The wind is fierce, blowing like a runaway freight train outside Jane's window. There is nothing as lonely as a hotel room on a traditionally family heavy holiday like Thanksgiving. The snow outside has begun to melt as the air has warmed with a high pressure system. The snow has turned into a bitter, cold rain. Jane sits on the edge of her firm hotel mattress. She feels heavy from the day. She should feel overjoyed at how happy her loved ones are, but she is consumed by misery.
She leans against the counter, as her mother scours Thanksgiving dishes. Everyone is so happy, and full of life. Tommy, and Frankie elbow each other in the ribs as they grouch about the game. Maura sits at the dining room table watching her ships sinks as T.J. grins, and giggles from the other side of table.
"I can't believe you sunk another one," Maura feigns disappointment.
Near the edge of the living room Nina sits in a rocking chair quietly getting her baby fix, as Paisley, and Parker sleep in her arms. The warm fuzzy feelings shoot right past Jane. She is overcome by an incredible sense of longing. Not just longing for her family, but longing for something…. She pushes the thought from her mind. Angela is not oblivious to Jane's hollow facial expression.
"What's on your mind?" She asks casually.
Jane quickly snaps out of it, and put on her game face. "Sorry, I was just thinking about a tough case," she fibs.
When she awakens in the morning her hands ache. She doesn't need to stumble to the window to know that the air is thick, and heavy with barometric pressure. The sonorous sound coming from nearby suddenly makes her feel overly alert. She opens her eyes, and finds a pajama-clad Angela in her bed. She instantly regrets leaving her phone on the kitchen island while in the bathroom. Jane gently kicks her mother.
"I haven't slept in two months, let me be," Angela growls.
"How did you get in here?"
"I told the truth."
"That you are my totally crazy, over-protective mother, who knows no boundaries?"
"And that if they didn't let me in your room you would die without out your epi-pen that you need for your life-threatening allergies. I told them your death would be on them."
"MA!"
"Shh!"
"Who is helping Maura with the babies?"
"Nina, and Frankie."
"You have totally crossed the line."
Angela sits up in bed. She gently caresses her only daughter's face with her hand.
"What choice did I have? You ran like a bat out of hell. I am worried about you."
"Ma, there is…"
Angela cuts her off, "Don't patronize me. I am your mother. I know when there is something wrong with my child. For months, and months I have been worrying sick about you."
"I have been busy," Jane insists.
"You have been busy avoiding us. What is going on with you?"
"Ma, I can't do this. Please for once in my life just respect me telling you that I can't talk about this."
"I will respect it, for now," she agrees.
"Can we talk about anything other than me, please?"
"What do you want to talk about?"
"Literally anything else. Maura seems… out of character."
"Suddenly waking up one morning with two newborns that you are responsible for tends to do that."
"Is she handling everything okay? She was saying something about being hungover the morning that the twins were born."
"What do you expect? Her life was about to change drastically, and her best friend is missing in action."
"I know. I am going to make an effort to be a better friend."
"I have just the ticket," Angela offers.
Jane furrows her brow, and waits for her mother to share an utterly ridiculous plan.
"I'm listening," Jane responds. As she sits there with her mother, for a moment in time all of the baggage that she has been carrying around shifts a little closer to the back burner, at least temporarily.
"I am fairly certain that she is unaware that she had a fling with one of her colleagues."
"What?! Ma! What the hell are you talking about?"
"When I got to her house the morning that the twins were born as I was coming up the street Kent's car was pulling out of her driveway."
"Maybe he is the one who brought her home," Jane suggests.
"I'm sure that he did, if you know what I mean."
"Ma! It doesn't mean anything happened between them," Jane argues.
"I would disagree."
"Based on fact, or fiction?"
"She's pregnant."
"What?! No, she's not. I think that she would have mentioned that," Jane counters.
"She doesn't know."
"What do you mean, she doesn't know? How could she not know?! This is quite a tale your spinning."
"Sleep deprivation takes a toll on you after a while."
"You are just messing with me, right?"
"No."
Jane soon finds herself barging into Maura's bedroom. Maura is securely tucked under her covers. It is her first full night of sleep in months. Frankie, and Nina have graciously taken the nightshift. Her mere presence disturbs Maura's force field enough to arouse her from her slumber. She rolls onto her side as Jane approaches the edge of the bed. Maura rubs her eyes.
"Are you okay? You seem troubled."
"I could ask you the same."
"I am merely suffering from lack of adequate sleep."
Jane furrows her brow, "What is your level of certainty on that?"
"I assumed you were returning to D.C. this morning," Maura admits.
"I assume nothing," Jane responds.
"I am beyond thrilled that you are still here, but I do find myself questioning your current presence in my bedroom."
Jane carefully takes a seat on the bed.
"I woke up and found my mother in mine," Jane reveals.
"She hasn't had much sleep, either."
"She has some outlandish tale about your out of character behavior on the eve of your transition into motherhood."
"Your mother has more theories than a well-seasoned detective."
"Maura, this is me you're talking to."
"Is it? You haven't smiled once since you've returned. I know that you are physically present. I can't help but feel as if my best friend is still notably absent."
"I am deeply sorry that I haven't been the caliber of friend that is required for such a dramatic change in life trajectory."
"You left Boston, and it was as if you were written out of the story entirely."
"You're angry with me?"
"Jane, I'm just hurt."
"Which is why you drank too much the night you initiated maternity leave?"
