Hello everyone! So after this chapter we will see the whole family-Jane included- at home, so this will be the last hospital chapter... For a while ;) I really hope everyone enjoys this chapter, well the whole story! Let me know your thoughts and feelings may it be through a review or a private message, always up for suggestions! Anyway, enough from me, read away! :D
MENTIONS OF RAPE/DOMESTIC ABUSE! Be aware!
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Jane could see the muscles in Maura's back tensing as she continued to stare at the scars that marred Maura's back. Deep gashes and scratch marks started from the base of Maura's back and went all the way up to the middle of her shoulder blades, to stop people from seeing the abuse Jane thought. Some marks appeared to have healed from long ago but others looked far more recent, some still scabbing over.
"Maura..." Jane was speechless.
The shoulders of the blonde began to shudder from the sobs being held in. The young blonde jamp up on the bed and started batting Jane away from her mother, trying to protect her from the detective.
"Get off my mommy! You're hurting her!" Arabella shouted.
Constance and Arthur appeared in the door way of the room, shocked at the scene in front of them.
"Arabella, come here now." Constance ordered with a stern voice.
The young girl looked over at Constance and then at her mother who was still shaking, the young girl replied defiantly and pointing at Jane "No, she's hurting my mummy!"
"Sweetheart, Jane is trying to help your mummy by giving her a cuddle like when your upset but I think maybe your mummy needs my special hugs like the ones I give you okay? Can you help me and be a big girl?" Constance asked, knowing Arabella loved to help her mother in anyway.
"Yes, I can be a big girl!" Arabella replied enthusiastically feeling she could be of help.
"Could you go down to the hospital canteen with Grampa and Jane to get your mummy a nice cold bottle of water. I'm sure it would really help." Constance said as she looked on at her daughter who was still sobbing.
"I can do that Grandma!" The little girl ran to the door, looking over at Jane and Arthur to follow.
Jane slowly got out from behind Maura and walked over to the door where Arabella stood holding Arthur's hand. Arabella shyly lifted her other hand and offered it to Jane with a "Sorry" which the detective took immediately, allowing them to leave Maura alone with Constance.
Approaching the bed with extreme caution, Constance decided it best to ask Maura before she did anything to allow her to begin to feel more in control.
"Maura, may I sit down on the bed?" Constance asked.
If it weren't for the complete silence of the room, Constance wouldn't have heard the weak 'yes' that can from her daughters mouth.
"Would it be okay if I sat behind you like Jane was before?"
Receiving another 'yes', Constance moved to sit behind her daughter, not without difficulty due to her older age causing her to sigh which Maura weakly laughed at.
After situating herself behind Maura she placed her hands on Maura's shoulder which she instantly regretted as she flinched at the touch as though she had been burned.
"Sorry darling." Constance said, quickly removing her hands.
"It's fine mother, just a little bit surprised.. May.. Could I possibly have a hug?" Maura enquired, her voice breaking on the final word.
"You don't have to ask sweetie, come here." Moving softly as to not further startle her daughter, Constance pulled Maura to rest against her chest and began to stroke through Maura's hair.
"Would you like my to rub your back for you darling? It might make you fell a bit better and stop the twinges. I won't lift your gown if you don't want me to, you have my word."
Maura nodded her head "If my gown gets in the way... You can move it..."
Pulling a pillow from behind her back, Constance placed it in front of Maura to allow the blonde to lean onto to make it more comfortable with her large bump. Maura scooted forward to let Constance begin.
Maura facing the other way allowed Constance the courage to voice her thoughts "I hope you know how much I love you darling. You, Arabella and this little baby boy mean the absolute world to me, I would be nothing without you all. I will do anything and I mean anything to keep you all safe. I shouldn't have let you stay with that monster and I know that you love him sweetheart and I understand what it's like to be in love but.. The way he treats you, that's not love. I know it sounds harsh but I'm only telling you because I love you with all my heart. I will support you no matter what, any choice you chose both your father and I will be there. If you want to move house I can have that done by the end of the week if not sooner. If you want to take Ian to court, I will find the best lawyer in the whole of America. I just want you to understand that I'm here, I may not have been before but you are never getting rid of me anytime soon." Constance lightly laughed at her finishing words to try to cheer Maura up and it worked. Albeit small, Maura's laugh still came through.
"Thank you." Maura replied simply unable to come up with a better response as she was so touched at her mothers words.
Constance continued to massage Maura's lower back and despite her daughters previous statement she still asked "Maura, may I move your gown?"
Taking a deep breath to compose herself an answer was given "Yes."
Moving the gown, Constance carried on rubbing down the doctors back trying not to show her reaction to her daughters back which she knew would further upset the doctor. The older woman lent forward and pressed a kiss to the blondes head and whispered "It's all going to be okay, I promise."
After a minute of silence, Maura spoke up.
"What you said about helping moving house.."
"I'll phone the estate agent and movers as soon as you get discharged. Don't worry about a thing, you need to concentrate on relaxing. Getting stressed isn't very good for either you or my little grandson."
"Little slugger" Maura whispered
"What was that darling?"
"Little slugger, it's what Jane likes to call him." Maura replied, blushing.
"Ah Jane, she's very sweet isn't she?" Constance asked with a sly smirk on her face, noticing her daughters blush.
"Mother!"
"What? I didn't say anything!" Constance replied coyly.
"Your orbicul- your face did! Mother you know I'm married, stop it." The blush now spreading in her chest as she harshly protested.
"Maura, I didn't mean anything by it all I'm saying is I can tell she cares a great deal about you and Bella. Despite only knowing you for a couple of days." Constance tried her best to sound as innocent as she could.
"Okay, well just.. I don't know... Don't embarrass me."
"Okay dear, say no more. May I ask you something though?"
"Okay..." Maura replied warily.
"Why do you stop yourself from going off on your spiels and facts? If you thinks it's because I'll find it uninteresting or boring then you needn't worry, I love how much of a genius you are." Constance enquired.
Maura froze and struggled to form an answer as memories flashed in her mind.
As Ian leered over her roughly shoving her dress up to her hips, Maura lay under him shaking with fear over what she knew was to come next. Please god, she prayed. However, no amount of pleading seemed to help as Ian ripped his belt from the loops of his jeans and lowered his trousers and boxers freeing himself. Roughly entering Maura, he began to shout causing her to shift her face into the pillow and squeeze her eyes shut, making him even more angry. Gripping her by the jaw he screamed "OPEN YOUR EYES NOW!" Once Maura had complied he pinned her arms that had been covering her chest to try to preserve even a little bit of dignity and stared into her eyes.
"Don't you ever" A punch to the stomach
"And I really do mean ever" Another punch, closer to the ribs this time
"Undermine me with those fucking facts" A slap across the face
"That come out of that stupid mouth ever again" A final blow to the jaw causing her to pass out from the white hot pain coursing through her battered body.
Finally replying, Maura revealed to her mother "He.. Ian didn't like it very much."
"Well there's only once response I can think to that. Fuck him."
"Mother!" Maura shouted, shocked at her mothers language.
"I know I'm not one for profanities however I think that the situation certainly wards that kind of language. You listen to me and you listen good darling. You are a genius, there's no other way to say it. Don't listen what that vile man says. Your mind is beautiful. Use it sweetheart."
The woman were pulled from their moment as the door to the room was opened to reveal Dr Petroff, following into the room were Arthur and Jane who held a giggling Arabella on her shoulders.
"I think it's time to get you discharged and home, don't you?" Dr Petroff asked the blonde in the hospital bed.
"Mummy's coming home?!" Arabella asked excitedly, jumping up and down on Janes shoulder who seemed to be having just as much fun as the young blonde.
"Mummy's coming home." Maura replied, smiling widely as she looked on at all the support her little fragile family had gained.
/
So...?