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 10

After making sure Maura was comfortable in bed, Jane went out again. Calculating Maura's laundry would be dry by now, Jane recovered it and brought it back to the house. Tomorrow, if the weather held, Jane would do her own laundry. And then they would need to be careful, because from the day after tomorrow on, at any time, WitSec would likely show up with renewed supplies for Maura.

Jane used the time to study the paths between the house and the river, and decided she would have her backpack always packed, so the moment WitSec showed up, she could escape to a path she had decided on now, and she could be by the river covered by the farmhouse itself. She would wait there until they left, before rejoining Maura.

On her way back, Jane noticed two ripe mangoes in the orchard, and collected those. It would be a good desert for their dinner. She knew Maura loved the taste and smell of the tropical fruit.

Jane also replenished their pitch of water from the well, before barring the door for the rest of the day.

Knowing it was time for Maura's antibiotic again, Jane retrieved the pills and the water, and walked to the bedroom.

"Hey… How are you feeling?" Jane asked softly, waking Maura up.

"Much better, Jane, thank you. The antibiotic you brought and the fact you removed what was likely causing the infection is clearly making a difference…" Maura stretched carefully, sitting to take her medicine.

"I know we need to have an early dinner because there is no light later… I was thinking about an omelet filled with grilled veggies, like zucchinis or carrots?"

"Sounds good to me, Jane."

"So take your time, and I will get it ready for us."

Jane moved to the kitchen, roughly slicing the veggies and placing them on the frying pan. When they had just softened, she removed them to a plate, replacing them with the eggs, and made two omelets. She placed the omelets on the plates, and then filled each with a generous portion of the grilled veggies. Then Jane quickly peeled the mangoes and sliced them on smaller plates for dessert.

"This smells divine…" Maura praised, finally reaching the kitchen.

Again, Jane was pleased to see Maura eating with appetite.

Jane cleaned the plates as darkness began to envelope them, and Maura moved to the bathroom to brush her teeth and get ready for bed. Jane followed her shortly after securing one last time all doors and windows.

Maura quickly found her place again with her head resting on Jane's shoulder.

After a long silence, when Jane was sure Maura had fallen sleep lulled by the effect of the medicine, she heard.

"Jane?"

"Hmmm…"

"Did they tell you anything about the investigation?"

Jane tensed. She was not sure what they had shared with Maura. She was not sure if she wanted to be the one sharing with Maura.

"Not a lot." Jane deflected. "What about you?"

"They told me Paddy Sr. and Paddy were both killed. And that all murders and my attempted murder were connected to the Irish Mob war… They told me that while they were trying to justify their unilateral decision to place me under witness protection."

"So you know as much as I do." What was true.

"In a case like this, where the perp is the collective Mob… Do you really think they will be able to determine when I am out of danger?"

Maura was too smart for her own good. Jane had thought to exhaustion about it on her long three-day bus and train trek to find Maura. Would they ever claim Maura was safe again, free to resume her life?

"I honestly don't know, Maura… I suppose there will be a moment they will have caught up enough heads to consider it safe for you to resurface again."

"But the Mob is a family thing, there is always a son, a cousin, a very far apart cousin, to take over… What if it is never safe?" Maura inquired, in a very small voice.

"My best friend, the smartest person in this whole world, does not dwell in what-ifs…"

Maura slapped Jane's arm weakly.

"… We will decide what to do if that hurdle ever becomes a reality, Maura…"

"Can I decide to get out of WitSec?" Maura mused.

"In theory, nobody can be forced to accept WitSec…" Jane replied, threading carefully.

"Someone decided for me…"

"And as much pain as it brought me, Maura, I am glad they decided for you. You were hurt, vulnerable, unconscious, and if they had hesitated, I don't think we would be here having this conversation now. But yes, in the near future, if you feel that your freedom outweighs the danger, you should be able to waive the protection and assume the risks – something like leaving a hospital AMA – against medical advice."

Maura sniffed, and Jane squeezed her gently by her side.

"What is it?"

"This is the first night since this whole nightmare started that I really hope I do not die." Maura sighed. "I am so happy to be with you, Jane… And now I want to hug your mother again. I want to see Frankie, and Nina, and Thommy, and TJ. I want to hug my mother and my father again. It is not too much to ask, is it?" She continued in a small voice.

"No, it is not, Maura, and this can be your goal. To reach that. It might take a while longer, but we will get there."

"Until now, I couldn't see the point of being safe and protected and alive, if I had to be all alone with everyone else sure I was dead. What was the meaning of living that way? Was that even living?" Maura sniffed again.

Jane kissed the top of her head. "You are not alone."

"Not anymore." Maura whispered, finally letting herself drift to sleep.

"Not anymore." Jane echoed in a whisper, before drifting to sleep herself.