Chapter 20:

I lean in and whisper in her ear, "Call if you need backup." She smiles and walks to follow Janet.

Maura POV:

As I follow Janet out to her car, I can't help but think about Jane and Victoria. I can't help but feel this kinship with her and I hope that she feels safe with us. It made me think about Jane and pondering how she feels. I have never seen her act like this with another child in a case. I feel like she sees something in Victoria. On the plus side Victoria seems very taken with Jane and I.

We reach her car and she takes out a file from the backseat. "This is Victoria's file. It is pretty hefty. She is a good girl who has just had some bad luck. Hopefully she can find some stability with you and Detective Rizzoli."

"I hope she can too. She can start to begin to build her life with us and we can grow together. As a family. Jane has quite the large and involved family. Hopefully we can start making some happy memories with her."

Jane POV:

I walk back in and smile at Victoria. "Are you doing okay?"

"The best I can I guess. Where's Maura?"

"She went outside to get your paperwork with Janet. So that way when we leave here today we can go home."

She looks up at me. "Home?"

"I'll tell you but Maura is really excited so can you act like you didn't know when we tell you together?"

"Yes."

"Well when we spoke to your social worker outside she had said that she was going t o find you a placement in a group home and I was not the biggest fan of that. Maura and I both agreed that if you want you can come home with us. We have more than enough room and we are building a house soon. I'm not gonna ask yet because Maura isn't here but just think about that. Whatever you want or think is the best next step for you we will follow you and support you as best as we can."

"Okay. Can I ask you something Jane?"

"Of course." I respond with a small smile.

"Why do you want to help me? You don't even know me."

"I didn't have to know to see you needed help. And if we are being honest I saw a part of Maura in you. She wasn't in foster care or anything but she was adopted as a baby. When we first met she never even went to the fair, and I wanted her to experience that. I can't make everything that has happened to you go away but I would like to be part of the reason things have been turning around."

"That sounds nice." She doesn't say much more and I think that is because she doesn't want to get her hopes up. I understand that because people in her life have always lied and left. I want her to know that we are different and the only way to do that is to show her.

I wanted to ask her more questions but the doctor came into the room. "Hello I am Dr. Shepherd. Are you her guardian?"

"We are filling out paperwork but I am detective Rizzoli. Before we go forward with anything, I would like to wait for my girlfriend. Isles, chief medical examiner for the commonwealth of Massachusetts."

"That is fine. Is she around here somewhere? Or do you need some time because I can come back?"

"Could you come back within 10 minutes? She should just be in the parking lot. Thank you so much."

"Absolutely. As long as Victoria is okay with that." She looks in Victoria's direction.

I nudge her to let her know that it is alright. "Yea I would like to wait for Maura too."

"Well alright then. I will make the rest of my rounds and then come back. If you need anything feel free to page the nurse's station." She says that and then she walks out of the room.

I pull out my phone and hit speed dial one. "Hey love, the doctor just came in but I wanted to wait for you. She is finishing her rounds and will be here within the next ten minutes."

"Alright. I love you. See you soon."

"Is Maura on the way?" Victoria asks.

"Yes she will be right here. She was just filling out the paperwork for you to come home with us when you are discharged from the hospital."

"Y….you guys really want to take me home with you?" She looks nervous. I can tell she is anxious because I have been there way too many times in life.

"We do. Maura and I want a family and we really would like it to be you. We want you to be our family. That is if that is what you want?"

It is almost like she is afraid to answer me. She doesn't want to be rejected or say the wrong thing. "You can be honest. If you don't want to, that is also okay. We want you to do what you think is going to be best for you."

"I'd really like to go home with you and Maura."

"That's great to hear because we want you to come home with us too." I looked over towards the doorway where my favorite voice just spoke. She walks over and says to Victoria. "May I sit?"

Victoria nods her head. "Yeah."

"How are you feeling? Any pain?"

"Yea, but it's not as bad as it usually is."

Maura POV:

When the doctor walked back in, it startled Victoria and she reached for my hand. Jane swung around and pointed her gun at the woman.

"OH MY GOD." The woman screamed. Jane immediately recognized the ER doctor and lowered to holster her weapon.

"Oh I am so sorry. I heard Victoria scream and then saw her grab Maura. I thought she was in danger." Jane says.

"I completely understand. Whew I just was not expecting a gun pointed at me today."

"Shhh, hey it's me Maura. You are safe. You are in a safe place. No one is going to hurt you here. Jane and I will protect you. Can you focus on the sound of my voice?"

I feel her squeeze my hand and so I continue speaking. "You are safe. We won't let anyone hurt you anymore. Can you take a few deep breaths with me?" I mouth over to Jane. Come over here, your voice is more distinctive.

Jane gets up and heads this way. Standing on the other side of me she puts her hand next to Victoria's. "You're okay. This is Jane, you are safe. We are in the hospital and the doctor is going to make sure you are."

"J….jane? M….maura?" She mumbles.

"Yes baby it's us. You are okay."

"Don't let go." Victoria says just above a whisper.

"We won't. You are safe with us."