Hey all. Thanks for coming along on this ride with me. I hope you all like this latest chapter.
Update: It has been brought to my attention there were some major typos and grammatical errors. I fixed the ones that have been brought to my attention. My apologies for posting a not perfected product. As always keep review and sending me messages. Those messages are how I can improve.
Yeah, yeah, yeah I still own nothing. Rizzoli and Isles are simply being borrowed.
It has been over a month since Maura was released from the hospital. And she is having a hard time dealing with her real new reality. Her bruises are gone and her stitches have all been taken out. Outwardly you looks nearly normal, apart from the pink scars on her hands. She is no longer feeling twinges of pain throughout her body. The only exceptions being her hands.
The honey blonde arrives home after another painful therapy appointment. She sighs as she remembers the brunette is out with her mother. Jane has not left Maura's side the entire time she has been home, the detective has enough vacation time saved up she could stay home for a year if she really wanted to. Maura still can't think of a way to thank the brunette for everything she has done for her.
She slips off her shoes and jacket placing them in the hall closet before heading into the kitchen. It may only be 5 in the evening but a glass of wine sounds like a great idea. She grabs a bottle out of the fridge and a glass from the cabinet. Using the new electric corkscrew she was forced to by recently she opens the bottle and leaves it on the counter breathe while she heads upstairs to change into something more comfortable. Being Friday night the M.E. and the detective have a standing movie night that started long before they even began dating. Well not dating per say since they actually haven't gone on a real date yet but they both confessed their feelings for one another and have spent every moment together since. Neither one of them has ever been with a woman before so they have been taking everything really slow. Granted the increasing frequent makeout sessions were making it hard for Maura to keep her hands off the brunette.
After changing into a pair of yoga pants and a scoop neck tee she returns to the kitchen to retrieve her drink and order dinner. There was a new Greek restaurant in town that she had been dying to try. Jane finally gave in and said to go ahead and order it tonight and she would pick it up on her way home. Once she finished placing their order she shot the brunette a quick text.
I just ordered dinner, it should be ready in half an hour. M
It was five minutes later when her phone buzzed on the counter next to the bottle of wine.
Awesome I'll see you soon. J
Every time she got a text for the brunette her heart fluttered. No they were never overly lovey dovey but that fact that Jane responded quickly to each and every message. She had never been in a relationship where she wanted nor need constant contact with her partner. With Jane that all changed, if for some reason the brunette needed to go out or Maura was at a therapy appointment they would text constantly.
Maura reaches for the wine bottle and winces when she tries to grip the bottle. She has come a long way in a month but her hands are nowhere near what they were before. As a medical professional she knows healing is going to take time, but she wishes there was some sort of button to press to make it happen now. She wants to be back at work, she wants to be doing all the things she once enjoyed doing. As she attempted to lift the full bottle it slipped from her grasp and wobbled on the counter. Maura's grip strength isn't even a tenth of what it used to be and it frustrates her to no end that she cannot even pick up a simple wine bottle to pour herself a glass. She knows she can leave it on the counter and when Jane returns she will gladly pour her a glass and bring it to the M.E. But that wasn't the point Maura has always been on her own, strong and independent. Needing someone constantly even for little tasks is beginning to get to her.
"Come on, it's a damn bottle of wine." Maura mutters to herself. Her normal refined easy going nature is dwindling. She takes a few deep breaths trying desperately to calm herself down. After her therapy appointments she tended to have more issues with her motor skills, that is completely normal and expected but that doesn't help matters much. Trying with both hands she still couldn't get a grip on the smooth glass. She lets out a frustrated sigh and tries a third time and when she couldn't get it she snapped.
"FUCK!" Maura shouted at the top of her lungs and used both arms with swipe the bottle of wine and glass off the counter. The flew towards the wall sending shards of glass and wine everywhere. She starts to sob and backs herself up against the sink and sinks to the floor. She hadn't even noticed Jane walked through the door about the time she threw everything into the wall.
"Maura it's okay." Jane was at her side in seconds. She knelt down next to the shaking honey blonde woman. It kills her to see Maura this way, knowing all too well the frustrations she wraps her arm around the smaller woman's shoulders.
"No it's not!." Maura didn't mean to shout at the detective but she is just so damn frustrated. "I can't do this. It's too hard, what if my hands never work properly again. I can't live like this."
"Shhhhh, it's going to be okay. It is hard I would know. But you can do this, you will do this. It's only been about a month. You will continue to get your strength back a little each day. Look how far you've come already." Jane says softly. She internally curses herself for not being here when the honey blonde got back from her physical therapy appointment. Therapy days tend to be harder on Maura.
"What if I can never grip a scalpel again? I wouldn't be able to do my job and I really love my job Jane." Maura is beginning to calm down. She is no longer crying and her blood pressure is returning to normal. With a calmer mindset she feels a bit foolish.
"I thought you didn't like sentences that start with 'what if' or guessing?" The brunette chuckles and lifts Maura's chin to make her look at her. "You want to tell me what exactly got you so upset to the point of ruining one of your favorite bottle of wine? I mean isn't that some sort of sin for you?"
Maura can't help but laugh, she leans over and kisses the brunette on the cheek.
"I was trying to pour myself a glass. But no matter how hard I focused I couldn't grip the bottle. And I did so well today at therapy. I was even able to do finish the damn fingerboard in under a minute. I got home and my hands had stiffened so much I couldn't grasp hold of the bottle and after my third attempt, something in me just snapped." She looks over to the reddened pile of broken glass at the baseboard.
"I am so proud of you." Jane kiss the side of the honey blonde's head and lingers for a moment longer inhaling the infectious scent that is Maura. "You have been talking about beating that board since your first appointment."
"I was rather pleased with myself about it at the time." Maura says sheepishly. She knows it's silly but that fine motor skills board is one of the hardest obstacles and for her to have already been able to complete it is no small feat.
"How about you go get on the couch and get a movie ready and I'll clean this up." Jane knows the M.E. is going to put a fight about the mess but she doesn't want Maura to cut herself trying to pick up all the tiny shards of glass.
"No, Jane, I made this mess let me clean it up." She is cut off by the brunette shaking her head.
"No way, I'll do clean it and be right there. You have done more than enough work today." Jane offers a small smile. She stands and helps Maura to her feet.
Jane quickly retrieves the broom and dustpan from the pantry and gets to work cleaning the mess. Once all the broken glass has been discarded in the trash she grabs some 409 and wipes the floor to insure there is no sticky residue left behind. The brunette goes to the fridge and getting a beer for herself and a new bottle of wine for Maura. She makes her way over to the couch and sits down next to the honey blonde.
"So what are we watching tonight? Please tell me it's not another documentary." Jane says playfully, no she isn't a huge fan of documentary films but she would watch nothing else just to be able to see the smile on Maura's face while she watches them.
"No it's not another documentary, you keep telling me I need to watch Star Wars. So I ordered the collector's edition. Episode one in in and ready to go." Maura's smile fades as she sees the brunette shaking her head. "What? I thought you'd be pleased."
"It's great really, it's just that the first movie is actually, Episode IV: A New Hope." Jane says through a chuckle.
"That doesn't even make any sense." Maura watches the brunette swap out the DVD's.
"I know I don't really understand it myself but that's how it is." The detective plops back down on the couch with her beer in hand.
Half way through the second film Jane couldn't keep her eyes off the honey blonde snuggled up next to her. Her arms is draped around Maura's shoulder and her fingertips are tracing light patterns over her bicep. God, she is gorgeous. She is brought out of her own thought she Maura pokes her in the ribs.
"Ow, hey what was that for?" The detective rubs the non existent pain.
"You were staring at me, again." The M.E. can't help but beam at the way Jane looks at her. She has never been the object of someone's intense affections before. Yes, past partners have told her she was beautiful but none of them had ever made her feel it before. With Jane she can see that she hold every ounce of the detectives attention.
"Sorry I can't help it. Can you really blame me? You are drop dead gorgeous. I also have a question." Jane may be smiling but she is still extremely nervous. They have moved past a platonic friendship and moved into a romantic relationship. She wanted to make sure the honey blonde was healing properly before asking her out on an official date. Not that she really thinks Maura will say no, but there is always that chance.
"Well?" Maura says with furrowed brows.
"Will you go on a proper date with me tomorrow night?" The brunette says quickly before chewing her bottom lip nervously.
"I would love nothing more. Did you have someplace in mind?" Maura asks.
Jane will never tire of how Maura's eyes twinkle when she gets excited about being able to spend time together. Maura has many smiles but the one that makes her dimples pop and her eye sparkle is only for Jane.
"I do have a place in mind but I would like to surprise you, if that's alright?"
"That's more than alright, just tell me what type of attire I need for the evening." Maura says.
"Anything in your closet that isn't your workout clothes or pajamas will be just fine." Jane grins wildly.
The brunette leans down and captures the honey blonde's lips with her own. It doesn't take long before they have shifted on the couch to face each other. Maura's hands are fisted in dark raven locks and Jane's hands are gently squeezing the smaller woman's waist. When air becomes a necessity they reluctantly pull apart resting their foreheads together. They are both flushed and panting.
"How about we finish this movie before we get carried away?" Jane asks breathlessly. She doesn't want to stop and if they hadn't have broken apart nothing could have stopped her from taking the M.E. on the couch. But she wanted to do this right, and Maura deserved to be wined and dined first.
"Okay." Maura pants. She closes her eyes trying to regain some composure. God knows she would let the brunette ravish her right here and now. But neither wanted to rush things and mess this up, so slow and steady it is. She settles back in against Jane's side, laying her head on the brunette's strong shoulder and snaking her arms around her slender waist she settles in to finish the film.
As the credits begin to roll Jane looks over to the peaceful honey blonde sleeping next to her. She reaches for the remote turning off the TV and DVD player. She tucks a stray strand of hair behind Maura's ear before gently kissing lips.
"Maura, awake up. Let's get you to bed." Jane says softly maybe too softly because the M.E. didn't respond
"Baby come on let me take you to bed." Jane tries again and this time sleep laden hazel eyes are staring back at her.
"I didn't mean to fall asleep." Maura's voice is rough and she sits up rubbing her eyes.
"Don't worry about it. Let's get you in bed and I will come back down and clean up." The brunette stands extending her hand to the sleepy woman.
Maura takes the offered hand and shuffles along behind the taller woman who leads her into her bedroom. The M.E. sits on the bed and falls back into the pillows.
"You know it works better if you get under the covers you know." Jane says with a laugh.
Maura gives her a dismissing wave and all Jane can do is shake her head. She walks over to Maura's side of the bed and pulls the covers out from under her and then pulls them up over the already sleeping woman. The brunette places a kiss on Maura's forehead before heading back downstairs to clean up.
After cleaning and locking up the house Jane makes her way back into Maura's bedroom. She slides under the covers on her side of the bed and snuggles up behind the sleeping M.E. This is probably one of the things Jane loves most. A quiet house, just the two of them snuggled in bed. Being able to feel that Maura is in fact here and real. That this wasn't some dream, coming so close to losing her best friend has changed some of Jane's perspectives on life. She used to work with a reckless abandonment, it didn't matter if she came home safe. She never need to worry about her own safety before, she always made sure everyone else was safe and out of harm's way before she worried about herself. That has completely changed after the events with Maura. She understands know why Maura gets so upset when she does something careless at work and ends up hurt. Her last thoughts before sleep overtakes her are of Maura and never wanting to do anything to hurt her again and making up for past indiscretions.