Chapter 6

We've finally come to the end of our story. I hope you liked it.

"Jane?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

Jane knew it wasn't possible, but she felt as if her whole body were smiling. She hugged Maura tighter and kissed the top of her head. "I love you too Maur."

Jane stood up, and extended her hand to Maura. "Come on."

Maura looked up at Jane, but didn't move.

"Come on, it's OK. Let's get some sleep."

Maura placed her hand in Jane's and allowed the detective to hoist her up. They entered Maura's bedroom, and Jane reached into the nightstand to pull out a pair of pajamas she kept there. Maura watched Jane unbutton her dress shirt, slowly revealing an expanse of olive skin.

Maura swallowed hard as Jane continued to remove her clothing. Suddenly, the doctor's mouth went dry. She turned away and faced the bathroom. Jane noticed and smirked.

"Hey Maur, what's the matter?" Jane bit the inside of her cheek.

"Uh, nothing, uh nothing. I'm, I'm going to uh, finish up in the bathroom."

When Maura emerged, she was wearing a pair of black satin pajamas that hugged her curves. She quickly slipped under the covers and waited for Jane. Jane loosened her ponytail and lay down next to Maura. They were inches apart from one another, and Maura stared intensely at Jane's profile. That lasted several minutes before Jane responded to the look.

Jane rolled over to face Maura. Maura's eyes lit up brightly. She reached up and shifted some curls off of Jane's face. "Jane, will you hold me?"

Jane shattered at the sincere, almost timid request. She shifted on to her back and snaked her arm out. Maura lay on top of it, and Jane pulled her close. Maura nestled her head under Jane's chin. They fit together perfectly like connecting puzzle pieces.

"Night Jane."

"Night Maur."

The next morning, Jane and Maura showed up to work as usual, they made plans for after work. Jane, asked Detective Vines to accompany her to Carmen's apartment.

"Detective, I appreciate your asking me to come with you, but Frost is your partner."

"He wasn't cleared to work on this case until yesterday, he knows nothing about it, and he's out today."

"OK. In that case, I'd be happy to go with you."

The two rode to the apartment where Carmen lived with her husband Ray, and her daughter Daisy. They knocked on the door and announced themselves. A pretty woman in her mid-twenties answered the door. A little girl, about five years old was clinging to her.

The woman acknowledged being Carmen, and reluctantly let the detectives in. She knew they were there to talk about Rik Patterson.

"I thought you would show up eventually; it's a bout Mr. Patterson isn't it?"

Joseph immediately took to the little girl, and began helping her assemble a puzzle that was lying on the floor while Jane talked to Carmen.

Initially, the woman was reluctant to make eye contact, but she felt comfortable with Jane, and finally raised her head. Jane immediately noticed what looked like two handprints on the woman's neck.

"Carmen where's your husband?"

"He's in New York for the entire week. He was assigned there to take his physical therapist's licensure exam."

"Jane pointed to the marks on the woman's neck. "What happened?"

Carmen burst into tears, and struggled to talk. "Mr. Patterson had come home from work early. I had left his father alone for just a minute to put some clothes in the washer. He had spilled his lunch all over his last clean shirt and pants. I had the intercom on, and could here everything that was going on in the apartment."

Jane handed Carmen a nearby box of tissues. "Mr. Patterson, he, he was very upset that I left his father alone. He started yelling at me as I was coming back up the basement stairs. He had a bad temper. I tried to explain that I felt it was safe."

"Let me guess, he wouldn't listen to you." Jane rubbed the woman's arm.

"No he wouldn't. He kept yelling at me, and I tried to move past him on the steps, and get out of the basement. That just made him madder. He grabbed me around the neck and started to squeeze. I begged him to stop, but he just squeezed tighter. The step we were on started to sway. Next thing I knew, Mr. Patterson's father was running down the stairs. Rik let go of my neck and reached for his father. I leaned against the wall trying to catch my breath." Carmen reached for a glass of water, and took a long sip.

"I'm sorry Carmen. What happened next?"

"Mr. Patterson's father, he, pushed him down the stairs and then ran down the rest of the way, just staring at his son lying on the floor. I went to help Rik up, and he kicked me in my shin. I fell to the floor, and Mr. Patterson's dad, Doug, grabbed a cordless nail gun, and he shot Rik in the head."

"Rik died in like a minute. I didn't want Doug to get in trouble. He has dementia; he gets confused really easily, and can't remember anything from one minute to the next; he can't go to jail he just can't. He saved my life. So, I walked him back to his apartment, locked him in, and hid the gun. It's in the closet. Please, my husband he has no idea what happened."

Jane kneeled next to the chair Carmen was sitting in. "It's going to be OK. We'll need you to come down to the station. Is there someone who can watch Daisy?"

"Yes, my mother she's next door; please don't call Ray, he has to pass his exam, it's so important to him please."

"Carmen, you know don't you?"

'My mother? Yes, I know Mr. Patterson was her lawyer. I, I took the job anyway. We needed the money; he didn't know who I was, and I wasn't going to tell him. I don't blame him for what happened to her. She had tried to kill herself many times; once while she was pregnant with me."

Detective Vines brought Daisy to her grandmother while Jane brought Carmen to the car.

Later that night at Jane's apartment, Maura said, "Jane that is so sad. They probably will find that Doug Patterson is incompetent to stand trial. He'll be moved to a facility with better one on one care. What's going to happen to Carmen?"

"We're asking that no charges be filed. She's been through enough; she was protecting someone who protected her; saved her life. I don't want that held against her."

Jane was leaning against her kitchen counter drinking a glass of water. Maura approached her, and placed her hands on tall detective's hips. "You know Jane, you come off as so tough, and I understand that's because you have to, but underneath it all, you are one of the most compassionate, loving human beings I have ever met."

Jane placed her hands on Maura's hips and pulled her closer. "And you Dr. Isles are delusional."

They both laughed. "Seriously Maura, you would have felt the same way, acted the same way."

"I know, but it's reassuring to see those qualities reflected in someone you care about deeply."

"I think you just told me you love me."

Maura's voice deepened, "I did. Now I'm going to show you." Maura inched her body up, and kissed Jane on the lips. She loved how firm Jane's kisses were and marveled at how soft the lips providing them felt. The contrast excited her, and she reached her hand behind Jane's head to deepen the kiss.

Jane tasted the lower portion of Maura's lip with a gentle swipe of her tongue. "God Maura, I want you so much." The detective began to unbutton Maura's blouse when the shorter woman stilled the exploring hands."

Her voice was barely above a whisper. "Jane I want to undress you first. I want to run my hands over the muscles in your back; I want my fingers to memorize every line and every curve of your incredible body." Maura began tugging at Jane's belt buckle.

"God Maur, please let's take it to the bedroom. I can't wait any longer. I want to see you and feel you."

Both stumbled their way to Jane's bedroom, leaving a pile of discarded clothing in their wake.