Divided Heart

Disclaimer: I do not own the show or the characters. If only...

Jane set the plate aside, knowing Maura wouldn't but hoped nonetheless that she would want to eat something. "Maura, you couldn't have known."

Maura appreciated Jane's attempts but the fact that she wanted to be with Dennis only made her doubt herself that much more. "You did."

"I get paid to know and I nearly took too long to figure it out." Jane tapped Maura's legs, then waited until she moved them before settling in beside her friend on the couch.

Maura sat up, giving Jane more room. "You never liked him from the beginning."

"That's not true...much." Jane's crooked grin earned her one in response from Maura. "Too much too fast is all."

Maura let her head fall back against the back of the couch. "I wish I could just go to sleep and forget this whole night happened."

"Why don't you do just that. You'll feel better in the morning." Jane watched Maura carefully as she closed her eyes, but refused to move. She greedily stared, accepting the fact that Maura was allowing her to without maybe even knowing.

"Jane?" Maura spoke without opening her eyes. "I was so scared. I was so scared but when you arrived somehow I knew things would be okay."

Jane slightly shook her head because that's not at all the way she had seen it. She felt she was too late as she watched Dennis drag Maura to the elevator shaft. The knife at her throat ten times more lethal than the gun in Jane's hand at that moment. Jane kept her eyes on Maura's, hoping that by not losing eye contact would somehow mean she would not lose her. "I didn't know, Maur."

"What?" Maura let her head fall to the side before opening her eyes to question Jane.

"I didn't know things would be alright. Dennis had the control, all I could do was wait to see what he was going to do and then hopefully react in time."

"You figured out that he was the killer and you showed up in time." Maura once again closed her eyes, content to let that be her final answer.

Jane let herself sink down further into the couch, not moving when Maura decided to rest her head on her shoulder. Jane let the silence calm and comfort them both. Being this close to Maura was not something new to her, but the panic she fought to suppress was. "Maura, I don't know what I would've done had something happened to you."

"I'm okay, Jane. I will be anyway." Maura reached for and then grasped Jane's hand. "Thank you."

Jane wished Maura would open her eyes, but wanted her to relax as well. "You may be more comfortable in bed. I should probably get going anyway."

Maura did open her eyes, forcing herself to sit up straight to face Jane. "Can you stay? Just a bit longer?"

"I'll stay as long as you need me to." Jane hated the vulnerable sound of Maura's voice and for a brief moment she wished she could kill Dennis instead of him doing it for her. Jane smiled when Maura did, relieved to see such a beautiful sight. "You just have to tell me when you're ready for me to go."

Maura reached out letting her hand rest gently against Jane's cheek. "I mean it Jane, I felt safe when you showed up. I feel safe with you here now."

Jane instinctively turned into Maura's touch, enjoying how soft Maura's fingers were against her skin. "I'll stay as long as you need me to, Maura. I mean that." Jane reached up grabbing Maura's hand. She knew if she stayed still much longer she would want to kiss Maura and the last thing she wanted to do was risk their friendship in any way.

Maura stared into Jane's eyes, causing the usually sure detective to look away nervously. It was then that Maura reached in placing her lips against Jane's. "Maura, what are you doing?"

"I'm sorry, Jane. I guess I'm just upset over what happened and confused and..." Maura went to pull away but Jane stopped her.

"It's okay. I just don't want you to do something you'll regret is all." Jane squeezed Maura's hand while forcing her to look her in the eyes.

"I can't imagine ever regretting kissing you." Maura offered an embarrassed grin causing Jane to then move in close. It was on a few seconds before Jane was less than an inch from Maura's lips.

"Kiss me, Maura." Janes's voice was deeper and even huskier than normal and that alone was too much for the distraught medical examiner as she did as Jane ordered. The kiss was slow at first, both women realizing all that this single kiss implied.

Jane pulled back giving Maura the chance to change her mind, but returned when she didn't. Jane kissed Maura with all the passion that almost losing her tonight produced. She placed her hands on either side of Maura's face, holding her close. Maura grasped Jane's hands in her own, loving how strong a hold she had on her. The kiss was deep, tongues exploring and hearts pounding.

"Maura, I will go if you want me to. I don't want to mess up our friendship." Jane pulled away and got to her feet, causing Maura to do the same.

"I understand, but I really don't want you to go." Maura turned, asking Jane with her eyes to follow her to her bedroom.

Jane was torn between wanting Maura, and the possible damage that they could be doing right now. Maura was really not in the right frame of mind, nor was she. The had both been so scared tonight and she was sure this was a way to release the tension. She promised she wouldn't leave Maura and Maura was clear in asking her to stay.

The walk to the bedroom was done in silence where Jane pulled off her boots and socks before climbing into Maura's bed. She had often stayed with Maura so the familiar routine helped calm them both. Jane lied flat on her back allowing her mind to replay what it felt like to kiss Maura. She wanted to kiss her again, but wasn't sure where Maura was with it all. She heard the water turn off in the bathroom and opened her eyes to see Maura approaching the bed.

Maura climbed in beside her and was quickly close. "Thank you, Jane. I'm just not sure...I'm afraid that when I close my eyes...I..."

"Shhh. It's okay, Maur. I'll stay with you." Jane grasped Maura's hand and allowed Maura to rest her head on her shoulder once again. Jane closed her eyes, knowing she would be okay with this. Maura needed her and she knew she would do anything for Maura. It was only a few minutes before Jane heard the even breathing of her best friend next to her. She smiled, thankful that Maura was able to rest and allowed herself to drift off as well.

Maura woke with a start at the nightmare she was fearing. She calmed when Jane's strong arm pulled her closer, the wordless reassurance enough to help her get her breathing under control. Jane kept her eyes closed and Maura wondered if she had even woken at all or if it was just an instinct she knew the fine detective had. She reached in and kissed Jane, not wanting to wake her, but definitely wanting to taste her again.

Jane responded and all the passion from a few hours ago was back. She jumped slightly when Maura's hand slid under her tank and traced the muscles on her abdomen. Maura's touch was enough to cause Jane to want so much more, but she controlled herself in favor of Maura's state of mind. She would never refuse her, but she would never do anything to force her either. Maura had been through a traumatic experience and Jane feared her actions now were a way to fight her way through it. Jane hoped she was wrong and that Maura really felt something for her, but she would understand if she were just confused.

"Are you sure you want to do this? Maur, I won't leave, you know." Jane's voice was raw, sleep and desire mixing as she spoke directly into Maura's ear.

Maura's answer was an even deeper kiss which she then trailed down onto Jane's throat. Jane couldn't believe how Maura's touch controlled everything about her. Maura's hands were so gentle despite the need and want Jane could feel in them as they gripped her sides. Jane trailed her hands up Maura's back, pleased to see no bra. She slowly moved them around to the front hoping Maura would stop her if she was uncomfortable. Maura's skin was so soft and her full breast reacted immediately to Jane's touch.

"Jane..." Maura's breath was on Jane's face and the way she moved above her made Jane certain she didn't want her to stop. Maura straddled Jane then and pulled her top over her head, dropping off the side of the bed. Jane stared Maura in the eyes before allowing herself to take in Maura's beauty. She reached up, letting her fingers lightly skim over Maura's abdomen and then to her breasts. Jane watched Maura as she closed her eyes to the touch and listened carefully to her breathing as she began to massage her nipples.

"You're beautiful, Maur." Jane could feel Maura shifting slightly as her weight was so comfortable sitting on her thighs. Jane then took advantage of Maura's shift and guided Maura down so she could use her tongue to trace circles around Maura's nipple. Maura's reaction was enough for Jane to take the whole nipple in her mouth, sucking lightly before doing the same with her other breast. "So beautiful."

Maura allowed Jane to taste her, her hips failing to hide her pleasure. She pulled back then, wanting to explore Jane in the same way. Jane reached for Maura as she pulled back, but Maura gently pinned Jane's hand down above her head. "Let me see you, Jane."

Jane's heart was beating hard and she wondered if Maura would be able to see it through her chest. She helped Maura remove her tank and was once again wanting to reach for Maura. "I have to touch you, Maur."

"I want to see you." Maura once again placed Jane's hands above her head, before allowing her fingers to run up and down Jane's abdomen. She could feel how Jane tensed each time her fingers got close to the gunshot scar. "It's okay, Jane. You're beautiful, you know." Maura lowered her lips to the scar and Jane closed her eyes as she felt Maura kiss her gently. Maura was always so amazed at the muscle that was Jane and took her time exploring Jane's body. Her hands found Jane's breasts and when her fingers took hold of her nipples, Jane's hands came down to Maura's face.

Maura carefully replaced Jane's hands above her head again before returning her attention to Jane. She took her very ready nipple in her mouth, using her teeth to pull and her tongue to massage. Jane was thankful for he weight of Maura on her legs or she was sure she would've come off the bed at the sensations.

Jane was stronger than Maura, not that strength was needed right now in any way. She pulled herself up, flipping Maura onto her back. Jane looked down into her eyes before taking her mouth with her own. The passion they shared now was so much more and Jane wondered if she would be able to wait much longer before taking her beautiful best friend. Jane kissed Maura deeply as her hands were handling Maura's full breasts. She kept her fingers on her nipples, knowing what the contact was doing to Maura.

"Jane, please." Maura voice was nothing like Jane had ever heard as she begged her. Jane smiled, refusing to lose eye contact. She let her hand slide down Maura's abdomen until her fingers were inside the loose bottoms Maura had worn to bed. Maura was more than ready as Jane let her fingers glide through the arousal she felt. Jane captured Maura's mouth with her mouth as her fingers entered Maura. The reaction was almost too much for Jane as Maura's hands grasped Jane's forearm tight. She didn't pull her away though so she slowly moved her fingers in and out, using the wetness to her advantage.

"Tell me to stop, Maura." Jane breathed into Maura's mouth, praying she wouldn't.

"Jane..." Maura struggled to speak and Jane wondered how much longer she could hold out. "Please don't stop."

Jane picked up the pace with her fingers, making sure to saturate Maura's clit with her own arousal. She didn't go there too much for fear Maura would come too fast. Jane kept her fingers inside Maura as she sucked with more need on Maura's nipples. The way Maura's grasped Jane told her that it wouldn't be long at all at this rate.

Jane's entire body jerked at the ringing of her cell. Her movements stopped and she could feel Maura's chest as it rose and fell against her own. "No." Jane hung her head, refusing to remove her fingers.

Jane waited until the phone stopped ringing before she pulled her fingers from Maura. "I'm so sorry, Maura."

They then both listened to Maura's phone and it was clear they were both needed on scene of a murder.

Jane looked down at the beautiful woman under her, her breasts begging her, her body wanting her. It was so hard not to ignore everything and everyone right now. "Are we going to be okay?"

"I hope so, Jane. Thank you for staying." Maura let her hands grasp Jane through her own shorts. "I'm sorry as well." Jane knew Maura was referring to the need she felt by grabbing Jane.

Jane slowly crawled off the bed, refusing to take her eyes from Maura. This was her best friend, the head medical examiner and a beautiful woman that wanted her. Jane hated murder.