It might be slow going, folks, but I don't think things happen overnight. And, like I said, I'm really more of a character writer than anything else. Let me know what y'all think! Thanks for the awesome reviews and sticking with me!
When Maura came back downstairs, feeling relaxed after her shower, her hanging down her back she walked into the living room to find Jane sitting on the couch, TV turned on to ESPN, and her laptop open in front of her.
"Hey," Jane said, shutting the screen quickly. "Well, you look comfortable. How are you feeling?" She indicated for the Me to take a seat on the other end of the couch and flipped over the television to the DVD player. The Star Wars menu was already up and running.
"I'm feeling," Maura wasn't sure how to answer the question, "better," she decided.
"Well, good," Jane responded. "You ready for this?"
Maura nodded.
"I got you some water and some juice. I wasn't sure what you would want."
Maura looked to where Jane was pointing and was touched to see two glasses set on the side table.
"I thought I'd make popcorn later. Your healthy kind without any butter," Jane's face exhibited her clear dislike. Maura smiled. "Maybe you'll be hungry?"
"Maybe," the doctor felt bad. She knew Jane was feeling uncomfortable and unsure. She wished she could do something to help set the detective at ease. "Can we start the movie?"
"Oh, right. Sure." Jane pressed play and leaned back with a happy sigh as 'A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...' began to scroll down the screen.
Maura, too, settled back onto her end of the sofa. She could sense the tension in the room, swirling between the two women. They'd spent many days off curled up on the couch watching television, just hanging out, and Maura was hoping that the normalness of the situation, the routine, would lend itself to diffusing some of the residual awkwardness. She couldn't help herself from sneaking glances at Jane now and then, trying to determine what the other woman was thinking. Jane was usually fairly easy to read; her body language and expressive brown eyes gave her away. But right now, Maura was having trouble decoding the front Jane was presenting. Perhaps she was out of practice, the doctor mused.
She was also aware that Jane was looking over at Maura more often than was warranted. She tried to focus on the movie when she could feel Jane's gaze on her, but it was challenging. All she wanted to do was meet Jane's stare with one of her own. To ask what was going on in the brunette's head.
About an hour in, Maura began to get caught up in the story line. She couldn't help herself from commenting on the probability of the technologies and physics involved several times. Each time the words left her mouth, Maura tensed, afraid she might have annoyed her fellow movie viewer. Nervous that any wrong word or misplaced comment could destroy the relative truce the two had created.
Jane's posture seemed to relax as Maura pointed out the flaws, however. Perhaps the normalcy of the comments, how truly 'Maura' they were made the detective more comfortable. And, after the fourth time it happened and Jane didn't snap, Maura decided to simply relax as well.
The movie ended several hours later and both women, although still sitting upright and apart had both seemed to become calmer in their respective positions.
"Would you like a refill?" Jane asked, indicating the empty water glass in front of Maura.
"Oh, I can get it," Maura started to get up, but Jane pushed her down gently by the shoulder, removing her hand as quickly as though unsure of the contact. Once again, Maura felt the sparking sensation where Jane's hand had been. She wondered if Jane had felt it too this time as the detective seemed to let go rather uncomfortably.
"Let me," she snatched up the glass and headed for the kitchen. "What did you think?" she called. "Want to go for the second one?"
"Sure," Maura called back. She had enjoyed the first film and had no desire to leave the couch. She really was feeling better and felt certain that all of the sleep the day before had helped her body recuperate. Her head was still throbbing at the base of her skull, but she hadn't really expected that annoyance to go away with whichever strain of the flu she had contracted. She rubbed her neck, trying to relieve some of the tension there, but pulled her hands away quickly when Jane reentered the room.
Jane set the glass down, plus one for herself and then went over to change the movie.
"How is your case going?" Maura decided to try small talk.
Jane looked over her shoulder at the doctor. "Fine, I guess. Frost and Korsak are meeting with the families today. If there's anything new or noteworthy, they'll call."
"I thought we were on house arrest," Maura teased.
"You are on house arrest," Jane joked. "Me, I'm free to come and go as I please. Here," she handed Maura the thermometer as she settled back on the couch. "I thought we should keep an eye on your fever, make sure it doesn't jump back up or anything."
"That was thoughtful of you, Detective. Thank you."
"What can I say?" Jane smirked.
"99.4. It's getting better. I would expect it to be gone by this evening if I continue to take it easy."
"Good!" Jane smiled at Maura and Maura couldn't resist smiling back, trying to ignore the fluttering in her stomach. "Ready?"
Maura nodded and Jane pressed play.
Halfway through, the doctor could feel her eyes growing heavy. Her head felt like a ton of bricks had settled on top of it, hyperbole as it may have been. She debated for several moments about asking Jane to pause the movie so she could go up to lay in bed, but decided she didn't want to disrupt the fragile stillness the two found themselves in. Instead, she awkwardly curled herself up on her side of the sofa, her head resting on the throw pillow, her feet pulled up to her side to give Jane her space.
Jane, entirely engrossed in the movie, pulled the blanket off the back of the couch and tossed it over Maura's form, seemingly unconsciously. Maura was touched and she gave Jane's profile a small smile which the detective either missed or purposefully ignored. Jane kept doing little things like that: covering her up, making breakfast, keeping her hydrated. She was also doing huge things as well, things like coming over, taking the day off, electing to spend the entire day sitting on Maura's couch instead of chasing bad guys. Maura wondered if the detective needed a day off as much as she had. She was aware that Jane had been pushing 60 and 70 hour work weeks lately. Even when they weren't speaking, Maura still kept tabs on the detective via Angela, Detective Frost, and sometimes even Lieutenant Cavenaugh. But, even if Jane had needed a 'sick day,' Maura was well aware that it didn't have to include spending hours at her house.
She was feeling incredibly grateful Jane had stayed when she'd asked. That Jane had come over and they had gotten over the first hurdle in rekindling their relationship. That Jane had agreed to even be Maura's friend all those years ago. Maura realized how empty and lonely her life had seemed for the past several months without Jane there, making her laugh, taking her out with the guys, teaching her about baseball. She hadn't fully appreciated how much vibrancy Jane brought with her wherever she went, how her boundless energy filled a room.
Yes, they had to have that talk, but Maura had agreed to wait, to simply bask in one another's company for the day. And she was so happy she discovered to do just that. To sink deeper into the couch cushions, blanket pulled up to her chin, knowing Jane was there.
Maura's legs extended automatically, seeking a more comfortable position. When her feet came into contact with Jane's leg, she pulled back quickly, not having realized how far into Jane's territory she had stretched. Surprisingly, however, Jane reached under the covers, picked up Maura's sock clad feet and deposited them in her lap. It was a reflex, so fast Maura couldn't react. But she sighed happily as she was able to stretch out to her full height. Her body relaxed completely as she felt, rather than saw, JAne lean back into the cushions and swing her own feet up on the coffee table. Normally, the doctor had a strict rule against putting feet where they were not meant to be, but she wouldn't have made Jane move for the world.
The doctor gave in to her exhaustion with a smile on her face, letting Han Solo's sarcastic voice lull her into oblivion.
Once Jane was certain the doctor's breathing had evened out and she was completely asleep, the detective paused the movie and flipped back to ESPN, muting the sound so as not to bother her dreaming companion. She pulled her laptop onto her lap, making sure not to jostle Maura. As Jane had joked earlier, the doctor may have been on house arrest for the day, but Jane could still get some work done. Frost had been emailing her any new information as it popped up and Jane had been looking into several different potential leads.
She'd been pleasantly surprised when Maura had agreed to the movie marathon, figuring the doctor's overworked body would probably crash at some point. She'd gotten up early that morning and gone for a run before the doctor was up. She'd talked to Angela and Korsak, calling in sick for Maura as well. Jane knew she didn't have to, that Maura was a big girl and could take care of herself, but Jane was overprotective of those she loved. She definitely got it from Angela, although the younger woman was less enthusiastic about voicing her opinions and emotions.
She hadn't been able to stop herself from gravitating towards the ME throughout the morning. The quick touches she and the ME had shared had set all of her nerve endings alight, and she was struggling to keep her emotions in check, to make sure she had on a completely nonchalant expression whenever she caught Maura's eye. Jane wasn't exactly sure what was going on, or why she was reacting so ridiculously to being in the doctor's company, but she sure as hell knew that she didn't want the ME to find out. Maura was always so composed and in charge of her emotions. Jane didn't want the ME thinking something that wasn't true, even if she knew the doctor wouldn't just jump to any conclusions. Jane was still certain that she needed to keep her reactions to her herself, whatever they might be indicating.
So, she spent the afternoon on the couch, Maura's feet in her lap, researching several different leads and watching sports. She debated waking the smaller woman up for lunch, but, remembering the way Maura had had to choke down the toast, decided she'd wait. If Maura woke up hungry, Jane would only be too happy to fix something. She wasn't that hungry herself and was certainly too content to consider leaving her position on the couch.
The detective had to admit babysitting the sick woman wasn't half bad. If she had to spend all day on a couch, Maura's was the coziest around. Plus, it was nice to get out of the Brick for a day. Jane had been pulling some fairly crazy hours, trying to keep busy and stay distracted. Work had always been her escape when things in her personal life, with her family or another failed relationship or friendship were draining on her. But now that she and Maura were starting to work things out, she was only too happy for a day off. Plus, this way she could take some time for herself and keep an eye on the medical examiner. It was a win-win.