Chapter 2

The meal had been somewhat quieter than normal, both women lost in thought. After dinner, the two women had said goodnight and gone to bed. Jane was in the M.E.'s guest bedroom, sleeping lightly. She had to admit, Maura's fancy pajamas were insanely comfortable. She had fallen asleep quickly, but just rested only on the brink of true sleep. The detective had never learned how to really sleep soundly again, after her experience with Charles Hoyt. She was startled awake by a muffled noise that sounded like a cry for help, and was apparently coming from the direction of Maura's room. Jane quickly jumped out of bed and grabbed her gun, hurrying to the M.E.'s bedroom.

Jane pushed open the door and surveyed the area, seeing nothing but Maura, curled up in the center of her bed, with a pained expression on her face. She was clearly having a nightmare. Jane dropped her arms and placed the gun on Maura's bedside table, running a hand through her hair and looking around the room. She felt her breathing relax again and looked at Maura. She was lying in bed, literally in the fetal position, her brow furrowed and her mouth slightly open, whimpering quietly. Jane sat down on the edge of the bed and nudged the M.E. lightly.

"Maura? Maura, sweetie, wake up. Wake up, you're having a bad dream."

The M.E. flinched and opened her eyes, looking up at Jane with a mix of confusion and fright on her face. Finally, she realized that she had been having a nightmare, and sat up slowly.

"Jane, what is it? Is something the matter?"

"I heard you making noises in here so I came to make sure everything was okay. You all right?"

The M.E. rolled her shoulders and looked down at her hands.

"I've just been having nightmares recently. I thought that spending the evening with you would surely help to relieve some of my anxiety, but I shouldn't have assumed. Clearly, I still have unresolved issues from my encounter with my…with…Patrick Doyle."

Jane sighed and looked empathetically at the M.E.

"I know, nightmares suck." She patted Maura's hand lightly. "You're safe now, though. Besides, I'm here and I've got my gun. I'll stay up all night guarding your door if you want me to."

The M.E. shook her head and pulled her legs to her chest, resting her chin on her knees.

"No, that's all right Jane. I'll…I'll be okay."

The detective eyed Maura questioningly for a moment before getting up to head back to the guest bedroom. Just as she reached the doorway, she heard the M.E. speak.

"Jane?"

Maura's voice was so soft that for a second, Jane wasn't sure if she had actually heard anything at all. Jane felt her tough composure falter for just a moment. She remembered what Maura had told her a while back, about how she never asked for much because she didn't know how. The detective looked at Maura, noticing that she was still sitting with her legs pulled to her chest, her back to the doorway. She walked over to Maura and sat on the bed again, resting her hand lightly on the small of the M.E.'s back. She watched as Maura fidgeted nervously, wringing her hands.

"You want me to stay?"

Maura nodded softly, trying desperately to keep the tears from falling. Jane slid closer and wrapped her arms lightly around the other woman, rubbing her back lightly. The M.E. relaxed and exhaled the breath that she had been holding practically since she woke up from her nightmare. Jane carefully laid Maura down on her side, then scooted in close beside her. She draped her arm over Maura's waist and traced her fingers lightly up and down the M.E.'s back.

"Thank you." Maura whispered, barely audible.

"No problem. You're safe now. Get some rest, Maura."

Maura exhaled deeply and nestled herself in Jane's protective embrace, falling asleep almost immediately.