A/N: Thank you all for continuing to read this story and for your reviews. Keep reviewing and let me know what you think :) xxxx

Jane couldn't control the tears that came so hard and flowed past her cheeks and down her neck. With both of her hands on Maura's right hand, she kissed it before leaning over to kiss her forehead and lips. Never removing her hand from the skilled and crafted hand of the doctor's, Jane settled back into the chair and allowed sleep to overtake her.

Chapter 4

As a nurse entered the room, Jane groggily woke up to the sound of vitals being checked and IV's being replaced. She looked around to take in her surroundings, realizing that what happened to Maura wasn't a disastrous nightmare. She checks her phone and sees that she had only been asleep for four hours. While that's more than she sometimes gets when she's working an intense case, it is not ideal.

"Good morning. Your friend here is doing well, I'm going to take her to get another MRI in about thirty minutes," the nurse greeted the dazed detective.

"Morning. Does she have more fluid in her brain," although she had just woken up, the reminder of the MRI frightened Jane awake.

The nurse responded with a smile, "I don't think so but she'll have an MRI just to make sure. She was very lucky that she didn't need a decompressive craniectomy".

Jane only returned her answer with a smile. She didn't think that any of this was very lucky at all. She was grateful that Maura was alive but she couldn't shake the feeling of guilt.

Sensing her uncomfort, the nurse attempted to lift Jane's spirits a little. "You know it's going to take at least an hour for us to do Ms. Isles' MRI. I know it's not the most appealing but we have a cafeteria here and they have fresh coffee. You could grab a big cup of it and some breakfast to stretch your legs a little and get out of the room while you can."

Knowing she was trying to make Jane feel better, she smiled, "Thanks, that sounds like a great idea".

After Jane walked around the cafeteria to stretch and get a bite to eat for an hour, she headed back to Maura's room. Her mind couldn't stop racing and all she wanted was to get back to Maura. Her thoughts kept going to what would happen if Maura woke up and Jane wasn't there. Or worse, what is Jane wasn't there and something bad happened to Maura?

Jane rushed back to Maura's room and let out a big sigh when she saw Maura right where she left her. As Jane sat down in her chair, the nurse from earlier came into the room to update Jane.

"Ms. Isles' MRI came back. There hasn't been an increase in fluid or swelling in her brain," the nurse beamed at Jane.

"That's really great, thank you so much," Jane kindly returned. She couldn't stop smiling for the first time since the accident. The nurse left the room and Jane grabbed Maura's hand again, relieved to feel the comfort of her soft hand in Jane's.

"Morning, Maur. So you just had an MRI and you're doing a lot better. In more exciting news, I went to the cafeteria here and I ate a chocolate chip muffin and had some coffee. They were both okay." After a moment's pause she continued, "I miss the coffee at your house".

Jane just stared absent-mindedly at Maura's face while she traced circles on the top of Maura's hand. Her phone began to ring and it snapped her out of her trance.

"Hello?"

"Hey Janie, how's Maura doing," Angela asked, concerned.

"The nurse said she's doing a lot better. There hasn't been any more swelling of her brain. She's not awake though."

"Oh. Well that's good to hear that she's doing better. I was planning on coming by in a few hours, is that okay," Angela didn't want to crowd Jane and Maura's space, especially because the hospital room was quite small.

Jane responded with a smile, "Yeah, Ma. That sounds great, thanks".

After a few more exchanges, Jane hung up the phone and resumed drawing circles on Maura's hand.

Jane? Who is she talking to?

Maura could hear Jane's muffled voice speaking to someone but she couldn't tell exactly what was going on. She tried to speak and move but she realized she couldn't open her mouth or even see.

What's going on?

Maura started to panic. She had no idea what was wrong with her body or even where she was.

A wave of comfort rushed over her when she felt light circles being drawn over and over on her right hand.

Jane.

The comfort of Jane beside her, holding her hand helped Maura jog her memory.

There was an accident. I said goodbye to Jane. But I can hear her, I can feel her.

Something clicked within Maura and she began to have control over her body again.

Jane was lost in her thoughts when she felt something. She could have sworn that she just felt a twitch of Maura's fingers. She snapped back to reality and looked at her hand in Maura's. Nothing. It was just as still as it had been before.

Jane's dark eyes never left Maura's hand and after another minute passed, she finally saw and felt something. There was definitely a finger twitch.

"Maura?"

That beautiful name escaped Jane's lips as a whisper as she silently willed herself to not be imagining this. She gave Maura's hand a light squeeze to let her know she was there. Maura's hand squeezed back and Jane couldn't stop the instinct of tears falling from her eyes.

Warm, hazel eyes opened and immediately searched for warm, brown ones. Jane thought she would never be able to look into Maura's eyes again and her heart instantly started pounding at the sight of home. Looking into Maura's eyes was where she felt the most comfort and safe. It was her home.

With the biggest smile on her face, Jane let out that precious name again with a sigh, "Maura".

"Jane," came the groggy reply. A smile crept across Maura's mouth and tears came to her eyes when she realized Jane was crying.

Jane wasn't sure if Maura's tears were from confusion and fear, but either way she wanted to make Maura understand what was happening.

"There was an accident, Maur. They had to do surgery on your spleen because an artery ruptured. There was swelling and fluid in your brain but they didn't have to do a decompressive craniectomy. The doctors can explain the rest but you're okay."

Jane smiled at Maura and hugged her. Maura had full control over body and so far hadn't seemed to lose any abilites she had before. She hugged Jane back in a tight embrace. "You said that correctly, Jane," Maura laughed out and Jane couldn't help but laugh as well, feeling comforted.

"I love you, Jane," Maura couldn't stop crying at the thought of leaving Jane. She was so happy to still be here, but for some reason she couldn't stop feeling guilty. She couldn't understand how Jane must have felt when Maura told her goodbye. Her heart felt as though it would rip out of her chest at the memory.

"I thought I lost you, Maur. I couldn't do anything. You were hurting and all I could do was just sit there and tell you it was all going to be okay. I should have done something, I should have protected you," Jane was now sobbing into Maura's chest. Maura ran her fingers through Jane's hair before lifting her head up to look into Maura's eyes.

"Jane, you did everything you could. Nothing could have stopped the accident from happening. What I needed was you by my side and you were there the whole time. You were there for me. I'm sorry it happened, Jane," a morose look came across Maura's face. Her guilt became apparent to Jane.

"Hey, you did nothing wrong. I guess we both need to stop blaming ourselves for this and just move on." Jane gave Maura a reassured smile and watched Maura return it.

They both realized that while they felt at fault for the accident, they couldn't change anything that happened. Maura was alive and well and that's all that mattered.

Maura pulled Jane into her and kissed her with fortitude and resolution. Her kiss told Jane that she was safe and she wasn't leaving Jane.

"I'm never going to leave you, Jane. I love you."