Author's Note:: Yes, I had a dream one night, this was it. I played Maura's daughter...it was weird.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Enjoy.

FIVE

"Then she takes after you." Maura's words rang around in her mind as she looked to the Medical Examiner.

"Maura, what do you mean? She takes after me?" Jane looked to her best friend and frowned, wondering what the hell she meant.

Maura looked to Jane then and she sighed, "Jane, if I tell you...I don't want to risk this getting out." she told her best friend and bit her lip a little, fidgeting also before she added, "Jemima...she did something, back at the house. And, I can't tell you."

"Maura, come on..." Jane took her hand and frowned a little, "You can tell me."

"No, Jane. I can't. I have to protect my daughter." Maura replied before she added, "Korsak told me once, that 'you do what you have to do to protect family' and he was right. I have to protect her, I have to protect my Jemima."

"Yeah...yeah, you do." Jane sighed and nodded, leaning back into the sofa.

Maura was silent for a few moments, contemplating things before she finally spoke up, "Jane, I do want to tell you, it's just...you'll have to interrogate my daughter, she's too young for that. I couldn't allow it." she looked up at Jane and swallowed, fearing the collapse of their friendship nearing because of what she was keeping from Jane.

"Maura, you know you can tell me anything. And, is it that bad that you can't tell me? Why would I have to interrogate Jemima?" Jane was puzzled.

"Bad, Jane? You don't even know..." Maura exhaled with a saddened smile across her face, shaking her head before she looked to her friend beside her on the couch, with tears forming in her eyes once again. Maura really did want to tell Jane, she did.

"Maura, just tell me." Jane tried, softly touching the Medical Examiner's hand, coaxing her a little.

"It's not that easy, Jane."

"Then, take your time, Maur."

Maura shook her head, exhaling unsteadily as she looked to her lap, as if waiting for guidance. She took in a deep breath and seemed to hold it for what seemed an eternity to her before she finally blew it out and spoke up, almost inaudibly, "I'm scared, Jane. I'm scared for my daughter."

Jane frowned, she watched Maura's actions, her mannerisms. She seemed agitated and alert. Edgy. The Detective narrowed her eyes a little and she softly spoke then, "Scared about what?" she asked her friend, "And why?"

"About what happened. Back at the house."

"What happened back at the house, Maura? Tell me everything you can remember...take your time." Jane coaxed her more.

Maura moistened her lips before she finally looked to Jane and blinked several times, slowly though, processing everything Jane was telling her, asking of her. She nodded slowly and asked, "What if I tell you everything, and you have to tell somebody else? What happens then?"

"That would depend entirely on what you're going to tell Maura."

The Medical Examiner swallowed and she chewed on her bottom lip nervously as she once again contemplated telling Jane the events of the ordeal that had happened just hours earlier. Closing her eyes, Maura stretched out her neck, tilting her head backwards until she heard the satisfying click that followed the larynx stretching at the front of her throat.

Contemplation.

She continued to contemplate, Jane watching her the whole time until finally, she stood and shook her head, "I can't do this." she told her friend, "I can't. Jane, I'm sorry, Jemima and I will go stay at a hotel, I don't want to impose on you now."

"Maura! It's the middle of the night, well...morning, you can't leave now! And, besides you are not imposing. Tommy would be imposing. You, are a guest." Jane stated, with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes as she began to smile to her friend. The smile did not work with Maura however, as Jane saw her moving towards the hallway, to probably go and rouse Jemima from her slumber to take her to a hotel.

"We'll leave Jane. You need rest, if you're working this case..." Maura glanced over her shoulder to the Detective behind her, she had followed Maura's journey before she stopped and looked to her feet, "We'll be gone by tomorrow." Maura announced nonchalantly, before she continued to the bedroom, checking on Jemima and tucking her under the covers protectively.