I am absolutely blow away by how well this story is being received. I want to thank everyone for the lovely messages and review. This truly is the little story that could. this chapter is a little bit fluffy but I think it's a nice change from all of the angst. There is a big snow storm headed my way so if I don't get a chapter up tomorrow or Saturday it will be a safe bet that my power went out. Thank you all for your patience in advance.
Again I do not own Rizzoli and Isles. Just love the characters and thought I might take them out for a spin.
Jane begins to shift as she wakes up, her eyes fly open she hears a hiss. The first thing she sees upon opening her eyes is Maura pressed back against her pillows with her eyes tightly shut and a grimace on her face. The brunette's heart is racing as she shoots out of her chair.
"Maura, what's wrong baby?" Jane says softly as she leans over the bed.
"It hurts. It hurts. It hurts." The honey blonde's body shivers from the pain.
"I'll go get the nurse." Jane runs out of the room. She turns with a nurse in tow in less than two minutes. "Help her!" She shouts at the how is checking Maura's I.V. and the monitor on the wall.
"I'm going to need you to calm down or you'll have to leave." The nurse says.
"Like hell I will!" Jane's blood is boiling, why is this incompetent woman not helping.
"Dr. Isles, can you open your eyes for me?" She grabs her stethoscope and places it under the top of Maura's gown. "Can you tell me what hurts?" The nurse speaks softly as she removes the instrument and drapes it around her neck.
Maura whimpers and continues to shivers, the pain running through her is nothing like she has ever felt before. She knew the drugs last night were working great but she never expected it to feel like this.
"Maura, baby, please. Just tell us what hurts so we can help." Jane says softly trying to will the soothing tones to help ease the M.E's pain. It breaks her heart to see Maura in this much pain.
"Hands and my shoulder." Maura finally opens her eyes and searches for Jane. "It hurts so bad." She leans her head to side that Jane in on seeking out any contact she can get from the brunette.
"I know it does baby. I'm sorry." Jane whispers as she places a light kiss to Maura's temple. "Help her." She spits through gritted teeth at the nurse.
"I just adjusted her I.V. it will take a few minutes but the Demerol to kick in. I'll be back in half an hour to see how she is doing. And the doctor will be back in for rounds about 9." She glares at the brunette as she walks out the door.
"Do you hear that Maura? She gave you something for the pain. Just a little longer and it won't hurt so bad. What can I do?" The brunette lightly rubs the M.E.'s shoulder. She knows from experience how painful this is. And when you are running short on pain medication nothing helps.
"Jane it hurts." Maura cries. All she wants is to be curled up with the detective, but everything hurts. When she moves her arms her hands throb. There is still a dull ache behind her eyes, as well a stinging across her chest and legs.
"Shhhh, I know baby. Try to breathe for me. It helps if you aren't holding your breath. When you tense up the pain radiates more." The brunette is at a loss of what to do. All she remembers about her time in the hospital is that her mother yelling at the nurse to keep the meds coming. For her first few days she vaguely remembers pain but she was mostly out of it. She doesn't understand why Maura's drug seem to have completely wore off.
About ten minutes after the nurse administered the medication the M.E.'s breathing began to regulate. She took a few deep breaths before opening her eyes.
"Jaaane?" Maura says with slurred speech.
"I'm right here." Jane says softly. Her own heart begins to return to normal as she sees the honey blonde's body relax.
"Hold me?" Maura's eyes are half closed.
"I can't, I don't want to hurt you." The brunette hates not giving this woman anything and everything she wants. But she will never be the cause of her pain again. So if that means not cuddling the honey blonde right now then so be it. "But I am right here, I'm not leaving." She leans back over and continually places soft kisses to Maura's forehead.
"Please. Need youuu." The M.E. can barely keep her eyes open but she refuse to let the drugs drag her down to sleep until she gets what she wants. She groans as she wiggles her way to the far end of the bed until she is up against the rail. "Please."
Jane sighs and carefully slides onto the bed trying her best not to jostle Maura too much. She keeps her hands on her legs afraid that if she touches the honey blonde she may break.
"Arm. Lift." Maura's words a drug laden, but when the detective complies and lifts her left arm she wiggles her way into her side. The light lavender scent that is distinctly Jane surrounds the M.E. The detective's arm comes down around her shoulder. Between the drugs, Jane's scent and her warmth Maura is carried off into a dreamless sleep.
Jane shifts slightly in the bed to turn into Maura. She knows when the doctor comes in she is going to be in major trouble for being on the bed. But right now she couldn't care less. If they couldn't see her proximity to the honey blonde is soothing then they were either blind or dumb. Her fear of hurting Maura was eased slightly when she got on the small hospital bed and the M.E. snuggled in and relaxed immediately. She knew that her presence was something that was a comfort to Maura for quite some time time. About three years ago is when their movie nights usually ended up with the honey blonde snuggled in close with her head on her shoulder.
The detectives eyes popped open for the second time that day when she heard someone clearing their throat. She looks to the end of the bed to see the surgeon standing there. She doesn't make any sudden movements but she does extract herself from the bed.
"What exactly do you think you are doing?" Dr Paxton's unapproving look causes the brunette glare at him.
"When she woke up this morning she was in a lot of pain. A nurse came in and gave her some more drugs. When she was finally feeling relief she asked me to lay with her. I.." She is cut off.
" I get that you care for Dr. Isles but you could have cause permanent damage. And if you disrespect my nursing staff again I will have you escorted off the property."
"You can't do that I am with Boston Homicide." She says matter of factly. This man doesn't know who he is messing with.
"Oh I think you will find that I can Detective Rizzoli." He doesn't even look at her as he is reviewing Maura's chart. "You said Dr. Isles was awake earlier, the nurse states she was in considerable pain and didn't do a neurological exam. Did you notice any eye dragging or slurred speech?"
"Do I look like a doctor to you?" The brunette just stares at the gray haired man. Is he really asking me if I noticed some sort of neurological deficit? He's lost his ever loving mind.
"Jane, no need to be rude." Maura says softly.
"Glad to see you awake Dr. Isles. I'm Dr. Paxton I performed your surgery." He turns his attention to the woman in the bed.
"Thank you." The M.E. attempts to lift her had to shake the surgeons but quickly realizes that's not really an option.
"Mind if I do a quick exam?" He steps towards the head of the bed.
"Not at all." Maura smiles over at the brunette.
"If you just give us a minute. I'll have a nurse let you know when you can come back in." Jane mouth hangs open. Before she can say anything Maura speaks up.
"No, please let her stay." The honey blonde says with conviction. She knew the surgeon was sick of the detectives attitude but she was not about to let her out of her sight. And there was nothing the surgeon was going to do or say that Jane couldn't see or hear.
"Very well." The surgeon grabbed his penlight and did a quick exam, he asked a million questions. "Honestly you are doing far better than I had hoped at this point. But you are still going to have a long road ahead of you. I don't see any lasting neurological damage but I would like to run another MRI in a few days just to be sure. Your hands are going to require months of grueling physical therapy. And it's not going to be easy. I would also like you to see our psychologist. I haven't been given all of the details about your abduction but from your injuries alone I would say it was extremely traumatic."
"Thank you, Dr Paxton. Do you know how long I will be here? I am not expecting to get out of here tomorrow or anything. But I would really like to go home." Maura asks, her eyes give away just how sad she is about being in the hospital.
"I would like to keep you for at least a week. I think you are not taking into account your hand injuries. When you are released you are going to need someone helping you with your daily living tasks. We can help you arrange for a home aide if you'd like."
"No, that won't be necessary. I will have all the help I need. Thank you again Dr. Paxton." With that being said the surgeon takes his leave.
Jane walks back around the bed and sits on the edge. She so badly wants to hold Maura's hand but that is out of the question. She knows the surgeon is right the M.E. is going to need a lot of help once released.
"Maura?" The brunette can't bring herself to look up into those beautiful hazel eyes.
"What's wrong Jane?"
"I know that this is all my fault but if you would allow me to I would like to be there for you once you are discharged. But if you don't want me around then I completely understand." Jane's voice is so uncertain. She knows what the her best friend told her last night but she is also aware that the drugs had something to do with it.
"Jane, honey, look at me please." Maura grunts as she shifts herself in the bed to get closer to the brunette. When Jane is finally able to meet her eyes Maura continues. "First of all, this isn't your fault. Secondly, why do you think I turned down Dr. Paxton's offer to find a nurses aide? I sort of figured after our talk last night that meant we were in this together. And honestly no one else knows exactly what it's like, except you."
"If you will have me than I am more than willing to help you. This is going to be a very difficult healing process." Jane places her hand over Maura's forearm once again. "So you remember everything about last night?"
"Yeah I do, when I woke up in pain this morning I thought maybe I had dreamed it. But when you rushed to get the nurse and kissed my forehead I realized it wasn't a dream." Maura leans back against the pillows once again. The drugs are still working there magic but sitting up and getting examined drained her more than she thought it would.
"I most certainly wasn't a dream." Jane sees how tired the honey blonde woman is and places her hand on her cheek gently stroking it with her thumb. " Why don't you try and get some more rest."
"Will you lay with me again?" Maura's hazel eyes plead with the brunette.
"All you ever need do is ask baby." Jane gently gets onto the bed and holds her arm out so the M.E. and get herself comfortable. Once settled together Maura rests her head on Jane's shoulder and Jane kisses the top of Maura's head. She really wishes she could lay her head on Maura's but again at this moment that is impossible. It's not long before both woman have fallen asleep.
It has been ten days in the hospital and Maura is chomping at the bit to leave. She was told yesterday that she would be discharged this morning but the doctor still hasn't come by. She is healing up surprisingly well, another few days and her stitches can come out. Her hands are another story, no none of her tendons were severed which is a godsend. But she is still has a lot of pain and her first therapy appointment was yesterday and she got frustrated halfway through and went back to her room. As a doctor she knows the importance of therapy but as someone going through it it's completely different.
"Maura, darling, weren't you supposed to be released today?" Constance Isles has been sitting in her daughter's hospital room for over three hours and they only medical staff she has seen is an nurse who came to check Maura's dressings.
"Yes, mother." She sighs. Her mother has been in town nearly a week and has sat in her hospital room nearly every waking hours. Their relationship has improved over the last several years but right now all she wants to do is go to her home and relax in the peace and quiet.
"Would you like me to go see if I can get things moving along?" Constance knew her daughter was agitated about still being here and would love nothing more than to help her Maura get what she wants.
"If you wouldn't mind." As her mother walked out of the room Maura leans back and sighs. I really hope she doesn't make anyone cry. Although if she makes someone cry I might get out of her faster. She chuckles softly to herself when the door opens her favorite brunette walks in. "Thank god you're back."
"Miss me?" Jane smirks before pulling up a chair next to the bed.
"You have no idea. I love my mother I do but I am glad she is going back home tonight." Just as she finishes Constance walks in with a frightened looking nurse. Okay, maybe I don't give my mother enough credit.
"Um, Dr. Isles, if you could please just sign these we can get you on your way." The nurse speaks so softly they can barely hear her.
"Are you fucking kidding me right now?" Jane blurts out. "She has been here over a week and you have seen her multiple times. You know she can't sign anything, what the hell is wrong with you?"
"I..I..I'm sorry." The young nurse looks as though she will burst into tears at any moment.
"Jane be nice, she is just doing her job." Maura gives the brunette the "what's wrong with you" look. "My mother can sign them for me and we can be on our way." Constance signs all of the documents and the nurse practically runs from the room.
"Let's get you home." Jane says with a smile.
After gathering all of their things and fighting with Maura about using a wheelchair to head out to the car, they are standing in the elevator. At one point the honey blonde had convinced herself she would never leave. But today is the day, she wishes slightly that her mother wasn't going straight to her hotel to get a little sleep before her flight but she understood. Once in the lobby of the hospital Jane left Maura with her mother while she ran to pull the car up to the door. Seeing her blue Prius pull up the M.E. couldn't wipe the grin off her face if she wanted to.
Constance placed all of the bags in the trunk while Jane helped Maura move for the wheelchair to the passenger seat. Once safely inside and everyone was buckled up Jane put the car in drive and headed towards Constance's hotel. After a very quick goodbye Jane and Maura were alone in the car and headed to Beacon Hill.
"You ready to be home?" Jane looks over at the honey blonde who can't take the smile off of her face.
"Yes, so much. I really miss Bass. And my bed. And my clothes. I just want to take a shower and crawl into my bed." Maura's eyes begin to twinkle as they pull into the driveway.
"Welcome home, Maura." Jane's smile mirrors that of the M.E's
Hope you all liked this chapter. For those who have asked yes I am going to have Maura go through her recovery. I feel it is important to the character and the story to let her go through that process. And for those who are asking about more mature Rizzles content it will come in due time. This is a slow burn, and the characters need to heal physically and emotionally. I promise you will get to the hardcore Rizzles content soon. Hope you all have a lovely Friday.