**DISCLAIMER – I do not own the characters, they belong to TNT and associated bodies. **
(However I have a wonderful imagination and that belongs all to me, just sometimes Jane and Maura wind up naked in it, and there's not a thing I can do to stop it. Gutted.)
Safe – belongs to Westlife.
How to solve a problem like a wedding ring.
Chapter Twelve – Safe.
"She's in sinus."
"Prep the O.R, page Dr May."
"Are you the family?"
Maura's eyes adjusted to the towering woman standing in front of her, as she knelt; putting a sympathetic hand on the knee. Soft eyes looked at the fragile blonde.
"Honey . . . are you family?" The nurse looked like a big huggy bear, Maura knew enough from sitting around her father's ward to know this wasn't a threatening question, nor was it a sign Jane was in danger.
She cleared her throat, trying to find her voice; only finding a hoarse whisper. All the strength in her had been lost to thunderous sobs and gripping her hands so tight to ward off fears of the unthinkable.
"No, not technically," she managed to raise. "She's my partner, I think girlfriend is the more common term," she searched the eyes of the nurse, finding only sympathy and alertness.
"Well then, you're family." She offered her hand to Maura to help her up. "She's awake and she's been getting on my nerves trying to move. I asked her what will make her be anything like a good normal patient," she guided Maura down the busy corridor. "She thought for a little while and then said, 'Maura, go get Maura.'"
The M.E smiled for the first time in almost 12 hours. She let out a stuttered sigh.
"How bad is it?" Maura turned to the kind nurse. "I don't even know your name, I'm sorry."
The nurse giggled before pointing to her name badge.
"Mogbekeleoluwa . . ." Maura's inner google kicked in. "The Yoruba language, indeed it explains your kindness, to put your trust in God."
The nurse bellowed a deep, appreciative laugh.
"Lord above, she said not to lie to you 'cos you were smart; she wasn't lying!"
They approached a small private room, where a young uniform tipped his hat.
"Dr. Isles, Nurse."
"You a Doc, huh?" You should've said something, we could've had you in here as soon as she was out of surgery."
"I'm Boston's chief M.E," she looked at Mogbekeleoluwa shyly. "It's how Jane and I met . . . and then re-met," she smiled.
"Ok, two rules before you go in. One," she held up a digit to signify the importance. "One, she was shot through the shoulder, it was a through and through and she's gunna be just fine. But if you start crying, she'll start crying and I'm only just getting those stitches to stay in for her thrashing about. So no crying. Two," she held a second digit, making a peace sign. "She's hot, so if I hear any hanky panky, you're outta there and I'm giving her a whole new kind of physical examination," eliciting a giggle and a hug from Maura.
"Thank-you," Maura whispered, turning to enter the room gently.