A/N: Well, I do have to say the response to the last chapter was far better than I imagined it would be. Thank you to each of you who left me feedback, both positive and negative. You were all kind and constructive, and I am immensely thankful for that. Let's have Jane and Maura work through this now, shall we? :)

I had been upstairs for a while, right at the edge of sleep. I had let myself cry for the first time in weeks, and it exhausted me. I was cold and sore, and I just wanted to disappear.

Somewhere in the back of my mind I heard someone walking around upstairs. I heard Maura's bedroom door open and the bathroom door in Maura's room open and close too. I heard someone walk into the bathroom across the hall from the guestroom and back out too.

"I don't know, Angela. I don't see her." It was Maura.

"I'll kill her."

"She didn't just get up and leave, Angela. Where would she have gone?" Maura replied tersely. I wasn't sure if she was mad at me or my mother.

I curled up tighter in the chair. Where could I go? I had nowhere to go. It was here or rehab, and neither place felt all that welcoming at the moment.

"Do you think it was her brain injury?" Ma asked Maura suddenly. "I mean, she was so rude before."

"I actually think she had a valid point, Angela. She reacted just like I would expect Jane to react. She felt cornered and overwhelmed, so she lashed out. That's not new for her. She wasn't ready for this, and we forced it on her anyway. Could she have reacted more maturely? Yes. But I didn't expect a different reaction from her. Besides, she apologized to both of us, more than once, so you really shouldn't be so angry with her," Maura chastised.

"She has guests waiting for her downstairs. Dinner is getting cold. How could she just disappear like this? What is wrong with her?" Ma ignored Maura's subdued scolding, her anger over appearances taking precedence over everything else. Rizzolis did not, as a general rule, disappear from their own parties and make guests wait for food.

"Why don't you go check the guesthouse and the garage?" Maura's tone had gotten a bit harsher. "If we don't find her, I'll ask Frost and Frankie to drive around the neighborhood to look for her."

"Fine." Ma was fuming. I tried to bring myself to care and I just couldn't.

I could picture my mother throwing her hands up in exasperation as she turned to go back downstairs. I listened to her heavy footsteps on the stairs as she made her way down, and I heard Maura's lighter footsteps enter the room behind me.

"Jane?"

I didn't move. It's not that I wanted to hide from Maura. I was pretty sure she already knew where I was. I had moved the chair away from the wall where it usually was and had curled up on it to look outside. She could clearly see the chair was out of place from the hallway, even if she couldn't see me curled up in it from behind.

I just sat there. I had no idea what to say to her, so I made no move to let her know I was there.

"Jane?" Maura had walked up behind the chair and put her hand on the back. "Baby are you all right?"

I wanted to tell her that it was unfair of her to call me baby. Baby was a term of endearment, and I clearly had not endeared myself to her that day. Baby signified that she cared about me, but my behavior earlier wasn't deserving of care, however it was clearly what everyone who knew me expected of me.

"Oh Jane." Maura had come around to the front of the chair, between me and the window, and was kneeling down to eye level. She reached a hand up and brushed away the tear tracks left by my mascara. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

I just sat there, my eyes fixed somewhere behind where Maura was kneeling. I didn't know what to say. It hurt me that my own family wasn't ready to deal with my insecurities. It made me sick to think I had so many insecurities to begin with. But the worst part had been the rejection I'd felt when I'd walked into the kitchen and it looked like I'd been intruding on their secret gathering. I didn't fit in with my own family anymore. I hated the feeling. I hated myself for winding up in that situation at all.

A fresh batch of tears started to make their way down my cheeks.

"Jane, honey. Talk to me. Please."

I looked at Maura, finally, and saw the worry on her face. I reached a hand out and gently tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear.

"You deserve so much better," I whispered.

"What?" Maura asked.

"Than this. With me. You deserve someone who can make you happy. Someone that's not going to be a constant disappointment. Someone more sure of who they are and more mature than me," I whispered hoarsely. Crying before hadn't left me with much of a voice.

"Jane, what I said to your mother in the hallway-" Maura started, apologetically.

"Was the truth. And the truth hurts sometimes. I know."

"No, Jane, that's not true. It was wrong of me to force you to come to the party. I saw you weren't ready to see everyone, and I thought that by making you go, you'd see that you had no reason to be afraid of what people thought of you. I thought I could bolster your confidence. I never meant to hurt you."

"I don't fit in with my own family anymore, Maura." I started crying again.

"Of course you do! They love you, Jane. We all love you. I love you."

"What was that, in the kitchen before?"

"Your mother was… she was upset with you, with the way you reacted to the party. She thought that your reaction to the party and our announcement to her about becoming a couple may all somehow be tied into your head injury. She thought that you may have residual problems related to your head injury. Frankie and I were setting the record straight and you walked in right in the middle of it."

"So Ma thinks I'm gay because I hit my head?" I didn't know whether to be even angrier or amused. That was the most ridiculous thing I'd ever heard.

"Not anymore. But she did," Maura said, a tinge of aggravation in her voice.

"I knew she wasn't completely on board with us. I could just tell by the way she stayed away all weekend."

"I can't make excuses for her, but I think more than anything else, she's still really shocked by the news. Think about it, Jane. We had ourselves convinced we could be happy if we just stayed friends, so is it really a surprise that your mother was convinced of that too? She wants you to be happy, but she was shocked by our news. She's trying to get used to the idea, and she's looking for ways to explain the sudden shift in our relationship." Maura shrugged. Her powers of logic far exceeded my mother's, and she was having a hard time understanding where Ma was coming from too, but at least she'd tried to work it out for herself. All I felt toward my mother at that point was anger.

"I'm sorry for that." I felt the need to apologize for my mother's behavior, which was stupid. I wasn't responsible for her.

"You don't have to apologize for her behavior. And you apologized for your behavior earlier, which is a sign of maturity. I didn't mean to be insulting when I was speaking to your mother before. I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry for lashing out," I muttered.

"I'm glad you did. I'm worried about you, Jane. I think you're depressed. When you lashed out, it was more like your old self. It was almost a relief." It must have been, because Maura sounded more relieved than anything else.

"You shouldn't worry about me. I've already caused everyone enough worry."

"I love you," Maura said fiercely, "and with that comes worry. I worry if you're not happy. I worry if you don't feel well. I worry that after today you're going to rethink coming home here. I worry about a lot, and I only do it because I love you."

"Maybe it would be better if I got a place of my own," I said quietly.

Maura looked absolutely crushed. She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. "If that's what you want, I'll help you to do that."

"But it's not what you want," I said.

"No, not at all. I want you to come here, and to make this your home. I want you to be happy here, with me. But what I want doesn't matter. What do you want, Jane?"

"You. I want you, Maura." I was crying, but I had to make myself understood. "I want to wake up like we did this morning every day for the rest of our lives. I want to fall asleep at night holding you. I want you to never doubt how deep my feelings for you run. I want to love you, protect you and make you happy. I want you to feel safe with me. I want to honor and cherish you. But more than anything else, I want to be the person who is able to do all of those things. I feel like I'm not right now. And I'm so scared that I never will be."

"But you already do," Maura sobbed. "You do all of those things already, Jane."

I shook my head. "Not like I used to."

Maura shook her head too. "We can't go back. We can only move forward. Neither one of us is ever going to be who we were before you left for New York. We can't go back, but we can grow together. We can build our own future and be who we want to be, together. We're limited only by our imaginations."

"And my physical limitations," I pointed out angrily.

Maura grabbed my hand and held it between both of hers. "Those limitations will go away, Jane. They're already starting to. When you came home on Friday, the four steps outside the house were a challenge to you. This afternoon you made it up the entire staircase inside by yourself. You've spent almost a day and a half off of your crutches and relying on me to help you get around. Just the fact that you're up and walking and talking and alive is more than any of us could have hoped for at first. But the truth of the matter is that if you were never able to get up, if you were never able to speak to me again, if you were never able to open your eyes again, I would still love you as much as I do now. You are everything to me, Jane, and I love you no matter who you are or who you become."

"I love you too," I whispered.

"And I'm sorry, Jane. I'm so sorry for how this turned out today. I tried to tell your mother this party was a bad idea, and she convinced me that the party was for both you and Frankie, and somehow, I don't know. Somehow I thought that if the party was for both of you, it wouldn't be so bad. I thought it would be good for you, to see all the people that care about you. I thought that if you could be surrounded by people who love you, that you'd feel better about yourself. I… I saw it almost as an exercise in socializing. I knew how you felt about yourself and I guess I convinced myself that you needed an opportunity to be around people in a safe way. I was stupid to think that this was a safe way of doing things. You were overwhelmed and you had every right to be. I didn't imagine it turning out this way, and I'm so sorry. You were right to be angry with me and your mother. I want to apologize for us both, but I can't do that. I can only apologize for my part in this, and I'm sorry."

Maura wiped her eyes and took a second to catch her breath before she looked back up at me, eyes wide, begging for understanding. "Do you think you can ever forgive me?"

I was crying again too. The worst feeling in the world was watching Maura Isles cry. I felt somewhat vindicated by her apology, and the last thing I wanted to do was hold a grudge against her. I loved her for crying out loud.

"Yeah, I think I already have," I said softly.

Maura leaned in to kiss me. It started out slow and sweet, but all of the pent up emotion from the day worked its way into the kiss and soon my hands were tangled in her hair and our tongues were snaking their way into each other's mouths. We broke apart when we were both desperate for air.

"I'm sorry for something else, Maura."

"What? There's nothing for you to apologize for," she answered, clearly puzzled.

"Yes, there is. I'm sorry I wasn't ready to have sex with you this weekend. It's not because I didn't want to. I'm just not ready yet. I'm making it a goal though, to be ready when I come back home."

"You never, ever have to apologize for that Jane," she said fiercely. "If we never have sex it would be fine. But I know we will. I know you will be ready at some point, and when it happens, it will be worth the wait."

"You really are amazing," I said, wonderment filling my voice. "I still think you deserve better than me, but if you're willing to put up with me, I'll never leave you," I said with a weak smile.

"It's never putting up with someone when you love them. We're going to get through this, Jane. Together. You're not alone," she promised.

I kissed her once more before she stood up.

"Do you want to come downstairs for dinner?" I could hear the hesitation in her voice. There'd be no forcing me, this time.

I shrugged. "I guess I should."

"But what do you want?" she asked me.

"I want to go with you. Sit next to you. Wrap my arm around you or hold your hand. I want to feel you next to me. I want to smell your bodywash and your shampoo when I nuzzle against your neck."

The smile Maura gave me could have lit up an entire city.

"I want that too. Let's go clean up and then go downstairs, okay?"

"Okay," I agreed.

We cleaned up in Maura's bathroom and reapplied our makeup. She helped me down the stairs, where everyone was already eating.

"Where were you? I was just about to send your brother out to look for you!" Ma hissed at me, embarrassed by my absence.

"I was in the guest room. Gathering my thoughts," I said, keeping my anger at my mother out of my voice.

"Maybe you should think about other people for once, instead of just yourself." She scowled at me.

"Really Ma? Maybe you should take your own advice," I spat back.

Ma gathered herself up, ready to yell, when Maura cut in.

"Angela, please. Let's enjoy dinner, shall we? Your lasagne smells wonderful," Maura interjected, diffusing the situation before it could get further out of hand.

We walked over to the kitchen island and made plates for ourselves. Tommy waved us over to the dining room table. There were two seats empty between Tommy and Frankie.

"Janie, we saved you seats!" Tommy yelled with his mouth full, and Frankie gave him a glare before starting to laugh. Tommy would never, in all of his life, learn to not speak with his mouth full. It was just Tommy.

I grabbed the gift I had for Frankie off the front hall table and we made our way over to the table.

Maura made sure I was settled before she sat down next to me. She took my right hand in her left hand and gave it a squeeze, and we started to eat.

"You okay, Janie?" Frankie asked me quietly as I ate.

"Yeah. I am now. Thanks Frankie. And I'm sorry about before," I said sincerely.

"You don't have to apologize to me," Frankie said gallantly.

"Yeah, I do."

"Don't worry about it," Frankie said kindly, shoveling some lasagne into his mouth.

"Listen, I got you this. I hope you didn't already get one from someone else. I always promised that when you made detective I'd get you one of these. I had to order it online, and when I looked at it when I wrapped it this morning, I realized it wasn't the best quality. So if you don't like it or if it's not holding up well, we can go get you another one when I come home in a couple of weeks."

I handed him the wrapped gift.

"Janie, you didn't have to get me anything," Frankie said, surprised.

"Yes, I did. I'm really proud of you, Frankie. I'm so glad you got your gold badge. Congratulations. Go ahead, open it up."

Frankie opened the package and stared at leather badge holder. He pulled his badge out of his pocket and placed it inside.

"I've been carrying this thing around without anything on it, because I remembered what you told me." He grinned.

"Let me see that badge." I grabbed it from him before he could protest, and held it reverently. I remembered holding my own badge that way after I'd finally earned it. I traced my fingers over the engraving, lingering over the bold RIZZOLI in the center of the shield. I smiled at him as I gave it back. "Wear it with pride, brother."

"Thanks, Jane." The pride on Frankie's face was evident. He was so happy.

"I don't have to tell you to be careful out there. Don't do anything stupid, Frankie." I felt weird warning him, considering I'd gotten myself into trouble so many times before, but now that life seemed a little more fragile, I thought it best to warn him to take care of himself anyway.

"You know I won't. I have the Rizzoli reputation to live up to."

I gave him a weak smile. "Blaze your own trail, Frankie. Don't follow in my footsteps. Look at where I wound up."

"You're still a legend, Jane. And you're going to come back and I'm going to have a hell of a lot to live up to. I'm not letting you give up," he argued.

"I hope I don't disappoint you," I said, shaking my head.

"The only way you could, is if you stopped trying."

I looked at him sadly. I'd never stop trying, but that might just mean I was setting myself up for a lifetime of disappointment.

Frankie squeezed my arm in understanding and got up. "You want some cannoli? Ma's putting dessert out."

"Nah, I'm full. But thanks."

Frankie got up to go get some dessert and I felt Maura squeeze my arm.

"That was sweet," she said, smiling.

I leaned against her shoulder. "It's good that there's still a Rizzoli in the department. He'll go far if he keeps his act together."

"He was right, you know. He has a lot to live up to, and he's going to feel a lot better when you go back to work. He knows he doesn't need it, but he knows you're going to look out for him." Maura looked just as proud of me as I looked about Frankie.

"I hope I can go back and look out for him. But right now, I'm not sure I'm going to qualify for duty."

"You will. And you heard Sean earlier, he wants to see you before you go for your interviews. He wants you back on his squad. He's going to be pulling for you. We all are."

"I'm terrified of disappointing everyone."

"Like Frankie said, the only way you could disappoint anyone is if you stopped trying."

Frankie came back with a plate of pastries and shared them with all of us. I helped myself to an eclair even though I said I didn't want anything. I was going to miss all this food when I went back to rehab.

After dessert, people started to leave, a few at a time. Frankie stayed next to me, so that people could say their farewells to both of us. It took some of the pressure of of me, but it felt like a kick in the gut every time someone would tell me to hurry up and get well so I could go back to work with Frankie. They truly had no idea how hard I was trying, or the amount of effort that was involved. Their ignorance and their insensitivity was making me livid.

Maura sensed my tension and put her hand on my thigh, under the table. She started making figure eights with her finger, slowly, and it calmed me down considerably.

Korsak and Frost were the last two non-family members to leave. Lydia, her mother Rene and TJ had left earlier, when TJ started getting cranky.

Korsak and Frost both kissed my cheek and wished me well while Anna and Dana waited at the front door.

"Cavanaugh says you might be coming in to see us when you move to outpatient rehab," Korsak said.

"Yeah, he said he wants to see me before I interview and before my physical qualifications."

"That's great, Jane," Frost said. "It'll be great to have you back."

"Keep your fingers crossed for me," I said.

"You don't need luck, Jane. Just keep doing what you're doing, and be yourself." Korsak squeezed my arm as he and Frost walked to the front door and the group of them left together.

Tommy and Frankie were busy helping my mother clean up. Maura had left to go help them as I was speaking to Korsak and Frost. I got up to help them, and walked into the kitchen to see them. Once again I walked in, and the conversation stopped.

"You people really have got to stop doing that. I can't come and live here if I constantly feel like I am intruding on something. If you have something to say to me, then say it to me. Stop it with these secret powwows," I growled.

"We were just talking about how nice it was to have everyone here," Frankie said.

"And?" I asked.

"And Tommy remarked that it was great to see you up and walking. And Maura said that she's proud of you for being so strong. And Ma still thinks you're gay because you hit your head," Frankie shrugged at the end.

"I do not!" Ma yelled. "Really, Jane, I did mention that earlier but I just asked if it was possible. They told me it wasn't and Maura's a doctor so I believe her."

I looked from Ma to Frankie and back again, and Frankie started to crack up. "It was really funny, Janie. She really thought that a head injury could make you gay."

I watched Frankie laugh. "If that was true Ma, Tommy wouldn't be a baby daddy. How many times did he fall on his head when we used to play roller hockey in the driveway with the Talucci kids?" I joked.

"Hey!" Tommy protested, not at all happy that we'd turned the joke around on him.

"I see your point." Ma said, starting to laugh too. She leaned over and kissed Tommy's cheek, and he pushed away from her, but laughed too.

"So, Janie, you gotta go back tonight?" Tommy asked, sobering.

"Yeah," I said quietly.

"But Ma says you might come home soon."

"The doctor and my therapist say anywhere between two weeks and a month. The sooner the better though."

Frankie's cell phone rang, and he excused himself to go answer it. Ma left the kitchen to continue cleaning up.

"I should go," Tommy said. "I gotta work in the morning."

"Thanks for coming, Tommy. It was great to see TJ again."

"I'm gonna bring him by the rehab next time I come, Janie. This way he starts getting used to you again." Tommy had sensed my hurt and my disappointment when TJ had rejected me earlier, and I gave him a lot of credit. The Tommy I'd grown up with hadn't been that sensitive. Fatherhood was teaching Tommy many things.

"You're great for offering, but hopefully I'll be home soon and you won't even have to come all the way out to the rehab to see me."

"Where are you going to go from rehab, Jane? Do you need a place to stay? My apartment is total crap, but I got a couch with your name on it if you need it," he offered sweetly.

Maura walked over to me, and I could sense her hesitation. Our conversation from earlier had left doubt in her mind, it was easy to see.

"Nah, Tommy. Thank you though." I wrapped my arm around Maura's waist and hugged her close to me. "I have a home right here, and a beautiful girlfriend waiting for me."

"All right Janie." He leaned in and gave us each a kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you guys soon, right?"

"Yeah, thanks Tommy," I said as he left.

Frankie stuck his head into the kitchen. "Jane, Maura, I gotta go. I caught a case. Thank you so much for the party. Janie, thank you for my badge holder."

"You're welcome. Congratulations, Frankie. Be careful out there."

"I will."

Frankie left and Ma brought in the last of the plates to put in the dishwasher.

"That's the last of the dishes. I'll come by tomorrow while you're at work to vacuum and clean the kitchen."

"You don't have to do that, Angela." Maura looked confused by Ma's offer. Maura had people that came to the house and did those things. Ma wasn't one of those people.

"It's the least I can do. You let me have a party here for two of my kids."

"If you want to, it's fine with me. But otherwise the cleaning woman will be in on Tuesday and she can take care of it."

"I'll do it, don't worry." Ma looked over to me. "I guess you have to go back to rehab tonight, huh?"

"Yeah, I do," I answered sadly.

"I'll come see you one night this week. I'll bring you some gnocchi," Ma said, as if we hadn't fought for the entirety of the party.

I decided to go for tactful. There was no point in trying to make my mother understand where my feelings came from. She didn't get it, and I doubted she ever would. Instead, I just tried to let it go, at least for the time being. "I'd like that. Thanks Ma. And, uh, thanks for the party, too, I guess."

"I'm sorry you were uncomfortable, Jane."

"I am too," I said. It was the truth. I was sorry I was so uncomfortable. I wished I hadn't been.

"When you come home, we'll have a real Sunday dinner with your brothers, Korsak, and Frost," Ma said.

"Thanks."

"I'll bring Jo Friday over so you can see her before you go back, okay?"

"Yeah, thanks Ma. I'll see you during the week."

Ma walked out and Maura followed her to the guesthouse, and came back with Jo Friday a few minutes later.

"This weekend went so fast," I said as I picked up Jo Friday and held her.

"It did. We still have a few hours yet before we have to leave. What would you like to do?"

"I don't know if you'll like this idea, and it's okay if you don't, but more than anything else, I'd like to spend the rest of the time I have left here with you curled up on your bed together. Nothing more than that, just us, together."

"You want to cuddle?"

"Yeah," I replied sheepishly.

Maura smiled at me. "I like that idea."

I put Jo Friday down on the floor and she scampered off to the laundry room. I peeked in to see her crowd under the smaller heat lamp with Bass. Acantha hissed at them both.

"That turtle," I said.

"Tortoise!" Maura said with a jab. "No wonder she's so prickly. You can't even call her by the correct species!"

I laughed. "I know what she is. I just like aggravating you." I pulled Maura toward me for a kiss. "I really am sorry about today."

"I am too," she said seriously. "Are we okay?"

"Yes, we are," I reassured her. "Let's go upstairs."

We made it upstairs to Maura's room and I sat down on the bed.

"I'm really going to miss this bed when I go back tonight."

Maura had slipped off her shoes and walked to her closet. "Do you mind if I change? I just feel like putting on a pair of yoga pants."

"Go for it."

"You want a pair too?"

"Yeah, then I can go right to sleep when I get to the rehab. If I do that, I won't have time to think of how much I miss you when you leave."

"I wish you didn't have to go back," Maura said forlornly.

"I don't have to. I could stay right here. What are they going to do, come and take me back there by force?" I joked.

"Jane, you need to finish your inpatient rehabilitation," Maura replied sadly, but sternly. "You can't stop the progress you've started. If you keep this up, in a few weeks you'll be coming home for good."

"Don't take this the wrong way, but maybe coming home this weekend was a bad idea."

"Why do you say that?" Maura's face dropped.

"Because now I know how much I'm missing out on. The next few weeks are going to be miserable," I sighed.

Thankful that I wasn't still upset about the party, Maura perked right up. "I'll come see you every day, Jane. I'll bring Jo Friday with me on the weekends. And Tommy said he'll bring TJ by too, if you want."

"Maura, I want to see you every day, but it's too much for you to come there after work all the time. You're going to be exhausted. It's not going to be easy for you when I come home, at least not at first. You have to remember to take time for yourself, too."

"I'll see what I can do, Jane," Maura said resolutely. "I'm going to miss you, too."

"C'mere." Maura came up to where I was sitting on the edge of the bed and handed me the clothes she'd taken out for me, but I pulled her toward me. I hugged her to me, resting my head against her stomach. She hugged my head toward her, running her hands through the fine hair on my head.

"Your hair is so soft," she whispered. "Will you grow it long again?"

"Yes. I hope to. I'm just glad it's covering my scars now."

"You really did look gorgeous today, Jane. You could easily make this your new hairstyle if you wanted to. But honestly, I can't wait for the time when I can tangle my fingers in your curls and pull you toward me to kiss you," Maura said seductively.

"I can't wait for that too. I can't wait to feel normal again. There's so much I can't wait for."

Maura pulled away from me and smiled. "We have so much to look forward to."

"We do."

Maura shed her party outfit and pulled on her yoga pants and t-shirt. I openly appraised her as she did so, and didn't try to hide my appreciation.

"You're beautiful," I said reverently.

"So are you," she said as she walked over to me. "Hands up, Detective," she said as she gripped the hem of my shirt. I grinned at her and raised my hands in the air. She pulled the shirt off and then stopped to look at me.

"That bra and panties set suits you so well. I may have to pick up more of them for you so they're here for you when you come home again."

"No. Stop buyin' me stuff," I said with a grin. "I have enough bras and underwear… somewhere. Where is all my stuff, by the way?" I asked, suddenly realizing I had not a single clue where all of my life's possessions had wound up.

"In a storage facility in Brookline. Walter Laffler set it up for you when he was your guardian. He has the paperwork and the keys to the storage locker."

"The storage locker that you're paying for?" I asked, cringing.

"Yes," Maura said.

"As soon as my settlement comes in from the NYPD, we're going to change the billing over to me. I can't believe how much money you've been shelling out on my behalf. You're too generous, Maura. I'm not worth all of this."

"Yes you are, Jane. And the storage doesn't cost nearly as much as you think it does. Don't worry about it, all right?"

"I do worry about it though. Even if I do go back to work and start making my old salary, I still can't provide for you the same way you've been providing for me."

"You provide for me in other ways, Jane. This is just money. The way you make me feel is priceless."

"You do the same to me," I said as I pulled the t-shirt and yoga pants on. "I love you so much, Maura."

"I love you, too."

I scooted back onto the bed, laying my head on the pillow. I patted the spot next to me, and Maura laid down facing me.

"Do you know what happened to my car?" I asked.

"I had it towed here. It's in the second garage, under a tarp. Walter Laffler canceled the insurance on it though, so you wouldn't have to pay for it while you were unable to drive. We'll add it to my policy when you're ready to start driving again."

"Or I can get my own policy so your rates don't go up."

"Jane, we can do whatever you want to do, but if we're going to be a couple that lives together, don't you think we should do things like have the same insurance policies?"

"Is that what people do, as soon as they move in together? Or is that something we should wait until we get married to do?"

"We can do whatever you want, Jane. I'm not trying to make you feel uncomfortable. I just thought it would be easier to add your car to my policy. We could just call my broker and get you your own policy though. I'm sorry if I'm rushing things. You did say you wanted to take things slowly."

"Let's worry about it when I come home, okay? I don't even know when I'm going to be cleared to drive again," I said, shrugging.

"Probably not long after you start outpatient therapy. Your cognitive skills and your reflexes are in good shape. I imagine that by the time you leave for outpatient therapy or shortly thereafter, you'll be cleared for a number of things. Driving. Sex. Exercise, and maybe even non-contact sports. Perhaps even desk duty."

"Desk duty. I hadn't even thought of that. You think that's what Cavanaugh has in mind for me? Maybe that's why he wants to see me before my interview and physicals," I wondered out loud.

"It could be."

"Man, that would be awesome. It would be boring as hell, too. But still, awesome." The idea of it made me grin.

"It would be better than sitting here, by yourself all day. It would definitely help to get you back into the swing of things," Maura agreed.

"Mmm. Yes, it would." I wrapped my arms around Maura and pulled her in close to me. "Do you mind if we just stay like this?"

"Not at all. How long did you have in mind?"

"Forever?" I asked, smiling against her shoulder.

"Forever sounds good," she said as she gave me a squeeze.

Maura and I stayed curled up with each other for a few hours, just talking and occasionally kissing, before it was time to get up and get ready to go back to the rehabilitation center. I gathered up my coat and my cell phone, and walked Jo Friday back over to my mother. Ma gave me a big hug and told me she'd see me during the week. I was still pretty angry with her, but she was acting as if nothing was wrong, and I didn't want to go back to rehab on a sour note, so I let it go.

Maura placed my crutches into the back seat of the car and helped me into the front passenger seat. Within minutes we were back on our way. I had to fight against tears the entire way there, and Maura was quiet too, making me think she was just as upset as I was.

We pulled up at the rehab center a little before ten o'clock. Maura parked near the entrance and turned off the car, but didn't get out right away.

I watched her wipe a tear from the corner of her eye.

"I want you to know that sending you back in there, especially after the weekend we had, is one of the hardest things I've ever done. I know you don't have a choice, but I hate that you're leaving again."

"But this time, you can come visit me whenever you want. It's not like before. It's not like when I left for New York," I replied sadly.

"I know, but it still hurts the same way, maybe just to a lesser degree."

"We could run away," I said with a grin. "We could go live on that tropical island you wrote about in your letter."

Maura gave me a tight smile. "I wish."

"I wish too."

She leaned across the center console and kissed me. "I love you, Jane. So please get well soon and come home for good."

"I love you too. Are you going to come up with me?"

"Of course. I just wanted to kiss you first." She kissed me again to emphasize her point. Then she got out of the car, took my crutches out of the back seat, and opened my door for me. She wrapped her arms around my waist, and I carried the crutches, no longer dependent on them as long as I had Maura's arm around me. We walked back into the rehab together, both of us far stronger than we were when the weekend first started.