Oops, I Did It Again – Chapter 11

Over the next few weeks Jane and Maura met for their sessions. Jane was taking in all the information that Maura was providing her and using it to help her with her anger management. Little things still pissed her off but she had tools to deal with that and never let her anger rise to the extent of wanting to hit someone or something.

Their last session would be their next one. Jane was and wasn't looking forward to it. She looked forward to seeing Maura each week. She felt like they had quite the friendship forming. She knew she wasn't supposed to be friends with her therapist but there was just something about Maura that drew Jane to her.

Maura felt the same way, she was sad that her sessions with Jane were coming to an end. Maura was still a little shy around people and she never had been with Jane. She automatically took to Jane, acting as if they had known each other for years. She had never experienced that, not even with Mel.

She had only known Jane for about three months and she had looked forward to their sessions each week. She didn't know what she was going to do now that their sessions were ending. She wanted to continue seeing Jane.

The Wednesday after their last session they both found themselves at the coffee shop at 3:30. They both smiled when they saw each other. Maura was sitting with a cup of tea and a pastry working on her computer. Jane walked up and said, "Is this seat taken?"

"Yes, by you." Maura said as she smiled and motioned for Jane to have a seat.

"Let me get a cup of coffee and I will be right back. Don't give my seat away." Jane teased as she turned to go purchase a cup of coffee.

"I wouldn't think of doing that." Maura stated as she started to put away her files and laptop. She wanted to enjoy her time with Jane. Her friend Jane, not her patient Jane.

The barista had already started working on Jane's cup of coffee and had it ready by the time Jane approached the counter. "Thank you." Jane told the barista as she paid for her coffee and pastry that the barista had also picked up for her. Jane took her purchases and made her way back to the table that she would share with Maura.

"I almost didn't come, but I don't want to stop seeing you. I feel like we have formed a friendship and I don't want that to end." Jane said as she took a seat at the table across from Maura.

"I feel the same way, Jane. I don't have very many friends and I don't make friends easily, but I am at ease with you. I would like to be your friend, now that I am no longer your therapist." A smile developed on Maura's face as she finished her statement. It was true, she didn't have that many friends and she was at ease with Jane.

"I would love to be your friend Maura." Jane returned the smile to Maura. "Do you want to stay in here or go out to our bench?"

"It's a nice day, let's go outside." Maura suggested as they both rose to exit the coffee shop. They walked over to find their bench available. Jane cleared the bench off before Maura sat down. Maura appreciated how Jane had done that every week. It was one of the traits she liked about her new friend. "So, how are you, Jane?" Maura asked truly interested in how she was coping with everything that was going on.

"I'm doing fine. I just wanted a break from the case we were working on. It is good to leave the office once in a while and get a breath of fresh air. I remembered it was Wednesday and came here. I didn't know you would be here. I guess I was just hoping you would be. My office knows if they need me, they can call me on my cell. So, I don't have to rush back." Jane informed Maura. She wanted her to know that they had time, unless her cell phone rang of course.

Maura was pleased to know that there wasn't a time limit on their encounter. She wanted to spend time with Jane now that they could be friends and not patient and doctor. "Yes, my office knows that I am working outside this afternoon and will also call if I am needed. I am so happy you came by." Jane saw that beautiful smile again as Maura finished her statement.

"How are you, Maura?" The tables were turned Jane could now freely aske Maura a question without having to worry if she was crossing a patient-doctor boundary.

"I am doing okay. I have been working on the course that I start teaching next week. I am really looking forward to having pathology take a front seat in my life again. Next week I start working part-time as a therapist so I can do what I love best, pathology. They knew when they hired me that eventually I would go back into pathology and they have been encouraging me to seek out my desired path. My therapist has been really helpful." Maura knew she was talking a lot she wanted to give Jane a chance to talk. "So, how have you enjoyed or not enjoyed your interactions with your pathologist?"

"Oh, Maur, our medical examiner is a complete ass. I don't know where he got his training but I think I could almost do a better job. We can't rely on anything he says. My lieutenant is working on a plan to have the FBI bring in contract medical examiners to help us out, especially on cases that involve our coordination with the FBI. At least those cases might get a chance at having a competent medical examiner."

"I hope that is true, that you are able to get some assistance. Maybe I should check into becoming a contract medical examiner. I am fully qualified, maybe even over qualified. I am laying out a course of instruction for BCU and Harvard to better train medical examiners. They seem to value my opinion and that makes me feel great as forensic science is my first love. This course I will be teaching is the first step in my path to either become a medical examiner again or teach forensic science."

"Man, I hope you choose the medical examiner route. Good medical examiners are few and far between. Teaching future medical examiners is important also so we don't end up with asses like Dr. Pike."

"Jane, you really shouldn't swear so much." Maura cautioned Jane.

"I'm sorry, it is just frustrating. We look at a bullet and the hole in the guy and know that a .45 caliber was the cause and he stated, 'well it looks like a 9 mm bullet and maybe the GSW was the cause of death."

"To be fair, just because a person was shot doesn't mean that the gunshot was the cause of death. But as far as the caliber, there is a big difference between a .45 and a 9 mm bullet. He should have been able to tell the difference, or least not make a statement like without the facts. Science doesn't lie. I personally would never guess at a cause of death or even at a crime scene. Nothing is a fact until the evidence says that it is."

"See that right there is what is needed at BPD, an educated factual statement, not a half-baked guess by a quack doctor." Jane had wanted to say asshole but she remembered that Maura didn't like cussing so she refrained.

They sat and talked and before they knew it, Jane's stomach was growling. Jane looked at her watch. "Oh, wow, I didn't know it was that late." It was 6:30 already. "I should let you go so you can get back to what you were doing." Jane said as she rose but didn't leave.

"It's fine Jane, I had completed most of my work before you came into the coffee shop. I enjoyed talking with you today. Can we do this again sometime, I meant what I said I would like to be your friend."

"Sure, Maur, I would love that. Call or text me anytime. I enjoyed this also. Thank you!" Jane offered her hand to help Maura up and Maura took it. She thought she felt a slight spark when their hands touched. She was probably just imagining it though.

"Part of the program I am designing is also a review for medical examiners so maybe your Dr. Pike might be due for some refresher training." Maura said as Jane walked back with her towards the coffee shop. Jane's car was parked nearby and she knew that Maura probably needed to go back to her office before going home.

"See you later Maur." Jane said as she hopped into her cruiser and drove off, not knowing when she would see Maura again.

"Bye Jane. Thank you for coming today!" Maura said sadly as she watched Jane close the driver's door. She wasn't sure when she would see Jane again but she wanted to.