It was dark when Jane finally made it back to her apartment after a long day of paper work and sitting at her desk. God, her desk was so freaking boring! Half the reason she became a cop was because she wanted a job where she was constantly moving, whether she was pacing up and down the interrogation room or chasing after a runaway perp.

At least the constant sitting around had given her some time to think. Having only herself for company was intimidating, but yesterday afternoon, as she sat waiting for a tox screen to come back, she had had a revelation.

Walking up to her front door, she paused. Light was seeping through the crack under the threshold. She always turned her lights off when she left the house. Well, she had always done it as long as she had known Maura. Something about "green living" and "energy efficiency". She didn't know how reducing her own (relatively small) carbon footprint could really help with the rapidly growing climate change problem, but hey, if it mattered to Maura, what the hell?

She entered her apartment cautiously, but was not overly-worried. Ma had probably come over with dinner or maybe even Frankie. They both knew where she kept her spare key. It could be Maura, but that was unlikely; she was probably busy feeding Cailyn.

"Hello? Ma, is that you?"

The oven was on in the kitchen and bags of fresh, organic vegetables from Earth Fare lined the counter. Ma had shopped at Earth Fare once, but vowed never to do it again. Too expensive. She only knew one person who bothered to buy organic and that was—

"Maura!"

And there stood Maura, wrapped in a silk robe. Her hair wet and her face devoid of make-up; she had obviously just showered.

"Oh, Jane! I'm so glad that you're here. You came at exactly the right time; I was just going to take the soufflé out of the oven and start the salad. Would you care to join me?" Maura asked.

"Don't you have to look after Cailyn? Is Hope back? I'm confused…" she trailed off and looked to her friend expectantly.

"I know, I know," Maura glanced around guiltily, "I just couldn't handle any more sibling bonding, Jane! I'm starting to like Cailyn, I really am, but living with someone who studies better when her room is a pig pen is just—"

"A pig sty, Maur. And it's okay, okay? I totally understand. And don't feel guilty. You're having a normal reaction to being cooped up with a sibling. I mean if I had to live with Frankie or, God forbid, Tommy, again, I would probably run away, too."

Here Maura looked affronted. "I am not running away, Jane. I am simply giving Cailyn a much-needed night off from sister-sister bonding time. "

"Save it, Maura," Jane grinned. "I'm glad you came, actually. It's been a long week, but I could use some company. And-" she hesitated and then took a deep breath, "I want to talk to you about something."

Maura passed her a tomato and smiled. "Get to chopping, detective. We can talk over dinner."

"I broke up with Casey."

Maura's eyes widened slightly at Jane's sudden confession, but she seemed calm as she took a sip of the wine she had brought over.

"When?"

"This afternoon. While you and Frost and Korsak were out examining that floater. I did it over Skype, Maur, and I should feel guilty about that but I don't and I mean God, what am I doing with my life?"

Maura gave Jane an appraising look and then asked, "Why should you feel guilty?"

Jane tossed her hair back in frustration. What kind of question was that?

"What kind of question is that?! Of course I should feel guilty! Casey is in Afghanistan, Maura. He just recovered from a life-threatening injury. And I couldn't wait for the six months until he gets back to break his heart."

"Jane, I don't want to over step—"

"Says the woman who broke into my house, showered with my shampoo, and cooked dinner in my kitchen!"

Jane's outburst stopped them both in their tracks. Was this conversation about to become a serious confrontation? They stared at each other for a long moment and then they started to laugh.

"I'm sorry, Jane," Maura said as they caught their breath, "I know I can be intrusive. I just want to help."

"I know Maura, I know. Look, speak your mind, okay? Psychoanalyze me a little bit; I can take it."

They were looking straight into each other's eyes as they spoke, so Maura decided to take Jane at her word.

"I think that you need to think about why you broke up with Casey. And then I think you need to think about why you felt compelled to be in a relationship with him in the first place."

She paused for a bite of soufflé, allowing Jane to comment,

"You know, I was really hoping for a concrete solution, O Wise One."

"I think…I need a little more wine for that."