Maura sighed, switching the phone at her ear to the other side. Jane's inner detective was out in full force. Normally, it was a sight to behold. Unfortunately, at the moment, Jane's attention was focused on her. 'As I have already said Jane,' Maura replied quietly, patiently, willing Jane to understand, 'there's nothing I can say. I have legal, ethical and moral obligations to protect the privacy of my patients.'

'Come on Maura,' Jane said one part whining, one part charming, 'you can't even share with your significant other? Your significant other who is a federal agent.'

'No, I can't,' Maura replied steadily, 'the government is at least part of the reason such strict requirements exist.'

'Okay,' Jane said clearly switching routes, 'big brother and all. I get it. But technically you told big brother when you filed that CPS report. The 'government' already knows.' Jane said the word government and Maura could see the air quotes.

'The Commonwealth of Virginia's department of Child and Family Services Bureau already knows. The Federal Bureau of Investigations is a distinct and separate entity.' Maura explains not for the first time, 'really Jane. I can't cut the red tape for you.'

Maura can hear Jane pouting through the phone, 'but you're my girlfriend and I'm just trying to keep you safe.' Maura's heart flutters.

'I know, sweetie,' Maura says softly, 'I get it. But you can't even connect the two things. Someone in Boston is asking questions that aren't even threatening, just odd, and someone else in Virginia a whole 477 miles away came in to the clinic to see a doctor and had a child protective services claim filed. They aren't even tangentially related.'

'That's not true Maura,' Jane says, not quite angrily but defensively, 'they are connected. You connect them.'

Maura sighs, 'you're right I'm sorry.'

'Thank you,' Jane says, 'and there's something here. Okay? I can feel it. My gut is screaming it.'

'Well I'm afraid you and your gut are going to have to work this one without me. I can't help you this time,' the realisation makes Maura sad. It was the first case they had worked separately since Maura had started her job as the Chief Medical Examiner. She supposed, on some level, she knew this day would come eventually. Law enforcement was as much a part of Jane's DNA as forensics science was a part of Maura's. It was inevitable that one or both of them would find their way to a case at some point. It was improbable to think they would work it together. 'I'm not the Chief Medical Examiner any more. I'm not part of the FBI. I'm a civilian medical doctor.'

'Maura,' Jane's voice cracked with emotion. Maura could hear her breathing coming out in ragged draws. Maura wraps her arms around herself, as though she can block the sadness and loneliness from staying if she just held herself tight enough. She was willing to bet it would have worked if it had been Jane's arms.

'I'm here Jane,' Maura whispers. She isn't sure if its the right thing or if Jane will just wave it aside. She doesn't know what to do because she's not there and she wants to be. Maura here's Jane shudder, then sniff. 'I'm here sweetie,' Maura whispers again.

'I didn't…' Jane starts then falters, pausing to breath, 'didn't realise how much I…' she stops again and Maura can tell she's fighting tears, 'I took you for granted.'

Maura smiles, her eyes glistening, 'I took you for granted too.'

There's an audible sniff and a harsh chuckle. 'It doesn't feel like real police work without you or Frost or Korsack.' Maura doesn't know what to say to that so she says nothing. 'I guess if you're just a civilian I probably shouldn't be consulting with you either.'

'No,' Maura's voice is soft, 'you probably shouldn't.' They're both quiet a moment.

'So tomorrows your last day in San Francisco right?' Jane asks, clearly trying to change the topic.

'Yes,' Maura answers, totally willing to go along with this subject change. 'I have a short flight to LA and I'm there for two weeks.'

'You're meeting up with Hope and seeing Paddy next week?' Jane asks. It isn't exactly less of an emotional minefield but she supposes it is better than before and at least in this instance, she and Jane can help each other.

'I am. Have any advice for me?' Maura asks feeling suddenly nervous.

'Advice on how to ask your biological mobster father his final wishes with your biological mother who only somewhat recently discovered you aren't dead?' Jane asks incredulously, 'nope. No. Don't have any advice for that.'

It makes Maura laugh, 'you mean they don't cover that particular scenario on Friendship day?'

'Nope, must have missed it,' Jane says teasingly. Her tone sobers a bit, 'if I had to guess, I'd say this will be harder on Hope than Paddy. A man like that… death is an old friend. He won't want or need much. But for Hope.'

Maura is suddenly stepping in to Hope's shoes. Jane was intimately familiar with death. Her heart had stopped and Maura's own hands had kept her blood pumping and oxygen in her lungs after she had shot herself to take out Bobby Marino. Jane was a simple woman. She didn't want much for her funeral. On the few occasions they talked about it, Jane had always said 'whatever makes it easier on Ma.' Jane was like Paddy. And Maura was like Hope. The thought of Jane dying, of Maura having to live on without her was excruciating. Maura placed a hand over her heart, willing herself to be calm. It wasn't real. Jane was fine.

'She must be hurting so badly,' Maura whispers softly. 'I don't know what I'd do if you were terminally ill Jane. I don't think I'd survive it.'

'I know what you mean,' Jane murmurers softly, 'it destroys me thinking about it.'

'And she's living it,' Maura murmurs in horror.

'Yeah, she is,' Jane says, 'but it's different too.'

'How?' Maura asks, not fully understanding.

'Because they were star crossed, you know. They haven't been together since they were kids. We're together. Committed.' Jane says it like it should be simple and obvious.

'I don't think that means she loves him less,' Maura says with a frown.

'No, definitely. Love is love and it hurts no matter what. It's just…' Jane pauses trying to think of a way to help Maura understand. 'when you left for your tour… it took me time to figure out how to function. I was so used to having you here. I bought you almond milk and was putting it in the fridge before I realised it would be expired before you came home. I still don't sleep on your side of the bed. There are still gaps in the closet for your clothes. It was like a million little holes reminding me that you were missing. Those were the things that hurt the most.'

'So you're saying that Hope doesn't have a side of the bed?' Maura asks, trying to piece it all together.

'Yeah. At least she hasn't in a long time. And her clothes don't smell like his. And she doesn't keep his preferred milk in the fridge like he'll be home tomorrow.' Jane sighs, 'I guess what I'm saying is… Hope's had time to adjust to his absence. It hurts but it's probably like… arthritis. You know. An old chronic pain she knows. Where as losing you would be like getting shot. Sudden, overwhelming, shock inducing pain. You know?'

'I guess,' Maura replies, still a bit puzzled if she was being honest.

'She's still hurting though, honey,' Jane offers, 'so maybe call her a bit more or send her flowers. Just little things.'

'Is that what you did for Angela when Frank was ill?' Maura asks curious.

'Yeah,' Jane says, 'kinda. It was different. But I did little things to try and keep her spirits up. Brought her favourite canoli, took her shopping, you know.'

'And would you classify that as a typical mother daughter response?' Maura's brain was whirling.

'Uh-' Jane says, 'yeah. Sure. I guess. I just… did things I knew she'd like.'

'The only things I know with certainty that Hope likes are being a doctor, her family, and Paddy.' Maura is frowning, trying to recall any other specifics she may have missed.

'Well,' Jane says cheerily, 'thats a good starting place. Take her out when she flies out. Bring her along to your interviews. Introduce her as your mother and let her see your world.'

'I can do that,' Maura says with some relief.

'As to the rest, why not text Cailin. She can probably tell you all of Hope's favourite things. You can send her something before she flies out.' Jane says encouragingly.

That idea makes Maura feel nervous, 'but what if she doesn't like it? Or she thinks I'm taking advantage of our relationship. Crossing some boundary that any socially normal person would see immediately but I don't because I'm socially inept?'

'Honey,' Jane's voice is soft but Maura can hear the barest hint of teasing in it, 'no one has boundaries around receiving unexpected gifts. Especially mothers. Even if you got her the ugliest, most obnoxious bouquet, that makes her sneeze horribly, she'll still know that all you're trying to do is tell her you love her and you're there for her. She'll appreciate it even if she hates it. Okay?'

Maura feels her stomach drop. 'I certainly don't want to trigger any hypersensitivities in her immune system. Do you think Cailin would be willing to help me?'

'Sure,' Jane says, 'why not? She probably thinks its about time you started picking up some daughter duties.'

'Jane,' Maura says not sure if she quite believes her. It sounded like teasing.

'I'm kidding,' Jane says immediately, 'but seriously, she has no reason to not help. Okay.'

'Okay,' Maura says, her head hurting. 'Can we talk about something else now?'

'Of course,' Jane said. She immediately launched into a recap of a nature documentary she had been watching last night. It took Maura a few minutes to calm down but hearing Jane talk in vaguely inaccurate scientific terms had the habit of drawing Maura out. By the time they hung up, Jane had successfully made Maura feel better and Jane had a long lecture on the classification of animal phyla.

Maura hit the end button and immediately pulled up a text message. It took her a few attempts to type out a message that was sufficient. She read it over one more time: 'Good evening Cailin. I hope your evening and studies are going well. I was wondering if you could tell me Hope's favourite flowers and if she has a preferred favourite treat. Chocolates or pastries or otherwise. I would like to send her a gift but am uncertain as to what precisely to give her. I was hoping I could lean on her expertise to choose something pleasing for her. With love, Maura.' Maura tried to read it through Cailin's eyes but failed. She didn't think it could be mis-interpreted. She reread it again, this time trying to think like Jane. It worked slightly better. Enough that Maura hit the send button.

It wasn't even two minutes later before Cailin texted back. Maura shook her head at the response. Her agonising over her message had all been for naught. Her darling half sister had texted back two emojis. A waving hand and a thumbs up. Maura rolled her eyes and flopped back on her bed. Her phone chimed again. This time her sister had actually included words. 'Cinnamon Rolls from somewhere local. No roses, they remind her of your funeral.' Cailin had followed that with a smilie face with x's for eyes which was, Maura assumed, was intended to mimic the dead but was highly inaccurate. Corpses didn't have x's for eyes. Although, she supposed it could be a colloquial representation of sewing a corpses eyelids shut to keep the eyes from opening. Cailin followed that with, 'I usually get her daisies but I know she's in to orchids too. Hope this helps!'

Maura smiled at her phone. She decided to be a bit brave. 'You're an odd one little sister but yes this helps! Thank you!'

Cailin sent her back a GIF of a man wearing a horrible combination of a light blue short and a spotted ascot throwing confetti in the air with a look of absolute apathy on his face. Maura wasn't sure what to say to that so she merely texted her goodnight.

It took Maura forty five minutes to find a suitable and local orchid for Hope and an additional fifteen minutes place an order for delivery to arrive on the same day as the orchid. Maura resolved to purchase and write a card tomorrow.


Cailin answered the knock at the door, her bedhead mostly contained in a messy bun, coffee cup in hand. A delivery person asked her to sign for a package, which she did while stifling a yawn. The woman at the door smiled at her and said something that sounded vaguely flirty before handing over what looked like a super expensive orchid with an exaggerated wink. Cailin thanked the woman and was walking the orchid back to the kitchen when there came another knock at the door.

'I've got it, honey,' her mother called from the stairwell.

'Kay,' Cailin called back. She sipped lazily at her coffee as she gave the plant a once over. The orchid was in a natural stone pot, tasteful but neutral. Cailin would guess it cost more than her textbooks alone but that was just because she knew Maura. The pot itself didn't scream opulence. The orchid itself was probably something rare, expensive and hard to find. Cailin would give herself bonus points if it was also locally sourced due to environmental concerns. Her mother would recognize it immediately. Porbably. To Cailin it just looked like a small orchid, it's petals white with streaks of fuchsia.

'Someone sent us cinnamon rolls,' Hope said as she wandered in to the kitchen. Her eyebrows were knitted together but her mouth was turned up at the corners. Confused but pleased.

'Yum,' Cailin said sniffing the air as her mother opened a steaming box of cinnamon deliciousness, 'two gifts in one day! Lucky you!'

'Did you say two?' Hope said looking at her. Cailin merely pointed at the orchid. Her mother's mouth fell open, her jaw hanging down. Her fingers reached out to tenderly stroke the orchid's leaf, 'but who?'

Cailin grabbed one of the cinnamon rolls from her mother's grasp and took a bite. Maura would send ridiculously expensive gifts and forget to include a card. Cailin shrugged and said with a still full mouth, 'don't know nothing.'

Her mother wasn't paying attention to her anyways. Cailin set her coffee mug down and grabbed the phone out of her back pocket. She pulled out her camera and snapped a few surreptitious photos that she sent promptly to Maura with the words, 'She loves them but you forgot the card, genius.' Cailin had never had a sibling to rib before but she thought she was getting the hang of it.

She wasn't surprised by Maura's immediate response. Somehow, even with a book tour going on, Maura always made time to respond to her. It made Cailin feel special, important. She texted, 'oh no. I knew I forgot something!'

Cailin grinned, 'want me to tell her or should I just tease her about her secret admirer?'

'Who are you texting?' her mother asked setting a plate in front of Cailin for her cinnamon roll.

'Maura,' Cailin said taking another unruly bite.

'What do I do?' Maura texted back, 'do I just tell her?'

Cailin sighed. Ribbing Maura when she was panicking was less fun. She supposed she should give some sisterly advice. 'Just call and ask if she got them okay. No big deal.' Cailin could practically hear Maura's thoughts from here: 'that's all. Just tell her?!' Her sister was probably panicking. After all, how often did the great Doctor Isles forget things? Cailin sent her a follow up text, 'just call her.'

She smiled a moment later when she heard her mother's phone ringtone playing the song Cailin had programmed for Maura. Her mother crossed the kitchen in a few steps and answered, 'Maura? Hello, what a pleasant surprise.'

Cailin didn't stick around. She figured her mom and her sister were starting to figure things out. It was slow going. They were both stubborn and socially awkward. But they were figuring it out. As far as Cailin was concerned, that was a good thing. After all, her mother needed every bit of extra joy she could find right now. She never really said much but Cailin knew that testifying against Paddy Doyle had been hard. Finding out he was sick was worse, somehow. Nothing was all that different. Her mother wasn't breaking down or anything. It was just… harder to make her smile or laugh. Like a little bit of her light had been put out. It wasn't always there... just sometimes when she thought no one was looking.

Cailin didn't entirely get it but then she'd never been in love. Not like her mother and Paddy. And not like Jane and Maura. Personally, Cailin wasn't sure she wanted to find that kind of love. The kind that made you lovesick. The kind that broke you in to pieces and scattered you to the winds. Cailin wanted to be a doctor. She wanted to help people the way her mother did, the way Maura did. She had a legacy to protect. She wasn't sure she wanted to be side tracked by love. At least, not any time soon.

Cailin finished the last of her cinnamon roll and finished getting dressed. She found her mother still on the phone in the kitchen her eyes a bit wet. Cailin put her plate in the sink, kissed her mother's cheek and spoke loudly enough for Maura to hear her. 'I've gotta go to class but way to go Maura. You made Mom cry.' She gave her mother a quick hug goodbye and headed out for the day, her biochemistry professor tended to lock the doors five minutes into their lab days so she really had to hurry. Plus she had an anatomy test to study for. All thoughts of love were promptly pushed away as she began running through the names and shapes of Polar and Nonpolar Amino Acids. Who needed love when she had alanine and leucine and serine and...