The characters do not belong to us.

Chapter Thirteen

When they got outside, Maura realized she had no idea where they were going. "What hotel are you staying in? Knowing my mother, it's got to be fancy."

"There," Jane pointed to a high rise near the hospital. "You know Hope too well."

In the hospital room, Hope was little concerned with luxury as she watched over her sleeping daughter. She didn't feel comfortable saying anything to Maura about how frightened she had been to walk into Constance's estate and see her daughter clinically dead on the floor. She didn't want to create more guilt in Maura than she already had for a situation out of her control, but that didn't mean it was any less of a trauma for Hope.

Leaning forward, she touched Sasha's hand occasionally to reassure herself that it was still warm. Her daughter was truly alive. Hope teared up when she felt secure that she was all alone and uninterrupted.

"Get ready for bed and then I have something to show you," Jane said once they reached the hotel.

Maura nodded tiredly. "I hope it's a picture of Kaylee. I didn't want to upset Sasha, but I need to be with her-with Kaylee. She probably hates me."

"She doesn't hate you, Maura. That little girl thinks you hung the moon. But I have something else to show you. Now go. Get ready for bed."

Maura washed her face, brushed her teeth and changed into pajamas at record speed. She couldn't wait to see what Jane had in store for her. She bounded into the bedroom like a child on Christmas morning.

Jane was already clad in PJ's and lying on the huge four poster bed, iPad in hand. She smiled and helped Maura up.

"It's not all that special, but it's good to see you smiling."

Maura snuggled close to Jane. "Show me," she said softly. "I need something good."

"Okay." Jane opened the iPad and tapped on the screen. An app Maura had never seen before popped up. "Sasha needs you. You both need to feel connected but you have Kaylee, you want to see Kate and you can't be lying in bed with her every waking moment of the day. So I figure to save minutes on your phone, you could keep track with this app. It's like a walkie talkie." She put the iPad in Maura's lap.

"Wow," Maura said. "It's just like that. You just push this button and talk then send."

Jane nodded, grinning.

"Thank you, Jane!" Maura threw her arms around her friend.

"I just want you home, Maura. I miss you. Even when you were there you weren't-you."

"I know," Maura whispered but did not let go. Instead, she held on tighter. "I'm back now. I'm me. And soon we'll be a team again. I thought I would be okay not working, but I miss it. I miss you."

"Then maybe you need to reconsider this leave of absence thing," Jane said.

Maura thought it over. "Yes. But I could use the time to get settled in with Kaylee, Sasha and Kate. It would be harder to juggle all of that with work than to wait and have things in tow."

Jane agreed. "I see your point, Maur."

Maura snuggled under the covers and with Jane by her side fell asleep instantly. She awoke to Jane's side of the bed empty and rain pelting the windows.

"Wake up, sleepy head," Jane said, coming into the room. "Your mother is on the phone. We need to leave soon. Sasha slept through the night but is asking for you." Jane held out the phone.

Maura took the phone and put it to her ear. "Mom?"

"Good morning, sweetheart. Sasha wants to talk to you."

Maura settled against the pillows. "Hey, pretty girl. You sleep okay? I have a surprise for you."

"What is the surprise?" Sasha asked Maura.

"It wouldn't be a surprise if I told you. I'll be there soon. No tears, okay? I'm coming. I love you." It took work to press the end button and pass the phone to Jane. "I can't stand to see her upset. Not just because it's fatal, but because she's my sister."

"I know. It's because you care." Jane pulled Maura to a sitting position. "Get dressed and we'll give Sasha her surprise."

Within minutes, Jane and Maura were at the hospital and were giving Sasha her surprise.

Sasha got teary as she looked at the new feature. "Then I can hear your voice whenever I need to?"

"Yes!" Maura responded.

"Thank you so much!"

"Thank Jane. She found it," Maura explained.

Sasha threw her arms around Jane. "What this means is something I can't explain in words," she said tearfully.

Jane wiped a stray tear of her own away.

Hope was smiling from ear to ear. "Well, then, it's time to board a plane, girls."

Sasha remained calm as they boarded the plane, all smiles and laughter. It wasn't until the medic put the belt around her waist to keep her in place did she start to panic.

"No. No. Please. No. Not again." Tears ran down her cheeks as she tried to fight the medic.

"Sasha, look at me. Look at me, pretty girl." Maura was direct but gentle. She gripped Sasha's hands. "You're okay. You're safe and we're all right here. You're not alone." She cupped Sasha's cheeks, wiping away the tears.

Hope joined her and held Sasha's hands in her own. "The belt is for safety, honey."

"You sure?" Sasha asked softly.

"We're sure," Maura answered. "You want to sleep? It's a long flight."

Sasha nodded. "Yes. I can't-"

"I know. Shh. I know. We'll give it to you shortly, okay? Mom's discharging you."

Hope went back to her medical bag and prepared the syringe to help her daughter sleep. As soon as she had injected it into Sasha's IV, her eyes fluttered closed and a peaceful look fell upon her face. Maura sighed with relief.

"I didn't think she'd be up for the length of the flight," Maura whispered. She stroked Sasha's face as she spoke.

Hope wrapped her arm around Maura. "She'll wake up about the time we'll arrive in Boston," Hope said and kissed Maura's forehead. "I'm so glad you're okay."

"We all are," Jane said, coming to stand on Maura's other side. "The next time we come here, it'll be for fun."

Maura nodded but said nothing, her throat thick with tears.

They passed the time mostly in silence as the plane neared Boston. Jane had promised to call Barry the moment they landed so he could be on hand at the brownstone to welcome Sasha home. As she looked out the window and saw the familiar sights of home, Jane realized how much she'd missed the day to day normalcy that had been lacking for so long. Even before the sudden trip to England, things had not been they way they should be for a while. She hoped this could change soon. Even if Maura chose not to return to work until her leave of absence was up in order to get used to her new responsibilities, things could start to calm down again.

A hand rested on her cheek and she willed her eyes to open. Instead of Maura staring down at her, it was Berry.

"You're here," Sasha whispered but was cut off by Barry's lips on hers. She allowed Barry to lift her off the stretcher and carry her to the car. But she did not miss the look Barry shot at Maura. "Hey, look at me," she said and when she had his attention, she said, "Maura is not to blame. She feels bad enough. Don't make her feel worse. I need her here as much as I need you."

Barry looked at Maura with compassion. "Ok," he murmured to Sasha. "I understand. It's just that... I thought you were dead. I thought I'd never see you again. I thought our future was over. It's been so lonely without you," he nearly choked on the words.

"I'm not going anywhere. Our future is beginning. Now, please take me home."

Sitting up was painful, but Sasha did not want to arrive home in an ambulance. The ride felt like an eternity, but the moment they were at the house Barry carried Sasha to her bedroom, laying her gently on the bed.

"Kaylee!" Maura's voice came from the hallway and Sasha grinned. "Mommy missed you so much, sweet girl." Maura's voice caught and she appeared in the doorway. "Give Aunt Sasha a kiss, sweet girl. Give her a kiss."

Kaylee gave Sasha several kisses and giggled with glee at the presence of her aunt.

Hope walked in and sat in the bed beside Sasha. "We can give you a bath tomorrow, sweetie. I'm sure you're tired after the flight. Once you've reunited with this cutie here, you need up get to sleep now." She picked up Kaylee and gave her a hug.

Sasha nodded and blinked hazily as her body began to give into the need for sleep. Her mother made sure that both the nasal cannula and IV were properly in place before exiting the room.

Barry lingered for a few moments to watch his fiancée as she slept. He still could not believe that she was back. Smiling at the memory of her declaration of their future starting now, he squeezed her hand gently and kissed it tenderly. "Good night to you, my sweet love."

Maura sat on the couch with Kaylee. She couldn't look Barry in the eye. In her mental state she'd nearly killed her sister and the woman he loved. She'd run from her daughter, her niece, her cousin.

Barry spoke first. "I'm not upset with you, Maura," he said.

Maura sighed with disbelief. "Why wouldn't you be?"

"The serum made you into a different woman. Evidence doesn't lie," Barry explained.

"But Sasha could have died because of me. She actually was dead in the clinical sense. If Hope hadn't done CPR both here and in England, she would not have come home. Her heart stopped, Barry, twice because of me."

"Because of your-Paddy Doyle. Because of the government. Not because of you. I hope you can see this one day, Maura." He kissed her on the cheek and gave Kaylee a hug. "I'll be back first thing tomorrow."

Maura nodded but did not take her eyes off Kaylee, who slept in her arms. "My sweet girl. I'll never leave again. Never."

The rest of the night was fitful for Maura. She tossed and turned, got in Sasha's bed and tossed and turned more.

"You're worse than Anna," Sasha mumbled sleepily. "You okay?"

"No. I'm not okay. But go to sleep. I'm sorry I woke you."

"It's ok," Sasha murmured. "I want to help. Tired of being useless."

"I feel like I'm drowning. I know what happened wasn't my fault but I can't help but feel the guilt pressing in on me."

It was Sasha's turn to comfort Maura. She said nothing but let Maura cry as she stroked her hair.

They both fell asleep after many tears and comforting words. The morning sun filtered in the window, but due to the jet lag and medication, they did not wake for several hours. When they finally did, Sasha was beyond relief at being home. She even permitted Hope to add a second IV line without complaint. No one was holding her against her will. She was home and she was free. This meant everything that words could not declare. Sasha just wanted to be here and help those she loved most.