Sorry this epilogue has taken so long. You wanted a final chapter...what happens to Casey...Jane and Maura. Well...I hope this works and that the wait was worth it.
It's my new years gift to you.
I do have a slight short term memory problem, and I haven't re-read the entire story to make sure this all fits and isn't contradictory...let me know if there are problems with it fitting. Luckily I wrote most of it shortly after completing it. I wanted to post it before another month vanished even though it's not perfect. Also I know that those events don't work exactly like I have written...but hey...it's a story. (Don't hate me.)
EPILOGUE
Maura slides down the wall, her back to it, legs bent at the knees holding her from falling on either side. She buries her face in her hands letting her hair fall down the sides of her face. Jane kneels down between Maura's knee's, reaching out to take Maura's hands to comfort her.
"No" Maura mumbles, fighting off Jane's hands with one of her own. Jane can see the letter in her other hand. It's a letter with the date, time and location of Casey's hearing and inquiry if Maura or Jane wished to attend.
Jane sits back on her feet and stares sadly at her distraught girlfriend whose shoulders shake occasionally.
"Maura." She whispers feebly, feeling her own eyes becoming wet.
She reaches out again, and inches from Maura's face Maura flaps her arm around to fight off her friends comfort.
"Leave me alone Jane." The voice is broken and the tone fluctuates
"Please Maura." Jane begs her voice quiet and weak and already breaking.
Maura moves her hands and looks up into her friends worried face, "No. Don't cry Jane please."
"I can't help it Maur. Seeing you like this. I can't stop."
Maura sniffs and hides her face in her elbow wrapping her hand around her head, "I'm sorry. Just...I wanted to forget...we have been so happy. Then I remember that...he...he wanted to hurt you...us. That I almost lost you."
"I know sweetheart. I know it hurts...but I'm here. I'm ok. I'm here for you."
"Jane. I don't w-want to burden you...you went through enough."
"No Maur-, don't think like that. You could never burden me. I want you to let me in."
Maura half nods and half shakes her head, her curls bobbing around. Jane reaches out her hands and places them on either side of Maura's face and leans in to kiss Maura's cheek. Maura reaches up and puts her arms around Jane's neck.
"I just don't understand Jane. I don't know how people can be like that."
Jane reaches out and takes Maura's hands gently and Maura lets her.
"I don't know either. I guess their head just gets messed up."
"That's not a very scientific answer Jane."
"Let me see it?"
Maura lets her grip loose on the semi crumpled papers, just enough so Jane can pull them out of her hands. Then she sits beside Maura, back to the wall, one arm wrapped around her best friend. The hearing is set for a little over a month away. It has been five months since the incident. Casey had once told her that the military courts were fast, yet thorough. It still felt like it happened only a few short weeks ago. Sergeant Max Forester had told her that there would be little mercy shown, something about civilians as victims and the purpose of training to serve country and countryman. He had been especially good when there was talk that the hearing could be transferred to the civil courts, promising it would never happen, and it didn't. That would have taken years, and it would be nice for both of them if it was all behind them, so they could really move on towards a future.
"I can't go. I can't see him again." Maura mumbles under her breath.
"I know." Jane replies with a squeeze of Maura's shoulder, "You won't ever see him again. I promise."
Maura dries her eyes with the back of her hand and watches Jane read, dark eyes scanning black print, eyes darker than usual. Maura watches the pulse pound in Jane's neck, harder than usual. The telltale signs of a clenched jaw, tightened neck and deep hard dimples. And after a moment of silence Jane starts to chew on her lip, like she is physically mulling over the information.
"You're going aren't you?"
Jane turns quickly, only just realizing how obvious she has been, "No...not if you don't want me too."
Maura forces a weak smile, which looks somewhat adorable with running mascara and a red nose, "If it brings you closure to go...then you should go."
Jane studies Maura intently, looking for micro expressions into how Maura really feels about the situation.
"I remember when you had to go see Hoyt after he was in prison Jane, You're so strong...it isn't a matter of if you can go, or even how I feel about it...It's about you Jane...if it helps you...us...move on from it."
Jane smiles and pulls Maura onto her lap, "I'll think about it. Yeah?"
'Yeah." Maura replies as she leans forward so her lips meet Jane's.
Jane rushes inside, she knows she is already late, she can't be late. The doors banging behind her sending an echo bouncing off the walls getting the attention of half the room, at least fifty people. The other half is too distracted to turn even though they heard her.
It's a large gym but the silence from the crowd is unlike most sporting events held at the local High School. Usually there would be the squealing of rubber shoes and thudding of a ball along with shouts and cheering.
With a few hundred people it's almost uncanny that a pin could drop and everyone would hear it.
Jane gets a mix of odd looks, mostly at how she is dressed, but Jane doesn't care, she is late, more-so than she expected to be, and she just hopes she hasn't missed too much, or all of it.
Jane gets the undivided attention of one person before she realizes she has it. Hazel eyes scrutinizing her outfit from across the room, her crumpled blouse which is untucked on one side hanging over a tight, short pencil skirt that shows how long her legs really are. The way her loose dark hair is messy in a way that adds to her rouge-ness, the glean of sweat on her face from either running or panicking, and the way her dark brown eyes dart around the room anxiously looking for someone she can't see, which somehow makes her hair more wild. And then Jane see's her, see's her Maura at the other end of the hall staring back at her. A subtle smile in her direction. Maura looks stunning. And badass. Her clean soft hair tied back in a ponytail and she wears an outfit that says 'don't mess with me bitch'. Tight black long-sleeved tank top showing off her figure, heavy black boots, and red pleated pants that look like they were custom fitted, and the material glistens a little bit like leather. And when Jane relaxes with relief and smiles, Maura gives her the hugest grin possible.
Jane waves awkwardly and begins to make her way over to an empty seat so she has a better view of the event.
She watches the scene, ten people stand at one end, Maura one of them, red and white bullseye targets at the opposite end, a table behind them covered in knives, and a man with a tie and a microphone wandering amongst them checking on distances and weapons.
She looks back at Maura who give's her a coy smile as if to say 'what has taken your attention away from me', she twirls the knife in her hand deftly around her fingers until she clasps the blade between her finger and her thumb near her ear, then she winks at Jane over the top of the shiny metal.
Jane puts her hand on her heart and gives a non-verbal gasp as though Maura has pierced her heart. With that outfit and that look it might seriously have been possible.
"Maura Isles is up next. The final competitor of the last round." The man's voice comes over the loudspeaker breaking the silence. Jane sighs in relief knowing she might be late but she didn't miss the best part.
"The score Maura has to get from four knives, to be the overall winner and champion is..." Someone in the crowd calls out 'dum dum dum' which earns him a glare from the referee, Jane stifles a laugh.
"Nine points."
Maura nods and picks up the first knife stepping confidently to the line.
"Silence please." The referee says to the already silent crowd.
"First knife throw."
Maura lines herself up and clasps the knife carefully pulling it over her right shoulder, a slight pause before she steps forward while thrusting her arm forward and letting go of the knife, simultaneously releasing a breath and closing her eyes the moment the blade leaves her fingers.
A dull thud of metal entering wood follows as the knife sticks into the target on the white section.
"Three points."
Jane starts to clap and lets out a whoop instantly getting her a second lot of dirty looks but a wonderful smile from Maura. She clasps her hands together and mouths a sorry for anyone still staring at her.
"Silence please," The referee reminds the crowd, and especially Jane, "Second throw Maura."
Maura pulls the knife from the target and walks to the mark, taking a moment she holds the knife slightly differently from the previous position to counter the distance. Janes extent of knowledge of knife throwing competitions is that there are types of throws for each distance. Her knowledge of knife throwing in real life is just one type of throw to disable the assailant. It's nothing like the fencing sport Maura used to do, but knife skills were something she was determined to learn after her abduction, who knew she would be so good at it. Jane has no fear at rich dinner parties anymore...one word and Maura can throw her steak knife at some rude jerk.
Maura throws and closes her eyes again. Watching Maura in training, Jane had asked why she did that. Maura told Jane that, "Once it leaves my hand I have no control over it anymore. If I throw wrong or miss and it's a real life attack, it's over anyway. But I promise if I'm it trouble and have to throw a knife in self-defense, I promise I will keep my eyes open."
Jane always wonders if Maura is imagining Casey is standing where the target is.
"One point."
Jane has wondered a lot of things since Maura's abduction. She wonders how Maura could forgive her for dating a guy that was nuts. For not finding her faster. For not knowing it was Casey.
The hearing had been hard. She had walked through the doors to a young woman sitting in the lobby with a baby boy. Charles Jr looked so much like Casey it took her breath away. She had not forgotten Casey was a father, what she had forgotten was that the girlfriend and child would also be at the hearing. And to her surprise, the woman could only say wonderful things about the man that wanted Jane to suffer and die. But she had not been alone, Korsak sat beside her, snarling like a dog when it was appropriate. He also gave the evidence on the case, detail by painful detail. The abduction, the search, the find. In truth, Casey really had no defence against the evidence stacked up against him, but he did try.
Was it worth going...up until his sentence was read it had not been worth it. But in that moment, her whole world seemed to be righted. Actual justice. Sergeant Max Forester slapped her shoulder as he walked past with a grin, "Didn't I tell ya."
Jane had grabbed her arm and glared at him, "Ouch."
He had merely laughed and put his cap on before shaking Korsak's hand.
The thud of metal on wood brings her back from her thoughts.
"One point. Last throw Maura."
Maura keeps her eyes on Jane as she walks back to her mark looking worried, Jane feigns a smile.
Maura turns and lines up the final throw.
The knife flies through the air and hits the target dead centre.
Jane is out of her seat and charging across the space between them.
The referee steps out of Jane's way and raises his arms, "Five points. A total of fifty three points makes Maura Isles this years champion.
Maura doesn't even have her eyes open before Jane is hugging her waist and has her up in the air twirling her.
"You did it Maur. You won. You beat them all."
Maura tries to see the knife in the target while the room spins, but she knows she doesn't have to see it, the only reward that matters is right in front of her, more excited that she is.
"I think I will go. I...maybe...I want to know why."
Maura strokes Jane's cheek, "Okay."
"You're not mad."
"I'm lying next to you in bed, mostly naked, so happy. And knowing that our whole life is ahead of us and that you will come back to me, how could I be mad."
"Confident aren't we?"
Maura bites her lip in thought before replying, "Honestly, I've had a lot of time to think about it...about if you did go. At first I couldn't stand the thought of it. Just imagining you in the same room as him. Him looking at you. So many hours just to discuss what he did...to you...to me. It made my blood boil."
"Blood doesn't boil."
Maura pulls a face, "I told you that, don't use my own science against me."
Jane grins and then looks serious again so Maura can continue.
"But then I realized that he can only hurt us if I let him, if I dwell on it, keep living it, drowning in it. If I'm not grateful we both survived unharmed. I don't have to let him win. He won't win. Because, in the end, I have you."
"You do have me, getting rid of me is the trick."
Maura leans in to give Jane a soft kiss pulling away far too soon for Jane's liking, indicated by the sad moan that leaves the brunette's lips.
"It doesn't matter if you go, as long as you come back...to me."
"I promise. Can we go back to kissing now?"
"Jane?" Maura says with a hint of annoyance, "You only have one thing on your mind, don't you."
"Yes. You. Kiss me."
"And never mind that the hearing is the day before my competition and there is almost no way you can make it back to Boston in time."
"What?"
"I mean, unless you flew the red-eye, but you hate flying so early in the morning."
"I just don't like mornings...except when I wake up next to you. It's the next day?"
Maura raises an eyebrow, ignoring the romantic sweet comments, as she waits for Jane to answer an impossible question.
"You think I won't fly. Oh I will fly. I will be there Maura."
"Three in the morning."
"Uck."
Maura laughs.
"I will be there Maura. I wouldn't miss."
"It's okay if you do miss it Jane...you'll just have to make it up to me somehow."
"Nuh...You'd like that too much...having one up on me."
Maura laughs again, this time it's relaxed and sweet and truly happy.
"Comehereyou." Jane replies pulling Maura into her arms and laying a kiss on her.
"You're looking at me strangely again Jane." Maura states almost sadly.
They are standing outside the School now, the trophy delivered and the cheering ceased. A cool breeze wafts around them along with the gentle silence.
Jane sighs, "I'm sorry I was late Maur."
"You're hopeless Jane. But it's fine."
"It's like he knew I had somewhere to be today. He was 'detained' before the hearing which means it didn't get started until later yesterday. So it ran late. I didn't even have time to change."
Maura smiles softly, "I know. Or sleep. Korsak called and told me you would be late. I'm just glad you didn't miss the whole thing."
"I'm glad people throwing knives takes so much time."
"So...how did it go?"
"Are you sure you want to talk about this. What if you don't like what you hear?"
"I did look into ancient tribal curses and found one that could reduce his manhood or another that would cause him to be plagued by painful lesions. So that is always a plan B."
"That sounds nice...I think you just want an excuse to wear one of you tribal masks."
"I don't need an excuse to wear them...I just don't have an outfit that works with them."
Jane snickers, "And you won't because that is one thing we aren't ever going shopping for."
"Alright...but...seriously. Are you ok?"
"I'm fine."
"When I looked over at you, sitting there, not watching me like you should have been..."
"Sorry." Jane says tipping her head to look down at the ground.
Maura reaches under Jane's chin and tips her head back to look in her eyes.
"...I saw my girlfriend lost in thought, and I wondered if she was alright, if she was haunted or confused or angry or sad. And before I saw that I hadn't wanted to know, but suddenly I realized that I want to know everything about you. How you feel. Think. Process. And it wasn't about him anymore. It 'isn't' about him anymore. It's about you, it always was. I still find it hard to understand you sometimes...but I want to try."
Jane smiles and shakes her head softly, "That might be the most romantic thing you ever said."
"So tell me...are you alright?"
Jane pulls Maura into a hug and holds her there, "It was strange seeing Casey again, mostly strange not seeing him in his military uniform."
Maura nods against her chest.
Silence follows.
Maura slides her hand up to Jane's warm neck stroking softly, "Jane. Talk to me. I'm listening."
"It was...It was hard...reliving it...and remembering that I almost lost you."
"I'm here. It's ok."
"Hearing him try to defend himself in nonsensical ways. He acted like you didn't matter. That hurting you was just collateral damage. I...I sort of wish I had killed him."
"I'm glad you didn't." Maura whispers in Jane's ear as she moves her head hiding her face in messy scented hair.
"You're nothing like him." Jane's voice murmurs against Maura's skin sending vibrations across her skin.
"I am pleased about that." Maura whispers back
Maura feels Jane smile against her neck, "So I am. But...how did I end up with him? How...why...when I had you all along."
"Shhhh", Maura breathes, "Don't think like that. He was different in the beginning. Things changed, we changed. This isn't your fault."
Maura strokes the nape of Jane's neck in short gentle strokes causing Jane to relax further and sigh in relief.
"When he was talking...I remembered how much I missed you. How deeply I missed you. The physical pain in my chest. How much I feared I wouldn't see you ever again. How devastated I would be. And how I knew If I got you back that I would never wanted to let you out of my sight again."
Maura smiles and kisses Jane's temple.
"I'm here Jane. Everything is ok."
Jane pulls back again, "When they were telling him his punishment, I suddenly didn't care anymore. He didn't matter...doesn't matter..."
"He doesn't matter."
"I want to believe we will be ok, that no-one will come between us again. But I worry that something will. Not Casey...but someone else...something else."
Maura leans in and kisses Jane gently before pulling back.
"And when that happens Jane, we will deal with it together. The way we always have."
They hold each other gently for a long moment.
"You are safe Maur."
"So are you." Is all Maura can reply. She will fight against the hauntings in her dreams and the panic that still rises up now and then as Jane will also resist panicking when Maura doesn't answer the phone immediately or takes an early lunch.
Jane pulls back to look at Maura, her face serious and her eyes wild, "Maur. I promise you. I will never let anyone hurt you ever again."
Maura smiles as she pulls Jane close to hug her again.
"He is not going to experience any sort of freedom for at least eight years. Dishonorable discharge. And they are moving him far away to somewhere very secure."
"Good." Maura whispers.
"I so glad it's over. Also I have something for you." Jane says pulling away to ruffle through her messy bag, eventually pulling out a cylindrical shaped package handing it to Maura.
"A present. What is it?" Maura asks as she turns it in her hands inspecting the wrapping.
Jane gives Maura a mysterious smile, "It is a glass, Maura."
Maura laughs, "A glass. I'm not sure I understand your sarcasm sometimes. You could have just said it's a surprise, open it and find out."
Jane raises her eyebrows at Maura who decides she will just have to open it to find out.
She pulls the bow off and tears the delicate paper away, and she is left with...a glass.
Jane could laugh for weeks at the surprised confused look on Maura's face as she turns it around and around in her hands seemingly to search for the obvious thing she is missing, "A...glass..."
"Yep."
"You got me a glass."
Jane shakes her head chuckling.
"It's an...empty glass."
If Maura could lie she would have smiled and said thank you because it if the proper response. But she can't lie, and because it is an empty drinking vessel and she doesn't understand what it means. It is a simple glass, likely for holding pink lemonade or orange juice, it has etched elliptical waves around the bottom half, most likely to obscure the contents, making it a step above a plain tumbler. There are no markings to indicate it is of any value. She looks up and her eyes meet Jane's sparkling ones. "I don't understand."
Jane places her hands around Maura's hands so she grips the glass tight, "When things were bad for me...really bad, you tried to help with an analogy. You put rocks in a glass and said that the bad stuff in life is like the rocks and it looked like there was no room for anything else. Then you put water in the glass and it filled all the gaps. The water is the good things in life you said. There is always room to fill life with good things. Do you remember what I said?"
Maura nods her eyes a little wet, "You said, What if somebody takes your glass."
"Well...I wanted you to know that my glass is filled with so many good things that I didn't realize I had room for...and no one was able to take my glass from me. And with everything you have been through, I wanted...no...I needed you to know that its all the rocks and stuff that have make life unique and what it is today. What happened to us seemed bad but here we are...together...stronger...because of it"
"My glass is empty?"
Jane smiles bemused, "I didn't have any rocks and you can't wrap water."
Maura smiles back amused.
"It's your glass now anyway Maur. You decide what you put in it. And no one can take it from you. I won't let them."
Maura leans forward and kisses Jane deeply, thankfully, far too overwhelmed with emotion to speak.
END