Final chapter. Thank you for sticking with me through this. Thank you for your wonderful reviews and comments.
I did have to rewrite more than I hoped to but at the same time It helped me feel more confident in my writing. Thanks to your wonderful comments mostly :D
I'm kinda sad this is over...Expect a small epilogue in the next few days :)
Love you all. xxx
Enjoy
JAM

CHAPTER 10

Jane almost folds herself in half with panic and desperation. She clenches her hands into balls and waves them up and down in front of her as if attempting to stop herself from just rushing towards Maura. Her legs look like they might be struggling to hold her up. Her face is full of pure terror.

"Maur." An audible broken whisper which sounds more like a soft squeal than a word.

The one thing she can't actually feel is guilt, but she knows that will come later, when all the other thousands of emotions have come and gone, she knows it will come like a heavy boulder that will crush her to a point she can barely breathe. If something bad happens to Maura she won't want to take another breath anyway.

Because this is her fault. All of it.

And she will deal with that later. Later when she has to. When it will not obstruct her current agenda. When it will not hinder her saving Maura. She will deal with that when she can afford to be crushed by it's immense weight. When there is nothing else between her and it...then she will think about that.

Because she can't lose Maura by thinking about that right now.

Jane inhales such a large breath that the oxygen almost makes her dizzy.

She remembers her training.

She focuses.

Physically Maura looks fine, unharmed, perfect in fact.

Her hair looks like it was only recently done up in the way she does it for wandering around at home, a loose bun with wisps of hair hanging down her by face framing it gently. The same hairstyle she often wears with a dress. Maura doesn't ever do casual well. And her lips shimmer with recently applied gloss. Her clothes aren't tousled or torn. Her skin is soft and flawless. No bruises or scratches.

Apart from reddened eyes from crying she looks absolutely perfect.

"How come you always look like you're on a photo shoot?" Jane whispers to herself.

"What?" Maura replies with a frown.

"Nothing. I can't come to you?"

Maura shakes her head no.

"You're ok."

It's more a mental checklist than a question but Maura nods anyway.

"I'm sorry."

It slipped out. It is on her checklist but was rather near the end. One word that her brain manages to repeat a billion times in the next second before she pushes it back down to where it belongs...for later.

Maura shakes her head as if it doesn't matter, "I think the chair is rigged with something. And there are things around the room."

"What sort of things?"

Maura shrugs softly and frowns, "I don't know. Sensors or something. They were doing something under the highboy, the vargueno and the tabouret."

"Huh?"

"Pieces of furniture Jane."

"Oh. Right. I really want to come to you." Jane clenches her fists tighter to control herself.

Maura shakes her head again, "Jane...it is better you don't. We don't know...it could be dangerous."

Jane runs her hands through her hair and forces herself to not rush forward.

"Who did this?"

"I don't know. Jane , I'm so happy to see you. How did you know? Why did you come here?"

"Where are they?"

"I uh...I don't know. I think they left."

"They left? He? She? How many?"

"Just one person, Jane, they never said a word to me. They went out the back a while ago."

Jane glances around the room again taking it all in, everything is in order, no overturned furniture, nothing broken, nothing out of the ordinary.

"What did they look like, what did they want?"

"They didn't say." Maura whimpers letting a tear slip down her cheek.

Jane dances on the spot again for a moment trying to decide what to do.

"I'll call the bomb squad." She finally decides.

As she pulls her phone out to call BPD it buzzes in her hand with a text message. She takes a deep breath before she opens it to read it.

WELL DONE. YOU NOW HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO TELL DR ISLES THE REASON YOU DID THIS TO HER.

"Crap." Jane swears out loud.

A sound behind her startles her and she turns quickly pulling her gun to position quickly. But it is only the already open front door swinging against the doorstop in the wind.

"Maur." Jane breathes in partial relief turning back to her friend. Maura looks as worried as Jane feels.

"Sorry." Jane says putting her gun away and her phone in her back pocket.

"You aren't calling for help?" Maura frowns.

"I'm not sure I can." Jane replies softly.

Maura frowns deeply before beginning to struggle in the chair, pulling against the ropes.

"Maur-, don't struggle. I'm gonna get you out of there."

Maura stops and looks at Jane desperately, "Great...thanks. Would you hurry please?"

The hint of sarcasm doesn't escape Jane's ears.

"Maur, would you forgive me if I did something stupid?"

"Is this really the time for a conversation Jane?"

"Yes Maura. It has to be now."

Maura sighs and slumps in the chair, "Don't I always forgive you for all the stupid things you do."

Jane clenches her jaw tightly and looks away at the floor, "Would you forgive me if I had lied to you?"

Maura frowns, "What is wrong Jane? What's going on?"

Jane steps forward a half step, "Just go with me on this Maur."

Maura shakes her head side to side, "Jane. I don't understand."

"One more minute Maur. You will."

"Don't I always forgive you? I don't think it would be possible for me not to"

Jane half smiles and nods, "You always do...I really don't deserve you as a friend."

"You know that's not true Jane. You are a wonderful, caring, sweet friend. You are my best friend. Now please do something...get me out of here."

Jane shakes her head. She wants to yell and scream. She want cry and beg for forgiveness.

She doesn't know what they know but she also doesn't know what will happen if she lies to Maura. But she can't imagine it will be good.

"This is so wrong and so messed up."

"What?"

Jane looks up and presses her lips together, now she is saying her mental screwed up thoughts out loud.

"I ...I mean this..."

Maura shakes her head seeming to disagree with whatever Jane is failing to say.

Why is this so hard Jane wonders. Why is this what the person on the other end of the phone wants her to do. This person isn't asking her to say what she did but only why.

Jane clears her throat.

"What is it Jane?"

The voice like melted honey, so sweet and soft it could melt ice. A voice she could fall asleep listening too and dream of waking up to hear it again. A voice that she might never hear again if she tells the truth...but if she lies...then what...

"I have something to tell you...I...um...I really like hanging out with you."

Maura raises her eyebrows, "Is that all?"

Jane takes a breath and looks up, "Not exactly...I think...I mean...Oh shit" Jane pauses and blinks a few times, her chest is tight and burns, she is wondering if this is the beginning of another panic attack, "I can't do this."

"Jane...please don't panic...you can do it...you can."

"I don't have long...I...I..."

"Jane...you can tell me anything."

Jane looks straight into those soft pools of deep ocean, they almost calm her, "I really can't..."

"Jane." Melted butter and sweet honey, "You have to. You know you do. And you can. You can and it will be ok."

Jane nods then she starts to shake her head. Her brain tells her to run, that fight or flight thing happening to her again.

Maura whispers "I promise that whatever you have to say is safe with me. I promise."

Jane shakes her head, denial.

"How can I Maura...how can I honestly tell you that I'm falling in love with you."

Silence.

Long silence.

Jane can feel the air turn tense around her. And tight.

Maura looks stunned, confused, shocked. Her mouth opens partially and moves without words coming out.

"I...I am in love with you." Jane repeats softly finding it easier to say than she had expected.

Maura blinks back at her, mouth still flapping like a fish.

Jane holds her breath and presses her lips together tightly.

"What?" Maura finally manages.

Jane distorts her features into a soft confused hopeful frown, "I love you."

Maura's voice is full of emotion, perhaps fear, "Did you just say..."

Jane ignores Maura and looks around the room and growls, "Is that it? That what you wanted you sick jerk? That's why I did it...all of it. OK. Now let her go. It's over. You got what you wanted."

Maura continues to stare at her, eyes wide.

Jane turns on the spot looking for a sign, an ending, anything.

Just silence.

"No actually...That isn't why I did it..." Jane is on a rant now, the shedding of guilt a relief to her like heavy layers vanishing into thin air, each moment lighter than the one before it. She yells it at all the walls of Maura's house before turning back to face Maura, "It was a joke...It started as a joke. You know I do stupid things...and you...you..." Jane points a shaky accusatory finger at Maura, "You are so gullible...so damn...sweet..." Jane pulls a sour face of disapproval mixed with compassion, "...I love that about you...but you'd believe anything. You'd believe some jerk was after me. You'd believe that I was under surveillance for my own protection. You'd believe that you were needed to save me. I hate that. I hate needing you. But the crazy thing is I do need you. I do...I didn't before but now I do. And it might have started as a joke...as me doing something stupid to see what you would believe...then how far I could go and how long I could get away with it...but you...you are so damn beautiful and kind and and and wonderful...so much not like me at all. You are the opposite of me. Ridiculous and funny and smart and...everything...and I couldn't let you go. I had to have you. I didn't want it to stop. And it turned into this. This thing. Ok. I didn't know...I didn't expect it...and I'm not sorry. I'm not. I love you...I can't help it. I couldn't help it...I...I didn't know that you...you...you could do this to me. You did this to me."

Maura frowns deeply, "Are you blaming me for this? Are you seriously going to make this my fault?"

Jane takes another step closer shaking her head no, "Yes. No. Yes." A heavy sigh, "Maybe."

Maura raises her eyebrows, "You loving me is my fault?"

A pause.

"I had already told you everything Maur. I already confessed once. After we kissed. I told you everything and you didn't remember...you forgot it. Maybe you had to...maybe you wanted to. I don't know but you did forget. You forgot I loved you once already. And that hurt me and scared me and so here I am making myself vulnerable all over again...to you...because of you..."

"You started this Jane. You lied to me Jane. You tricked me, you made me into a fool. I didn't mean to forget anything. I didn't know what was happening. You made me worry about you...you know I hate having to worry about you."

Jane bites her lower lip as she half scowls at Maura, "I know. You're right."

Maura huffs loudly and then whispers, "I should be so mad at you."

"I know. You should be." Jane whispers, "I'm sorry."

Maura takes a breath that lifts her chest before it drops again, "Are you? For what?"

Jane glances around the room searching for an answer, "For...upsetting you...and...lying to you...and making you mad...and being an idiot..."

"I'm not mad Jane. I should be but I'm not."

"Then for all the other things."

Maura thinks for a moment before looking up, frowning, questioning, "That's why you wanted me to kiss you?"

"What?" Jane's heart beats double time, "No...No I didn't do that...No. I was as surprised as you by that...Frankie did that, Frankie sent that text. I respect you too much to violate you like that. I love you but i'd never do that."

The kiss feels so small compared to the rest of the picture yet the memory of it causes her palms to sweat and her heart to race.

Maura's eyes search Jane's, "That's why you did this?"

Jane shakes her head defensively, "This? I didn't do this, I didn't have someone tie you up. I wouldn't..."

"I know Jane."

"...I didn't want to tell you how I felt but I wouldn't ever want to- scare you."

"But you did scare me Jane...I was terrified someone would hurt you."

Jane nods sadly, "I am definitely sorry for that Maur."

"But not for the rest of it?"

Jane shrugs weakly, "In a way, of course. Yes. But...now you know everything...I'm kind of glad."

"Glad." Maura articulates as if weighting the word on her tongue. "You are glad."

Jane steps forward again before becoming aware she was only a few feet away from Maura. She frowns as she looks around. Something isn't as it seems.

"I kind of expected you to be more upset at me Maura. More...something."

Jane takes the final step and squats down in front of Maura.

"I am tied up Jane...there isn't a lot 'more' I can be in my current situation."

Jane doesn't move to untie Maura. She squints slightly at her friend as she studies her at this very close distance.

Perfect makeup. Twinkle in her eye. Ropes loose enough to practically fall off. A cushion behind her back just like she likes it.

"Aren't you going to untie me Jane?"

Jane smirks slightly eyeing the ropes inquisitively, "Oh...you need help?"

Maura nods and pouts just a little.

"It appears a toddler tied you up. I'm sure you could wiggle free if you really wanted."

Maura sighs, "Well...what if the chair is on a pressure sensor? what if there are explosives underneath?"

"Hmmm explosives huh?" Jane pretends to glance around the chair before staring at Maura again, "I don't see anything dangerous Maur. Have you personally misplaced any explosives? Did you steal some C4 from the lab and bring it here?"

"No." Maura says dryly with a swallow.

Jane licks her lips slowly and leans closer, "Then I think you are fine Maura."

Maura smiles sweetly, feigning innocence, then she lets go of the ends of the ropes she has been holding tightly and they start to slip off her shoulders.

Jane reaches out and clutches the ropes tightly, holding them so they don't fall away and release Maura from them. Tugging them slightly to keep Maura gently bound.

There is a clunk on the floor and Jane can see a phone has dropped to the floor. The phone Maura texted her from.

"You dropped something?" Jane says with a raised eyebrow.

Maura shakes her head and whispers, "No."

"You scared me. You know that don't you?"

Maura nods, "I could tell. I am a doctor."

"You did all this by yourself?"

Maura nods looking slightly chuffed at herself for the successful effort.

"Why?"

Maura closes her eyes and sighs, "I'm sorry. I had to know. I couldn't understand why you would do it. I had to understand what you were doing and you wouldn't just tell me."

"When did you know Maur?"

"I saw the phone in pieces on your coffee table amongst the beer bottles. The same phone."

Jane chews her lip, "That's why you left. I know I shouldn't have done that to you. I...I am so so sorry."

Maura nods accepting the apology, "Next time, just tell me."

Jane leans closer, "I didn't know myself at the time. But now you know why. Now you know."

"I do."

"And?"

"You love me."

"Yes."

"I need you to do something for me Jane."

"Anything." Jane whispers and her heart flutters with the word.

"One wasn't enough for me."

Jane blinks, "One what?'

"I thought you must have hated it."

Maura studies Jane's face cautiously and curiously.

"Hated what Maur?"

Maura smiles showing those adorable dimples that make Jane forget where she is.

"The kiss." Maura whispers and lets her eyelids droop seductively.

"Ohhhh." Jane whispers breathlessly, "I didn't hate it. I got scared. But...I loved it."

"Do it again?"

"Anytime." Jane offers with a twinkle in her eye.

"Anytime I ask?"

"Yes Maur."

"Now. Now will do perfectly." Maura says leaning as far forward as she can before the ropes are too tight. Her lips inches from Jane's.

Jane smiles and drops the ropes so her hands are free to slide, one through Maura's hair and the other behind her neck. Their lips touch gently.

Jane can feel Maura smile against her lips and once her arms are free of the ropes she wraps them around Jane and kisses her deeply.

Soft. Deep. Warm. Breathless. Long.

Like last time.

Teeth graze lips and noses bump occasionally. Hands fumble and hair tickles.

A giggle and a groan and many other things felt and forgotten and felt again.

Until they are left panting and happy. Both of them.

Satisfied and wanting.

Blushing and ecstatic.

Studying and smiling.

A long gaze that speaks a million words they have said to each other before, except for three exceptional words they are both thinking.

Finally Maura can speak again, "I love you too, Jane."

Jane smiles, "Me too."

"Don't prank me again." Maura adds with a serious look that almost makes Jane laugh.

"I won't." Jane promises as she strokes Maura's cheek with the back of her hand.

"I won't prank you again either."

"Good." Jane whispers against Maura's cheek, "Because if anyone knew what just happened then I would be demoted. Terrible detective skills on my part."

"You were acting on emotion Jane."

"That is the exact excuse that will solidify my position on the force." Jane says sarcastically and Maura laughs.

A moments silence passes between them while their fingers gently touch each others skin. Jane kisses all those exposed places she spent years looking at. Earlobe, neck, temple, chin, shoulder, cheek.

"Again." Maura finally demands softly.

Jane pulls away to look at Maura. A serious expression meets hers and she smirks as she starts to lean into another kiss, and just as their lips are about to touch Jane's phone buzzes.

"That's not you texting me?" Jane whispers, her breath tickling Maura's face.

Maura chuckles, "No. Absolutely not."

"Maybe I should read it."

"Maybe you shouldn't."

"It could be important."

Maura shakes her head, "I doubt it."

"Maybe it's someone wanting to hang out with me...wanting go to a ball game or something."

"You won't have time."

"I could find time."

"I will be coming with you. Wherever you go."

"What if it's another girl...three's a crowd."

"Jane?"

"Yes Maur?"

"I think you should shut up and kiss me."

"Maybe you're right" Jane says with a cheeky smirk.

"I am always right." Maura whispers as she pulls Jane to her forcing Jane to kiss her deeply.

And Jane couldn't care less if no one ever texted her again.

THE END