Jane heard Maura approaching and quickly leapt back into the guest bed, lying on her back and closing her eyes. She heard a knock on the door.
"Go away, I'm asleep," Jane called.
The door opened and Maura came in. She lay down on the bed beside Jane with a sigh. Jane looked at her and felt her heartbeat start to pick up, but she forced her voice to remain calm. "So, are we having a sleepover, or is this your way of saying that you like me?"
"In what way do you mean 'like'?" Maura asked.
Jane turned onto her side. "What?"
"Well, do you mean like as in 'like as a friend', or do you mean like as in 'do I have a romantic attraction to you'?"
"Well, I assumed you liked me as a friend 'cause if you don't then you're an amazing actress."
"So then I'm assuming you meant like as in the romantic choice."
"Yes Maura, that is what I meant."
There were a few moments of silence.
"Well… I suppose you do have some qualities that would make you appealing to others in a romantic sense," Maura said.
"Some qualities?"
"You're attractive and smart and… dominant."
"Dominant? What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"I mean you take control of situations. You don't like to follow others and in a sexual setting, some might find that… appealing."
"Are you saying that I would dominate a partner during sex?"
"I am merely making an inference based off my observations."
"You're actually guessing? How unlike you Dr. Isles."
"No! No, I am not guessing!" Maura protested, sitting up quickly.
"I know. You don't like to guess."
Maura looked down at the comforter. "Jane… I have a confession to make."
"Don't worry, Maura. I won't tell anyone you guessed."
"I have made one guess before."
"And that would be?"
"I… I've decided this isn't a good idea."
Jane sat up. "Really, Maura? Come on, you can't do that. You can't start to tell me something and then stop."
"All right, fine. There are times when I… imagine what it would be like to…"
"Yes?"
"I imagine what it would be like to… be in a relationship."
Jane started laughing. "Maura, that's normal. Congratulations, you are human."
"With you."
Jane stopped laughing. "I'm sorry. Repeat that?"
"I imagine what it would be like to be in a relationship with… you."
Jane started to open her mouth, but stopped. "I… am speechless."
"In a good or bad way?" Maura said with a wince. She knew this had been a mistake, she shouldn't have said anything!
"I… am not sure yet."
"I'm sorry. I should just go now." Maura started to stand up, but Jane grabbed her wrist, stopping her.
"Maura… while we're confessing here… I have something to confess too," Jane said.
"What?" Maura asked, her own heart starting to race.
"I… may or may not have… imagined a… similar situation."
"That was a very cryptic and vague confession, and I am not sure if I fully understand what you're trying to say."
"I… I have imagined what it would be like to be… with you."
"Really?" Maura asked, smiling and sitting back down. "Am I… a submissive partner?"
"And that's where this conversation ends."
"No, Jane, come on! Look, I'll tell you about my fantasies!"
"No, Maura."
"You're always the dominant."
"Thank you, Maura, but we're done with this."
"You're a very satisfying partner!"
"MAURA!"
The doctor stopped, feeling chastised.
"Look, we're just going to go to sleep and forget this conversation ever happened… okay?"
"Okay…"
Jane turned off the light and both women lay down. The light was suddenly turned back on and before Maura knew what was happening, her lips were suddenly in contact with Jane's.
"Jane…"
"There. I've saved you from a lifetime of guessing."
The light went back off and Maura heard Jane turn over in the darkness.
"Jane."
"What?"
"How does this solve my sex guessing?"
"Good night, Maura."