Chapter 17

Both Jane and Maura decided to get cleaned up. Maura had promised Jane a sight seeing tour of Manhattan and lunch. Jane had always wanted to explore New York with someone who knew the city and she also knew Maura needed a break from talking about her father. The city tour seemed like a good way to give her a bit of a break.

Not surprisingly, Jane finished getting ready first. She wandered back out onto the terrace and grabbed her cell phone.

Found Maura. Things ok. Will return when she is ready.

She sent that text to both Korsak and Frost. They both had promised to cover for Jane at work until Jane could find Maura. Both men cared for Maura deeply and each knew Jane had to be the one that went to get her. Frost helped with the cell phone dump and Korsak found the number Maura had called to warn the building super that she would be staying at her place in New York. The rest was simply arranging travel. Jane felt lucky that she worked with two great men that valued friendship.

She was about to send Frankie a similar text as an update when the phone began to ring while in her hand. Based on the ring tone she didn't even need to check caller ID to know who was calling.

"Hi Ma," she greeted her mother.

"JANE RIZZOLI!" bellowed her mother so loud Jane had to pull the phone away from her ear, "WHY DO I HAVE TO HEAR FROM LT. CAVANAUGH THAT YOU LEFT TOWN?!"

"Calm down, Ma or I'll hang up this phone and not talk to you." Jane was hoping to get Angela's attention.

Angela at least took her voice down a few octaves but Jane was sure the phrase calm would not best describe her mood. "Where are you? I'm worried sick about you!"

"I'm ok Ma. Relax. I was just about to call you."

"Where are you and why did you leave town?"

"I had to Ma. Maura needed me."

The mention of Maura softened Angela instantly. "Where is she? Is she ok? What's wrong? You aren't telling me anything here Jane!"

Hurricane Angela strikes again thought Jane. "Ma, I'm with Maura. She's ok but is dealing with some personal issues. I'm sorry I didn't tell you I was leaving town but I didn't have a lot of time. Maura kind of took off and I had to find her. But I did and we are both safe, ok."

"What's wrong?"

"Ma, it's not my place to talk to you about it. That will have to come from Maura when she's ready to talk. But I will tell you that she's ok."

"Will you at least tell me where you both are?"

Jane paused to consider this. "Ma, again, I just think I'm not the one that should be filling in any of the blanks here. I hope you can understand that. I mean, I wasn't exactly invited here in the first place. I sort of barged in on her so I don't really think I should violate her privacy any more than I already have." She hoped that wouldn't upset her mother too much.

Clearly disappointed, Angela was forced to concede that any further information would have to come from Maura herself. "I'm your mother Jane. You should tell me these things. And I feel like a parent to Maura, too. If she's hurting or in trouble I just want to help her."

"I know Ma. Maura loves you and will tell you what's going on when she's ready. But you aren't going to get it from me."

"Is she really ok?"

"It's complicated, but I think in the end she will be."

"When are you coming home?"

"Whenever Maura is ready to come back."

"What about work?"

"I'm covered for a while. Frost and Korsak have my back and Cavanaugh was actually happy that I was going to make a dent in my vacation hours." Jane had such a stockpile of vacation that her boss once only half joked that she could probably take off six months.

"So I get to just sit here and worry about both of you and not be told what is going on?"

"That about sums it up, Ma. And I know that sucks for you but this is about Maura and what is best for her right now. Please understand that."

"I'll understand it more if you at least promise to call me everyday just so I know neither of you are dead in ditch somewhere." Angela's flare for the dramatic was topped only by her flare for parental guilt trips. But it was a small concession to make.

"Fine, Ma. I'll call you every day. I promise."

Angela's response was more of a grunt of frustration than an acknowledgement of any concession.

"Ma?"

"Yes..."

"Can you take care of Bass and Jo until we get back home?"

"Yes." She was pouting.

"Thanks, Ma. I love you."

That made her pout less. "I love you too Jane. And Maura. Please tell her that I love her like a daughter. I'm here if either of you two needs anything."

"You can tell Maura yourself how you feel about her. I'll try to get her to call you soon."

"Call me tomorrow."

"Will do."

And with that Angela hung up the phone. She was worried about both her girls but there was a part of her that was amazed at Jane. Angela knew of Jane's softer side, the side she kept hidden from almost everyone as she worked hard to keep up the "tough, strong detective" facade she tried so hard to wear every day. Few people saw this other side of Jane. Tender, sweet and fiercely loyal.

She was proud of Jane for going after Maura. She knew the girls were close but she was realizing she had underestimated just how much Maura had come to mean to her daughter. Angela knew Maura was in good hands if Jane was there to take care of her. One thing struck her though. If Frost or Korsak had run off, Angela seriously doubted that Jane would have dropped everything to go be with either one of them. She wondered what that meant.

Jane had hung up the phone and turned around to find Maura standing in the doorway listening to her end of the conversation.

"You could have at least told her we were in New York, Jane."