Thank you again for your comments. It makes me want to write so much more. I hope you all like this next chapter. Still building their feelings, but plus side we're getting closer to Jane being discharged, lol. Enjoy.
Jane and Maura did not sleep much that night. Every few hours someone was coming into the room. They checked her vital signs, reconnected her to the IV, and asking if she needed anything. Maura figured the nurse was new because she kept asking Jane if she needed to pee. Jane was getting annoyed by the time the nurse came back yet again to draw from her line. Maura got out of bed to let the nurse do her job. She again asked Jane if she needed to pee.
"If I did, I'd tell you. Plus where am I gonna go. I'm kind of connected to the wall," Jane snapped at the nurse.
"We could get you a bedpan or bedside commode," the nurse offered.
"I'm not peeing in the bed, or next to it. I'll wait for the x-ray and the doctor. Thank you very much."
The nurse didn't say anything. She just left once she had enough blood.
"Jane, did you have to be so rude?"
"Maura, you know I'm bitchy when I'm overtired."
Maura sighed, going to the closet. "I'm going to get changed since there's no way I'll be able to sleep now. You ok Jane?"
"Yea, go beautify yourself. I'll just lie here," Jane said sounding pitiful.
Maura smiled shaking her head. She put the bag back on the floor. She turned back walking to Jane's bed. When she reached the edge of the bed, she got on her hands and knees crawling up to the head of the bed. Jane held her breath confused again by her friend's actions. She reached the top, placing a kiss on Jane's cheek. She moved from her cheek to her ear whispering, "Don't look so pitiful."
"It got you back to bed didn't it?"
Maura got off the bed, "No. It was just so pathetic that I had to give you something for your efforts." She smiled big before grabbing her bag and heading to the bathroom. Jane heard the water running for the shower. "That bitch," Jane muttered to herself. She was jealous because she hasn't taken a shower since she's been admitted.
"Radiology," said the voice by the door.
"Come on in. You guys sick of taking x-rays of my chest yet?" Jane teased.
The man chuckled. He opened his mouth to retaliate but didn't know what to say.
"It's ok, it's just a joke. Come on, let's do this," Jane said putting the head of the bed up, leaning forward waiting for the slide.
He placed the slide behind her, positioned the machine in front of Jane before grabbing the button again. "Ok Jane hold your breath. Three…Two…One," beep. "Ok all set," he said walking back into the room.
"Thanks buddy. See you tomorrow same time?" Jane asked.
"Sure," he said pushing the white machine out of the room.
Jane put the head of bed back down, lying flat on her back. She lied there thinking of what to do, but it didn't take long for sleep to take her over again.
"Hey Jane, do you…" Maura stopped when she stepped out of the bathroom, seeing her friend sleeping again. She was clean, dressed, and styled.
She stood there watching her friend sleep. She was debating on waking her up or not. She didn't have to decide because Dr. Millan walked in.
"Morning Jane, Dr. Isles," she greeted both women.
"Morning Dr. Millan," Maura responded.
"Mornin. So what's the verdict doc?" Jane asked rubbing her eyes.
"X-Ray looks good. We're going to disconnect you from the wall, putting the chest tube to water seal. May I?" the doctor asked, putting the ear pieces of her stethoscope to her ears.
"Go ahead."
"Sound good," she said moving to her dressings. She only lifted the dressings to take a peak this time. "Ok any questions?"
"Same as yesterday, when can I go home?" Jane asked again.
The doctor laughed. "Day after tomorrow; depending on how your lung does."
"Damn, I was shooting for tomorrow."
"Sorry. We take every precaution. Anything else?"
"No I'm good. Thanks doc."
Dr. Millan left to go find the nurse. Jane turned her attention to her friend, "Did you notice something different this morning?"
"You mean she didn't change your dressing, and the nurse wasn't in here," Maura replied.
"Yes."
"The regular floors are different than the ICUs. The nurses here have more patients, so they can't assist the doctors as much. I also think the nurse you had last night was new. She kept asking you to pee, she seemed nervous," Maura laughed.
"Yea, I was ready to kill her this morning. I bet you that when she comes back in to change my dressings, and disconnect me from the wall. She's gonna ask me if I need to pee."
"Probably."
"You know you totally called it."
"Called what?" Maura grabbed the chair to sit next to Jane's left side.
"You said I'd be put to water seal for a day before they take the tube out. You called it."
Maura laughed, "That was me just telling you the facts."
Jane was going to retaliate but the nurse came back in with dressing supplies. "Ok I'm going to change all your dressings and disconnect you from the wall. Do you –"
"Need to pee?" Jane finished. "Yes as a matter of fact I do. Once you're done changing me, and disconnect me to the wall I'll go pee."
The nurse changed Jane's dressings in silence. She disconnected Jane from wall suction and the IV. "Do you –"
"Need help? No, Maura can help me."
"Ok, just give me a call when you're done so we can see how much you went," the nurse said walking out.
"Jane you should be nicer to the nurse."
"Sorry. But did she really have to ask me every two hours if I need to pee?"
Maura didn't retaliate. She stood up pushing the chair out of the way. She walked to the other side of the bed picking up the atrium to the chest tube. "Ready?"
Jane got out of the bed, holding the back of her gown to the bathroom, with Maura in tow. When Jane reached the toilet she turned around with her hand extended to Maura. "Give that to me. I can still pee by myself."
Maura opened her mouth to speak, but decided against it. She put the atrium on the floor instead and walked out of the bathroom closing the door behind her. She sat in the chair she moved earlier waiting for Jane to finish. She heard her grunt and moan through the closed door.
"Maura!" came out of the bathroom.
Responding to her name, she walked over to the bathroom opening the door. Jane was standing in front of the sink, waiting for her friend. She pointed to the atrium with her good arm. "I can't pick it up."
Maura laughed at her friend, reaching for the atrium. "You know you could've just asked."
"I did."
"No you called me and said you can't pick it up. You could've said, 'can you pick this up for me?'"
The walked out of the bathroom bickering about the way Jane asked for help. Jane sat on the edge of the bed. "Just put that down, I have to call the nurse."
She reached for the call light pushing the red button waiting for someone to answer. "Can I help you?"
"Yes, let the nurse know I peed."
Maura shook her head. It wasn't long before he CNA came in. "Did you have to go to the bathroom?" she asked confused.
"No. I already went. The nurse wanted to know how much I went."
The CNA nodded heading to the bathroom and came back out. "Do you need anything else?"
"Yes. I need stuff to get washed up."
"Do you need help getting washed?" she asked at the doorway.
"No, I got her," she replied pointing to her friend.
"Jane you really should ask me for help," Maura said from her seat.
"Sorry Maura. Will you help me get washed up?" Jane asked sarcastically.
"Yes, I'll help you. You want to use their soap and shampoo or mine?"
"Hmm," Jane was thinking when the CNA came back. In one hand was a pink tub with toiletries, and in her other arm was towels, washcloths a hospital gown, and a pair of socks. "Do you want me to put them in the bathroom?" she asked.
"Ah yea, can I see the soap and shampoo?" she asked extending her left hand.
The CNA went into the bathroom to put everything down, walking back out with the two requests. "You know you can't shower with that chest tube, right?"
"Yes. I know, thank you," Jane said taking the items from the CNA. She left without another word, leaving the friends alone.
Jane opened up the soap and shampoo, taking a whiff of both. "Come here," she ordered her friend. "Please."
Maura went to sit by her friend. Jane took a deep breathe. "Mmm. You smell good. Better than this stuff. Would you mind?"
"You could've asked for them you know," Maura said standing to get the toiletries from her bag.
"I know. It was just easier to smell you," Jane said with a smile.
Maura got the items from her bag. Walked over to Jane's table taking an empty Styrofoam cup. Then grabbed the chair she had been sitting in, dragging it into the bathroom. Jane had no idea what she was doing. Her friend came out of the bathroom a few seconds later. She went directly to Jane's atrium picking it up. "Ready?"
Jane walked into the bathroom to see the chair in front of the sink. The back was up against it, with a towel on the seat. Now she understood what her friend was doing. She sat down leaning back to place her hair in the sink. Maura placed the atrium next Jane before going to stand next to the sink.
Jane closed her eyes, feeling her friend's hands through her hair. Feeling her massage her head; working in the shampoo and conditioner. "This feels so good," Jane muttered to her friend. "A shower would've felt better, but this is second best."
"Thank you," Maura said turning off the water. She grabbed a towel to wrap Jane's hair. "Sit up."
Jane did as she was told, letting her friend dry her hair. She then heard the water running again. Maura had placed the bucket in the sink filling it with soapy water. Once it was filled to her satisfactory she turned the water off placing some of the washcloths in the water. "Hold your arm," she directed her friend.
"No please?" Jane asked.
"Please," Maura said reaching for the Velcro of the sling.
Jane did as she was told, letting Maura take the sling off. Then she turned her attention back to the sink. Turning the faucet back on, and wetting a washcloth putting different soap on it. Maura held the washcloth in front of Jane's face. "Here, wash your face. I put facial cleanser on it."
Jane didn't bother arguing with her friend. She did as she was told, while her friend washed her back. She handed it back to her friend leaving her hand open for another washcloth. Maura handed her another one, waiting for her to finish before handing her a towel. She went to the front of Jane; she stood there for a minute thinking.
"What's goin on up there Maura?"
"What can you do?"
"Meaning…"
"What can you wash yourself?"
Jane looked down at herself. Her choice would've been everything, but she knows that's not possible. "This area," Jane said using her left hand indicating her entire midsection.
Maura nodded before going behind Jane again. She unsnapped the sleeves of Jane's gown. She picked up a washcloth and continued to help Jane get washed up. The doctor started from her shoulders moving down her left arm. "Lift," she ordered.
Jane used her right arm to hold her gown up while her friend washed her underarm. Maura did her best to not look at her friend as a piece of meat. Knowing the only thing in her way was the gown. She dried the left arm before going to the right. Jane switched arms keeping her gown up. "Can you move it?" her friend asked.
"I don't know."
Jane slowly moved her arm away from her abdomen. She grunted as the pain shot from her shoulder up her neck. "Ok that's enough," Maura said putting her hands up.
"How is that enough?"
"I'll make it work, don't hurt yourself," Maura said holding Jane's arm.
She quickly washed Jane's arm and dried it with one hand. Slowly she placed it back in its original position, trying to not hurt her friend. Next she turned her attention to Jane's legs, starting from the top. She could very easily see up Jane's gown, and was tempted. Maura kept her eyes on her hands, to resist the temptation. Once her legs were cleaned, she opened the package with the socks placing them on Jane's feet. Maura stood up picking up the clean gown. She was tying the strings at the top, and snapping the sleeves. "I'll step out to let you finish up. I'll leave the gown on the doorknob for you."
"Thanks Maura."
Maura closed the door behind her when she exited the bathroom. She didn't want to go far, because she knew Jane would be yelling her name again. She took the opportunity to get in touch with Jane's current and former partner. She went to the closet to grabbing her phone from her purse. The screen showed four missed calls and voicemails. She had seen three missed calls the day before from Korsak. She hasn't had the time to listen to them or let them know Jane was ok.
Maura was about to text Korsak, but stopped herself. She remembered that he barely knew how to use the phone, let alone receive messages. Scrolling through her contacts, Maura decided to call the older detective.
"Korsak," the male voice picked up after two rings.
Maura walked over to the window, so Jane couldn't hear. "Hi Korsak, it's Maura. Sorry I haven't called sooner."
"It's alright Maura. How's Jane doin?"
"She's doing really well. She's no longer in the medically induced coma. She was transferred to a regular floor yesterday."
"Why didn't you tell me sooner? Frost and I would've come to see her."
"She asked me not to. She doesn't want you two to see her like she is."
"That sounds like Jane. Can you at least tell me where she is? We'll send her some flowers or something."
"I can't. Can't risk you coming here surprising her. I wanted to at least let you know she's ok."
"Maura!" Jane yelled from the bathroom.
"I have to go Korsak. Jane needs me. I'll call you tomorrow. Jane said she'd be ok if you and Frost visit when they take the chest tube out, ok?"
"Ok. Tell Janie we're all wishing her well and Jo misses her. By the way Bass misses you too Dr. Isles."
"I miss him, and will do," Maura said hanging up the phone.
She opened the bathroom door. Jane was standing with the gown draped around her neck. She managed to get her arms into the sleeves, but couldn't get them to her shoulders. Maura walked up to Jane, fixing appearance. She stepped behind Jane to tie the strings near her waist. But not before she got a glimpse of Jane's tan bare bottom. Maura tried not to gasp at the view, which she enjoyed. She moved back to the front of Jane helping her arm back into the sling. "Good as new," Maura said when she was finished.
"Hardly," Jane replied.
They exited the bathroom, and Jane sat again on the end of the bed. Maura put the atrium down next her. Then walked to the other side of the bed; she got on her hands and knees behind Jane to comb her hair. Jane again closed her eyes, feeling her friend work her fingers through her hair again. She slowly worked out all the knots out trying her best not to hurt her.
"Can you put it in a ponytail for me?" Jane asked keeping her head forward.
"Of course," Maura got off the bed going back to her duffle bag. She rummaged through until she found elastic for Jane's hair. She went to original position behind Jane, finishing up her hair.
"How do I look?" Jane asked sarcastically.
"Gorgeous," Maura replied behind Jane.
"You don't have to flatter me. I know I can't work the johnny look," Jane retorted.
Maura got off the bed, and went back into the bathroom to reclaim her chair.
She sat down in front of Jane, taking the left hand in hers. "I'm not flattering you Jane. I'm stating a fact. You are a gorgeous woman. Anyone would be lucky to have you."
"Anyone?"
"Yes anyone."
"You normally say any man, not anyone." Jane pointed out.
"Well… ah… it's true. I mean when you went undercover at Merch. There were a lot of women who wanted you," Maura said trying to cover up her slip.
"Are you implying that I may be gay Maura?" Jane said raising an eyebrow.
"Well according to Alfred Kinsey, most people are not strictly homosexual or heterosexual. He devised a scale, known as the Kinsey scale. It is a six point scale ranging from exclusively homosexual to exclusively heterosexual and –"
"Talking Google, stop, please. I get it," Jane interrupted holding up her hand.
"Sorry. I sometimes can't help it," Maura said with a smile.
"I know. Although sometimes I think you do it on purpose."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean, I sometimes think you go off on your knowledge tangents to distract me."
"From what?"
"I don't know, how about the slip up you made earlier?"
Maura was lost for words. She had in fact started to talk about the Kinsey scale to distract Jane. Jane knew she caught Maura. She was trying to figure her out. She wanted to know if the dream she had in ICU was real. The more she flirted and teased Maura the more she was convinced it was true.