DISCLAIMER: I do not own Rizzoli & Isles nor any of the characters from the show. I am writing this purely for entertainment, not profit. Rizzoli and Isles are property of Tess Gerritsen and TNT.

Please find the full disclaimers in the beginning of Chapter 1.

Chapter 6

Jane observed a few more moments – she couldn't believe nobody in WitSec would be keeping guard or helping out. Maura had not moved from where she fell. When Jane was sure nobody was around, she sneaked quietly around the well, her hand immediately moving to cup Maura's cheek, Jane's face washing away in tears again. Maura was really alive.

Maura's face was thin like Jane had never seen her before. There were still the hints of heavy bruising on her neck. Her hair had been cropped short. There was a big bandage on the back of Maura's head, covering part of her head, her nape, her neck, and the top of her back. The bandage now appeared dirty, but Jane could not see any blood.

Maura had her eyes closed, her expression pained, and was breathing shallowly. She was pale and her skin was clammy to Jane's touch, and Jane noticed she was burning with fever.

Maura was wearing farm clothes that Jane would never have imagined on her, and besides looking completely out of place, the clothes were obviously a couple of sizes bigger than the petite doctor.

Maura's delicate hands were bloodied with blisters – Jane was unsure if it was from the crutches, the well crank, or both. Jane inspected Maura's chin, that probably would spot a bruise shortly, but at least the skin was not split open, and it was not bleeding.

Jane knew she would need to carry Maura inside. She didn't want to hurt Maura more and was unsure if there was any position she needed to avoid because of Maura's recovering injuries, but right now, she would need to give it a try.

Jane moved one arm delicately below Maura's knees, another behind Maura's back, making sure Maura's head was supported on Jane's shoulder, before standing up and walking quickly with Maura inside the house. Maura's body was burning with fever against hers. As Jane's eyes got used to the fresh comfortable shade inside the house, as opposed to the blazing light of the sun outside, Jane spotted a sofa and gently placed Maura there. Jane removed her backpack and placed it by a side table.

Then, Jane spotted a big pitcher by the kitchen table. Jane picked it, and went outside. She quickly hauled the bucket from the well, filled the pitcher, and retrieving Maura's crutches, Jane went back to the farmhouse, barring the door behind her.

Jane needed to wash her hands, and realized there was running water in the sink. Why hadn't Maura just boiled water instead of going to the well? The water looked like rust, typical of country land, but once boiled it would be at least safe to drink. Looking around, Jane realized the issue. It was a wood burning stove, and although there was plenty of wood for fuel and matches, Jane anticipated Maura had nothing left to start and rekindle the fire with. Jane was boiling with rage. She washed her hands carefully in the sink, before pouring water from the pitcher in a glass and approaching Maura in the sofa.

Maura was shivering and whimpering. Jane got a bowl from the kitchen and a kitchen towel, and got water from the sink. Jane moved to gently sit Maura in the sofa, pulling Maura practically into her lap. It felt good to have Maura's live body against hers. Jane wetted the kitchen towel on the bowl of sink water, then wrang the excess water of it, before gently wiping Maura's forehead, her face, and finally letting it sit on Maura's neck. When the towel felt warm to her touch, Jane repeated the process with fresh water.

Maura continued shivering, and Jane began rubbing her hands up and down Maura's arms and Maura's back, careful of any unseen damage because Jane had no idea of the extension of Maura's wounds.

After the fifth time Jane switched the kitchen towel by a fresh one, she finally noticed the shivering running through Maura's skin seemed to calm down. Jane picked the glass of water, and sustaining Maura's head gently tried to coax her to drink, slowly.

After she managed a sip, Jane saw Maura's delicate tongue licking her parched lips, and Maura's eyes flutter open, and she greedily grabbed the cup with her blistered hands.

"Slowly, Maura, or you will choke. There is plenty of water." Jane coaxed gently, in a soft low voice, avoiding spooking Maura.

Maura drank thirstily, seemingly oblivious to the fact Jane was there, holding her. When Maura finished, she held the empty cup on her hand, and moved her head back to the crook of Jane's neck.

"Maura?"

"My fever must be worse. My delirium didn't speak to me these past few days. Or touch me." Maura mumbled, what made Jane chuckle even if she didn't want to. It was such a Maura type of comment to make that it lifted Jane's heart.

"Have I been in your delirium before?" Jane inquired, amused.

"All the time. But you didn't speak before, or touch me before… Am I dead?" Maura raised her head, and Jane could see her eyes glazed with fever, confused and unsure.

Jane kissed her forehead, swallowing hard.

"No, thank God you are not dead. And although you are feverish, and delirious, I am really here, Maura."

"It is impossible." Maura sobbed. "They told you I was dead. They told everyone I was dead. Only the murderer is looking for me. Nobody knows I am alive."

Jane decided she first needed to care for Maura before she could make Maura understand Jane was not part of her delirium.

"Why are you delirious?"

"My fever is high." Maura sighed.

"Didn't they give you antibiotics?"

"They did, but whatever I have is resistant to the antibiotics I am taking. I have no other antibiotic to try."

"What should be the next level of antibiotics you need?"

Maura mentioned the medical name. Jane pulled the handle of her backpack with her feet, before picking it up from the floor and opening it, not letting go of Maura in her lap. After rummaging through the flasks, she found one with the name Maura mentioned. Jane poured another glass of water from the pitcher, and offered the pill and the glass to Maura, making mental note of the time.

"My delirium didn't bring medicines before as well." Maura observed, suspicious, but gulping the pill and the water.

Jane would be amused if she was not so concerned.

"Are you in pain?"

Maura just nodded her head, tiredly, against the crook of Jane's neck.

"Have you eaten?"

Maura shook her head no, mumbling "Not hungry.", without moving out from the crook of Jane's neck.

Jane knew the daylight would be completely gone soon, and she needed to settle Maura before it became too dark to see. Jane picked Maura again on her arms and walked to the back of the farmhouse, where she found a spacious bedroom after walking past a bathroom.

She sat Maura on the bed, removing Maura's slip-on shoes, and helped remove Maura's shirt that was still damp from the fever sweat. Jane could see the bruise that was still fading on Maura's back, and it made her shudder. Knowing Maura, Jane found the PJs she had been using under the pillow, and gently helped Maura to change into them. Maura groaned when she finally laid down, as if finding a comfortable position was a challenge.

Jane then moved around the house, barring all windows, before grabbing her backpack and bringing it back to the bedroom.

Jane was surprised to find Maura still awake.

"Is it too uncomfortable?" Jane sat by the bed, her hand stroking the side of Maura's head, the short stubs of hair tickling the pads of Jane's fingers.

"No…" Maura sighed. "But I am enjoying my delirium while it lasts. It is good to finally have company, even if it is not real." She whispered, her tired body still recovering, the efforts of the day, the fever and the medicines probably taking a combined toll on her, and Jane finally noticed her body going slack as she fell asleep.

Jane pulled a blanket to cover Maura, before she moved around to inspect the house. There was no electricity, but the running water was a plus. There was no fridge, what was bad and meant Maura was not likely eating anything remotely nutritious for her recovering body. Jane would take care of it in the morning. Right now, she was exhausted.

She stepped into the bathroom, undressed, and noticed WitSec had left a plastic chair, what would make showering possible for Maura. Jane took a quick shower to wash out the dust of the day. The water had been warmed by the sun, and was not totally unpleasant. Jane picked a clean cotton PJ from her backpack, and slipped on the other side of the bed Maura was occupying.

She had barely done so, when Maura shifted and moved, groaning, finding her usual spot curled up to Jane's side, an arm across Jane's waist and her head on the crook of Jane's neck. Jane finally cried the tears she had been holding. Maura was alive. Her best friend in this entire world was alive. And Jane was with her. Exhaustion and relief enveloped Jane and she slumbered.