It was dark by the time they arrived at Logan International Airport. Whoever they were, they didn't talk much and Kate didn't mind. She just did was she was told to, moved when she thought it was needed. Only breathing was something that happened at this moment without giving it a second thought. She needed it to survive and it was all she had. She sat in the back of the black van, holding the passport and the plane ticket she'd just been given. Both had her new name written on it and she'd leave the state with a new life ahead. She didn't care that they took her all the way to Boston, maybe they thought it might be safer to fly out from there. As she'd leaned back in her seat for almost eight hours, she thought there would be so many things torturing her thoughts but there was nothing and she simply stared straight ahead for almost the whole time. It never once occurred to her that things weren't the way they were supposed to be. What if someone had tricked her and they weren't taking her to a safe place like they promised but actually kidnapping her?

Right now, she wasn't afraid or angry, it all seemed so surreal that it was hard to believe. She felt numb and empty and she just couldn't think about it. She didn't want to imagine what she had left behind; the pain it'd cause them all to get through this. The guilt and the anger. She couldn't let that touch her now, she had to go on and be strong, be the kind of person she used to be. She saw the terminal from the distance, the bright lights of the airport illuminating her face every now and then as the car slowed down. She remained seated when they reached the parking lot and waited for someone to open the door. Usually she hated this, she would've gotten out of the car herself but this time she just couldn't do it. She couldn't do it and as soon as she left the car, she was out there on her own and there was no going back. She thanked the man who handed her a bag and closed the door behind her and looked straight ahead when she walked through the glass doors into the terminal. She didn't look back once because she knew there'd be no one waiting for her.

It wasn't like she'd just go away for some time, feeling nervous because there'd be so many new things. Eventually this feeling would pass and she knew she was going to return so it was fine; that's how things worked except for her. She would never return to this place the way she had once been.

She felt her heart pounding in her chest, her pulse drumming in her ears. She walked to the security check to get to a safe point, away from all the people. She looked around, feeling that everyone was watching her.

Someone must knew, she thought and kept walking. Someone always does. She felt light-headed and nauseated but took a deep breath and never stopped for one second. What if someone recognized her? She couldn't help but think that there was someone watching her. At some point Kate was forced to wait in line for the security check and she kept her head down, anxiously bitting her lip. She couldn't look at anyone because somehow everyone seemed familiar and everyone might be a threat to her. By the time it was her turn, her hand was shaking when she handed over her passport. Suddenly everything moved in slow motion and she felt getting sick with fear. One tiny mistake and it was over.

What if they knew that the passport was fake? What was there left to do for her? Within seconds, she thought about a million things to get out of here, trying to find a way to escape just in case although she knew it was nonsense. There was no way out. She was trapped between an armed security officer and a long line of people that allowed no way through. After all, she had an explanation that might allow her to walk away without having to worry but it'd still blow her cover and she couldn't risk that.

So far so good, she thought and took a deep breath when the officer waved her through. He was holding her passport and she did her best to look as innocent as possible but just as she was about to reach for her bag, she heard them screaming.

"No one move!" she heard a man shouting.

"Hold on, Ma'am," the officer in front of her said and her body went numb with fear. She couldn't make sense of what was happening right now. What did she do wrong? It all seemed to be the way it should've been. She was just seconds away from entering her new life; a life that was supposed to be safe and yet she saw it all slipping away within an instant.

She heard lots footsteps getting louder as a couple of people came running closer.

"Where did he go?" she heard a woman asking angrily. "Where?" she screamed at one of the officers that was closest to her. She held on to her site with her right hand as she was trying to calm down after the chase.

"I wanna see all of your security footage now," she said to another man and he nodded without a further word. It was then that Kate saw the badge that she was carrying, the gun attached to her left side. She looked at the tall woman from a little distance, her long curly hair tied back in a loose ponytail. She was obviously a detective since she wasn't wearing a uniform and it slowly dawned on her that none of this had to do with her.

She kept staring at the female detective for a few more seconds; she was scanning the crowd, whatever it was that she was looking for. For just a couple of seconds, their eyes locked. She saw those dark brown eyes and suddenly she knew there was nothing to fear. She had nothing to be afraid of.

"Excuse me?" the officer said and it sounded like someone was talking to her from a great distance. "Miss Isles?" he said again and she slowly realized that he was talking to her. "You can go now," he said and handed her the passport. She picked up her bag and left, feeling close to tears. She was exhausted and emotionally drained and she wasn't sure she could handle any more stress now. It was in the middle of the night and things finally calmed down a little. The detective had long been gone by then.

"You ready to go?" Jane asked when they arrived at the airport.

"More then ready," Maura said and they got out of the car. There was a lot going on since it was summer time and many people were eager to go some place nice. Right now, the only place Maura wanted to go was home. Back to Boston and be with Jane and although she knew that nothing would be the same by the time they returned, she wasn't scared. There was still a lot to talk about but it needed time; they just needed some time.

Jane walked next to Maura, following her since she seemed to know exactly where they had to go. She watched her from the side and for the first time since all of this had started, she felt the slightest hint of happiness. A feeling that she was indeed a very lucky person and that nothing could take Maura away from her. Coming to Washington was maybe one of the craziest things she's ever done but she'd do it again if she had to. She nearly lost Maura once and she couldn't let that happen again; she wanted to be with her but it wasn't as easy to say as she thought. She was still very nervous and this was still new to her but she really wanted it. While she was walking through the terminal it suddenly occurred to her that it didn't seem to be very new to Maura, so either she there was still a lot that she had to tell Jane or she was very good at hiding her nervousness.

Jane didn't miss the fact that her hand accidentally brushed against Maura's while they were walking and after a while she found herself doing it on purpose and Maura laughed at the surprised look on Jane's face when she finally took her hand and held it. Jane smiled but didn't say anything.

"We should skip this," Jane said impatiently after a while; the queue didn't seem to move at all.

"How so?" Maura asked.

"I mean, I'm a detective... you're a Medical Examiner..." Jane said and Maura already knew where this was going.

"No," she said before Jane even finished the sentence.

"We could always make up something," Jane threw in but Maura shook her head.

"Wouldn't be fair, would it?" Maura reminded Jane. "They're all waiting and it doesn't change the fact that boarding doesn't start for another 90 minutes at least," Maura said and Jane went quiet for a few seconds.

Maura leaned her head against Jane's shoulder, lost in thoughts.

"I used to be terrified of security checks," Maura said after a while.

"Sorry?" Jane asked.

"In the beginning, you know," Maura explained. "I was so afraid someone would notice," she said and Jane understood.

Just like so many things, Jane could only imagine how that must've been for her and it made every hint of anger that she had once felt when she found out about the truth, simply vanish.

"I understand," Jane said and laid a hand around Maura's waist, holding her close. When it was their turn, Maura went through first and it looked like things had never been different at all. Maura took her bag and walked ahead, waiting for Jane and suddenly she was frozen in place.

"Oh my God," she whispered to herself.

She couldn't move as she tried to understand. She felt disbelief and sadness flush her body at the memory. She had never given it a second thought back then but now it was all back and she couldn't believe it. She suddenly found herself standing at the exact same place where Jane had stood seven years ago. She knew it'd been a different airport but that didn't matter. She was standing behind the security check, staring at all the people waiting and at Jane who was just getting her bag.

"Maura?" Jane asked as she approached. "Is everything alright?"

"No, no, no..." Maura whispered more to herself and shook her head. "This just can't be," she said and shook her head again.

"What?" Jane wanted to know. "What is it?" Jane asked as she lead Maura aside.

"I... I have seen you before," Maura whispered and felt the tears in her eyes. At the same time she didn't know whether to laugh or not.

"What are you talking about?" Jane asked.

"I have seen you at Logan Airport seven years ago," she said and looked deep into Jane's eyes; there was no doubt that these were the same eyes she'd looked into all these years ago. It hadn't meant anything and she was just another stranger while she was busy saving her own life that it didn't matter and that memory had remained hidden in her mind for years. She remembered that there's been something familiar about Jane when she met her for the first time but, for the love of God, she hadn't been able to recall why that would be.

"It was the night that... that I died," she whispered. "They brought me here from Washington. I was waiting at the security check," she explained. "I was terrified," she said and sobbed quietly. They walked for a bit and sat down on a bench in a corner without many people around. "I was so terrified that they'd notice and then they told me not to move," she said and although she hardly ever remembered any of her cases, there are always a few details that you never forget and the picture that Maura was describing suddenly started to make sense to her.

The tears started to stream down her face when she thought of that night.

"I heard someone screaming, people running and suddenly... there was you," Maura whispered. "Now I know it was you," she said and through her tears, a laugh escaped her lips.

"My God," Jane whispered. "You were standing there while I was trying to find our guy," she said. "I looked into you eyes."

"Yes," Maura whispered. "You did."

"I can't believe it," Jane whispered and kissed Maura softly. "What if I'd been there all those years ago?" she asked and leaned her forehead against Maura's.

"I was a mess," Maura said and laughed quietly.

"I could've saved you," Jane said and Maura thought that this was the most wonderful thing someone had ever said to her.

"You already have," Maura said and her hand caressed Jane's cheek softly. "You already have in so many ways that I don't know if I'll ever be able to thank you enough for it."

"I know," Jane said and bit her lip. She knew there were tears in her eyes, but she didn't care.

"Thank you for coming," Maura said.

"Always," Jane answered.

The flight back home was quiet but soothing at the same time. For now, there wasn't much to talk about and they simply enjoyed each other's presence in silence. Jane didn't want the flight to be over, she just wanted to stay here with Maura in her arms without having to worry about anything. Without anyone who wanted to know what was going on, or curious people who never stopped asking questions. Far away from danger where no one could ever be harmed again but she knew that reality was different but she allowed herself to dream a little more until it was time to leave the plane.

"Shall we go to your place?" Jane asked. "Chances are quite likely that my mum's going to show up at my doorstep by the time she finds out I'm back in town..."

Maura laughed. "You think she'll hesitate showing up at mine?"

"Not so sure about that."

"What did you tell her anyways?" Maura wanted to know.

"Just that I had to leave and I'd explain it to her when I'm back." Jane said. "Maybe."

"Jane!"

"I had no time for explanations," Jane justified herself. "She's gonna be so mad."

"She must've heard people talking..." Maura said. "What do you think she must be thinking?"

"You trying to make me feel guilty?" Jane asked and looked at Maura from the site.

"You don't have to let her know that we're back," Maura suggested. "I mean, how's she going to find out if you don't call her?"

"Fine, your place it is then."

A couple of minutes later, Maura walked through her front door and took a deep breath, suddenly flooded with happiness. There was no fear and everything was the way it was supposed to be and most of all she was happy to be back. She'd been gone for a few days only but it finally felt like home again.

"Hey!" she said when Jane suddenly lifted her up and smiled.

"We need to have a word," Jane said and looked up at Maura.

"Really?" Maura asked.

"A tattoo?" Jane asked and carried her out of the living room and Maura laughed.

"You curious?" Maura teased Jane.

"Where?"

"Find out," Maura whispered and let Jane carry her to the bedroom.