Surprise! My afternoon and evening plans were canceled so I banged this out to make up for not posting over the weekend. There may be some errors as a result. Enjoy.
Maura couldn't help but grin upon waking up, as she rolled over and caught a glimpse of a still-sleeping Jane. The sun had just started to appear on the horizon, glowing pink and offering Maura a gorgeous view of the sunrise over Boston Harbor in the floor to ceiling windows in their penthouse suite. But she turned her head away from one incredible view to gaze upon another, her sleeping wife. Maura propped herself up on one arm and watched Jane sleep, watching her chest rise and fall with each breath, and watching as Jane's brow furrowed for a few seconds before easing, likely from whatever dream she was having. She wanted to reach out and stroke her hand down Jane's cheek, but she didn't want to wake her.
After watching Jane for a few more minutes, Maura stretched and got out of bed, slipping on a plush hotel robe before making a quiet exit from the master suite. She called down for room service, ordering some coffee along with a light breakfast. As she waited, she slid open the glass door to the balcony and stepped outside into the cool morning air. Maura breathed in the sharp scent of the ocean breeze and watched the fishing boats make their way out to sea to start their day of fishing.
She was lost in watching the sun rise higher and higher, the sky slightly hazy in the way that summer mornings sometimes are, when she felt arms wrap around her waist. Maura smiled and felt Jane pull the back of her robe away from her neck slightly to give her a kiss there. Maura placed her hands over Jane's and leaned back into the taller woman.
"Good morning Jane."
"Mhmm. It certainly is a good morning." Jane's voice was slightly hoarse as she kissed behind Maura's ear. "How did you sleep?"
"Pretty well." Maura turned around and gave Jane a kiss on the lips before settling in against Jane's chest. "I ordered some room service for us. It should be here in a few minutes."
Jane absently stroked Maura's back and turned them slightly so they could both watch the sunrise. A knock on their door eventually brought them back to reality and Maura let out a quiet sigh, knowing they would have to break apart to answer it.
"I'll get it. Stay here and I'll bring it out." Jane gave her a quick peck on the lips and headed into the suite to answer the door. Maura sat down at the outdoor table and continued to look out over the harbor, wondering how she had never known about this hotel right on the water. The sun was now well past the horizon and Maura could tell that it was going to be a warm day by the way the light shimmered off the still-smooth water. Jane appeared a few minutes later pushing the room service cart into the doorway before transferring the food and the dishes onto the table. Then, she joined Maura at the table and they began to eat.
Between bites of scrambled eggs, sausage, and fresh fruit, they began to talk, wanting to know all the details about what each of them had been doing over the past few weeks. Maura knew that Jane couldn't give her a lot of information about how her undercover assignment was going, so she tried to keep her questions general.
"Ma and Frankie aren't driving you crazy, right? I mean, I kinda told them to keep an eye on you, but if you need your space just let them know." Jane said, taking a long drink from her orange juice.
Maura shook her head. "No, they have been wonderful. Frankie stops by a few times a week and I talk to your mother almost every day. It's nice to have someone to talk to. I think I would go insane otherwise."
"Yeah, I get it. My shithole of an apartment sucks under the best conditions, but add in the fact that I have no one to talk to at any given point, and it's a million times worse." Jane stabbed a piece of melon viciously and brought it to her mouth.
"It's strange how when we have a busy day all we want is some peace and quiet, but when peace and quiet is all you have, it can be overwhelming." Maura mused.
"Don't go all philosophical on me Maur. It's too early for that shit. I need at least two cups of coffee before I can deal with that." Jane said dryly.
They both smiled, happy to have some time to joke with each other after what had been a solemn few weeks. Maura took another sip from her coffee and looked up, studying Jane to see whether now would be a good time to mention the foster child or not. She couldn't quite read Jane, but figured she would just go for it since they only had a few hours left together.
"So I heard from Maureen Simmons yesterday. The social worker from DSS."
Jane speared another breakfast sausage from the platter and shoved it in her mouth, her speech garbled as she struggled to talk around the mouthful of sausage. "Oh? Wha id she wan?"
Maura rolled her eyes. Apparently three weeks of living by herself had turned Jane into a Neanderthal. Jane caught the eye roll and gave a sheepish shrug. She swallowed her mouthful and looked at Maura again.
"Sorry. What did she want?"
Maura played with the edge of her napkin. "She has another child she is looking to place. She called wanting to know if we were willing to take him in." Maura's eyes flicked down to the table before moving back up to see how Jane responded. "I-I told her yes."
Jane had just picked up her coffee cup but paused halfway to her mouth and set it back down. "You did what?" She wasn't angry, but caught off-guard by Maura's statement.
"I told her yes. I'm going to pick him up this afternoon."
Confusion clouded Jane's eyes. "Why would you agree to foster a child when I'm not there to help?"
"I-I don't know." Maura bit her lip. "I guess on some level I wanted to have someone else around so the house didn't feel so empty."
Jane exhaled loudly. "I know you're lonely Maur, but I still can't understand how you skipped right over getting a puppy and went directly to getting a kid."
Maura's face fell and she crossed her arms defensively. "I just wanted to help Jane. I know it seems random and impulsive, but after the experience we had with Leah, it seemed like the natural thing to do."
Jane thought it over for a few seconds. "It's a boy?"
Maura nodded. "Yes. He just turned four. Maureen didn't tell me his name, but I know he was orphaned a little over a year ago and they recently found out his previous foster parents were abusing him, which is why they are looking for another placement."
"Man. Poor little guy." Jane turned her gaze toward the ocean, but Maura could tell she was mulling the situation over in her mind. Maura resumed eating the last of her eggs but had only taken a couple bites when Jane spoke again. "What does this mean for you and I having a baby. You know…after all this is over."
Maura put her fork down carefully. She hadn't considered this fact when she told Maureen she could take the boy. "Oh."
"Oh is right Maur. How are we supposed to start a family of our own when dealing with the stress of this little guy and our jobs?"
"I still want to start a family with you Jane, but I don't think we should let that be a reason not to help a little boy when we are able." She reached across the table and grabbed Jane's hand. "We don't even know when you will be home." She said quietly. "We can talk about it then, but right now I want to help this boy."
Jane regarded her wife, quickly noting how serious Maura was about this. "Are you really okay with the idea of fostering this kid when I'm not there? Not that you can't do it on your own." She quickly added. "But, like you said, I have no idea when I will be home."
"Hopefully you will be home soon." Maura squeezed Jane's hand. "But in the meantime, I can ask your mother for help if I need it. She was wonderful with Leah."
Jane nodded. "That's true. If there's one thing Angela Rizzoli knows, it's babies." She smiled tentatively at her wife. "You're really going to do this?"
"Yes. No. Well, I'm going to do this, but once you come home, we are going to do this together."
Jane smiled despite her unease about the situation. "God, I hope I can finish up this assignment soon. I just want to be home with you."
Maura smiled. "Me too Jane. The sooner you can come home the better."
"Agreed." Jane stood up and held out her hand. "Care to join me for a shower? We still have two hours before we have to check out. I can think of a few things we can do to occupy ourselves…" She raised an eyebrow.
Maura took the offered hand and allowed herself to be led toward the spacious bathroom, which was even larger than their bathroom at home. As they began to untie their robes, Maura heard Jane chuckling quietly. As she opened the glass door to turn on the water she looked back at Jane with a puzzled look. "What are you laughing about?"
Jane shed her robe and stepped into the shower, pulling Maura close and positioning them both under the streaming water.
"I was just picturing you with a little boy, and how I'm sorry I can't witness it until I get home. I'm picturing grass stains and dirty hands and spills on the couch and I wish I could be a fly on the wall." Jane chuckled again and kissed Maura as the water beat down over their naked bodies.
Maura didn't have the wherewithal defend herself, as she suddenly found herself distracted by Jane's roving hands.
Four hours after another difficult goodbye with Jane, Maura found herself waiting outside the Department of Social Services in her car. Thinking back to her earlier conversation with Jane in which some valid concerns were raised, Maura couldn't help but wonder if she was doing the right thing by taking in a little boy. The bottom line was that she had made a commitment, and she was going to follow through. Pushing aside the doubts, she turned off her car and headed into the building.
A few minutes later, Maura was seated in Maureen's office, filling out the last of the paperwork while Maureen went to get the little boy. Jack. When Maura had read the paperwork and found out his name was Jack, she had to smile, remembering the conversation with Jane a few weeks ago about baby names. Maura scrawled one last signature and recapped the pen just as Maureen entered again.
After checking the paperwork to ensure it was filled out correctly, Maureen piled up the paperwork and looked up at Maura.
"Dr. Isles-Rizzoli, before I take you to the playroom to pick up Jack, I wanted to let you know of an issue that has come to light with him."
Maura frowned, unsure of why any concerns regarding the child had not been voiced before she signed all the paperwork. "Oh? What seems to be the issue?"
"Jack hasn't spoken since we took him from the other foster home. We did, of course, have him thoroughly examined by our team of physicians and child psychologists as soon as he got here, and they seem to think that this is his emotional response to the abuse he suffered. They were quick to assure me there was nothing physically wrong with him."
Maura nodded slowly. She had heard of other cases where children had become selectively mute after enduring a traumatic experience or abuse. "How long has it been going on for?"
The social worker didn't respond immediately. "We really aren't sure. All we know is he hasn't spoken at all since we picked him up three days ago. I suppose this could have been going on for much longer though. There is no way to know." She stood from her desk and motioned to the door. "Would you like to meet him?"
"Yes, please." Maura followed the woman down the hallway, where they stopped in front of a large window that overlooked a playroom where a small boy was sitting in the corner holding a tattered blue blanket. "Is that…is that him?"
"It is. Feel free to go in. Whenever you and him feel comfortable, you are free to go. I'll touch base with you in a week or so to see how he is adjusting." Maureen gave her a quick pat on the shoulder and headed back to her office.
Maura watched the small boy for a few minutes, his dark head was bowed and his little hands clutched the blanket. She moved slowly toward the door, pausing in the doorway and not wanting to enter just yet as she didn't want to scare the little boy. She cleared her throat quietly.
"Jack?"
The little boy looked up, panic immediately flashing in hazel eyes. His hands gripped the blanket tighter, his knuckles turning white. Maura immediately noticed the bruising on his face and her heart broke at the sight. She took a few steps towards the boy, moving slowly as to not frighten him. When she felt she was a safe distance from him she crouched down.
"My name is Maura. Is it okay if I play with you for a bit?" She picked up a fire truck and a police car from the floor and held them out toward the boy.
As expected, he didn't respond, but Maura noticed his grip on the blanket loosen slightly. She sat down cross-legged on the floor and held out the toys again. "I won't hurt you Jack. No one is going to hurt you ever again."
Some of the fear dissipated in Jack's eyes. He brushed a lock of dark hair from his forehead and reached out to take the police car, still holding onto his blanket with the other hand. Maura couldn't help but break into a grin, knowing that Jane would be excited to know he had gone for the police car.
"Do you like cars Jack?" Maura watched as he rolled the car back and forth on the floor. He didn't look up at her, but he nodded slightly in response. "I would have picked the police car too. My wife is a police officer and it reminds me of her." She smiled again, trying to make sure the boy didn't feel threatened by her.
Jack's gaze flicked upwards for a few moments and he regarded this stranger sitting next to him. He returned his gaze to the car once again, but as Maura pushed the fire truck across the floor in front of her, she was surprised when he held out the police car to her. When she didn't immediately take it, he stood, taking a couple tentative steps toward her and holding the car out in front of her face.
Maura reached out and took the car from the little boy, noticing that he jumped a bit when her fingers came in contact with his hand. "Thank you for sharing Jack. That was really nice of you." She was even more surprised when, after a few seconds, he sat down only inches from her and began to play with the fire truck. She let him continue to play, knowing that he was feeling her out and trying to figure out if she was safe or not. Glancing at her watch, she realized they had been there for almost an hour, and knew they needed to get home so she could start dinner. Taking a deep breath, she placed the police car on the ground and turned to the little boy.
"Jack, I know this might be a little scary for you, but you are going to come stay at my house, okay?" Maura's heart clenched when he looked up at her, fear present in his eyes once again. She wanted to pull him close, but knew that would likely be the worst thing for him right now. "I won't hurt you honey, I promise."
Maura got to her feet and held out her hand, remembering a tactic that Jane had mentioned earlier, thankful that she had stopped at the grocery store and stocked up on what Jane had deemed "kid-friendly" items. "Hmmm, I seem to be really hungry all of the sudden. I sure can't wait to eat some macaroni and cheese and ice cream when I get home." She had to stifle a grin when Jack's head snapped up at the mention of food. Truthfully, macaroni and cheese were not something she would normally partake in due to the sodium and sugar content in each, but seeing Jack's reaction she knew Jane had been right.
"What do you say? Do you want to come help me eat some mac and cheese and ice cream?" She held out her hand again, letting out a sigh of relief when a small hand settled in hers.
As she drove home, she glanced at the child in the rear-view mirror. He was buckled into the booster seat she had purchased on the way there and was looking out the window, intently watching as the world passed by. While she waited at a stoplight, her eyes focused on the bruises marring his handsome little face, wondering how anyone could inflict pain on a child. She continued to watch him in the mirror, surprised when suddenly he turned to face forward, his hazel eyes meeting hers. His eyes briefly widened in fear, and she turned around to reassure him.
"It's okay Jack. You're safe." She reached out and gently patted his knee, giving him the biggest smile she could.
The light changed at some point and the car behind them honked causing Maura to step on the gas, not wanting to hold up traffic. But as she turned the corner onto their street, she glanced in the rear-view mirror again, watching Jack visibly relax into his booster seat.