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 30

Friday elapsed without news. Maura spent the morning writing on her bound notebook, and reading. Jane watched the news on the iPad, before she left to do grocery shopping and grab lunch. Even though Maura was doing great, Jane spent as little as she could away from Maura. So as soon as she had all the groceries stored and organized the way Maura liked them, Jane went back to the hospital, but not before picking a change of clothes for Maura that she knew Maura would approve of to leave the hospital in the following morning.

Maura had finished her lunch, but saved the jell-o for Jane.

Jane insisted for Maura to take a nap mid-afternoon, noticing that although Maura had not been out and about, she still had been up without a break. In her home Jane knew Maura would be difficult to restrain, so any extra rest Jane could carve for Maura while in the hospital environment, Jane would make sure it was granted.

Jane put away all of Maura's reading materials, and put down the shades on the windows, before helping remove some of the pillows from Maura's back, so she would be mostly laying down.

"Are you comfortable?"

"Very, thank you."

Jane squeezed Maura's arm gently, and moved to sit across the armchair, the iPad on her lap.

In no time Jane looked up to see Maura's compassed breathing, proving she had fallen asleep.

Jane had been concerned about Maura's nightmares. Maura had not talked about them. And Jane had not asked. She had not asked because she thought it was easy to figure out that after the ordeal, they would be likely variations of what had happened. And what had happened was nightmarish enough.

Jane sighed. She didn't want to go back to DC on Sunday. The idea of leaving Maura behind after all of this was tearing her apart. It should feel easier to leave considering Maura's significant recovery. But somehow Jane had a nagging feeling she was missing some important clue. That Maura's survival meant so much more than the enormity it already meant. Jane just couldn't figure out what.

Jane was lost in these thoughts when she heard the whimpering. Her heart broke a bit. Maura's brow was furrowed, and there were tears on her face, as she moved tersely under the covers.

Jane quickly jumped out of her sneakers, and laid in bed, taking Maura in her arms, mindful of her injuries, and holding her tightly, shooshing her softly, and Maura seemed to calm down without waking up. Jane vouched to stay just a bit longer to ensure Maura was fully asleep and would not awake when Jane moved away, but Jane ended up falling asleep herself.

Maura blinked her eyes opened, and realized Jane was asleep holding her. She tensed, and that woke Jane up.

"Hey." Jane smiled at her. Her intention of having removed herself from bed so Maura would not know she had another nightmare had failed.

"Did I have another nightmare?" Maura sighed, dejected.

"You did." Jane kissed the crown of her head. "I tried not to wake you up, just to calm you down. But I ended up falling asleep here with you."

"It is okay." Maura smiled at her. "It is better than you falling asleep in that uncomfortable armchair."

Jane chuckled, and nodded, and sat to stretch out.

"Do you remember what the nightmare was about?" Jane asked, recalling Maura asking her not to step on eggshells around her.

"No… But it might be because I didn't wake up to it. I have just this lingering feeling that there is some big point I am missing…"

"Well, you will have plenty of time to figure it out." Jane offered gently.

Jane's phone buzzed with her mother's text.

"Ma just parked outside, and is asking if I can go help her with the bags." Jane smiled at Maura. "I think we will get a proper dinner tonight." Maura chuckled.

Jane walked to her mother's car, and helped her with bags.

"I brought proper food for both of you."

"I figured that out."

"Is there anything she should not eat?"

"I don't think so, Ma. The doctor said they will likely release her tomorrow if the x-ray in the morning shows clear lungs."

"Oh, then we need to get things for her house. I was planning on doing it tomorrow assuming she would only go home Sunday."

"Already taken care of, Ma. When I went out for lunch today, I did grocery shopping following a list she made, and everything is on its proper places."

"I am proud of you, baby." Angela nudged Jane. She was proud of her daughter. Had always been. But in moments like this, when she let her soft, vulnerable, and sweet side show, Angela felt even prouder.

"Good evening, sweetheart!" Angela boomed from the door, moving to spread bags by the feet of Maura's bed.

"Hello, Angela. What is all of this?"

"Dinner. Proper dinner. I did a simple pasta with butter and cheese and salad for you. There is lasagna for Jane – but you can steal some if it is not too heavy for you. There is some Italian bread. And there is cannoli for desert."

"Sounds – and smells – delicious." Maura praised. "Will you not eat with us?"

"No… I will just help you girls set up, and then I need to go home. Tommy has a date, and asked if I can look after TJ for him. But I wanted to see you before I went home."

"You didn't need to worry, Angela."

"Mothers do worry, honey… It is our job…" Angela chuckled.

When she saw they were all set, she kissed them both, and left in a swirl of energy.

"Sorry… Life with the Rizzoli's is never exactly quiet…" Jane offered as a half-apology.

"Don't apologize, Jane, I truly enjoy it, it makes me feel alive."

They ate in companiable silence, and were still eating when the nurse showed up with dinner.

"I take you won't be needing this today." The nurse chuckled.

"No, we won't, thank you…" Maura replied, blushing.

"I will be back to change your medication for the night."

"Hmmm…. Your mom's food is absolutely delicious…" Maura praised, satisfied.

"It is… she does cook right…" Jane replied around a mouthful of cannoli.

Jane helped clean up the mess, and left their things ready for the following morning.

The nurse came to change the medication, and explained Maura was set for a very early morning x-ray, that she would wake Maura up to take her to do the images.

"Excited about the possibility of going home?"

"You have no idea!"

And with that they settled for what was hopefully their last night at the hospital.