Here's a new one. The mood I admit is a bit of a downer in this first chapter, but the remaining I'm going to be going back and telling how all this came about. I hope you all give it a chance!

DISCLAIMER: All characters, events, settings and situations mentioned in this work are sole property of their respective owners. As this work is an interpretation of the original material and not for profit, it constitutes fair use. Reference to real persons, places, or events are made in a fictional context and are not intended to be defamatory or factual in anyway.

"Why are you giving me so much trouble about this?" Jane impatiently paced around in a circle, trying to calm down.

"Don't you understand that all I want is for you to be alright?" Maura pleaded. "You're going down a path of destruction, and you either don't want to or can't see it. I'm trying to keep you safe from yourself!"

"Safe from myself? There is nothing wrong with me!" Jane yelled back, her patience wearing thinner by the second.

"I'm sorry Jane, I just can't do this anymore."

Jane's feet stopped cold, her mind still racing. "What? What are you saying?" She turned around to look Maura in the eyes.

"I'm saying that I am done. It's been weeks; months of you behaving like this. I've tried to help, I've tried to reach out to you but nothing is working. I don't have anything left to give." Her voice was breaking, tears rolling down her cheeks.

A sense of desperation filled Jane's mind. She knelt down and reached for Maura's clasped hands, got down to eye level and looked straight into her soul. "No Maura, don't do this, please. I love you!"

Maura continued to cry, her tears coming down harder. "I love you too Jane; I don't think you've ever truly realized how much I love you and how much you mean to me. That is why I'm doing this. I love you, but I love me too, and I just don't have anything left in me. I don't think I can be any good for you anymore." She gently extricated her hands from Jane's.

There it was; she had pulled away from Jane. Maura had never done that before, and it sent even more warning and panic down Jane's spine. "Maura," she croaked out as her voice broke, "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. You're the reason I am who I am, the reason I've worked so hard for this," she turned my head to get Maura's attention to their surroundings "I've done this for you, for us". Jane felt the tears sting her eyes and she held her breath, trying her hardest to contain them.

Maura, who had quietly continued to cry, wiped at her eyes and looked at Jane once more. "I know you have, Jane. This just isn't enough anymore. This house we built together, the only reason it has value to me is because of you. We built this house from the ground up together. We started a wonderful life together here. I cannot and will never forget the memories I've made with you here. Every minute I stay here now I feel anguish and pain, because I don't know where you are. I don't know if you're going to come home, or if you're going to disappear for days again with no notice of at least being alright."

"I can change that Maura, please, give me another chance. I'll let you know when I'm going out, I'll tell you when I'll be home. I'll be home more, I promise," Jane pleaded.

Maura began to shake her head. "No, we both know you're lying Jane. We've tried this before and it didn't work. Please, don't do this. I can't hear this anymore. Nothing you say is going to change my mind." Maura gave herself a few moments to regain her composure before rising off the sofa. She walked over to the entrance closet and rolled out a small suitcase. "I'm going to send for my things in a few days, when you're at work so you won't be bothered."

"Where are you going? Where will you stay?" Jane asked as she stopped in front of Maura.

"I'll be staying at a hotel for now, at least until I find a different living arrangement. I'd stay at the condo since my parents are in France and won't be using it, but I don't want to worry them or have to give explanations."

"Maura please don't be silly, stay here. Just until you find someplace else," Jane reasoned. She knew any further attempts at reconciliation that day would be useless.

"I can't Jane. I can't spend another night in this house and not feel like I'm suffocating." Maura grabbed the suitcase's handle and reached for her purse. She turned to look at Jane. "Goodbye Jane."

Jane took the three steps necessary to reach Maura's side and quickly embraced her. She hugged Maura with all her might. "Please don't go," she whispered into the honey blonde's ear. She felt Maura's tears on her shirt.

"I have to," Maura said as she hugged Jane back. The two stared into each other's eyes and before either knew what was happening, Maura's lips were on Jane's. It was an innocent kiss, tender and soft. It ended as soon as it had began. Maura turned, grabbed her things, and went out into the dark of night.

Jane did nothing but close the door before leaning her back against it and sliding down to the floor, the tears she had valiantly tried to hold back now fully on display for no one to see.

What do you all think? worth a shot?