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 11

Jane gasped and tried to pull back, but Maura held her hands firmly.

"Jane… They are the ones guilty of what happened. Only them. Do you understand this?" Maura's hazel eyes were boring into Jane's.

Jane swallowed hard, caught by surprise with Maura's intensity.

"I asked you a question, Jane." Maura insisted.

"I do understand, Maura." Jane whispered.

"Good." Maura stated, letting go of one of Jane's hands to fish an envelope from the folder, handing it to Jane. "This belongs to you."

Jane knotted her brows, but opened the envelope. Inside of it, there was an escrow check for five million dollars.

"What the…?" Jane gasped, confused.

"The judge sentenced the company owning the fleet to pay indemnity to you, Frankie, Tommy and Johanne."

"This belongs to them…" Jane put the check back on the envelope.

"No. Each one of them received one exactly like this one. Except for Tommy, where the check was determined to be placed in TJs name with the provision he can only touch that money when he is twenty-one." Maura explained. "I am sorry that I used the power of attorney you gave me when you first left Boston and moved to DC to do this. But I needed to make sure it was clear, without the shadow of a doubt, who is really guilty on this entire situation."

Jane shook her head, tears welling in her eyes.

"I know no money in the world will bring your mom or Ron back, Jane, that was not my motivation to do this. But if the people who were guilty are made to pay heavily for it, we might avoid tragedies like the one that struck your family to repeat."

"Our family." Jane immediately amended Maura's comment, and Maura nodded to her. "I… I have no idea what to do with this…" Jane waved the envelope with the check on her hand.

"Of course it is your choice, but if you allow me a suggestion, I would put this in a fund. It could yield part of your retirement." And Maura stated a monthly value.

Jane whistled, widening her eyes. "This is like three times the monthly retirement I would get by working alone."

"That is the intention… But for that, you first need to live until your retirement..." Maura continued, keeping her serious tone.

Jane blushed.

Maura turned around, and picked up the knife she had found in the sofa, and the crumpled piece of paper.

"I lost count of how many times since this nightmare began that I have been really close to losing you." Maura stated with intensity.

She placed the knife and the paper on the coffee table, and moved her hand to cup Jane's chiseled face, thinner than ever.

"I know you have not been eating. Or sleeping. It is written all over your face… But Jane… You can't continue this way…" Maura sighed, her eyes welling in tears. "Every time you do something like this…" her hazel eyes motioned to the knife on the table "… my heart breaks… And if this…" And Maura leaned forward, brushing her lips lightly against Jane's, reveling on Jane's blissful expression as they kissed "… is to blossom into something else, I need you to promise me that this…" and again Maura's eyes hovered over the knife "… will never happen again. It is the only Christmas gift I ask from you. Can you do it? Could you please promise me that?"

Jane nodded.

"I need to hear you say it, Jane… I trust your word is your bond." Maura insisted.

Jane raised her own hand to cup Maura's cheek. "I promise you."

"We have a lot more we need to talk about… But I really need something substantial and warm in my stomach before I can do that." Maura stood up, without releasing Jane's hand, and bringing her to stand up too.

They brushed their teeth and changed into outside clothes, the day cold and snowy.

"Let's take the car. If it was not Christmas Day, there would be plenty of options in a radius of two blocks for us to choose. But being Christmas Day, I suspect we might need to drive a bit to find something open." Jane offered.

Maura felt satisfied that the old Jane seemed to be back.

Jane held Maura's heavy coat for her to dress it, before putting on her own parka. They took the elevator to the garage, where Jane opened the car door to Maura, waiting until she was accommodated before going to the driver's side.

They had to drive for a couple miles before they found an open deli, where they ordered a hearty brunch that Maura devoured with pleasure, even more so because Jane was at least trying the different things. Eating slowly, much less than she usually would, but at least eating.

Maura ordered a few things for them to eat and drink later in the day, knowing they would not find a supermarket opened on Christmas day, before they walked with bags in hand back to the car.

Once in the apartment, they deposited the bags on the kitchen counter, and Jane removed her parka and held Maura's coat until she stepped out of it.

After hanging them by the door, Jane approached and hugged Maura tightly against her, kissing the top of her head. Maura melted in Jane's hug.

"Thank you for not giving up on me…" Jane spoke, her voice full of emotion.

"Never…" Maura squeezed Jane's midsection before letting go.

They found places for all things Maura had shopped, and then changed into comfortable cozy clothes.

Maura prepared hot cocoa, and brought the mugs to the coffee table. Jane had already accommodated herself in the sofa, and Maura found herself cuddling against Jane.

"I need to tell you… I… I didn't plan on kissing you or anything like that when I decided to visit you for Christmas…" Maura started, sheepishly. "But I am not sorry that I did it." She added. "And I do understand it might not be what you want."

"I am not into women." Jane stated bluntly, sipping her cocoa, and feeling Maura stiff beside her.