A/N: Post 5x02, in which Maura goes over to Jane's apartment anyway because she's totally lying about wanting to be alone the end. Probably 50 other people have already written this fic but I felt like writing a little drabble anyway.
"You're a terrible liar."
"No as bad as you." Jane sniffs. She tries to laugh, but she chokes instead. Once she starts crying, it's damn near impossible to stop. She feels like a leaky faucet. "I didn't want you to see me like this."
"Jane." Maura lies down on the carpet next to her, exhaling loudly. "You know we're so far beyond that. I want to be that person for you, the one to whom you don't need to pretend to be 'okay.'"
"I know." Jane whispers through a fresh batch of tears. And she does know. Maura's her everything, a simple fact she never questions anymore.
Maura touches her arm, resting her cheek against Jane's shoulder. Jane's tear ducts go into hysterics. Maura rubs her arm - gentle, methodical circles, until she can breathe again.
"I wish I knew what to say," Maura speaks softly. "Something that isn't corny, or disgustingly cliché." Maura looks at her, with wide eyes, so heartbreakingly sincere. Jane knows she wishes she had the words that would make it all better.
Jane stares at the ceiling through her puffy eyes, watching the dust motes settle in the beams of the sunset. "Don't then," she whispers hoarsely. "Tell me something true."
Maura takes in a thoughtful breath. "A thimble full of neutron star would weigh more than one-hundred million tons."
"Fuck you."
But they're both clinging to each other in a fit of uncontrollable laughter just moments later.
Jane drapes an arm around Maura's torso, the last of their giggles subsiding. She tucks her head against Maura's neck, and Maura's fingers naturally tangle gently through her hair, stroking her messy curls.
"It's okay not be okay, Jane," she tells her softly. "That's something true no one ever tells you."
Jane nods against her neck.
"And it's okay to be angry."
Jane clings to her more tightly.
"And it's more than okay to cry." But Jane's already beat her words, as a myriad of tears trickle onto Maura's skin. "Letting out all of these raw emotions doesn't mean you are weak. It takes a strong person to admit that they are not okay."
Jane cries until she can't anymore. She sighs into Maura's neck, a breath of gratitude. "I'm glad I don't have to be 'not-okay' alone."