Honestly, I'm not sure where this chapter came from but bear with me, please…it's leading up to a resolution…soon, I hope. Anyway…thanks again for all the encouraging messages, I really appreciate each and every one of them. Have a great weekend… 😊
The Release
"I hear that congratulations are in order." Liam McGrath's light blue eyes twinkled as he smiled at Maura from across the table. "I'm glad you found your way back to each other. Your father always held out hope that you would." He remembered how devastated Maura had been all those years ago when Jane walked away and the late-night talks with Maura's father speculating why. Of course, he had known the reason all along but only because he had been curious as to what lead Jane to let go. And he also knew why he was sitting across from a very nervous and fidgeting Maura and he was grateful that she had finally decided to ask for his help.
Maura glanced down at the fork her fingers were fiddling with before bringing her eyes back up to meet the steel blue of Liam's. "Thanks…" she said quietly. She hadn't seen him since her last trip to visit her father just before he died. It brought some semblance of relief to know that Liam was with him until the end and that he hadn't died alone.
"I know why you're here." Taking a deep breath, he placed his hands palm down on the table and let out slow exhale of breath. "Let's just say I'm not happy about the circumstances."
"I'm not either." Maura's shoulders dropped slightly under the stress of everything. "But I didn't know the truth, until recently." She said as if it might make thing better.
"Oh, I know. And your father never knew, although I can't say it would have done him any good if he had. But perhaps you wouldn't be in this situation if…" his voice trailed off as he looked over Maura's shoulder in an effort to distract his train of thought.
"How long have you known?" Maura asked, picking up on Liam's dark thoughts.
"Long enough…" he looked back at her, his eyes holding a silent apology.
All Maura could do was nod in understanding even though she wasn't sure she did. And it didn't surprise her either. "I think we're in over our heads, Liam. Am I doing the right thing?"
Her question hung heavily in the air between them as he contemplated his answer. "Given what I know…" he paused before continuing. "Yes…"
She let out a sigh of relief even though it did little to alleviate the tension that had settled deep inside of her. "We still have a long way to go before things fall in place."
"Yes, you do." He watched her carefully from across the table. He didn't want anything to betray his thoughts to her because he knew without a doubt that things would not end the way Maura wanted. It wouldn't matter what she planned or how hard she tried to control things. Fate had a funny way of sneaking up on people when they least expected it and it was his job to make sure that nothing bad happened to her when that day arrived. It was a promise he had made to Maura's father and he would make sure he followed through with it, not matter what.
"Okay, I'm glad to hear you agree. I'm tired of waiting…" she pushed her hair away from her face and over her shoulder. It was a nervous gesture and she tried to smile to reassure him that she was alright even though she was anything but.
"You're under a lot of pressure here." His voice dropped low and he looked her in the eyes. "Find a way to leave it at the door when you go home. If you don't…" he looked away and shook his head sadly. "You won't survive."
Maura watched him with a curious expression on her face. She knew there was truth in what he said. It had already started to affect her relationship with Jane, taking them further away from each other than she had ever thought possible. It scared her more than she was willing to admit.
"I have the information you requested." He said. "And you were right. Seamus has no idea what his brother is doing or why. There is no hit out against Paddy Doyle and…" he leaned closer to Maura as his eyes scanned the crowded restaurant for anyone listening.
Maura bit down on her bottom lip in anticipation. "And…?"
"No mention of you or Jane."
"I don't know if I should be relieved or more afraid." She said running a shaky hand through her hair.
"This is a good thing Maura." He reached out to still the tremor's and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "We have the element of surprise."
"And the plan." She mused quietly as her mind tried to process what she had just been told.
"Yeah, well…plans are a good contingent, but rarely go…well…as planned." He said, throwing out all preamble. She needed to know the truth.
"What are you saying?" The worry shone bright in her hazel-green eyes and it caused Liam to backtrack.
"I'm just speaking from my experience. You have to be flexible enough to change things at the last minute." He could see the panicked expression take over Maura's face and he wanted to make her feel better. He also knew how inflexible she could sometimes be when she had something set in her mind.
"I'll try Liam." Maura let out a heavy sigh. It was no secret that she was a stickler for detail and could sometimes find it difficult to change, especially when she had a plan. It was Jane who could adapt and adjust to the moment and that thought gave her some semblance of relief.
"I know your girl can think on her feet." Liam picked up his menu and started to peruse. He had done his research well and felt confident that Jane would keep Maura safe. But he also knew what question would come from Maura next.
"Will you watch out for her…" Maura closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "She thinks she's invincible, but she's not."
He was quiet for a moment as he studied her face. The dark rings under her eyes indicated how tired she was and defeat radiated from her bent posture. With a slow nod, he answered her question. He had already planned on following Jane, knowing she could be a loose cannon at times.
"Thank you." Maura let out a relieved breath as she picked up her own menu and turned her attention to the words printed on it.
"How is Constance?" He cleared his throat nervously as he changed the subject.
Tilting her head, Maura regarded him with mild interest. "She's good." She said as she held his gaze. It was him that looked away this time. "You should call her sometime. Maybe take her out to dinner…" her voice trailed off as he shook his head.
"Nah, she's too classy for an old coot like me." He pushed his thick, black hair away from his face as he shrugged his shoulders.
"We both know that isn't true, Liam." Her expression softened as he continued to look everywhere but at her. "I know she would love to hear from you."
"Well, with my line of work…she deserves better." He finally looked at Maura, his eyes filled with sadness.
"You could retire." She tried to reason.
"What? And give up this glamorous life?" He held his arms out. His eyes found hers and he gave her a half smile, but then he suddenly turned serious. "Well, let's get through this first because if anything happens to you or Jane…" he looked away and sighed because he didn't need to state the obvious.
"I know." She said, her voice barely a whisper. "I know."
Jane sat in the driver's seat and watched as a man in baggy jeans and a Red Sox t-shirt slipped in the front door of the brownstone they were staking out.
"That's him." Frost slipped the court order in the inside pocket of his jacket. "You ready for this?" He gave Jane a sideways glance as he did his best to settle his nerves. He knew better than anyone else how quickly a simple interview could go bad. The guy they had been waiting for was wanted for questioning in a homicide they had been working on for the past three weeks. It was their first break and he wanted to make sure they did things right.
"I'm always ready." Jane gripped the steering wheel tightly one last time before letting go. Without looking at Frost, she pushed her door open and stepped out into the busy street. She waited for him to come around the car before they dodged the traffic, side by side.
She could feel the adrenalin flowing through her as she rested a steady hand on the gun hanging from her hip. It felt like fire racing through her veins, but she loved every minute of it. She could feel Frost next to her, his body poised like a spring ready to strike in an instant. Glancing at him, she gave a small smile and nod to let him know that she appreciated having him by her side and he did the same. It was something they always did before approaching a suspect…just in case.
After their silent exchange, Frost squared his shoulders and reached up to knock on the door. Placing his hand on his gun, he stepped back so he was shoulder to shoulder with Jane and waited. Neither said a word, but he could feel the energy radiating off Jane. When he heard a lock click and the door opened a fraction, he could see that there was still a chain keeping them safely on the other side, for now. He stiffened as a man with red-rimmed eyes peered at them between the sliver of the open door. Glancing at Jane, he waited for her consent before reaching into the pocket of his jacket to produce the court order.
"Markus Winger?" He asked.
"Who wants to know?" The man asked.
The red-rimmed eyes glared at Frost, then Jane before coming back to him. He could feel the tension wrap around them and acted on instinct as he put his foot out to stop the door from closing. "He's going to run…" he shouted at Jane as the door started to close. His foot stopped it, giving him enough time to charge, breaking the chain. He didn't have to look to see that Jane was already heading towards the backyard to cut the suspect off. He hated the idea of having to split up but he knew it was the only chance they had if they wanted to bring the guy in. Without looking over his shoulder, he charged forward and had to trust that Jane would be okay.
The instant the door started to close, Jane took off to find a way to the backyard. Frost had things under control for now but if they weren't careful, the suspect would get away and they would have to spend another long night on a stake out when she could be at home with Maura. With that motivation in the back of her mind, she gripped the chain-link fence and vaulted over it in one quick move. Unfortunately, she underestimated her ability to get the height she needed and the jagged edge of the fence dug into the tender skin of her right thigh. With an angry hiss, she ignored the pain and the warmth that was now running down her leg when her feet hit the ground on the other side of the fence and she took off again.
As luck would have it, she rounded the corner of the brownstone and ran right into the suspect as he bolted through the back door. He hadn't seen her and their impact took him by surprise but she had enough time to brace herself, knocking him to the ground. With lightening quick reflexes, she dropped a knee to the middle of his back, pulled out her hand cuffs, and slipped them around his wrists. When she heard Frost push through the door, she looked up at him with a smirk. "What took you so long?" She asked as she ground her knee deeper into the man's back when he started to struggle.
Dropping his hands to the tops of his thighs, he leaned forward and he tried to catch his breath. "Your legs are longer than mine." He huffed.
"Excuses, excuses…" she laughed as she ignored the protests of the man beneath her. "Shut the fuck up." She pushed herself up before pulling him up to stand next to her. "And don't even think about running. I'm too tired to chase you so I'll just have to shoot you."
"You know, all we wanted to do was ask you a few questions down at the station. But instead of cooperating, you had to be an asshole about it and now I have an hour's worth of paperwork to do before I can go home tonight." Frost gave the man a little push towards the gate of the fenced in backyard.
"Whatever…" the man mumbled as he let Frost lead him away from Jane who was quietly trying to catch her breath.
As the adrenaline started to wear off, Jane could feel a deep throbbing along the outside of her right thigh and looked down with a frown. Her pants were torn and stained with the blood that was now oozing from the jagged cut. "Maura's gonna be pissed." She said under her breath as she followed her partner to the car and watched him lock the suspect up in the back seat. With a heavy sigh, she reached down and tried to cover the torn material but she knew Frost would see and she would probably have to spend her evening in the emergency room getting a tetanus shot instead of snuggling up to Maura on the couch as they watched Netflix.
Grumbling, she climbed into the car and glared at Frost, daring him to say something as she started the engine. Throwing it into drive, the wheels squealed on the pavement as they sped away to spend an evening filling out paperwork and probably getting stitches. Glancing in the rearview mirror, she tossed a withering glare at the suspect. She couldn't help but smile when he slipped down further in his seat, clearly intimidated by her presence. 'At least I've still got it…' she thought to herself. The raised eyebrow in question she got from Frost only made her laugh and she finally relaxed for the first time since they had started the stake out.
"Hold still and stop fidgeting!" Maura huffed as she placed the last butterfly stitch to Jane's leg. It had taken four and she ran her finger over each one to make sure they stayed in place. "You're lucky the cut is superficial. It could have been worse."
"What's worse than having to have a tetanus shot?" Jane mumbled as she watched Maura's hand move over her leg.
"I could name a few things…" Maura sighed as she pulled a syringe from her bag and filled it up with the liquid from the small vial she picked up from the pharmacy on her way home after Jane had called her. "If you're good, I'll give you a lollipop." She couldn't help but smirk as she swabbed Jane's bicep before pressing the needle against her skin.
"I can think of a few things I'd rather lick other than a lollipop." Jane winced at the pinch of the needle as Maura administered the shot.
Maura huffed again as she put the cap on the syringe and slipped into a bio-hazard bag before dropping it into her medical bag next to the toilet where Jane was sitting on the closed lid. When she looked back at Jane, she couldn't help but roll her eyes at the smirk directed at her, but she couldn't stay mad for long either.
"Look, I know your pissed at me…but stuff like this happens." Jane shrugged her shoulders.
"I am not…pissed at you, as you so eloquently put it. I'm just tired." Maura let out a heavy sigh and leaned against the counter. Her eyes wandered over the sports bra and boxer briefs that Jane was wearing, igniting her libido. Biting down on her bottom lip, she crossed her arms and looked away hoping that Jane hadn't noticed.
"Hey…" Jane reached out to take Maura's hand. "Let's take a bath together." She smiled as she recalled the last time they had taken a long, leisurely soak in the tub.
Allowing Jane to take her hand, Maura shook her head. "You can't take a bath." She said as she pointed to the butterfly stitches.
"O-k-a-y…" Jane drew the word out as she pulled Maura closer to her. "I'm sorry I ruined our evening together."
"It isn't just about this." Maura waved her hand at Jane's leg. "I've just had a long day and I have a lot on my mind."
"Really?" Jane tried to joke but had the decency to look chagrined when Maura watched her with a wary eye.
"Yes, Jane. As much as it pains me to have you come home, bruised and cut up…I do have other things on my mind." Tears pricked at the back of Maura's eyes as she exhaled tiredly.
"I know Maur…" Jane gave a little tug, pulling Maura down into her lap.
"Stop…I don't want to hurt you." The half-hearted protest wasn't convincing as Maura straddled Jane's legs.
"I'm fine." Jane rested her hands along Maura's hips and gave a reassuring squeeze. She could feel the tension vibrating in waves off Maura and she knew what she needed to do to help alleviate it. "I'm thinking you may need a little release…" her voice trailed off as her fingers slipped under Maura's t-shirt to trail along warm skin.
"Hmmm…" Leaning her head back at the feeling of Jane's fingers playing along her heated skin, Maura didn't resist. "What are you going to do about it?" Her voice was husky as she looked back down in Jane's dark eyes that smoldered with desire.
"Well…" Jane took the edge of the t-shirt and pulled it up and over Maura's head to reveal a gray sports bra underneath. "Did you get to go to your yoga class?" She asked as she ran her fingers down Maura's back.
"Ummmhmmm…" Maura murmured as the feeling of Jane's fingers caused her to shiver. "It usually helps me relax, but not this time."
"I think I may be able to help with that." The whispered words were followed by a trail of open mouthed kisses along the top edge of Maura's sports bra before Jane tugged it off to reveal the soft, curves of voluptuous breasts. "You are so fucking sexy, you now that?" She said as she pulled Maura closer so she could kiss the valley between those inviting breasts.
"Hmmm…tell me something Jane?" Maura reached down to run her hands through dark, unruly hair. She tugged gently, forcing Jane to look up at her and she smirked at the surprised expression looking back at her. "Are you going to talk or use that mouth for something…more…productive…"
"Impatient, are we?" The look in Maura's eyes indicated that she was indeed impatient but Jane couldn't help but tease. The feeling of Maura rolling her hips against her took her by surprise but she quickly recovered. "I guess so…" she moved her mouth to the hollow of Maura's throat and used her tongue to trace a line lower until she was again resting her lips against the valley to two perfect breasts. Glancing up through her dark lashes, she could see Maura watching her with a look of concentration as her lips moved over to gently skim across an erect nipple before surrounding it in the warmth of her mouth.
Taking a deep breath and tilting her head back, Maura closed her eyes as Jane pulled her into her mouth. She arched her back and let out a low moan as her fingers threaded through Jane's hair, pulling her closer. "I need you to touch me…please…" she said on a breathy sigh as she rolled her hips again seeking to find some relief.
With her left hand poised above the waist band of Maura's sweat pants, Jane slid a finger past the elastic and couldn't help but wince when the hand's in her hair tightened their grip. As her mouth continued to tease and tantalize Maura's breast, her hand dipped down past the sweat pants and she let out a shuttering breath at the warm wetness that greeted her fingers. She could tell that Maura was ready and it wouldn't take much to tip her over the edge so she pressed her fingers into the velvety softness that surrounded her and pressed her palm against Maura's center. She let out a sigh of relief when the hands that held her hair so tightly it hurt, let go to grab the towel rack behind them and used it as leverage to move against her.
The speed and urgency of Maura's hips moving against her hand caught Jane by surprise again and all she could do was brace herself against the impending climax that was building up in Maura with a fierceness she hadn't seen in a long time. Instinct caused her to wrap her other arm around Maura and pull their bodies closer as Maura's wall's tightened around her fingers. She looked up in awe when Maura stiffened and threw her head back, coming undone in the palm of her hand with a moan that vibrated through them both.
It didn't take much for Maura to let go, releasing all the tension she had been carrying in one long, mind blowing orgasm that caused her body to shake and twitch in Jane's arms. With her eyes squeezed tightly shut, she rode out the waves of pleasure as each one washed over her with an intensity she hadn't expected. Warmth filled her body as her muscles began to relax and she let go of the towel rack, collapsing into Jane's strong hold. "Oh, God…I needed that." She was breathless as she rested her forehead against Jane's shoulder.
"I know baby, I know…" Jane held Maura close. Her hand still rested between Maura's legs and she could feel each twitch of pleasure slowly subsided as Maura finally fully relaxed against her. "Feel better?" She pulled back so she could look at Maura.
"Much better, but now I'm exhausted." Maura let out a tired sigh.
"Hey, why don't you take a shower and I'll go make you a cup of that chamomile tea you like so much." Jane reached up to place an open palm against Maura's cheek.
Leaning into the soft touch, Maura closed her eyes and nodded. She wasn't ready to let Jane go, but the force of her climax had taken every ounce of energy she had left. "I love you." The words carried through the sleepy haze that had settled over her as she pushed herself off Jane's lap.
The sudden relief of pressure on her legs caused Jane to cringe slightly as her cut stung, reminding her that it was still there. She gave it a quick rub as she watched Maura strip out of her sweat pants and underwear, pushing down that twinge of arousal that always came when she was in the presence of a naked Maura. "I love you too." She couldn't stop herself from jumping up and wrapping her arms around Maura from behind and resting her cheek against the warm skin she found there.
Maura sank into the comfort of Jane's arms and was almost sorry when she was released, but all she could think about was a hot shower and the feeling of her soft pajama's after. She glanced over her shoulder to see that Jane had moved to the sink to wash her hands. Her eye's traced over Jane's trim and athletic body and she smiled when their eyes met in the reflection of the mirror. Jane's eyes held so much love that she had to force herself to step in the shower and close the door. She wanted nothing more than to share the pleasure she had experienced earlier but her body wouldn't allow it, at least not yet.
Having caught Maura watching her in the mirror sent a thrill of anticipation along Jane's skin. It made her feel good that she could give Maura the relief she needed and she would even offer the snuggling after that helped them both sleep without asking or expecting anything in return. Even though her body hummed with arousal, watching Maura come undone alleviated some of the sexual tension she was feeling. It would be enough to get her through the night, as long as Maura was happy. That's all that mattered to her and when their eyes met in the mirror, she made sure to show how much love she carried in her heart. That small, knowing smile she got in return conveyed all the things they didn't need to say anymore because words between them were no longer necessary.
When Maura heard Jane leave, she dropped her shoulders and let the hot water beat down on her. She turned the water on full blast and as hot as she could stand, not wanting it to caress her the way that Jane had earlier with her mouth. Her body ached but in a good way, the way it did when they made love all night, something they hadn't done in a while. But she was ready for the quiet that followed because fatigue was winning the battle that warred in her heart and mind as she stood under the steady stream of water. Her thoughts kept going back to her lunch date with Liam and how she had asked him to watch over Jane and what that meant to them both. It meant that she didn't trust Jane to be honest with her, but only because Jane would want to protect her. It also meant that she didn't trust Paddy, which went without saying.
Letting out a heavy breath, she did her best to disregard the restlessness that tried to ease its way back into her heart. She was so tired of letting things get to her, letting the nervous uncertainty settle over in a way that made it difficult for her to give herself fully to Jane, to their life together. After tonight, she wouldn't let it rule her. No, she would fight back for all the things she wanted. With a renewed sense of vigor, she turned the water off and slipped from the shower. Wrapping a towel around herself and looking at her reflection in the fogged-up mirror, she made the decision to take ahold of tomorrow and everything that came with it, starting with insisting they get to finally meet Valley.
Leaning against the counter with her arms crossed, Jane watched the tea kettle, willing it to boil faster. She could have just put a cup of water in the microwave but Maura insisted she could tell the difference. With a heavy sigh, she recalled her afternoon and frowned at the slightly burning, throbbing sensation along her leg. It had been a routine day and all in all, it had ended well for all of them…this time. The memory of the pain in Maura's eyes when she had come home with torn, blood stained pants haunted her even though Maura did her best to hide it. But it was her job and she couldn't change that.
When the kettle began to whistle, letting the steam pour from its spout, Jane paused before reaching for it. Something occurred to her as she watched the white vapor rise before disappearing and she tilted her head as a thought formed in the back of her mind. Finally reaching for the kettle, she pulled it from the heat and the incessant whistling faded as she set it on another burner. Mulling over her new thought, she couldn't help but compare Maura's behavior this evening to the release of steam that forcefully erupted only to dissipate soon after. The ferocity of Maura's need caught her by surprise but she had happily obliged in helping bring about the relief she had sensed Maura not only wanted but needed. And she hadn't been wrong. But there was one thing that bothered her. Maura had been honest when she said she wasn't mad, that much Jane knew. What she didn't know was what weight so heavily on Maura's mind that she had let it build up until it almost exploded…other than the obvious. As she poured the water into the tea cup, she pondered the idea that maybe Maura was keeping something from her but even though it seemed possible, it was unlikely. At least that is what she thought.
Picking up the cup with the tea bag still steeping, Jane headed up the stairs to see if she could find out what had Maura wound up tighter than usual. Her plan was to ease into the conversation she knew they needed to have but had been putting off. She had left Maura to her own devices regarding her connections and what they could offer to their situation but it was time for Jane to know exactly what they knew and how they could help. They had promised not to keep secrets from each other but lately she thought that maybe Maura hadn't been completely honest with her. It was a feeling she had pushed away with the excuse that they had both been under too much stress. But it was more than that and it was time she recognized it.
As she rounded the corner and stepped in the open door to their room, a soft smile creased her lips at the sight of Maura curled up on her side, still wrapped in a towel, and sound asleep. Quietly, she walked around the bed and placed the cup on the night stand before turning her attention to Maura. With the backs of her fingers, she traced a path along bare shoulders before bending down to place a soft kiss in the wake left by her touch. Maura didn't stir and she hadn't though she would, but she had hoped. For what, she didn't know. With a tired sigh, she slid in next to Maura, pulled the covers up over them, and wrapped her arms around Maura's sleeping body. She knew there was still so much they had to talk about but it would have to wait until the morning. Waiting seemed to be the name of the game they had been forced to play with their lives lately but that would have to stop. Pressing another soft kiss to the back of Maura's neck, she couldn't help but chuckle when honey-blonde hair tickled her nose.
The chuckle caused Maura to stir and roll over in circle of strong harms holding her close and her eyes flutter open. "Hey…" her voice was thick was fatigue. "I tried to wait."
"It's okay. Go back to sleep, we can talk tomorrow." Jane reached up to push a strand of wet hair away from Maura's face, tucking it behind an ear.
"Mmmm 'kay…" the garbled word trailed off on a heavy sigh as Maura closed her eyes again.
Jane lay still until Maura's breathing slowed to a steady, rhythmic pace before pulling her close in a protective hug. She knew that tomorrow would come and bring with it the changes they would need to commit to if they wanted to move forward. With a resolute sigh, she accepted Maura's warmth as they snuggled against each other knowing that the storm was coming but they would weather it as long as they were together.