A nod to Tess Gerritsen and TNT: Thank you for creating these lovely characters that we love to play with at times.

Jane tries to speak again, but her throat is too try. She points to it and makes a drinking motion with her hand.

"Of course, Jane! Here, let me help you." Maura pour water into the cup on Jane's bedside tray. She rips off the paper of a straw to put it in the water. Maura carefully holds it to Jane's lips.

"Just a little, Jane. We don't want to upset your stomach."

Maura reaches over to press the nurse's call button.

"Yes? Can we help you?"

"Yes, this is Dr. Isles. Detective Rizzoli is awake."

"Thank you, Dr. Isles. We will notify her doctor and a nurse will be right in."

Angela and Frankie walk in to see Jane sipping from the cup. Angela throws her arms in the air. "Janie!" She pulls Jane to her and envelops Jane in a bear hug. Frankie grabs Jane's cup before the water is spilled on the bed. Everyone is touching Jane and asking her how she feels.

The nurse walks into utter pandemonium. "Whoa! Ok, everyone out for 5 minutes!"

"But, I'm her mother!"

"Out!"

Frankie opens his mouth, but decides the better course of action would be to listen to the nurse. It may help if he wanted to ask her for a date, he thought she was pretty cute.

Maura smiles at the nurse. "I'm Dr. Isles, I would like to stay during your examination."

"Are you her doctor?"

Maura looks uncomfortable. "Well, no."

"Then you need to step out also."

Jane grabs Maura's hand. "Stay." She clears her throat. "She is staying. She is my doctor." She raises her eyebrow in challenge to the nurse. The nurse takes it in stride, she doesn't want to irritate a patient that has just come out of a medically sustained coma.

The next few minutes are spent taking Jane's blood pressure, pulse, listening to her heart and lungs, checking pupil reaction to light. All this is written down for the doctor that has just walked in.

"Well, good evening, Jane. You are looking better then when I last saw you." He sticks out his hand. "I'm Dr. Basal, your neurologist. I'm very glad I was on night rounds today." All this time, Dr. Basal is reading her chart and doing his own exam.

"I feel great, can I go home?"

Dr. Basal laughs. "I think we will keep you in here for one more night, at the very least, for observation."

Jane is disgruntled with this news. And hungry. "Can I get a cheeseburger?"

The doctor laughs again. "I like you, Jane. It's a good sign that you have your appetite back, but I think we're going to start re-introducing food to your stomach on a lighter fare." He nods to the nurse. "Make sure to get some broth and jello up here as soon as possible. Jane, if this settles well, we'll make sure you have a more substantial breakfast." He looks at the family gathered in the doorway. "No sneaking in outside food, no matter how much she bullies you!" Angela nods.

A short while later, Jane sits back and enjoys her lime jello, listening to her mother and brother fill her in on everything she has missed while being in a coma. Little did they realize, but Jane still remembers everything. She wonders if it will all fade away, like a dream, but for right now, she enjoying the interaction. Maura offers to spend the night, but Jane insists that she goes home, and get a good night sleep.

After a morning of tests and breakfast, Dr. Basal agrees Jane can go home, with the stipulation that someone will be with her. Angela jumps up. "Oh, I can stay with her in her apartment!"

Maura sees the panicked look in Jane's eyes. "Angela, I have a better idea. I know I have food at my house, unlike Jane's apartment, why doesn't Jane stay in the spare room at my place and you can visit her whenever you want? Jo Friday is still at my house."

Angela nods. "You do have a better kitchen, Maura. I'll make your favorite dinner tonight, Janie."

Dr. Basal clears his throat. "Now that is all settled, I do have some guidelines you must follow, Jane. You have a concussion. Knowing what your job is, you will take a week off of work." He holds up his hand when Jane tries to argue. "Would you rather stay in the hospital? I didn't think so. No texting, limit television. I want you to get both physical and cognitive rest. Do you understand?"

"No texting? How will I communicate?" Jane is pouting.

"Call, talk, no texting." Dr. Basal signs the discharge paper. "I will see you next Friday to reassess you and possibly ok you going back to work." He shakes Jane's hand and leaves the room.

Jane puts her jacket on and feels a buzz in her pocket. She takes out her phone and sees a text notification. She opens it.

Frankie: Don't read this. Ur not supposed to text.

Jane looks over at Frankie sniggering. She walks over and punches him in the shoulder. Frankie flinches and rubs his numb shoulder.

"Ow! I hate when you give me dead arm."

"Well, stop being an asshole!"

Angela gets very flustered and slaps Frankie. "Leave your sister alone, she's got a brain injury!" Jane sticks her tongue out at her brother. Maura rolls her eyes. She knows that Jane will be an unruly patient.

Frankie heads back to the precinct, so that leaves the three ladies alone for dinner. Maura pulls Angela aside to stress the need for a quiet, calm dinner. Angela looks shocked that she needs to be told. "Of, course I can be quiet."

"No topics that will stress Jane."

"What? I wouldn't do that. What topic would I bring up that would stress her?"

Maura sighs. "Angela, you can't talk about how dangerous her job is….."

"But it is! She is injured because of her job!"

Maura raises her eyebrow, but continues her list. "And no talk about setting her up on blind dates."

"She does need to settle down with a good man, but fine. We'll talk about the weather."

Maura reaches over to pat Angela's hand. "You know she's going to be a challenge, Angela. Thank you for any help to keep her calm."

"Hrmph. Don't I know it. You shoulda seen the trouble I had keeping her quiet when she sprained her wrist as a kid!"

Dinner is successful with all three ladies enjoying the meal and keeping the atmosphere calm. Angela helps Maura clean up, then kisses Jane goodnight on her cheek. "Don't stay up too late, Janie."

Jane rolls her eyes. "I've done nothing BUT sleep for like 4 days, Ma." She sees her mother about to argue, so holds up a hand. "Don't worry, when I get tired, I promise to go to bed." Angela nods and says goodnight to Maura. Jane walks to the living room, lounges on the couch and turns on the television. Maura follows Jane, picks up the remote to turn the television off and turns some soft music instead.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

"The doctor said no television for at least another day or so." Jane becomes disgruntled and puts on a pouty face. Maura sighs. "Come back into the dining room." A sulky Jane follows her back.

"What are we going to do?"

"I picked up a puzzle on my way to the hospital today."

"Seriously? A puzzle? Like flowers, or cute kittens or puppies?" Jane is making a face.

Maura puts the box on the table. "Fenway Park."

"Ohhhh." Jane's eyes light up as she sits down. They spend an enjoyable hour separating out the outside frame pieces to put together.

Maura covertly observes Jane for any sign of fatigue. She has an internal battle within herself concerning asking Jane a question, but curiosity and worry win out.

"Jane?"

"Hmmm?" Jane is sorting through puzzle pieces.

"Could I ask you a question?"

The tone of Maura's voice captures Jane's attention. She sits back in her chair to look at Maura. "Anything."

Maura lowers her eyes for a moment, second guessing herself. She looks Jane in the eye. "I was wondering, were you aware of your surroundings when you were in the coma?" Maura swallows and tries to sound as if she is doing medical research. "Did you hear what was being said to you?"

Jane keeps her face blank. She wonders if Maura is regretting saying that they both care more for each other than each of them admit. Is it time to move forward? She looks down at the puzzle pieces and moves them randomly around. "It's strange, Maura. Sometimes it was like a dream and I don't know what was real and what wasn't. Other times, I was right there. I tried to talk to you, let you know I was ok, answer you." Jane looks down again and decided to give Maura a window of escape. "Did I dream that we need to talk about something we have both been avoiding?" She raises her eyes to look at Maura.

Maura slowly smiles. "It was no dream, Jane. I promised myself that if you came out of your coma, I would address the way I feel about you. If you don't feel the same way, I will honor those feelings and we will continue the way we are, but I think we could be so much more."

Jane nods but looks back down at the puzzle pieces. "What if we fail as a couple? That would suck."

Maura raises an eyebrow. "But if we succeed, I think it will be spectacular."

"I agree. So, what do we do now? Should we kiss to make sure we like the way the other kisses?"

Maura smiles seductively at Jane. "I think that is a very practical suggestion, Jane." Maura's hips sway as she walks toward Jane. Jane feels butterflies in her stomach. She stands up and Maura slowly slides her arms around Jane's neck. Jane puts her hands on Maura's hips and pulls her closer. Their lips slowly touch. Tongues gently enter each other's mouths to explore new delights, hearts pound. Maura shakily pulls back. She looks into Jane's face. "Does that sufficiently answer your question?"

Jane's eyes are sparkling. She begins to bend down to answer the question with further, more in depth exploration of Maura's delicious lips. She is confused when Maura gently, but firmly pushes her away.

"Wha?"

"As hard as this is for me to stop, I know I will get carried away and want to ravish your body."

Jane gives her a devilish grin. "I don't see a problem with that."

Maura sighs. "Your concussion? You are under restricted physical activity, Jane. No sex." She see Jane begin to pout and it is so cute. "This is ok, Jane. Let's take it slow as a couple."

Jane sits back down. "Ok, like dating?"

"Dating would be very nice."

Jane ponders this for a few moments. They already went out to eat, mostly at the Dirty Robber, so she thought of how she could change it up to make it more of a date. Different places, Maura's preferences, bring flowers. She could do this. She nods.

"Can we fool around tonight? Make out on the couch?"

Maura laughs. "Do you think we could stop?"

"Maaaaybe. Well, noooooo. Ok, can we cuddle in bed? I am an invalid and I don't think I should sleep alone. I could relapse into a coma!" Jane has a comical panicked expression on her face.

Maura laughs gayly. She tries for a stern face. "Well, as your doctor, Detective Rizzoli, I most certainly offer my services to ensure your well being and will provide bedside care this evening."

Jane grins at their silliness. They put together a few more pieces before going to bed. Maura settles into bed on her side, facing Jane. Jane pats her shoulder. "Come here."

"Are you sure you aren't too sore?"

"Nah." As Maura gets comfortable on Jane's shoulder, Jane wraps her arm around Maura's back and rests her other hand on top of Maura's hand curled on her chest. They both breathe contented sighs and drift off to dreams of a future together.

Hey everyone! Thank you for the kind reviews and PMs. I hope this wrapped up the story nicely. Working on a next chapter for my Life is a Musical series - it will be steamy (maybe sex with a little story thrown in lol) Send me prompts for other stories you may want!

Hugs to all!