No Infringement intended. For entertainment purposes only.

I came home to my apartment after saying a simple "thank you" to Agent Dean. As much as I would like to spend more time with him seeing the lengths he went through to get Hoyt, I feel something is missing or amiss. I feel that I could be closer to him if I wanted to. Had I wanted to. But somehow, I feel that I could not thoroughly connect myself with him.

I inserted my key in the door lock and upon opening my door, I suddenly feel tired of the day's events. My apartment was in total disarray. Everything was trashed. How am I going to start cleaning this up? I leaned on my door and slowly felt my weight give in. I squatted there, on the floor, thinking what to do next. Suddenly, Jo Friday came running in. Then, I heard footsteps on the hard floor.

"Hey", it was Maura.

"Hey", I answered back.

"I wanted you to see for yourself what extra ordinary creatures these are." Maura giving me an aquarium without water and with a tiny turtle inside.

"Ahh…thanks," although in my mind I am wondering what to do with the turtle..err tortoise that she brings into my ransacked apartment.

"I thought you might need some help cleaning up."

"Yeah..alright" I stood up and took the aquarium from her. "Let me get you some work clothes."

"These are my work clothes." She replied. Matter of factly while putting gloves to her hands in order to start cleaning up.

I look at her and her designer "work clothes" and tried to stifle a laugh while I placed the aquarium in the table. "Aww they are kind of cute when they are small."

"I told you. So, where do you want me to start?"

"Come on," I told her.

"What?"

"Let's go get a bloody Mary." I replied. Suddenly I am not up to cleaning duties. "We always say we needed to do something outside of a crime scene. This is a crime scene. Let's go."

"Great! But dressed like that?"

"These are my going out clothes." And I completely closed the door and we proceeded to the nearest bar still opened to get those bloody marys.

I was sitting across Maura, while she rambles on how I should take care of the new turtle, err tortoise that she brought to my apartment. I was looking at my bloody mary thinking that I should have ordered beer instead. Funny how I don't feel tired at all, being with Maura in this bar, considering the events of the day. I just shot and stopped two psychos, left an FBI agent, forget cleaning my apartment, just to be in this bar. With her. While she rambles on the calorie count requirement of the tortoise she just brought me, my mind is wandering on how we became friends despite our being world's apart. She is a medical doctor, while I run the streets of Boston going after bad guys. She likes wines and cheeses, I like beer and pizza.

"You know what,"

'What?" I was completely drawn back to reality with Maura's voice.

"I think you should spend the night at my place or until you got your place all fixed and cleaned up."

"Dr. Isles, is that an invitation to move in with you?" with my usual smirk.

"Well, I was just thinking, since you chose to stay with me during the whole Hoyt fiasco, you would rather stay in a neutral environment." Maura smiled. But I noticed that she hasn't really answered my question.

"Well, I…..wouldn't want to impose on your hospitality. Plus, I now have a dog to think of." I replied.

"Oh Jane, you are not imposing, besides, what kind of a friend am I if I let you stay in your apartment knowing its state?"

"You do have a point, and I am already tired. I think I will take the day off tomorrow and fix my place. For tonight, I will just crash into your place. You sure it's okay? Jo will have to stay with me."

"Of course, it's more than okay. I offered didn't I? You and Jo can stay as long as you like." Maura replied with a smile. How can I refuse when she is giving me that look?

"You know Maura, we really should do something outside work," I stated to change the topic. I might not be able to refuse the "stay as long as you life" offer.

"Well let's see, what can we do together? I usually do yoga in the morning, or I run. What do you do in your free time?"

"Yoga?"

"Yes, I found a studio not far from the office. Know what," the doctor said with her eyes wide and glowing, "you should join me, so that I don't have to fix your nose so often," and she sipped from her glass of bloody mary.

"What? You fixed my nose only once," I defensively replied.

"Yes, but I know it won't be the last knowing your penchant for rough activities. Come on. Please?," she replied and smiled showing her dimples.

"Well, I like outdoor activities better. Soft ball, baseball, field hockey,"

"Why is that better? Your so-called outdoor activities claim to calorie burning is almost equal to yoga. Running is also a good cardio vascular exercise. And safer too."

"Yeah, but where's the fun in that? Come on, I think it's time for us to call it a night." I paid for the drinks and stood up from my seat. Maura stood up too, got her purse and started for the door.

When we got to her place, she took me to her extra bedroom. While I was settling in, she knocked at the door.

"I am already asleep. Go away" I jokingly called from the room.

As if my lie will prevent her from coming in, Maura entered the room.

"I think your "going-out" clothes will not be comfortable as your "sleeping-in" clothes. You might want to sleep in here," handing out a pair of silk pajamas to me.

"Maura, I don't think I will be able to fit in there and besides, I might get itchy wearing those, I'm good." I answered her.

"No, after the events of today, you need all the comfort of a good night sleep. Come on. If you need anything, I'll be in my room."

Maybe, she is right. I took the pajamas from her and changed. This is going to be a long night.