First I have to thank every one of you. I can't believe how many people have enjoyed this story. I also need to give a shout out to the person who I based Sophie off of, coz she encouraged me to write again. I've gotten to know some of you with the reviews and messages (Dori). Now I will tell you there will be a few things left open mainly Jane's mom and Tommy. Now before you start yelling at me, the reasoning is it will allow me to eventually do a sequel. I'd like to see what the show does with Tommy before I write him in, if I do. Plus it's gonna take Jane's mom time. I hope you like the last chapter. Thank you again.
"The beginning is always a good place to start," Jane suggested.
"Well the beginning is really two months ago," Angela replied.
"Two months ago?" Isabella asked.
"Yea, I didn't tell you the whole story. It was my doing that caused Beth to be fired."
"Why was it your fault?" Isabella asked.
Angela just looked at Isabella. She wasn't staring her down, or anything. She was having a silent conversation with her fiancé. Isabella smiled, and looked down at their intertwined hands.
"I know, you hate it when people interrupt you," Isabella replied.
Angela smiled, "I love how well you know me." She gave Isabella's hand a light squeeze.
"Sorry to interrupt this moment," Jane interrupted.
"As cute as it is," Maura interjected.
"Exactly, but could you continue," Jane finished.
The two other women laughed at the comments made. "Sorry we sometimes get carried away," said Isabella.
"Ok back to the night Beth was fired. You all know that Beth had given Jane too much pain medication. When a medication error occurs the first thing we're supposed to do is call the pharmacy, then the physician. Well I called the house supervisor first. You met her Maura, Lucy. Beth had messed up one too many times. She had even gone back on orientation at one point to help her. There had been at least two other med errors in the past. But they were minor, and luckily there were no adverse effects. What happened to Jane was the third strike. And what she had done could've killed Jane."
Maura reached for Jane's hand and gave it a small squeeze. Both Isabella and Angela noticed the action of affection. Angela continued her story.
"So that night Beth was terminated. When she left that night she did give me the nastiest look. If looks could kill I would've been dead. I heard through some of my co-workers that Beth lost her license. Since then has been out of work. She couldn't be a nurse anymore, but couldn't even find a job at someplace like Wal-Mart. She was spiraling. She was there at Jacque's. I didn't even notice she was there until Sophie pointed her out to me. She was staring me down."
"Sophie said you got really quiet when she pointed her out," Jane added.
"Yea, I didn't want to get into what happened to you. I felt sorry for the girl. I tried to enjoy my girl's night out, but she would not stop staring at me. It was unnerving. After the show I had to go to the restroom. I told Jeri I'd meet her at the train. Jeri's friend Laura had to catch a train that left sooner than ours. When I got out of the stall Beth was there. It was like she was waiting for me. She wasn't behind me waiting for the bathroom, but she was the next person waiting for the bathroom. I wasn't in there long."
Isabella chuckled at the comment.
"She rushed past me, to get into the stall. I heard her get sick, and I just couldn't in good conscience leave her if she was sick. It didn't see anyone come in with her. So I checked on her. She had me help her get cleaned up, and walked out with her. She couldn't stand. She was literally hanging off of me as I walked her outside. She asked me where her friends were. I didn't know if she even went to the club with anyone. So I lied, telling her they were gone. Then…"
Angela diverted her eyes down. Remembering what happened next. Jane moved closer to Angela and placed her hand on her shoulder.
"Take your time," Jane whispered.
Angela took a slow deep breath, until she felt slight pain in her chest. Trying to prevent herself from crying. "Beth wrapped both her arms around me, which didn't help her balance. She tripped, and slammed me up against the wall of the alley way. I had hit my head from the force." Angela took another breath and swallowed the lump forming in her throat. She was afraid of Isabella's reaction to what Beth did next. "She then tried to kiss me. When I tried to push her away, she grabbed my arms and pinned them above my head. I thought… I though… she was going to rape me."
Isabella stroked Angela's hair comforting her, and encouraging her to keep going. Angela smiled at the response of her fiancé. She was trying to comfort her fiancé without hurting her, or doing too much PDA.
"Instead she punched me in my stomach, then my face. I fell from the pain, and that's when she took my jacket. From watching me all night, she must've figured out that I keep everything in my jacket. Then she got on top of me and continued to punch me. Then she stood and kept kicking me. I tried to get away. Then I heard someone yell, that's when she finally stopped. Then Jeri was there. I told her to get you."
"If Beth didn't rape you, how did you get vaginal bruising?" Maura asked when Angela finished her story.
Angela clenched her jaw, as she fought back tears. She shifted in the bed feeling the pain go through her body. "She kicked me as hard as she could there. It was at that point I let out a very loud scream, which Tim must've heard."
"I think I've got everything that I need," said Jane.
"Now I told you my part. Can you answer my question?"
"Yes. Beth was arrested for what she did."
"How did you figure it out?"
"A hunch, and when we went to question her she tried to run. We were able to find the cloths she was wearing the night of the attack."
"What about the things she stole?"
"Isabella didn't tell you?" Jane asked.
Angela turned her attention to the other brunette. "Tell me what?"
"That the stolen items were returned," Jane replied.
"Ok…" Angela asked, not taking her eyes off Isabella.
Isabella took a deep breath. "While I was here with you, Beth brought the gun back to the apartment. Then put your wallet and keys in your car."
"What? She was in our place? What if you'd been home?"
"Shhh, it's ok baby. I wasn't. And with the knowledge that your attacker had access to our place, I refused to go there alone. Jane and her partners had escorted me back when we found the items. She even relocked the apartment when she left. Probably to frame me, but because she came to our place she did help the detectives." Isabella reassured.
"What does she mean?" Angela turned her attention to the detective.
"Well, when she put the items in your car. Beth left a fingerprint. It helped us to catch her."
"Thanks Jane, for what you did for me, and for Isabella."
"It's what I do. You took care of me and Maura."
"Maura and me," Dr. Isles corrected. "I'd think after two months together your grammar would've improved."
Jane rolled her eyes.
"Two months? Living together yet?" Angela asked.
Jane looked down. "Ahh, not yet, but we're looking. Are we that obvious?"
Angela laughed. "Well I knew something was going on with you two back when you were hospitalized. I do pay attention to detail. Also Isabella might've mentioned something."
Jane was confused as to how Isabella knew. She looked at Maura, who was smiling sweetly.
"Six months," Isabella said out of nowhere.
"No a year," Angela retaliated.
"Six months? A year? Care to elaborate?" Jane asked turning her attention back to the couple.
"Until you two are engaged," Angela answered.
Jane's mouth dropped. She didn't know what to say, it made her nervous.
"Well, I think we should get going," Maura said taking Jane's hand.
"Yea," Jane said letting Maura lead her to the door.
"On your way out can you send in Sophie and Jeri?"
"You sure that's a good idea? I mean your mom was pissed when I told her you wanted to speak with Jane first," Isabella asked.
"I have to see Jeri. You know she hate's hospitals. And I know she is more upset about what happened than you are. I mean she was the one that found me."
"I bet the last thing you said to her didn't help," Jane said at the door.
"What is she talking about?" Isabella asked.
Angela's eyes went wide. "Well uh."
"Angela," Isabella said sternly, crossing her arms.
Angela looked over at Jane, silently asking for privacy. Jane led the way out of the room and closed the door. Jane stayed by the nurse's station waiting.
"What are you doing?" Maura asked.
"I'm waiting."
"What are you waiting for?"
"I'm waiting for Angela to tell me to get Jeri and Sophie. I didn't know Jeri didn't tell Isabella the last thing she said before she passed out."
"What was it?"
"Tell Isabella I love you."
Tears formed in Maura's eyes. She turned and looked at the girls. She saw Isabella crying, and crawled into bed with Angela. The nurse was moving her hand up and down the brunette's back, trying to console her.
"What was the last thing that went through your mind, before you lost consciousness?" Maura asked Jane.
Jane grasped Maura's other hand. Holding both she answering, "You."
"Me?"
"Yea you."
Maura leaned up and placed a chaste kiss on the detective's lips. She wrapped her arms around Jane's waist; resting her head on the detective's chest. Jane wrapped her arms around her girlfriend. After a few minutes in their embrace, Jane glanced over at Angela. Isabella had stopped crying, but stayed in her fiancé's embrace. Angela gave Jane a nod. Jane released the blonde in her embrace.
"Come on Maura," she said taking her hand.
The two headed towards the electronic door. The family crowded around them.
"Where's Isabella?" Jodi asked.
"Angela asked me to get Sophie and Jeri," Jane answered.
The family started talking all at once. Jane raised her hands. "They're doing Angela a favor by allowing her friends to see her. Also they were the last ones to see her before she was attacked. I know you all were scared and concerned for Angela. But their anxiety was heightened because of that little fact."
The family got quiet. Jane didn't know how much she said was true, but it did the trick. Sophie and Jeri made their way to towards Jane.
"Thanks," Sophie said walking past the detective to her friend.
Jeri stopped, and gave Jane a hug. The detective was surprised by the action. She didn't have time to hug her back before the girl let go. Tears were flowing freely from Jeri's eyes, "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Jane replied.
Maura watched the girl walk past her into the ICU. She went to room four. Jeri paused at the door, before she practically jumped on Angela. Maura smiled at the interaction. She finally closed the door. Maura took Jane's hand and lead the way out of the hospital.
"What are we doing back here?" Jane said getting out of her car.
Maura had been persistent in driving when they left ICU. They were back at the last house they were touring before Jane got the call about Angela.
"We're back here because I have a good feeling about this place," Maura said walking to the house. She walked to the mailbox and took out a set of keys.
"How did you know the keys were there?" Jane asked, as Maura opened the door.
"I may have sent Mary a message when we were on the way to the hospital. She agreed to leave me the keys so we could have another chance at a tour."
"That's not exactly comforting," Jane replied.
"How is that not comforting?"
"How many people has she done that for? I mean many houses could get ripped off by her doing that."
"She doesn't always do this. I've known Mary for years. She helped me find the place I'm living in now. She also helped me sell my parent's place when they passed away. She trusts me, and I'll be returning the keys to her tomorrow. Now come on. You've only seen the hallway," Maura said pulling Jane into the living room.
Maura led the way around the house. They've seen every nook and cranny for the first and second floor. They were back in the hallway, when Maura asked, "Thoughts?"
"It's nice," Jane replied.
"Well there is one more thing you need to see." Maura lead Jane to the basement.
Jane was impressed by the newly redone area.
"Now what are your thoughts?"
"Is there something you have planned for the basement?"
"No, you do."
"Now I'm confused."
"This will be your space. The only thing that you cared about was having a place in the city, which this place is. And what you displayed last week, you want a space for your things. There are enough rooms so when we can decide which bed we'll use, the other will go into one of the spare rooms. This space down here will be for your living room set. This will be your space; you can watch your games. A place you can get away or whatever you want."
Jane smiled at Maura's speech. She took Maura's hands in hers. "This was your plan from the start, wasn't it?"
Maura laughed, "Maybe."
Jane kissed Maura. "Thank you."
"We have a place?" Maura asked
Jane pulled Maura into a hug. " We have our place."
