''How is she?'' the recognizable voice of Constance faint as Maura tried to open her eyes, trying to make out who was speaking.
''She is alright Miss Isles, she should wake up soon.'' another voice, this one not familiar unlike the first voice – letting the blonde know it was most likely a nurse.
Bright lights on the ceiling blinded hazel eyes and quickly Maura closed them shut, the instant darkness sending her back to the basement. The ear piercing screams of Jane echoed through her head, the blood pooling in the agents hands and she couldn't do anything to help her.
Her mind was caught up in her memories, Hoyts hands on Jane's body – the brunette disoriented from shock – Maura tied up and unable to do anything but call out her name.
''Jane.'' she choked out, her eyes flying open and her hands grasping for something to hold on to as she forced her body to sit up. The entire room was blurry, her eyes needing a while to adjust as she warily looked around. Soon enough a figure moved in closer to her and hands tried to push her down on to the bed again.
''Don't touch me!'' Maura yelled scared, trying to back up further against the headboard – hand immediately leaving her shoulders again. It took multiple deep breaths and long blinks for the blonde to come back to reality, her chest still heaving as she made eye contact with her mother.
''Maura, honey. You need to rest.'' Constance said quietly, slowly approaching the bed again – she had been worried sick her entire way to Boston.
''No.'' Maura shook her head, slowly moving to get out of bed. She needed to check on Jane.
''How long was I out for? Where is Jane?'' she asked, looking around the room again for anyone else, for Jane.
Constance took a shaky breath and pinched her lips together for a moment, knowing her daughter wouldn't react well to the news and would instantly want to visit the agent.
''She got out of surgery nearly an hour ago. Jane will be okay, I need you to stay down – please.'' the woman begged her daughter.
''I have to see her.'' Maura muttered, tears now filling her eyes as she tried to get up from the bed – her legs momentarily wobbling underneath her body.
''Maura you have been unconscious for almost five hours.'' Constance said, stepping closer to her daughter to support her weight as she noticed her shaking on her feet.
The blonde tilted her head to look at her mother, ''Five hours?'' she choked out sadly.
''You said Jane got out of surgery an hour ago. How bad was it?'' she asked, now turning her head to the nurse in the doorway of the room.
She remembered the sound of Jane begging the EMTs through her tears to not touch her hands, the scalpels. The memory brought back a sickness to her stomach that she couldn't explain, she felt like throwing up – like crying.
''How is she?'' this time the First Daughters voice more pressing, she needed this answer and she needed it now. The woman in scrubs at the door gave her back a sad look.
''Her hands are ruined. The scalpels penetrated her hands completely and cut through a lot of nerves. The gunshot wound has been opened up again and together with all other cuts inflicted, they have been stitched up.'' Constance spoke up instead. Just like her daughter she had tears in her eyes, trouble holding them back as Maura wrapped her arms around her. The First Lady held her daughter close, making sure she wouldn't drop under her own weight.
''I need to go see her, can I please?'' Maura begged the nurse, the woman giving her a curt nod.
''Your charts look good, it was mostly the shock that ended you in here. You can go see her but I need you back in thirty minutes, Miss Isles.'' The nurse said, giving both the Isles women a small smile and leaving the room completely.
It was a hassle to say the least to get Maura to Jane's room. The blonde was wobbly and felt sick, sometimes a sudden dizziness taking over when moving too fast.
When entering the room Maura's eyes fell on the brunettes frame, the woman curled up on her side and facing away from Angela who was seated on a chair next to the bed.
She was unable to hold back the tears as they rolled down her cheeks, seeing the agent in her current state broke her.
''Jane?'' Maura sniffled.
Angela jumped at the sound behind them and turned in her chair to look at the door, seeing Maura walking in with Constance supporting most of her weight.
''Oh Maura, honey.'' Angela whispered, standing up from her chair immediately so Maura could sit in it – the blonde gladly taking the offer and sighing relieved once she sat down.
Maura leaned over slightly and rested her hand on the brunettes shoulder.
''Jane?'' she asked quietly, hoping the agent would turn around to face her – but she didn't.
''Pretty please..'' her voice now more pleading, her hand gently giving the shoulder under her touch a squeeze.
Jane let out a soft noise that almost sounded like a sob as she turned around to face Maura. Her body was aching, the morphine couldn't take away all the pain. She was unable to move her fingers, her hands aching so badly that it spread up to her elbows.
She tried her hardest to put on a smile when she was met with hazel green eyes, knowing Maura was worried about her – knowing she most likely disobeyed bed rest to run to her room.
''Hey, you. Are you okay?'' the agent husked out, her voice more hoarse than usual from the crying and the sleepiness the medicines caused.
Maura looked at the woman on the bed, brown eyes filled with tears – the brunette clearly in pain but yet smiling at her to conceal it.
''Oh, Jane.'' The blonde said softly, reaching out and gently running a hand through the dark lock of the agent. ''I am fine. I heard you had surgery though.'' she whispered, Jane simply nodding at her words.
The agent had to take a moment to bite away the tears before speaking.
''Yeah, my hands..'' she said, her voice breaking.
''I know honey, I know.'' Maura said, leaning down and pressing a kiss down on Jane's hair.
''It will be okay, I promise you.'' she muttered, feeling Jane's body starting to shake on the bed.
Maura reached out and gently rubbed the brunettes upper arm, her head still resting against the agents – wanting to let her know she was there. Jane wouldn't be alone in this despite the time they had known each other for or who they were to each other.
Everything else in the world would be a worry for a later time and date, for now Maura just wanted to ensure she could give the brunette the comfort she needed.
Jane enjoyed the warmth that Maura gave, leaning in to the comfort she let herself go freely. Her mind didn't think about Angela at the end of the bed or Constance standing in the doorway with curious eyes.
Instead she let Maura take care of her for which was the first time since they had met, she let Maura comfort her – knowing they both needed it.
''We will get through this.'' the blonde mumbled in to raven locks, pressing down another kiss and pulling her head back. She look down at the brunette who looked back at her and gave her a quick nod.
''We will.'' Jane rasped out, giving Maura a brief smile.
''You should try and get back to sleep, you need to rest up. I will be here when you wake up, alright?'' Maura said, pressing a kiss to Jane's nose now and being rewarded with a soft chuckle she hadn't expected.
''I know I will lose the discussion, so I will get some sleep.'' Jane muttered, a sad smile on her face as she looked up at the blonde who now had a grin on her face.
''That is correct, a discussion with me isn't easy to win.'' the blonde agreed.
''Can I have a kiss before you have to go again?'' Jane whispered, her voice barely audible – neither one of the mothers able to hear it and even Maura had to lean in a bit further to hear it.
The blonde took a deep breath at the request as both their mothers were present. Jane was always following the rules, she was the one paranoid about wanting to separate private from work. If the agent asked for it, she needed it.
''Are you sure?'' Maura asked for confirmation and Jane nodded in response.
''I don't care that they are here, please.'' Jane mumbled, lifting her head slightly from the pillow.
That was enough for Maura to lean in, pressing her lips against Jane's and kissing her deeply.
She could feel her body relax, her mind becoming calm by the simple action. The blonde pulled away slowly after some seconds, breathing out slowly as Jane's voice begged her not to go just yet.
''Don't..'' Jane begged in a whisper, her eyes still closed as she felt the heat of Maura's presence pulling away from her. She wanted to reach out, to pull the blonde back in but her hands were useless. They were sore and she could barely move them, let enough put enough pressure on them to pull Maura back in.
Maura noticed, and leaned back in, gently cupping the agents cheeks as she kissed her again. This kiss being slower, less hurries and softer. As the blonde pulled away again she placed a soft kiss next to Jane's mouth. She dropped her hands from the agents faced and sighed sadly.
''I need to head back to my room before they put me in a straitjacket and tie me up for not returning in time. I will try to come by later today or tonight, okay?'' Maura said, slowly pushing herself up from the chair and wobbling on her feet.
Constance almost crossed the room in a few long strides and Angela's hands flew to Maura's bicep and back to keep her from falling over.
''Be careful hon.'' Jane and Angela said at the same time, both voices worried.
Maura looked at both of them and couldn't help the smile creeping up on her face, giving both of the Rizzoli women a nod. ''I'll be careful.'' she said softly. ''I have to head back, I'll try to be back later.''
Constance took Maura from Jane and helped her out of the room and down the hallway.
''You know what they say about dating your security personnel, Maura.'' Constance muttered as she walked her daughter back to her assigned room.
Maura nodded and carefully got back on her bed.
''I know.'' she said softly. ''Neither one of us care about that right now, which is reckless – I am aware of it. However we have more pressing matters at hand, we could have gotten killed and I realized that I don't want to die without Jane knowing how much I want to be with her. How- how did you get here anyway? Where is your security detail and where is father?'' Maura asked, covering herself up with the blanket and looking at her mother who took a seat on one of the chairs next to her bed.
Constance sighed deeply, ''Well, Barry got a call from a Detective Vince Korsak. He was quick to explain and confirm your whereabouts and the team made fast work of making me a safe way to Boston. Jeremy and William are with me, one seated outside the room and one holding the doors of the hall. I didn't want them in here with us. Your father is still at the House, he couldn't leave so suddenly.'' she said softly, reaching out and gently taking her daughters hands in her own.
''She is doing really bad..'' Maura exhaled sadly, giving her mothers hand a soft squeeze. She had gotten all the information her mother had said and yet her mind kept drifting off to Jane.
Constance nodded at Maura's words. ''She is indeed, but she is strong and she has you. I have known Jane for a while and she is a stubborn one, she will recover from this stronger. However.. I do ask you to reconsider the relationship you are having with her. There wouldn't be a single hesitation to have her fired by the Secret Service or your father.'' the eldest one of two women said.
''I know. I just – Jane and I, it is complicated. It has been a week, we are just figuring this out – trying something new. We just want to try this and see where it goes, I just know I really don't like being away from her. It makes me sick to see her in pain.'' Maura said quietly.
''The agency wouldn't give two damns about that. Jane will be fired and your father will back up their actions the moment this this the light of day. Jane loves her job, and she might be out of it for months due to her hands. It will be tough on her, and she might need you to get through it – but do know that if she gets fired, she won't be able to just stop by the House anymore to see you and it will be even more tough on her.'' The First Lady said, pulling her hands back and resting them in her lap.
Maura looked down at her hands, knowing her mother had a point.
''I just want to be there for her when she needs me, I want to be there as long as she wants me there. I am not going to stick around for five months and then leave her so she can continue her job and I am not leaving her now either. I want to be with her, and I want her to be safe. I need her company. She means a lot to me and I know dating the security personnel isn't responsible but don't forget the possible loophole that is in this system.'' the blonde added, looking up at her mother again.
''Technically speaking I am not an official resident of the House, your security detail isn't mine. Of course it will be frowned upon regardless, but in case it becomes a legal case I am not doing anything wrong.'' the First Daughter said with a careful shrug.
''I will be careful with her career, but Jane is stubborn and I can't change whatever she chooses.''
Constance couldn't disagree with that and nodded, knowing what her daughter had said was true.
X X X
That night – as promised, Maura sat besides Jane's bed again. The chair was beyond uncomfortable but it was worth it all at the sight of a relaxed agent.
Jane's eyes were closed, her breathing slow and steady as Maura gently massaged the brunettes scalp, running her hands through her hair gently every now and then.
''You should be resting too, Maur.'' Jane whispered, not opening her eyes as she let the blonde do her thing. The tension in her shoulders slowly started to disappear and she could feel her back relaxing.
Maura hummed, ''No. I should be okay. I wasn't hurt, I was unconscious most likely from exhaustion and shock. The adrenaline must have gotten to me, it's normal. I just want to be here with you.''
''He is dead.. It's over.'' Jane muttered, looking up at Maura who nodded.
''I know, thankfully.'' the blonde sighed deeply.
''What am I going to do, Maura?'' the agent asked, her voice now sounding more desperate.
Maura's heart broke at the sound of the desperate voice of the brunette, she leaned down and pressed a kiss to the woman's head.
''You are going to recover, and things will go back to normal. We will stand up against this man. I don't know how long it will take, but I do know you are not alone in this. You won't have to do this alone, I will be here ever step of the way.''
''Recovery is going to take months, I won't be able to work. It is going to hurt – I can't even move my fingers anymore. The medicine barely makes it tolerable. I can't do anything and once I can I will be fired and then I will have to face him in court and I can't. How did he survive three bullets to the chest? They covered him up at the scene.'' Jane spoke fast, her breath shallow and fast. Tears rolled down her face and she tore her gaze away from Maura.
''No, Jane. Listen to me.'' Maura said sweetly.
''We are going back to Washington and we are going to get you through rehabilitation. We will handle the trial once the time comes. If my father ends up firing you because of what we have leaking to the public, we have an excuse for the both of us to move back to Boston.''
''Maur, it's barely been a week. I should not be the reason you move back to Boston. It would be dangerous.. I couldn't keep you safe, we got attacked – and that was while nobody knew of you. Soon everyone will know.'' the agent said, hurt in her eyes as she looked back at Maura and was met with a pair of confused hazel green eyes.
The blonde shook her head. ''No.'' she chuckled sadly.
''Don't you dare do that.'' she said.
Jane scoffed, wincing at the action as it pulled at the stitches in her abdomen.
''Don't dare what?'' she asked.
''Hm?'' the agent added angrily, ''Don't dare to blame myself for what happened?'' she asked, hazel eyes staring back at her and filling up with tears.
Maura wanted to take the brunettes hands in her own and tell her none of this was her fault but she couldn't due to the injuries. Instead she lifted her hands to wipe the tears from her eyes.
''None of this was your fault, Jane. He sneaked up on us and played it smart so we didn't have a lot of moving space. None of us could have changed the situation.''
''Bullshit, I was the one with the gun Maura! I should have protected you and instead of that he stripped you down and tied you up. He was going to make me watch while he was going to rape you, or the other way around after he saw me looking through his drawers!'' the agent said angrily, her teeth gritting as tears rolled down her face.
Maura shook her head, choking on her words at how angry Jane seemed to be at herself. Instead she pressed her lips against hers,
''Don't you dare talk like that.'' she whispered.
Jane felt the blondes warm breath rebound against her lips as the woman's words filled the space around them.
''He didn't touch me. He didn't cut me. He didn't stab me. He didn't get to me, okay? Instead he got to you. He was going to assault me until you gave him a distraction to change his actions and then he was going to do those things to you.. the reason he didn't is because he saw the wound on your stomach and decided it was more fun for him to torture you by prodding you and cutting you instead of assaulting you. You kept me safe, you drew his attention away from what he wanted to do to me. You may not have done it on purple but you did save me, Jane.'' Maura said quietly, pulling away from the brunette to look at her. Jane looked up at her and sighed deeply.
''I can't ever win a discussion with you, now can I?'' the agent asked, giving the blonde a thankful smile. There was no denying that Maura had her back and she appreciated it, there were no words that could describe how much the woman had done for her in such a short amount of time.
A smile graced the blondes face to Jane's relief.
''No.'' the doctor chuckled, leaning in for another kiss.
X X X
A month had passed, Jane had been at home for all of it. She wasn't allowed back at work, not the field or the office.
It was clear the brunette was a mess, barely able to get off her couch – there wasn't much she could do either way.
Cooking hurt, grabbing water hurt, going to the bathroom and showering hurt. Everything hurt because it used her hands.
The bandages were off for two weeks now and the physical therapy had slowly began. Progress was there, but it wasn't a lot. It was a simple start, to show Jane that there still was hope.
Maura had agreed to move in with Jane for the time being so she could take care of the woman in case necessary, which was most of the time.
''This is starting to get suspicious to your parents and it isn't safe for you to just be here. My crappy Washington downtown apartment doesn't provide any safety and literally anyone could kick my door in and stab you to death.'' Jane whined, sitting down on the bed and looking at Maura who had almost completely disappeared in to the closet.
The blonde was trying to find an outfit for Jane, an amused chuckle emerging from the closet.
''I have been here for a month and nothing has happened yet. My mother knows about us already either way. Nothing is going to happen. We, however – we have to prepare for dinner. Your mother and brothers will be arriving in three hours.'' Maura said as she pulled black joggers and a white jumper from the closet.
Jane sighed deeply, ''Why did we invite them over again?'' she asked, furrowing a bit at Maura holding the outfit out to her.
''Because it has been a while and they are worried too. They want to know how you are doing so I made sure they could over and I made sure they could stay at one of the best hotels available in Washington.'' Maura put the clothes down next to Jane on the bed.
''For a week yeah. You know my mom, Maur.'' the former detective whined.
''Stop whining, Jane. She is a very sweet woman. Now stand up please.'' Maura said, tilting her head patiently when Jane scrunched up her nose at the request.
The brunette hated the fact she could do nothing on her own.
Jane rolled her eyes and stood up from the bed. She was dressed in nothing but a plain white sports bra and a pair of gray boxer briefs. The cuts on her side and legs were healing nicely and she could barely feel them hurt anymore. The agent gently took the jumper from Maura and tried her best to pull it on, wincing when her hand clearly didn't agree with the motion.
Instantly Maura had reached out and helped her put on the jumper.
''Thank you.'' Jane said sweetly, pecking the blondes lips and gently taking the joggers.
''So, why are you allowing me to wear this to dinner?'' Jane asked as she carefully wiggled herself in to the joggers. It had been a month of practicing how to worm herself in to a pair of pants without using her hands and it was going much better already.
''Well, it's comfortable and not as hard to pull on. I am not going to put you in to an Armani suit if you are in pain.'' the blonde said, walking over to the brunette and wrapping her arms around the woman's waist.
Jane smiled and stepped in closer, looking down at Maura.
''I told you it would be okay.'' the blonde said sweetly.
Jane nodded. ''It has been going better yeah. The nightmares aren't as regular anymore but they suck, still. Thank you.. for being here, for not giving up on me or walking out on me. I never got to properly thank you for sticking with me in the hospital or for you bringing me back to my family.''
Her eyes scanned the doctors face, taking in every inch of it. Jane Rizzoli was one lucky bastard and she knew that damned well.
''You don't have to thank me for that, you saved my life – Jane. I know you would do the same for me.'' the shorter woman said.
''I do however still thing you should go see a therapist.'' Maura stated.
Brown eyes widened and Jane stepped away from the blonde, ''What?'' Jane exclaimed.
''Neveeeer!'' the brunette husked out dramatically, hopping her way out of the bedroom and through the short hallway towards the living room like she was a seven year old child.
''You are such a child sometimes!'' Maura called after her, rolling her eyes with a sigh and making her way after the brunette – hoping she could get her calm enough so they could start preparing dinner for the Rizzoli family.