(Jane, Frankie, Frost, Vince, Maura, Angela)

In the police station where she works, Detective Jane Rizzoli sneezes loudly, coughs, her red and shiny nose testifying to her persistent cold. Despite this, she stubbornly refuses to leave her post, her determination to solve her latest case overriding her need for rest. Her brother Frankie looks at her with concern, approaches Jane and says in a soft but firm voice:

"Jane, you can't go on like this. You need to go home and rest."

Jane, her head heavy but her fighting spirit, replies with a weak smile:

"Don't worry about me, Frankie. A little cold won't stop me."

Frost, joining in the conversation, adds with a touch of humor:

"You know Jane, they say that teamwork includes taking care of each other. Let us help you. »

Korsak, watching from his desk, wisely intervenes and says

"Frankie's right, Jane. You're the best, but even the best need time to heal so go home."

But Jane is stubborn, shakes her head in a negative way and refuses to give in.

Vince says

"Jane, you know I can order you to go home but I'd rather not do it so do it yourself."

Jane still refuses to listen to the voice of wisdom and tries to work but time passes and the hustle and bustle of the police station does not abate, but Jane, she begins to buckle under the weight of the illness

Her sneezing and coughing became more frequent, her concentration faltered, and soon she found refuge in the solitude of her office, surrounded by a fortress of used tissues. It was there that Korsak found her, asleep, her head resting heavily on her desk, her peaceful face contrasting with the chaos of her work environment.

Without hesitation, Korsak knew what he had to do. He dialed Jane's best friend, medical examiner Maura Isles, knowing that she was the only person who could convince Jane to take care of herself. Maura answered immediately and said

"Yes, sergeant-detective Korsak?

Doc? Jane is sick but refuses to leave

Where is she?"

Maura heard Korsak chuckle softly and say

"She fell asleep with her head on her desk and she's snoring. Seriously, doc, you're the only one who can convince her to go home and rest and heal. I even thought about warning Angela but dear Stanley would probably have punished her and then you know that Jane can't refuse you anything

I'm finishing a report, I'll be ten minutes maximum and I'll be there. Do you know if she has a fever?

You know how Jane is when she's sick. Impossible to approach her, I just know that she won't stop coughing and sneezing and that she's used half the tissues available in Boston.

If she wakes up, give her a glass of cold water or orange juice. She needs to hydrate

OK doc! I'll watch over her until you arrive

Thank you sergeant-detective Korsak"

When Maura arrives ten minutes later, she finds a groggy Jane and she approaches Jane and whispers with an almost maternal tenderness:

"Jane, wake up. It's time to go home."

Jane, emerging from the fog of her sleep, protests weakly, "Maura, I can't... the case..."

Maura, with gentle firmness, cuts her off:

"The case can wait, Frankie, Frost and Korsak can handle it. Your health comes first."

Maura put her hand on Jane's forehead and grimaced then used the non-contact forehead thermometer she had brought and said

"Jane! You have a fever, your temperature is 102.56 F! That's a high temperature so you're coming with me."

Jane, realizing the futility of her protests, finally nodded, letting Maura lead her out of the office. Maura saw the relief on Frankie, Vince and Frost's faces and Frankie said

"Thanks Maura.

You're welcome Frankie. I'll take care of her and then I'll tell Angela."

Jane groaned

"Maur...

Jane! We're going to my place and your mother can bring you some things and she can also watch over you because you're not going to get better overnight."

Together, they left the police station, Jane leaning on Maura, her pride temporarily put aside in favor of her well-being.

It didn't take long for Jane to falling asleep again once in Maura's car and Maura had to insist to wake Jane then she helped her to her room and Maura said to her

"Change, and if you can, wash yourself, I'll get you some orange juice"

Jane shivered and said

"I'm cold Maura!"

Maura said

"I'll make you a hot water bottle. Do you want help changing?"

Jane exhausted said

"Please Maura"

Maura helped Jane change and said to her

"I'll stay here while you wash yourself and then I'll go make you your hot water bottle. I'll get you some thick pajamas

Thanks Maur"

Jane went to the bathroom but didn't close the door all the way and in the meantime Maura took out a thick pajama and five minutes later Jane came out of the bathroom, put on the pajamas chosen by Maura then lay down in bed and Maura put the covers on Jane and she said

"I'll be right back Jane"

Jane with a voice broken by fatigue said

"Thank you very much Maura"

Maura went downstairs and made Jane's hot water bottle and brought her a glass of fresh orange juice then said

"Drink and rest, you really need rest. Tomorrow we'll go see the doctor

Why? You're my doctor. »

Maura smiled and said

"I can treat you but you have to go see your family doctor so we know what you have

So okay, make an appointment for me

I'll do it"

Maura got up and went to sanitize her hands and once downstairs, she made herself some tea and an hour and a half later, Angela arrived a little panicked with things for Jane and Angela said

"Maura? Frankie told me what happened. How is Jane?

She's sleeping in her room. She has a fever and she absolutely wanted to continue working

My Jane is a stubborn girl, very stubborn, I would even say horribly stubborn. If I told you the number of times she does that during her schooling. She absolutely wanted to stay in class despite being sick as a dog and sometimes some of her teachers had to throw her out when I came to pick her up. Jane doesn't want people to think she's weak. I never really understood why. There's no shame in being sick

Jane wants to show that she's as strong as any male detective in the homicide squad

Yes, I know, she doesn't want to give this Crowe and his friends something to criticize her about but when Vince is sick, he stops and he is far from being a weakling. But what do you want? Jane will never change

No, she will not change

And absolutely, I don't want her to even if she made me get gray hair well before my time."

Angela gave two bags to Maura and said

"Here these are some things for Jane

Thanks Angela"

Once Maura took the things, Angela went to the kitchen and took out different utensils and Maura asked her

"What are you doing Angela?

I'm going to make the soup that my mother used to make for me when I was sick. I made it for Frank and my three children when they were sick too. It's called Pastina. It's a recipe for pasta in broth. The longest thing to do is the broth, I could take some already made broth but it will be better if I make it myself

I will help you if you want, Jane is not going to wake up right away given her state of fatigue.

Thank you Maura"

Angela and Maura had time to prepare everything and at one point, a violent and hoarse cough was heard and Maura went to see Jane who was wrapped in a blanket and who was going down the stairs. Maura said

"Jane, you should have called me, I would have come to help you"

Jane blew her nose and said

"Yeah, I should have..."

Jane helped by Maura finished going down the stairs and went into the living room and she saw her mother and said in the middle of a coughing fit

"Good evening Ma

How are you Jane?

As you..can see

I made you something to eat"

Jane looked at the table and said

"Is this Nonna Susanna's Pastina?

Yes Jane"

Jane gave a tired smile and said

"I like it"

Jane sat down and helped by Maura and Angela managed to eat and the two women made Jane drink to rehydrate her then after eating, Jane said between two sneezes

"Thank you very much...Ma"

Angela said while clearing the table

But you're welcome Jane"

Jane went to lie down on the bench and said before falling asleep again

"Thank you too...Maura. Maura? Maur?

Yes Jane?

I love you! I love you!"

Then Jane fell asleep and Maura and Angela looked at each other surprised and Angela said

"Did I hear correctly?

If you heard Jane say she loved me then yes Angela you heard right

And you? Do you love Jane?

I never expected Jane to say that one day

Do you love Jane? Maura tell me, if so neither me nor Frankie nor Tommy will be an obstacle to your love and TJ already calls you Aunt Maura.

"Angela it's just that..."

Angela took Maura's hand and said,

"Don't be afraid to tell me that you're in love with Jane, because it's one of my dearest wishes"

Maura smoothed imaginary wrinkles on her dress and Angela said

"Maura! Tell me yes or no, if you're not in love with Jane, it's okay, as long as you continue to be her best friend"

Maura looked at Angela and said

"I am... in love with Jane"

Angela smiled and said

"I knew it.

But I'm afraid of damaging our friendship

Tell her and it will be fine. Jane is waiting for you.

Thank you Angela.

Maura, thank you for loving her. Jane needs love"

For a moment, Maura and Angela looked at Jane who was sleeping soundly and Angela said

"I'll leave you but don't hesitate to call me if you want to rest. I'll watch over her." Once Angela had left, Maura went to sit across from Jane who opened her eyes and said between fits of coughing and sneezing:

"I'm happy…you love me… too

Jane? Did you hear everything? I thought you were sleeping.

I'm a cop Maur'and…i've done a lot of undercover… operations and I know how to be… discreet"

Jane held out her hand and said

"You won't damage our friendship…quite the contrary"

Maura took Jane's hand and said

"Let me take care of you

I love you Maura

I love you Jane. Get well soon so I can show you

Okay"

Jane closed her eyes again and fell back asleep and Maura smiled.. Love was waiting for her but first she was going to make sure Jane got well soon.

The End