carting the little baby around from state to state then back and forth from the hospital. So when Angela had called explaining the situation to Vince he hadn't hesitated in taking Amelia for her. Afterall the older man was like a grandfather to Jane and Maura's daughter. And as much as it killed him not going with them. The hospital was no place for the little girl.

Pulling her phone out of her pocket, the older woman finds Vince's number and presses call. She is aware it's getting late but feels she really needs to update him on both the girls' status. Even more so about Jane. Angela is fully aware of the bond they both share. Like father and daughter. After a couple of rings she hears the familiar voice on the other end. "Angela, is everything ok?" Vince asks with concern in his voice.

Taking in a big breath she recipes "Sorry to scare you Vince, Maura is going to be fine. But Jane…' She can hear her voice start to quiver. Swallowing hard to send the lump forming in her throat back down. She doesn't want to break down on the phone. "Jane's condition hasn't changed…oh Vince I think Janie isn't going to come back from this" she says sadly.

"Come on Angela, don't talk like that" he says. "You know Janie, she's a fighter"

"I wish that was true Vince…the doctors said there's nothing they can do for her and they are just making her comfortable" the older woman says sadly. "It might be best if you come down and see her" is all she can get out.

Vince has never heard Angela speak like this before. She is always the optimist, the one who has undeniable faith that Jane was gonna be ok everytime she got injured. "Ok" is all he can muster. "Me, Kiki and Amelia will be on the next plane," he says.

"Thank you Vince, Janie would like that" Angela says before hanging up no longer able to stop the tears from falling. Taking a deep breath in, composing herself, Angela shakes herself off. Knowing that now is not the time to fall apart. They'll be time for that later when the inevitable happens. Now she needs to be strong for Maura.

When Frankie had told his wife, Nina about the girls she wanted to come and see her friends. As much as it had killed him doing it, he had convinced her to stay. She was working on a case where a little boy had been kidnapped and they were racing to try and find him alive. And as much as his wife would never admit it, she was one of the best digital experts in law-enforcement and this case centred around a peadophile ring on the dark web. Deep down Nina knew that both Jane and Maura would have wanted her to save the little boy.

To be honest he wasn't expecting his wife to pick up the phone, as he knew she was busy trying to find the missing boy. To his surprise she answered. "Baby..what's happened?" she asks, concerned. His mouth has suddenly gone really dry. He's not sure how to tell her. "Frankie?"

Letting out a sigh he finally answers his wife. "There's nothing they can do for my sister" is all he can get out, scared he is going to break down. "Maura's going to be ok".

The pit of her stomach drops. They have spent a lot of time together over the years on family vacations as well as just enjoying each other's companies. She genuinely loves both of the women and feels like one big family. She knows how close Frankie is to his older sister, so it pains her to know that her husband is hurting, and that she can't comfort him. "Right..We've found a location to where we believe the boy is being held…SWAT are on their way now to retrieve him. Regardless of the outcome, if they bring him home. I'll be on the next plane out". She says. "I love you Frankie" Nina says before hanging up the phone.

Putting his phone away into his pocket, all the energy he had left is gone. That phone call to his wife left him feeling incredibly exhausted. Looking around the room he is not sure where his mother is. Assuming she has gone upstairs to lay down, Frankie decides to lay down on the couch and before long his body becomes heavy with sleep. The last thing he remembers was thinking how much he loves Nina too and how desperately he needs her right before his body succumbs to sleep.

Jolting awake, forgetting briefly where he was, Frankie looking around remembers he is in his sister's house. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes he checks his watch. 5 hours have passed since leaving the hospital, deciding enough time has passed he goes to find his mum. Getting up from the couch and stretching his tired bones. Glancing around the room he doesn't see the older woman, she must still be asleep upstairs. Walking over to the coffee machine, turning it on. Grabbing a mug he sets it underneath, satisfied it's doing its job. He turns and starts heading upstairs.

Walking across the landing and heading towards the master bedroom, the door isn't fully shut. Gently pushing the door open he can see his mum, curled up in almost a foetal position, hugging one of Jane's red sox t-shirts. And although she is asleep he can see the dried tear marks on her face. From probably crying herself to sleep, his heart is breaking as he doesn't know what to do.

Letting out a sad sigh, he gently sits on the side of the bed, and rocks his mum back and forth to wake her up. "Ma" he says. "Ma..wake up".

Stirring from her sleep, Angela looks at her son with sad eyes. She hoped that when she awoke it was all just some terrible nightmare. But looking down at her hands she knows it is not true. Still clutching Jane's t-shirt that she had cried into last night.

"Ma..I've made you a cup of coffee" Frankie says. "I think we should head back to the hospital".

Not wanting to let go of the red sox t-shirt still in her hand. Fearing that if she lets go then her Janie will leave this world. Angela knows that she is just being silly. Scalding herself internally for being foolish, with her free hand she gently squeezes her son's arm. No words need to be said.

Looking around the bedroom, there are dozens of photographs and keepsakes documenting the life that Maura and Jane have made with each other over the years. Displaying the love they have for one another. Letting out a big sigh, Frankie leaves the room as it's starting to make him feel sad.

Once down stairs, he leaves the older woman drinking her coffee, and quickly goes and changes his clothes. Once done both he and Angela leave and make the silent journey back to the hospital.


Walking into Maura's room, Frankies stomach drops. The bed is empty and un-made. Surely if anything had happened they would have called them he thinks to himself. Holding his mum's hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. "I'm sure it's not what it looks like'' he says trying to hide the fear in his voice.

Leaving the older woman in the room he rushes over to the nurses station. "Excuse me, where has Maura Isles-Rizzoli gone?" Frankie asks the nurse, noticing it's a different one than before.

Looking up over her glasses and inspecting the man before her. "And you are?" she says dryly without any emotion.

"I'm her brother in law, Frankie Rizzoli" he says trying not to lose his patience with this seemingly careless woman.

Looking down to her computer she starts typing Maura Isles-Rizzoli into her keyboard, after a few seconds she finds a match. "She has been moved to the ICU".

"WHAT!" Frankie says. Not giving the nurse time to add anymore information, he turns and rushes back to his mother. "Ma...she's been moved to ICU" he says.

"Oh no" Angela says, bringing her hand up to her mouth to stifle a cry. "Not both my babies".

Grabbing his mothers hand, Frankie almost practically drags her down the hall and to the elevator. Once those doors were open, Frankie couldn't stop the sinking feeling starting to rise in the pit of his stomach. He couldn't stop thinking that maybe something had gone wrong with Maura since they were away and she had deteriorated. Why else would she be in ICU ? he thinks to himself.

"What the fuck" Involuntarily just comes out of his mouth, Frankie couldn't help it.

Angela hates hearing her children swear, she is about to scold her son, until she sees what he is looking at. Jane is also no longer in her room. The bed is empty. Her knees buckling underneath her and she just doesn't have the will to stop it, ending up in a heap on the floor.

His reaction was too slow. All Frankie could do was watch his mother collapse to the floor. Kneeling down next to her to try and comfort her. He hadn't seen the nurse coming over to help.

"Ma'am...you ok?" She asks.

Trying to help the older woman up from the floor, but he is struggling. His head is swimming with confusion and loss. Is his sister dead? And no one told them?. Turning to look at the nurse, he recognises her as one that has been looking after his sister. "Is Jane dead?" he asks, trying to hide the tremble in his voice.

Confusion spreads across the nurse's face. Of course she isn't, why do they think this? She thinks to herself, then she glances up and sees the empty room where Jane had been hours earlier. "No..she's alive. We just moved her into a more private room" she says.

"What?" Frankie says, feeling the anger starting to rise inside him. No one had called or warned them that they were moving her.

"I'm really sorry, did no one inform you what we were doing?" She says surprised and shocked at this glaringly obvious omission to the family.

Eventually he manages to help his mother to her feet. But he is pissed. "Does it look like they did!" he turns to the nurse, biting her head off. "Ma...Janie's fine. She's alive" Frankie says, grabbing the older woman by the shoulders and trying to shake her out of her shock.

"She….is?" Angela says through hiccuping sobs.

"Yeah Ma, they just moved her to a private room" Frankie says giving his mum a hug.

"I'm really sorry that you were not informed" The nurse says whole heartedly. "I'll take you to Jane now".

Following in silence to one of the private ICU rooms. Angela is still trying to shake the feeling of shock she was just in. And Frankie is trying to let the wave of anger dissipate before speaking again, but the last person they were expecting to see was a small blonde woman asleep on another bed. "Why is Maura in here?" Frankie asks.

"Is she...dying too?" Angela asks, almost too afraid to do so.

"No...Maura will be fine" The nurse says. Indicating for them to sit down. Once they do so, she continues. "As you are aware Jane is really ill. To put it in layman's terms she is dying. She isn't responding to any treatments we give her. It's basically a waiting game and just making her comfortable for the end". She says.

"So why is Maura in here then?" Frankie asks.

"I can't explain it medically...but when Maura visited Jane earlier. For that 30-40 minute period Jane actually showed signs of improvement on her chart. Her SATS went up. But as soon as Maura left again. Jane declined". The nurse says, looking at both Frankie and Angela.

"So what does that mean?" Angela asks.

"Truthfully...I don't know," The nurse says. "But all I know is that Jane got better when Maura was near her. So I suggested to the doctor that we bring her here" turning to indicate to the sleeping blonde in the bed. "There was nothing more we could do for Jane, so what did we have to lose".

Standing up Frankie takes a couple of steps forward towards the nurse. "And" he says hopefully.

A smile starts to form on the nurse's face. "Well, Maura has been in here for 2 hrs now and Jane has shown signs of improvement" she says. "Only small amounts but some….so there is some hope".

Frankie and Angela both leap forward and envelop the nurse in a giant group hug.

"Just be prepared still though" the nurse says with seriousness in her voice. "Jane is still very sick," she says. "And this could just be a fluke, ok?"

"Thank you" Frankie says then turns to look at his mother. Who is silently saying a prayer. After finishing, the older woman hugs her son.

Not fully believing what is happening, but feeling like her prayers have been answered. "It's a miracle," she says.

As much as Frankie wants to feel excited about this new development, he doesn't want to get his hopes up in case it is just that. False hope. "Ma...don't get your hopes up" he says "You heard the nurse, medically there is no reason for why Jane has shown signs of improvement".

"My prayers have been answered, Frankie" the older woman says almost gleefully. "I've been praying morning, noon and night...he's heard me Frankie".

Before Frankie can say anything, once again his mother gives him a big hug. Even though he doesn't want to let himself start to believe that it's possible. But his gut was telling him that the love that Maura has for Jane is so strong that he can't explain it but it's healing his sister. He knows it doesn't make sense. But if it was genuinely working, then he didn't care. He just wants to speak to his big sister again.


Author's Note:

Sorry there's been a big gap between chapters. Been struggling feeling motivated, not with the story but to write. And as per usual life has been getting in the way. Anywho, I'm back and hoping to finish this story by the end of the year.

Once again, thank you for your continued support.

Peace and Love

Pj.