Chapter 20 The beginning
She felt groggy, a dull pain in each hand. There was a voice beckoning her conscious. She could feel a warm gentle tug on her and then soft lips on her head. As she neared the edge of awareness, the fuzzy shadows became clearer as her vision cleared. She felt verklempt as she opened her eyes and saw Maura. All she could whisper in a weak raspy voice was, "Maura, Maur, you're here." Jane lifted her right bandaged hand from its gentle seat in Maura's to stroke a bandage on Maura's temple. "Are we dead?" Jane struggled to make sense of her surroundings as a gentle hand wiped a tear from her eye and forced her back into the bed..
Maura chuckled ,"No sweet girl, we are very much alive, thanks to Inspector Morrison." She relaxed her hand on Jane's shoulder as she Jane sank back into the bed. "We are alright,"Maura gives Jane a reassuring smile.
"What happened, I thought," Jane could not continue, she fought to keep her emotions in check as her voice cracked," I thought you were dead."
"If I were dead, could I do this?" Maura stood and hovered over Jane. Slowly and softly, she caressed Jane's lips with her own. Jane feels warmth spread through her body as she lifts her head to demand something deeper. Maura pulls away, leaving Jane wanting more.
"Maur, we need..." she is cut off by Maura.
" Yes Jane, we need to talk, we do but right now lets get you better so we can both go home. " A knock comes to the door and a shy Inspector Henry Morrison pokes his head in Jane sees him but can't bring herself to look him in the eye. She jeopardized many lives with her impetuous act. "Inspector, please come in ," Maura cheerily motions for Henry to come in.
Jane looks down as he approaches her bedside. She looks at her bandaged hands, how could I let this happen, AGAIN, her internal monologue interrupted when Henry speaks. "Detective, how are you?". Jane looks up at him and sees worry in his eyes. "You both gave us a scare," he looks from Jane to Maura then back to Jane. His demeanor grows stern, as he goes to speak, Jane interrupts.
"I know what I did was dumb, I get it, I did it again to myself and almost let Maura get hurt, again." Jane was picking at the bandages on her hand, not making eye contact with Henry. Rolling her eyes at her last statement. She looked him in the eye, "Thanks for coming to the rescue, partner." She smiles at him and a grin slowly crosses his face in return.
"Your welcome, partner." He comes closer and stands beside Maura at Jane's bed side. "We think we have it all pieced together now."He takes a breath to begin as Jane reaches out a bandaged hand to take Maura's. Maura takes Jane's hand gently between hers. "Dean, illegitimate son of Thomas O'Rourke Senior, was strategically honed to go into law enforcement. Perfect really, because O'Rourke moved the mother and son to Washington and there was no connection to him. He purposed Tommy to follow in his footsteps."
Maura injected ,"Dean said Tommy was brilliant with computers. It made sense to direct him into the new era of the virtual world.."
" That's correct Dr Isles! O'Rourke hired your brother and his friend, to advance the parameters of the Mob influence. By the looks of what you colleges in Boston have sent us, Dr Isles, your brother was equally , if not more brilliant than O'Rourke."
"He was not her brother, Doyle was just a sperm donor to create both of them,"Jane sarcastically added. Maura couldn't help but smile as she made eye contact with Jane.
Henry cleared his throat and brought both women back to his story. "According to Sergeant Detective Korsak, Dean was back and forth from Washington to Boston. He got hold of two of Doyles handmade ice picks. Haas was an interference. He took him out with the ice pick, but the actual evidence was to be found on O'Flanagan and Floyd. The idea of these murders was to infuriate the other families. If the plan failed in Aspen, the families would be gunning for Dr Isles upon her return to Boston, Leaving them to battle it out and the O'Rourke's free to come in and save the day." Henry looks at Maura, "Near as we can figure there was a plan to kidnap you at first Dr Isles. They would have power over Doyle, then when the takeover happened , well, they wouldn't need.." Henry dropped his eyes to the floor. Jane winced as she tried to squeeze Maura's hand.
Maura admonished her. "Jane don't hurt yourself. You have ten stitches in each palm. The cuts were deep, but no ligaments or bones were affected. Don't bust your stitches!" Jane lets a low chuckle escape at Maura's concern.
Jane picks up the story. "So they caused the avalanche as a distraction. They kidnap Maura and let word get to Paddy that she is presumed dead. Paddy knew, he knew Maura was in danger."The light went on in Jane's eyes as she continued. "Yeah, he sent Glynis, who looked like me, to gather Maura's trust so she could protect her. "
"Dean, or O'Rourke, hired Todd to do the shooting, St Claire got in the way and was shot. The shots triggered an avalanche. Poor Amy was a pawn in the plot. Todd played her as his alias Dr Tim Horton. Thats rich, the name is from a Canadian coffee franchise."Henry chuckled. "They took advantage of her situation and Dean contacted her and gave her instructions. She did so to keep her poor mom in that home. She cooperated fully and I think the courts will be lenient on her, regarding the circumstances." Both ladies nodded agreement. "They thought it a great stroke of luck when you ended up with amnesia." Henry looks at Maura. "They found you easily because the GPS was active on your phone," Jane shoots a glare at Maura, who shyly smiles 'and looks back at the amused Inspector , "What we figure is Todd picked you and the dead girl up in the van. You were giving her CPR, thats why her blood was all over your jacket and gloves. Todd lost control of the van he had lured you into as a source of help for Ms St Claire, then he crashed it."
"How are you so sure of that ?" questions Jane.
"Agent Dean told us, "replies Henry looking at the expression on both ladies faces. Jane rolls her eyes and curls her lip as an "Ugh!"expression leaves her mouth.
"The dead cat and kittens were his distraction as well. He figured, correctly, the BPD would spend time and resources guarding your family. Leaving the mob families enough time and room to formulate a plan against Doyle. The O'Rourkes coming out on top of course." says Henry.
"What of Dr, ah. Stephen Todd?" asked Maura.
"He was killed in the crossfire," said Henry.
"How did you save us? I couldn't see any way out?" plead Jane as she tried to squeeze Maura's hand. She made eye contact with Henry.
"You were foolish to do what you did but it provided the necessary distraction we needed. Officer Coles and I came in the back as the rest of the force came sirens blaring from the front. When Dr Isles moved to walk in the line of fire, we made our move. I took her down on top of you and Officer Coles had Dean before he know what hit him. The bullet must have grazed you Dr Isles on the tackle," he remarked shily as Maura nodded and put a hand to the bandage on her face. "There was an escape door in the floor. No doubt the planned distraction of someone, assumed to be a suspect and not Dr Isles, running across the window would have allowed them time to escape Todd planned to kill you Jane and Dr Isles the sacrifice for their escape."
"Well, thanks for saving the day Inspector Morrison, and call me Maura," Maura said with a smile.
"Henry," He smiled back.
" Why do you think they took my boots?" asked Maura.
"Since you didn't get killed , they figured if they took your boots, you couldn't run," said Jane. "The gloves, probably soaked with blood, I have no idea." She smirked at the other two in the room.
"Dean has confessed to the plot, but something happened to their plan. You, Jane. Dean confessed that when Todd changed the plan to include a hall of horrors for you, he changed. He still has a soft spot for you Jane, I hear it in his voice. Things were getting complicated, him running to Boston, Washington, Aspen and trying to stay in control of the Mob situation Things were starting to come undone in the struggle for power in Boston. Your colleges in Boston say all is settling down. The Doyle fellow in jail is exerting his authority and the streets are getting back to normal." Explains Henry.
"That's your Daddy," teases Jane as she looks at Maura, who pokes her in the side as Jane laughs. Henry, not knowing the whole story, looks a bit puzzled. Jane speaks as she fends of Maura's attack. "Dean and I had something once but it wasn't meant to be. My heart was already somewhere else," she looks up at Maura and they both smile.
Henry clears his throat and turns to leave, then he stops and turns. "I have relayed your condition to Boston. Your friends have closed the cases there and they send best wishes. "He smiles broadly as he relays the next bit of information, "By the way, your mother's are coming on the next flight from Boston." He is amused as both ladies groaned.
"Get ready for love overload, the nxt, really the next flight. Can it be next week, 'Jane moans as she rolls her eyes.
"I'll leave you two to rest. We'll get statement from you both later," with that he exited the door. The ladies watched the door close.
Jane sat up in her bed and grabbed Maura. She put her bandaged hands on either side of Maura's head and drew her in. First a small, gentle peck, then an all out all consuming kiss. Maura came up for air, "Wow."
"All I get for that is, "Wow," teased Jane.
"Don't hurt your hands Jane, " admonishes Maura.
"I'll show you what these hands can do when they heal," whispers Jane. Maura blushes at her words.
"Maur, I was so scared. This week alone , I thought I lost you twice. I would have given anything for you, " her voice deep with passion. "I would have given my life for you. I realized that I love you, Maura Dorothea Isles, I love you." Jane gives her a tender kiss on the lips. Then licks her own as she draws close for another taste. Jane is only millimeters away when she stops. "I want to do this right when we get home. I want to take you to dinner, watch movies, just be with you and talk. Get people used to seeing us together."
Maura giggles, "You mean like we were. We go out to dinner, share movie night and spend time together."
"But we didn't do this," Jane pulls her in for a passionate lingering kiss. "Now thats new! I know we need to talk and this is new for me, for both of us but I'd really like to try if you would?"Questioned Jane shyly.
"Yes, Jane, I would like to try. I love you and have for a while. This is new but we can explore it together," Maura assures. They both laugh nervously.
Maura sums it up. "Lets do this, its time to remember all we have been through to bring us here, to our new beginning."
THE END
Thank you all for the reviews and creative critiques. You have helped me write outside my comfort zone and stretching is always good. Hope you enjoyed the story, I had alot of fun writing this.