Chapter 1
The New Year's Eve party was just a few hours away. Jane was delighted because her caseload was light going into the New Year. This would of course change after midnight. All of Boston would be partying the night away, and Jane was sure some poor old soul would end up getting killed tonight.
Jane sighed heavily while she signed the last document in the recently solved murder case. She felt a sense of accomplishment, knowing that she'd put away another murderer and brought about justice for the victim.
"What's up, Jane?" Frost's cool voice caused her eyes to snap up and away from the folder.
She shrugged, "Nothing at all, Partner. I'm just ready to party."
Detective Frost chuckled and nodded in agreement. "Man, me too. It's been a very long year, hasn't it?"
"Sure has," Jane said leaning back in her seat. She stretched her arms out, forcing the kinks of an entire year of drama, stress, and heartache out of her system.
"Are you excited about your date with…?" He frowned a bit, "Um, what's his name tonight?" Frost asked, lifting his eyebrow in curiosity.
Jane couldn't stand him sometimes. She laughed and nodded, "His name is Anthony, and yeah I guess I am. I don't have any other date, so why not."
Frost's eyes widened. "Hey, how many times have I asked you out for the New Year's Eve party? But you turned your poor partner down." He said laughing and shaking his head. "Makes me feel some kind of way."
"Good." She winked at him. "I will never go on a date with you."
"Why not?"
Jane ran her fingers through her hair and looked towards the bullpen door. Just then almost magically, Maura appeared on the scene. It was as if, some invisible cue had beckoned her presence to appear at that very moment. It was perfect.
Jane sighed as she watched her close the distance; the entire time Maura's eyes are on hers. A slight smile creased Jane's face and the closer Maura came, the wider it got.
She found the wherewithal to pull her eyes away from Maura and act "normal." She glanced over at Frost, who was grinning at her like the Cheshire cat.
"What?" she asked frowning at him and immediately feeling the heat of exposure rising up into her cheeks.
"Now I know why." He said suppressing a laugh and glancing at the approaching Maura.
Jane rolled her eyes and gritted through her teeth, "Shut the fuck up, Frost."
Frost burst into laughter and tossed a pen at Jane just as Maura settled in front of them.
"Hi there," Maura greeted Jane first, "Detective." She said smiling at Frost.
"Hey Maura, what's up?" Frost asked. For some reason Jane was having trouble talking at the moment.
"Oh nothing really. I was just coming up to wish you all a Happy New Year. I'm going home."
"Home?" Frost said leaning back in the chair, "You're not coming to the party?"
Maura shrugged and looked down at her hands. "No, I have some work to catch up on."
Jane cleared her throat and touched Maura's hand softly, "Hey, do you really want to be working on New Year's Eve?"
"It's just another day to me, Jane."
"I know, but all of us are going to be there. It wouldn't be right without you."
"Yeah, Doc, and some of us have dates," Frost said pointing at Jane. "She can't be the only one having fun tonight, come and join us."
Maura's expression sobered. "Oh… You have a date?" Her eyes bore holes through Jane's heart.
Jane just nodded. "It's not really a date. Frankie's friend Tony asked me out."
"Oh," She said nodding. "I wasn't aware." She said softly and cleared her throat.
"Come on, Maur." She gave her hand a gentle squeeze, communicating on a level so deep and visibly unseen that Frost couldn't have possibly picked up on it. She knew that Maura was disappointed that she had a date, which is one of the reasons why she didn't tell her in the first place.
But why did it even matter? They were just friends right? All of these thoughts and questions swirled around in Jane's head as she watched Maura's eyes leave hers and travel down to their hands.
When Maura's eyes fell upon their joined hands she sighed softly and smiled, "I'll think about it." She said pulling her hand gently away from Jane and tucking it into a crossed arm position. "I don't have a date, though."
"I find that extremely hard to believe," Jane said chuckled softly.
"It's true. I was asked by several but…" She shrugged again and stepped away from their desks, "I couldn't see myself spending a special night like this with someone whom I barely know."
First, Maura had said that it was just another day to her and now she referred to New Year's Eve as a "special night?" Jane nodded. She knew exactly what she meant. If she was honest with herself, she really just wanted to spend the night with that one special someone. Accepting the date with Frankie's friend was just a way of temporarily silencing that soft constant voice inside of her. Each day that passed, that soft voice inside of her got louder and louder.
It would whisper to her in her sleep while she was dreaming; whispering sweet nothings into her subconscious. And in the shower while she was gliding her fingers over her wet breasts and other delicate places; whispering desires so forbidden, she dared not repeat them. And whenever she was at a moment of peace, it would speak to her, telling her that she needed to pay attention to what the rest of her soul was asking for. And to give it what it wanted and needed.
"I understand," she said finally pulling her eyes away from Maura's and settling on the file folder once again. She said nothing else, for she didn't trust herself at the moment.
Maura stood there quietly for an additional few seconds, before turning to walk away.
"Wait," Frost called after her.
Maura paused and turned back to face him, "Yes, Detective?"
"I don't have a date either." Frost said somewhat shyly. "You could… You know, go with me."
Maura's mouth dropped opened and immediately a smile crossed her face. Jane's expression however was not so sweet.
She was shocked. How could he ask her out right in front of her like that? Knowing how she felt? She shrugged off the disappointed feeling and eyed her partner carefully. What exactly was he up to? She was sure going to find out.
"That is so sweet, Detective Frost." Maura cooed as she walked back to their desks.
Frost nodded, "That's great. I mean, since Jane has a date already we could double date. What do you think about that, Jane?" Frost asked her.
Jane's just stared at him with disbelief. It was only Maura's touch that snapped her out of her daze.
"Jane?" Maura said softly.
Jane blinked repeatedly and finally came out of it. "Uh, I mean, yeah! That sounds great. What better way to spend my New Year's Eve, than with my two best friends?"
"You don't mind?" Maura asked.
Jane shook her head negatively.
"You're sure?" Frost asked. He raised his eyebrows at her, perhaps to encourage her that this was her moment to speak up.
Jane wanted to say yeah she minded and that she didn't want Maura going anywhere with anyone but her. But that wouldn't be fair to pitch a fit about Frost and Maura going to the party together when she didn't even have enough guts to ask her herself.
Jane slowly shook her head, silently cursing herself inside. "Of course I don't mind. I'm so happy you're coming with us, Maur." She said rising from her chair and placing a soft kiss on Maura's cheek.
Maura leaned into her kiss. It was undeniable. It was brief; a fraction of a second maybe, but Jane felt it. That little voice inside her almost caused a few words to escape her lips but she caught it just in time. Maura pulled away and smiled at Jane, before turning her attention back to Frost.
"This is going to be so fun. Thank you. I really didn't want to work tonight."
"Anytime, Doc." Frost said getting up from his seat and offering his arm. "Thanks for accepting. You made my year!" They both laughed and Maura detached herself from Frost's arm almost as quickly as she latched on to it.
"Well, I'm going to go home now, but only to get ready for the party!" Maura's smile melted Jane's heart. "What time shall I expect you?"
Frost turned to Jane. "Hey what time is Anthony picking you up?"
Jane shrugged her shoulders, "Six thirty."
"How about we make this a true double date and go to dinner with you all?"
Jane nodded, her eyes drifting back over to Maura's. "Sounds good. I'll let him know."
"That's great," Frost said. He seemed to be on the top of his world. Maura finally agreed to a date with him. "I'll pick you up at six, Maura, and we'll go to Jane's apartment."
"Actually," Maura said interjecting, "Jane, why don't you come by my house and get ready? And then our dates can pick us up from there?"
"Okay," Jane said gently. "That sounds good to me." Her eyes never departed from Maura's. The entire time, Maura was smiling at her so sweetly.
"This is going to be a great night." Maura said turning towards the door, "See you later, Jane."
After Maura has disappeared, Frost sat down at his desk. Jane didn't say much to him for a few minutes. And then a few minutes turned into an hour.
"Hey?" He said.
"Yeah?" Jane answered without looking up from her computer screen.
"Are you upset with me?"
"Hmm…" She said looking over her monitor. She wanted to be upset with him, but she couldn't. She knew his motives were pure. She knew that Maura was his best friend too and he didn't want her spending the night alone.
He just had more guts to ask her out that Jane did.
Maybe it wasn't the fact that Jane didn't have guts, but she did fear yielding to that voice inside of her because she didn't know she was capable of such intimate and erotic thoughts about another woman before. And not just any woman; It was Maura.
"No, I'm not…" She felt for the first time, some strange feelings overwhelming her. She first felt the tightness in her chest, and then she felt the stinging in the backs of her eyes. "I'm glad she's going with you."
Frost nodded and smiled.
"You just better keep your hands off of her." She said winking at him.
He laughed, "See, I knew you were going to say that." He tossed his hands up disarmingly. "Of course I will. She's hot and all, but you're more the type of woman I like."
Finally she started laughing. Frost had a way about him that put her at ease. That's probably why he was her best male friend. "Thanks, Partner."
He nodded. "You better go on and get ready… Um… At Maura's house."
The insinuations in his statement were oh so very clear to Jane. "Shut up."
"Remember she's my date tonight."
"I know." Jane couldn't help but to smile inside. It was New Year's Eve and she was spending it with her two closest companions. It couldn't get any better than that. Now she hoped that she could control herself at Maura's house. Usually she could but she was tonight was a special night. It was a time to party and a time to let loose and a time to let go of everything that happened in the past year and look ahead to the future year.
Jane didn't know how she was going to do it, but she resolved to share her life more intimately with Maura.
But just how was she going to do it without ruining their friendship?
Jane stood up and slid her jacket on. "See you later." She said turning and leaving the bullpen. As she stepped out onto the steps in front of the precinct, the crisp cold Boston air greeted her. She inhaled deeply and held her breath.
She could feel the wind rustling her air as she closed her eyes briefly. Thoughts of lying across Maura's lap while she stroked her hair began to fill her mind. After a brief moment, she opened her eyes and made her way to her car.
Next stop: Maura's house to get ready for their double date…
A/N: I wanted to first say thanks for reading. I had intended on writing more after I finished "The Half Full Glass", but a couple days after Christmas, my mother passed away. I'm so hurt. I am going to keep writing! It makes me feel better to write. I have a storm of emotions right now. So I apologize ahead of time if I'm off from my norm. Don't give up on me! ~MySoul(Really)Aches(Now)