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 28

"You are always welcome… God knows it is not easy to stand by me, so I am the one who should be thanking you… I will not distract you from your research any longer, I promise. What have you found so far?"

"It does seem that some of what I adjusted on my bracing position helped, like the inspectors insinuated. The fact that I was the only passenger collaborated too, because it avoided the other seats from being ripped off their places and trample me."

"That is interesting…"

"It sems – but I would need more sophisticated modeling to prove it – that the fact the engine that was hit by lightning was across me, plus the fact most of the trip had been completed and there should be little fuel left in the tanks, combined with the weight of the cargo that we were taking – that was very light for most standards – and the way the plane hit the treetops were all important for this result. If the plane had completely nose-dived, the outcome would likely have been very different. And that is probably something I will need to attribute to the ability of the pilots that never abandoned the tentative of an emergency landing, keeping the nose of the plane elevated."

"I also lightened a candle for the two pilots' souls in the church today…" Jane mentioned, and Maura nodded gratefully at her.

Maura closed the cover of the iPad.

"I think I am satisfied enough with these scientific possibilities." Maura announced.

"Can I ask what makes it so hard to think that maybe you were just lucky? Or that maybe you having survived is a sign that you still have something to accomplish as part of your journey in life?"

"Was that what you thought of it when it happened to you?"

"I don't think I ever stopped to think about it, Maura. You know me. I just distracted myself enough to forget…"

"Jane…"

"Okay… So every time I escaped some harrow brush with death, I do have the fleeting feeling that there must be something I am still supposed to do here, and when I realize I have no clue about what it is, I distract myself." Jane admitted, and Maura chuckled, shaking her head.

"So… Did they come to change your medicines and your IV already?"

"Yes, when they brought me lunch. They should be here any minute to do it again."

"Have you had any bout of coughing today? You didn't have any while I was here, but just checking…"

"No. And I feel my chest feels less heavy when I breathe. Before it was as if there was a weight on top of me."

"That is good, isn't it? It means all this medication is taking effect?"

"I am sure it is. And maybe I can go home in three instead of four days…"

Jane chuckled. "I think I deserve this as payback for all the times I have whined with you to get out of the hospital before the doctor's recommendation."

"Oh, no, I am not even close to half as whining as you are…" Maura teased.

"You know the saying: doctors make the worst patients."

"And I repeat what I said before… That is because they don't know you, Jane Rizzoli."

Jane laughed in response, and her phone dinged.

"Ma will be here in half an hour with Frankie. She is asking if there is anything you need?"

"No, Jane, but thank her on my behalf for asking."

"Okay… You should send an update to your parents… Or would you like me to do it?"

"I will do it…"

Maura typed from her iPad a quick message to her parents, explaining the progress on her breathing, and with the pain management, confirming everything was fine.

"There, all set."

Jane stored the iPad and Maura's notebook and pens, knowing Maura would want the room pristine when Angela and Frankie arrived.

The nurse came and changed the medication, taking note of Maura's vitals. The fever had been controlled and that was the other big positive sign of progress in Maura's recovery.

Angela and Frankie arrived as the nurse was leaving.

"Maura!" Frankie was the first one into the room, and moved to hug her gently, planting a kiss on her temple like Maura had seen him do many times with Jane. "It is good to see you alive and well…" he offered, sheepishly.

"Thank you, Frankie!" Maura replied, blushing.

Angela handed a brown bag to Jane after smooching her.

"I wrote you we were good…"

"As if I didn't know you, Jane Clementine Rizzoli… The hospital will bring this little one food, and you would just get a pitiful coffee and something to munch on, and call it dinner."

"Thank you, Ma…"

"How are you feeling?" Angela approached Maura in bed, gently cupping her cheek.

"Much better, Angela. A full day of IV medication and oxygen flowing was very effective. I am breathing more easily, and I didn't have any coughing bout."

"That is really good progress, Maura… Did you let your parents know?"

"Yes, I just sent a note to them."

They chatted for a while, Frankie telling some stories from the precinct, before a nurse arrived with dinner.

"I think that is our cue to leave…"

"You are more than welcome to stay…" Maura smiled.

"No, sweetheart, you need to rest, and we need too."

"Jane, don't you prefer to go with them and sleep in the house? I will be fine, you will sleep better, and you can come back tomorrow morning." Maura offered.

"No, I will sleep much better here knowing how you are doing." Jane replied immediately.

Angela and Frankie said their goodbyes and Jane walked them to the door.

Then, Jane helped uncovering the trays for Maura.

"Why don't you get your brown bag dinner and join me?"

Jane smiled and followed Maura's suggestion. There was a sandwich, a small container with veggies cut in sticks, and some chips. Jane offered some to Maura, but Maura was well behaved and complied with the hospital food: soup, salad and fruits. Again, Jane got the jell-o meant for Maura.

Jane recovered the empty plates and trays to hand them back on the nurse station, before helping Maura to the bathroom.

Jane helped Maura back to bed, and then moved herself to the bathroom, changing to the sweater and sweatpants she had loaned to Maura for the plane trip and that she had laundered in the morning, and got ready for the night.

Jane moved to the armchair, with the iPad, while Maura picked one of her articles to read. Jane heard the papers hitting the bed and looked up to see Maura had fallen asleep seated. Jane recovered the papers and turned off the lights, pulling the covers for Maura, before going back to the armchair to continue seeing the news on Maura's iPad.

Jane must have dozed, but she woke up to Maura whimpering. Leaving the iPad on the armchair, Jane immediately approached the bed. Maura was having a nightmare – again. Jane decided what to do, and leaving her sneakers on the floor, she sat in bed by Maura's side, gently holding Maura and whispering in Maura's ear: "It is okay, I got you, it is just a nightmare."

Maura woke up startled: "Sorry to wake you up…" she mumbled.

"Nobody chooses to have nightmares, Maura." Jane offered gently, in her husky voice, while pulling some of the pillows from Maura's back, so Maura could lie down since she had fallen asleep seating before. Jane was about to move back to the armchair, but Maura held her. "Stay… Please?"

Jane kissed her temple, and pulling the covers over both of them, laid down by Maura's side.

"Comfortable?"

"Much." Maura replied, when her head found its place on Jane's shoulder.

The night nurse came in a couple of hours later to change Maura's medication, but neither Jane nor Maura woke up to it.

Once more in the night Jane woke up to Maura whimpering, but Jane just held her tightly and whispered shooshing sounds by her ear, and Maura calmed down without waking up again.