A/N - A massive thank you to everyone who has reviewed, followed or favourited this story. Also a big thank you to everyone who has read it. When i wrote this story (about 2 or so months ago) I always thought if one person was to read this that would be good enough for me and that one person was my beautiful wife, she encouraged me to post this story. So a HUGH thank you to you *mwah*...Right enough of being mushy lol.

This is the Penultimate chapter. I'm sorry it's a little short but i'm sure the next one makes up for it! - 50'sPUGirl x

Chapter 15

Angela finished wiping over the island worktop. She glanced over at Maura who was sitting on the couch reading a medical journal. She placed the cloth over the tap and silently walked to the side door, she took one more look over at Maura who hadn't even realised Angela had finished cleaning the kitchen. She walked over to the guest house; pushed the door ajar. She grabbed her jacket and car keys from the hook by the door and turned the lights off as she backed out the door. She briskly walked to her car which sat by the curb.

Jane had moved away from the fridge and was now sitting on the couch; Jo Friday beside her sleeping. Jane cradled a mug of coffee as she silently stared at the wall above her television.

A few minutes later, a note slid under Jane's apartment door. Jane glanced over at it. She sighed and placed her mug on the coffee table. She strolled over to the door, unlocked it and opened the door poking her head around the door frame; she looked out to the corridor and saw nobody. Closing the door again she picked up the note, unfolding it she read what it said.

"She's leaving Saturday Night…do yourself a favour and make it count"

Jane crumpled the note in her fist; she recognized her mother's handwriting. She walked over to her apartment window and looked down to the street below she saw her mother glancing over her shoulder up at Jane's window before getting into her car. Jane stepped away from the window and opened the note and read it one more time.

The mid-morning light penetrated through Jane's living room window. She hadn't gone to bed, instead opting to sleep on the couch with Jo Friday who lay on her lap. Jane opened her eyes slowly and noticed her little dog snoring gently. She smiled to herself and started to stroke Jo's coat. The dog started to fidget and within seconds was awake. Jane looked over at her clock which sat insignificantly on the wall by her apartment front door. It was almost eleven o'clock. Jane pushed herself up off her back to a sitting position. Jo Friday woke and looked at Jane in what could be described as disapproval.

"What!" Jane said to her dog.

Jo Friday huffed and jumped off Jane's lap, she trotted to her cushioned basket which sat by the television. The dog climbed in the basket and circled twice before plopping on the red cushion which fit snugly in the basket. Jo closed her eyes and soon was asleep.

Jane looked from the dog to the creased note which had adjourned Jane's coffee table. Reading it again to herself, Jane closed her eyes and leant back down on the couch. A lone tear welled in the corner of her eye before it rolled along her eye line and slid off the side of her face. Jane felt it hit her hair line. She wiped the wet trail of the tear.

Maura had been pottering around her house all morning; she written down any information that she thought Angela may need to know for when she away. Looking at the list she'd made she placed it on the kitchen counter.

Angela opened the side door and peered in "Maura.."

"In the kitchen Angela"

Angela closed the door and walked to the kitchen. She noticed the large suitcase resting near the front entrance.

"Angela I've made a list of things you will need to know while I'm gone."

Angela looked a little sad; she had a small hope that Maura was going to change her mind. She took hold of the list and glanced over it. It was extremely detailed and idiot proof. She smiled to her and thought 'typical Maura'. "Well it looks very complete."

Maura smiled, she understood what Angela meant.

"What time is your flight Maura?" Angela said as she looked up from the list.

Maura had moved away and was gathering her tickets, passport and other paperwork. She placed them in her handbag. "Seven…I need to be at the Airport by Five" Maura said as she looked to Angela.

Angela looked at the clock "you've got five hours until then.. Why don't you go and see Jane?" she turned back to Maura.

Maura didn't say anything, she closed her handbag and considered what Angela had just said "No, its best that I don't"

Angela shrugged her shoulders; nobody could say she hadn't tried. "Well Maura I wish you the best of luck with Doctor Thornton and thank you for allowing me to stay in the guest house…when will you be back?"

"I don't know Angela" Maura said sadly, she was going to miss Angela.

Angela nodded; she placed her hand on Maura's shoulder and gave it a quick rub. Maura's shoulders dipped, she moved closer to the older woman. Angela sensed the sadness. She enveloped Maura and tenderly gave her a motherly hug. Maura rested her head on Angela's collar bone and soaked up the affection. Angela rubbed Maura's back simultaneously while she whispered "oh Maura…shhh it's okay".

Maura found herself standing in the departure lounge alone. She hadn't wanted Angela to drop her off at the Airport. She'd checked in her luggage and gone through security without any problems. She watched the aeroplanes land and take off for the last thirty minutes as she waited for her flight to be advertised on the large departure board.

Maura glanced around the busy airport, the constant stream of crowds of people leaving departures and heading to their assigned flight gates intrigued Maura. She worked out very quickly in her head the number of passengers the airport must have in a day and then significantly worked out that meant in a year it was nearly 14 million boarding's and 29 million passengers over the last year.

Maura glanced down at her boarding pass; she read the information one more time. Her heart and head started racing at the same time. The time had drawn closer to her boarding time. She looked up at the flashing LCD Screen. Her gate number flashed in big red digits.

Here she was standing at "her" periapsis of life. Stay and wait for Jane or go and possibly have some sort of happiness with Alex. A message appeared on the screen.

BOSTON TO LONDON - A350 – BOARDING – GATE 16

Maura noticed some people gather up their hand luggage and quickly walk to the designated gate. She picked up her hand luggage and glanced around the departure lounge one last time. Then as if Angela was standing beside her she heard Angela's voice whisper in her ear. "And another thing it sounds like you're the one running away now" She held her hand luggage tight as she closed her eyes. Her head said one thing and her heart another.