Chapter Four: Release

The sound of running water ceases in the adjoining bathroom and minutes later, Maura Isles emerges, hair wrapped in a towel. She is dressed in sweat pants and a t-shirt. Her bare feet make soft sounds as she treads toward the bed where Jane sits rubbing the back of her hands.

Jane looks up and smiles at her friend.

Maura is taken aback. "What?" She questions climbing to sit beside her, back resting against the headboard.

Jane's lips part. "It's just... I don't think I've ever seen you in a t-shirt before."

Maura chuckles, dimples showing. She looks down at herself and pulls the cotton fabric away from her body. "I know." She chimes. "How do you wear this stuff?"

Jane laughs again, the feeling tugging at her stomach tight from her leftover sickness. She continues to rub the backs of her hands, eyes focused on her fingers moving over her skin.

Maura purses her lips together and shifts her weight toward her friend. "Hey," Maura soothes, taking Jane's hands in her own. "It's OK."

Jane looks up at her, eyes brimming, tears threatening to fall. Her breathing increasing, she looks down at Maura's hands covered in the tiny defensive cuts from a scalpel. She shifts her hold placing Maura's hands on top of her own, their palms pressed together.

"This is all my fault." She declares letting her tears fall.

"But I'm OK. It's over." Maura frees one of her hands pressing it against Jane's cheek. "He can't hurt you anymore, Jane. You can't let him win. That's not the Jane Rizzoli I know."

Jane looks up to Maura, her eyes wide with wonderment.

"What?" Maura questions.

"You amaze me."

"Why?"

"You're so calm. So collected." Jane runs her hands through her hair. "Why do I feel like the victim?"

Maura sighs carefully. "Because you were."

Jane searches Maura's face; images of her friend's struggle with her attacker clouding her vision. His hands running the length of her body. Her silent pleas; body writhing. The scalpel threatening in he darkness.

She remembers the way the tape and rope restrained her. How the chair rocked with her. How she felt completely useless while Maura needed her most.

She blinks willing the images to pass from her. She closes her eyes; tears fall on her t-shirt.

"That rat bastard."

She turns away from Maura to hang her legs over the side of the bed. She feels the weight shift on the bed as Maura sidles up behind her placing her arms around her shoulders.

"It's over," Maura hums softly, her warm breath touches Jane's ear. "You need to let go."

"You didn't have to watch." She tries to shake from Maura's grip. "The way he had his hands on you."

"Jane..."

"It's my fault, Maura. And I can never tell you I'm sorry enough."

"Let go, Jane." Maura pulls aside Jane's hair, and presses her cheek to her ear. "Let him go."

Jane surrenders to the feeling in her gut, lets the emotion fall from her shoulders. Feels it tumble out onto the floor, spilling from her; unrelenting. She turns her face into Maura resting against her shoulder.

Maura, palms flat against her friend, strokes her hair drawing her in tight and speaks softly. Jane cannot discern what she is trying to tell her, only the sound of her humming resonates with her; the soft rise and fall of her chest. Time passes before Jane allows her breathing to match her friend's; before the tears finally cease and her grasp loosens.

She breaks from her and takes a deep breath, feeling Maura's touch to her back. She is not aware as Maura leaves her side, and returns moments later from the adjoining bathroom with a glass of water.

Jane stands and pulls back the covers, accepts the glass of water her friend is holding for her.

"Thanks," Jane whispers taking the glass, and sips carefully.

She crawls between the sheets turning out the light on her bedside table. The room is cast in darkness but for the soft light which floods from the bathroom door, left slightly ajar.

Maura, her hair now free of the towel, allows Jane to get settled before crawling in beside her. They lay motionless for a few moments listening to the sounds coming from down the hall.

"We'd probably be more comfortable at your place," Jane says looking at Maura. "Less noise."

Maura smiles, dimples appearing once more. "I'm fine here."

"You know," Jane returns. "Don't think just because you're in bed with me now, that we'll be making a habit of this."

Maura laughs quietly and rolls toward her. "What Jane? You don't want to cuddle." She wraps her arms around Jane, rests her head against her shoulder.

Jane squirms causing Maura to tighten her hold. "God, no." She squirms again as they laugh in unison. "You're simply too clingy."

Their laughing subsiding, Maura still holding tight to her side, Jane permits Maura's offer of console. She sighs feeling Maura relax at her side, her grip loosening. Her breathing has softened and Jane wonders if Maura has surrendered to sleep.

"Maur."

"Hmmm."

"I am sorry."

"Jane..." Maura shifts and looks up to meet Jane's eyes. She is searching for something to say, some kind of reassurance and her lips part. She sighs softly, returning her head to Jane's shoulder. She tightens her grip once more.

"My family will probably be here within the hour."

Jane returns her focus to her hands and she rubs the back of them with her thumbs.

Maura trails her hand down Jane's arm to quiet her hands and entwines their fingers.

"Then this is where we should be."

-Fin

A/N: Thank you for all the kind reviews as I try to sort out how to write these characters. You have been most kind. :)

-Writer Ninja loves you...