Chapter fourteen
Maura sipped the coffee Jane had handed her quietly. It was instant and for a second she thought about complaining but she changed her mind. She watched the Detective cradling the bundle that was her son and she was amazed by the effect she had on him, because he seemed to immediately fall asleep. She was still on the couch, her body achy and her head heavy in hangover and it was only three in the afternoon.
''How'd you do this?'' She asked Jane instead.
The Detective's head cocked up curiously.
''How did you calm him down like this?'' Maura rephrased and she saw a small smile in Jane's features.
''The whole pack works together to raise the cubs. He knows what I am and he chooses the strongest in the pack to keep him safe.''
''You talk like he is...'' Maura shook her head, leaving the words hanging. She wasn't sure how to say that.
''Metaphorically.'' She brushed a thumb over the soft hair on top of his head. ''Little children are more sensitive to the supernatural than adults are. Some of their imaginary friends are not imaginary at all.''
''You mean...'' Maura snorted. ''Like ghosts?''
''Sometimes a soul will linger after death because it doesn't understand the concept of death. It usually happens with little kids and they seek out other kids to play with, continuing their 'life' as usual.'' Gently Jane placed Danny in Maura's arms.
''You must be joking?'' The Doctor asked.
''Absolutely not.'' Jane sat heavily down in the armchair and sighed. ''You spent your last autopsy in the company of one.''
''What?!'' Maura almost jumped and looked around her living room, expecting to see Casper.
''Relax, it's gone.''
''You can see them?''
Jane rubbed the back of her neck. ''Yeh.'' She left it at that and Maura, stunned, didn't ask any further questions. She seemed to be taking this on stride, Jane noted, surprised.
The Doctor finally reached the subject that she wanted since she woke up. ''Listen, Jane, what I did before, it was extremely inappropriate and-''
''It's okay doc.'' Jane looked away. ''I hope you understand though, I'm still married.''
''It won't happen again.'' Maura swallowed hard, realising it would be impossible to compete with the dead woman in Jane's memory. That didn't scare her. What scared her was that she had stolen a kiss and she did not regret it not one bit.
''There's something more important to discuss now, I suggest you go take a shower and wake up properly and then we can talk.'' Jane offered. She indicated the empty cup in her hand. ''I'll go get some more coffee, make it quick.''
Maura nodded and followed Jane's suggestion. The Detective lowered Danny in his carry seat and she walked into the kitchen, where she proceeded to refill her cup and then another one, to which she added just a dash of milk. She stood staring at it like it had just sprouted out of the kitchen table, realising she had done it again.
''God fucking damn it.'' She muttered, emptying the cup in the sink. Jasmine liked her coffee sugar free, dash of milk. And she just kept doing that, it was a gesture so bloody mechanical that she always ended up with that coffee cup in her hand. The only thing that stopped her from shattering the damn thing on the opposite wall was the fact that this was Maura's kitchen.
Her hand felt odd without the wedding ring and she promised herself she would put it on as soon as she got back to her apartment. She had almost reciprocated to Maura's advances and she knew it was wrong, it was wrong on so many levels when all she could think about was her hands around Jasmine's waist.
No, that was a lie.
All she could think about was her hands over Maura's hips. And it was wrong because she knew she shouldn't be feeling this way. Jaz had been her wife, still was her wife and even looking at Maura felt like cheating. She had to stop, had to stop looking at her, touching her, because if she touched her again she probably wouldn't be able to control herself. And then she would never be able to deal with the guilt.
When Maura walked out of the bathroom she found Jane in the kitchen, her eyes lowered to her coffee cup. She knew the Detective had heard her walk in and she joined her, sitting opposite her at the kitchen table.
''Everything okay?'' She asked.
Jane nodded. ''We need to talk.''
''Okay?''
''You now know what you are.''
''A necromancer.'' Maura muttered. ''So you say.''
''This city is controlled partly by two different packs and partly by the Master of the city.'' Jane said slowly. ''The Master has control of all the vampires in the city.''
''The what?''
''Vampires.'' Despite herself Jane made a crude vampire imitation, with her fingers poising as extended vampire fangs. ''Blood suckers. Sex freaks. Etc.''
''There are vampires?'' Maura laughed. ''Actual, Twilight Movie, Vampires?''
''First, Twilight, nothing to do with reality.'' Her face grew serious. ''There is a supernatural council you need to inform of your presence, in order to ensure safe passage. We are very big on territory here and if they think you are trying to hide your existence they might ask you to leave the city.''
''And what if I don't leave?'' Maura asked, swallowing thickly.
Jane's voice was grim. ''Then they will send the Executioner after you.''
''They can't- they...'' Maura stuttered. ''You mean they would kill me?''
''They would certainly try.''
''What do I have to do?'' The Doctor asked, her fists clenching in fear, nervousness clear in her features.
''There are five members in the council, the two pack alphas, the master of the city, a representative for the witches and the Executioner. In order to stay safe you need to convince the council that you are in control of your abilities and you wont hurt the community by accidentally say killing another human or losing control in front of a human. Then you need to affiliate yourself to one of the groups, you'll be probably accepted by the witches.'' Jane counted explicitly, using her hand. ''They will see you and then vote and they will either accept you in the community or give you the option of either leaving and staying alive or staying and being executed.''
''Who are these people?'' Maura asked, intending to know as much as she could for the people who would decide her future.
''The Moonstone Pack's alpha is Vince Korsak, he's in your corner. The Nightwalker's pack alpha is going to be tougher to convince but I don't imagine he is going to have a specific problem. His name is Paddy Doyle.''
''The criminal?!'' She blinked. ''He's wanted by Interpol and the FBI and-''
''I know.'' Jane sighed. ''He's the one.'' She cleared her throat. ''For the witches representing will probably be a woman by the name of Hope Martin. You probably know of her.''
''The doctor? The one who has the clinic?''
Jane nodded and Maura leaned in with interest. ''She's ... a witch?''
''Yes.'' Jane wrung her hands nervously. ''Charles Hoyt is going to be there, he's the master of the city.'' She hid her clenched fists under the table and leaned closer to Maura. ''You need to be really careful of him. I mean it Maura.''
''What do you mean?''
''He might ask you to join his group as an ''essential''. An ''essential'' is a person who belongs in one group without actually belonging, for example a human doctor who is a affiliated with the wolf pack, he is not a shifter but he has the full protection and benefits of a pack member.''
''Okay?''
''You need to stay as far away from that man as you can, I'm serious. He's charming but he is also a very dangerous man. He has done some terrible things but we've never been able to prove it. Stay away, alright?'' Jane urged.
''Okay, alright. I got it. Stay away from the vampire guy. Got it.'' Maura offered a small smile but Jane did not reciprocate. ''So, Hoyt is master of the city. What about the Executioner? What is her? Basically, who is he?''
There was a deepening silence and Jane turned away from Maura, staring down on the floor.
''Me.''
So, Maura has an upcoming audition, lets see how that goes, especially with Hoyt being there
Let me know your thoughts
LK