Jane was right Maura didn't win the argument. They were both stood in Maura's kitchen saying goodbye. In a few hours Maura would be in New York City. "Phone me when you get there okay?" Jane asked.
Maura nodded.
"I can't believe you're flying there. It's only like a five hour drive." Jane laughed.
"I can get there in less than half that time if I travel by plane." Maura looked around to find where Bass was. "Don't forget to feed him a strawberry..."
"Everyday before I go to bed. Yes Maura I know. You've told me a thousand times." Jane laughed. "Don't worry you're turtle is safe with me."
Maura shook her head. She didn't correct Jane now when she called Bass a turtle. She knew Jane well enough to know that she would never stop calling him that. "And don't use him as a foot rest. Okay?"
"He's a comfy foot rest though." Jane moaned.
"Jane..." Maura warned.
"Okay. I promise." Jane laughed. "You should get going. You're taxi has just pulled up."
Maura nodded walking toward the front door. "I'll be back in a minute. I want to say goodbye to Bass."
"You go and say goodbye to you're turtle. I'll take you're stuff to the car for you." Jane laughed as she picked up Maura's suitcases. They still hadn't talked about Jane's letter. Jane didn't want to push her. She needed Maura to work this out on her own. Walking back into the house a few minute later, Jane leant against the door frame watching Maura.
Maura was sat next to Bass leaning against the back of the couch. "Look after Janie for me Bass. I worry about her. I know she acts all tough but deep down I know she gets just as scared as I do sometimes." Maura felt someone watching her, she knew it had to be Jane. "Don't let her use you as a foot rest. I'll see you in a week. Bye Bass." Maura stood up and walked towards Jane.
"You said goodbye to you're turtle and now you're crying." Jane stood in front off Maura and wiped her tears of her face using her thumb.
"I can't help it Jane. I've had him since he was a baby." Maura mumbled.
"You want me to ride with you to the airport?" Jane asked.
"No, thank you. Frankie is coming around remember?"
"Oh yea. I can phone him and tell him to come later?" Jane asked, hopefully. She wanted to spend some more time with Maura. She watched as Maura bent down to fuss over Jo.
"Be good Jo." With the final rub to Jo stomach Maura stood back up. "No." Maura shook her head. "I don't want to say goodbye to you in an airport."
"Hey," Jane smiled softly as she lifted Maura's chin so she would look at her. "you promised no tears."
"I didn't promise and I can't help it." Maura wrapped her arms around Jane's waist and buried her head in the crook of Jane's neck. "I'll miss you."
Jane wrapped her arms around Maura. "I'll miss you too. Don't forget to phone when you're there." Jane gave Maura a squeeze then pulled back. It took Maura two seconds to be back in Jane's arms. "Maura...you need to go." Jane laughed.
Maura reluctantly pulled back. "I know," she whispered. "I'll speak to you tonight?"
Jane nodded, biting her bottom lip. "Yea."
Maura stood up on her tip toes and went to place a kiss on Jane's cheek. Half getting her cheek and half getting her lips. She held the kiss a bit longer than she planned. Smiling as she pulled away, "I don't want to say goodbye." She whispered, placing her forehead against Jane's.
"Then we won't." Jane smiled. "Maura...you really need to go. You'll miss you're flight." Jane pushed Maura away and walked her to the taxi. "Go. I'll see you in a week."
"See you soon." Maura said as she climbed in the taxi.
"See you soon then." Jane replied before closing the door to the taxi. She hit her hand on the taxi roof signalling to the driver he can go. Once the taxi turned off the street Jane went back inside. Just as she closed the door the house phone started ringing. Laughing Jane walked over to pick it up. "You forgot something already Doc?"
"Janie, its me." The voice replied.
"Oh...Hi Ma." Jane hoped she didn't sound to disappointed.
"Did Maura get of okay?" Angela asked.
"Yea. Just this second. You've just missed her."
"I actually phoned to see if you wanted some company for a few hours?" Angela hopefully asked.
"Thanks Ma, but Frankie's coming over later. We're going to have a few beers and watch the game. I'll come and see you tomorrow though after my physio, okay?"
"Okay. Love you Janie. Bye."
"Love you too Ma." Jane put the phone down. She wanted a pizza and some beers with her brother. If truth be told she wanted Maura to come back. She has only been gone five minutes. You're not going to last a week without her. "We'll be okay. Won't we Jo?" She laughed when Jo barked at her. "Lets go and find Bass and wait for Frankie to arrive. He should be finishing work in a few hour."
…
Jane was startled awake by someone banging on Maura's front door. Jumping up from the couch she picked up her gun from the coffee table. Her gun was always kept within reach when she was asleep or on her own, after what happened with Hoyt it quickly became her security blanket. She could never rest if her gun or Maura wasn't near her. And since Maura was going to be away for a while Jane had no choice but to go back to her habit with her gun.
Looking through the peep hole Jane breathed a sigh of relief when she saw it was just Frankie. Opening the door, Jane smiled. "Hey little bro. Good day at work?" Moving aside she let Frankie in.
"You okay?" Frankie asked as he noticed Jane was holding her gun.
Jane followed Frankie's gaze to her gun and laughed. "Oh yea. Sorry you woke me up." Walking into the room, Jane locked her gun in Maura's safe and turned to face Frankie.
"Did Maura get off okay?" Frankie asked.
Jane nodded. "Yea. Actually she should be there by now." Jane looked around for her phone but couldn't see it. She could have sworn she remembered falling asleep with it somewhere in the lounge. She knew Maura would call. "Frankie ring my phone for me. I can't remember where I put it."
Laughing Frankie pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialled Jane's number.
A few seconds later Jane pulled her phone from between the cushions of the couch. "Thanks." She noticed she had a missed call from Maura and a text from Maura. Opening the text she read; 'Just got to the hotel. I did phone you, but you didn't answer. I hope everything is okay. Phone me. M x'
Smiling she turned to Frankie. "The game starts in forty minutes. There is cold beer in the fridge. Do you want to order us some food while I phone Maura?"
"Sure," Frankie smiled. "What do you want?"
Jane shrugged. "You decide. All the menus are in the kitchen next to the phone." She waited until Frankie walked into the kitchen before she hit call.
…
Maura was just climbing out of the shower when she heard her phone ringing. Smiling to herself as she recognised Jane's ringtone. Wrapping a towel around herself she walked over to the bed and answered her phone. "Dr. Isles."
"Why do you still answer you're phone with Dr. Isles when you clearly know its me who is calling?" Jane laughed.
"Because I never know if it is a work related call. Plus its polite." Maura heard Jane huff. "Okay, fine. Hi."
"Hey stranger. How was the flight?" Jane asked, flopping down on the couch.
"You can hardly say stranger, Jane. We spoke less than..." Maura stopped herself. "The flight was...well to put it nicely...it was terrible. It would have been safer for me to use my parents private jet."
Sitting up straight Jane started to worry. "Why what happened?"
"Calm down Jane." Maura laughed. "Someone asked me to accompany them to dinner. I declined. He got a little bit aggressive." She heard Jane's sharp intake off breath. "He didn't touch me Jane. One of the flight attendants stood in the middle."
"I should have been there." Jane said through gritted teeth.
"Jane...I'm fine. He was drunk. How are you?" Maura asked hoping Jane would let her change the subject.
"Maura, don't change the subject."
"Jane...there is nothing else to say. I'm fine. Now, please?" Maura said on the edge of the bed.
"Fine." Jane huffed. She hated the thought that someone could hurt Maura. She never wanted Maura to have to go through anything like that. "Frankie's here. He's just ordering us some food."
"Then I should let you go." Maura said, disappointed.
"I don't...he won't...you don't have to."
Maura laughed. "Enjoy the game. I'll speak to you soon." Maura ended the call before Jane could say anything. She was just about to walk back into the bathroom when her phone beeped indicating a new text message. She smiled when she saw it was from Jane. Opening it up she read, 'Call me later. Oh and I miss you too. I know we said no goodbye's but really...putting the phone down on me...now Maura, that's just rude. See you soon :-) x.'
…
Jane was pulled from her thoughts when she heard Frankie's voice. Shaking her head, she looked at Frankie. "Sorry. What did you say?"
Frankie smiled. "How's Maura?"
"Okay. Or at least she says she is." Jane took a deep breath and pulled one of the beers from Frankie's hands. "She had a bit off trouble on the plane. Some idiot asked her to dinner, when she said no, he got a bit fired up. One of the flight attendants had to step in."
"Maura can't lie. If she says she is okay. She will be." Frankie said trying to reassure Jane.
"I know. But I know Maura." Taking a sip of her beer. "I know physically she is fine. But...Oh I don't know." Sighing she turned on the TV.
"You know I'm here if you ever want to talk." Frankie said.
Before Jane could reply there was a knock at the door. She immediately tensed up.
"Hey," Frankie said as he stood up. Placing his hand on Jane's shoulder he gave a gentle squeeze. "Relax, it's just dinner."
She didn't feel safe enough to relax. She had done nothing but jump or tense up at the slightest noise since Maura had left. Even knowing her gun was in the house didn't make her feel any safer. She hated feeling like this.
…
Jane was happy. Red Sox had won the game 7-4 against Mariners. After saying goodbye to Frankie, Jane decided to tidy up the living room then get an early night. She had done nothing all day so she was surprised to realise she was tired. Changing her mind at the last minute she realised she needed to take Jo for a walk. Shouting Jo she clipped the lead on her collar. "We won't be long Bass."
A hour later Jane had just finished feeding Bass. Making her way to the guest room she realised her pyjama's were in Maura's room. Sighing she walked to Maura's room. She intended to go back to the guest room but after getting in her pyjama's she just wanted to sleep. Climbing in Maura's bed, she closed her eyes. She knew Maura wouldn't mind her sleeping in her bed. Within seconds she was asleep.
…
It was 3:15am when Maura woke up to her phone ringing. Quickly waking herself up she reached for her phone that was on the bedside cabinet. It was Jane. "Hey. Jane, are you okay?" Maura asked, voice full of concern. She heard Jane sniffing.
"I'm sorry..." Jane began, "I...I shouldn't have called you. I'm sorry." Jane ended the call before Maura could say anything else. She had startled awake at 2:30 after a nightmare and after trying to talk herself out of phoning Maura this earlier in the morning. She finally gave in and called.
Maura was worried sick. Jane wouldn't answer any of her calls. Opening up a new text message she quickly wrote 'answer you're phone or I'm coming home...NOW.' she typed in Jane's number and hit send.
As much as Jane wanted Maura to come home, she knew it wasn't fair for Maura to cut her trip short because of her nightmares. She had to answer her phone the next time Maura rung. As if on cue Jane's phone started ringing a few seconds later. Picking it up on the fourth ring, Jane mumbled, "hello."
"Jane," Maura breathed out full of relief. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fi..." Jane started, but got cut off by Maura.
"Baby, don't lie to me." Maura pleaded. "If you were fine you wouldn't have phoned me at quarter past three in the morning."
"Maura..." Jane started, but again got cut off by Maura.
"You've had another nightmare, haven't you?" Maura asked. When Jane didn't answer Maura added, "talk to me, baby. Please."
"Yes." Jane whispered. "This one...this one was different though. This one was worst." Jane couldn't stop the tears from flowing. "I'm sorry, shouldn't have call..."
"Don't put the phone down on me Jane, please." Maura rushed out.
"I wasn't going to." Jane sniffed. "I reached for you when I woke up and you wasn't here. For a split second it crossed my mind that you had left me."
"You know I never would." Maura paused for a few seconds then added, "do you want me to come home?"
"No. God, no." Jane got out in one breath. After a few seconds Jane seemed to realise what she said was wrong. "That didn't come out right. I want you to come home of course I do, but I want you to come home once you're done in New York. After all the conferences. I'm going to stop now before I say something else wrong." Jane had to smile when she heard Maura laugh. "I miss you."
Maura grew serious again. "I miss you too."
"I should let you get back to sleep. I'm sorry I woke you up."
"You're not planning on sleeping the rest of the night are you?" Maura asked.
"No. I won't be able to." Jane sighed. "As much as I want to. I won't be able to relax enough."
"Then what do you want to talk about?" Maura asked. She knew Jane would relax sooner or later and until she did Maura planned on staying on the phone with her.
"Maur...you need to get some rest. You're in conferences all day tomorrow."
"Jane. You need to get some rest too. You're at the hospital tomorrow." Maura tried to reason.
"Okay. I'll try and go back to sleep." Jane replied, defeated. She was to tired to argue.
"Lay down Jane, and close you're eyes." When Jane started to try and ask questions, Maura added, "please." She smiled when she heard Jane huffing and puffing.
"Done." Jane told Maura.
"Put me on loud speaker."
"Maura, were are you going with this?" Jane asked, confused.
"Do you trust me?" Maura asked.
"You know I do, Maura." Jane whispered.
Maura heard a beep then Jane telling her she was on speaker. "Now I need you to imagine I am there with you. Just like every other night you have woken due to a nightmare. I wrap my arms around you and tell you you're safe." She heard Jane sighing and knew Jane was doing what she had asked. She didn't know if this would work, but she wanted Jane to get some sleep. "You're safe, Jane. I won't let anyone hurt you. You're safe baby."
Jane was falling asleep. "Maur..." She whispered, sleepily.
"I'm here." Maura smoothed.
"Thank you." Jane mumbled. "Love you."
Maura smiled. "I love you too baby." Maura paused for a few seconds. "More than you know." When Jane didn't reply Maura knew she had fallen asleep. Not ending the call Maura placed the phone at the side of her. She might wake up again. Closing her eyes Maura wanted nothing more than to be with Jane. I love her. Maura fell asleep imagining she was hold Jane against her.