Hello my sweet readers this is the last Chapter of this story, but there will be an Epilogue to tell you guys what happy after this Chapter. Thank you guys so much for the support in reading my work. I really do appreciate all the follow, favor and reviews to all my stories, but I couldn't made this happen without my Beta reader pyrocopwolf227, even though they are struggling with writers block at the moment, don't give up on them, because they are not done yet. Now on with the show.

Disclaimer: Rizzoli and Isles, DO NOT belong to me, I'm only working with the lovely characters for fun, they belong to Tess Gerritsen and TNT.

Chapter 7:

RIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRI

Maura could not help gasping at Jane's revelation. "You were there?"

Jane nodded as more tears leaked from her eyes. "I was the first officer on scene. A neighbor had called, reporting a domestic disturbance. I didn't know till I got there that it was some crazy S.O.B. strung out on some form of PCP, waving a gun! His wife was screaming, and pleading with him to put it down, and their two little kids were cowering under a table!

"I called for back-up, but I had to do something! So… s-so I tried talking to the guy… H-He said he was going to kill his wife… and I told him to think about his kids! D-Did he truly want them to grow up without th-their mother?

"The guy said: 'Why do I care? They're not my kids.'" The weeping deputy took a ragged breath. "T-Then he… he turned his gun on the girl… li-little Isabella and shot her in the chest! Just like that… as… as if it w-were n-nothing at all!" Jane managed to say through her tears.

"Oh my God!" Maura had had no idea. Why hadn't she told her what had happened? If she'd known, the honey blonde would have made some allowances. Instead she'd been focused solely on her own problems.

"I subdued the guy," the brunette continued. "And then I tried to stop Isabella's bleeding…" She stopped and swallowed thickly. "She died in my arms." Jane finished in a defeated tone.

"And you think this was somehow your fault?" Maura asked gently, through her own tears.

"It WAS my fault, DAMN IT! I didn't know a damn thing about hostage negotiations!" Jane nearly shouted defensively. "I had no business trying to reason with a guy who was high on PCP! All it did was provoke him!"

"You did what you thought was right at the time," Dr. Isles managed in a calm, neutral tone. She couldn't help the automatic reverting to a clinical mindset after sensing severe and repressed mental trauma in the deputy. "No one can say what he might've done if you hadn't talked to him. He could have killed them all… and you, too." That last sentence became too real for Maura. Learning just how close she could've lost her love that fateful day! Plus, compounding it with just now learning of it all and so many of her unanswered questions suddenly being answered. Maura also started becoming concerned of their and other motorists' safety given Jane's current mental and emotional state. Operating a vehicle while crying was hazardous enough but with the cop's release of intense emotional trauma was increasing the threats to their safety vehicle wise.

"That's what the board of inquiry said," the cop responded. "B-But tell that to little Isabella's mother… and… and her brother! All I know is that when I lost her, I felt… No! I AM r-responsible! And I never… NEVER wanted to feel that way again! I never wanted anyone to trust me with a child's life… in ANY capacity! The responsibility is… is jus-just too huge!" Jane cried out with more big tears rolling down her face.

Maura did her best to digest what Jane told her, to put herself in her place. How horrible! What a nightmare to believe you caused the death of a child! No wonder she freaked out!

"I wish I'd known," she finally said. "Maybe I could have helped."

"It's not too late." Jane begged.

The words hung in the air, almost tangible. As the headlights from the opposite lane of traffic rushed by, they illuminated Jane's wet face like a strobe.

"Jane," Maura finally managed in calm tone, "pull over. I need your undivided attention."

The deputy did as she instructed. When they were safely out of traffic, Maura felt she could say what needed to be said. And if she were lucky, Jane would hear what she needed to hear. Plus it would give the brunette some time to get ahold of her emotions. Hopefully when they resumed their journey to the airport, Jane could focus better on her driving.

"Parenthood is all about fear, and doubt, and sometimes sheer terror. While I was pregnant, I literally agonized over every bite of food I put in my body, frightened that I might unwittingly harm the baby growing inside of me. During labor and delivery, I was positive something would go wrong. The first time I held Joseph, I was sure I would crush him. Or breathe some germ onto him and give him a fatal disease. When my doctor cleared us both to go home from the hospital, it was a whole new level of terror. The baby and me, alone? I almost refused to go," Maura told her.

"You must have gotten over it, then," Jane said as she furiously wiped her tearful eyes with her uniform sleeve. "You're as comfortable and natural with that baby as any mother I've ever seen. Once you got over the shock of seeing him in your lap, that is." She managed a slight smile, thinking back on seeing the amnesia-suffering doctor in the hospital.

"That's where you're wrong. I'm still scared all the time. Is he going to fall? Catch a cold? Will I feed him something he's allergic to? Will he get stung by a bee? Is he developing normally? Is there some hidden genetic problem? I might fake it better than you, but I'm still scared too!"

"So, when does it end? When do you get over being scared?" Jane asked, still struggling with her tears.

"From what I hear, you never do."

"How do you… how do we live like that?"

She didn't miss the change of pronoun. Did she dare hope that Jane could embrace her responsibility for Joseph? She'd come all this way to stop her from leaving. That must mean something.

"I can live with the fear," Maura said as she withdrew a handkerchief from her purse and handed it over to Jane. "Every time I hold Joseph, or feed him, or bathe him, or see him smile… I know he's worth any discomfort I have to go through. It was similar to when I was in labor. I thought I was certainly going to die… honestly! I was sure no woman had been through such pain in all of history!"

Jane reached out and briefly caressed the doc's cheek. "I wish I'd been there for you."

"But as soon as I saw him, all red, and wrinkled, and screaming his head off, I didn't care about the pain anymore! He's a miracle. And he's worth any trial, any sacrifice." The doctor glanced over her shoulder. Joseph Lucas, being good baby that he was, continued sleeping peacefully in his car seat.

"You both are," Jane said, wiping her eyes with hankie. "Let me try again? I'll do better. I'll come back to Boston with you. I'll join the force again. And I'll be a better mother… I-I'm teachable."

Lord, how could she turn down that earnest face? Dr. Maura Isles had never seen such a raw need in anyone. "I'll have to think about it. For now, could you just take us to the airport?" Maura simply stated in request. "I need to get home."

Jane Rizzoli didn't argue and maintained her word by pulling back onto the highway, resuming their route for the airport. While there still were a few tears, the doctor could hear the deputy consciously inhaling deeply, and focusing more on her driving. They remained in silence the rest of the way to the airport and Jane pulled her vehicle into a regular parking space.

Helping Dr. Isles with her bag while the honey blonde carried Joseph in his carrier; they made their way inside the building. The deputy stood in line at the ticket counter with Maura and Joseph, all the while looking like she wanted to burst out with an objection and tears.

Maura was afraid to admit to Jane that she was a bundle of indecision. Whatever she did in the next ten minutes would radically influence the rest of her life.

"This line is taking forever," Dr. Isles grumbled. "Will you hold down the fort while I run to the washroom?"

Jane Rizzoli glanced nervously at Joseph, who still dozed in his car seat. Maura could have sworn she noticed Jane gritting her teeth in determination. "Okay," the Harris County Deputy softly spoke.

In the ladies' room, Maura splashed her face with cold water. Her heart was so full of confusing feelings! So much so that she thought it might whirl its way right out of her chest! She loved Jane Rizzoli! That much was certain! She could forgive her deception, since she had only done it because she wanted a chance to win her over. But could they really make a life together? Maura thought.

As she returned to the line at the ticket counter, she saw something that suddenly made her choice incredibly easy. Joseph's car seat was empty and the baby was now in Jane's arms, snuggled up against one shoulder. The tall raven-haired brunette rocked back and forth with him, jiggling slightly, as if she'd been born for motherhood! She was also whispering to the baby; however, Maura couldn't make out what Jane was saying.

Jane looked a little sheepish when she saw the doc approaching. "He started to cry… I'm not sure what he wanted, but…" her voice trailed off.

"He wanted exactly what you gave him!" Maura said, unable to contain her huge smile. They quickly reached the front of the line after a few moments and Dr. Isles went to the next available agent. "I have a reservation, Maura Isles." She stated with a brief pause. "But I'd also like to make another reservation for next week, from Boston to Baytown… one way."

She sneaked a glance at Jane, who appeared shocked. "You're coming back?" The deputy asked surprised.

"I'm going to Boston long enough to pack up my things and tie up a few loose ends. Then I'm coming back here to finish… um, planning my wedding." Maura took her nearest, least occupied hand.

She wasn't about to drag Jane to Boston and make her live there, not now after seeing what life in Baytown, Texas was like. It wouldn't be any big sacrifice for her to live here! Shoot, she wanted to! She'd never felt as relaxed and happy as she had over the past two weeks.

Jane's mouth slowly spread into a grin. She rubbed Joseph's back absently as she looked towards the ticket agent. "Got any more seats on that flight to Boston?" She turned back to Maura. "I'm finally getting to know this little guy. I don't want to say goodbye to him now," Jane confessed, "even for a week!

"Plus, I figure you could use an extra hand in packing?" she added with a slight grin.

Maura felt her heart swelling and leaning into her, they kissed. A couple of other passengers who had heard the exchange applauded.

"Look at you," Maura said when the ticket agent cleared her throat, forcing them to end the kiss. "You've been holding that baby for at least five minutes, and you haven't dropped him even once!"

Jane smiled down at Joseph and switched him to the other shoulder. "Yeah, how about that?"

"It will get easier, Jay." Maura stated, stroking her girlfriend's arm. "I-I promise."

"It already is." Jane smiled at her.

With their tickets in hand, they walked toward security, as a real family for the first time.

RIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRIRI

The End?