Full disclaimers on Chapter 1.
Stop NOW if DRAMA/TRAGEDY is NOT something you are interested into reading, or if it is a bad trigger for you.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Rizzoli & Isles nor any of the characters from the show. I am writing this purely for entertainment, not profit. Rizzoli and Isles are property of Tess Gerritsen and TNT.
I am not a native English speaker, and I don't have a beta. So all mistakes are 100% mine.
Enough of disclaimers and warnings – read at your own risk. Reviews are always welcome!
Chapter 93
Maura sat between Constance and Hope, feeling drained. She had done it. For Jane. She hoped she had done Jane justice. Because there was nothing left in her to give or to say any longer.
The priest finished the ceremony with the blessing, and the funeral home representatives approached to transport the urn.
Constance noticed Maura was frozen in place as they lift the urn to remove it, her hands closed in tight fists, white with tension. She wished she could offer comfort and consolation to her daughter, but she had no idea of what was going on through the brilliant mind sitting besides her.
Maura was actually struggling to breathe. She felt suffocating. It was irrational, she knew. Jane was not there any longer. But it still constrained her chest painfully, making her hazel eyes go wide as all she could see was the urn being taken away.
People had left church to move to the cemetery, and Constance was surprised when Hope crouched elegantly in front of Maura, placing a hand on her thigh.
"Breathe, Maura, you need to breathe." Hope whispered, gently, but with urgency in her eyes.
Maura nodded, closing her eyes, and exhaling sharply, before inhaling deeply.
Hope stood, and exchanged a glance with Constance. Even without knowing each other, both were concerned about their daughter.
The funeral services representatives moved the urn back to their vehicle to head to the cemetery.
Vince approached, and took Maura's two hands in his big paws, tugging her to stand on her feet.
"It is time to go, Doc…" he offered, gently.
Maura swallowed hard, but nodded.
They all moved outside.
The driver was waiting for them, and Constance directed them to the Boston Cemetery.
Maura was yet to usher a word.
The drive to the cemetery happened in complete silence.
When they arrived, the driver opened the door for Constance and then for Maura.
Maura looked around, and spotted the funeral home vehicle approaching.
Kiki had drove Nina, Stella and TJ back to Maura's house from the church.
Frankie, Tommy, Korsak, and Frank Sr. – that had arrived late to the church service, but in time to see the eulogy – approached. Frankie and Tommy would carry the urn for these last few yards.
They walked to the area where the Rizzoli's plot was. The florists had placed flowers as Maura had specified. All decoration was white. But the roses to be given to the attendees to place over the urn were all red, to symbolize their love for Jane.
Maura walked as an automaton, too numbed by pain to pay attention to anything around her. Her eyes were glued to the urn moving ahead of her.
When they stopped, Hope and Constance were a bit aside, making room for the closer family.
Hope looked and her eyes were suddenly full of tears. She touched Constance forearm, and signaled for her to look.
They were standing by the tombstone of baby Maura Doyle. An empty tombstone Hope didn't know was empty until merely 5 years before.
Constance immediately placed a hand over her mouth, to stifle a sob.
Hope offered her arm, and Constance took it.
"I want you to know I never would have abandoned her if I had any idea she was still alive."
"And I would never kept her away if I thought you were alive. Patrick told us the mother had died giving birth."
"It was his way to protect her, to protect me, but at what price?"
"What matters is that she survived to become this wonderful human being…" both looked lovingly at their daughter, that was standing with the Rizzoli's and Korsak by the border of the recently dug grave.
Maura watched as the urn was lowered. They were careful and everything went smooth. She watched as each one of the Rizzoli's picked a red rose to place on top of the urn.
Vince picked his rose to place it there, and motioned Maura to come.
Maura picked her rose, and kissed the rosebud before gently crouching to place it on top of the urn. She also kissed the tips of her fingers, and placed them on top of the urn's lid, before standing again.
Vince offered her his arm, that she took. But she refused to move when the Rizzoli's took a few steps back.
The cemetery staff began to push the dirty they had removed earlier to cover the urn. Vince felt Maura stiffen by his side. He remembered all too well Jane's equal visceral reaction to when they had pushed dirty on top of Frost's casket. It was their protection instinct kicking in, as irrational as it was.
He tried again to make her step back, but she shook her head and stood her ground, ready to let go of this arm, but he held to it and stood as well. If she needed to see this through, he would be by her side.
She waited until the last shovel of dirty was put in place and they smoothed out the surface, before they covered the plot with all the flower arrangements. They also set the stone that Maura had ordered, with Jane's name, her date of birth and date of death, and the phrase "Always in our hearts, because in there you are still alive."
The others got closer again when they saw the stone, impressed by what Maura had come up with. Again they all picked red roses to put on the base of the stone. Maura was the last, again kissing the rosebud before placing it on top of the stone. And again kissing the tip of her fingers before placing them by the stone itself.
They turned to leave, and Vince walked Maura to where Hope and Constance were standing.
Maura nodded to them, in silence, and they all walked back to the cars, all headed to Maura's home.
Maura's was the last car to arrive, and Constance heard the hushed conversations going on inside as Angela prepared coffee.
Nina was breastfeeding Stella, while TJ was sitting quietly on the floor by her feet playing with something.
The others were by the kitchen aisle.