I needed to get back into my writing, after various failed attempts. Ill health has hit hard, and whilst the issues surrounding the death of my Mother and an Aunt over Christmas and New Year period having finally - if not only fairly recently - been resolved, it's been a tough time to sit down and get writing.
This is going to be a short story. A little more than a one shot - but no more than 4 chapters. It is complete, but I won't be posting all at once to allow some tweaking and beta work. Based loosely around Merch from the Season one episode, I kissed a girl, but AU.
For those following my other stories, fear not - I will finish them. I don't know when... but they will not get left to die in cyberspace ether.

Disclaimer: Hell I don't own much - a car, a computer and four cats, so I don't want to be sued, if at all possible. So pwetty pwease TNT, Tess Gerritsen, Janet T and anyone else who has claim on the characters - I promise to return them once I'm done.

Lastly, thank you to the two people who helped with the beta services. Any mistakes are mine...

Merch-andise.

Chapter one.

Jane was slumped over her desk, hair splayed out in a tangled mess. She was feeling tired, although the closure of a long case had just happened, allowing her to finally let go and begin to relax. Frost was sitting across from her, a scowl on his face.

"You look like crap."

Jane lifted her head just enough to glare across between the computer monitors separating them.

"And you're still an asshole."

Korsak walked in, having just witnessed the exchange between the two younger detectives.

"Rizzoli, Frost, for gods sake - go home! You've finished booking the perp in, done the immediate paperwork, so go... rest. Do whatever you need to. Go to the Robber. I don't care, just stop making this place look like a shit hole."

Jane stood up, grabbing her very crumpled jacket off the back of her chair. "Jesus, with friends like you, I sure as hell don't need enemies."

Korsak watched with a slight shake of his head as Jane walked out of the bullpen, shrugging her arms, somewhat unsuccessfully, into the sleeves of her jacket. The cursing could be heard even as the door closed behind her and she stood waiting for the elevator.

"Don't know what you're sitting around here for." Korsak turned his attention back to Frost, whose grin faded rapidly at the look he was being given.

"Enough already, I'm going." Frost huffed, as he began to take the same path that his partner had done just minutes ago.

"Kids today." Korsak muttered, before sitting down at his own desk.

Jane was rocking back and forth on her heels, her adrenaline peaking again, knowing if she tried to go home now to sleep would be useless, because she was now overtired and it meant she would need to somehow wind down before even attempting sleep. So she was heading to the one location where she knew that relaxation would be open to her, without question. It seemed to take forever, but finally the elevator arrived at the right destination.

"Mau..." Jane's words died on her lips as she came to a halt in the Medical examiners office.

"Erm, Maura?" Jane asked as she finally stopped looking like a fish out of water, suddenly sure her plan to relax had taken an unexpected turn.

"Jane," Maura spun around, a smile adorning her face, just as Jane managed to school her features enough so it wouldn't be apparent she had been shocked before. "Do you like this?"

Maura then spun further around, showing off her outfit to Jane, who went back to a fish out of water expression.

"It's..." Jane knew she was about to get the look of disappointment from Maura soon if she didn't buck her ideas up and give her a timely response.

Oh crap, here it comes. Jane thought as Maura looked down at her outfit, the slightest of frowns crossing her features. And here comes the tell tale bottom lip biting. Man up Rizzoli, and fast!

"Going somewhere?" Jane was finally able to ask, pleased she didn't actually squeak, and it was enough to stop Maura falling further into herself and questioning how she looked and getting upset because of it.

"Didn't I tell you?" Maura asked, as she turned around to grab her purse and briefcase, obviously getting ready to leave.

"No." Jane fought to keep the sarcasm out of her tone. "I wouldn't be asking if I knew."

Maura looked back at Jane, tipping her head slightly to the side. "I could have sworn I said something. In answer to your question, I am going out tonight."

Dammit, there go my plans to relax. Jane thought.

"Where?"

"Where what?"

"Dammit Maura." This time, Jane's irritation shone through. "Where are you going out? With anyone I know?"

"I'm going alone. I could have sworn I said something."

Maura began to walk out of the room, and Jane had to jump before skipping slightly to get herself going, as she realized she was effectively being left behind.

"So, where are you going?" Jane asked again as she caught up and they walked shoulder to shoulder towards the elevator.

"Merch."

Jane slammed the brakes on, eyes wide in shock and she didn't even try to hide it this time.

Maura turned around when she realized Jane had stopped walking. "What's wrong?"

"In that outfit?" Jane growled suddenly.

Maura looked down at herself again, before looking back at Jane. "Yes. Why? What's wrong with it."

"Its..." Jane shook her head, trying to figure out where in the last half hour things had taken the wrong turn that they had.

"Jane, the leather riding pants are Gucci. So is the top, it's a standard halter neckline."

"And the 'fuck me' boots?" Jane couldn't stop herself from doing air quotes as she spoke.

"Also Gucci." Maura's tone began to harden slightly, "And they are hardly 'fuck me' boots as you so eloquently put it, but the Sofia high heeled platform boots they do."

"So you've gone for the high class hooker look. Christ, you're falling out of that top. Any tighter and I'd be arresting you for indecent exposure!"

Jane wanted to slap herself upside the head the second the words left her mouth. "Crap, Maura. I'm sor..."

"Goodnight Detective."

Jane could only watch as Maura strode off, heading for the stairs rather than continue to wait for the elevator, which pinged and the doors opened as Jane watched her friend disappearing through the door leading to the stairwell.

"Well, that could have gone better." Jane muttered as she walked into the elevator, pleased to see it was empty. She rested back against the rail inside, having punched the floor number she needed harder than was strictly necessary.

Frost watched as Jane slid into the booth he was occupying at the Robber, as she waved the waitress over, and quickly ordered beer with a shot of tequila.

"Thought you were heading home." Frost finally said as Jane took a long pull on her beer, grimacing slightly as the coldness hit the back of her throat. She then quickly pulled the shot of tequila up and threw it back with yet another grimace before answering.

"Yeah, well plans change."

Frost simply shrugged as he continued to drink his own beer.

"Say, you heard anything about the Merch club opening again?" Jane suddenly asked.

"Why, you need a date."

"No you ass." Jane said, "Just heard it was open again. Wondered if you'd heard anything about it, because hell, it would take a brave person to reopen that place."

"Don't know much." Frost admitted. "Just heard someone with money came along, put a manager in, remodelled the place from top to bottom.."

"Hey, no top to bottom talk; Jesus." Jane said, the laughter apparent in her voice, as she gave a dramatized shudder.

"As I was saying," Frost carried on with a snort of laughter of his own. "Place was gutted. Opening night is soon. This week I think."

"Hmm." Jane sat back with a thoughtful expression. "Think that opening might be tonight."

"What makes you say that." Frost asked, as he signalled the waitress for a fresh round of beers.

Jane looked surprised, not realizing she had spoken the last part out loud. "Just someone said they were going there tonight and they're all dressed up. Well, more like..." Jane shut her mouth abruptly. There was no way she wanted to think about the outfit. How the tight leather trousers hugged Maura in all the right places, how the top... Jane shook her head to clear her thoughts. "So, I'm guessing its opening night."

Frost narrowed his eyes slightly, as he took in the information.

"You telling me that the Doc has gone to Merch opening night?"

"What, no!" Jane said rather too quickly.

"Well, who else is it gonna be?" Frost asked, "We've been stuck on this case for the last five days solid. You were heading down to Maura when you left earlier, but now you're here - Alone I might add - and who else are you gonna have seen between work and now. You must have seen this person recently, to know what they are wearing, and Maura isn't here."

Jane just glared back at Frost as she quickly downed some more of her beer.

"So, what was Maura doing going to the opening? She get interest from someone last time we were there and wanted to taste some more?"

"Frost!" Jane looked horrified. Whilst she was used to vulgarity in her job, and hell, she knew her own mouth could spew forth some pretty crude comments, Frost's words hit a little too close for comfort for her.

"What? Just saying." Frost fell against the back of the bench seat in the booth. "Seems a strange one, even for the Doc. You telling me you haven't even asked why she was going to something like that? If you'd said it was some arty farty gallery opening, or some new ballet or opera in town, sure. But the reopening of a lesbian club. One with the history where she was involved in it's closing down? Sure seems a strange one."

Jane sat there for a second, a scowl on her face. It dawned on her she'd been so hung up on the outfit Maura was wearing that she hadn't in fact questioned why Maura was going. Although she didn't say it, she knew Frost was right. This was damn weird, even for Maura and Jane wasn't going to stand by and let that one go.

Jane stood up quickly finishing off her beer. "C'mon."

Frost and Jane stood at the doorway, and both held back the gasps at the newly opened club. This was now the third surprise of the night, the first being Maura. Jane had then been surprised that they had let Frost in with the minimum of trouble. She was told men were allowed in as guests, as long as they behaved. She'd smirked at that point, but didn't wait to say anything, just relieved they had been allowed through the doors.

"Wow." Frost finally said, as they began to head towards the bar area, which was already two people deep.

"No way this is the original place." Jane said as they began to fight through the crowd to get a drink. "This is bigger than before for a start. I reckon they have expanded into the place next door."

"I think you could be right," came Frost's muffled reply, even though they were both having to shout to be heard above the music.

Finally they managed to grab drinks, before heading further into the club itself. Jane began to really take in the surroundings, and she couldn't help but be impressed. It screamed money, but it wasn't at all pretentious. Large crystal chandeliers hung down from the ceiling, with intricate lighting arrangements of various colors, that changed to give a whole new feel on a regular basis. From calming blues, to racy reds, it felt as if the whole place was pulsing.
Plush chairs adorned various spots, along with sofas, interspersed with tables, and at the furthest point, there was now a much larger dance floor, with a DJ up in a booth, the sound system really pumping the music out. People were all around them, like a human sea, moving in synch.

"Hey, look."

Frost's voice suddenly penetrated the noise around them, and Jane turned to see him pointing to another section, which was marked VIP and quiet areas.

Without another word, but merely with a subtle nod of her head, Jane and Frost headed towards that point, both wanting to get away from the main hub of the club. As they went through a doorway, it was apparent they were entering a place that had superb soundproofing, as not even a hint of bass could be heard once the door closed behind them. There were bouncers situated either side of the door, but they allowed them through without incident. As they carried on down the quiet section, it opened up into another wide area. Again it had tables, chairs and sofas scattered around, and a bar was at the end. Four doors could be seen leading off where they were, all firmly marked as VIP areas only, and each with a bouncer standing guard. A sign for bathrooms could also be seen, discretely placed, like so much of the club decor.

"Hell of a change." Frost said as they finally sat down towards the back, against the wall, with a fairly clear view of everything around them.

"No kidding."

Jane was beginning to wonder why she was feeling so nervous. So far, there had been no sign of Maura, but then again, the main club was so packed, Jane knew it would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.

"So, Maura said she'd be here tonight, any idea where we're gonna find her?"

Frost asked the question, but Jane just jerked her one shoulder slightly. "Hell if I know. If she is here, god knows where."

"So?" Frost just let the question hang, not entirely sure why Jane wanted to come, let alone drag him along for the ride.

"What?" The events from the week were beginning to creep back in on Jane again, and as her tiredness increased, so her tolerance began to decrease.

"Just wondered why we're here."

Jane took a deep breath. "Tell you the truth, I was just wondering the same thing. I've gotta go to the bathroom, then we'll go."

Jane stood up, and without waiting for Frost to answer her, she headed across to where she'd seen the signs for the bathrooms. Finding the queue to be remarkably short, she quickly darted in to one of the stalls.

"Jane?"

Maura looked as shocked as she sounded when Jane barreled back out of the toilet stall, not looking where she was going. Her arms wrapped around Maura instinctively to stop them both falling into a heap on the bathroom floor.