*I'm not really sure how I like this chapter…but alas…I need to set some things up for some future tension. After the next chapter, things will move into a more laid back, easy going happy time for our ladies…and as to the question of whether I will end this with them getting married…I'd like to think that I will be able to carry their years together a little farther. I don't know if I have it in me to write as much as I did for Wonderful Unknown, but I will try. Anyway…thanks for reading, I hope you all continue to enjoy.

Time gone by

Chapter 15

Jane pushed the door open before stepping out of the way to allow a lady carrying a coffee and pastry to pass her on her way in to La Petite Boulangerie. She gave a pleasant smile in response to the quiet "thank-you" she received for her gallantry. As she stepped into Carly's small, yet bustling bakery…and Maura's as well, she reminded herself, she looked around to see if Carly was waiting. When she didn't see anyone, she looked down at her watch and realized she was early. With a tired sigh, she looked around until she found a booth in the back, away from the hustle and bustle of the severing counter. Several long strides later, she sank back into the vinyl bench seat facing the entrance so that Carly or Ryan could her. Running her fingers through her hair, she took a deep breath as she pushed the unruly curls over her shoulders. She was tired and hadn't even bothered to put her hair up in a ponytail, opting to let it air dry resulting in a tangle of dark strands that hung in her face hiding the rings that marred her eyes like purple smudges. Resting her chin in the palm of her hand, her thoughts wandered to the conversation she had had with her mother the night before.

"I still don't understand what's changed Jane. Why can't you tell me?" Angela did her best not to look or sound hurt. It was an unsuccessful attempt that Jane saw right through.

"Come on Ma. I told you already…there are just some things that I can't talk about. You know my job requires an element of secrecy." Jane let out a deep breath as she braced herself for yet another round of questioning from her mother. She followed Angela into the small living room and took a seat on the couch letting out a tired sigh as she leaned back and stretched out her long legs.

"So you're saying that what happened between you and Maura has something to do with your job?" Angela sat in the lounge chair across from Jane, her tone filled with irritation at having to pry information from Jane.

"There are things that I can't talk about and what happened between Maura and I is one of those things Ma…you're just gonna have to accept that." Jane gave an impatient sigh as she realized her mother was on the verge of digging in with the questioning.

"You know that I hear things in the neighborhood…rumors…" Angela reached out to take Jane's hand. "Please tell me it isn't true that there's a contract out on your father…" When Jane looked away and could no longer meet Angela's eyes, she had her answer. It was the reason that tears were beginning to roll down her cheeks.

Taking a deep breath, Jane turned back to her mother and reached out to wipe the tears away. "He doesn't deserve you…he never did." Jane pulled her mother closer until their foreheads were touching. The move was meant to comfort, but also hide the fact that she was having difficulty controlling her own tears.

"Is there anything you can do?" Angela dared to ask, her voice barley a whisper.

Jane was quiet for a minute as she regarded Angela through her own watery eyes seeing only the innocent look in the light hazel that looked back filled with anguish. The question hurt but not as much as the answer she knew she had to give. Leaning back, she broke their brief contact and reached up to push her hair to the side in a nervous gesture, one that Angela recognized immediately.

"I trust you've done everything you can…" Angela paused to take a shaky breath. "No matter what…he's still your father." Her shoulders dropped in defeat realizing what Jane didn't need to say.

"I've done everything I can Ma…it's outta my hands." Jane frowned as she thought about everything her father had put them through over the years.

"I know Jane…it's just that…I don't want anything to happen to him." Angela tried to reason.

"I know you don't…and neither do I, but he made his choice." Jane could feel her chest tighten with anxiety as she tried to explain.

Angela let go of Jane's hand and using her fingers, she pushed an unruly strand of hair away from dark eyes so like Franks that she couldn't stop her hands from shaking. "I know you won't tell me, but I have a feeling this is all tied up in some kind of messy package…everything with you and Maura…you and your father…"

"Please Ma, don't ask me for something I can't give you." Jane had a sad look on her face.

"Okay…" Angela sighed heavily, deciding it was best to move on. "How are things with you and Maura? She told you everything?"

"Yeah, she did…and I won't lie and say that it doesn't hurt." Jane could see the regret in Angela's eyes before she looked away.

"I'm sorry Jane…I just couldn't walk away the way that you did." Angela said, not realizing how much her words hurt Jane.

"I know Ma…" Jane gave a noncommittal shrug of her shoulders.

"And I won't lie and say that I'm not surprised by her ability to forgive so readily, because frankly I am." Angela leaned back to get a better look at Jane.

"I get that…but what happened between me and Maura…and the fact that she forgives me is all that matters. I'll do anything to ensure her safety…" Jane started to say but stopped when she realized too late that she had already said too much.

Angela knew the second that Jane had crossed that invisible line she had laid out earlier, but she decided not to push the issue. "I knew there was more to the story…" She gave Jane a weak smile. "But for now I'll leave it at that and wait until you can tell me the whole story." Reaching up she gave Jane's cheek a gentle pat.

"And I promise that someday I will tell you…" Jane's expression turned serious. "I'm glad she was here for you…ya know…after the Hoyt…"

"I don't think I would have survived if she hadn't been…" Angela looked down at Jane's hands…the same hands that now bared the scars of those three days that had felt like an eternity to them all.

"I almost didn't…" Jane began to rub at the scars in the palms of her hands in that nervous way. "I never told you but I woke up and saw Maura…but I thought it was just a dream. It was that image of her…looking over me with that smile…it's what kept me going."

"I'm sorry that we didn't tell you Jane, but Maura thought that you didn't want to have anything to do with her…after…you broke up." Angela placed her hands on Jane's to stop her fidgeting.

"Well, she knows the truth now Ma…" Jane gave a sheepish grin as she stilled her hands. "And I think it's time to move past all of this."

"I'm proud of you Jane…I thought for sure some of my Irish temper would show but…you've handled yourself well." Angela gave the hands under hers a gentle squeeze.

"I've got too much to lose this time…I won't make the same mistakes again." Jane allowed herself to take the comfort her mother was offering before pushing herself up off of the sofa. "And now…I'm physically and emotionally exhausted so I think I'll go home."

"You're not going to stay with Maura?" Angela stood as well.

"Nah…we've decided it would be best to take things slow ya know…get to know each other again." Jane shrugged her shoulders.

"Okay…I suppose it's for the best. A lot has changed…you're both different people now." Angela followed Jane towards the door. "You want me to check on her before I go to bed?"

Jane let out a long slow breath and shook her head. "Um…I think I'll look in on her before I go. I just want to emphasize that I'm not mad at her."

"She keeps the spare key in the pot by the back door…" Angela said as she leaned against her own open door and watched Jane make her way across the small court yard that separated the two dwellings.

With a quick glance over her shoulder and a somewhat confident smile, Jane reached into the pot that Angela had indicated and unlocked the back door before slipping the key back into its spot. She gave her mother one last smile before closing the door.

Jane let out a heavy sigh as the image of Maura sound asleep on the couch in the living room came to her mind. She had moved quietly around the room to find a small blanket before draping it over Maura's sleeping form and leaving. When she got home, she was keyed up with anxiety and anger…so much so that she couldn't go to sleep. Instead, she slipped into her workout clothes and wrapped her hands before taking on her punching bag. The anxiety that washed over her was because of her mother and father and the anger that over ruled it was all for Paddy Doyle. And with each punch, she felt just a little bit better until she had physically exhausted herself. She finally headed to bed just before the early morning hours crept in and the world around woke up to a new day.

"Hey…you look spent." Ryan said as she slipped into the seat across from Jane. Her normally easy going attitude held an element of concern as she regarded the dark circles under Jane's eyes.

"Yeah…well I didn't get much sleep last night." Jane tried to shrug the concern off nonchalantly.

"What happened?" Ryan tilted her head in that way that indicated she was trying to figure out what wasn't being said.

"Look…I wanted to wait until Carly got here, that way I don't have to tell it twice." Jane pushed her hair away from her face as a cup of coffee was placed in front of her.

"Well…I guess you can start then." Carly said gruffly after giving Jane her coffee. She moved around to sit next to Ryan, giving her a quick kiss to the cheek before turning her attention to Jane with an expectant look on her face.

"Alright…" Jane took a deep breath, inhaling the intoxicating aroma of her coffee. "Um, thanks by the way."

"You looked like you needed it." Carly leaned her elbow on the table followed by her chin in the palm of her hand as she studied Jane carefully. "What happened?"

"Maura and I had a long talk last night…and well…she told me everything." Jane brought her cup up to her lips, taking a sip as she peered over the rim at both Carly and Ryan's surprised expressions.

Ryan blinked a few times as what Jane said registered in her mind and Carly shifted nervously next to her as she sat up straighter. Both women were speechless and even though they knew that the time would come, neither knew what to say at the moment.

"Everything?" Ryan finally found her voice as she reached over to take Carly's hand in anticipation of Jane's temper.

"Come on…I'm here aren't I…" Jane huffed, irritation coloring her voice at the show of a united front against her. "I'm not mad…really…" She held her hands up in mock surrender.

"Okay…" Carly let out relieved sigh. "So you know that she's half owner of the bakery?"

"Yes…and that you've all stayed in contact with each other…and my Ma…and how she was at the hospital after Hoyt…" Jane rambled on as Ryan and Carly glanced at each other. "And I'm really not mad…hurt maybe, but not mad…at least not at Maura." She gave Ryan a knowing look and got a quick nod in return.

"So then you two are alright?" Carly asked not knowing that Ryan already knew the answer.

"Umm..huh…" Jane took another sip of her coffee.

"Then why do you look so whipped?" Carly reached across the table and lowered the cup from Jane's mouth in an attempt to push for an answer.

"I guess I was just a little frustrated last night…took it out on the bag." Jane leveled her gaze at Carly before shifting her eyes to Ryan. "You can probably understand why." Her eyes spoke volumes as she continued to look at Ryan as she spoke.

"You know you can call me anytime you need to spare…" Carly leaned back in the booth and seemed to visibly relax.

"Well, I was in the mood to hit something that wouldn't hit back." Jane shrugged her shoulders. "Guess time just got away from me. I've had about four hours sleep in the last…" She glanced down at her watch as a question came to her mind. "What day is it?"

"Tuesday…" Carly and Ryan said at the same time.

"Wow…four hours in the last thirty-six…" Jane rolled her eyes as if it suddenly hit her why she was so tired.

"You and Maura?" Carly asked.

"We're okay…" Jane gave a small smile. "Really…" She emphasized with a bigger smile.

"'Kay…so what's with the meeting?" Carly leaned forward again when she felt Ryan fidget next to her.

Jane looked away from Carly as the weight of what she was about to ask felt heavy in her chest. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes before opening them again to focus on the sky blue eyes that watched her with a mixture of curiosity and concern.

"Come on Jane…what's going on?" Carly was suddenly feeling anxious.

"I need to ask you about something Carly…" Jane set her cup down and began to rub the palm of her right hand as her nerves began to get the better of her. "Um…about…Paddy Doyle…"

The mention of that name had Carly stiffening instantly. Her eyes widened with surprise as a dull ringing in her ears made it difficult for her to think. She could feel the walls closing in on her as her world tilted slightly and the sudden feeling of nausea almost overwhelmed her. It wasn't until she felt Ryan's hand rubbing gentle circles on her back that the world started to right itself again.

"Why? Why would you ask me about him?" Carly whispered as she brought her gaze back to Jane. There was a silent plea deep in the light blue that looked back at Jane that begged her not to ask again.

"I'm sorry Carly…but…" Jane continued to fidget under Carly's anguished stare. "I got myself into a little trouble with him…" She started to say but was interrupted when a hand came down hard on the table.

"There is no such thing as a little trouble where that man is concerned." Carly growled, her eye's flashing in a way that indicated how quickly her fear had turned to anger. "You told her…" She turned to Ryan, her voice laced with an accusatory tone.

"No Carly…she didn't tell me anything other than you have a history with him. She never told me what that was…" Jane tried to soothe Carly's rising anger.

Ryan just looked down at the table, afraid to say anything for fear that she would say the wrong thing. It saddened her that Carly would have to relive this part of her past that was so painful, but Jane needed to know exactly what kind of man she was dealing with. Frankly she wasn't at all sure they could keep the fact that he was Maura's father from Carly, but they had to try…for her own safety as well as Maura's.

"Look, don't be mad at Ryan…I'm the one who screwed up, not her." Jane's temper was starting to match Carly's now.

"Jesus Jane, please tell me you didn't go to him about your Pop…please…" The urgency in Carly's voice had Jane looking away for a moment before looking back. She didn't need to say anything because the answer was written in her dark eyes causing Carly to shake her head in a sad way.

"I didn't have a choice Carly…they were going to kill him." Jane's shoulders dropped in the same way that her head did as she admitted the truth. Bringing her hands up to her face, she pushed her hair away from her eyes before letting out a long, heavy sigh of frustration. Her eyes fell upon Ryan who silently conveyed that they needed to keep the secret between them. "That was years ago…before, but now he's got another contract out on him and there's nothing I can do about it."

Carly looked at Jane and then Ryan trying to puzzle out the silent communication going on between them. She had seen the looks and she recognized that there was something they weren't telling her. "You're building a case against him…aren't you." She turned fearful eyes to Ryan, imploring her to disagree. When she was met with silence from both women, the tears started to leak from her eyes in a very uncharacteristic way. "You know what kind of man he is Ryan…he'll get off…he always does and then he'll go after you…again." She almost choked on the last word as she stood and abruptly left the table.

"Whoa…" Jane's voice was shaky as she watched Carly storm off towards her office.

"It was never proven than he had anything to do with my accident." Ryan's voice was soft as her hands gripped the table turning her knuckles white.

"But you know he did…" It wasn't a question because Jane could see the answer in Ryan's eye's when she finally looked at her. "We need to tell her Ryan…" Jane sighed in resignation. The fewer people that knew the truth about Paddy and Maura, the safer everyone would be but it was apparent they would have to tell Carly.

All Ryan could do was nod her head, but the sadness in her eyes was almost unbearable for Jane to handle. "I didn't want to involve her…he's hurt her so much already…" Ryan shook her head as she started to slide out of the booth. "We'd better get in there and explain things before she starts imaging the worse…although at this point I don't know what that could be."

"'Kay…why don't I give you a minute alone with her before I come in. It'll give me a chance to call Maura. I think she should have a say in this as well…it is about her." Jane sighed as she pulled her cell phone from its case clipped at her belt. Even though she really did think that Maura should know, what she really wanted was to hear Maura's voice to help ease her own tension. She watched as Ryan walked away, pushing the speed dial for Maura and couldn't help but smile when it was answered after the second ring.

"Jane…" Maura's voice was quiet and slightly out of breath when she answered the phone.

"Hey beautiful…" Jane sighed at the sound of Maura's voice. "Did I interrupt something?"

"Oh, no…I was just taking the stairs down to my office." Maura stopped at the bottom of the stairwell to lean against the railing. "I just had to drop off a few files so I figured it would be beneficial to get some exercise. I haven't had much time for anything physical in a while."

"Tell me about it…" Jane tried not to laugh. "It's been going on three years for me…" She tried to joke but it was really the truth. "Um…I've got something to ask you…" Her voice dropped slightly as she tried to quickly change the subject.

"Okay…" Maura decided not to press Jane at the moment. "What do you need to ask me?"

"Damn…I don't feel comfortable talking about this on the phone…" Jane hesitated. "I'm with Carly and Ryan…"

"What's going on? Is something wrong?" Maura sounded concerned.

"Well, that's just it…I don't know." Jane glanced around to make sure that no one was listening. "It has to do with Paddy…"

"What?" Maura sounded surprised. "Look…maybe we should just get together tonight at my place to talk about things. I don't feel comfortable talking about that 'subject' on the phone." Maura tried to reason.

"Yeah, that would probably be best…" Jane glanced over her shoulder to see Ryan returning with a grim look on her face. "How about I get there a little early so I can fill you in…"

"Okay…let's say around six and you can tell Carly and Ryan to come around seven." Maura answered.

"Sound's good…I'll talk to you later." Jane paused for a split second before saying what was on her mind. "I miss you…" Her voice was quiet and she wasn't sure that Maura had heard.

"I do too…" Maura spoke after a few seconds of silence. "Bye."

"Bye…" Jane sighed again before hanging up to look at Ryan's very somber expression. "What's up?"

"She won't talk to me…" Ryan shrugged her shoulders. "I haven't seen her this mad in…" She hesitated and shrugged her shoulders. "In ever…"

"Maura want's us all to come over so we can explain everything...it will make it much easier on everyone, and we won't have anybody listening in." Jane nodded towards the busy bakery. "I'll go talk to Carly and let her know."

"Um…okay…" Ryan took a deep, shaky breath as she tried to quell the rising tears that threatened to fall. "Would you tell her…" She hesitated briefly before making a decision. "Tell her I'll see her tonight." Her voice was firm as she tramped down any emotion that tried to show.

Jane cocked her head to the side as she regarded Ryan. It had surprised her how quickly the other woman went from looking as if she might cry to the stoic assistant DA she had seen in court many times. She nodded her head before turning around to head to Carly's office, hopeful that she would be allowed in but if not she knew where the extra key was. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Ryan slipping out the door with that sad look back on her face and it weighted heavily on her mind to have to be the reason for it. But she also knew that the DA had been building a case against Doyle long before she had gotten involved. It pained her to know that it was something that Ryan had kept from Carly even though it was for a good reason. When she found herself standing outside Carly's office door, she quietly knocked several times and got no answer. "I guess I gotta go to the key…" She murmured as she lifted up onto her toes and pulled the key from its hiding spot above the door. 'I just hope enough time has gone by for her to be able to talk about it.' The thought traveled through Jane's mind as she slipped the key into the door. With a deep breath and the turn of her wrist, she heard the soft click of the lock as it came undone. "Well, here goes nothing…" She sighed as she pushed the door open and hoped that she would be able to convince Carly to meet at Maura's later.