Note: First ever fic so go easy on me! Nothing special, just a one-shot to try and get the hang of their voices. Characters obviously aren't mine etc etc.

The air was heavy with the sounds and smells of the party; the rumble of small talk growing with every second; the soft chimes of glasses being knocked together accidentally. The expectations of the night played heavily on her mind.

It wasn't that she didn't want to be there, it was more a case of frustration, at both herself for not wanting to mingle mindlessly, and at her friends for forcing her to 'get out there and live a little'. So she tried to steel herself, to paste on a smile and search for someone who might be able to deal with all that she could be.

Too bad she ended up hiding on the stairs staring into her glass of wine as if it could somehow save her from the desperate awkwardness of the night.

"Jane?" She heard a voice ring out from below. Of course. "Jane, it really isn't good form to run away from a conversation like a sullen child."

"Look, Maura, I appreciate the concern and all, really I do, but you don't have to check up on me."

"Jane, please." Every syllable rang with exasperation as Maura resignedly perched on the step beside her.

"Maura, please." Jane mimicked, injecting a vein of sarcasm that caused the other woman to try and suppress a smirk. "I'm just tired and my feet hurt from these goddam shoes…" She trailed off as she caught sight of the look that she was receiving. Somehow or other she was always silenced by the intensity that Maura could suddenly switch on, leaving her fumbling as she tried to find some form of wit to shield herself from the scrutiny that left her reeling every time.

"You know," Maura replied conspiratorially, as Jane found herself leaning in to try and follow the sudden change in mood, "I could do with a rest as well, these heels aren't quite as accommodating as I anticipated." As she watched her lean down to loosen the straps on her highly impractical sling backs, Jane found herself smiling with the realisation that there was at least one person at the party who she didn't have to hide from. Even though her excuses and defences were next to useless when it came to this woman, it was so much easier to just be, safe in the knowledge that she would be accepted, if not completely understood.

She let out a shaky sigh of frustration as she tried to articulate the reason why she was so uncomfortable when confronted with the task of meaningless small talk. Without thinking she looked at Maura and said, "No one sees me y'know? It's like beating my head against a brick wall with some of those guys."

The reply came back without hesitation, "I know, but, I like to think that I try to at least." As Jane smiled and shook her head at the simplicity and ease with which the statement was made, Maura continued, "And anyway, you probably put them all off with the way you were standing in those shoes…I mean really Jane, you looked as if you were being tortured!"

"Death by shoes. Then I really would have seen it all."

"Well, technically you wouldn't be able to as you can't see your own death…"

"Seriously Maura?"