A/N: For those of you who may be familiar with the Sugarland song "Stay", This was inspired by it. I was originally planning this to be part of my songfic collection, but as I began to write it became less about the song and more about the story. So here it is as a stand-alone piece. I'm toying with the idea of another chapter or two, I'd like to hear thoughts on whether to continue or not. Reviews are not only welcome but immensely appreciated. As always: I do not own anything!

Detective Jane Rizzoli's ebony curls were fanned out across a pale chest. The stark contrast between dark and light was obvious even in the pitch black. It was like every opposite that had been written about by all the greats. Good and evil. Love and hate. Pure and tainted. Maura Isles couldn't help but focus on the last, a perfect description for the love that overwhelmed each and every aspect of her life. Pure and tainted. Her hazel eyes were clear and remained on the clock opposite her queen sized bed as her thin manicured fingers made lazy circles on a muscular back. The familiar fist of dread had settled in her chest twenty minutes ago. It was the same routine day in and night out. Work. Home. Love. Leave.

The sun had set hours ago. The two women had just reached a warm calm that always followed their passionate lovemaking. Maura didn't know how Jane was capable of being so relaxed, so carefree as they lay like this, as the clock ticked their time away. Her complex brain tried desperately to keep it's focus on how their bodies pressed so intimately together. Jane's left arm was thrown limply across Maura's hips and her head lay below her breasts. Even breaths were tickling the medical examiner's taut abdomen. It could be like this always, Maura allowed herself to think. To dream.

The buzzing of a phone from the pocket of trousers long forgotten broke Maura from her daze. Eleven in the evening. If Casey wasn't anything else he was consistent. Maura felt tears begin to well as Jane extricated herself from the smaller woman's grip.

The phone conversation was quick and to the point. It sounded almost scripted as Jane explained that she was just on her way out the door.

This physical affair had been going on for eight months now, but the emotions had been there for years. Each time Jane left, Maura was naive enough to believe that the next time would be different. That maybe next time she would stay.

"Stay.." She heard the whisper slip between her swollen cherry dipped lips before she had a chance to stop it.

"Maur.." A one syllable rasp was all she got as a reply.

"I know. I'm sorry. I should know better than to ask." Maura grasped the thin sheet tightly to her chest, suddenly feeling more exposed than she's ever been.

Jane paused for a moment. Standing at the foot of Maura's bed in her pants but otherwise naked. The dark, dangerously attractive form stood still and regarded her lover in the moonlight.

"You know it's not because I don't want to. It's just that this thing with Case-" her explanation was cutoff before she could utter the name that built a wall between the women.

"Marriage, Jane. Your marriage to Casey. I know it's complicated. I know it's not something that will simply 'go away'. I do listen. I hear the same thing from you night after night."

"C'mon Maur, you know this isn't easy for me." Jane checked her watch and quickly resumed dressing. The movement didn't go unnoticed by the razor sharp eyes across the room.

"Oh I'm sorry, Jane. Is this hard for you? Is it hard leaving one warm bed for another? Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to share the woman I love? To know that when you get home he's going to touch you and erase any trace of me that may be left?" There was no answer and Maura didn't expect one. She took a deep, shaky breath trying to calm herself before speaking again. "When will I get to see you again?"

"I'll see you at work tomorrow." Brown had yet to meet hazel.

"You know what I mean." Maura's usual honey smooth voice was now laced with acid and something more deadly and unnamed, causing two scarred and powerful hands to stop their motions as she buttoned her blouse.

Head hung low, shielding herself behind a veil of thick blackness Jane forced out her reply, "I don't know."

Those words were always the equivalent of a dagger piercing the ME's heart. She knew what it meant. Days. And those days could easily turn to weeks. Weeks of a loneliness she never thought herself capable of. Maura Isles never thought she would need someone as much as she needed the unruly detective that was standing in front of her preparing herself for her getaway.

"Everything we have, everything we could be? Those are things Casey can never give you. Do you even want to be with me?" The inquiry was met with the snap of Jane's holster clipping to her belt.

The tall hesitant woman pushed her hair from her face in a frustrated gesture and looked Maura in the eye before answering. "How can you ask me that?" Shaking hands resting on narrow hips.

"Because every time you tell me that I'm what you want, it's right before I'm on my back for you."

"Of course I want to be with you!" Jane shook her hands in frustration. The anxiety of having to leave was weighing so heavily on her shoulders that Maura could see it. "It's just so complicated."

"I don't think that's the truth, Jane. If it is then that means you're a coward." Maura faltered for a moment when she saw the sparks in Jane's dark eyes. "And if there's one thing you are not, it's a coward. So I'm going to ask you one more time- Do you want to be with me?"

"It's not as simple as wanting to or not!" The fire inside Jane was quickly rising and the only person who was capable of extinguishing it now stood defiantly toe to toe with her. Crisp white sheet wrapped tightly around her feminine form, Maura's eyes scanned the chiseled features, the deep emotional eyes, and the thin kissable lips that left burning impressions on her body that evening. She read not fact nor fiction. Promise nor lie. Beginning nor end.

"Stay." Blunt, harsh, final. Her caramel waves bounced around her shoulders as she made her retreat to the bathroom, trying desperately to save her breakdown for behind closed doors. Her best friend, her almost forever, her possible fairy tale ending, stopped her just short of her goal with a tender grasp around her wrist.

"You know I can't." Jane's powerful eyes were practically overflowing with passion, regret, and something that looked a lot like sympathy for the woman who wanted nothing more than to spend infinity with her.

"You misunderstand." Maura took a deep breath, summoning all the strength she could. Squaring her shoulders she continued. "When the time comes, when our 'next time' finally arrives? Stay. Stay right where you are. Keep Casey's arms wrapped tightly around you and forget I was even an option. I don't have to live like this and I sure as HELL do not deserve it." Her delicate voice broke and tears were beginning to fall. She fought to keep them secure upon her lashes. "I thought that maybe I wasn't giving you enough. I wasn't good enough to keep you." Jane finally shook off her stunned look and went to interrupt Maura but she was too late, the ME continued, "I was so wrong. I gave you every little bit of myself. All the love my heart had to offer and all the passion I've kept bottled up. And what do I get in return? A 'see you soon'." Maura couldn't hide the tremor from her hand as she wiped away her tears. "I've been used and I have learned my lesson. I think it's time for you to go."

Jane could only blink. She was frozen. Her mind was reeling but no words would come out. She wanted to beg, plead, reason, ANYTHING to keep the light in her dark life. "I've never used you! Maura please."

Maura's cold, emotionless eyes looked back only once before responding, her final word before closing the bathroom door and leaving Jane to let herself out.

"Go."