A.N: Hey everyone, thanks so much for the amazing response I got for Chapter 1 of this story. I've got a lot planned for Jane and Maura, so stay tuned! Please review - your feedback makes the story better.
As long as she was at work, Maura made sure to focus on what she was doing. She was giving a voice to those who no longer had one, and that sort of job required no distractions. She had hoped to finish her work early and go and see Jane as soon as possible, but a development in the Jane Doe case from the previous day held her at work for an extra hour. Suspicious blue fibres in her throat demanded further analysis, and any other pathologist would have left the job for another day, but Maura felt a duty to the young girl and worked hard to get to the bottom of it. When there was no more left for her to do she picked up her coat, switched off the lights, and walked up the stairs.
On her way out, she bumped into Sergeant Vince Korsak and looked at him gratefully. "Thank you, for making me go and see her," she said. He nodded understandingly. It broke his heart knowing the state Jane was in, but he was thankful for Maura. "I'm looking after her," she continued, "It's too much for Angela, seeing her daughter like that. I'm on my way over there now actually, so I'll see you tomorrow." They said goodbye, and Maura walked out the front of the BPD building to her car exactly has she had done yesterday. The difference this time was that she had been looking forward to the visit all day, rather than dreading it.
As she opened the door she looked around the apartment hopefully, but it was untouched. Remembering Jo-Friday, she quickly filled up two bowls with food and water and made a mental note to take her for a walk later on. With a sigh she entered Jane's bedroom, and it was strange to see her friend so uncharacteristically worn down. "Hi Jane," she said as she sat down on the bed. "Come on," she said, "Let's get you up." Maura figured even if she moved Jane from the bed to the sofa it would be an improvement, as the lack of mobility was probably doing hell to her limbs. She took off her pink heels and placed them side by side on the floor before pulling the duvet off the bed. A sigh escaped her mouth when Jane didn't respond to that, so she knelt on the bed and lifted her up into a sitting position.
Maura grabbed a hairbrush from the bed-side table, still using one hand to prop Jane up like a doll. She climbed behind Jane, hitched her own dress up slightly so she could place her legs either side of Jane, and then proceeded to brush the long, dark brown hair before her. Her body was acting like a chair to be leant against, and she felt somewhat useful acting as a prop. It took half an hour to work through the matted brown locks, but eventually she managed to tame it into a neater wave of hair.
As she moved to sit next to Jane and returned the brush to its table, Maura noticed the clock showing 7:00pm. She still planned to make some sort of dinner for Jane as well as walk Jo-Friday, and then come back tomorrow morning to dress Jane and help her out of bed. Realising how late she would get home, and then how little sleep she'd get before having to get up early to return to the apartment, Maura came to the conclusion that it made more sense for her to stay the night with Jane. She manoeuvred Jane's legs around to hang off the edge of the bed, and then placed Jane's left arm around her shoulders before looping her own arm around the brunette's toned waist.
Maura stood up, using all of her energy to hold Jane upright. "Come on Jane, just walk with me," Maura urged, and to her surprise Jane began to take baby steps. She was still resting her whole weight on Maura, but it was incredible that she was moving her own legs. "That's it, keep going," Maura encouraged her as they crossed the threshold to the kitchen. Feeling a thin layer of sweat forming on her forehead, five minutes later Maura reached the sofa with Jane and sat her down. She wiped her brow and felt a huge sense of achievement wash over her. This was an even prouder moment than when she aced her finals in college. Jane's head turned slowly as she examined her apartment, but her eyes were still empty.
Leaving Jane to get used to the different surroundings, Maura walked into the kitchen to find some sort of nourishment. The only solid food was out of date, and there was only one can of soft food left. As Maura heated up the can of rice pudding she began to plan a trip to the supermarket tomorrow. It didn't take long for the food to warm up, and she placed it in a bowl and took out a spoon from the drawer. Feeling herself tire, she sat down on the sofa next to Jane. Rice pudding gathered on the spoon and Maura raised it to Jane's mouth. Her lips were already slightly parted, so Maura slid the spoon in her mouth with ease. Jane closed her lips around the spoon as Maura pulled it away, and then swallowed. It was a slow process, but everything was with Jane at the moment. Feeling a slight victory, Maura spoke as she continued to feed Jane, "I knew you weren't completely gone. They said that you were completely absent, but look at you. You're walking… kind of, and eating a bit. You're going to get better Jane."
It took so long to feed Jane that towards the end she was eating stone cold food, but at least she was eating, Maura thought. As she washed up the bowl Maura noticed Jo-Friday getting particularly restless, so when she was satisfied that Jane was safe on the sofa she put on her shoes, picked up the leash and left with Jo-Friday. The fresh air was a welcome release and she began to consider getting a dog herself as she found walking around the block a calming activity. Her mind cast back to Jane and Maura began to wonder how she would juggle work and frequent visits to the Rizzoli apartment. Then, an idea struck her: Angela had gone to stay with her cousin, so the guest house was free.
With Jane staying in her guest house Maura would be able to look after her all the time without having to leave any earlier before work or return home any later. She could take some clothes from Jane's apartment and pack a small suitcase for her, that way she would at least be in her own clothes. As Maura walked through the front door with Jo-Friday half an hour later she figured she would still stay with Jane at her apartment that night, just to make life easier. She sat down next to Jane and clasped their hands together. "Jane?" she said, looking intently into her brown eyes, "I want to look after you, I want to help you. But it would help me if you were staying at my guest house. Is that okay?"
There was no response; Jane didn't even make eye contact. Determined to get through to her, Maura squeezed her hands and repeated, "Jane?" The chocolate brown eyes looked up and locked onto Maura's blue ones. "Is that okay?" Maura asked, and Jane nodded ever so slightly. Maura sighed with relief and smiled at the tiny action, then looped her arm back around Jane's waist and helped her to her feet. It took twice as long as the first time, but eventually they reached the bed and Maura sat Jane down in it. She moved her legs on the bed so Jane was lying down on her side, and she hoped to have some interaction or movement like a nod or even eye contact again. But Jane merely closed her eyes and went to sleep.
Maura adjusted the duvet over Jane's slender body and planted a gentle kiss to her temple, then switched off the light as she left the room. Exhausted from such a small task, she poured herself a glass of water and was about to sit down when there was a knock on the door. Considering it was just gone 10pm, Maura figured the only person visiting at this hour must be Frankie Jr. after his shift. She opened the door and invited him in, and they sat on the sofa as she explained about her guest house. "That's a good idea," Frankie said, "If you want, tomorrow I can come over when you finish work and help you move her? If it speeds things up I'll carry her to the car and stuff." Maura nodded gratefully; glad that she wouldn't have to support Jane's weight down several flights of stairs.
Once Frankie had left, Maura crept into Jane's room and silently pulled out a pair of pyjamas from her wardrobe. She changed into them, and then collapsed onto the sofa and pulled a blanket over her body. Within minutes she was asleep, tired from the events of the night. Before she completely dozed off, it hit Maura just how much work she had ahead of her. It was only the first night, and she felt like she had spent hours at the gym. But the result of this workout was better than any toned stomach or muscly arms: she was getting the woman she loved back. Slowly but surely she was bringing Jane back: and every tiny step Jane took; every nod; every maintenance of eye contact, it all meant so much. With that thought in her mind, Maura fell into a deep sleep.