I cannot believe that Rizzoli and Isles only has one more episode left! Even though I was very late to the fandom I have truly grown to love the show and especially the characters! It will be sad to see them go, but at least they will live on here in our fanfiction world!
I hope you all will enjoy this chapter! It's got a lot of sweetness and perhaps a surprise at the end! The next one should be a fun one!
Happy reading! -J
Chapter 25- Sick Day and Reasons
It happened very quickly. It was a Tuesday night that Amelia went to bed feeling perfectly fine and perfectly happy. She had enjoyed a rather chatty dinner with her mother and Jane before convincing the women to play dolls with her, followed by story time before she was tucked into bed and drifted off to sleep.
Having had a long day at work Jane and Maura had decided to head to bed early, laying together and talking for a while before Maura was eventually the first to drift off, followed closely by Jane. Their peaceful slumber was short lived though as the sound of Amelia's cries woke them only a few hours later.
"Mommy! Janie! Mommy!" Amelia yelled out, both women jolting awake, slightly disoriented, but getting out of bed quickly and running towards Amelia's room.
Quickly turning on the light, neither woman knew what to expect, both gasping as they found Amelia leaning over the side of her bed, having been sick all over the floor.
"Oh honey," Maura rushed towards the bed, scooping the little girl into her arms and up out of the bed, rubbing her back soothingly. "It's okay sweetheart. It's okay."
"My tummy hurts," Amelia cried, laying her head on her Mother's shoulders, her forehead hot against the older blonde's skin. "I feel yucky."
"It's alright darling. Let's get you in the bathroom," Maura replied, worried the five year old would be sick again. "Jane I…"
"I got this," Jane gestured towards the mess on the floor. "Go ahead," she gestured, knowing that Amelia needed her Mother right now.
Hurrying towards the bathroom down the hall, Maura made it just in time; placing Amelia down in front of the toilet and opening the lid just before the little girl once again expelled the contents of her stomach. Pulling back blonde hair and rubbing her daughter's back, Maura felt her heart break as Amelia continued to cry.
"It's okay sweetheart, it's okay," Maura cooed, grabbing the hair tie off her wrist in order to pull the little girl's hair back. "You're okay. Just try and take a deep breath."
"M-Mom…Mommy," Amelia sobbed.
"I know Baby," Maura sighed, hating the fact that there was nothing she could do for her daughter. "It will be over soon darling," she said, desperately hoping that she was right.
It was nearly fifteen minutes later when Jane finally made her way to the bathroom, poking her head inside and frowning at the sight of Maura sitting on the floor holding Amelia tightly to her chest.
"I thought she might need some clean PJs," Jane said, holding up the nightgown she had picked out. "Everything's cleaned up in her room though we'll probably need to get the carpet steamed. I also grabbed a bucket for later. Do you need anything else?"
"There should be some Tylenol in the cupboard there," Maura pointed above the sink. "She's got a pretty high fever and it should help with her stomach ache," she said. "I'm going to get her in the bath quickly and then I'll settle down with her in the guestroom. There's no reason both of us should lose sleep tonight."
"Don't be ridiculous," Jane was quick to argue. "Bring her to our room. It's more comfortable and closer to the bathroom. We can take turns with her if she needs us, I don't mind," she said, giving the blonde a reassuring smile. "Here let me take her, I'll help you get her in the tub."
Allowing Jane to lift Amelia out of her arms, Maura watched as the brunette placed a kiss on the little blonde's forehead before placing her head on her shoulder, rubbing her back comfortingly.
"Janie?" Amelia asked tiredly, her eyes closed; too weak to even lift her head.
"It's me little Bug," Jane whispered as Maura began to run the bath water. "I'm sorry your not feeling well. Mommy and I are going to get you in the bath and give you some medicine that will make you feel better okay? You're gonna be okay baby."
"You know I'm really fine with sleeping down the hall," Maura said again as she began to peel Amelia's sweaty pajamas off her. "I would hate for you to get sick."
"Don't worry about me I've got a solid immune system," Jane shrugged, moving to place Amelia into the bath, keeping a hand on the little girl's back as she could barely keep herself up, already half asleep. "Now just let me help you alright?" She smirked.
"Okay," Maura chuckled, slightly surprised, and yet extremely touched by her girlfriend's insistence. "Th-thank you."
"Anytime," Jane gave her girlfriend a small smile, brown eyes locking with hazel. "Anything…seriously…anytime."
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It had been a long night for everyone in the Isles/Rizzoli household. Jane and Maura had placed Amelia at the edge of their bed, Maura laying in the middle with Jane on her other side. The trio had only just fallen asleep when they were once again woken by the sounds of Amelia getting sick into the bucket beside the bed. It had been Jane who had gotten up to take Amelia into the ensuite, sitting on the cold tile floor with the little blonde while she got sick, only returning her to bed when the five year old had fallen back to sleep against her chest.
The rest of the night had continued in much the same way, Maura and Jane taking turns with Amelia, so that by the time their alarm went off the next morning neither woman had gotten much sleep. Groaning as she quickly turned off the alarm, Jane rolled over to find Maura rubbing her eyes sleepily before turning to check that Amelia was still fast asleep, as she carefully brushed a hand against the little girl's forehead.
"Is she still hot?" Jane asked quietly, not wanting to wake Amelia.
"She definitely still has a fever," Maura nodded, biting her lip nervously. "Perhaps I should stay home."
"I thought you had a trial to get ready for?" Jane raised an eyebrow, watching as Maura simply nodded. "Come on Maur you know you need to go in then. I'm sure my Ma can handle Mia. I mean she dealt with me and my brothers being sick all the time and trust me when I say we weren't exactly easy."
"I believe that," Maura chuckled softly, allowing her fingers to brush through her daughter's blonde locks. "Amelia gets so clingy when she's sick. It's not that I don't think that your Mother could handle it, but I'm worried that Amelia will be terribly upset if she wakes up and we're gone," she explained, still biting her lip, a sure sign that she was thinking hard. "I'm sure I can get some work done for the trial while she sleeps."
"Well you know that won't happen," Jane sighed, her eyes flicking over to the still sleeping five year old as she considered her own options. "Okay how about I stay home instead, at least for the morning? I'll call Cavanaugh and explain. My Ma will help out and then if I can get away after lunch I'll come in for the rest of the day," she suggested. "Does that work?"
"Jane you don't have to…"
"I know I don't," Jane interrupted before Maura could argue any further. "But you need to be at work today. That trial is important," she said. "Mia will be alright with me. Now come on. What do you say?"
"Well," Maura once again glanced from Amelia to Jane nervously, eventually sighing. "Okay," she nodded. "That sounds okay."
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"I don't like that medicine," Amelia whined, hiding her face in Jane's t-shirt, her lips pursed shut.
"How can you not like it? It's cherry flavour! You love cherries," Jane tried to convince the little girl. "Come on Mia you need this," she sighed. "It will make you feel better."
Although she hadn't been sick again since she woke up, Amelia was still complaining of a stomachache, and her temperature was still higher than it should have been. The five-year-old was grumpy from lack of sleep and feeling off, and just like her Mother had said she would be, was extremely clingy; attaching herself to Jane as soon as she woke up that morning.
"Please Bug? Just take this little bit and I'll get you a Popsicle okay? Please?" Jane begged, Amelia lifting her head in order to look at Jane properly as if to check if she was being deceived.
"A banana Popsicle?" Amelia asked, furrowing her brow in much the same fashion as her Mother would.
"You got it," Jane nodded, breathing a sigh of relief, grateful that she wouldn't need to involve her Mother. "But only if you take this first."
Obediently opening up her mouth, Amelia finally accepted the spoonful of medicine that Jane offered her before immediately holding out her hand, silently asking for her treat. Laughing, Jane quickly made her way to the kitchen, grabbing a Popsicle from the freezer before returning to the couch where Amelia immediately grabbed her frozen treat before shuffling onto Jane's lap.
"Janie you gonna stay with me all day?" Amelia asked, leaning back against the brunette's chest.
"Actually kiddo I'm supposed to go to work this afternoon," Jane replied, circling her arms around the little girl's waist, sighing as she placed a kiss in blonde hair. "My Ma's gonna be here with you for the rest of the day though, and me and your Mom will get home as soon as we can. It'll only be a couple hours."
"I wish you would stay with me," Amelia sighed, looking up at Jane with wide eyes shining with tears. "I like when you're here Janie," she curled up, tucking her head under Jane's chin. "I feel better with you here. Don't go."
Feeling like her heart might break, Jane held Amelia tighter, knowing Maura would likely laugh at her inability to say no to the little girl. "How about we talk about this later," she said, unable to deny Amelia what she wanted, but not wanting to give in so easily. "How about for now we just watch a movie and rest okay? We'll worry about me leaving later," she said, giving the five year old another kiss. "For now I'm staying right here with you. Don't you worry."
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Completely lost in her preparation for the trial that she was required to testify in, Maura was unable to check in with Jane throughout the day, only receiving a text from the brunette in the later hours of the morning letting her know that everything was going fine. Assuming that meant that Jane would be returning to work in the afternoon, it wasn't until the end of the work day that the Medical Examiner had ventured upstairs, surprised when Korsak had informed him that Jane had called saying she wouldn't be able to come in at all.
Worried, Maura had attempted to call Jane from the car, frustrated as the devise consistently went to voicemail, causing the blonde to press the gas a little harder, needing to get home. As soon as she had parked in the driveway Maura had rushed out of the car, not even bothering to grab her bag, as she practically ran inside, only slowing down when her eyes landed on Jane laid out on the couch; Amelia fast asleep on top of her.
"I thought you were coming in to work this afternoon," Maura raised an amused eyebrow, feeling her heartbeat beginning to slow down as she sat on the coffee table in front of Jane. "What happened? Is she okay?" She asked, brushing her hand over her daughter's head. "It feels like her fever has broken."
"She's feeling better, she's just catching up on sleep," Jane nodded, careful not to rouse the five year old, who was completely sprawled out on top of her. "I was going to go to work I just…well…I couldn't leave her," she sighed, feeling her cheeks reddening as Maura chuckled softly. "She just really didn't want me to go and she was crying and I couldn't…I had to stay."
"She can be quiet convincing," Maura nodded in understanding, still laughing quietly. "How long has she been like this?"
"A little over an hour," Jane replied, as Maura simply nodded, now understanding why the brunette had been unable to answer her phone calls. "I thought about moving her, but she seemed so comfy and well…I don't know," she ran her hand over the little girl's hair. "I guess I kind of liked being able to be here for her like this."
Smiling, Maura brushed some of Jane's hair out of her face, allowing her fingers to linger on the brunette's cheek. "You never cease to amaze me," she practically whispered, feeling nothing but love for the woman in front of her. "Amelia and I are incredibly lucky."
Reaching out for Maura's hand, Jane smiled, feeling like she was the luckiest woman in the world at the moment. "Do you believe in fate?" She eventually asked, surprising the blonde, who had been watching her daughter sleep. "Like do you believe that everything happens for a reason?"
"Honestly?" Maura tilted her head. "I'm not really sure. I mean I'm a woman of science. I believe there's an explanation for everything but I think that it comes down to science, not fate or some higher plan," she said, ever the rational thinker. "Why do you ask?"
"I guess I've just been thinking a lot lately…about us," Jane replied, squeezing the blonde's hand in hers. "I mean I always think back to that first day when I met Mia down in the basement," she said, remembering the way the little girl was sneaking about looking for her Mother. "I mean I had every intention of introducing myself to you that day but meeting Mia first…I feel like it brought us together. I know it probably sounds crazy but I guess I always just felt like I don't know…like maybe it was fate…bringing me downstairs at that exact moment…bringing me to Mia…and to you," she smiled, looking up to find tears shimmering in Maura's eyes. "It's like we were meant to find our way to each other."
"Everything happens for a reason?" Maura questioned, smiling a watery smile as Jane simply nodded, shrugging her shoulders as best as she could without moving Amelia. "You know what? I think you might be right."
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The next day things went back to normal for Maura and Jane. Since she was still rather drowsy, and hadn't gotten all her colour back yet, Maura had once again decided to keep Amelia home from school; spending over 30 minutes in the morning convincing the little blonde to stay with Angela as she and Jane needed to return to work.
Since Maura was needed in court for the day, it was only Jane's phone that went off before the duo were able to leave, the blonde giving the Detective a kiss and a silent goodbye before heading out the door, while Jane listened to dispatch giving her the details to their latest crime scene on her way to her own car. Knowing she was in for a long day, Jane silently wished for another day like the previous one; wishing she could once again stay in and spend her hours cuddling with Amelia rather than dealing with yet another gruesome murder. From the second the Detective reached the crime scene, finding Pike replacing Maura for the day, Jane knew she was in for a rough one, her head almost instantly beginning to throb as she met with Frost and Korsak in order to be debriefed.
"What are you doing here? I thought you were in court all day?" Jane asked, glancing at her watch when Maura entered the bullpen later that day, noticing that it wasn't even 4 yet. "Are they really done already?"
"Not quite, they've decided to pick back up tomorrow," Maura shook her head. "Although I won't be needed any longer. I've given my testimony. I just thought I would come in and make sure none of you have killed Pike yet. How are things here?"
"Slow," Jane rolled her eyes, reaching out and giving the blonde's hand a squeeze as she took a seat next to her desk. "I know you like to take your time with things and be precise and what not but you never take this long to get us answers," she huffed. "Think you can go down there and hurry the man up?"
"You know I can't do that," Maura laughed. "It wouldn't be right for me to step over another ME's toes, even if technically I am his boss," she smiled. "I can go down and offer my assistance if you think it would help though. Perhaps then you won't have to be here all night?"
"Really? You'd really do that?" Jane sighed in relief. "That would seriously be awesome, because at this rate we're all spending the night and I was really hoping to make it home tonight. Ma called, apparently Tommy is bringing a girl over to dinner tonight," she raised an eyebrow. "Her and her son. I guess it's pretty serious or something."
"Wow, when's the last time he brought a girl home?" Maura asked her curiosity piqued.
"Hell if I can remember," Jane shrugged. "All I know is I'm not going to miss this one. So let's go Maur. Time to be Dr. Isles!"
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"Did you see his face when you walked in there? Seriously if looks could kill," Jane laughed as she and Maura walked towards the front door to their house later that night, the pair joining hands. "That man thinks he knows so much better than you! And when you corrected him about that thingy…whatever you called it…he was like fifty shades of red."
"Yes well Dr. Pike does seem to have a bit of an ego problem," Maura replied, unable to hold back a grin. "Luckily my presence seemed to move him on a bit, and at least I will be able to assist with the case as of tomorrow. Although you do know if something else comes up I will be forced to take it and leave you with Pike."
"Yes well let's pray that doesn't happen," Jane shook her head, reaching out to open the door, the sound of talking and laughter immediately filling her ears. "Hey guys we're home."
"Mommy! Janie!" Amelia immediately called out, running towards the front door, her arms wide open as she threw them around Maura who had bent down to greet her. "I missed you!"
"Oh we missed you too sweet girl," Maura smiled, kissing the little girl's temple as she lifted her up onto her hip.
"Looks like you're feeling better too," Jane added, kissing Amelia's cheek and running a hand down her back. "Did you have a good day Bug?"
"It was GREAT! I feel much better," Amelia replied, smiling wide before wiggling to get down, taking both Jane and her mother by the hand. "You gotta meet Nessa! She's real nice! Come on let's go. Angela saved you some pasta."
"Oh thank God," Jane sighed, having not eaten since the early afternoon, her stomach growling. "I am so hung…" Freezing mid-sentence, Jane quickly turned her attention to Maura who stood on Amelia's other side in much the same fashion, her mouth open in a look of shock as she took in the sight that greeted her at the dining room table.
Unable to fully grasp what was going on, Maura had no idea what to do or say, seeing the people around her speaking; their mouths moving, and yet not hearing a word as her mind was elsewhere, thinking about the conversation she had shared with Jane the previous day. Jane believed that things happened for a reason. She believed that they were all part of something bigger; some sort of plan. And while Maura had toyed with the idea that maybe Jane was right; that maybe fate had brought them together all those months ago, suddenly her mind was filled with doubts; unable to understand what possible reason there could be for the scene currently unfolding in front of her.
Feeling six sets of eyes on her, Maura could hear her heart beating loudly in her ears, panic beginning to take over as her eyes finally met a set across the room; sitting next to Tommy and staring back at her with an innocence that didn't belong there.
"Vanessa."