I own nothing Rizzoli and Isles

LET SLEEPING BLOOD LIE

Chapter 19 - Home

Sunday 7:50pm

The rain was pelting down now, with the windscreen wipers on the fastest setting visibility was still low, water was torrenting in tiny rivers down the sides of the road and it was getting gusty, it was almost winter so it was getting dark earlier every day. She turned into her driveway dreading the short distance just from the car to the house. Thats when she saw Jane, sitting against her front door holding her face in her hand. Her dark hair stark against the white walls.

She leapt out of the car racing up the steps as if there weren't any

"Jane" she shrieked squatting down beside her friend reaching a hand to Jane's face. Jane turned to look at her out the one uncovered eye, blood trickling down her face.

"I'm ok" she whispered hoarsely.

Maura unlocked the front door and helped Jane onto her feet and helped her inside, She noticed Jane's grip was strong and tight, like she didn't want to let go, she would also be ok if she too could hold Jane forever.

Maura's house was like heaven to Jane's senses, warm, clean, smelled like roses and vanilla. And to hold Maura and know she was safe was magic.

Maura forced Jane to sit on the couch with Jane protesting, "Maur' I'm wet, dirty and bloody, I don't wanna wreck your couch."

Maura scoffed, "Jane I don't care about the couch"
She gives Jane a warm sweet smile concealing her worry, while rummaging around to find the things she needed, a cloth, alcohol prep pads, medical kit and a dry towel

Maura notices Jane's pupils are slightly hazy and distant as she sits there waiting. There are no signs of concussion although she will be extra watchful. A glimpse of Jane's wrist, it is red and raw, like rope burn. She discreetly checks the other hand while sitting back down beside Jane reveals it is the same.

"Where are you hurt?" Maura asks gently

"Just my head"

"Let me see" she reaches up moving Jane's hand away, its a tidy gash but swollen, the wound looks clean and the bleeding itself has flushed out debris. She carefully wipes away the blood and tilts Jane's head back to get a better look.

"It's not to bad" she reassures Jane.

Jane doesn't take her eyes off Maura, her chin in Maura's cupped hand. She can feel the love emanating from her.

"How long were you outside for?"

"I don't know," was the murmured reply, "I slipped on your neighbors path and fell. Then kinda hobbled here, didn't know I was bleeding until I sat down and saw the red everywhere."

Maura gulps, she should have been home waiting for Jane to return, not having pity parties in the bathroom. "It won't need stitches" Maura smiles preparing some butterfly tabs, "What happened? Are you hurt anywhere else?"

"I ..." Jane tries to respond but her brain refuses to think on the not to distant past, "I fell...I fell...I'm not hurt anywhere else"

"Where were you?"

Jane just gazes at Maura, seemingly content to remain silent

"Who took you, Jane?"

Jane shrugs slightly, barely, her eyes downturned her demeanour suddenly distant

Maura bites her lip, whatever is going on Jane isn't ready to talk about it.

Using a little bit of glue she seals the wound and uses the butterfly tabs to hold it in place. Then she runs her hand down Jane's cheek, Jane moves her head away from the touch slightly and looks down at her lap.

Your Maura, she does deserve to be safe

"What's wrong?" Maura is filled with concern.
Jane is different, she could feel it before, now she can see it.

"Thank you for what you did. you know..." Jane swallows hard, "with the evidence."

Maura doesn't try to hide the surprise on her face, "Oh?"

"You look really tired, Maur" Maura just nods softly in response to Jane

Maura looks Jane up and down, deciding where to go next, "Is there any evidence I can get off you...physical DNA?"

Jane thinks silently for a moment, she had fought them at some point but there was probably no transfer of DNA.

"I doubt it. Maybe just my clothes. How long was I gone?"

"A little over four days"

Jane's eyes spring wide in surprise, "Really? Crap, I'm so sorry Maur. I had no idea."

She wants to hug Jane but doesn't want to upset her either, "Jane, it's not your fault, it wasn't your choice."

Jane nibbles her lip, she wonders how much Maura knows.

"I need to sleep Maur." Jane whispers then yawns, "We can talk later" she starts to get up

"No, you need to shower and change out of the wet clothes and put on something warm. It's not a request." And Maura is already tugging Jane to her feet careful to avoid the wrists.

"Fine" Jane sighs, too tired to argue

"And I need to fully examine you too, especially your wrists"

"Fine" Jane replies padding up the stairs to wash and change.

Sunday 8:22 pm

"She is here"

Korsak sighs out in a loud breath his pent up relief crackling across the line, "Is she ok?"

"Physically she should be ok..." Maura pauses not sure how to continue, "Something is different though, we haven't talked, she is tired."

"Did she tell you anything yet?"

Maura takes in a deep breath and releases it in a huff, "No. Not verbally."

"But?"

"She was bound at some point, her wrists are so raw, and she is really distant."

The pause is short but gives time for Korsak to accept the information and process the possibilities

"But she is alive and fully coherent" Maura continues

"I will have to take her statement at some stage."

Maura nods despite Korsak not being able to see her, "I'll call you when she is ready to talk. Should I take her to the hospital?"

"Do you think she needs to go?"

"No she doesn't, not physically anyway, I plan to do a more thorough investigation shortly."

"Take her if you think she needs too, or wants too, it wouldn't be like her she did. And if she is upset and won't go willing it might be best not to aggravate her"

"I will keep you updated." She responds rubbing her forehead

"Ok Maura."

"Vince?" Her voice breaks slightly

"Yeah"

"I need to talk to you about something case related. But it can't be over the phone. Can you come here later?"

"Sure. I will bring Jane's phone with me. I need to sleep though, the whole team needs to sleep for now. I will call you when I am up."

"Ok yeah, great. Did you get a trace on the calls to Jane?"

"No. Holiday is still working on it. Found Jane's car though, it was burnt out in a ditch on the outskirts of town. It was unrecognisable. No prints or anything."

"Alright. Thank you. Talk to you soon Vince."

Maura hangs up and turns towards the stairs, the shower had been on a long time, she decides to go check on Jane.

She knocks softly on the door "Jane?"
The only response is that of the sound of the shower running. Cautiously she pushes the door open and see's the pile of clean clothes on the floor. Then Jane sitting slouched against the opposite wall fully clothed, her eyes scrunched tightly closed and her hands on either side of her ears squeezing tightly and rocking backwards and forwards. Her mouth is open and her breathing panicked.

Maura moves quickly to her and tries to shake her shoulders, calling over the loud sound of water beating on the side of the shower wall. Jane refuses to budge.

Maura turns the shower off and sits in front of Jane placing her hands over Jane's hands. Jane continues to rock slightly, less as she becomes aware of the silence around her. She finally opens her eyes to see Maura's face inches away and forces her breathing to slow. She moves her hands away while Maura keeps hold of Jane's hands watching her carefully.

"What happened Jane? You scared me"

Tears start to leak out of Jane's eyes as she closes them and Maura can only take Jane's body in her arms and hold her while the woman she loves begins to sob.

"What have they done to you"

...to be continued...