Maura left Jane's apartment the next morning after Jane insisted that she was fine; that they were fine. She went to go grab her laptop, sitting on the sofa where they spent the night cuddling, and some of the morning making out before Maura had to leave.
She ran a hand through her tangled hair, "Where to begin," she glanced at the blank open document, tapping on her keyboard like words would instantly appear. She glanced over at Jo who was curled up on the couch. "I don't even know where to start. This is stupid."
Jane got up in frustration and got dressed, looking through her drawers realizing that Maura had even organized her underwear drawer. "I swear that woman had too much time on her hands yesterday. She organized my whole fucking house." Jane plopped down at the edge of her bed where her sheets and bedding was neatly tucked. Jane moved to tug on the bedding so it was hanging off the bed like it always did. "There at least something is how it's supposed to be."
Jane shook her head, "It's already bad enough having my own mother trying to clean for me, but now my partner too." At the words partner she froze, sighing, her mind going back to Casey when he used to stay around her place, when things had gone domestic. Things felt so in place and so right, so why was Maura doing this any different. Why did it feel like Maura was trying to take care of her, Jane was plenty capable of taking care of herself. "Why am I so damn upset? She's just trying to help," she got up from the bed and changed into some running clothes. Running, that would clear her head, so that's what she did, she went on a run.
Jane mind didn't really get cleared which frustrated her even more. She was surprised to find herself at the precinct, she went inside, and entered through security, luckily she always wore her badge clipped onto her clothes.
"Jane, I wasn't expecting you to come into work today."
"Where else would I be Korsak?"
"Resting, especially after the long day you've had yesterday. You aren't even wearing proper work attire," the old man shrugged, fixing his tie.
"You know I don't rest."
"I swear Jane, you're the most stubborn person I ever met," he chuckled, giving his head a shake. "Kiki wanted to apologize for the other night she upset you. She hated seeing you storm off in a way, she felt bad but she also felt convinced about the Maura situation."
"Convinced that I do have feelings for Maura, you know you don't have to tell Kiki absolutely everything, right?"
"I just didn't know how to help and I thought maybe she could offer me some advice on how to approach you."
"Well I don't need your help, I'm plenty capable of doing it on my own," Jane leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples.
Korsak threw his hands up in defeat, "Fine, I give up Jane. I just don't want you spending your life being miserable."
"I need everyone to stop worrying about me."
"It's hard to stop once you keep getting yourself into danger. Shooting through yourself, going after Hoyt, jumping off that bridge, losing your baby because you wanted to play hero," he listed off everything, saying the last thing a little quieter than the rest.
Jane frowned at Korsak's words, "My job is to serve and protect, everything I did was to protect someone else. I know the risks and that's why I'm a Detective. I swear if it wasn't for Hoyt you probably wouldn't worry so much."
"I care about you too much Jane, even if Hoyt was never a problem I'd still worry. That's what friends do, they worry about each other, so if I want to worry about you, just appreciate it, will ya?"
"All I want is you to stop involving people in my personal life and stop worrying about it so much yourself. Can we do that Korsak?"
Vince nodded. "Yeah, I guess so. I just want you to be happy."
"Thanks," Jane got up from her chair.
"By the way, did you run here?" Korsak looked at her appearance a little longer.
"I might've to try and clear my mind, didn't seem to work."
"I can drive you back home if you'd like, you can change your clothes and you come back with your car. I guess I can let you work today."
"You know what, that sounds like a good idea. Work is always a good way of keeping me distracted," Jane told the man before they left the precinct. "So is Kiki still treating you right?" Jane asked on the way to her apartment.
"The best actually, she's always a delight to hang out with."
"Well I'm proud of you, let's try to keep this woman, shall we?"
"That's the plan Jane," he chuckled, "Unless she gets bored of me first."
"I mean if she gets bored of you, she really isn't worth it. Thanks for driving me home," Jane told the man when they pulled up at her place. Jane sighed. "Oh look who it is, my mother on my apartment steps," she grumbled as her mother waved at the both of them. Korsak chuckled as Jane got out of the car and offered Angela some obvious fake cheerful hello.
"Janie. How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine Ma."
"Not according to Maura, she wanted me to make sure you're okay, told me about a case you had yesterday. Are you alright?" Angela asked, resting her hand on Jane's shoulder.
"Yeah Ma, I'm alright. What happened was very unfortunate for her, almost getting murdered and losing her child after the attack where her friend killed the man to try and protect her."
"Exactly. Sounds pretty brutal. So why is Vince dropping you off?" Angela asked, focusing her attention on the older man.
"I went for a run to clear my head and ended up at work. He's just dropping me off so I can freshen up and go back with my own car."
"You're going to go back to work? Honey, you should take the day off, spend some time with your mother."
"Ma, I feel much better being at work, we can do something afterwards if you'd like," Jane suggested.
"Fine, if that's what you want to do. You can help make dinner with me."
"Okay Ma, sounds great, I'll see you at Maura's house then?"
"Great," Angela grinned, giving her daughter a hug. "You go get ready for work sweetheart."
"Thanks Ma," Jane smiled before heading into her apartment. Angela made her way to Vince's car.
"You mind keeping an eye on Jane for me when she gets to work," Angela asked as Vince rolled down his window.
"I'll try the best that I can, we both know Jane."
"You're always such a great help Vince. I appreciate all that you do for my daughter."
"She's like a daughter to me, you know that."
"That I do. I should let you go now. Have a good day."
"You too Angela," Korsak smiled warmly at the woman before starting his car and driving back to work. Angela stood on the sidewalk a little bit longer before she left in her own car.
Maura was in her office after performing an autopsy just waiting on some results from the lab techs. She started working on the paperwork when she heard footsteps in the hallway, she knew those footsteps anywhere. Jane was outside her office. Maura looked up and waved for Jane to come in.
"Hey Jane, wasn't expecting you to come in today."
"That phrase has been going around today. Were you busy? There was something on my mind I felt that we should discuss," Jane started, closing the office door as she went to go sit down on the couch.
Maura lowered the top of her laptop and went to join Jane on the couch. "It sounds important."
"It kind of is, but it's sort of nothing at the same time, maybe it's just me being me."
"Alright?" Maura gave Jane a confused look.
"My apartment is too clean and organized," she blurted out.
"Oh, okay?"
"Yeah, I just, you moved things around and it's not where it's supposed to go, and call me OCD but you don't organize my underwear drawer."
Maura frowned, "I'm sorry I was just..."
"Trying to help, I know... everyone seems to be trying to help, but I'm fine Maura I appreciate it you wanting to help but sometimes it becomes too much. I know I probably sound like an ass, but I have my own kind of organization and I'd like to keep it that way."
"Okay, well thanks for letting me know. I just wanted your apartment to look nice, didn't mean to overstep any boundaries. You say that you're fine Jane, but there's something you're not being completely honest about."
"Why wouldn't I be fine, and why is everyone obsessed about this constant need to help like I'm not capable of doing things. I know I jumped off a bridge, but I survived and I helped the guy out in the end. I didn't try to play the hero. It just happened. I swear I'm fine, can we just drop it?"
Maura sighed, Jane wasn't going to stop playing this strong woman no matter how much she's hurting on the inside. "Okay I'll drop it, but you do know I'm always here when you want to talk, if you want to talk that is."
"Thanks for understanding, and sorry if I sounded like an ass I just prefer things a certain way, okay?"
"Yes, I get that Jane. I'll ask before I clean anything next time."
"And are you okay?" Jane asked, resting her hand on Maura's leg.
"I'm alright Jane, yes. Anything else that you want to discuss?"
"I'm helping Ma cook dinner tonight at your place since I'm here instead spending time with her. So looks like you'll have some company."
"Well your company is always welcome," Maura took Jane's hand in hers, leaning over to kiss her cheek.
"Maura... not at work, we're trying to be discreet, remember?"
"I know. I just felt like you needed it."
At those words Jane couldn't help but smile, "Well thanks, I guess I did need it. Let me stop distracting you from work, I'll see you later." Jane got up from the couch and Maura nodded.
"Yes, see you later."
Jane slipped out of the office and Maura went back to her desk. She still didn't think that things were one hundred percent and it didn't stop bothering her. She felt like she was losing her best friend and it scared her losing someone she was trying to build a relationship and future with. Maura wanted this and she just hoped that this is what Jane really wanted as well. Doubts would be in Maura's mind until Jane chose to finally open up to her about it all. And if there was something Maura absolutely hated, it was having doubts about something she had felt so sure about.
What a bunch of uncertainty in this chapter, sorry for the delay in posting this story I had no motivation. What are your thoughts? Jane is still not fully open about her feelings of everything and she's tired of everyone wanting to help. I've been grateful for all the reviews I've been getting for this story, keep them coming and maybe the next chapter won't take so long to be posted I do enjoy writing some angst, wish my motivation levels were keeping up though.