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 5
Frankie motioned Maura to the casket, and she saw Jane seated on the chair by the head of it, her right immobilized wrist on her lap, her left one holding on to the casket, her eyes lost, and her heavily bruised stony face unashamedly bathed in tears.
Maura approached the casket first, to pay her respects to Angela. Her small hand moved to touch Angela's cold one, that the mortuary had arranged holding her well worn rosary. Her face was peaceful, and Maura was thankful for the fact that whatever damage was inflicted on the accident didn't mar Angela's beautiful face and allowed them the privilege of an open casket – different than what had happened in the case of Frost. Maura bent over, placing a gentle kiss on Angela's cold forehead, before she moved to crouch in front of Jane, one hand covering Jane's left one by the casket.
Jane seemed to be awakened from her reverie by Maura's touch, and her chocolate brown eyes refocused on warm compassionate hazel ones.
"I'm… so… sorry… Maura…" Jane spoke slowly, a new wave of tears rolling through her face.
"Thank you, Jane. I'm so sorry too… She was ours, wasn't she?"
"She was… I… am… sorry… for… what… I… did…"
"You didn't do anything, Jane. Nothing of this is your fault…"
"She… hated… road… trips…"
"And you were not the only one incentivizing her. I did my fair share, probably bigger than yours because I was with her every day, Jane. This was an accident. A stupid car accident like the one with Frost."
Jane shook her head slowly, and Maura knew it would take much more than words to convince Jane. It would take time. Especially time.
"You should be in the hospital, Jane. You are not looking well at all..."
"After… burial…"
"I know…" Maura sighed, standing and kissing Jane's forehead carefully in one single motion.
There was some commotion by the front door, and Maura saw Cavannagh walking in with Frank Sr. and Tommy. She had to swallow hard to control her rage, and she moved to stand in front of where Jane was seated.
She noticed they both had discreet zip ties on their wrists, but as they approached the casket – and thus Jane – she hissed: "I don't want to cause a scene. But you get one inch closer to her, and I swear I will cut your testicles with a scalpel in a swift single movement that will not allow you the time even to feel pain."
Tommy flinched, taken aback by the venom on Maura's voice. Frank Sr. stood his ground. But none of them made any move to approach Jane. Instead, they just stopped by the feet of the casket. Frankie and Nina moved closer to Maura and Jane, and Frankie spoke quietly with Cavannagh.
Shortly after, the employees from the funeral home approached, to put the lid and close the casket. Maura and Frankie helped Jane to her feet, and with one last look to her mother's face, she nodded at them.
When they closed the lid and began fastening it up, Maura felt Jane squeezing her hand with urgency. Maura didn't need to look at Jane to know how she felt. It was visceral. It didn't matter they knew Angela was long gone. The impression of someone fastening up a lid on a coffin was definitive.
While the employees moved the casket to the hearse, with Frank Sr., Tommy, Frankie and Cavannagh, plus a lot of other male family members, Maura and Nina steered Jane to the door, where Maura retrieved her luggage from reception.
"I will pick up my car…" Nina offered, asking Maura to hold on to Jane.
In no time Nina parked her car, and walked out to help Maura accommodate Jane on the front seat, buckling her up, before Maura put then her bag in the trunk.
They drove in silence to the cemetery. They arrived before the hearse, but knowing how slowly Jane was moving, Maura helped her to stand.
"I can get an electric car to take you…" Maura offered, seeing how much Jane swayed when she stood, before she could get a grip of herself.
Jane just slowly shook her head 'no', and moved her left arm to loop it on Maura's. Nina did the same on the other side.
They walked slowly, Maura and Nina taking more of Jane's weight than Jane herself, and finally reached the grave, where by now the rest of the family as well as the bearers had arrived.
The priest approached to begin the committal rites, and Jane asked Maura.
"Please… help… kneel…"
Maura helped Jane to her knees, and kneeled right behind her, by her side, her right hand discreetly holding Jane's left one. The priest proceeded with the rites, and then the bearers lowered the coffin into the ground. Each family member approached with red and white roses to throw on top of the casket. Nina got closer to them, handing them their roses, that Jane and Maura threw on the grave. Maura stood up, but Jane made no motion to stand up, just shook her head lightly, and Maura placed a protective hand on her shoulder. She knew Jane needed to see this through.
The others got away, people saying their goodbyes or see you soon at the repast, as the cemetery employees began filling the grave with dirt. Maura felt through her touch on Jane's shoulder the reaction this caused in Jane, but she knew there was nothing that would make Jane move until this was done – Maura had seen exactly the same at play when they were burying Frost.
She squeezed Jane's shoulder lightly, and moved one step back to talk to Frankie and to Nina.
"I am really worried about her, Maura…" Frankie ran his hand through his short hair.
"I will take her back to the hospital as soon as they are finished, Frankie. What about your father and Tommy?" Maura asked, seeing the two men in question walking at a distance.
"Cavannagh is taking them back to a holding cell..."
Maura nodded, relieved. "You and Nina go get some rest. I will keep you updated from the hospital… You are more than welcome to use my house for the repast."
"Thank you, Maura, but one of our aunts volunteered to host it. Nina and I will head there now…"
Maura saw the employees had efficiently finished their job, and stepped ahead to help Jane stand. But, when she touched Jane's shoulder, Jane slumped forward, and Maura had to move quickly to sustain her and prevent Jane from falling face forward on the freshly packed dirt. Luckily Nina and Frankie heard Maura's gasp and moved to help Maura to sustain Jane, who was unconscious, her lips purplish.
Maura urgently grabbed her phone from her purse.
"This is Dr. Maura Isles, Chief Medical Examiner of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I am at the Boston Cemetery, and I need an ambulance, immediately!"
