I'm really having fun with this story, more fun than I anticipated. I can see many folks seem to be reading and that pleases me more than you know. Thanks again to inappropriate-sugartits for her generosity reading these chapters in advance. Thanks for reading. Enjoy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Ch5, Getting Hot in Here

Maura decided to run a bath for Jane. It would do her good to soak for a bit. Maura knocked gently at the door to the guest room. Jane called for Maura, "Maur, you don't need to knock sweetie, I love that you take such good care of me. Please, never stop, ok? But only YOU get to take care of me, especially not my mother." Maura melted at Jane's smile. Her heart was instantly full. Is this what a life with Jane could be? She breathed in deeply, pushed those thoughts aside and offered the ready prepared bath to Jane. Jane accepted the offer and Maura helped lift Jane from the bed and the two unsteadily made their way to the bathroom.

Maura removed the wrap holding Jane's rib tight. Afterward, Jane uncharacteristically stripped down to nothing right in front of Maura. Meanwhile, Maura averted her eyes for the most part and busied herself arranging towels until she knew Jane was ready. Then Maura steadied Jane as she slid into the warmth of the bathtub. She started to leave and Jane reached her arm toward Maura asking softly, "Please stay." Jane moved her hands across the surface of the water then looked back at Maura. "What if I slip under the water and I'm not able to come up for air?" Maura's eyes got big. Jane was joking, but she didn't want Maura to be away from her. "C'mon, Maur, stay, you're my official lifeguard. I need you." So Maura sat on the floor with her back leaning against the edge of the tub. In another circumstance, hearing Jane direct such loving words her way would have sent Maura's heart singing. But today, given the situation, it was quite painful. Knowing that reality would eventually hit Jane again and all this could be a forgotten memory, Maura decided to tread lightly.

Jane reached over to Maura's shoulder and rested her hand, still needing the constant touch. Maura could feel the warmth from Jane's hand and somehow felt more grounded herself with that touch. A few minutes passed. "Maura, I feel so lucky."

Maura responded, "Yes, I thought your jaw was broken. That would have had you in a completely different specter of pain if that had happened. You are lucky."

"Don't you mean 'a whole new world of hurt?' No, Maura, I'm lucky that I have you." Jane leaned her head back and closed her eyes. "Not to mention you are the sexiest woman on earth." Jane briefly opened one eye to look at Maura then smiled at that thought and slowly slid her fingertips from Maura's shoulder up along her neck and began to caress the softness under the tendrils of hair at the base of Maura's skull. Maura reached up to Jane's hand to still her movements. She held Jane's hand giving comfort but not encouragement. Jane continued to talk for a few more minutes, softly and gently to Maura. Jane's voice was so soothing, Maura felt like she could live in that sound forever. After Jane settled in and the room was quiet, Maura sat still thinking of how she should handle this entire set of circumstances.

Fifteen minutes later, Maura heard Angela's voice calling from the kitchen. She alerted Jane that it was time to remove herself from the water and helped her climb out of the tub. She wrapped Jane in a towel and sat her in a chair in the bathroom. "Jane, I need you to sit here, don't try to walk on your own. You are so relaxed from the bath that you might stumble, OK?"

Jane sat there, staring at Maura. "Jane, do you understand?"

"Yes, Yes, I do. Stay in chair. Don't move. Sir, yes sir." Jane started to laugh and then winced again.

Maura began to smile, "You just never learn. I'll be right back." Maura turned back toward Jane on her way out the door and pointed at Jane, "Don't move."

Maura called to Angela as she rounded the corner toward the kitchen, "Angela, I heard you come in, Jane was just in the bath."

"Maura, I'm so glad you're taking such good care of my baby. I made some Mostaccioli, it is one of Jane's favorites. Won't you give it to her when she gets hungry?"

There was a muffled sound from the bathroom. "Of course Angela. Jane just needs to rest and if you don't mind, I need to attend to Jane right now so, I'll talk with you tomorrow?"

Angela took the hint, put the food in the fridge and said goodnight on her way out the door. Angela was hot on their trail, but knew better than to push things with Jane just out of the hospital.

When Maura got back to the bathroom she found Jane lying on the floor. She bent down toward Jane to lift her and asked, "Jane, did you fall? What happened?"

Jane explained, "I felt dizzy and I figured I wouldn't be able stop myself if I started to fall so, I just got my own self to the ground before gravity could do it for me." The pain from the movement showed all over Jane's face.

Jane's ability to make light of the most serious situation baffled Maura at times, but at least what Jane said actually made some sense, as opposed to all other conversations with Jane since she'd been hit. Maybe Jane would be back to normal sooner rather than later.

Maura had placed a t-shirt and shorts in the bathroom earlier as she'd prepared the bath for Jane and attempted to help her to get dressed. This entire experience was so surreal to Maura. She dreamed of a day that she and Jane could be this close, but not this way. Not like this. If this ever were to happen for real, Maura needed Jane to have all her wits about her. Jane's body, naked and so close to Maura was tempting indeed, but Maura had self-control and enough respect for Jane not to take advantage of the situation. Jane was still wrapped in the towel while Maura had Jane lift each leg to put on her shorts. The shorts went on easily. Jane used Maura's shoulders as an anchor while Maura slid the shorts up along the never-ending length of Jane's legs. Maura noticed how remarkably lean and toned her legs appeared to be.

Jane patiently stood allowing Maura to pull the t shirt over her head. The towel dropped to the ground as soon as Jane painfully reached up to put her arms through the shirt. Standing inches away from Jane, Maura had a clear, up close view of Jane's bare naked breasts but Maura's heart skipped a beat when she saw the horrible bruising on Jane's ribcage and what almost looked like a boot print in the bruising. She took a quick breath inward and literally held her breath while she tried to pull the shirt down over Jane's body. Seeing Jane's bruise did something to Maura on the inside. She ached for Jane. She wished there was a way she could have stopped that man from damaging Jane so much. Maura wanted to put a shield around her so she would never hurt again. Rationally, Maura knew this was impossible, but she could not stop the overwhelming feeling.

Jane reached around Maura's waist when Maura had successfully pulled that well-worn t-shirt down her body. She pulled Maura closer and whispered, "This is my favorite t-shirt. You always think of me, Maura. You really do make me feel loved." and Jane placed a soft kiss just below Maura's ear.

Maura felt an instant flash of heat and exhaled while she stepped away. Maura herself felt a little faint. The sight of Jane's rib injury, the affectionate kiss, everything was getting to her. "Jane, you really need to lay down before you fall over. Here, let me help you re-wrap your ribs. And then you're going to bed."

Jane pouted, but she knew she needed to wrap her ribs again. Jane stared silently at Maura as she slowly and tenderly wrapped Jane's broken ribs. Neither spoke. There was only the sound of the rustling fabric as Maura completed her task. Maura could sense Jane watching every move as she was placing the bandage around Jane's body. When Maura was done, she finally looked up to Jane and spoke quietly, "Ok, time for bed." Seeing Jane's soft smile tugged at Maura somehow. Jane's eyes flashed down to Maura's lips. Maura recognized that look and reacted. "Now, go. I'll help you walk." Jane complied, that is until she realized that Maura was leading her back to the guest room.

"Oh, no. No. Maura, I don't mind being down here during the day for you to look after me, but I refuse to not sleep in our own bed through the night. Now, won't you help me get up these stairs?"

Maura froze in her tracks. How was she going to handle this? No matter her fears, whatever it took to bring Jane back to good health, Maura was up for the challenge.

"Jane, you're still experiencing dizziness and lack of balance and you probably will for the next few days. Let's not have you going up and down stairs. Just agree that you'll stay here in the guest room, at least until the nausea passes?"

"Alright Maura, you're like my own personal safety squad. Go get ready for bed, I'll be waiting down here. Hurry back, I'm feeling cold. I need you to help warm me up."

Maura's mouth opened to object but she realized how Jane might take that so she closed her mouth and went toward the stairs. Jane caught her hand and pulled her close to give her a kiss on the corner of her mouth before she could get away. It was quick, but Maura felt that run through her whole body. She was going to have to watch herself throughout Jane's recovery.

Maura felt that she could give in. It was difficult to keep pushing Jane away. She thought to herself that she really should ask Frankie to spend more time so she wasn't always alone with Jane.

Jane went into the guest room and Maura unsteadily took herself up the stairs. She took her time preparing for bed. Almost reluctant to join Jane, afraid of what might happen, she quietly went down the stairs and entered the guest room. Jane looked at her as she walked in and started to laugh, but the pain stopped her. Her smile remained, however. "Maura, what are you wearing?"

"What, you don't like?" Maura shimmied her shoulders just a bit.

"Well, I've just never seen you in anything like," Stifling a laugh, Jane continued, "like THAT before."

"Jane, you're the one who said it was cold and besides, YOUR mother gave them to me as a gift." Maura climbed onto the bed and lay with her hands across her waist on top of the covers in the thickest heavy flannel pajamas that could not possibly be comfortable for Maura. Jane's mother did give them to her as a practical Christmas gift last year. Truly, she had never worn them before and had never planned to. She only kept them out of respect for Angela, but right then, they were her salvation. Maura needed a good barrier tonight because Jane gave no appearance of slowing her advances toward Maura, her wife.

Maura began to fidget. Jane said, "Maur, I'm not THAT injured, get under the covers with me, c'mon, I'm feeling cold. I need you." There it was again. Jane's pleading "I need you." Maura could not resist even if she tried. Under the covers she went. Jane immediately reached over to tug her closer. Maura turned away and offered her back to Jane who wrapped her arm around Maura. Jane whispered, "Goodnight sweetheart, I love you." before she drifted to sleep.

Maura lay awake for a long time, listening to the sound of Jane's breathing. Thinking about how nice it really felt to be close to Jane, to have Jane's arm around her. Then she started thinking about how crazy all of this seemed. But Dr. Swen did say that Jane shouldn't be confronted about her memory or her idea of reality because it could very well upset her. All Maura wanted was for Jane to be ok. She drifted off herself after a bit but woke up at the sound of Jane heaving into the bucket again. She sat up and reached her hand over and rubbed Jane's back to try and soothe her. Poor thing, Maura thought. She just needs me for a little while longer. I can do this, Maura thought. We can do this.