It was Korsak's idea.

Jane couldn't believe Cavanaugh had gone along with it and was actually forcing everybody to participate. Seriously? Bring Your Family To Work Day? Her two closest family members already worked in the same building as she, wasn't that enough?

"Bring some obscure cousin, Rizzoli, I don't care who it is as long as you do it."

"Korsak, do you really think you could deal with another one of us around here?" Jane jumped up onto the desk and gestured to herself. "This, not to mention Ma and Frankie, isn't enough for you?"

"Come on, Rizzoli, it's just a day," Frost countered, leaning back in his chair. "I'm bringing my nephew Alfie."

Jane snorted. "How old is he? Four?"

"Seventeen," Frost scowled. "Black belt. Strong enough to take down my two hundred pound, rock solid brother-in-law with one hit, actually."

Jane shrugged. "Whatever. I'm not doing it."

"Not doing what?"

Jane rolled her eyes at her friend walking through the door. "Nothing, Maura."

"Your agitated expression and aggressive demeanor suggest otherwise," Maura quipped, and smiled around the room. "Hey Korsak, Frost."

"Dr. Isles," Frost greeted and shot a teasing smile at Jane. "Who are you bringing to Bring Your Family To Work Day?"

Maura smiled. "My cousin, Nora, from southeastern Massachusetts. My uncle is letting her stay with me for a month." The ME leaned against Jane's dangling legs, facing Korsak and Frost. "She's looking for an adventure before she goes off to college."

"Nora Isles?" Jane raised her eyebrows at the back of the doctor's head. "Is that a coincidence, or-?"

"You mean about our names rhyming?" Maura folded her hands. "Purely coincidental. The name Nora means 'light' or 'honor'. Originating from the Middle East, it was made popular by and is most associated with the Irish culture. Two of the most famous women in our society with that name actually spell it two different ways. Nora Roberts, the author, spells her first name the traditional way, while Norah Jones, the singer-"

Jane began to prod Maura's head in various places.

"-spells her name with an 'h' at the end...Jane, what are you doing?"

"Trying to find the off button," Jane muttered seriously as she poked Maura behind her ear.

"I don't have one, Jane," Maura said good-naturedly, batting her friend's hand away. "But I can change the flow of conversation, if you'd prefer."

"Yeah, that would be great," the detective sighed sarcastically.

"Okay." Maura twisted around to face the woman on the desk. "Who are YOU bringing to BYFTW?"

Jane dropped her arm and looked at her friend incredulously. "Seriously? An acronym?"

Maura shrugged. "Less syllables, easier on the tongue. Acronyms have actually been proven to improve pronunciation and help repair speech impediment."

"Okay, seriously-" Jane grouched, now using both hands to dig at the ME.

Maura began to dodge her friend's actions and gestured towards her mouth innocently. "It also makes the tongue more flexible and easier to use for tasks other than speaking."

Frost and Korsak snorted. Struggling twice as hard for control, Jane shot them a death stare. "Really, guys? What are you, twelve?"

"What, it was funny!"

"Yeah, and speak for yourself, Rizzoli."

Jane had grabbed a struggling Maura around the waist with her legs and was currently holding her in a headlock. "I had no idea what you're talking about."

"Oh yeah, you radiate maturity," Frost said with a smile, pushing himself to his feet. "I'm going for coffee. Anybody want anything?"

"Decaf, cream and one sugar," replied Korsak.

"I'll take caffeinated, cream on the side," said Jane.

"Just a tea, for me, please," said Maura, her head tilted awkwardly to the side. "With a side of get-off-me-Jane, if you would."

"Right," Frost grinned at the two women, heading out the door. "I'll be back."

Korsak stood as well. "I'm gonna go check in with Cavanaugh, see who put their name down for"-he winked at Jane-"BYFTW." He pointed to Maura seriously. "Get her name on that list."

The ME smiled. "Of course, sir."

Once Korsak left, she poked Jane's thigh. "You know you're not getting out of this easily."

Jane tipped her head to see her friend's face more clearly. "Then YOU'RE not getting out of THIS easily."

Maura considered for a second. "Fine."

And with a firm grip under the taller detective's knees, Maura pulled away from the desk, taking Jane with her.

"Whoa, girl!" The detective exclaimed in surprise, loosening the headlock to get a better grip around Maura's shoulders. "Where are you taking me?"

"Downstairs to see your mother about getting you a family member," Maura replied with a slight grin, ignoring the looks they were getting on their way to the elevator.

"Ugh, whatever. Hey, when did you get so strong?"

"Well, though you're taller than me, you're light," Maura explained, shifting Jane's weight to her left and jabbing the elevator button with her right hand. "A little bit of 'mind over matter' goes a long way as well."

"Gee, thanks, you really know how to sweet-talk a girl."

Maura laughed and carried Jane into the elevator when the doors opened. "It also helped that I grew up in suburban Boston with two brothers to keep me on my toes."

Jane looked at the back of her friend's head incredulously. "What?"

Dr. Isles grinned slyly as the doors slid shut. "Oh, wait...that was you."

"Maura...MAURA-!"

THUD.