Surprise…here is the next chapter. I hated to leave everyone with that slight cliff hanger, so I did my best to get this finished and posted. I hope you all enjoy it…

Chapter 11- Put Your Arms Around Me

It had become deafeningly silent as if a vacuum had come along and sucked all of the sound from the air causing Maura to feel like she was underwater as everything began to slow down around her. Time seemed to suddenly stand still, bringing everything to a stop. Maura's thoughts were sluggish and exaggerated as she tried to make sense of what she saw before her on the football field. And what she saw was a very still Jane lying on her back. Even though everything else seemed to come to a halt, Jane's helmet continued to spin away from her like some sort of crazy top. The silver and red helmet twisted and turned like some sort of comical ballet before it finally came to a stop. Seconds turned into minutes as Maura desperately tried to sort out what was happening.

In the blink of an eye, everything suddenly started moving again as if someone had pushed the play button on a paused movie, only this was no movie, it was very real. Players from both teams were waving the coaches out onto the field. Maura felt her throat tighten with dread at the sight of the subsequent panic evident in their exaggerated actions. As the stadium continued to stay deathly quiet, Maura could hear the sound of her own heart beginning to echo in her ears as she realized that Jane still hadn't moved.

As Frank Sr. jumped up and dashed towards the field to be by Jane's side, Angela's death grip on Maura's arm was the only thing that kept both women grounded. Tommy was looking from his mother to Maura to the seemingly lifeless body of his sister, tears beginning to stain his cheeks.

"She's okay Ma..." He said with the strongest voice he could muster. "She's gonna be okay…right Maura?" He looked at her with those light hazel eye's that were so similar to Angela's, wet from the tears that were now falling freely.

Maura could only blink back her own tears that were threatening to overcome her. She gave him a small nod then looked at Angela who was covering her eyes with her other hand as if the scene unfolding before her would suddenly disappear if she couldn't see what was happening. Taking a deep breath, Maura closed her eyes in an attempt to subdue the sudden dizziness that was overtaking her usual calm demeanor. She felt as if she might spin off into the atmosphere if Angela were to let go of her arm, so in an effort to keep herself on the ground she put her hand on top of Angela's. It was the only thing Maura could think to do as she felt herself slipping away.

"Oh Janie…" was all Angela could manage between sobs as she tried to catch her breath. She had felt Maura's hand on hers filling her with comfort, but she also felt the slight tremor of fear that traveled from Maura's body into her own. Angela felt helpless as she prepared herself to deal with every parent's nightmare.

When Maura saw Frank Sr. waving at them to get their attention, her stomach roiled with sickness. Doing her best to swallow down the fear that threatened to overtake her, she leaned over and pulled Angela's hand away from her eyes so she could see her husband waving at her. "I think Mr. Rizzoli is trying to get your attention." Maura could barely find the strength to speak.

"Angela, they're taking her to the hospital…you need to come on and ride with her in the ambulance." He half shouted as he continued to wave his hands to indicate she should move faster.

Maura steeled herself as she realized she would have to wait to see how Jane was until after she got to the hospital later. Her usual stoic nature was being tested however. She continued to feel slightly dizzy at the thought of not knowing if Jane was okay. Panic and dread were on the verge of consuming her. She had never felt this much fear before in her life, it was in that moment she knew what it was like to be truly alone.

Angela stood up, but didn't let go of Maura's arm as she dragged Maura along with her towards Jane's prostrate form. She needed Maura's strength as much as Maura needed hers, so Angela refused to let go. She could still feel the slight trembling in Maura's arm as they stepped off of the bleachers onto the spongy grass of the football field where Jane lay. With each step she took, Angela felt more and more unsteady. If it weren't for the fact that Maura had slipped her arm around her waist, Angela might not have made it to Jane's side without falling.

Feeling Angela's shaky steps as they stepped closer to Jane, Maura knew she had to be strong. She didn't know how she did it, but she somehow managed to find the strength to slip her arm around Angela's waist to help support her. When Angela did the same, Maura didn't expect to feel the comfort from the older woman that filled her heart with ease. Having someone put their arms around her in a reassuring way was a foreign concept to Maura and it surprised her how much she welcomed it.

"You ride with your father and Frankie." Angela said to Tommy who had trotted alongside them. Loath to let go of the one thing that was holding her up, Angela unwillingly released Maura. She wrapped her arms around her youngest child and whispered reassuring words into his ear. She could feel her heart racing with fear as she released Tommy before turning to Maura. "You, come with me." She said as she pulled a stunned and speechless Maura along with her.

When Angela let go of her, Maura instantly missed the warmth. It was warmth she had never experienced before, but just that brief encounter with something so unfamiliar made her ache for more.

Jane still hadn't moved and Maura tried to take small, deep breaths as Angela pushed their way through the small crowed of players that had surrounded Jane in a protective circle. As they got closer, Maura could see the blood running across Jane's forehead and down her cheek. She had the sudden urge to be sick. Blood wasn't something that made Maura squeamish, but when it belonged to someone she loved…'Loved..? Yes…loved…' her mind raced with the thought that had suddenly occurred to her. In that instant, she knew without a doubt that she loved Jane. The revelation almost brought Maura to her knees as she looked down at Jane's pale face which was painted with the shock of red across her face in a sickening contrast.

Frankie flew up to Maura and his mother, his eyes puffy and red. He was breathing heavy as he took Maura's hands in his. "Her helmet came off mid tackle…" His words were barely touching Maura's thoughts as she continued to stare at Jane. "She's got a pretty deep gash on her forehead and she… she won't wake up." The last part came out in a sob.

When Maura could finally tear her eyes away from Jane, she looked at Frankie giving his hands a reassuring squeeze. His dark brown eyes so much like Jane's silently pleaded for reassurance. "She's tough Frankie." Was all Maura could think to say as she tried to hide what she was feeling. Her words sounded far away as she spoke them, far away and hollow even to her own ears.

Suddenly feeling like she was not longer inside of herself, Maura watched the scene unfold before her. It was as if she was looking in from somewhere else far away. The concern in the voices that surrounded her seemed surreal. The feeling of Frankie's hands in her own didn't feel real and the look on Angela's face was enough to bury her under an avalanche of new emotions.

Tommy came up alongside Frankie and put his arms around his big brother. Frankie let go of Maura's hands and wrapped his arms around his younger brother as they both looked at their still unmoving sister. Trying to wipe the tears that were falling down his cheeks, Frankie watched helplessly as the one person he admired the most continued to lay motionless. In an effort to feel closer to his sister, he reached out and pulled Maura to him, sandwiching Tommy between them.

It was a move that surprised Maura causing her to stiffen up at first. As her mind raced to deal with what was happening around her, she had to force herself to accept the human contact she was so unaccustomed to. Frankie held her tightly against him and Tommy, clutching firmly to her shoulders as if she was the only thing holding them up. It wasn't until he buried his face against her neck that she felt the wetness from his tears against her skin. It was almost her undoing. With all the strength she could muster, she reached up and ran her fingers through his short dark hair in an effort to comfort him. Hair the same color as Jane's, but not as soft, tickled the palms of her hands. The sensation caused her to shiver as the thought of the last time she had run her hands through Jane's hair crossed her mind. It took everything in her not to cry with him, but she somehow managed to push back the tears that had caused her eyes to begin to water.

Pulling away from Frankie and Tommy as gently as she could, Maura gave them an encouraging smile. Frankie tried to smile back, but he could only shake his head in an attempt to stem the flow of tears that continued to fall. All she could do was watch as Frank Sr. grabbed both of his sons in his arms, hugging them tightly. Maura saw him whisper something into Frankie's ear, which brought a small smile to the young man's face. It was a smile that planted the seed of hope in Maura's heart which continued to grow when Frank Sr. looked at her and gave her a reassuring wink.

When the ambulance arrived, people scattered as the stretcher was pushed towards Jane. The EMT's brought out the backboard and cautiously slipped Jane's body onto it. With careful movements, they immobilized her neck and head by strapping her down against the hard board. Maura watched them lift her unmoving body before carefully setting it down on the stretcher. Angela grabbed Jane's hand as they pushed her towards the open doors of the ambulance. Before Maura knew what was happening, Angela had reached out to grab her by the arm.

"You're coming with me." She stated without looking at Maura as she pulled the somewhat startled young woman along with her.

"Sorry, family only." The medic stopped Maura.

"She is family…she's my daughter too." Angela looked almost as stunned as Maura felt when she heard the words come out of her mouth. She wasn't about to let Maura go or let her be alone, rules be damned.

The medic eyed them both suspiciously. "Are you really family?" He looked at Maura skeptically.

Maura felt her cheeks grow hot and her breathing begin to get rapid as she struggled to answer the question.

"Yeah, they're sisters." A familiar voice stated from behind her and a strong hand started to push her towards the open ambulance. The medic nodded waving Maura in after Angela.

Maura turned around to see Giovanni smiling at her as he pressed her towards Angela and Jane. Looking up at him, Maura wasn't sure what to say to the young man she had only met once.

"Hey, I'm not that bad…" he smiled down at her as he whispered. "Anyway, you look hot together." He said with a wink before being enveloped in the swarm that was beginning to form leaving Maura at a loss for words.

Maura sat back as they shut the doors, turned on the sirens, and drove away from the gathering crowd. It had all happened so fast that she thought maybe she was just dreaming. At least that is what Maura hoped, but reality set in when she felt herself enveloped in Angela's arms. Again it was a comfort she wasn't used to, but the feeling of being a part of a family was something she was beginning to crave.

Feeling a sharp pain on the left side of her face Jane tried to open her eyes. She struggled to remember what had happened, but the pain was far too demanding of her attention at the moment so she let out a grown. She could feel a sting, followed by a slight pinch in her arm and it caused her to shift slightly.

The smell of antiseptic stung Jane's nose causing her try to reach up to wipe away the tickle that started to annoy her, but for some reason she couldn't get her arm to move. Jane's eye's felt so heavy that she didn't even attempt to open them, instead content to stay in the half dream state she found herself in.

"Janie…" Jane heard her mother's voice float to her through the fog. She thought that she felt a hand gently squeezing hers.

As Jane's eye lids began to slowly flutter open, she was assaulted by a bright light shinning directly at her causing her to wince. "Wha…" She started to say but stopped when the words sounded strange to her ears.

"Her pupils aren't dilated…" One of the EMT's stated as she shined a small pen light into Jane's eyes. Her wrist moved quickly back and forth as she switched from the right to the left causing Jane to try to reach up to try to block her movements. "Please, don't do that." The EMT said catching Jane's hand and putting it back down by her side. "This will go a lot easier if you just let me do this…"

The other EMT was wiping Jane's forehead with something cold that stung. "Think she'll need some stitches for this cut above the left eye here..." He said as he continued to try to wipe the blood away from her face.

Jane tried to turn her head to see her mother but she couldn't, she was strapped down and it caused her to panic.

"It's okay…do you know what your name is?" The female EMT put the small flashlight in her pocket.

"J a n e…" Jane enunciated her name sluggishly as she tried to rid herself of the cobwebs that seemed to muddle her thoughts making her words to sound garbled.

"Good, I'm Stephanie and this is Chris." She waved her hand at the other EMT hovering above her. "Do you know what day it is?"

"Um…I think it's Friday…" Jane furrowed her brow then hissed at the sudden pain that shot across her forehead.

"You're in an ambulance being transported to the hospital. Your mother and sister are here with you." Stephanie said as she continued to check Jane out.

"My sister…?" Jane croaked out, unsure if maybe she hadn't been hit harder in the head than she had initially thought.

"Janie, Maura and I are here." Jane's mother squeezed her hand again and then Jane felt another hand higher on her arm.

The male EMT named Chris gave Angela a suspicious look, but then turned away when she dared him to say anything.

"Maura…?" Jane tried again to turn her head. Tears started to fill her eyes at her frustration as she struggled to find the face she desperately wanted to see.

"I'm here Jane." Maura leaned over Jane so she could see her when she realized what Jane was trying to do.

"What's going on….what happened?" Jane's irritation was evident in the panic in her voice. She attempted to hold back the tears but they continued to trickle down her checks. The last thing she could remember was stepping back after the ball was snapped. The blitz came so fast she didn't have time to think, much less react. She did however remember that her last thought before everything went black was of Maura.

"Well," Maura looked at Angela for approval and got a nod in return. "It seems as if your helmet came off…mid spackle…" She frowned as she tried to remember what Frankie had said.

"You mean my helmet came off 'mid tackle?'" Jane tried to smile at Maura as she corrected her. Even through her scrambled thoughts, she couldn't help but think that Maura was absolutely adorable.

"Yes…that is what I meant… mid tackle. Your helmet came off and you got hit pretty hard in the head. You probably have a concussion." Maura looked at Stephanie, who nodded in agreement.

"You will have to wait until the doctor examines you before we know for sure though." Stephanie offered as she placed a blood pressure cup over Jane's arm. Her movements were fluid and practiced so as not to disturb Maura who was attempting to keep Jane calm.

"Why is my head strapped down?" Jane wiggled slightly against the restraints. She was afraid of what it might mean to be strapped down so tightly.

"They had to immobilize you to make sure you don't have a neck injury. It's pretty standard in these types of injuries." Maura wiped away some of the wetness that was now coating Jane's cheeks. She shivered as her fingers touched Jane's soft, warm skin. "You also have a pretty deep cut on your forehead. You'll need stitches, probably about twelve." She carefully lifted the gauze off Jane's forehead to take a look before putting it back. "Yes, I would think about twelve should do it."

Jane watched Maura above her and felt her gently wipe away the tears that were running down her cheeks. Maura appeared to be the epitome of calm and it made Jane feel better.

"You're gonna make a good doctor, ya know that?" Jane tried to smile again, but the pain that was beginning to fill her head made it nearly impossible. "You're very good at this." She attempted to turn her face towards the warm caress as Maura's fingers continued to graze her wet cheeks.

"Um…thanks." Maura felt her face grow flush with embarrassment. She knew that Jane was seeing the calm, take charge attitude that Maura was exhibiting. Being composed was something that Maura was usually good at, in fact she prided herself on how well composed she was most of the time. But this was different; she was anything but calm on the inside. Fear was eating away at her, but she was trying to not show that fear to Jane or Angela.

Jane frowned as Maura disappeared from her sight only to be quickly replaced by her mother's face. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying, but she was trying to smile.

Angela had watched the tender way that Maura had wiped the tears from Jane's face. She felt a stab of jealousy as she realized that Maura could comfort Jane. Jane would never allow Angela to comfort her that way. It wasn't until she saw the small smile grace her daughter's lips that she forgot about everything except the face in front of her.

"Hi Ma…" Jane gave her an apologetic smile even though it was one of the hardest things she had ever done due to the increased pounding in her head that was now taking over her every thought.

"You're going to be fine honey." Her mother tried to say as her breath hitched on the last word. She reached out and brushed away some of the dark hair that was now stuck to Jane's forehead by the blood that had dried there.

"Where are Pop and the boys?" Jane asked. As much as she was comforted by her mother's touch, it wasn't the one she missed.

"They are following behind the ambulance. They are going to meet us at the hospital." Angela sighed in contentment when Jane didn't stop her from running her fingers through her dark, wavy hair. Just being able to feel the warmth of her daughter's skin and run her fingers through her silky tresses was enough for Angela to finally feel that everything was going to be okay.

"Is Frankie alright?" Jane asked.

"Yes, he's just worried about you?" Maura's voice softly floated above Jane again.

Jane could now see both her Mother and Maura above her now and she tried to give them a reassuring smile, but winced again at the pain that started to quickly spread across her forehead.

"Jane…do you remember what happened?" Stephanie asked as she began to pump the blood pressure cup on Jane's arm.

"Um…" Jane paused. "I think I decided to run with the ball, a last minute change to the play." She was quiet for a minute as she tried to remember. "I guess I didn't see that gigantic linebacker come around the left side." She sighed as the throbbing headache became more insistent.

"I guess not." Chris let out a small chuckle. "I gotta say though, you can sure take a hit…for a girl."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Jane tried to scowl at him, but was again reminded that she had a rather large cut above her eye.

"In all the years I've been an EMT, I've never picked up a girl injured playing football. I didn't know they let girls play."

"I was a kicker on my high school team Chris." Stephanie said, giving him an annoyed look as she studied the blood pressure dial that ticked along with Jane's steady heartbeat.

"Really..? You never told me that." He tried not to sound surprised.

"Blood pressure 118/72 pulse 87." Stephanie rattled off as she released the air from the cup that had been tightly squeezing Jane's arm, much to Jane's relief. "I think it's pretty cool you're the quarterback. You must be pretty good." She said as she smiled at Jane. She paused as she eyed Chris wearily. "Us girls have to be twice as good as the boys before they will even give us a chance." She patted Jane's arm in a show of solidarity.

Chris rolled his eyes as he wrote something down on the clipboard he was holding. "We should be pulling up any minute now. It won't be long before they have you out of this." He said taping on the straps that were holding Jane's head still.

"Thanks…I think I'm gonna rest my eyes for a minute." Jane muttered around the pain that was steadily making it harder to concentrate. She could feel the pressure of her mother's hand in hers, but as comforting as it was, it still wasn't the hand she wanted to be holding.

"Is it okay for her to go to sleep?" Maura asked her voice laced with concern.

"Yeah…she'll be fine. I don't think they will let her sleep for long though once the doctor gets to her." Stephanie tried to reassure Maura.

Maura nodded at Stephanie as she watched the EMT finish up her routine. Without thinking, she reached out, touching Jane's cheek again with the back of her fingers. She sighed in relief when she felt Jane's warmth seep into her and Maura couldn't hide her small grin when she felt Jane attempt to lean into her touch. It was then that she allowed the tears to fall from her eyes as the first vestiges of relief filled her heart.

Seeing Maura's resolve break under the strain of maintaining control hadn't surprised Angela. She had seen the tender way that Maura had touched Jane before the tears began to fall. Her motherly instincts taking over, Angela reached out and pulled Maura to her in a tight hug. The shuttering breaths that Maura was now taking as she tried to restrain the flow of tears prompted Angela to begin rubbing small, soothing circles on Maura's back in an attempt to calm her. She could feel the insurmountable loneliness radiating from the young woman as Maura clung to her firmly, seeking comfort from Angela's protective embrace. The strength of Maura's grasp caught Angela off guard, but it didn't lessen the need to comfort her. Angela held Maura close as she pushed all thoughts of what she had seen transpire between the two girls into the back of her mind. When the ambulance doors opened announcing their arrival at the hospital, she knew she would have to sort out the thoughts that caused her stomach to churn with an overwhelming sadness, but that would have to wait.

"Well… to be safe, I'm going to treat this like a concussion. I can definitively say that you won't be playing any football for at least the next ten days." The doctor stood over Jane with his clipboard as he studied the page in front of him. "You're lucky though." He gave her arm a light pat.

"Thanks." Jane mumbled. "Ten days… really?"

"Yes, I am afraid so. We have to make sure you don't hurt yourself any more than you already have. You lost consciousness for almost ten minutes so I am reluctant to let you play any sooner than that. " The doctor eyed her wearily.

"I feel fine…" Jane started. "Except for this…" She reached up and touched the cut above her eye. "And maybe a little headache…" She grumbled as the insistent throbbing in her head continued to plague her.

"Sorry, you're just going to have to trust me on this one. On a happier note, we will be able to release you tomorrow." The doctor tried to smile. "I expect you to spend at least the next week at home resting before I give you the okay to return to school or football."

"Whatever." Jane growled as she rolled her eyes which caused a tinge of pain in her face.

"Come on Janie, lighten up." Frank Sr. stood up and stretched. He followed the doctor out of the room, talking to him as they went.

"Hey sweet heart, you mind if we go get something to eat? We'll bring Frankie and Tommy back with us." Angela reached over the bed to take Jane's hand.

Jane rolled her eyes again forgetting that it would hurt. "Ma, I told you, you don't have to hang around here on my account."

Angela tried not to show how much that statement had hurt her. She loved that Jane was independent, but sometimes she just wanted her little girl to need her and this was one of those times.

Maura gave Jane a pained look when she saw how much her words had hurt Angela. Having gone through this experience together had caused Maura to feel to slightly protective of Angela's feelings.

"Would you bring me something back to eat?" Jane tried to smile, but the black eye she was sporting made it difficult.

"Of course, what do you want?" Angela smiled brightly at the prospect of being needed.

"How 'bout a burger and some fries…" Jane looked over at Maura. "You want anything?"

"Jane. Its seven thirty in the morning. Where am I gonna find that?" Angela huffed.

"Come on Ma, I haven't eaten since yesterday. Please…" Jane gave her mother her best pout.

"You sure you don't want to come with us?" Angela asked Maura even though she knew what the answer was. She had noticed the dark rings that appeared under Maura's eyes as she hadn't slept any since their arrival the night before. Her heart went out to the young woman who had sat vigil next to Jane's bed until the battery of tests Jane had gone through were done and she was given the okay.

"No thank you, but I appreciate being asked." Maura stood up to stand next to Jane's bed. Jane looked over at her expectantly. "Oh… um…I guess I'll just have the same thing as Jane." She said with a crooked grin.

"Okay, two burgers, and fries…" Angela began. "Don't know where in the hell I'm gonna find that this early in the morning…" She all but grumbled as she walked out the door.

"Oh, and two chocolate malts…" Jane interrupted her mother's ramblings. "Please..." She finished when she saw the stern look Maura was giving her.

"Thank you Mrs. Rizzoli." Maura said as she watched Angela disappear from the room. Maura immediately felt the loss of Angela's motherly presence and it made her feel strangely aware of the fact that she didn't miss her own mother at the moment.

Jane watched her mother leave before turning to Maura. Maura had stayed with her throughout this whole ordeal. She hadn't left since they wheeled Jane into the emergency room which had been almost twelve hours ago. Maura tried to stifle a yawn, but Jane caught it.

"Maur, why don't you go home and get some sleep?"

"No, I want to stay here with you." Maura leaned back into the uncomfortable chair sitting next to Jane's bed.

"Really Maur…I'm gonna be okay. You really need to get some sleep." Jane was on the verge of insisting, but something in Maura's eyes stopped her, something sad that caused her heart to ache.

"Please Jane… I don't want to be alone." Maura said, barely above a whisper. Her tired eyes searched Jane's looking for understanding.

Jane watched her carefully and didn't say anything for a full minute. Maura looked so tired, but not just tired, emotionally drained. Maura had dark rings under her red eyes which stood out against her pale skin. Jane's heart sank as she realized she was once again the cause of Maura's pain.

"Here," Jane slid over in her bed patting the empty space next to her. "You need to get some sleep."

Maura looked at her for second, not really comprehending what she was being asked to do.

"Come on." Jane patted the space more firmly. "You can lay down here and get some sleep. That chair doesn't look at all comfortable for a nap."

Maura blinked in confusion as it dawned on her that Jane wanted her to lie down next to her. "I'm not really sure the doctor would approve."

"Come on, break a rule or two…just consider me a bad influence." Jane smiled and patted the space next to her again.

Maura stood up and eyed the soft, comfortable bed for a second. She wanted nothing more than to lie down next to Jane, close her eyes, and sleep. It had been a rough twelve hours and she was exhausted both physically and mentally. Jane smiled at her, that perfect smile causing the butterflies to flutter again and she sighed at the familiar feeling. "I don't know…" Maura hesitated.

Jane sat up a little higher in her bed carefully watching Maura as a gamete of emotions passed over her face. "Maura, you're tired. You really need to rest. Come on…please don't make me ask again."

As Maura reached out to touch the empty place next to Jane, Jane grabbed her arm and pulled her down on to the bed.

"Jane…" Maura sighed as she let Jane pull her down without resisting. She was too tired to fight as she collapsed next to Jane.

"See, I told you…" Jane tried to smile at her. "Here, have a pillow." She said pulling one of her many pillows out from behind her before tucking it behind Maura's head.

Maura turned on her side so she was facing Jane and took a deep breath. She was so tired, she couldn't think straight. All she knew was that she was close to Jane and that was all that mattered to her. Her eyes fluttered slightly as she tried to keep them open. She looked up at Jane with a sleepy smile. Bringing her hand up to her mouth, Maua kissed her index finger before reaching up to gently touch the bandage above Jane's left eyebrow.

Jane watched with curiosity as Maura kiss her finger and then touch her cut as if it would make her feel better. Before Maura could move away, Jane grabbed her hand. She brought the smaller hand to her mouth, placing a gentle kiss on the back. But instead of letting go she moved their hands to her chest, holding them tightly against her.

"I talked to my cousin Carly the other day…" Jane said as she enjoyed the feeling of Maura settling against her.

"Yeah…? What did she say?" Maura sighed contently as she snuggled closer to Jane.

"She told me I was being an asshole to you…" Jane said as she put her arm behind Maura's head to pull her even closer.

"Hum…language Jane…" Maura's voice was soft and dreamy.

"You know what else she told me?" Jane questioned, knowing that Maura was fast approaching sleep.

"Don' know…" Maura mumbled sleepily.

"She told me I should give you my heart…" Jane all but whispered. "But the thing is…you already have it."

"That's nice…" Maura said her voice thick with fatigue, not really hearing the words that seemed so far away her. Her sleep fogged mind was making it difficult for her to understand.

"Sleep Maur…" Jane breathed into Maura's ear. She could feel the shiver as her breath tickled Maura's ear, but it wasn't enough to wake the exhausted girl. With a small smile, Jane pulled Maura close enough so she could comfortably rest her cheek against the honey-blonde hair. Kissing the silky, soft strands beneath her cheek, Jane felt a surge of warmth spread throughout her body. It was a wonderful feeling that made her long for more.

"Jane…please put your arms around me…" Maura mumbled half asleep surprising Jane who thought she was already asleep.

"I'm already ahead of you." Jane sighed as she pulled Maura closer to her, allowing a sleeping Maura to snuggle up against her.

When Maura finally surrendered to her fatigue, her last memory was of being held safely in Jane's arms.

Angela stopped at the door and studied her daughter and her best friend carefully. Maura was sound asleep and so was Jane. This wouldn't have been so strange if it hadn't been for the fact that Jane had her arms in what could only be described as a protective embrace. Not only that, but Maura had her arm around Jane's waist in a very casual and comfortable way. Maura's body was tucked tightly against Jane as if it were the most natural thing in the world for them to be that close. It almost looked as if the two girls were holding each other, tenderly. Angela felt a surge of panic at the sight before her. It was an irrational fear she tried to immediately push down.

Thoughts raced through Angela's mind as she remembered the conversations her and Frank Sr. had had about his Aunt Sophie. Frank had been angered by the many insinuations about Sophie and her choice of lifestyle. It was a choice that went against everything Angela had been taught to believe, until now. Angela couldn't help but wonder if maybe it wasn't so much a choice, as it was a matter of biology. As she examined her feelings, she realized that it didn't bother so much that Jane may have feelings for Maura, what bothered her was what Jane would have to endure if she did. Jane would be forced to face the prejudice and ignorance of people who couldn't or wouldn't understand and among those people would be Frank Sr.

Taking a deep breath Angela tried to control the dread that was building up within her with each moment that she watched the two young women holding each other. It appeared innocent enough, but Angela knew her daughter and she could see that Jane had opened her heart to someone. If she could see the burgeoning love growing between Jane and Maura, she was sure it wouldn't be long before everyone would be able to see the same thing. Angela wanted to protect Jane from the judgments and bigotry that would surly follow. She only hoped that her need to protect Jane would not overcome her need to see her daughter happy.

Angela stepped out of the room and took another deep breath before she coughed loudly in an effort to wake Jane up.

Jane opened her eyes, looking groggily around the room. She could feel the weight of Maura's sleeping figure against her left arm and she tried to shift carefully to pull it away without waking her. When Jane's eyes finally focused, she saw her mother standing in the doorway.

"Hey Ma..." She sighed heavily. "Maura was exhausted so I thought this would be more comfortable than that chair." She nodded towards the empty chair.

Angela considered what her daughter had said. She watched Jane carefully, but only saw innocence in her eyes. She let out a sigh of relief, thinking that perhaps she was wrong about what she thought she had seen earlier.

"Here, I got you what you wanted." Angela said, setting down a paper bag on the table next to Jane's bed. The bag was followed by two chocolate malts. "Maura must have been really tired. Why didn't she just go home?"

"I think she was afraid of being alone." Jane tried to whisper as she quietly dug into the bag her mother had set down in front of her.

Angela was quiet for a minute before she said anything. She watched Jane carefully pull out her burger and even more carefully move herself towards the table so she wouldn't wake Maura.

"She's alone a lot, isn't she?" Angela knew the answer to her question before she asked and it broke her heart that Maura was so alone. As she studied Maura's sleeping profile, Angela realized that she cared deeply for the sweet young woman who had not only captured her heart, but Jane's as well.

"Yeah, I think so." Jane had a sad look on her face. Without thinking, she reached out and touched Maura's cheek, brushing back a piece of honey-blonde hair from her face. It was an innocent move on Jane's part, but she couldn't stop the need to touch Maura, even in front of her mother.

There was tenderness in the move that Angela noticed instantly. Resigning herself to the fact the Jane was indeed in love with Maura, Angela wanted nothing more than to be happy for her daughter, but she couldn't rid herself of the fear that still plagued her.