Maura walks into the Boston Police Department, getting a few looks from the officers around the area. She knows full well that she doesn't look much like she used to. It has been two and a half years after all. She presses the up arrow with her thumb, waiting on an elevator. Her eyes move from side to side, ears intent on the sounds behind her. The elevator dings. She steps into the vacant room, the doors closing on her. Of all things, at least she isn't claustrophobic. The movement reminds her of days so long ago, riding up and down to see Jane, Frost, Korsak, Frankie, and to head to her basement. The doors open, revealing many men about the area. She spots Korsak and Frost. They don't pay any mind until she saunters towards them, sneakers rubbing against the floor. Her hair is pulled back, a maroon V-neck on her chest instead of some expensive shirt, and worn jeans covering her legs. The sergeant's eyes dart upward and catch hers. A look of recognition passes between them as she can feel Frost's eyes on her as well. Maura turns to him, no smile on her face; she hasn't had one for a while now.
"What are you doing back, Dr. Isles?" Korsak queries. He stands, along with the detective, and they both walk up to her. She hasn't answered yet, not entirely sure what to say. There's always the truth.
"I was going to see about getting my job back." The former M.E. states it clearly, simply. The detective looks to her, a questioning look clouding his features. He rubs his head lightly as she gives him a look of wonder herself.
"Why didn't you tell anyone you were coming home?" Such a good question. She thinks back to what Ian had told her once. She now understands why he had worded it so.
"I didn't know I was." It may not make sense to Frost at the moment, the way she words it, but it will. She looks to Jane's desk, fingers at her sides digging into her palms. That will be the worst, talking to Jane after a year and a half of no contact. A sigh passes her lips. "Where's Jane?" A look passes between both the raven's partners. They know something, perhaps her anger; she has a right to be angry at Maura for not calling. She doesn't know the reason why though. The doctor's eyes look from one man to the next, awaiting an answer.
"She's downstairs," Korsak answers, turning away to sit back down. The other man follows suit, both still wondering about the doctor's sudden return. She nods to them both and heads to where her friend is. She elevator ride is quiet save for the thoughts filtering through her head. How is she going to tell Jane about everything that happened? She doesn't know. The blonde walks through the elevator doors and sees her office. It's changed, but she sees her white chair, worn down from use by Pike. She walks to the autopsy room, noting a raised voice. Jane. Her breath hitches in her throat.
"Come on, Pike! We need that DNA now!" Jane roars into his face. She has all but forgotten her technique of complimenting him to get him to do what she wants. She glances to the figure in her peripheral, eyes connecting with a body she hasn't seen in years. A wave of emotions swarms through her; anger, hurt, desperation to embrace her. Maura feels a surge of yearning settle into her bones. There she is, her best friend, the one person she's been dying to see, the one person she wants to tell everything to. She wants to run to her, to hug her. She wants Jane to reassure her that nothing's changed between them, but the sudden look of venom slowly dripping into the detective's eyes halts even the thought.
"What happened to your fancy clothes? Someone in Africa rip them off of you and sell them?" her words are laced with anger, hurt. The rage inside her is speaking now, but Maura doesn't know how things have changed without her. The pits in her stomach start to churn, and she runs; it's the only thing her body can do. Isles darts out of the office and straight to the elevator. She has to get out right now. As the elevator doors close, she looks to her once best friend again, and the tears spill down her cheeks.
