The next day Maura once more offered Jane her bed, and Jane accepted gratefully. She returned to her condo to pick up some clothes and Jo Friday, then returned to Maura's house. After a night of take out, movies, and drinks- beer for Jane and wine for Maura, the two retreated to Maura's bedroom, because why on earth would Jane sleep in the guest room.
The once more curled up beneath the blankets, Jane tucked away into Maura's embrace, allowing herself to be soothed by the ME's fingers gently trailing through her hair. She couldn't help herself, Maura just made her feel so damn good. Even though she hated feeling weak and afraid, she knew Maura wasn't judging her, or that Maura's confidence in her to do her job wasn't lessening. Maura just understood, she knew what Jane had gone through- hell they'd gone through some of it together.
Maura sighed happily, inhaling Jane's scent as deep as she could. She loved the feel of Jane close to her, the tickle of Jane's breath against her collar bone as the detective nuzzled closer. She loved being able to feel the rise and fall from Jane's breathing, the heat radiating off her body. Everything about Jane was so perfect, so comforting.
Maura wasn't really sure at what point the two drifted off to sleep, but she was very aware of when she awoke. Jane was no longer in her arms, but the sound of Jane in distress filled her ears. The detective was on the opposite edge of the bed writhing around and crying out- her breath coming fast. Maura quickly closed the gap between them, "Jane, Jane!" she tried to wake the detective, giving her shoulder a gentle shake. Jane made the most heartbreaking sound of fear and Maura felt tears well in her eyes, "Jane, honey, wake up it's just a nightmare," Maura shook Jane again, this time in desperation, and the detective shot out of bed with a start. "Jane! It's okay, it's just me," Maura rushed, not wanting Jane to be any more afraid than she already was.
"Maur?" Jane whispered in a cracked voice, sitting on the edge of the bed, her back to Maura. "It's me, Jane," Maura repeated, inching closer to the detective. In the darkness she saw Jane's shoulders hunch and the detective doubled over herself, softly shaking. "Oh, Jane…" Maura breathed, her heart aching for the other woman. She slowly crawled to Jane and wrapped her arms around her from behind, then rested her chin on Jane's shoulder gently. "Shhhh," she soothed, holding Jane as tightly as she could. Maura could feel the tremors of fear through Jane's body, and the shaking of her shoulders as she fought back the tears that were threatening to overwhelm her.
Jane could hardly breathe, her entire being felt numb with fear as she buried her face in her hands. She felt the wetness of her lashes against her palm and felt an outburst of rage within her that she was sitting there crying over this. But the rage quickly faded back to the fear that had captured her initially. Hoyt was everywhere. His rough hands grabbing her. His devilish smile replaying in her mind as he stroked her cheek and told her the things he was going to do to her. All the horrors she was about to experience by his hand. Jane hadn't even realized she'd begun to sob until Maura began to rock her, whispering soothing words Jane couldn't comprehend into her head.
Maura wanted nothing more but to take the pain from Jane, the nightmares and terror. She felt helpless as she held Jane, her words powerless as Jane cried, her only comfort was the fact that Jane was there in her arms, rather than alone in her condo. After a few minutes in this position, Maura somehow coaxed Jane to come back onto the bed with her. Jane turned into Maura's hold and buried her face in the crook of Maura's shoulder, her own still shaking from the cries she was trying but failing to suppress. Wordlessly, Maura pulled Jane into her lap and held her, a hand softly rubbing the detectives back in an effort to soothe her.
"I'm here, I've got you," Maura whispered, pressing her lips to the detective's curly hair lightly. Jane sniffed, calming down slightly as the nightmare began to distance itself in her immediate memory, turning to flashes of fear that hid in the corners, rather than an image present in her mind. Tears silently fell down her cheeks, catching on Maura's silk top. "I'm sorry," Jane managed to get out, feeling small and childish.
Maura tightened her hold, "No Jane, please don't apologize," Maura begged, her hand going up to hold Jane's head. "You have every right to be afraid," she whispered, pulling Jane's hair away from her face and tucking it behind her ears. "But I'm here with you, I'm not going to let anyone hurt you," Maura promised, kissing Jane's temple to emphasize the love in her voice. Jane nodded wordlessly and slowly pulled away to look up at Maura's face. She was thankful that the darkness hid how she looked, but seeing the outline of Maura's face was comforting enough, Jane could imagine the look on it, her eyes worried but loving, her expression protective and determined.
Reaching up, Maura used the back of her fingers to gently dry the tears on Jane's cheeks before she leaned forward and pressed her lips to the detective's forehead. They lingered there for a moment, Maura inhaling Jane's scent, and Jane exhaling a shuddery breath. When Maura pulled away Jane sighed softly, "how do I make them stop, Maur?" her voice was pained, tired, and weary. Maura trailed a hand down Jane's back and hummed softly in thought, her mind recalling all the research she'd done over dreams and nightmares. The unconscious mind was so unpredictable. The research inconclusive. She didn't want to give Jane false information, but she wanted to offer her help.
After a moment she explained the theory of changing the outcome of her dream to one she could control, replaying it in her mind and taking charge of it. Jane swallowed, her mouth going dry at the thought of willingly replaying those events in her head. "You don't have to do it now," Maura said softly. Jane shook her head, feeling determined. She knew that if she was going to do it, there was no better place to do it than there in Maura's arms. "No, I want to try. Anything to make them stop."