Maura had woken up that day with a bad feeling in her chest. She couldn't exactly explain the 'why' behind it; there was something that just didn't feel right. Her change in breathing pattern had alerted Jane, who now had her eyes opened and was looking at her worriedly.
"Maur, are you ok? What's the matter? You're breathing funny…"
Maura was trying to call on all the years of yoga and well practiced breathing in an attempt to calm down her abnormally beating heart. "I don't know what's going on, Jane. I woke up with a very odd feeling in my chest. I feel like something's wrong, like something's going to happen."
"Baby, I don't like the sound of that. Maybe you should call your doctor and make an appointment, get in today to see him and have him give you a check-up. I want to make sure you're ok. This has never happened before Maura. Even though you're the healthiest person I know, I still want to make sure you're ok… please?"
"Alright, I'll call him after I'm finished getting ready and set an appointment for later this afternoon. I really don't believe it's anything health related, but I'll do it. Would that make you feel better?"
"Yes, it really would. I want to make absolutely sure there's nothing wrong with you."
Maura kissed Jane's hand that was intertwined with her own. "I love you, you know that?"
"I love you too. Come on, let's get ready. We have a case to solve and things to do!"
Maura had called her doctor's office as the two drove to the precinct, wanting to make sure that Jane was at ease more than anything else. Her appointment was scheduled for 5:15 that afternoon. Jane had told her that she would make room in her schedule to go with her.
The two had breakfast at the café, Angela taking extra care in preparing a balanced, healthy meal for what she considered to be her other daughter. Maura was grateful for the fact that they cared about her health, but she really saw it as unnecessary since she really didn't think there was anything physically wrong with her. Still, she played along so as to not hurt neither Jane's nor Angela's feelings. She and Jane parted at the elevator with a promise to see each other later on in the day.
Before either woman knew it, lunchtime had come around. Neither really wanting to take too long since they'd be taking off, they'd gone down to the café once again only to pick up the order and take it to the morgue for a little more privacy.
Jane was still freaking out and trying her best not to show Maura just how worried she was, but Maura saw right through her anyway and tried to ease her worries.
"Don't worry about this Jane; I'm sure I'm fine. We've just been under so much stress with these cases lately that I think we need a vacation."
"A vacation, huh? I could do with a vacation. God knows I've accumulated enough time to go on one since I'm always here. I don't really think I've taken personal days… I can't remember the last time I actually did."
"Well, it's settled then. When this case is over, we're gone. You and I, a white sandy beach, bikinis and sangrias… what do you say my love?"
"I say that the image of you in a bikini is the best picture I've had in my head all day, and that I wholeheartedly agree." Jane said, reaching in to kiss her girlfriend. "I can't wait to get this case closed! We've been hunting these assholes down for so long now; I think we finally have a chance at catching them this time!"
"I know the murders that we're dealing with, but who are the main suspects? What makes this case so important?"
"It's the heads of the Irish mob; they've run the Boston docks for years. There's been so much bloodshed in the last few years, each with their own unique signature, and each and every time they've manage to evade capture. Not this time though… I think we may just have enough to bring someone in."
"I know that we've been in a relationship for several months now. I know what duty comes with your job, and I would never ask you to change anything about it, you know that right?"
"Yeah… why am I hearing a 'but' in that sentence?"
"I just want you to be careful, Jane. I love you; I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you. Just be careful… please? Do it for us."
"You know I'm always careful baby."
"No, I know you can be reckless. I know that's who you are, and I love you as you are. But just don't be afraid to ask for help, ok?"
"Don't worry Maur, everything will be ok." Jane looked down at her watch. "Crap, I have to go. I told Frost we'd go and do some investigating today, try to get some more evidence. I'll be back in time for the appointment, ok? Just text me the address to your doctor's office and I'll meet you there. I gotta go. I love you, Maur." Jane gave her a quick kiss and hurriedly took off in search of her partner to continue her day.
"I love you too! Be careful, and I'll see you later today." Maura replied at Jane's retreating form.
The rest of the afternoon went quickly for the M.E. She'd decided to catch up on paperwork while she waited for any additional information or for any additional bodies to perform autopsies on. There was always a mountain of paperwork to be done whenever you worked homicide, and her job was no exception.
By the time 4:20 came around, she sent Jane a quick text letting her know the address and telling her that she'd be on her way in half an hour since it was only a 10 minute drive. She wasn't surprised when she didn't receive a reply quickly, assuming she and Frost were in the middle of something important. 5:05 came around to a patiently waiting Maura at the doctor's office. Jane was usually one to run either right on schedule or a couple of minutes late, so she didn't really think much of it. She sent her a text again.
"Jane, my appointment is in a few minutes. Are you still going to be able to come? Let me know. I love you." –M
The bad feeling she'd had all morning returned when she didn't get a reply. Something told her Jane would've replied by now, even if it was just to say she was stuck in the middle of something. After waiting a couple more minutes, she decided to call. It went straight to voicemail. Was Jane's phone off? She dialed Frost, which also went straight to voicemail. Trying to remain calm, she dialed Korsak.
"Detective Korsak, it's Maura."
"Dr. Isles. What can I do for you?"
"Well I'm at an appointment right now and Jane was supposed to meet me here. Do you know if she and Frost got back to the precinct?"
"No, they haven't returned. I actually haven't heard from them all afternoon… I'm sure they just got caught up in something. Have you tried calling them?"
"I tried both their numbers and I'm getting sent straight to voicemail. Vince, I'm worried that something may be wrong…"
"Don't worry Maura. I'll get on the radios and track them down. I'll call you the minute I hear something, ok?"
Knowing that she would probably hear from Jane for it later, Maura left the doctor's office and raced back to the precinct. She couldn't just sit around a doctor's office waiting, she needed to know what had happened to Jane, and she needed an answer fast. She had just managed to catch the end of Vince Korsak's conversation as she ran into the bullpen.
"What do you mean Frost has been shot? Is he alive? Where's Jane?"
She saw his face drain of all color.
"I'm on my way. Put all units out on alert. Find her!" Korsak looked up. "Maura… Jane's … gone… there's no trace of her…"
The last thing Maura saw was Korsak rushing to her side before everything went black.