This is my first attempt at a FanFic here. Be gentle. It is still a work in progress and am currently writing chapter 2. Let me know what you think. Obviously I do not own these characters, I just enjoy them and write them how I wish they were.

Chapter 1: Awareness

The clock read 5am as Jane tossed and turned trying to no avail to get back to sleep. She looked over at her date from the previous night who was in a deep sleep. Brad was his name, and he was a kind man, one of those that you could take home to Ma. She liked him, and they had been seeing each other for about a month. It amazed her that he put up with her sometimes considering her long hours and days between seeing each other, but it was nice to have someone for a change. She studied his face while he slept. He was a rugged looking man with a slightly heavier version of a five o'clock shadow and gorgeous tan skin. She rolled back over as she thought about just giving up and getting in the shower to start her day early. She then thought of the stack of papers on her desk which persuaded her to wait. She thought of calling Maura to see if she wanted to grab breakfast, but didn't want to bother her this early. Finally she jumped out of bed and decided to take Joe Friday on a run. She pulled her hair back into a pony tail, threw on her tennis shoes and ran out the door leaving a note for Brad in case he awoke when she wasnt there.

What was bothering her, she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She threw in her ear buds and cranked up the music, trying desperately to block out the sound of her own thoughts and to motivate herself to keep moving. She looked around her baron neighborhood and actually enjoyed that she felt so alone in such a big place. Through the years she had grown ever more independent year by year. She needed someone rarely and most of the time when she did, it was Maura. She was the only person that saw through the rough and tough wall that Jane put up around herself. They were inseparable most days. They'd have coffee in the morning, lunch, mid afternoon coffee, and sometimes a drink after work. It was routine, it was familiar, and that was the way Jane liked it. Change was what she did not deal well with. Before she knew it she looked down at her watch and realized it was already 5:45am, she turned around heading back for home and over the song blasting in her ear she thought she heard a scream. She pulled her earphones out and stopped for a moment canvassing around. She started to think she was making things up, just as she lifted the earphones to replace them in her ears, she heard someone scream again. The noise was followed by what sounded like garbage cans being tossed around and tires screeching. She ran down the adjacent alley turning right and saw a rather old Chevy speeding away. It was brown with a busted tail light and a crack in the back windshield. She ran towards its direction scanning for something, anything that would tell her what she had witnessed. As she approached, she saw a young woman laying on the ground, not moving. She ran to her looking over her to find where all the blood was coming from. She lifted up the garbage can on top of her only to see what appeared to be a letter opener protruding through her chest. She looked around scanning for any witnesses, no one. The streets were still eerily quiet. She reached down to her phone and dialed 911. "Hello this is Detective Jane Rizzoli, I'm calling to report an attack. She isn't breathing, and there is a lot of blood. I don't think she is going to make it. I'm in the back alley off of Acorn Street. Victim is in her late 20s, early 30s and the assailant fled in an older model brown Chevy with a busted tail light and cracked rear windshield." The 911 operator informed her that the bus would arrive in 2 minutes and to stay on the phone. She desperately yelled for the girl to wake up as she pumped at her chest and breathed air into her mouth. "Come on stay with me!" When Jane heard the sirens she ran to the main road to flag them there. She was covered in blood after attempting CPR. The paramedics ran towards the woman and felt for a pulse. They shocked her heart several times with no avail. "I'm sorry ma'am, she didn't make it." Jane had already known this, but his words still made her cringe. She picked up her phone again and called Maura, Korsak, and Frost. She informed all of them of the incident and asked for them to meet her.

Maura walked around to see the flashing blue lights, which she was all too well accustomed to at this point. She walked quickly towards the scene observing some new faces and greeting the familiar ones. She saw a tall, thin, beautiful woman with her back to her. She shocked herself as she came to the realization that it was Jane. Her legs looked amazing, her skin was glowing, and clearly the running mixed with the excitement had released endorphins that made her skin look as vibrant as it did. She was breathtaking with no makeup and hair up in a ponytail. She suddenly remembered her dream from the previous night and got embarrassed. These dreams had been reoccurring more frequently lately and she wondered if her subconscious was trying to tell her something or if it was just nonsense. She had always enjoyed Jane's company. After all, she was her best friend how could she not. But lately she felt different around Jane. It felt like they were flirting but neither wanted to notice it or admit it. Maura approached Jane, "Hey Janie, early start today huh?" Maura said as she rubbed Jane's back quickly to say hello. "Oh hey Maur. Yea, something wouldn't let me sleep. It was like my brain wouldn't shut off. Now I'm wondering if I would have listened earlier could I have prevented this from happening." "Hindsight is always 20/20 my friend. Don't think for one second that you are responsible for this. Clearly this sick individual likes to see people suffer. From what I can see just looking at the entry wound he stuck serrated knife into her diaphragm. I can't be sure till I get her back to the lab, but if that is the case then she painfully suffocated on her own blood." Jane turned to Korsak, "Any leads on the car that I saw yet?" "Not yet Jane." "Alright Frost I need you to go to the office and start working the profile of the Doe. I need names. In the meantime, it might do me some good to take a shower and put on some decent clothes. Don't think the lieutenant would appreciate me spending the day in my bloody workout clothes. Maura did you have coffee yet?" Maura looked up from her clipboard that she had been jotting down notes on, "As a matter a fact I haven't." "Perfect. I hit the timer on the coffee pot. It should be ready when we get there. Sound like a plan?" "Sure does. I'll drive us over there." As Maura and Jane started towards the car Jane glanced at Maura's outfit. It was a beautiful olive toned dress that hugged her enough to frame her body. It really brought out the tone of her eyes. She looked stunning and Jane almost told her so. But, she caught herself before she said anything. She didn't want to sound like she was checking out her best friend even though she kind of was. She had always thought that Maura was gorgeous, but lately she could see something was different. She decided she'd ask her about it over coffee when they got to her apartment. She put Joe Friday in the backseat of Maura's car, hopped in the front seat and they headed towards her apartment.

Jane rushed to hop in the shower assuring Maura she would only be 15 minutes. She stripped off the bloody clothes and put them in a plastic bag, sitting them on the bathroom counter. She jumped in letting the water hit her face and her chest as blood fell from her body and swept away down the drain. She couldn't help to think about the girl's life having a tragically similar end. She still after all these years couldn't get used to the sight of such cruelty. It almost made her doubt her hope for humanity. After she had rinsed and washed herself she threw on a towel and headed towards the laundry room realizing the clothes she wanted to wear were hanging up in there. "Maur did you get yourself a cup of coffee?" Maura looked up at Jane to respond and she saw Jane in a cream color towel, with beads of water still on her body and her hair wild after a quick towel dry. "Uh. um. Ya, ya I did. I was um..." Shit Maura think, speak, do anything except look at Jane's legs. "I was just going to make you some when I heard the shower turn off. Clearly I wasn't listening well enough." Jane smiled and shut the door to the laundry room and threw on some underwear and a pair of pants. Then she grabbed a cami to throw on under her dress shirt and jacket. As she opened the door she looked at Maura. She loved how comfortable Maura looked in her home. She picked up the coffee to take a sip as she heard squeaks coming down the hallway. Oh my God! I forgot Brad was here. I haven't even told Maura that we were sleeping together yet. Shit. Maura leaned back on her stool to see a half asleep man in a pair of boxer briefs walking towards her. She shot a look back towards Jane as Jane uncomfortably tried to pretend nonchalant about it as she silently freaked out inside. "Brad. You remember Maura." Brad paused as he groggily looked up at Maura suddenly realizing that he and Jane weren't alone in the apartment at 7:30 in the morning. He laughed and starting back peddling towards the bedroom. "Oh hey Maura. Sorry for my lack of clothing, I wasn't aware that Jane had anyone over." Maura sat there for a minute, feeling mixed emotions. She was happy that her best friend was clearly having intimate relations with someone finally after all the nagging she had done about it being good for her. But oddly enough, somehow this realization stung more than please her. "Hi Brad. Nice to see you again. Or should I say it's nice to see some of you for the first time." He laughed uncomfortably as he covered himself up and backed into the bedroom. Jane watched with her hand over her face. She felt like such an asshole forgetting that he was there. She spoke quickly and quietly, "Maura I am so sorry. I was going to tell you about him and me later on today, but then all of that happened earlier and I honestly completely forgot he was here. Wow that makes me sound like such a bitch doesn't it?" "You've had a hard start to the day Jane. But that immunoglobulin A would explain the reason why you looked the way you did earlier." She stopped herself thinking… Really Maura? Why don't you just announce that you thought she looked hot. Jane paused at the realization that Maura was telling her that she looked pretty earlier. She tried not to react but a sly smile crept across her face as she spoke, "And how exactly did I look earlier?" Maura froze. She was hoping Jane would let it go. "Uh, well, I just meant to say that you looked, um relaxed. You know confident and sure of yourself." Nice recovery Maura, not. God what are you doing? Jane rolled her eyes as a bit of embarrassment came across her body at the thought of Maura thinking about her being with Brad. "Ok Maur, drink up, we need to get back to the office." Brad walked back around the corner fully clothed this time. Jane looked up at him and smiled, "Sorry I didn't warn you that she was here. I went for a run earlier and came across a murder so I had to come back home and shower off and Maura drove me. Needless to say it's been a peachy start to my morning." Brad walked over to her and kissed her on the lips. He wrapped his arm around her back and gave her an understanding look. Maura looked away and felt a jealous pang in her stomach. She couldn't for the life of her figure out why lately she had been getting these overwhelming feelings about Jane. All she wanted was to be near her and seeing Brad with his hands and lips on her was almost too much for her. "Jane, I'm going to go get in the car. Just come down when you are ready. Brad it was nice to see you again." She was practically running out the door as she shut if firmly behind her. She leaned against the wall for a second trying to get a hold of herself, and she walked downstairs to her car.

Maura sat in the car, endlessly tapping her fingers on the steering wheel waiting for Jane. What is she doing up there? Wait, don't ask questions you don't want the answers to, just relax. Maybe she is just finishing getting ready. Should I tell her how seeing her kiss him made me feel? No. I can't go there yet. I need to feel her out. Maybe I should tell her about the dreams I have been having. Maybe that will incite more questions and then I can tell her that she is all I think about lately. Yes. That's what I'll do. Just as Maura was finishing plotting her confession to Jane, Jane walked down the stairs and got in the car. "What was with practically bolting out of the apartment up there? Are you alright?" Maura apologized, "I don't know what's going on with me lately. I've been having this reoccurring dream during my REM cycle. Which of course you know is the only time you can have those dreams..." Shut up Maura, stop being nervous. She's your best friend, she won't judge you. "Anyway, I have just been trying to figure out it's meaning and I don't really know how to." Jane looked at her inquisitively and concerned. Maura started the car and started to pull away from Jane's apartment. "Well, would you care to share the dream? Maybe I can help." Maura froze. This is the moment. Do I let it go? What if she maybe feels the same way as I do and I don't do it? But what if she gets freaked out by me telling her and then things are weird between us. I can't not have her in my life. I just can't. The moment of pause in the car was palpable. Jane caught herself in a debate in her own mind. Does Maura not like Brad? Is she upset with me? Why did she run out like that? Man does she look beautiful today though. I want so badly to tell her that I find her attractive, but that would ruin everything. Maura started with a sigh, "Jane. I've been having reoccurring dreams about you. I can't ever remember the whole dream, but I know that at one point we are laying on a blanket, on a beach…" Moment of truth Maura, there's no turning back. "and I'm on top of you. But, in the dream I want to kiss you, but something won't let me no matter how hard I try. You just lay there smiling almost. You aren't upset that I can't kiss you, but you aren't happy either. Then, a large wave hits us and I am swept away, and that's when I wake up." Maura waited, she waited for any sign of weirdness or happiness to come from Jane. Jane clenched her mouth shut. Don't go there Rizzoli. She's not asking you if you feel that way about her. She can't be. She's straight, you are straight. You both like men. But God could she be the exception to the rule. "Maur. I…" Just as she began her phone rang, "I have to take this, it's Korsak." Maura was terrified. I'm such an idiot.