A/N: Wow, I can't believe I'm saying this, but…this is the final chapter to this story…it wasn't planned that way and I'm sad, but once again, when I write, I break at a natural pause and this has a natural pause.
That being said, I will be posting a sequel (within a day or two) for those of you who are interested in this grouping or the ladies from Rizzoli and Isles and Criminal Minds. If so, I suggest you author alert so you know when it posts.
I have enjoyed tremendously the wonderful reviews and comments…I hope that even though this is the last chapter that you choose to review with suggestions and recommendations for the sequel, as well as feedback on this story in general.
Thank you
Hotch was able to arrange for his team to have the next week off. Everyone was given the option of staying in Boston on his or her own dime or flying back to Quantico. The choice was a no-brainer. They all chose to stay at least until JJ was released though the driving force they all knew was Jane. They had done her a disservice and in making amends and bleeding with them she and Maura had become family.
Two days into their week, JJ was finally released from the hospital. Both she, Emily and Garcia had been invited to stay at Maura's house instead of staying at the hotel with the others. JJ smiled as she remembered how Emily and Maura had gone round and round about it. Maura's insistence had won, and while Maura spent her time in the hospital with Jane, Jane's mother Angela, who was trading off spending time with Jane, had made them welcome.
The boys of the BAU and BPD had become fast friends once the tension and anxiety over Jane had eased. They all visited daily with her and Korsak had even gone so far as to kiss her on the forehead when he thought she was sleeping, before realizing that Jane was watching him with one eye open. Jane had made it clear to him that she was not going to let him live it down.
The third full day after Maura shot Rodriguez, Jane was sitting up in bed waiting for Maura when Emily and JJ stopped by.
"Hey, if it isn't the walking wounded," Jane said. She sounded more like her old self, though there was still breathlessness in her voice.
"Hey none of that, at least we're walking…" The smile on Emily's face was mirrored in Jane's.
"I'll be there soon enough, here's hoping I'm outta here soon." Jane's griping about getting out had started yesterday. Maura was already fed up with her.
"Jane'" JJ said, "you know better than that. You're doing better but you have to let yourself heal…you almost died…more than once…" JJ's voice was serious. She herself still bore the ill effects of her run in with Rodriguez. She still favored her healing ribs; Her right hand was still wrapped and the bruises on her face were turning beautiful shades of purple.
"I know JJ, believe me I'm not to keen on ending up back here. How are you guys feeling by the way? You okay at Maura's?"
"We're good," Emily moved her arm around in the sling, "still hurts, but you know…"
"Yeah I do…" Jane said, today was the first day she had been able to sit up, and the pain she had felt initially was only just subsiding, "pain meds are highly recommended right now. Did you see Maura?"
Nodding JJ said, "she's on her way, she wanted to stop and pick something up first."
Eyebrow raised, Jane couldn't remember Maura saying anything about that. Shifting in the bed she hissed in pain as she tugged on the staples along her second surgical incision.
"Jane?"
"I'm fine," she said through gritted teeth, glancing over at the monitor she had grown to hate, she watched as the monitor reflected the erratic beating in her chest. Forcing a grin, "really guys…just pulled at the staples."
Emily and JJ just looked at each other and shook their heads; Jane was the most stubborn person they had ever met.
"So what are the doctor's saying, when do you get out?" Emily, like Jane, hated hospitals.
"Depends on the next couple of days I guess and how well I do." Pointing to the oxygen feed on her face, "gotta lose this first"
"Well we're gonna head out to pick up some lunch, Maura said she should be here soon so…" Emily wasn't sure if Jane would be okay with them leaving before Maura got there.
"Go eat…they're gonna be pulling me out for some tests soon anyway…by the way, when are you guys leaving?"
Emily looked at JJ before confirming, not for another couple of days. Hotch got us all a week off. Besides, J and I still have to get medically cleared when we get back. Why?"
"No reason," Jane sounded almost wistful, "just wondering."
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Maura stood in the doorway and watched Jane sleep. Looking over at the monitor she was happy to see a more regular heartbeat and respiration rate. The past five days had taken their toll on all of them and Maura was no exception. The worst toll however had been exacted on Jane. She was still pale and the bruising on her heart had been exacerbated by the events three days ago.
Lying there sleeping, Maura felt her own heart constrict as she thought about how close she had come to losing her three days ago. Feeling the tears again she was thankful for the support from their family and friends. The first day after Jane was shot, Morgan and Reid had taken turns sitting with her while Jane slept, her body exhausted. They had each distracted her from her negative thoughts and she had learned so much more about each of them and their unit.
She had discussed her nightmares with Reid after he asked her how she was sleeping. How she hadn't made the shot and how Jane had died. Maura told him how she needed to keep touching her to reassure herself that was she still alive. Reid had listened as only he could and had discussed with her different ways for her to deal and work through her fears.
She smiled fondly remembering the conversation she had with Morgan. Maura had been hesitant at first to have him stay, preferring Garcia or Emily, but Emily was splitting her time between JJ's room and Maura's guestroom, resting from her own gunshot wound. Morgan had surprised her with his apology. There was no doubt about its sincerity and he admitted the mistakes he had made from the moment their jet had touched down. The best part of their conversation had been Jane's interruption, she had been awake long enough to hear him apologize. Her words still made her smile.
"This is what it takes for you to apologize…remind me to kick your ass when I get out of here…" her raspy voice full of humor, Morgan had burst out laughing as Maura watched them.
Shaking herself from the memory, she watched as Jane grabbed at the sheets in her sleep, realizing she was having a nightmare she went over to her and gently kissed her forehead, stroking her hair. "Jane…shhhh…Jane…"
Her eyes snapped open, unfocused until they rested on Maura. "Hey…"
"Hey yourself…nightmare?" stroking her forehead, Maura watched her as she calmed down.
Jane nodded; she didn't want to talk about it right now, she was just happy to see Maura.
"JJ and Emily stopped by earlier" she said.
"Hmm , I know"
"They said you had to stop somewhere, where'd you go?" she knew she sounded pushy but.
"Detective, are you interrogating me?" Maura said mischievously
"Come on Maura…where'd you go, I'm in a delicate state here you know." Jane teased right back but didn't expect the reaction her words would have.
"Aw shit honey, don't cry, please, I'm sorry." Jane moved to try to comfort her, "oww…fuck! Reminder to self" she said through clenched teeth, "don't do that again" hand on her chest, she grimaced as she rode out the pain her sudden movement had caused.
"Jane I'm sorry, I didn't mean…oh god I'm sorry." Distraught Maura didn't know what to do.
"Its okay Maur…honest…my fault…" Jane grinned at her as the pain became more tolerable. "Now will you tell me?" knowing how upset she was, Jane tried to distract her.
"What?...Oh…well are you sure you're okay?"
"Are you? Why the tears?" Jane asked gently
"I don't know…I guess you making fun of your physical condition…I didn't know it would bother me the way it did, I'm sorry."
"Maura look at me" Jane waited until she did, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't kid around about it." Jane stared at her until she nodded. "Okay then, sooo…are you going to tell me or not?"
Maura couldn't stop the smile; Jane was nothing if not persistent.
"Well…I was thinking about us this morning and everything we've been through, and I realized I wanted to get you something." Pulling out a small jeweler's box, she shyly gave it to Jane.
"Maura, what did you do?" Looking at the box, Jane was stunned when she saw where it had come from. Taking the lid off, she looked at the simple heart shaped locket nestled inside. Pulling it out she turned it over I her hand and was amazed at the intricate designs on it.
She looked up at Maura in amazement, "open it Jane" finding the small clasp, Jane pressed it and was surprised to see a picture of the both of them on one side, looking at the other side, she read the inscription,
'My heart is forever yours, M'
Jane stared at the inscription and was surprised at the wetness on her face. Maura reached down and tipped her chin up, kissing her gently and then with more urgency until the beeping broke through her consciousness.
Pulling back, "I'm sorry Jane" looking worriedly she was shocked to see how high Jane's heart rate had risen.
Breathlessly, Jane replied, "I'm not" smiling she looked at the locket again and back at Maura, "why Maur?"
"I needed you to always know…I wanted you to always have my heart with you, no matter where you are or what you do."
Reaching over, Jane took her hand and brought it up to her lips. "I love you Maura Isles.
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"Jane stop it, you have to wait for the wheelchair…damn it sit down sis!"
"Frank Rizzoli did you just yell at me? Jane said testily.
"Yes, now sit down!" Frankie could not believe how difficult she was being. She was being allowed to go home in Maura's care only because she was being such a pain in the ass. She wasn't on oxygen anymore, but she still had a long way to go. Her list of meds this time around was longer than when she got shot last year but she was done with the hospital and she was ready to sign herself out if they didn't release her.
"Fine!" sitting back down, she had to admit to herself that she was pretty shaky. She was happy she was being released, but angry as hell that she had to use a wheelchair for the time being.
Her mood hadn't been improved when they had been given her discharge papers and realized that she wouldn't be going anywhere near work for the next two months at least. That meant she would be staying with Maura, with her mother right next door. The idea just didn't sit well with her but at least she would be getting out of the hospital.
Glancing up at Frankie, "so did they leave yet?" referring to the BAU team.
"Huh? Oh yeah, they got called in on a case."
"Even JJ and Emily? I thought they weren't cleared for duty?"
"They aren't, but I think they figured they could hitch a ride back you know." Frankie watched his sister's face fall. He knew she was disappointed not to have seen them all before they left, but…
"Here we are!" Maura walked in pushing a wheelchair just for Jane. It was black with aluminum wheels and marathon tires, decorated in a Nascar motif.
Jane opened her mouth to say something but Frankie beat her to it. "Holy smokes, that's a sweet ride."
Maura looked expectantly at Jane, "well?"
"A racing chair? Really?"
"I just thought since you hate the fact that you have to use one for a while, the least I could do was make it a pleasant experience for you."
Jane shook her head in disbelief, Maura never ceased to amaze her.
"Wow."
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Pulling up in front of her house, Maura shook Jane gently to wake her up.
With Frankie's help, Jane got from the car to the wheelchair and let him push her up the walk. "I hate this you know." She knew she would never have been able to walk, just getting from the hospital to here had been taxing.
"Yeah I know sis" she couldn't see the grin on his face as he pushed her to the front door. Maura had come up behind them with Jane's bag when Angela opened the front door. "Welcome home honey!" Leaning down she pulled her daughter into a hug.
"Okay ma…Ma! Too tight." Jane choked out.
"Oh hon I'm sorry, come on lets get you inside.
Angela walked around and pushed her daughter inside,
"Welcome Home Jane!"
The collective welcome startled a curse out of her that was quickly stamped down by both Maura and Angela, "Jane language!"
Standing in Maura's living were Korsak, Frost, Emily, JJ and the rest of the BAU team.
"I thought you guys left? Jane said incredulously.
Hotch walked up to her and kneeled down, "Detective, Jane, we weren't going to leave without saying goodbye or celebrating." Squeezing her hand he stood up as the other members of his team came up to congratulate her on her release from the hospital.
Jane sat quietly and listened to the conversations going on around her and realized just how lucky she actually was. She was surprised when Maura came up with JJ and Emily in tow.
"What's up guys?"
Emily spoke up, "how do you feel about having some houseguests for a little while longer?" smiling she took JJ's hand in hers.
"What do you mean I thought you all had to leave?"
"Well technically, they do. We're on medical leave until ten days from now when we have to go back to the doctor to get our medical clearance." JJ grinned at her.
"Well I don't mind, but its Maura's house so…" she looked expectantly at Maura.
"Jane honey," Maura kneeled down and took Jane's hands in hers, "my house is your house."
"Really" the squeak in her voice was embarrassing and the meaning behind Maura's statement shocked her.
"Really," with a light peck on the cheek, she waited with JJ and Emily for Jane's answer.
"Well yes, of course, are you sure you want to stay?"
Emily brought JJ's hand up and kissed it, "yes on one condition, we have to satisfy Ms. Jareau's curiosity and go to the real Cheers bar."
Jane looked at Maura and took her hand, squeezing it tightly, she conveyed her feelings to her before smiling up at Emily, "Done!"
I didn't think it would be so hard to put this story to bed, but it is. As I said however a sequel is in the works, the locale will be BAU's neck of the woods, which just so happens to be where I live. So again, I suggest you author alert so you know when it posts. Regardless, I will identify it as a sequel to Targeted-dunno maybe call it the Targeted series…we'll see…
As always, reviews are a blessing and appreciated-let me know your overall impression of the story and where you would like it to go from here. Thank you again…Review…Review…Review…
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