I'm launching padding this story from 2x02. I felt a little empty with the second episode of season two, and I think I'm trying to find a way to reconcile that. I think I feel like Jane's trauma, and her friends'/family's, wasn't addressed enough in the first two episodes, and I keep waiting for R&I to touch base regarding that really huge, life altering experience both Jane and Frankie had. I get the feeling that's not going to happen. So, this story may wind up tackling some of that. I'm not sure yet... Anyway, I'm going to post this as a write it, so please be patient with me.

As usual, the characters are so not mine. If they were, they'd be adopting that baby and starting a family right now. The characters, of course, belong to Tess (whom I adore for being okay with me and other fan fic writers using her creations), TNT, and the rest of those important type people.

"I cannot believe you gave my mother 500 big ones for that crap! Maura, she meant 5 dollars, not 500 dollars." Jane plopped down on her sofa, beer in one hand and bag of chips in the other. The case had been solved, and the two friends had decided it was a good time to take a night off to catch up on a few of their favorite TV shows.

"Well, it's too late now. Of course," Maura nudged Jane over with one Jimmy Choo shoed foot to make room so she could sit down, "I don't know what I'll do with it. I suppose I can't find a… better home for it elsewhere. Angela will no doubt be looking for it every time she comes into the main house." She gave a heavy sigh. "Jane, why didn't you stop me?"

"Hey, I tried to stop you. You're the one who just kept rolling. God, 500 dollars? I mean… really? Why do you even have 500 dollars in your purse? Who carries that kind of cash around on them?" With a thud, Jane set her beer bottle down and opened the chip bag. "How many times do I have to tell you that carrying that kind of cash is dangerous, Maura?"

The doctor said nothing, instead opting to pull the bag of chips from her friend's hands. "These are horrible for you, Jane. Why do you insist on eating things that will one day clog your arteries?" She glanced down at the chips with a look of disgust on her face.

"I'm not going to live that long," the detective muttered as she grabbed for the bag, but stopped short at the look on the other woman's face. "What?"

"It's nothing," Maura handed the chips over without protest.

"No, it's something. Maura, what is it?" Taking the offered bag, Jane tossed it on the table by her beer. "Tell me."

"I just… I don't like to hear you say things like that. I understand you're joking, of course, but you came very close to that being the truth, and, I just," the small woman averted her eyes, "I'd rather you not joke about something that serious."

Jane winced as she leaned forward to place a reassuring hand on her friend's arm. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything by it." She tilted her head, trying to get a better look at the doctor's still averted eyes. "Hey, don't cry. You know I hate it when you cry."

"I'm not going to cry, Jane." The sudden anger in Maura's voice took the detective by surprise, and she quickly pulled back.

"Maura, I'm…"

"Sorry. Yes, I'm aware." Taking in a deep breath, Maura turned back to the dark haired brunette. "I don't always cry when I'm upset." She stood with a flourish, grabbing her purse on the way to the door. "I am more complex than you give me credit for, Jane. I'm not some simple black and white creature that you can put in a single box and assume that I will react the exact same way to changing circumstances." She turned to the detective as she opened the front door. "I'm not going to cry, Jane. I'm angry with you. I am going to leave." She stopped walking, her eyes narrowing as she continued on, "Everything is a joke for you: your mother's love for you, your partner's respect for you, my concern for you. When you can't handle it or don't care to, it becomes a joke. Well, I'm tired of being the butt end of your jokes. You almost died. There's no humor in that. I almost lost you… forever. 'No redos', as you like to say, and saying you're sorry after realizing you've, once again, over stepped the line is simply not enough this time."

"Maura…" The detective's voice was pleading as she stood to go to her friend.

"No, Jane. I mean it. Not this time." The doctor held a hand up, effectively stopping Jane in her tracks. "I'm tired of playing the self-deprecation game with you. I care about you, and, if you cared about you half as much as I care about you, you wouldn't joke about no longer being here. Do you know," Maura's voice lowered to a whisper, the anger becoming even more pronounced, "how much it hurts me each time you make a joke about winding up on my table? Do you know how much that bothers me? The idea of you being the subject of my examinations? Can you even comprehend how awful, how absolutely horrid it would be for me to have to… to…" Maura shook her head, her mouth forming a straight line as she composed herself. "I can't."

"Maura, come on. Can't we just…"

"No, we can't. I'm leaving now." With a final hard look, Maura left, closing the door quietly behind her.

I could really use reviews on this one. I don't normally do 'angry Maura'. Please tell me what you think!