Description: After a fully able Casey reappears in Jane's life, they try to make a relationship work. Maura has mixed feelings about this… maybe Jane does too. Sometimes it takes a little clarity to realize the path you're meant to take. Inspired by the song "Clarity" by Zedd. Eventual Rizzles with a sprinkle of Casey/Jane to push the story forward.

Rating: T (Just to be safe…)

Disclaimer: All television shows, movies, books, and other copyrighted material referred to in this work, and the characters, settings, and events thereof, are the properties of their respective owners. As this work is an interpretation of the original material and not for-profit, it constitutes fair use. Reference to real persons, places, or events are made in a fictional context, and are not intended to be libelous, defamatory, or in any way factual.

Chapter 1

"You kept me up WAY past my bed time…"

Jane yawned as she plopped into the bar stool at the precinct's café, her best friend gracefully following behind and perching herself into the chair directly across the table.

"I don't know what you're talking about." The honey blonde grinned as she slid a steaming cup of coffee across the table. "If I remember correctly, you dozed off no more than half way through the documentary we were watching."

"The documentary YOU were watching…" The brunette inhaled the scent of the steaming mug before taking a large gulp of the wonderfully caffeinated beverage. "I just came for the beer."

Maura giggled as she watched Jane slowly come back to life with each sip. These shared nights over beer, wine, and week old DVR'd television programs had become a staple since she had surgery to donate a kidney to her half sister. The detective had refused to leave her unattended the moment she had brought her home from the hospital. One night had turned into a week which eventually turned into three months of evenings spent having dinner then curling up on the ME's couch to watch whatever struck their (or really HER) fancy. Nights that usually ended with the brunette sleepily following her to the bed room 'just in case she needed anything during the night'. Long after her sutures had healed, Maura would still wake in the morning with Jane's arm protectively draped around her waist.

Being together had become as second nature are breathing oxygen. Not that Maura was complaining…

"Here you go girls," Angela smiled at her favorite girls, presenting freshly made plates of breakfast. "Gluten-free bunny pancakes with turkey bacon and a side of fresh cut fruit."

"Thank you Angela!" Maura delightfully reached for her utensils to take a delicate bite from her expertly formed bunny pancake.

"I happen to like my gluts right where they are…" Jane frowned at the pancake who's strawberry nose and blueberry eyes and smile seemed to mock her. "Can't I just have a donut?"

"At least eat the fruit… It's good for you!" Her mother playfully smacked her on the shoulder, sharing a knowing glance with her 'adopted' daughter.

"Yeah Jane, it's good for you." Maura smiled as she echoed Angela's sentiments.

"Enjoy your breakfast, sweetheart." The Rizzoli matriarch leaned forward to place a kiss on her daughter's forehead before heading back behind the counter. "Make sure she eats her fruit Maura!"

"Thanks, Ma." Jane placed a miniature bite of pancake in her mouth and tentatively chewed her face conveying the fact that she expected the worst. "How do you make a bunny pancake gluten free anyway?"

"It's quite simple actually. You just substitute the wheat flour with almond flour, chickpea flour, or comparable gluten-free substitute." The doctor stated, watching in amusement as her best friend rolled her eyes at her google-speak. "Gluten-free diets have become quite popular as of late. There are studies that indicate the omission of gluten from one's diet can improve many health conditions including…"

"Hello Jane."

The pair turned… a familiar voice from the not so distant past extracted them from their current conversation.

"Casey!" Jane's gravelly voice shot across the room to the man standing in the entranceway. "You're…"

The pair watched surprised as the soldier walked towards their table. His newly rehabilitated physique propelled him forward - any indication of his near-fatal injury almost gone.

"No crutches." He continued forward, stopping inches away from the flabbergasted detective. "The surgery was a success. The doctors were able to repair all the damage. With the help of physical therapy I've regained full mobility."

"I can see that…" The brunette answered, her brain still trying to process the image of the man standing unassisted in front of her. "What are you doing here?"

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't here looking for you. I stopped by your apartment last night but you were not home."

"No, I wasn't…" Jane's head dipped, knowing full well that she hadn't spent much time at her own apartment since her best friend's surgery months ago.

"I'm sorry I haven't been in communication with you these last few months. It's been… trying." The soldier shifted his weight, taking a moment to attempt to dispel the discomfort floating in the air. "I was hoping I could tell you about it over dinner tonight... At The Robber."

Jane inhaled trying to quell the unease that had fluttered into her stomach, hoping to god that it was just the piece of bunny pancake disagreeing with her. "Yeah, sure…"

"I'll see you at eight o'clock then." Casey smiled and turned away, exiting the café leaving the pair to resume their breakfast.

"You think this is a good idea?" The blonde finally broke her silence, concern over her best friend trumping the need to consume the deliciousness on the plate in front of her.

"It's just dinner, Maura…" Jane gazed downwards pushing the food around on the plate in front of her.

"I'm aware of that…" She paused, waiting for the woman in front of her to look up and meet her gaze. "I'm also aware that you haven't seen him let alone spoken to him since before his surgery. He made it pretty clear that he didn't need you…"

"I know…" The detective smiled warily, "It's just something I have to do."

Maura met her best friend's gaze, concern washing over her face.

*BEEP!*

The ME grabbed the phone from her purse and frowned. "Oh shoot, I have to head downstairs. A body has just arrived for processing."

"Duty calls..."

"You okay?" The blonde stood, as Jane nodded warily. She gently placed her hand on the brunette's shoulder. "Well, if dinner doesn't work out there's beer the fridge."

"Better run down there before the dead body decides to walk away…" Jane offered up a smile, trying to convince Maura that everything was ok.

The blonde grinned and made her way to the elevator. As it descended down to the basement, her stomach slightly turned. Perhaps it was the gluten-free bunny pancakes... The doors opened and Maura headed into the morgue, already looking forward to the beer she would be sharing with her best friend at the end of the day.

A/N: It's been a while but my muse has returned. Hope you enjoyed. Next installment soon to come.