They went at it for over an hour and by the end of it, every muscle, tendon, and nerve in Jane's arms were protesting loud enough to wake the devil himself.
"You should put ice on those," Maura instructed, gesturing to the brunette's forearms.
Jane shook her head. "Nah, a couple of iratzes should do it."
"Right. Because you guys have those." Maura murmured, eyes following the trail of swirling silver up Jane's skin.
"You can still go, you know," Jane told her. "Get the hell out of dodge before shit gets real and you get hurt." Jane hesitated and met Maura's eyes, staring at her intently. "You know it's going to happen, right? If you hang around here? You will get hurt. It may not be physical, although it most likely will be, but you can get your heart metaphorically torn out and stomped to bits just as easily as it could happen literally."
Maura looked at her with wide eyes.
"I'm just saying. No one would fault you if you turned tail and saved yourself now. I mean, yeah there are all of these guys here 'protecting me', but if Hoyt's as serious as I believe he is, they aren't going to be able to stop him. No one is. He'll get to me and he won't care who he destroys in the process.
"I'd rather minimise the casualties."
Swallowing the fear in her throat, "I'm not going anywhere. If it's going to get as ugly as you think, then I can think of worse people to have on your side than a doctor, regardless of your ability to use iratzes," she assured. She looked up and changed the subject. "Now, let me have a look at your bandages. They might require changing."
They allowed the concern to morph easily into a doctor-patient repartee, sticking to the easy questions about pain and discomfort, the tightness of the tape. When Maura finished wrapping Jane's fingers, she patted Jane once on the leg and got up to leave.
"Where are you going?" Jane asked, swinging her legs off the bed.
Maura stopped dead in her tracks and twirled back to face the brunette. "I thought you might be hungry, and recalling our conversation from earlier, I assumed you'd prefer if I brought you some food that you could eat here in privacy as opposed to making you go downstairs to dine in front of an audience." Maura cocked her head. "Am I wrong?"
Jane actually smiled. "No, you're quite right, but I'm happy to walk with you so long as I don't have to eat down there." She shrugged. "I should probably say hit to people today anyway. I think they're kind of steering clear of my 'wrath' for the moment. But it's not their fault, I mean, it's Hoyt's fault. And I'm gonna get that son of a bitch if it kills me."
Maura's hand shot out and grasped Jane's elbow, forcing both of them to stop. "No. Don't let it kill you. If you let it kill you, he wins, and everyone who holds you dear, everyone who loves you will lose with you."
Jane looked at her as though she'd never seen her before in her life. Shaking herself out of it, she said, "Come on, I bet there's some great leftovers in the fridge."
Maura followed quietly, letting the subject drop.
The chatter stopped abruptly when they entered, and Jane rolled her eyes. "It's just me, guys, I'm not going to fillet you or anything. Just here for some food."
Korsak nodded to the counter, "Frost and Angela are off patrolling. Food's out. I can get you a plate and you can join us if you like."
"No thanks, guys. I think I'll just go back up, imbibe some protein and stuff and then keep being ridiculously safe and secure," Jane muttered sarcastically.
Maura had given a small wave as she walked in, but then she'd gone straight to the cabinet to grab a couple of plates. Sure that Jane wouldn't want to eat entirely alone with Frost on patrol with Angela, she piled both plates high with food. She was certain that Jane would be more than happy to finish off anything she didn't eat.
"I've got it," Maura said, referring to the plates in her hands.
Jane smiled gratefully. "Thanks."
They ate in relative silence, back in Jane's room. The brunette had insisted she didn't have to return to the infirmary, and Maura had to agree that there really was no positive side effect to her being confined there.
Jane insisted on one last round of physical therapy for her hands if Maura wanted her to go to bed quietly without a fuss. Of course the doctor readily agreed, but kept it short and relatively painless before leaving the room. After taking the plates back to the kitchen and washing them, she retired to her own room.
In the bustle of Institute life, she'd let her normal life get absolutely untidy. She devoted the remainder of her evening to straightening out her priorities. First of which, was work. She was expected back in almost no time at all, but she felt compelled to stay and continue to learn from these Shadowhunters.
And if she were honest with herself, she'd loathe herself for the rest of her life if she left them during this time of unrest, particularly Jane. She was surprised to find that she'd grown quite attached to the warrior in the brief amount of time they'd known each other.
She picked her phone out of her purse and tried not to let her stomach sink at the fact that there were no new calls nor text messages. It was to be expected. She didn't really have any friends or close colleagues who might be bothered to attempt to interact with her.
Apart from Susie, of course, and speaking of the Senior Criminalist, she would be the first phone call.
"Susie Chang."
"Hello, Susie, it's Maura Isles."
"Oh, hi Doctor Isles. Are you coming back soon?"
Maura felt her heart warm a little bit at the sincerity in the question. "I'm afraid not, Susie. In fact, I'll be emailing you my temporary letter of resignation shortly, if you could do me a favour and pass that along."
"You're leaving?" Susie asked, shocked.
Maura nodded and then realised the criminalist wouldn't have been able to see such an act. "Yes. I've found a different avenue of education to pursue for the moment and I don't know how long it will be before I can come back, if I can come back. This is really the best way to go about things, I believe."
"We'll be so sorry to see you go, Doctor Isles. You were a wonderful superior, and if Doctor Pike is your replacement, we will miss you like crazy."
Touched was an absolute understatement as to how Maura was feeling at the moment. "Oh, Susie, that's really very sweet. I should be able to come by later this week to clear out my office for whomever my replacement is. If you wished to maintain correspondence with me after my departure, I would not be opposed." Maura lowered her voice to a mock-whisper, "In all honesty, you are the best technician there, Susie. I would not have been able to get through all of the work and reports I was able to without you. I hope your new superior understands that quickly and uses you to your full potential."
"I'd love that Doctor Isles. You just give me a call on the day you're planning to come down and I'll set everything up for you."
"Thanks, Susie," Maura smiled.
"Not a problem, Doctor."
"Susie? You can just call me Maura now."
Maura swore there was a grin to Susie's voice as well when she said, "It'd be my pleasure, Maura."
The next phone call was a bit trickier. It entailed having to schedule a time to pick up her beloved pet geochelone sulcata – an African spurred tortoise – from the pet carer she'd left him with for her sabbatical.
The phone call ended with Maura agreeing to pick Bass up at some point the next afternoon. She didn't think that this would be a problem as, in all honesty, she needed to return to her apartment for some things as well as her car if she was going to be staying her much longer. And that was definitely her plan.
She jumped up from her bed and trotted downstairs, catching Korsak just leaving the kitchen.
"Hello, Vince," Maura greeted. "Does everybody linger in the kitchen?"
He seemed a little startled to find her outside of the second floor, particularly without Jane, but he didn't let himself be too obvious about it. "Oh, yeah, it's an Italian thing… everyone hangs around in the kitchen because there's food and it's warm and generally it's a good place to talk. Is there something you need, Maura?"
Maura nodded. "Actually, there is. You see, I was wondering if you could tell me the Institute's address. I need to pick some stuff up from my apartment if I'm going to remain here, at least until Hoyt is captured, and I have to give the cab driver some sort of clue as to where we are." She giggle awkwardly. "I wasn't paying too much attention that one time I went out with you all."
Korsak looked at her as though she'd grown a third eye. "You don't need to call a cab, Maura. If you're staying here with us, it won't be too long before you're inducted as family." He placed his hand on her shoulder. "I'll give you a ride."
Maura shook her head, "No, thank you, I wouldn't wish to intrude. And I have a car at my place, I just didn't think of it the night I came here. Really, I don't want to put you at a disadvantage."
Korsak stared at her sternly. "It's no trouble. You helped fix up Frankie and Jane. Let me drive you across town."
Maura hesitated, "I also have a pet I was hoping to bring with me. Is there a policy here against it?"
Korsak laughed. "Not at all. You should see the menagerie I have going in my attic lair. Dogs, kittens, and even an iguana. It's why they gave me the top floor. There's a bit of a garden up there, gives the dogs a place to roam and such. What kind of pet do you have?"
"He's a tortoise. His name is Bass. He's very well trained and he'll stay in my room the whole time. He doesn't take a whole lot of energy to take care of, but he is a lovely creature."
He smiled, "I look forward to meeting the little guy."
It was Maura's turn to laugh. "He's not that little. He weighs almost a hundred pounds these days."
"Alright, I'll meet the big guy, then," Korsak winked. "Now, have you finally decided to surrender and let me drive you?" His look turned to that of one with whom you wouldn't want to mess.
Even Maura could tell when an attempt would be futile, so she graciously gave in and Korsak said they could leave around one the next day before taking his leave of her.
She stepped lightly back up the stairs and fired off her resignation letter, happy with her efforts of the evening.
The next morning though, her victory didn't seem terribly rewarding.
"You're going with Korsak?" Jane asked after Maura's told her about what she'd gotten up to after the brunette had gone to bed. They were making idle chit chat while they went through more exercises.
"Yeah, he offered and he wasn't terribly keen on taking no for an answer, so I accepted his generous offer." Maura looked at her strangely.
"I could've gone with you. I wouldn't have minded."
Oh. "I know you would've, Jane, but I didn't want to put you off-track with your recovery schedule. And I was worried you'd be caught in Hoyt's cross-ties if you left the Institute. I just want you to be safe, you know," Maura explained.
"Cross-hairs, Maur. The saying is 'caught in the cross-hairs', because of the scope of a sniper rifle," Jane corrected her absently, staring off at a far wall.
"Hmm. I suppose that makes a bit more sense than cross-ties. I wasn't sure how one would get themselves stuck in a railroad track."
Jane chuckled despite herself. "I'd be fine, you know. He's not coming after me just yet. He made that abundantly clear with his note yesterday. Besides, Doctor, isn't the fresh air supposed to be good for me and help rebuild my constitution or something? The health benefits must be through the roof, really…"
It took Maura a moment to realise that Jane was not in fact simply being a good patient, she was trying to worm her way into leaving the house in a way no one would really wish to dispute; under a doctor's orders.
"Generally speaking, yes, but usually when one is given that recommendation, it does not involve the high probability of death which it includes for you," Maura replied, not a little bit proud at the way she'd phrased her response.
"Come on, Maura! Look at all the progress I've made and it's only been one day! I can take care of myself!"
"You wouldn't be going without your 'entourage' as you've deigned fit to refer to them as," Maura sighed. "But fine, you are, of course, welcome to accompany me."
"Yes!" Jane made her best attempt at a fist pump.
"On the condition that no one has any qualms about such an adventure," Maura added.
"Maura!" Jane groaned. "That's not fair!" She whined.
But Maura was having none of it. "Those are my terms, Jane, nothing less will get you in that car with me at one o'clock."
"Fine," Jane growled as she got out of bed. "I'm going to go get everyone's permission. I will see you in the van." She stormed out.
Maura would've been concerned if she didn't know how vehemently everyone wanted to keep Jane safe. She called Susie to give her the warning that she'd be dropping by later that day. And at one o'clock, she was seated primly in the passenger seat of the van, waiting for Korsak to exit the Institute and join her.
Imagine her surprise when he didn't emerge alone. Jane was smirking smugly beside him as they both approached the vehicle.
"There's no way-" Maura started to protest.
"Yes, way, Doc. I got approval. The entourage is following in another car. It'll be great! Let's have at this adventure, shall we?"
Maura wanted to smack the proud look off of her face. She settled for the question she wanted answered, desperately: "How?"
Jane's face fell a bit but she rallied nicely and replied, "Easy. Told them I wouldn't take no for an answer. I'd be back to tip-top shape in no time and then there would be no mercy the next time they faced me on the sparring mat. That, and I may have hinted to the entourage it could be a bit of a bait trap. They got on board right quick."
Maura was fuming. She opened her mouth to berate the brunette, but Jane placed her hand lightly yet forcefully over the blonde's mouth. "No way, Doc, I won. I'm coming. Deal with it." And she jumped into the back seat.
Korsak nodded at her, shrugging at the turn of events. All Maura could do was sigh and go with it. After all, she had made the agreement. She felt like cursing about her unsuccessful plan.
The drive was silent after Jane's failed attempts at reconciliation with the doctor. Maura simply stared out the window and when they reached her apartment – Jane giving Korsak the directions and surprising even Maura with her ability to multi-task so well – she didn't wait to see if Jane would follow.
She did. Maura was packing the last of the clothes she'd need when she felt Jane's hand on her shoulder. "C'mon, Maur, look at me."
It was a mistake, to look at those puppy-dog eyes, but Maura couldn't help it. She was transfixed. Jane pulled her into a hug and wrapped her long arms around the doctor's middle. "I'm sorry you're so upset about it," she whispered.
Maura took a deep breath. "It's okay. It's your life, you should be able to do what you want with it." She huffed, "Besides, I'm getting the distinct impression that you do whatever you want anyway, no matter what."
"Pretty much," Jane agreed.
Maura let go first. "I think I'm done here." She picked up her suitcase and the heat lamp which was resting on her bedroom floor.
"What's the lamp for?" Jane asked, as they descended back to the waiting van. Jane gave a small wave to the compact car parked two spots behind Korsak. Someone in the front seat waved back.
"My pet tortoise. He prefers a warmer environment than humans, and Korsak said it shouldn't be a problem to have him in the house." Maura tucked her stuff in the back.
"You have a pet turtle?" Jane scoffed.
"Tortoise!" Maura corrected her, exasperatedly.
"Right, right, turtle, whatever." Jane grinned slyly.
"Tortoise." Maura repeated before they climbed back in the car.
The stop at the pet carer's place was brief, and though Jane cast the cage with the rather large animal in it a certain look, she knew better than to comment. Their last stop was at the police headquarters, so Maura could pick up her car.
She greeted Susie warmly as she entered the morgue, and together they made short work of packing up her office. Jane was there too, but she wore a glamour and had warned Maura not to look at her or speak to her while they were with other people. Still, the blonde couldn't help the occasional glance in Jane's direction as she packed up old tomes and African masks.
When they finished and the two boxes were in Maura's car, Susie took the doctor by surprise with a hug, and they swore to keep in touch, just in case Maura ever decided to come out of resignation. Maura waved goodbye and got into her car, surprised when Jane slipped in beside her.
She caught Maura's curious glance and shrugged, "I already told Korsak I'd ride back with you. To ensure your optimum safety."
Maura narrowed her eyes at the brunette, but started the engine and drove toward the Institute anyway.
"Besides," Jane added, undoing the bandages on her palms, "I've been getting Frost to give me iratzes on a regular basis. The scabs are almost healed entirely now. Couple more sessions of therapy and I'll be right back in pristine fighting condition."