"A gaze meeting yours,

steady and unbroken."

Jane shifted Beni in her arms as they started up the stairs, his tiny hands gripping her shirt as he rested his head on her shoulder. His bear dangled from one of his hands, and Jane smiled softly at his sleepy trust in her.

Maura walked beside them, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I'm really glad he decided he wanted a bath," she admitted. "I was struggling with the idea of keeping him in those dirty clothes much longer. It's been bothering me all evening."

Jane smirked, glancing sideways at Maura. "Yeah, I noticed. You've been side-eyeing those clothes like they were about to stage a revolt."

Maura gave her a mock glare, but her smile betrayed her amusement. "They were unsanitary, Jane. It's not just a preference—it's a matter of hygiene."

Jane stopped right before the stairs, grabbing the bath toys Maura had purchased earlier, and continued up the stairs.

Jane rolled her eyes affectionately as they reached the top of the stairs. "Whatever you say, Maur."

When they reached the bathroom, Maura placed a hand on Jane's arm, halting her just before she walked inside. "I'll grab his pajamas," she said, already turning toward the stairs again. "I left the clean ones in the laundry room."

As Maura disappeared down the stairs, Jane stepped into the bathroom and set Beni gently on the bath mat. He looked up at her, his wide eyes curious as she crouched down to his level.

By the time Maura returned with a folded pair of soft, dinosaur-themed pajamas and a clean pull-up, Jane had the toys in hand and was already running the water, checking the temperature carefully.

Maura set the pajamas on the counter and smiled down at Beni. "I think you're going to enjoy this, Beni. We have everything you need for the perfect bath."

Beni's little face lit up at the sight of the toys, and he reached out eagerly. Jane handed him a small boat, grinning. "Look at you, already a fan of bath time."

As the water filled the tub and steam gently rose into the air, Maura knelt beside Jane, her smile softening. "You're pretty good at this, Detective."

Jane shrugged, her tone casual but affectionate. "Takes a team, Doc."

As the warm water filled the tub, steam rising softly into the air, Maura knelt beside it, her tone gentle as she looked at Beni. "Beni, would it be alright if I washed you?" she asked, her voice calm and reassuring.

Beni glanced at her for a moment, then nodded shyly, still holding onto the small boat Jane had handed him.

Jane, sitting on the edge of the tub, gave him an encouraging smile. "You've got the best doc in the business, buddy. She'll take good care of you."

With that, Maura began gently washing Beni, her hands careful and efficient. Beni soon started making cheerful noises, his tiny hands splashing the water and moving the toys around with enthusiasm. Jane leaned forward, grabbing a toy duck and playfully floating it toward him.

"Look out, Beni, incoming duck!" Jane said, making exaggerated quacking noises.

Beni giggled, his laughter echoing off the bathroom walls. His happiness was contagious, and even Maura let out a soft chuckle as she worked.

While washing him, Maura's medical instincts kicked in, and she couldn't help but make mental notes of the small bruises and scratches scattered across his skin. None of them appeared fresh, but their presence spoke to a life of hardship. She suppressed the flicker of sadness in her chest, focusing instead on ensuring Beni felt safe and cared for.

When the bath was finished, Jane grabbed a fluffy towel from the rack, wrapping it around Beni and lifting him out of the tub. "Alright, little man," she said with a grin. "Time to get you all dried off and cozy."

Maura handed her the clean pull-up and the dinosaur pajamas she had picked out. Together, they worked seamlessly to get Beni dressed, his tiny yawns signaling the day was catching up to him.

As Maura smoothed down his pajama top, Jane picked up Beni's old clothes from the floor, holding them up with a skeptical look. "So, what do we do with these, Maur?"

Maura glanced over her shoulder, her face serious. "Throw them away."

Jane blinked, half-laughing. "What, really? You don't even want to wash them?"

"I'm not kidding," Maura said firmly, her voice leaving no room for debate. "They're unsanitary, and they carry a host of potential allergens and bacteria. They cannot stay in this house."

Jane smirked, raising an eyebrow. "You really mean business, huh?"

"Absolutely," Maura replied, her tone unwavering. "They're not worth salvaging, Jane. Beni deserves better than those tattered, dirty clothes."

Jane paused, her grin softening into something more thoughtful as she looked at the little boy now curled up against Maura's side. "You're right. He does."

Without another word, Jane grabbed a plastic bag from the bathroom cabinet and shoved the old clothes inside, tying it tightly. "Consider them gone," she said, giving Maura a small smile.

Maura nodded in approval, her hand gently brushing through Beni's damp hair. "Thank you."

Maura carefully tucked Beni into the bed, smoothing the blanket over his small body and making sure he was nestled comfortably. His stuffed bear was tucked securely in his arms, and he watched Maura with sleepy but curious eyes.

Meanwhile, Jane had gone to grab her bag from the living room. She called back toward Maura as she walked upstairs. "Hey, Maur, where'd you put my stuff?"

"Your clothes are already put away," Maura called out casually from the bedroom.

Jane paused at the top of the stairs, eyebrows raised in surprise. She walked into the bedroom, leaning against the doorframe with a smirk. "Wait a minute—you unpacked my bag already? When did you even have time to do that?"

Maura didn't miss a beat, her voice calm and matter-of-fact. "In the spirit of keeping things orderly, of course. It was a simple task."

Jane chuckled, shaking her head. "I'm not sure if I should thank you or feel judged for my packing skills."

Maura glanced over at her with a faint smile. "A little of both, I imagine."

Before Jane could reply, Beni turned toward Maura, his little voice breaking the moment. "Bluey," he said softly, his small hands clutching the bear tighter.

Maura's expression softened as she smoothed his hair back. "Yes, Beni. Bluey is wonderful, isn't it?"

Maura turned the TV on in the bedroom, navigating back to find another episode of Bluey. Jane grabbed a clean pair of sweats and a t-shirt from the dresser, flashing a grin at Maura. "I'm gonna grab a quick shower."

As she closed the bathroom door behind her, Jane paused for a moment, listening through the door as Maura continued to talk to Beni.

"You know," Maura said softly, her tone warm and conversational, "I'm usually not a fan of too much screen time for children. But I must admit, Bluey is a wonderful show. It's creative, educational, and… well, it made you laugh, which is the most important thing tonight."

Beni just stared up at her with wide eyes, his small face a mix of curiosity and trust.

Maura chuckled softly, reaching out to adjust the blanket around him. "I think tonight we can make an exception, don't you?" The episode began to play, and Beni curled into Maura.

Jane, leaning against the counter inside the bathroom, smiled to herself as she listened.The Doc's a natural,she thought before turning on the water for her shower.

Jane emerged from the bathroom, her damp hair pulled back into a loose ponytail, dressed in sweats and a t-shirt. She walked into the bedroom, pausing in the doorway at the sight before her.

Beni was curled up tightly against Maura's side, his little bear nestled under his arm as he slept peacefully. Maura was also dozing, her head tilted slightly, her hand resting protectively over Beni's small back. The soft glow of the TV illuminated them both, Bluey still playing quietly in the background.

Moving carefully, Jane stepped toward the bed and turned off the TV, the room falling into a soothing darkness broken only by the dim bedside lamp. She plugged her phone into the charger, then slid quietly into bed beside Maura and Beni, making sure not to disturb either of them.

Maura stirred slightly, her eyes fluttering open as she adjusted to the faint light. She looked down at Beni, who was still clutching onto her even in sleep. A soft smile graced her lips.

Jane leaned over slightly, her voice barely a whisper. "Thanks for taking this on with me, Maur. I know it's a lot."

Maura turned her head toward Jane, her eyes warm but serious. "There's no one else I'd want to raise a child with, Jane."

The simplicity and sincerity of the statement hit Jane harder than she expected. For a moment, all she could do was stare at Maura, the words settling deep into her chest.No one else she'd want to raise a kid with?

Jane's mind began to spiral, replaying Maura's words over and over.Was this about Beni, or something more?The thought sent her heart racing as emotions she usually kept locked away threatened to surface.

Maura, oblivious to Jane's internal turmoil, shifted slightly to get more comfortable, brushing a hand over Beni's hair. She glanced back at Jane, her voice soft. "You're doing great, you know. He trusts you already."

Jane forced a small smile, trying to steady herself. "Yeah. Well, I think he trusts you more. You're the one who bought him half a toy store."

Maura chuckled softly, her eyes closing again. "Team effort, Jane."

As Maura drifted back to sleep, Jane lay awake for a little longer, her thoughts tangled in the meaning of Maura's words. She glanced at Beni, his tiny form nestled between them, and then at Maura, whose peaceful expression gave no hint of the impact she'd just made.

Jane sighed quietly, her mind a storm even as the room remained calm.What am I even doing?she thought, closing her eyes and willing herself to sleep.

The quiet of the night was broken by a small, heart-wrenching cry. "Mommy!" Beni sobbed, his tiny voice trembling as he shifted in his sleep, distress rippling through his small body.

Jane's eyes snapped open instantly. She reached for the side lamp, flipping it on to cast a soft glow over the room. Maura was already cradling Beni closer, her voice low and soothing. "It's okay, sweetheart," Maura murmured, brushing her hand gently through his hair. "You're safe. We've got you."

Beni's cries didn't subside immediately, his little hands gripping Maura's shirt as he buried his face against her chest. His body trembled with each sob, the fear and sadness of everything he'd endured surfacing in the middle of the night.

Jane rolled over, scooting closer. She placed a comforting hand on his back, rubbing slow, steady circles as she spoke softly. "Hey, buddy. It's okay. We're right here. No one's going to hurt you, I promise."

Her voice seemed to cut through his cries, and he turned his tear-streaked face just enough to glance at her, his wide, scared eyes locking with Jane's. "Mommy," he whimpered again, his little voice breaking Jane's heart all over again.

"I know, buddy," Jane said, her throat tightening. "I know you miss her. She loved you so much, and I know she'd be so proud of how brave you're being."

Maura continued to rock him gently, her own heart aching as she felt the weight of his sadness in her arms. "You're so strong, Beni," she whispered. "And you're not alone. Jane and I are here for you, and we're going to keep you safe."

Beni's sobs began to slow, though his tiny hands still clung tightly to Maura's shirt. Jane leaned in, her hand still rubbing his back as her voice softened further. "You're doing so good, buddy. You're safe now. Just breathe, okay? We've got you."

Maura pressed a soft kiss to the top of his head, her own voice barely a whisper. "That's it, Beni. You're safe."

After a few minutes, his breathing began to even out, the tension in his little body slowly fading as the two women worked together to calm him. His head lolled against Maura's chest, his small hand finally releasing its tight grip on her shirt.

Jane met Maura's eyes over Beni's head, their shared concern and resolve unspoken but palpable. "We've got him," Jane said softly, as much to herself as to Maura.

Maura nodded, her hand still brushing through Beni's hair. "Yes, we do."