Disclaimer: I own nothing. All characters and stories belong to TNT, Tess Gerritsen, and Janet Tamaro.

A/N: NEW STORY! This is the next story in a long line of ones to come. I hope you read and like. Thanks. Love, SilverInk2011


Love Is Not a Barricade

Jane walked back to her apartment alone that night. No side trips for a drink with her partners. No walking to see her mother for dinner, no calling her father to ask how he's doing. No bugging her younger brother to see if he wants anything, or to have a drink at the Dirty Robber.

No Maura. No Maura. There will never be a Maura. Maura's going to Quantico. She's gotten an opportunity to further her career. Jane thought Maura should take it, even if it meant she would lose the love of her life.

Jane grabbed a beer. She promised she would look over the case files tonight. That wasn't going to happen. With Maura on her mind, she couldn't focus on her work. If you love her so much, let her go. That played in her head a thousand different times. A thousand times too many for her liking. But the voice was right. Letting go of the person she loves more than anything was a sacrifice she'd have to make. For Maura's sake.


Maura sat in her office two days. She hadn't heard from Jane for two days. Frost and Korsak were the ones gathering forensic information from her for Jane's cases. Should I call Jane? Should I let her know that the decision should be hers?

Maura grabbed her phone, started to dial, then stopped. Knowing Jane, she would know who was calling her. The Funeral March ringtone would be a dead giveaway.

For Maura, the decision was this- further her career as a federal M.E. or stay in Boston with Frankie, Frost, and Korsak, her friends, and Jane, the love of her life.

Maura loved Jane. Every morning she woke up with Jane was a blessing. It was like she never had to think twice. Maura was confused. She knew what she wanted... but Jane was the one that had to make a decision. She wanted to see what Jane would pick. Would she want Maura to stay or go?

Maura made her decision, but she'd have to tell Jane after she made hers. She picked up the phone and dialed Dr. Sanders number. "May I speak to Dr. Sanders please?" she asked the receptionist over the phone.

"May I ask who's calling?" the receptionist cooed over the phone.

"This is Dr. Maura Isles of the Boston Medical Examiner's office. He's expecting my call."

"Ah, Dr. Isles," she said, feigning excitement in her voice. "One moment please. I'll patch you through." She heard the sound of phone lines being transferred.

"Hello? Dr. Sander's office," he said sweetly over the phone.

"This is Dr. Maura Isles of the Boston Medical Examiner's office," Maura stated flatly over the phone.

"Ah, Dr. Isles. I've been waiting for you to call me."

"I've made my decision," Maura announced.

"Ah, I see. When can I be expecting you?"

"Never," Maura told him.

The answer took him by surprise. She heard a shocked breath taken over the phone. He thought she was going to accept the position. "Are you sure you thought this through, Dr. Isles?" he asked.

"Yes," Maura stated. "I have. And I realized that I would lose more here in Boston than I would gain in Quantico."

"You'll be with people of your expertise and ambition," he pitched.

"I'd rather be with my friends."

"I don't think you're thinking clearly."

"No, you're not thinking clearly," Maura snapped. She was done with his games. "You want another good reason. It's not a man I'm seeing. It's a woman. She's a detective. And I love her more than anything else in the world. If I have to give up my girlfriend to take a position at Quantico, then the job isn't good enough." She slammed , her office line down and huffed out of the office, tears streaming down her face.