Chapter 5

Maura pulled into the parking garage and parked her car. Tears had slowly fallen down her cheeks for the entire ride into work. She tried to draw in a deep breath to steady herself but even that hurt. She closed her eyes tight trying to will the tears to stop flowing. She needed to stop crying before she walked through the station's doors.

She thought about what she had just done. It was completely unfair to Jane to have just walked, or almost sprinted, out without even trying to give an explanation. She knew Jane just cared about her and was worried. Maura had been trying to avoid involving or burdening Jane with her issues and had just failed miserably.

Great! Another thing at which I am a complete failure. I don't even know how to be a friend.

Pulling herself together she walked into the station and headed down to her office. If she was right, Jane wasn't more than 10 minutes behind her and Maura highly doubted that Jane would leave the issue alone. Maura entered her office and went to her desk. She removed an envelope from the top drawer and rubbed her thumb across the top.

Not what I intended with this but there's just nothing I can do about it for the moment.

Maura pulled out a sheet of paper and started writing a quick note. She finished the note and folded it in half. She opened the envelope and added the just written note to the contents. Closing the envelope, she scribbled Jane's name on the outside. She then grabbed three files from her desk and headed out of the office.

She rode up the elevator to Homicide. Stepping off the elevator she made a bee-line for Jane's desk. Once at Jane's desk, she dropped off the envelope placing it to the left of her desk phone. She took the three files and placed them on Korsak's desk. She turned again to Jane's desk and sighed. Not wanting to start crying again, she stepped back and walked quickly out to the elevators.

The elevator opened and Maura was immediately concerned that she would find herself face to face with Jane again. She heard movement and just thought please, please anyone but Jane. She looked up and relaxed a bit seeing that it was Frost and not Jane. Frost stepped off the elevator and started to say something to Maura.

"Good morning, Doc" was all he got out before Maura walked past him into the elevator avoiding eye contact the entire time.

"Detective," was mumbled by Maura.

Frost was about to say something else but first he saw the look on Maura's face and then the elevator door closed as quickly as it had opened.

"I wonder what's going on there," Frost said to no one. He'd have to ask Jane.

Maura made one more stop inside the station and after making the necessary arrangements she retreated back to her car. Once inside her car, the tears started to flow again. Damn it! She wanted to really, really cry but needed to drive off before Jane showed up so she put the car in gear and retreated.

To her credit, Jane only missed Maura by seconds. She entered the parking ramp and felt a knot in the pit of her stomach when Maura's car wasn't there. Jane parked her car, got out and pulled out her cell phone. Dialing Maura's number it rang but she got no answer.

"Maura…come on. Please talk to me! I just want to know you are ok. Where are you?"

Jane walked quickly into the station and headed for Maura's office. It was empty and she knew it would be but she had to try anyway. She glanced at the items on Maura's desk looking for any kind of explanation but she didn't find one. Frustrated, Jane headed back to the elevators.

She walked into the Homicide division and found Frost sitting at his desk. She opened her mouth to say something but Frost beat her to the punch.

"What wrong with Maura?" he asked.

"What? You saw her?" Jane spit out.

"Yeah, she was just here and she looked like she had been crying. I tried to ask her what was wrong but she barely looked at me and then the elevator door closed. Is she ok?"

"I wish I knew," was all Jane could manage to say. She sat down at her desk and immediately saw the envelope Maura had placed on her desk. The knot in the pit of her stomach returned with a vengeance. She had a very bad feeling about what was inside that envelope.

She slowly opened the envelope and was surprised at the contents. There was a handwritten note and a set of Red Sox tickets with another note attached. Looking at the Sox tickets she pulled off the first note and read:

For you, Frankie and Tommy. I wanted something special that you could do as a family. I hope you enjoy the game.

Jane, more confused than ever, looked at the tickets again. Red Sox v Yankees. For tonight. AND amazing seats behind home plate as well. If Jane hadn't been absolutely panicked about Maura she would have broken out into a happy dance at receiving these tickets.

She placed the tickets down on her desk and pulled out the other handwritten note. She took in a deep breath as she started to read this one.

Jane

Please forgive me for running out on you this morning. I never wanted to upset you and ended doing just that. I can't talk about it yet, please understand that. It's not you so just get that thought out of your head right now. I'm going away for a week- please don't try to track me down. I'm just so lost right now I need a chance to find myself again and I need to do that alone.

M

PS- Please enjoy the game. I was going to give you these tickets last week until- well that's not important. Promise me you will take your brothers to the game. Family matters more than anything in this world Jane. Embrace the family you have and don't waste a minute of the time you could spend together.

Hundreds of questions poured through Jane's mind. A week? Lost? Family? None of the dots connected in a way that made any sense, even after Jane re-read the note five more times.