Catastrophizing is an understatement for what I did the entire ride to the hospital. Did she shoot herself again? Did she survive? What am I going to do without her? What if she dies hating me? Frost supports basically all of my weight with a firm arm around my waist, and I cling to his shoulder. What is wrong with me? Jane's hurt, not me. Still, I cannot seem to calm down. Lucky for me, he's strong enough to basically carry me into the Emergency Room, where we meet Korsak.

"How's she holding up?" Frost asks Korsak the question because I'm clinging to his arm fully now, my head buried into his shoulder with silent tears streaming my face.

I can feel Korsak's concerned look resting on my back, but I don't care. A wave of faintness washes over me as Korsak fills in Frost about Jane. "Surgery...trauma...attack...waiting...bad...We didn't know how to tell Angela." I hold onto Frost still but turn my head around to look at Korsak. His gaze toward me is full of sympathy, and I look down uncomfortably. I don't deserve his sympathy.

Korsak reaches to squeeze my arm reassuringly, noticing how I looked away. "Everything's going to be okay, . Can I do anything for you?"

I shake my head, looking at him briefly as I speak. "I-I just need to see her." I feel incredibly nauseous, moving one of my arms off of Frost's shoulder to clutch my stomach.

"I understand. We're just waiting for the doctor now." They lead me over to the nearest seat, and I thank them with a small whisper before sliding down into 's a pillow in the seat next to me, and I hold my arms around it tightly. I just need to hold something. Korsak sits down beside me, wrapping his arm around me and letting me lay my head on his shoulder.

"Everything's all right, Maura. You need to get some rest. I'll wake you up if we hear anything."

"Thanks, Korsak..." I close my eyes, trying to put my restless mind to sleep.

"Has she been asleep for long, Vince?" I hear a delicate voice that stirs me awake that I recognize to be Angela's, but I keep my eyes closed and listen on.

"Just a few hours...So Jane's out of surgery?" Korsak asks quietly.

Angela sighs, and she reaches for my hand to hold it, stroking my fingers gently. "Yes, the doctors said we could see her now...I've already been to see her, but Maura's actually listed as the next of kin...I think she should go in next." She won't want to see me. Angela squeezes my hand, speaking to me now in a loving tone. "Sweetie, it's time to wake up...Jane is out of surgery."

I open my eyes slowly, sitting up and pulling my hand back from Angela's. "Oh..."

"You need to go see Jane, sweetheart. I'll walk you there." She stands up, pulling me up by my hand.

I again pull my hand back, not intentionally. "Ah-I think I'm just going to go home, now that I know she's alright." I pull my coat back onto my shoulders that I had taken off before my nap and grab my purse, avoiding eye contact with Angela or Korsak.

"Wait a second-WAIT!" Angela grabs my forearm sternly, freezing me in my tracks. I look into her eyes, shell-shocked as she continues in an appalled manner. "You've stayed here all this time, and you're leaving my baby alone right now when she NEEDS you?"

"Angela-Jane is still incredibly mad at me. As long as I know she's okay, that's all that matters. My well-being doesn't matter-"

She interrupts me. "Have you even considered that Jane's well-being depends on whether you stay or not? I know the case hasn't been solved, but now is the time to mend the relationship that you're convinced is broken. This is your best chance. Now, go!" I sadly look back at Korsak, and his expression shows that he agrees with Angela. I give my purse back, nodding solemnly without speaking and going with Angela to Jane's room.

"This is the right thing to do, Maura. Jane loves you...Don't forget that." I nod, thanking her before pushing open the door to Jane's room and walking in slowly.

I step up to the side of her bed as quietly as I can in my stilettos, but the sound still causes Jane to stir. I look over her body; she has severe contusions down her arms that are stitched up, along with the bulk of bandages around her abdomen. From the blunt force trauma. She continues to stir until her eyes open and she looks my way. She clears her throat before speaking in a barely-audible whisper. "There's my girl..." She smiles, blinking lazily a few more times before her eyes fully open. All the while, she never stops looking adoringly into my eyes.

I look down at my shoes, feeling incredibly insecure. "I-I didn't think that you'd want me to visit...Angela made me come."

"Why wouldn't I want you to visit me? Maura..." She reaches for my hand, beckoning me closer to her. "Tell me what's wrong."

"I just...I feel guilty for yelling at you like I did...You were just trying to help me." Tears well in my eyes, and my voice sounds incredibly weak.

"Maura, I was in the wrong. I was the asshole who acted like you couldn't take care of yourself...I just cannot stand the thought of something happening to you..." Her eyes glisten as she looks up at me. "Please, sweetheart...It's been hell being away from you."

My face crumples up as I speak again with the final culmination of my fears from today, the tears finally flow as I sob once, twice, and multiple times. "I'm so scared, Jane." Jane immediately reacts, sitting up, even though she really shouldn't, and pulling me into a hug, my head buried into her neck as she strokes the back of my head. "Whoever killed my aunt is out there for me...and then they attacked the only person who cares about me." I sob again, and I feel her lips press to my temple and my cheek.

"Maura, I am not the only person who cares for you...There's Ma, Frost, Korsak...all of us...And I know that you are able to take care of yourself...I admire how strong you are, how strong you've always been. I just want you to know that I want to protect you...I know it's going to be hard for us to go from being so independent to being together, but I know that it's a change that I so need to make. I need you."

"Jane...You've always had me." I stop sobbing in order to press a life-changing kiss to Jane's lips. She responds with running a hand through my hair and pushing me more into her, deepening our kiss even more.

We pull back to where we are forehead to forehead, her arms still around me. Our moment is only interrupted when we hear a loud gasp behind us. We turn and look to see Angela, standing there with tears streaming her face and her hands clasped over her mouth.

"Ugh, MA! Can't you ever knock?! How long have you been standing there?" I stand back up, though Jane keeps a tight grip on my hand, refusing to let me go.

"Ahh, there's the Jane I know and love..." Angela walks over, throwing her arms around Jane's neck and then my own. "I knew you two would work it out. You always do."

"Ma, is this any of your business?" Jane is her normal, snappy self, but her facial expression shows it is out of love, not contempt. Angela sighs, excusing herself back out and leaving us alone again. I turn back to look at Jane, realizing that it is almost 10 o clock.

"I should let you get some rest..." Jane's face falls, her looking incredibly unhappy. "But I have a question first."

She looks intrigued. "And what would that be, darling?" She runs her fingertips over my palm and then squeezes my hand gently.

I take a deep breath. "So...I'm listed as your next-of-kin?"

"Yes...I figured if anything happened...I'd need you by my side." I realize that she's hinting at me trying to leave her earlier and again now.

I lean forward, kissing Jane's forehead reassuringly. "I'll need to change my next-of-kin as well...I'm going to go home to shower and grab your things, and then I'll come back to spend the night here with you and take you home in the morning. Alright?" Jane nods meekly. I know she feels out of her element in not wanting to be alone, but I want to do my best to protect and support her now...I know just how much she needs me. I kiss her softly before leaving, knowing full well that I am going to rush back.