Jane looked around and tried to free herself even though she knew that every tug was very painful. Her angry grunt was in vain. She took a deep breath as she laid down at the cool metal table. What was the breathing technique that would bring her to the present? Ooh- what? Jane took a steady deep breath. "Ooh-jie .", she breathed and smiled as she heard Maura's voice and closed her eyes. Maura. As if the name had enraged her Jane tugged hard on the cords again. She didn't care that her wrists became sore. The only thing she cared about right now was that she getting out of this freaking vaulted cellar. She needed to get back to her wife. She needed to get back to her daughter and to her family. She growled in frustration and tugged at the cords again. She stopped and looked to a dark corner as an amused laugh filled the room.
Donna came out of the shadow with a broad smile on her lips. "You can do that as much as you like. The only thing you will achieve are broken wrists."
Jane chomped with rage and she pierced Donna with her gaze. "I'm going to kill you as soon as I make it out of here."
Donna laughed again as she walked beside the table. "You won't make it out of here.", she raised her eyebrows. "Well, not alive."
Jane's facial muscles twitched and she tugged hard at the cords again.
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Maura closed the front door as she entered her house.. Angela had insisted on going home while Frankie, Korsak and Cavanaugh did everything possible to find Jane. Maura had agreed after the four men had come back from BCU with nothing but the realization that someone had broken into Mandy's dorm and that Jane must have been kidnapped there because Masterson had found Jane's badge on the floor.
Maura was prepared for everything but not the impact that hit her as Alexis threw herself against her mother's legs. Maura almost lost her balance and had to brace herself against the door.
Angela looked over her shoulder and raised her eyebrows. "Careful, Alexis. You don't want your Mommy fall, do you?"
Alexis shook her head and looked guiltily up to Maura. "Sorry."
Maura ran a hand through her daughter's hair and smiled tired. "It's okay, baby. Nothing has happened", then she lifted her daughter up and sighed. "I missed you."
Alexis wrapped her arms around Maura's neck and placed a kiss on her cheek. "I missed you, Mommy.", then she looked over Maura's shoulder. "Where is Mama?"
Maura swallowed hard and forced her tears back. "Mama ...", she took a deep breath. "Mama can't be home right now. You have to just be with me."
Alexis just shrugged. "Okay."
Maura smiled again and walked into the kitchen. She frowned as she saw that Angela shoved the baby sitter out of the back door. "You know that Sarah could have stayed for a little bit. Right?"
Angela closed the door again and waves. "Hush. Tonight is just a Rizzoli evening. Just the three of us. Now go and sit."
Maura smiled and placed her daughter on the chair next to her.
Angela put both hands on the kitchen island and leaned on them. "What do the two of you want have to drink?"
Alexis scrutinized her mother and raised her eyebrows. "Coke?"
Maura looked at her daughter and furrowed her eyebrows. "No. No, you don't get a Coke. Especially not at this time. Sprite is fine by with me."
Alexis pouted. "Okay.", she mumbled.
Maura rolled her eyes and looked back at Angela. "The same for me please."
Angela opened the fridge and furrowed her eyebrows. "Are you sure, Maura? When was the last time you had a glass of wine?"
Maura closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead. "Some weeks ago."
Angela placed a soda can in front of her granddaughter. "A Sprite for my favorite granddaughter", she walked to the kitchen cabinets and got out two wine glasses, "and a glass of wine for my only daughter in law."
Maura looked at her. "Angela ..."
Angela ignored the tone and poured two glasses of wine. "Does it sound good when I say I'll cook?"
Alexis' eyes lightened up. "Yeah!"
Maura chuckled and ran a hand over her daughter's head.
Angela smirked and sipped her wine. "How does asparagus and potatoes with butter sauce sound?"
Alexis wrinkled her nose in disguise. "Ew."
Maura choked on her wine and looked with big eyes at Alexis.
Angela laughed amused and placed the glass back on the kitchen island. "Well, that was in a real Jane Rizzoli manner."
Maura chuckled as Alexis smiled looked proudly at her and sighed. "Yes. Yes, it was. "
Alexis beamed and held both of her thumbs up.
Angela beamed broadly and held her thumbs up too.
Maura rolled her eyes and sipped her wine.
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Maura laid down on her side of the bed and smiled as she soothed the worried lines on her daughter's forehead. "Stop frowning, baby."
Alexis skidded closer to Maura. "Are you sure that Mama won't be mad if I sleep in your bed tonight?"
Maura nodded once. "Yes, I am sure. Mama won't be mad if you sleep for one night in our bed."
Alexis seemed satisfied by the answer but then frowned again. "Mommy, are you mad at Mama again?"
Now Maura frowned too. "Why would you think something like that?"
Alexis shrugged and skidded closer again. "The last time Mama wasn't at home at night you were mad at her. And Mama slept at Nonna's house."
Maura swallowed hard and caressed Alexis cheek. "No, honey. I am not mad at Mama. Not at all. Mama can't be home tonight because ... because she has to be somewhere else."
"Is Mama mad at you?"
"No. No one is mad at anyone, Alexis. Mama will be home soon and everything will be alright."
Alexis snuggled into Maura and sighed loudly. "Okay."
Maura wrapped her arms around her daughter and wiped away her own single tear as it ran down her cheek. "Okay."
Alexis looked up but couldn't see Maura's face. "Mom?"
Maura took a deep breath. "Yes, baby."
Alexis nestled against Maura's collarbone. "I love you."
Maura couldn't help the smile that appeared on her lips and kissed her daughter on the top of her head. "I love you too, honey. Now go to sleep."
"Night, Mommy.", Alexis mumbled.
"Good night, honey.", Maura said before she pressed her lips together to stifle a sob.
She believed her own words that everything would be alright. She had to. It had to be alright again.
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The next morning Maura stood in the kitchen and prepared breakfast for her daughter as someone knocked at the front door. She frowned and wiped her hands on the kitchen towel. She walked towards the door and glanced at Alexis who sat on the couch and watched one of her favorite cartoons.
Maura opened the door and looked surprised at the visitor. "Tommy."
Tommy smirked and lifted an hand. "Hey, Maura."
Maura stepped to the side and closed the door as he had entered the house. "I am surprised you're here at this time of day."
Tommy rolled his eyes as he took off his jacket. "I am not as bad as Jane. I can be up early."
Maura smiled and tilted her head to the side.
Tommy gasped as Alexis threw herself against him. "Uncle Tommy.", she almost yelled.
Tommy lifted her up and frowned as he saw the broad grin of his niece."Hey, little monster."
Maura smiled and walked back to the kitchen with Tommy and her daughter in tow. "What brings you here?"
Tommy sat down at the kitchen counter and shrugged. "Ma called me and asked if I could keep an eye on this cookie monster. Because she has to work and she suggested that you may want to head to headquarters too."
Maura poured a cup of coffee and handed it to him. "It's very thoughtful, but you don't have to. I can call Sarah before I go to work."
Tommy placed Alexis on a chair next to him as Maura put a bowl in front of her. "Hey, she's my niece and I love keeping an eye on Alexis. And I am free. Lydia will come by later and drop off T.J. Would you like that, Al?"
Alexis shrugged as she chewed her breakfast cereal. "Only if I have to.", she said with her mouth full of food.
Maura sighed and shook her head. Her daughter had way too much of her wife in her. "Alexis, please swallow your food first before you talk. Thank you."
Alexis grinned and shoved another spoon with cereal in her moth.
Tommy chuckled but sobered as he looked at Maura. "How are you, Maura?"
Maura shrugged as she played with her own cereal and sighed. "It'll be alright again."
Tommy nodded slowly and sipped his coffee.
When it was time to leave, Maura took Alexis' chin in her hand and looked deep into her daughter's eyes. "Be good for your uncle and be nice to your cousin."
Alexis wrinkled her nose. "Why?"
Maura raised her eyebrows. "Because I said so. Understand."
Alexis nodded with a pout.
Maura smiled satisfied. "Good. Now give me a kiss."
Alexis reached up and placed a loud kiss on her mother's lips.
Maura smiled and rolled her eyes as shestraightened up. She grabbed her purse and her car keys before she walked to the door. "If you need anything call me. It doesn't matter why."
Tommy rolled his eyes. "Jesus, you are worse than Jane. Now go and catch the bad guys."
Maura waved before she closed the door behind her.
Tommy sighed and raised an eyebrow as he looked at Alexis. He smirked and cracked his fingers. ""Well ..."
Alexis' eyes grew wide and she jumped off the couch with a happy screech as he walked toward her and ran with a laugh toward the hallway.
Tommy chuckled and rolled his eyes.