"Jane..." My voice is basically inaudible, but it causes Jane to look up at me. She smiles brightly in the way she used to, and that's how I realize it truly is her. Tears are the first thing to come, followed by my feet running towards her. She stands and rushes to me as well, pulling me tightly into her arms. My sobs are the only sound to be heard, my body wracking as I cling to her for dear life. She holds me tightly to her, stroking my hair gently and supporting basically all of my weight.

"Ja-Jane...I thought you were dead..." My voice is an awe-filled whisper, and I'm sure only she can hear it as I bury my head into her neck. My lip quivers, and my body shakes uncontrollably.

"Oh Maura...It's okay, sweetheart...The FBI had to keep the fact that I survived a secret, or else the precinct would've been attacked again, and I couldn't let that happen...I'm so sorry that I couldn't have told you sooner, Maura. It breaks my heart to see you like this." She runs her hand up and down my back, kissing my temple, head, and forehead over and over. Some of her own tears fall onto my cheeks and mix with mine. The agents stand and leave the room to give us some privacy, but we don't even notice. I've been so broken these past weeks, and it's finally coming to fruition.

"Jane...Oh I'm so glad you're okay...I have felt so horrible these past few weeks because I had so many things I needed to tell you...that I thought I never would have the opportunity to say..." I sob once more, and she guides me to the couch that she had been sitting on. She sits down, holding both of her arms around me with my head buried into her chest.

"Well, we have all the time in the world now...Tell me what's been bothering you, sweetie."

"Jane...I realized, when I thought you were dead, that I would never get the opportunity to tell you...how I feel about you." My heart stops. How she feels about me? Is this what I've been waiting for since I met this beautiful woman?

"I...I love you, Jane...More than I should love my best friend. I love you more than I've loved any other person before...Even those whom I was romantically involved with. I have never felt more right around anyone else...I mean, you know I can't let anyone else close to me..." She looks down at her hands that are knotted in her lap, but I still maintain my grip around her shoulders with both of my arms. I am the one who begins to shake with sobs now, but these are of happiness. Maura immediately misreads it, standing up and pulling away from me. "Oh shit, I've screwed everything up. I'll have the agents take me home before I let my fucking mouth run." She turns and starts to rush out of the room, but I'm too fast for her. I catch her by the arm, pulling her back to me.

"Maur...Don't be ridiculous. I've been in love with you since I met you...I'm crying because this is so surreal. I never thought I'd hear you say those words. Ever."

She opens her mouth to say something, but just then the special agents rush back in. One of them speaks. "Sorry to interrupt, but we need to relocate asap. There's been sightings of Marino's men from here all the way to Beacon Hill."

"Beacon Hill? Maura lives there." I step protectively in front of Maura, and I feel her hand find its place in mine behind my back. I squeeze it tightly, trying to show my refusal to let her go especially with my latest discovery.

"She'll have to relocate with us, then. We expect to find the men within a month, though." The special agents start to pack up, but Maura speaks, stopping them.

"But wait...If I go with you guys, then Angela and everyone at the station will freak out and file a missing persons report on me. I don't want them to have to go through that." She looks very sad and guilty at the thought of having anyone worry about her.

I turn to look her straight in the eyes, trying to get my point across. "Maura...You have to come with us or else you could be hurt. I do not want to risk that. We'll be back before you know it, and then they'll all know that we're okay, alright honey?" I stroke her cheek gently with my hand.

She nods weakly. "Alright." The men then escort us out of the building and into the unmarked suburban that is parked directly outside the door. Maura and I both get in the back seat, and she settles down in her familiar location close beside me, leaning into me with my arm around her shoulder just as she would before the incident. I hold both of her hands with my free one, feeling her body start to calm down in our new position. The agents say it will be hours before we arrive at the safe house, so I pull Maura even closer as we fall into a deep sleep, the first we've both had since I shot myself.

I wake up before Maura does. I can't help but run my fingers through her hair since her head is lying on my lap, allowing her steady breathing to sooth my spirit. It's now early morning, and the sun has finally risen over the horizon. Trees surround us on all sides, and there is no sign of civilization. The FBI agent informed us we are staying in a cabin used to house top officials from Massachusetts, so we could expect greatness. I'm excited simply because I get to be back with my best friend, not because of the house.

Oh Maura. I continue to stroke her hair lovingly. She's in such a deep sleep that it does not even wake her. I could tell last night when I saw her that she had lost weight even since I saw her at the precinct and that she looked completely unwell. She must not have been eating or sleeping for these two whole weeks...Oh gosh, Maura. I cannot resist, leaning down gently to plant a small kiss on her cheek, holding it for a few moments. I realize that now the possibility of a relationship is on the table and that I might be able to kiss Maura whenever and wherever I want. My heart is warmed as I press another kiss to the top of her head, which finally causes her to stir from her sleep.

She looks up at me as her eyelids flutter open, a look of confusion on her face before a smile replaces it. "Oh...Jane..." She sits up while stretching slightly, then hugging me close to her. Her voice is incredibly soft and quiet. "Our first sleepover in a month just happened in the back of an FBI vehicle...Isn't that something..." Her eyes are still lazily trying to blink their way open. "Where are we?"

"No idea..." I push her hair behind her ear, enjoying the fact that I have her here with me, though I realize I cannot ignore the things that need to be addressed. "Maura, how long has it been since you had a good meal and slept the right amount of time?" I cup my hand around her cheek and look into her eyes with both concern and love, trying not to sound accusatory but instead helpful. It's weird for me to be put in the position of worrying about her health instead of her worrying about mine.

Her eyes instinctively look down at her hands, showing that she knows she hasn't been taking care of herself at all. "I-I don't know." The sadness in her voice is overwhelming.

"Sweetie..." I know Maura has never liked showing any type of affection in front of other people, but since there is a black, opaque, and sound-proof barrier between the back seat and the front, I don't feel bad when I turn my body completely toward her and put my hands on both sides of her face. "Listen to me...When we get to the safe house, you're going to be eating, drinking, and resting regularly...I need my best friend to be in tip top shape." I smile to lighten the mood, leaning in and kissing her cheek in a friendly way.

"Jane..." I look into her eyes to show her I'm listening. "About what we said to each other...What's going to happen between us now?" She looks uneasy, afraid of what I'm going to say.

I push both of my hands through her hair and down to her neck, cupping them right below her hairline. Pulling her closer to me, I whisper just loud enough for her to hear me. "Maura Dorothea Isles, nothing would make me happier than for you to become my girlfriend. The rest of the decision is up to you."

Without a second thought, Maura throws her arms around me, pulling me to where we are body to body, and I am now pressed against the car door. "Jane...I love you so much...I'm not going to waste the time we have together on just being friends. I made that mistake once and almost lost you as a result. I'm not going to make the same mistake again." Just as the words get out of her mouth, my lips are pressed to hers. We hold onto each other so tightly and fiercely as if we both believe we're slipping from each other's grasp. We're desperate in our need for one another's companionship. I cannot believe we didn't put two and two together sooner.

"I love you too, Maura."