Disclaimer: these characters in no way belong to me. Too bad….

Chapter Twenty-Six

Jane perched on the side of Maura's bed. She leaned over and brushed a strand of hair out of Maura's face. Just then Maura's eyelids fluttered and she gazed up at Jane.

"Jane," Maura managed to say.

"Wait a second, sweetie, your throat is pretty dry I'll bet," Jane said and reached for the cup of ice water. She guided the straw toward Maura's mouth. Maura took a long drink and settled back against her pillow.

"How are you feeling?" Jane asked. Maura nodded her head, wincing in pain instead.

"Take it easy. You have a concussion and a pretty fierce headache."

Maura opened her mouth to say something but no words came out. Jane looked at her, puzzled.

"I'll try to update you, Maura, but I don't know specifically what you're looking for. Your concussion was caused when you fell hard against the pavement. I'm sorry, I feel responsible for that. I should have put my arm around the back of your head to cushion your fall. The headache is a residue-residual-resin-whatever, it's related to a slight neck strain and the concussion. Yeah I should have just stuck with the word related Maura but I was trying to make sure you understood me."

Despite the pain in her neck and back of her head Maura couldn't help laughing. "Oh, Jane sometimes you're priceless. I love you, you're adorable at times."

"Thanks, Doc, I'm glad I'm here for your entertainment. Personally you scared the hell out of me."

"I'm glad it was me, not you," Maura said softly. Jane studied Maura's face for a moment. "Don't talk like that. I never want to see you hurt."

"What about my head?"

"Yeah, the shot just grazed your head but it's what helped slam you to the ground with such force. You have a nice bandage across the right side of your head. I hope you don't mind but the doctor had to shave the right side of your head," Jane said. Maura's hand shot up to check out her head but Jane grabbed her hand.

"I'm just teasing, Maura. He only had to take off a small amount. I wanted to tease you since you laughed at my vocabulary." Maura stuck her tongue out at Jane. Jane laughed. "I've become quite an influence on you, haven't I?"

A knock on the hospital door caught their attention. Korsak and Frost stood there.

"May we come in?" they asked. Frost carried a large bouquet of flowers. Maura beamed.

"Oh, Barry, they're beautiful, thank you."

"Hey I paid half," Korsak protested. Maura turned to thank him while Jane rolled her eyes at the two.

"Leave it outside, will you? We have a very sick person here and she doesn't need to listen to your crap."

"Yeah, Doc, how did your lobotomy go?" Frost turned to Maura and asked, managing to keep a straight face. Maura just stared at him. Jane erupted in laughter. Maura reached out her hand and slapped Frost's arm.

"I'll be fine, Barry, just as soon as they find a donor for my brain transplant."

"Yeah, Frost, they said you were a perfect match. Ran your DNA after the last physical you had."

"Ha, ha. Funny you two."

"What? You came in here talking about a lobotomy, Frost. Seriously Maura's going to be fine. They're keeping her overnight for observation then she can go home."

"That's good. Doc's too good to keep down for long, anyway. Jane can I see you in the hallway?"

"Sure, Korsak. I'll be right back," Jane patted Maura's hand and followed Korsak outside.

"Jane, we think the shooter is one of the little toadies in the Shannon Clan. We found both bullets imbedded in the brick wall above where Maura's head must have been. We don't know which one of you was the actual target."

"Do you have more on the shooter?"

"We're working that angle, now. Right after the shooting Joey called your office and left a message. Wants you to take the kids this afternoon."

Jane checked her watch. "I'll call Joey, see what he wants and how he seems. Thanks, Korsak. Hey, wait a minute. How did you get so much information? You're retired."

Korsak flipped open his jacket and flashed his badge. He grinned. "Got reinstated by Cavanaugh for this case. Said he needed all the experienced detectives he could find."

Jane hugged Korsak. "Welcome back, Korsak. It's great to have you."

"Yeah, retirement's a little over-rated."

Jane stepped back up to Maura's bed. "Hey, sweetie, I need to call Joey. He wants me to take the kids this afternoon and I want to see how he is. I'll be back in a couple of hours. You be good for the doctors, okay? You know what a pain they can be." Jane kissed Maura goodbye and flashed a grin. Maura's heart fluttered.

"Don't worry, Jane, I'll be here while you're gone," Frost said. Jane thanked him and left.

As soon as she got outside the hospital she called Joey.

"You left a message about the children?" she asked when he answered.

"Uh, yeah, Jane, something's come up and I can't get the kids from school. Can you do that keep them for this evening? "

"Sure. Ma made extra spaghetti and meatballs so they should be fine." Jane ended the call, her heart racing. Her gut told her Joey was up to something. Was he fleeing? Jane asked herself. It was her first thought. Jane called the precinct and spoke with the lead officer on Joey's detail. She asked him if there had been any unusual movements but the sergeant reported none.

"So far as we can tell Detective Sergeant Rizzoli, Mr. Grant has remained inside his home. We've seen him on his phone a couple of times, but no one going in or out. We only saw him take out his garbage."

"Okay, thanks. Wait a minute, this isn't trash night. Grab those containers, Sergeant and bring them back to the precinct."

Jane rushed to her car. She texted Korsak and Cavanaugh and pulled up outside of school just as the students were leaving for the day. Angelo spotted her first and ran into his mother's arms.

"Hi, Mom, see my picture?" he asked excitedly. Jane inspected the painted picture of a fire engine and police car in front of a home billowing black smoke.

"Great picture, Angelo," she said. Caitlyn ran up at that moment.

"Ah that's a baby picture. Mine is much more soph-sopy-mine's better," Caitlyn said proudly. She gets that from me, Jane groaned. At least Maura's going to be a great influence on their education for the next several years. At that thought Jane remembered the task at hand and loaded the kids in the car. She was planning on taking them home then slipping out when Angela came over for dinner.

"So how was your day?" Jane asked her children as she allowed her mind to think things through.

"Great," Angelo said enthusiastically. "We studied about sharks. There was a film telling us about different sharks and the oceans they swim in."

"Sounds wonderful, honey. Caitlyn, anything exciting in your day?"

Caitlyn opened her mouth to speak but Angelo cut her off.

"See Caitlyn, there's the house Daddy took me to. It really does exist," Angelo said excitedly. Caitlyn started to yell.

"Why did Daddy take you there and not me?"

"He said it was for boys only," Angelo puffed up proudly.

"This house over here, Angelo?" Jane asked, trying not to sound too excited. She glanced at the curb for the house number as there was none on the front.

"Yeah. He went down the driveway and parked in the back. There are a lot of good climbing trees back there, Ma. He let me climb on them for the longest time."

"All by yourself?"

"No, he had Curtis watch me so I didn't fall off."

"Who's Curtis?"

"A friend of Daddy's but he must not know Daddy too well because he called him Mr. Shannon."

"Probably just a mistake, Angelo." Jane's heart was racing again. "Hey you guys have homework?"

"Yeah but are we going with you or are we going home?"

"Going with me for tonight. Something came up your Daddy had to take care of."

"Aren't we going to your apartment, Ma?" Angelo asked.

"No, we're staying with Dr. Isles for awhile. I hope you guys don't mind."

"No, we like Dr. Islands," Caitlyn piped up. Jane laughed.

"Dr. Isles, Caitlyn. Actually guys, I gave up the apartment. You have rooms at Dr. Isles' home now."

"Awesome," Caitlyn said. Jane smiled.

The children raced into the house and looked at their new rooms. Jane watched their reactions, choking back a sob when she remembered how thoughtful Maura was to make her children feel at home. Maura in the hospital possibly courtesy of the Shannon Clan. A white hot flash of anger rolled through Jane.

"Kids, settle down and see to your homework. I'm going to make a call." Jane checked that the security alarm had been set and went to the back of the house to call Frost.

Frost listened intently when Jane relayed her information. He agreed that Joey might be trying to run and he also submitted an order for a search warrant for the garbage. A uni was dispatched to keep an eye on the garbage containers at the Grant home until the warrant was obtained.

"How's Maura?" Jane asked.

"She fell asleep about twenty minutes ago," Frost whispered. "She ate some chicken broth and jello so her appetite seems okay."

"Thanks, Frost. I'll be there soon, my mother is coming over to feed the kids and stay with them this evening."

Jane walked back into Maura's hospital room an hour later. Maura was still asleep. She leaned back in the chair next to Maura's bed and closed her eyes. She hoped something happened soon, so this case could be over and they could return to their normal lives. Her eyes snapped open when she heard a sound.

Jane saw Maura leaning toward her, her hand out for Jane to take. Jane leaned forward and grasped Maura's hand with both of hers.

"Welcome back, love," Maura said. "Climb up here with me."

Too tired to argue, Jane complied. They wrapped their arms around each other, Jane on her side to allow Maura more room. Maura settled against Jane and the two fell asleep.

TBC