Chapter 6

Jane woke the next morning and it took her a moment to remember where she was. Oh yeah, bright lights, beeping machines and IV's, the hospital. She turned to look at the woman sleeping in the chair with her head resting on their joined hands. She had to smile at the serene look on Maura's face, then her smile faded as she remembered the last time she saw Maura's face before she ended up in the hospital. Jane wondered if they really would be able to put all of this behind them. She knew she loved Maura more than she had ever loved anyone before and she had for quite some time. But is love really enough? She heard Maura's phone ring and watched as she woke up and smiled up at Jane.

Maura looked at the caller ID on her phone. "I have to take this call, I'll be right back." She leaned down and gave Jane a quick kiss. She went down the hallway and answered her phone. "Jan what have you found out?" She listened as her friend spoke. "Did you give them the picture I gave you?" She waited until Jan finished speaking. "That's great! I owe you one." She turned and walked back down to Jane's room. She stopped at the doorway and looked at Jane and her smiled dropped from her face. "Jane what's the matter?" She wasn't sure if Jane wanted her to enter the room or not so she just stood by the door.

"I'm just thinking that's all." She turned and gave Maura a small smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Do you think we can put all of this behind us and pretend nothing happened?"

Maura hurried to Jane's side and took her hand. "Oh Jane, we'll never be able to pretend it didn't happen because it did. Are you saying you don't want to be with me?" She got worried when Jane didn't immediately answer and wouldn't look at her.

"That's the only thing I have no doubts about. The road is going to be a long bumpy one but I want to tough it out." She finally looked up at Maura and smiled. "Are you willing to stick it out?"

"For as long as you are willing to have me, or until I'm ready to trade you in for a younger model." She smiled innocently at Jane.

"Hey wait! You're older than me and you're going to trade me in? What if I want to trade you in first?" Jane tried to keep the smile off her face.

"Well by that time we'll be a couple of old ladies, who would want us then? I guess we're stuck with each other." She leaned down and gave Jane a toe curling kiss.

"Lady, you'll still be sexy as hell when you are 90 years old." She pulled Maura down for another kiss. "And if you still kiss like that I'll never give you up."

"Let's not kid ourselves, this is not going to be easy. I can see that you still have doubts." She covered Jane's mouth with her finger when she started to protest. "And to tell you the truth I don't blame you. I will work to regain your trust and don't feel bad when those doubts creep in because it's bound to happen. To use one of your favorite phrases, 'I blew it' and now I need to make it right." She glanced up at Jane and saw tears in her eyes. She reached up and wiped the tears away. "It's ok sweetie. I'm ready to work hard to do whatever it takes. You don't give trust easy and I can only imagine how hard it will be to regain it but I'm going to do it. Just don't give up on us ok?"

"I do trust you Maura." Maura once again stopped her. "I trust you with my life and it humbles me to hear you say those things but you don't have to do anything but be there."

"Get real Jane, it's going to take more than that for us to make this work." Jane threw her head back and laughed. "What are you laughing about?"

"Did you say get real? Really?" She laid back and laughed again. "Where did you pick that up?" She looked at Maura who wasn't laughing. "Why aren't you laughing?"

"Did I say it wrong?" Jane laughed even harder. "I just want to try to fit better in your life and to do that I thought maybe I should use some of your euphemisms."

She pulled Maura on to the bed so she was almost lying on top of her then looked up at her. "Don't change a thing Maura. I fell in love with you, Google mouth and all not someone who changes herself to try to fit in. You are fine just the way you are." Jane wiggled her hips under Maura and moaned. "I would say you are more than fine."

"Stop that Jane." Maura giggled which only caused her body to come in closer contact with Jane's.

"I'll never be able to stop if you keep wiggling like that." Jane pulled her down for a smoldering kiss.

"Sure looks like the patient is feeling much better today doesn't it?" Maura just about fell on the floor trying to get off of Jane's bed. "It's nice to see you awake this morning Detective Rizzoli."

"I guess under the circumstances you can call me Jane. And who are your little friends?" She smiled as she looked at the group behind Doctor Cutter and just about lost it again when she looked at Maura who was blushing furiously.

"Well Jane, once a month I do grand rounds with residents who haven't decided on a specialty yet. These 10 doctors are my guinea pigs for the day." His smile was absolutely devilish. "But this was an added bonus that may sway some of them towards neurosurgery if this is a possibility during their day."

"Well doctor I will do everything in my power to make their day a little more enjoyable whenever it's at all possible with the help of my friend here." She pointed to Maura then heard giggling from some of the residents and even from Maura. "So kids what have we learned today?" Jane smiled at the group of young doctors.

"Are you two about done yet?" Maura finally decided to put an end to this. "Can we get down to business?"

"She gets cranky when she has to sleep in an uncomfortable chair all night long." She said to the interns in a loud stage whisper. Maura playfully slapped her wrist. "Did you see that? She struck an officer of the law. Anybody got any handcuffs?" Maura really loved this playful side of Jane, even when it was at her expense. "Are you guys sure you want to be doctors and not a cop. We come with our own handcuffs. Oh I guess once you become a doctor and start making more money than god you can afford your own handcuffs. Never mind."

Doctor cutter placed her chart back at the end of the bed and smiled at Jane. Maura felt a twinge of jealousy at the look in his eyes then looked at Jane who winked at her. "Well it looks like you've made a remarkable recovery Jane."

"Yeah so when can I get out of here?" She sat up in the bed and gave the doctor her best smile. Maura cleared her throat and Jane winked at her again. Doctor Cutter came over and took a look at the shunt. Jane hissed in pain when he touched it. "I told the nurse to stop the pain meds this morning." She turned to Maura who had a look of disbelief on her face. "You were still sleeping."

"Are you sure that's wise?" Dr. Cutter asked.

"Doc I'm tougher than I look. I didn't like the way it made me feel. I kept falling asleep."

"Well duh, that's the idea, make you comfortable so that your body has a chance to rest." He smiled at her that charming smile again. Maura couldn't believe her was flirting with her even after he caught them in bed together.

"Did you just say duh? Maura he just said duh."

Maura turned to her and smiled. "Duh." She said it in a perfect imitation of the doctor.

"I'm surrounded by doctors and I can't a straight answer. When can I get out of here?"

"Maybe Friday. We're going to take you down for a CAT scan then I'll know for sure once I get those results."

"Jane while you're doing that I have a quick errand to run. I will be back in about an hour, is that ok?"

"Sure Maura, I'll be here when you get back. We done here doc?"

"Yes someone will be here to take you down for that scan."

Jane watched as the group turned and walked out of the room then pulled Maura back against her. All of the sudden she got serious. "Maura, can I stay with you until I can go back to work? I know Ma will want to take care of me but I want you to do that, that's if you want to."

"Of course I want to. Do you want me to run by your place and pick up a few things for you?" The smile on her face could have lit up all of Boston.

"Yeah that would be nice. Thanks." Jane smiled tentatively.

"What's the matter? I really do want to take care of you if that's what you're worried about." Maura brought Jane's hand to her lips and kissed the scars there.

"I don't want to sleep in the guest room." Maura's smile was all the answer she needed.

"I hadn't planned on letting you." The heat in Maura's eyes told Jane what Maura planned to do when she got Jane home and Jane was fine with that. When the technician showed up to take her down for the CAT scan Maura hurried out of the hospital. She ran her errand and stopped by Jane's house for a change of clothes for Jane then headed back with her treasure under her arm.