*Hey everyone…sorry I have been MIA for the last…well…almost two months. I spent most of July on vacation out of town visiting family and when I came home…my muse decided she wasn't ready to join me. I think that maybe after a little coaxing I have finally convinced her to come home so hopefully I will get back to normal. I hope that this chapter turned out okay…I was afraid that maybe I had lost my mojo but with some discipline I hope to back on schedule. Anyway…hope everyone out there is well and I look forward to getting back into the 'swing' of things.
Another Day
"Come on Frankie…just do like I told ya." Jane let out an irritated huff as she peered in-between the chain-link that surrounded the batting cage where Frankie was standing. He dropped down into his batting stance and the helmet he was wearing gleamed as it reflected the late afternoon sun. She squinted at the bright reflection even though she was wearing her sunglasses. The smell of french-fries hung heavily in the air, distracting her and causing her stomach to growl at the thought of the burger and cold beer Frankie had promised her after they were finished. She watched as he swung hard, hitting the ball just along the edge of the bat and she couldn't help but frown as it sailed off into foul territory. "If you'd just listen to me…" She reached up to lace her fingers through the metal barrier.
"Leave me alone. You're left handed…it just doesn't feel right for me to hold my elbow like you said." He tried to scowl at her over his shoulder before the next pitch came his way. "Anyways…this is softball, not baseball. The physics are different."
A loud click echoed, signaling the release of the next ball followed by a clang as it hit the chain link behind Frankie when he missed yet again. The impact was hard enough to sting Jane's hand and in an effort to look casual she let go and slipped her hand into the pocket of her jeans.
"No…they aren't." She crossed her arms to show him how impatient she was getting. "If you'd just try my suggestion it might surprise you."
With a roll of the eyes, he raised his elbow up and dropped his stance just a little more trying to accommodate his sister's overzealous suggestions. "Alright, alright…" He blew out a long breath. "Like this?"
"Kinda…" She sighed as the last pitch sailed past him because he was too busy paying attention to what she was saying.
"Come on!" He rested the bat on his shoulder as he turned around to glare at her. "If you'd just leave me alone, I'd get it on my own." He glared over at her, his face red from embarrassment.
"I'm just trying to give you the pointers that Maura gave me a few years back. It really helped with my batting average." She couldn't help but roll her eyes at him.
"At baseball…need I remind you again that this is softball." He rolled his eyes back at her in that exaggerated way that made her laugh. "Hey…" He paused and tilted his head towards her. "Why you wanna give me an advantage anyways? We aren't even on the same team."
"Your team plays Maura's team first and it would be in my best interest if you won, essentially knocking her off of the roster." She couldn't help but give him a smile laced with the guilt she was feeling. It wasn't the idea of losing to Maura that had her worried, but the bet they had made. There wasn't enough alcohol in the world to get her to stand up and sing in front of her coworkers. Her cheeks warmed with a blush as her thoughts drifted to why Maura had suggested she brush up on her Madonna. It would be a fate worse than death to try to get through the song she knew Maura had in mind.
"Why would you want that?" He turned his full attention to her as she came around to stand next to him.
"Let's just say I don't want to lose a bet." She moved around to stand behind him as she tried to bring her focus back to what she wanted to show him. "You need to drop your shoulder a little…like this." He allowed her to push his shoulder down just slightly. "Yeah…that works."
Just as Jane was trying to guide Frankie on what to do next, someone to his right called out his name to get his attention causing him to turn suddenly and quicker than he had intended. His unexpected movement took Jane by surprise as she too turned to her right but instead of seeing who was calling Frankie's name, she found herself smacking right into the end of the bat that had been resting on his shoulder.
"Jesus Christ Frankie…" Jane yelped as the hard wood split her lip open causing blood to pour down her chin and onto shirt.
"Aw shit Jane…I'm sorry." He said as he swung around, the bat slipping from his hands and falling on Jane's foot causing her to jump up and down. If she hadn't been bleeding so much it might appear comical but Frankie could see that it was anything but. He bunched up his t-shirt and tried to hold it against her mouth in an effort to help.
"Really Frankie…?" She mumbled around her now swelling lip as she hopped on one foot and slapped his hand away.
"Let me see." He leaned forward and squinted so he could see better. With the shake of his head he frowned at her. "I think I got you pretty good. Looks like you'll need some stitches. I better take you to the emergency room." Placing his hands on her shoulders, he turned her around and started to push her towards the exit of the batting cage.
"Nah…" Jane's words were garbled through the material of her own shirt that she had brought up to catch the dripping blood. "Take me to Maura."
"Maura? What if you need stitches?" Frankie seemed surprised by Jane's request.
"She'll take care of it…" Jane shrugged her shoulders in an attempt to get him to let her loose.
Dropping his hands to his side, he gave her a nod and followed her to the car. There was no use in trying to argue with Jane on a good day let alone when there was blood involved so Frankie pulled the keys from his pocket cursing himself as the disappointment that a cold beer was far from the immediate future at this point.
It took thirty minutes to get to the station and in that time, Jane's lip continued to bleed. The ice in the paper towel that Frankie had insisted on getting before they left the batting cages had melted into a soggy mess, one that she still held against her mouth. Crimson blots colored the wad as water dripped down her arm and all over the front of her t-shirt. As they made their way through the lobby, several people stopped to watch them pass by.
"Hey Rizzoli…what's the other guy look like?" A tall, muscular guy in a uniform asked her.
"He's gonna look a lot like you if you don't mind your own business…" She growled at him. Her words caused him to stop, but then he thought better of it and shook his head as he continued to walk away.
All Frankie could do was roll his eyes at her as they approached the elevator door. He couldn't help but notice the looks directed their way…some were curious, some were cautious and some had an element of humor causing him to cringe at the thought of the rumor mill that would surely be grinding away by the time they made it to Maura's office.
When the elevator doors opened, they both stepped in without saying a word to each other. Jane watched as Frankie shoved his hands into his jeans before leaning against the rail. He wouldn't look at her, instead he looked down at his feet. As the doors closed, the low hum of the elevator descending surrounded them. The silence became uncomfortable causing Jane to finally clear her throat.
"Hey, what's got you so down? I'm the one bleeding all over the place over here." She finally spoke.
"I'm sorry about what happened." He let out a heavy sigh as he shrugged his shoulders. His eyes were still on his feet because he just couldn't bring himself to look at Jane. Her front was spattered in red spots, standing out against the white of her t-shirt and the sight made him feel slightly sick at his stomach.
"It was an accident." Jane mumbled around the wet paper towel. "But I get it…it was Amy Thomas trying to get your attention."
"Yeah, well…I should've been paying more attention to what I was doing." He finally looked up. He could see by the way Jane's eyes were crinkled up around the edges that she was trying to smile. His heart lightened at the sight before him. "Sorry…"
"It's okay…" She reached over to give him a light push as the doors opened and they stepped into the hallway.
As they made their way towards Maura's office, they continued to get curious glances as people passed them. Some looked like they might say something but Jane's withering glare in response was enough to discourage any urge someone might have to ask what had happened. When they finally got to Maura's office, it was empty so Jane tromped across the room and dropped down on the soft leather couch she had always admired. It was as soft as she thought it would be so she sank back further into its comfort.
"She's probably in her lab or in one of the autopsy rooms. Will you go see?" Jane's voice was filled with fatigue. She pulled her baseball hat off, leaned her head back, and continued to hold the wadded up paper towels against her mouth.
"Yeah, yeah…just wait here." He said as he rushed out to go find Maura. After their talk in the elevator, he felt better and even held a glimmer of hope that they could still end the day with a cold beer.
It didn't take him long to find Maura wandering around her lab with several assistants flanking her on either side. She was wearing her lab coat with black scrubs underneath and it was then that Frankie was reminded that Maura was not only the medical examiner, but she was also a doctor. With her white lab coat, she definitely looked the part.
Standing in the doorway with an anxious look on his face he waited until she looked up. When she finally did, he hadn't expected the smile she gave to take his breath away but it did.
"Hi Frankie, what can I do for you?" She asked before noticing the drops of blood on his baseball shirt. He was wearing one of those white shirts with the half sleeves that were red. Maura noticed that for some reason the red had spread to the front of Frankie's shirt in droplets that didn't look like they belonged. Her eyes swept over him before she recognized what she was seeing. With a raised, questioning eyebrow, she crossed her arms and waited for him to answer.
All Frankie could do was stare at her dumbfounded as he attempted to catch his breath. He had always thought that Maura was beautiful and today was no different. But today there had been something different in the smile, something he hadn't seen in a while. She radiated an energy, a happiness that he knew was there because of Jane.
"Frankie…? Is something wrong? Where's Jane?" Maura asked when Frankie continued to stare at her, words failing him. All he could do was nod as she moved across her lab with lightening quick speed to stand in front of him. "Where is she?"
"Your office…" He croaked around a dry mouth. The look on Maura's face had turned from radiance to abject terror and he realized too late what she must have thought. In an attempt to reassure her that Jane was alright he turned to follow her but found that she had already disappeared halfway down the hall. "Shit…, Jane's gonna kill me." The words came out on a heavy exhale as he decided it would be best to take his time getting to Maura's office.
Dozens of scenarios passed through Maura's mind as she made her way down the hall towards her office. By the time she reached her destination the only thing she could think about was the blood that dotted Frankie's shirt and what it might possibly mean. Panic caused her to stop and hesitate. Was she ready for what she might find waiting for her? Would she ever be ready when it came to Jane? Clinching her fists a few times in an attempt to get the circulation back, she took a deep breath before stepping through the door. To her surprise and relief, she saw Jane with her head leaning back against the couch with her eyes closed. In her hands was a wadded up paper towel, colored crimson with what Maura recognized as blood and suddenly her feet felt like lead. For some reason, she couldn't bring herself to take another step.
Jane felt Maura's presence before opening her eyes and a small smile creased her lips causing her to wince slightly. When she did finally open her eyes, she found Maura standing across the room, her eyes wide with worry. They didn't say anything but Jane could see the questions that were left unspoken so she reached out her hand beckoning Maura to step closer. When there was no movement, she realized it wasn't just worry, but fear she saw gazing back at her.
"Maur?" Jane said, her voice slightly muffled by the wadded up paper towel she held against her mouth. She had noticed that Maura stood stiff, back rigid as if she may bolt from the room at any minute.
Blinking a few times, it took a several seconds for Jane's voice to reach Maura. The sight of Jane holding a blood soaked rag to her face caused her stomach to roil with nausea. The last time she had seen blood coming from Jane was when they had wheeled her into the emergency room after Hoyt. She swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat before closing her eyes hoping to find the will to be brave. Reaching deep down, she finally took a step closer and closed the distance that seemed to have grown as wide as the Grand Canyon.
"Come'ere beautiful…" Jane's words were slightly garbled. She could see that Maura was struggling with something but at this point, she wasn't sure what it was. Watching Maura move across the room towards her gave her the feeling that everything was going to be okay, that Maura would make it all alright.
Taking Jane's hand, Maura tried to smile but only succeeded in giving her a lopsided grin. "Has it been bleeding this whole time?" She asked as she reached over to place two fingers under Jane's chin to tilt her head back so she could see the cut better. A slight nod of the head confirmed what she already suspected causing her to let out a heavy sigh as she dropped down to kneel in front of Jane. "Here…let me get a better look at that." Her fingers slipped through long, dark hair pushing it behind an ear before moving lightly over Jane's cheek.
Jane tried to remain as still as possible as Maura moved her fingers over her cheeks, turning her head from one side then to the other. "Is it bad?" She mumbled as she tried to gauge Maura's facial expressions. Unfortunately, Maura was a trained professional and schooled her features to reveal nothing of what she may be thinking.
"Well, the cut has gone through the vermillion boarder…," Maura squinted as she studied Jane's mouth. It was about a quarter of an inch to half an inch long and she knew that it would need stitches. She let out a heavy sigh, thankful that it wasn't worse.
"What?" Jane moved to pull away so she could see Maura better. "Isn't that some kinda pasta?" Her dark eyes lit up as she tried to make a joke
"It's the cosmetic line that marks the border of the lips on the face and the pasta you are referring to is vermicelli." Maura ran her thumb along the uninjured side of Jane's mouth to indicate what she was talking about. She couldn't stop herself from laughing lightly at Jane's joke. "You need stitches. Why didn't you have Frankie take you to the emergency room?" The question changed the mood to a more serious subject.
"I wanted to see you first." Jane dropped her gaze as she felt her cheeks color with embarrassment. For some reason she was suddenly feeling silly for insisting that Frankie take her to Maura instead of the ER. She had had enough of hospitals and emergency rooms to last her a lifetime, so at the time it seemed like a good idea to seek out Maura's help. Now she wasn't so sure as she watched Maura's lips turn into a small frown. She looked away, afraid of seeing the disappointment she was sure would follow.
"Well…I suppose I could administer the stitches myself." Maura mused aloud, unaware that Jane was slowly pulling away. "Hey, what's wrong?" She asked when their eyes finally met.
"I guess I should have let Frankie take me, but I didn't think it would be a big deal. I thought getting to you would make me feel better." Jane leaned forward and placed her forehead on Maura's shoulder. She was suddenly overcome with exhaustion. The need to be close to Maura was almost unbearable but she couldn't help but feel as if she had somehow disappointed her.
"Does it?" Maura asked as she ran her fingers through long, dark strands of hair that fell in a tangle around Jane's shoulders. She had been itching to feel those silky tresses since the moment she had entered the room. The way that Jane was wearing it at the moment was one of her favorite looks…slightly disheveled and hanging loosely around her broad shoulders.
"Uh-huh…" Jane said with a sigh. "Can you really patch me up yourself?" She pulled back to find that Maura was smiling at her. Relief fluttered in the pit of her stomach.
"Yes…I had a rotation with a plastic surgeon but I don't think patches will work this time." The smile on Maura's face was wide as she continued to run her fingers through Jane's hair, pushing it behind an ear so she could get a better look the dark brown eyes that watched her with a mixture of curiosity and relief. "I suppose it's a good thing you didn't go to an ER…the doctor on call probably would have given you stitches that would leave a scar."
"What's one more scar…just add it to the one's I've already got." Jane let out a heavy breath, her voice laced with self-loathing.
"My stitches won't leave a scar." Maura couldn't stop herself from allowing her fingertips to trace the faint scar above Jane's eyebrow, the one she got while playing football in high school. "Now, if you'll excuse me…I'll get my medical bag. It should have everything I need. I even think I might have the lidocaine to numb you up."
"Either that or a shot of tequila." Jane tried to smirk but winced instead. Her eyes followed Maura as she moved across the room, taking in the well-appointed office. It was decorated with knick-knacks from places that Maura had visited and Jane made a mental note to ask her about her trips to Africa. She watched as Maura bend down behind her desk before coming up with an antique black medical bag. Her eyes widened when she realized it was the very same bag she had painstakingly restored all those years ago as a gift for their first Christmas together. "You still have it?" She marveled, her eyes glued to the worn but well taken care of black leather and shiny brass buckles.
"Of course I do." There was a hint of sadness in Maura's smile as she made her way back to where Jane was sitting. Setting the bag down next to her, she reached up again to cup Jane's chin so she could get a better look at the cut. "I think that twelve stitches should do the trick. If you'd have gone to the ER, they probably would have put in six."
"So, you really know what you're doin' here…right?" Jane couldn't hide the uncertainty from her voice. She trusted Maura with everything she was, but the sight of Maura wielding a needle caused the muscles in her stomach to tighten with anxiety.
"Yes…" Maura couldn't stop herself from giving a slight smirk. "You trust me don't you?"
"With my life and my heart…" Jane said in a whisper without hesitation as the knot of anxiety disappeared.
The softly spoken words took Maura by surprise and for a brief moment she didn't know what to say but when her eyes met Jane's, the soft brown looking back at her was filled with unwavering trust. Reaching into her bag, she pulled out a small bottle and began to fill the syringe. "This may sting a little." She said as she tapped the plastic syringe with the lidocaine before administering it.
"I think I can handle a small…ouch…son of a bitch that hurt." Jane stiffened. "Holy shit…"
"Language Jane…" Maura couldn't help but smile. "Alright, we'll give it a minute to numb you up before I start the stitches." Leaning forward she placed a gentle kiss to Jane's cheek as a consolation.
"Yeah, yeah…" Jane rolled her eyes. "Thank goodness you have such a good bedside manner."
"You haven't seen anything yet." Maura winked and smirked again as she gave Jane's cheek a light pat.
"Well then, maybe I should get hurt more often." The words came out of Jane's mouth before she could rethink them. She realized too late the impact they had had on Maura when she saw the once radiant smile disappear only to be replaced by a frown.
"I wish you wouldn't say things like that." Maura whispered and looked away. Her hands moved over her medical bag in an effort to distract herself but she could feel Jane's intense stare.
"I'm sorry." Jane reached up and cupped Maura's cheek in the palm of her hand. "Look at me…please."
Maura hesitated briefly before finally lifting her eyes to look into Janes. "I need to flush your cut with saline before I start the stitches." Her voice cracked slightly under the weight of emotion she was trying to push aside.
"Maur…we need to talk." Jane tried not to flinch as Maura rinsed her cut. "Please…stop for minute and talk to me." She tried to pull away in an effort to force Maura to stop.
"I don't think I can…," Maura let out a heavy sigh. "I'm just…," Again she hesitated and bit her lip to stop it from trembling. "I can't do this right now. I need to concentrate on this." She reached into her medical bag and pulled out her suturing kit.
Grabbing Maura's hands within her own, Jane brought them up in an attempt to place a light kiss against the soft skin she knew she'd find, but instead of warmth she felt a slight tingling sensation against her lips. "Um…I can't feel anything in my lips." She said as she quirked up one corner of her mouth in an effort to grin.
"Look, I need some time to sort through my thoughts…and feelings." Maura gave Jane's hands a gentle squeeze before pulling them away so she could continue preparing for the task at hand.
"Okay, but this isn't over." A heavy sighed escaped from Jane as she settled back to allow Maura to continue. "This will only work if we talk about the things that are bothering us."
"I know and I promise that we'll talk…soon, but for now I need to concentrate. Okay?" Maura's voice held the hint of a plea as she continued to busy herself.
With a slight nod of her head, Jane conceded. She had noticed the sudden change that had come over Maura at her thoughtless comment. Her gut told her that Maura was having trouble with the dangerous aspect of her job but she couldn't be sure until they talked about it. Pushing the unsettling thoughts aside, she did her best to relax as Maura began to stitch her up.
Frost stepped off the elevator and headed down the hall towards Maura's office. As he rounded a corner he stopped at the sight of Frankie leaning against the wall outside of an open door running his fingers through his dark hair while shaking his head.
"Hey, what's going on?" Frost moved to stand next to Frankie. "Where's Jane?"
"She's in there with Maura." Frankie put his hand out to stop Frost from going further.
"There's a rumor going around that she got her ass kicked by a rookie…," Frost glanced down at Frankie's hand on his chest like he couldn't quite believe what he was seeing. "Tell me it isn't true."
"What do you think?" Frankie dropped his hand before shoving both hands into the pockets of his jeans. "I hit her with my bat…" He started to say.
"You what?" Frost turned to face Frankie who had a sheepish grin on his face. "And you're not dead?" He couldn't hide the surprise in his voice.
"Nah…look…it was an accident." Frankie let out a heavy sigh. He only continued when Frost raised a questioning eyebrow silently asking for an explanation. "We went to the batting cages to practice. She was trying to show me a few things…" He dropped his shoulders with another heavy sigh. "While she was in the batting cage with me, that rookie from the traffic division, Amy called over to me and I turned around hitting Jane in the mouth with the end of the bat."
"Ummm…Amy…," Frost said the name with a hint of reverence. He and Frankie had both shown interest in the young woman but she had yet to return that interest.
"I split her lip open…," Frankie had the decency to look sorry as he shuffled from one foot to the other.
"Bad?" Frost frowned as he leaned a shoulder against the wall next to Frankie.
"Yeah…I think so." Frankie gave a sideways glance towards the open door to Maura's office.
"Why didn't you go to the ER?"
"She wanted me to bring her to Maura." Frankie shrugged his shoulders as if that was all the explanation that was needed.
"Oh…so why are standing out here?" Frost asked.
"They're talking…ya know. I didn't think I should interrupt." Frankie's expression changed to worry as he dropped his eyes to look at his feet. He had been standing outside Maura's office listening to them talk. He didn't have the heart to interrupt, nor did he want to.
"So you figured you'd just eavesdrop instead." Frost said with a laugh in an effort to lighten the suddenly serious mood.
"Look…when we got here Maura wasn't in her office so I went and found her in her lab." Frankie finally brought his eyes back up to look at Frost. "When she asked where Jane was…I told her that she was hurt." His eyes darkened with the memory of how upset Maura had been. "Man, Frost…I don't ever want to cause that kind of pain again. I know it wasn't really a big deal…but Maura didn't know that. I watched her easy going smile instantly change to panic as she took off for her office. She didn't look back to see if I was following. I feel like an idiot for causing her to worry like that."
"It's not your fault." Frost placed his hand on Frankie's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.
"I know our job has an element of danger to it but after what happened to Jane…" Frankie's voice cracked slightly under the weight of emotion he was feeling. "It's something I think about every day. I can only imagine what must have gone through Maura's mind."
"What happened with Hoyt isn't something that happens every day Frankie. If they stand any chance at being together, Maura is going to have to come to terms with the reality of Jane's job…a job that means everything to her."
"Maura knows Jane better than anyone, sometimes I think even better than our Ma. She knows what the job means to her but I can't help but think that things are changing…that Jane is changing." Frankie said. "And didn't you used to date someone in the FBI…?"
"I did…Malia," Frost shoved his hands into his pockets as he shrugged his shoulders. "I didn't handle it very well at first though. I was always worried about her…drove her crazy. When I finally came to terms with things…they sent her to San Diego and we both know how hard it is to have a long distance relationship."
"Yep…," Frankie let out a huff at the memory of his only long distance relationship. He and Cindy were still friends though; he was even a godfather to one of her son's. "The one that got away." He couldn't stop the self-depreciating chuckle from escaping his lips.
"You and me both." Frost laughed lightly. "So…what's going on in there?" He tilted his head towards the door to indicate what he was talking about.
"Maura's stitching Jane up. Good thing too, I heard Maura say something about having a plastic surgery rotation in med-school so she could patch Jane up without leaving any scars." Relief filled Frankie's voice as he realized he had indeed done the right thing by bringing Jane to Maura.
"Well, what say we get upstairs and squash the rumors before Jane gets wind of them and squashes you." Frost bumped his shoulder against Frankie's.
"Yeah, that would probably be a good idea." Frankie turned to follow Frost down the hallway. If he didn't know better, he'd just chalk the day's experiences up to being just another day, but he still worried about both Maura and his sister for two completely different reasons.
"I think that'll do." Maura leaned back slightly so she could admire her handy work. The twelve stitches were small and barely noticeable except for the fact that they were blue. She couldn't stop herself from placing a quick, but delicate kiss to the corner of Jane's mouth.
"I'd say it was all worth it if I can have more of that later." Jane tried to smirk but was only capable of giving a lopsided grin. "Hey…," she hesitated briefly, reaching up to gingerly touch her mouth. "My lip feels huge."
"It's just the effects of the anesthetic, it will go away in a while." Maura said as she gathered up her things before placing them back into her medical bag.
"It feels really weird…like when I go to the dentist except just my lips are numb." Jane continued to marvel at the strange feeling in her lips. "Is it noticeable?"
"Once the swelling goes down, it won't be. I put in twelve stitches but they are really small. I'm sorry that I didn't have the one's that dissolve but there isn't much need for them around here. I also think it's a good idea to get a tetanus shot." Maura gave a small shrug as she clasped the bag closed. Turning her attention back to Jane, she noticed how tired Jane looked all of a sudden. "Hey, why don't you lay back and take a little rest?"
"Ummm…maybe." Jane glanced longingly over her shoulder at one of the throw pillows on Maura's couch. It looked really soft and she couldn't help but wonder if felt as soft as it looked.
"Come on…." Maura reached over and plumped up the pillow before gently shoving Jane back into a reclined position.
"Ya know, if you wanted me on my back…all ya had to do was ask." Jane chuckled as she allowed Maura to lay her back.
"Oh, ha ha." Maura gave her a stern look. "Rest now…we can stop by your place and pack you an over-night bag to take to my house…maybe even stop for a burger and beer, although I don't think you'll be in the mood for a burger…soup would be good." She started to ramble.
"Alright, alright…but only if you stay in here with me." Jane gave a slight pout, poking her bottom lip out. It felt strange, causing her to move her fingers over her lip again.
"Quit touching it or it will get infected." Maura gently pushed Jane's hand away as she stood up.
"It just feels so weird." Jane couldn't stop herself from rolling her eyes. The action brought another stern look to Maura's face, but this time she was kidding.
"Close your eyes…I'll just be at my desk finishing up some paperwork and then we can get out of here." Maura bent over and placed a kiss to Jane's forehead.
"Um'kay…," Jane settled back against the soft leather couch and closed her eyes. "Just a short nap."
A smile formed on Maura's lips as she watched Jane get comfortable. She was thankful that Jane was alright, but a knot began to form in the pit of her stomach at the idea that one of these days she might be faced with something much worse than a handful of stitches from a cut lip.