A/N: So this my new NCIS/Rizzoli & Isles crossover and I hope you'll enjoy it! You know, reviews are always appreciated... they make my day go round. Let me know what you think! Btw, italics are memories or thoughts...

'Come on, where are you?' Maura asked and walked around the counter; looking for her tortoise. She heard him walking around; probably lingering in a sunny place. He certainly enjoyed the sun more then anyone else. She put the strawberry aside and continued to cut some mango and strawberries; waiting for Jane to come over. Maura smiled to herself, thinking that this was probably not what the detective had in mind when she asked her to come over for some snacks and a bit of quiet time in the sun.

It was only May and unusually hot in Boston; if she'd have to guess she'd think it was July already. She kept her windows open to have her house flooded with fresh air and bright sunlight; maybe even a bit of wind for a change but that was a hopeless wish today. Maura walked through the house and found it hard to believe that this was the same city that tortured her with endless amounts of snow and terribly ice cold nights in the winter. She dreaded these months and every time she was dragged out of her warm bed in the middle of the night whenever she was called to a crime scene at the worst of hours. She nearly shuddered at the thought of the piercing cold creeping through her clothes and the icy water soaking her shoes; she pushed the memories away and stood by the backyard door. She was used to the warmth and she had always enjoyed it; at the beginning she had missed the warm California nights a lot, but by now she actually got used to the life and the weather in Boston and the sudden hint of summer seemed like a welcome change compared to the never ending days of winter.

Maura closed her eyes and felt the sun tickling on her face; a light breeze caressing her face and she smiled. It already felt like summer and for a moment it was so quiet that she didn't feel like being in a big city like Boston; she was at the beach back in California though the sound of the sea was missing and replaced by the daily noise of Boston traffic that changed, depending on the wind.

Despite their usual amount of work, Maura felt quite relaxed which bothered her a little at the same time. She loved her job though she was grateful for a quiet day every now and then, but to her mind things just seemed a little bit too calm in Boston lately. It almost seemed like the mob, or criminals in general, had taken an early vacation. She knew it may just be a coincidence though she had indeed noticed that there less crimes committed in the last few months, compared to May the previous year which had been a very unfortunate months when the winter had stretched out its legs a bit too long.

It just made her wonder if that wasn't just the quiet before the storm.

She was lost in thoughts; looking at the beautiful flowers blossoming in the garden when she heard Bass moving.

'There you are,' she said and turned around to get the strawberry; she crouched down in front of the tortoise and held out the strawberry, waiting for Bass to take it. She knew Jane thought he was boring, most people probably did but she loved her tortoise. She had always been fascinated with these ancient animals and the fact that they did everything in slow-motion which was one of the reasons why these animals got so old. She got up and thought about it again; it wasn't exactly true that a tortoise did everything so slowly. Bass could indeed be very fast when she offered him something to eat; she laughed at the picture and looked out of the window when she heard a car approaching. She spotted the familiar Toyota Subaru in her driveway and watched Jane getting out of the car; she probably came straight from work.

As she watched the detective walking quickly and determined toward her front door, she thought that Jane was the best friend she ever had and maybe the only one. She had friends in the past and friendships that lasted longer, but there was nothing comparable to what she had with Jane. The fact that they worked together was one thing that mad their friendship so strong. In the past, her job and the irregular hours of work had always been a problem for some people. This woman, who had appeared so differently, compared to herself in the beginning that she never even dreamed of developing such a deep and passionate friendship with her; that she would one day be a very important part of her life, one that she never wanted to miss again.

Going to work every day wouldn't be the same without her; knowing that she would find a reason to come down to the morgue every now and then just to talk. Being dragged out of bed to examine a corpse at a crime scene in the middle of a terribly cold night during the winter months wasn't as half as bad, knowing that Jane would be around too. Despite everything she had gone through, she'd allowed Jane to step past the boundaries of casual friendship and it felt good to have someone that close. It felt right to have it this way and to have someone in her life who accepts her for who she is or even used to be.

She opened the door before Jane had a chance to knock and greeted her with a smile.

'What are you so happy about?' Jane asked and Maura could tell that it hadn't been quite pleasant at work and that her friend was stressed. Maura ignored the irritated tone in Jane's voice and closed the door behind her.

'You,' Maura simply answered and went into the kitchen to get Jane something to drink. She didn't know if Jane was following her and smiled at herself, knowing that she'd probably just cheered her up a little. Jane just couldn't be mad in Maura's presence, especially if it wasn't Maura's fault.

'Really?' Jane asked softly and Maura knew she was smiling without seeing it. Jane leaned against the doorframe and watched her friend.

'Yes,' Maura admitted. 'Why would I lie?'

'Because you can't,' Jane answered and laughed quietly.

'True,' Maura said and handed Jane a glass of water.

'So, what was it?' Jane asked curiously. 'You were thinking about me?'

'That's what I said,' Maura said and put the plate with the fruits on the counter and Jane approached. 'I was just thinking that I'm very lucky to have you...' Maura said and looked at her hands before she took a piece of mango. Jane believed her and she was quite touched by that, but she just couldn't handle all the emotional stuff and Maura knew that.

'This is... so...,' Jane said and was trying to find the right word.

'Sweet?' Maura tried to help her out.

'Yes,' Jane said. 'It is very sweet, thank you,' she said and smiled at Maura.

'What would I do without you?' Jane said and took a strawberry from the plate.

'Oh I can think of quite a few things...'

'Like... what?'

'You'd probably be eating something unhealthy right now...' Maura said and pointed at the fruit; Jane laughed and took another one.

'You wouldn't know how to relax,' Maura said and thought of all the things she improved in Jane's life.

'Before I learn to relax during Yoga class, I'll have a couple of broken bones...' Jane threw in.

'You'd still wear your shoes to bed, drink to much coffee and-'

'Okay, okay, okay...' Jane said and raised her hands. 'Thank you, I get the picture.'

Maura laughed. 'How was work?' she asked; she hadn't been in all day and it felt a little weird not to know what was happening at the BPD.

'Quiet,' Jane said.

'Isn't that nice for a change?'

'It was boring,' Jane said and rolled her eyes. 'Been doing paperwork most of the time...'

Maura smiled at her; she knew how much Jane dreaded the paperwork and she also knew that it probably had been due about six months ago.

'Well, it has to be done some day...' Maura said.

'Says the one whose paperwork is always perfectly on time,' Jane answered. 'I had loads to do...'

'I wonder why,' Maura said and turned around.

'Hey!'

'You know it's true, Jane,' she said and leaned against the counter. 'Let's go to the garden and enjoy the sun while we still can,' she said and Jane followed her. Just because it is sunny in May doesn't mean it's still sunny in June when it was supposed to be summer.

'You heard anything from Agent Dean recently?' Maura asked when they sat down and she could tell that the question surprised her friend.

'Why would you ask that?' Jane asked and was confused for a second, she hadn't expected a question like this. She'd been trying to forget about him ever since he left.

'I was just curious...' Maura said and tried to look innocent. 'You kissed him...'

'Yes... so what?'

'Come on, Jane. You liked him!'

'So did you!' Jane reminded her. 'You said he was sexy.'

'He really liked you, Jane.'

'Well, he is in D.C. so... no,' Jane said and shook her hand. 'No... just, no.'

Maura laughed when she watched her best friend. She always considered herself as a rather complicated person but Jane was even worse when it came to relationships or even dating guys. She was always afraid of being hurt or trust other people enough to let them come close enough. Maura never thought that Jane didn't want it; she probably just couldn't do it and considering all the things she'd been through Maura couldn't even blame her.

'What's so funny now?' Jane asked and demanded an answer.

'Jorge...' was all Maura said and both women laughed.

'I still didn't forgive you for that!' Jane said and raised her finger at Maura. Ever since Maura's failed attempt to hook her up with Nurse Jorge they laughed about it though it hadn't been particularly funny when he kept sending hundreds of emails and humiliating little poems along with flowers and if that hadn't been bed enough, he sent it to the BPD for everyone to see.

Maura just kept laughing and Jane asked:'Did you actually tell him I was gay?'

Maura stopped laughing and took a deep breath; she shrugged and sipped her water. 'Sort of,' she admitted. 'I may have giving him a few hints to indicate that...'

'Thank you,' Jane said sarcastically but Maura knew it wouldn't last long.

'Would that be so bad?' Maura wanted to know and Jane didn't miss the more serious sound of that question. Jane took a few seconds to answer.

'I don't know...' she said and her right index finger traced the edge of her water glass while she tried to answer Maura's question. 'I never really thought about it...' she said and shrugged.

'Yeah,' Maura said and looked at the flowers in the distance; they both noticed the change in the conversation. They never really talked about it; not seriously. Actually, there's nothing bad about and Maura always thought that it shouldn't be a problem to talk about it with your best friend, but it somehow seemed to be something that made them uncomfortable for some reason. It always seemed like they both wanted to talk about it while they tried to avoid it at the same time. Maura knew that this behavior often happened when at least one person is actually trying to deal with the subject they were attempting to address. It shouldn't be a problem, unless... Unless, what?

It was the truth, Maura had actually never given it much of a thought.

'Neither did I,' Maura admitted and looked at Jane; one thing she did notice was the way they treated each other and a stranger might even think that there's more then just friendship. Jane always had an excuse for going to the morgue to see her; so did Maura. They always touched each other and it seemed

so familiar and appreciated that you might get the impression that there's more to it.

'I mean...' Jane said and threw her hands in the air. 'There's my mum, trying to hook me up with some guys...' she said and Maura laughed at the hint of desperation in her voice.

'Maybe we should try speed-dating again instead,' Maura said and finished her drink.

'Oh God, please...' Jane said and leaned back in her chair. 'Don't remind me of that.'

The whole thing had been a disaster and though they laughed about it now, it was actually pretty frustrating at that time. Except for one person, they'd all been pretty weird or boring and didn't get Jane's attention at all. Jane had to admit that this person was sitting right beside her at this very moment, it seemed a little weird but it was the truth. After many failed speed-dates, Jane had been glad to sit down with Maura; to look into her eyes, listen to her and hear her laughing about he dates. She cared about her very much and she was the best that happened to Jane this evening though she didn't actually count as one of her 'speed-dates'.

'You want another drink?' Maura asked and took the drink from Jane without waiting for an answer; Jane followed her into the kitchen. She watched Maura cutting up some fresh lemons; lost in thoughts.

'Hey,' Jane suddenly said when she realized that Maura stopped cutting; her eyes fixed on a small point on the right to her. She looked a little irritated and the sudden change of her mood worried her a little.

'It's...' Maura said and tried to focus on the question. 'It's fine,' she cleared her throat and took a deep breath; she knew the detective was now watching her, looking for any sign that might indicate that something was wrong or maybe even what was wrong. She felt Jane's eyes on her, but she tried hard to ignore it and prepared their drinks like nothing happened. She completely forgot about the little calendar she always kept on the counter and she didn't realize what date it was; well actually she did now what day of the month it was but she hadn't really understood what that actually meant.

It was the 20th of May; when she got up this morning it felt like any other day. Nothing special about that but now that she re-considered it, it made her feel... nervous? She couldn't quite say how it made her feel, maybe even sad. It's been the same thing every year around that time.

'NCIS Special Agent killed by terrorist.'

'You... you look... sad,' Jane said and reached across the counter to cover her friend's hand with her own.

'I'm fine, Jane,' Maura said and smiled at her friend. 'Really, I was just confused for a second.' Jane looked at her for a couple of seconds and Maura knew she didn't believe her. She always said she couldn't lie, but somethings it was necessary to protect herself; even from the person she trusted with all her heart.

The sound of Jane's mobile announced an incoming call by her mother and she rolled her eyes before answering to the it.

'What is it, mum?' Jane asked and Maura watched her. She always seemed so annoyed by her mother, but actually she loved her mother to death. For Maura it was fun to watch the Rizzoli family interacting. There was lots of teasing and even lots of yelling but it was actually a bad thing. That was probably just who they were and Maura knew they'd stick together when it was necessary; even for her and she couldn't be more grateful for that. She had to admit that it also made her feel a little jealous because it reminded her all of all the things she didn't have or didn't have any longer.

'Really?' Jane asked and laid her hand on her forehead, closing her yes for a second. Jane could really be adorable when her mum was driving her crazy. 'Yes... Oh, come on! Yes, I'll be there... see ya!' Jane said and sighed. 'I gotta go and pick up my mum.'

'Is she alright?' Maura asked.

'So far, yes,' Jane said and Maura knew that Angela wasn't really in danger; it was just Jane being mad at her mother for some reason. 'Something with my dad... don't ask,' Jane said and put her mobile in her pocket.

'I'll call you later, Maur,' Jane said and Maura watched her car as it left her street. She closed the front door and went back to the kitchen to clean up. There wasn't much to do, but she took her time. Only a couple of minutes ago everything was fine and all it took to confused the usually level-headed Dr. Isles was a single memory.