Chapter two
Maura awoke looking into a pair of deep brown eyes. She felt magnetised by their weight, there was a voice accompanying them but she couldn't hear the world.
''Danny!'' She screamed. ''Danny, where is he?!'' The face she was looking into moved away and she had a clear view of the back of an ambulance, a paramedic hunching over the bundle on the stretcher.
''He's fine.'' The voice said. It was that biker again. ''They're just checking his lungs for smoke.''
Maura tried to move away and the woman didn't try to stop her but she didn't realise that the only thing holding her body was those gloved hands around her waist and she felt herself unable to move any further. She remained lying on her side instead.
''You're okay.'' The woman said. ''You just hyperventilated from the stress. You'll be fine.'' She laid down on the ground to face Maura. ''Try to lower your pulse some or you're going to exhaust yourself.''
''What happened?'' Maura managed to ask, unsure how the hell she knew that her heart was racing but too confused to not ask the question.
''The other driver was drunk, threw your car on my bike. He's dead but nobody else got hurt. Your baby is fine.'' The face was sincere but benign.
''You...'' Maura muttered, looking up and down the slender body. ''I saw you get knocked off the bike...'' She didn't need to ask the question, the woman hear it.
''I'm fine, you should go be with your son. They're going to take you to the hospital, make sure you're both okay.'' She tapped Maura's shoulder, and offered a hand to help her up. Hesitantly Maura took it, watching the way the soot in her hands turned the woman's gloves grey. She was wearing blue jeans and a tshirt under a brown leather jacket. Absently Maura noticed the discarded bike helmet a few feet away from them until Danny's wails interrupted her thought process entirely. She hadn't slept well for days, her was a cherished but very sleepless child and she felt herself about to come apart.
She approached the baby, the paramedics making space for her as she sat down on the stretcher and lifted him in her arms. They had pulled an oxygen mask over his face to make sure the smoke inhalation didn't make him sick but he kept fighting it, little hands balled into fists. She slowly leaned over him and begun to cry, tired, frustrated tears.
''Hey.''
It was the voice again and she looked up angrily, upset at the intruder.
''You look tired.'' The woman said. ''You should lie down until they're ready to go.''
Maura looked down at Danny and shook her head. ''Can't.. have to...'' She wasn't sure what exactly she had to do, she was starting to get dizzy again.
''It's okay, I'll hold him for you.'' The woman held out her arms but Maura turned her body away from hers.
''No!'' She said, but her voice sounded weak even to her.
''It's okay, I won't be out of your sight.'' There was a smile in her voice. ''I don't plan to steal your baby, but it's not going to help if you faint, Miss...?''
''Isles, I'm Doctor Maura Isles.'' Maura offered sighing, the world slowly spinning around her.
''Well, dr Isles, you obviously know that you're in shock, you need to lie down.'' The woman didn't offer her name in return. She held out her arms again and Maura realised she was right, if she fainted while holding him she might drop Danny. Slowly, wary, she set him gently in her arms.
''Don't worry, I'm right here.''
Maura nodded, lying down, her eyes open and on that strange woman holding her son like it was the most natural thing in the world. He felt it too and he immediately relaxed against her chest. Last thing Maura heard was the small humming coming from her, a humming that Daniel seemed to respond with his own in an unspoken communication.
When she opened her eyes next she was in a white room and immediately the thought of her son hit her like a freight train. How had she been so stupid as to leave him with that woman?! What was wrong with her?! Oh God, where is he?
''Hey...''
That voice again, like liquid velvet with a hint of something else. Maura turned and looked at her, still wearing those dirty gloves, holding Danny against her body and the crook of her arm. He was asleep.
''How did you do that?'' Maura asked. ''Get him to sleep?''
''He can feel when you're stressed. Keep him jumpy.'' The woman gave her a crooked smile. ''I'm guessing you're stressed a lot.'' She was sitting on a plastic chair by the bed Maura was lying onto and she rose slowly, to offer the sleeping child to her. She was about to when hand him over when the door opened and a man walked inside, tall and handsome, but angry.
''What the hell did you do this time?'' He asked, turning to Maura. ''And who is this woman holding my son?!''
chapters are small but will be very frequent. sorry. thanks for all your reviews, you guys are great. let me know how am doing.
LK