"Hey ma." Jane breathed out tiredly as she walked into the guest house to find hyper-energenic Angela busying herself in the kitchen.

"Want some help with your stuff?" Jane offered as she slid onto one of the stools at the counter.

"No honey, it's fine. I already unpacked most of the things." Angela said barely glancing at her daughter with a smile. Jane found an absentminded smile playing at her lips as well. Who would have thought that she might actually miss her mother?

"Where`s Maura?" Angela asked casually.

"Oh, she`s taking a bath. The whole thing just drained her and I didn't think she`s been getting enough sleep." Jane stared at her palms, sliding them against each other for an invisible dirt.

"You could use some sleep yourself if you asked me." Angela dead panned.

"No I'm fine. I just didn't get any sleep last night is all." Jane rubbed her eyes trying to chase the sleep away.

"How come?" Angela placed a cup of coffee in front of Jane and waited for an answer as she leaned across the island.

"It's nothing. Just thinking about things."

"Well it's something if it kept you from sleeping." Angela placed a hand on top of Jane's. "You can talk to me. You don't have to carry weight of the world on your shoulders." Jane's shoulders slumped and her frown deepened.

"It's just that -" Jane grunted trying to find words as she ran her fingers through her hair.

"I'm a detective right?" Angela gave her daughter a confused look before nodding "it's like , finding her , trying to make it work , keeping her safe is something I'm used to, y'know?" Jane grunted again "that came out wrong. It's like I knew what to do; find the problem and fix it, but now? All this emotional stuff, I just …. I don't know. I'm lost." Jane`s voice cracked and she let out a frustrated sigh.

"I want to be there for her. I want to help her get though it, but I don't know how, and I feel like she`s pushing me away and there is nothing I can do about it. I know that she`s hurting and the feeling won't go away overnight, but she keeps pushing me away!" Jane felt the sting of tears but kept them at bay.

"You know that reminded me of someone." Angela said with a chuckle "You two are just so stubborn sometimes." Angela sipped her coffee still chuckling.

"Remember when you shot yourself?" Jane remained quite as she nursed her coffee.

"Three months, remember that? You just locked yourself away and didn't let anyone in. As painful as it was for me, I respected your space and so did Maura. Didn't you think that she was hurting too? But she swallowed her pride and came to see you anyway didn't she? The poor thing didn't say anything, after your discharge, she took a leave of absent for a whole week. I know that she wasn't with you because you had generously kicked her out. Every time I'd try to get her to talk about it, she would brush my questions aside and change the subject." Angela shook her head in sadness.

"Well, maybe she went to visit her mother or something." Jane shrugged.

"You're smarter than that, and I think we both know that she didn't visit anyone that week."

"So what are you saying?"

"Maybe she needs another week." Angela straightened and walked to the sink where she disposed of her cup.

"But she`s home all the time."

"A private week Jane." Jane let out an 'oh' before looking down at her cup. Had she been smothering Maura? Maybe her mother was right, maybe she should take her stuff and go back to her apartment, give Maura her space. Was this what it was all about?

When Maura came down Jane was sitting on the couch with a determined look on her face.

"Hey"

"Hey" Jane gave a soft smile.

Maura was so focused on Jane's face that she almost stumbled on the bag that was placed next to the couch.

"Oh! What's this?" On closer inspection, Maura could see that it was Jane's overnight bag. Jo Friday sat next to her master by the couch, Jane held the leash in her hand. She was hoping against everything her mind was telling her , that it was not what she thought .

"Oh, I just thought that it was time for me to get back to my apartment y'know." Jane let out a nervous chuckle.

Maura took her spot at the far end on the couch with on foot tucked under the other.

"Oh?" Maura asked quietly, trying not to let the hurt overwhelm her.

"Yeah, I mean I can't keep annoying you while you`re recovering." Jane tried to explain.

"I'm not complaining." Maura mumbled, picking at threads on arm of the couch.

"And for some reason, I can't sleep on that mattress of yours, too expensive for my taste." Jane tried to lighten the mood.

"Why now?" Maura asked quietly again, Jane frowned. Why was Maura giving her the ' ' treatment?

"Just figured you need your space and things need to go back to normal sooner or later. We can't live in this bubble forever."

"I see." Maura was not even looking at her anymore as she continued to fiddle with the couch threads.

"Well" jane wiped sweaty palms on her jeans and got up. "I guess I'll be going." Maura hadn't moved, her eyes didn't even drift to Jane.

"Ok, then." Maura nodded and got up walking Jane to the door with a neutral expression. Jane felt her heart break.

"I'll see you tomorrow for Sunday dinner." Maura said still not meeting janes eyes.

"If there`s a Sunday dinner." Maura's head snapped up and met janes eyes with confusion that quickly changed to understanding and accepting. "Well, then I'll see you when I see you." Maura tried with a formal smile.

"Don't do that." Jane whispered gently and Maura's breath hitched, Jane raised her hand cupping Maura's cheek. "Don't shut me out like this." Maura's resolve had almost broke.

"I'll check up on you tomorrow ok?" Jane leaned in and placed a kiss at Maura's temple.

"Alright then, don't forget to lock the door and call me if you need anything ok?" Maura nodded and Jane offered one last smile.

"Ok then."

hey there !, i know its been forever sorry . I know it`s shorter than usual but i needed something to start with . anyway, I`ve already started writing the next chapter and hope to upload it in few days . so, what do you think? any ideas? thought? Reviews are always welcomed :)