Just a short little snippet to get the week off to a good start. Hope y'all are sticking with me on this one. The next chapter's a long one! Let me know what you're thinking.
Jane closed the lid on the glass storage container and replaced the soup in the fridge. That had been...unexpected. She still couldn't really believe they'd both just apologized. She'd never imagined it would be so easy. And sure, it didn't magically make everything better: Jane was still hurt and angry, Maura was still sick, and probably still upset, too, but Jane would take it. Baby steps. For once in her life, Jane Rizzoli was pleased with a couple of stupid little baby steps. She even caught herself smiling like a maniac about it. Ridiculous.
She flopped down on the couch and flipped on Maura's flatscreen. The detective attempted to focus on the game highlights from the night before, keeping one ear cocked in the direction of the bedroom, but she kept getting distracted by her thoughts. She couldn't get the image of Maura waking up from her nightmare earlier out of her mind.
The blonde had seemed so frightened, almost like a small child. And just now, when she'd been falling back to sleep, she'd asked Jane not to leave. The detective had been planning on heading home as soon as Angela got back; she had to let Jo Friday out after all. Jane decided she should stay though, so when Maura woke next, she'd still be around.
She picked up her phone and dialed the third number on her speed dial. "Frankie?" Her brother had a midnight shift that night. "Hey, could you do me a huge favor?" She groaned inwardly, "In it for you? Hell, just be thankful I'll admit to being related to you. Haha, very funny," she said sarcastically. "Can you swing by and let Jo out on your way in tonight? I'm not sure what time I'll be home...Thanks, little bro." A pause. "Not a date. No! Mind your own damn business," she snapped.
Jane didn't know why she cared so much if her brother found out she was at Maura's. He would know soon enough anyone since Angela knew. Her mother would most likely be shouting it from the rooftops for all of Boston to hear as soon as she discovered that her girls might be on the way towards a reconciliation. He would definitely find out, but Jane didn't want to tell him just yet. There was still the chance that Maura would rescind her apology or have a change of heart, and Jane couldn't take the chance of looking like a fool in front of her younger brother.
"Listen, just let Jo out for me, okay? I'll fill you in later. Mhmm. Bye," she ended the call.
Now what? No news from Frost and Korsak meant they didn't have any new information. She considered calling, but figured they'd check in if they needed her. Instead, she stood and stretched. Maybe she'd go peek in on Maura again. Just to make sure the doctor didn't need anything.
The small woman was sleeping peacefully when Jane poked her head in. Good. She could go back downstairs now and veg out in front of the TV. Relax, she growled at herself, still watching Maura. C'mon, Rizzoli. Downstairs.
But the thought that Maura might have another nightmare, or wake thinking Jane had gone home when she'd promised to stay, that this whole day had been a dream, made Jane anxious. After shifting from foot to foot for several minutes, she stepped inside the darkening bedroom and closed the door behind her. She walked over to the right side of the bed, put her gun and badge in the drawer there, and climbed slowly onto the mattress. She curled up on her side, facing Maura.
Jane watched the doctor sleep, trying not to think about how weird and creeping she was being. Trying to convince herself that this was real and that she and Maura were on their way to some sort of truce. That she was laying in bed with her best friend, playing nurse. That she'd finally be able to find out what was causing the doctor to run herself ragged, and, if it was her own fault, that she might have the opportunity to put things to rights.
Jane felt her eyelids get heavy as she found her own chest rising and falling in time to Maura's. She leaned over, and, without thinking about it, gently pressed her lips to Maura's temple. Jane hated signs of affection, kissing, hugging, everything. So, maybe it was weird that she'd never given the amount of physical contact in her relationship with Maura a second thought.
With Maura, Jane didn't mind the occasional hug or kisses on the cheek goodbye, or even holding hands now and then. She usually just went with whatever felt right. And as her lips left the ME's forehead, she smiled slightly. Yes, this was starting to feel right again.
"I'm right here. And I'm not going anywhere," Jane vowed. She snuggled into Maura's 10000 count Egyptian cotton sheets and allowed herself to drift off.
When Jane next woke, it was completely dark in the room, the clock read 3:10 am. At some point, she must have shifted in her sleep, because she was now only inches away from the passed out doctor. Her hand was resting on Maura's outstretched arm. Jane didn't move from her position, but instead watched her bed partner. The detective was surprised she'd managed to fall asleep for so long, and that Angela hadn't come barging in to wake them up when she got home. Oh well.
Maura's breathing was becoming more rapid and she began shifting uncomfortably in her place. This must have been what woke Jane in the first place. Maura's lips were pursed in a frown and as her movements became more agitated, she began to mumble unhappily. Jane assumed it was another bad dream, and when she caught her name in the mumbling, she was sure. Not wanting to completely wake the doctor, simply calm her, Jane shifted closer and rubbed her hand soothingly up and down Maura's arm.
She started whispering to the other woman. Just sweet little comforts. She wasn't even sure what words were leaving her mouth, simply a continuous litany of reassurances. And it appeared to be working. Maura eventually stilled her rustlings and her body relaxed. Jane didn't stop whispering until she was sure the dream had passed and the smaller woman's breathing had completely evened out.
Maura suddenly rolled over, tossing a hand across Jane's stomach. Jane stopped breathing, unsure what to do. She could try and scoot away, or she could simply lay there, content that Maura was comfortable and safely out of her nightmare. Choosing the second option, Jane waited until the doctor's face regained the passive peacefulness of deep sleep, then allowed herself to slip back into unconsciousness as well.