A/N: Thanks for sticking with me! I hope I did you and the characters proud. Let me know if you expected them to react differently.
And to the kind reviewer who asked for email updates: if you create an account on here and click Follow, the website will send you an email whenever an author updates a story. It's quite nice!
"Maura," Jane all but pleaded, as Maura pushed herself up and wrapped her arms around her knees.
"No, how could you know? How could you be so sure when even I wasn't?"
Jane propped herself up, trying to get a better look at Maura's face. She expected her to look near tears, but instead she found a neutral, indifferent expression. Maura continued to avoid Jane's eye contact, and instead looked straight forward at the wall.
"It's who I am, Jane. Just like the reporter said."
"What, do you still think this crime thing runs in your blood? I told you, he-"
"That phrase is misleading. Characteristics and traits carried down through heredity occur because of similar compositions in DNA. It has nothing to do with blood."
Jane pursed her lips and chose to ignore Maura's interjection.
"I've told you this a million times, he's just the sperm donor. Don't think of him as anything more than that."
"That's precisely the problem!" Maura exclaimed, turning to face Jane, "That sperm explains literally half of my genetic composition. And more research is presented everything day further proving that nature explains more than nurture ever has."
"Maura-"
"No," Maura stopped her. She felt anger and fury begin to build. "And let's take a look at nurture for a second. I spent nearly all of my schooling abroad, and most of that time was alone, reading books, going to museums. I don't think I could name a single one of my classmates as a friend. I don't think I was ever bullied, but most actively ignored me. My parents weren't even in the same country as me for most of my childhood. I don't think I've ever once heard my mother say she loves me. I'm honestly not sure I can even remember her holding me as a child." Maura took a deep breath, and looked down, avoiding Jane's eye contact again. "I don't even know what continent my father is on. The last correspondence I had with him was a two minute phone call on Christmas."
Jane placed her hand on Maura's forearm and bent down, trying to catch her gaze. She hated seeing her like this. It made the teary, upset Maura seem like a walk in the park compared to where she was now. Jane could feel the heat coming from Maura's body. Her anger was bubbling over.
"Even in my adult life - I mean have you looked at the men I've dated? Garret, a murder; Ian, a criminal; Dennis... It's almost as if I seek pain out. As if I'm always finding a reason to get closer to it. My God, Jane, just look at what I do for a living! Death and murder everywhere. And it doesn't even bother me. I'm not normal!" she exclaimed, nearly out of breath.
"Jane, imagine Frost reading this to you. My history - it's exactly what you would expect to comprise a killer! It can often be neglect that causes the most extreme behavior from individuals, rather than physical abuse. And couple that with a father that enjoys killing for a living and-"
"Hey. Stop it." Jan couldn't bear to hear Maura continue this terrible train of thought. She placed her hand on either side of Maura's head and softly turned her look at her square in the eye. "You are your own person. You are not Paddy or Constance. You're Maura. You are without a doubt the kindest and gentlest person I have ever known. You're so patient; so empathetic."
Jane could feel Maura searching Jane's eyes. There was clearly something else she was looking for.
"How can you see all that? When all I see are people in my life who willingly turned away from me? I think I'm..." Maura looked down, trying to find her words,"I'm afraid I'm incapable of being loved."
Her words felt like a knife through Jane's heart. Jane took Maura's hand from around her knees, forcing Maura to unfurl. She gave them a soft squeeze and rubbed the insides of her palms.
"I know that's not true, because I love you. Literally every part of you," Jane saw Maura's lip turn up slightly. She looked up and held Jane's gaze.
"You do?"
"From your Google-mouth to your insane high heeled shoes. I honestly don't know what I would do without you. You make me want to be a better person. God, I even had salad the other day for lunch!
Maura finally let out a laugh.
"And you are all the more amazing for turning out as you've had. Despite the neglect and the unfortunate genes, you became you. And you're right - you're not normal. You're extraordinary."
Maura felt her eyes begin to water. All those things she doubted in herself were washed away with Jane's reaffirming words.
"Thank you," Maura let out softly. Jane let go of Maura's hands and brought her arms around to run her back.
"Hey, and thank god you exist past your genes and upbringing. I mean have you met my family? I've got a sleazy father, an overbearing mother, and a mess up for a brother. I hope I'm nothing like them. Plus Frankie is so lame."
Maura giggled. It was truly astonishing how Jane could make her at ease. Jane continued to rub soft circles on her back. Maura closed her eyes and continued to let Jane's fingertips trail across the back of her shirt. Every small, physical contact with Jane was always so reassuring. She wish she had a reason for her do this unprompted. Preferably for all hours of the day.
Maura finally opened her eyes and noticed that Jane had closed hers, despite continuing to rub her back. Maura was quite sure Jane would do it all night if she thought she needed it, despite her exhaustion. The doctor knew that Jane had been up for nearly 48 hours straight trying to solve this murder and get Maura free.
Slowly leaning back, Maura repositioned herself to lie back down, bringing Jane with her. Jane opened up her eyes as she felt Maura tug her towards the bed, her arm still caught behind Maura's back. Jane cocked her eyebrow to see if she should attempt to wiggle it free, but Maura had already closed her eyes and adjusted herself to use Jane's outstretched arm as a pillow.
Maura took a deep breath and all she could smell was Jane. It was intoxicating. She couldn't help but let out a small hum of content. And as if Jane could read her thoughts, she felt Jane shift and roll so that she was on her side, facing Maura. Jane's left arm came around, and she began to trace soft patterns against Maura's right arm. They would wind all the way up from her behind her shoulder blade down to her hands. She felt her body finally drift off into sleep as Jane began to trace each of Maura's fingers.