The first time Dr Hope Martin met Dr Maura Isles, she spoke to a detective, who was looming around the corpse with wide, anxious eyes, always hovering, always one hand half-reached towards Doctor Isles, as though Hope was a potential threat, or Doctor Isles was particularly fragile. The way Doctor Isles cried, Hope could see why the detective was so protective of her.
The second time Dr Martin met Doctor Isles, the detective was there for dinner. With her mother, who lived with Doctor Isles. It was a little awkward, trying to figure out the family dynamic, but the only conclusion, the way Jane looked at Maura, the way Maura looked at Jane - well, they had to be a couple, didn't they? And they were just being cautious because they worked together and Hope was a relative stranger. Cailin agreed, once Hope could talk to her again.
The third time Hope met Maura, Jane wasn't there. Hope knows she was lucky Jane wasn't there, because she found out later that Maura had told the truth and the burden, the anxiety, the deep-buried grief and loss would have paled in the background of Jane's anger and indignant rage.
The fourth time Hope met Maura, it was at an emergency scene. Jane had been keeping Hope away like a tiger standing over a cub, teeth bared. And she saw Maura go into that basement with her, following Jane to the ends of the earth, and she almost went after her. But she had no right. Maura still cried when Hope hugged her, and now she knew why; all stiff and uncomfortable. She saw Jane wrap her arm around Maura, saw the way Maura melted into her. Saw Angela descend on Maura, holding her tightly, thanking her, saw Maura laugh as though it had been nothing. She'd missed out on so, so much, but at least she knew Maura was safe and taken care of.
The fifth time Hope met Maura, it was about Paddy. It always was, eventually. She sought down Jane first, and Jane, without Maura there to steady her, was more honest and abrasive than usual. But something must have sunk in, because Jane was polite when she let Hope in. She asked for help, and Hope had a feeling Jane didn't do that often.
Maura said she didn't like being touched when she was upset, but she'd seen her crying in Jane's arms in the morgue, on the street. They were a package deal, and Jane was protective because she thought Hope might hurt her. Maybe one day she could prove she wouldn't.
The sixth time Hope met Maura, Jane was on her side. She'd had her say, and Maura watched Jane carefully, taking cues from her. But Jane was relaxed and calm, holding Angela back to let Maura make her own choice. Jane with her hackles down was new to Hope, but it was enough to apparently convince Maura that she could trust Hope. She saw the way Jane ducked at the last moment to land a kiss on Maura's cheek instead of her mouth, saw the disappointed twist of Maura's mouth, understanding that there was family there.
"How long have they been together?" Hope asked Angela, when Maura and Jane were holed up together on the couch, Jane sneaking bites of Maura's frozen yoghurt.
"A few years. They think I don't know, but -" Angela gestured to the couch, where Maura was wiping frozen yoghurt off of Jane's cheek, slipping her finger in her mouth to clean it. "They're not subtle," Angela finished, and Hope nodded. "It's not a problem for you, is it?" Angela asked. "Took me a while."
"No, I never imagined the child I wanted so much could still be alive, let alone have such fierce and loyal advocates. I work with marginalised people, I know it's not easy for them," they looked over at the couch again, where Jane had caught both of Maura's hands in one of hers and was clearly trying to swirl Maura's yoghurt with her remaining hand. "But they make it look easy, don't they?" Hope sighed.
The first time Hope met Maura, she didn't realise she'd be one of three mothers of the brides at her wedding.
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