Maura sleepily reached out for Jane's body as she turned over in the bed they were sharing that night. They were in Jane's apartment; they always were and it didn't bother her. What did bother her though was Jane's absence. Maura peeked at the digital clock that sat on the night stand next to the bed. 2:05 am. They had only been asleep for an hour. An hour before of fighting to get Jane into bed to begin with. Ever since the solving the last puzzle of the Hoyt case, Jane has not been able to get a decent 5 hours of sleep. Let alone her usual 8. Sighing, Maura opened her mouth to call out her name but thought better of it. Jane would only promise to come back to bed in 5 minutes. And that promise would go unfulfilled.
Tossing the sheet aside, Maura reached for the t-shirt that laid on the floor and quickly tugged it over her head. Maura quietly opened the door and padded down the short hall with bare feet. She found her best friend leaning against the desk, staring out the window.
Maura knew that the neighborhood was quiet; that the street would be empty but also knew that Jane did this every night. She was securing the perimeter.
Maura crossed the floor layout and slid her arms around Jane's slim waist. She perched her head on the shoulder that had dipped slightly to allow her this closeness. It took a minute for the tension to leave her mates body but it did, slowly.
"What are you doing out here?"
A couple of a beats went by before Jane answered, "Thinking. Watching."
Maura nodded against Jane's neck before lightly kissing the carotid artery. Jane forgot the scene and leaned back into the embrace.
"Come back to bed," Maura whispered in Jane's ear.
"In a few minutes."
Maura was sure Jane felt the growing tension in her body before she moved away.
Holding onto Maura's hand pressed against her stomach, Jane questioned, "What?"
"Nothing."
"It's something otherwise I wouldn't feel it in your touch."
Jane remained silent waiting for her best friend to express herself.
"I worry about you," Maura replied bowing her head into Jane's back.
"I worry about you, too."
"I worry about what this job does to you. I'm afraid it's going to steal your sanity."
"I love my job, babe. You know that."
"I know but that doesn't mean that I have to like the sleepless nights it causes you or the nightmares."
"Maura."
"And saying my name like that is not gonna make me change my mind about it."
"I know," Jane mumbled as she felt Maura press her face further into her back.
Sighing and holding tighter onto Jane, Maura tried to think of how to express how she feeling without going all goggle talk, as Jane always put it. She smiled thinking of Jane teasing.
"I miss your smile. I miss that low throaty incredible sexy laugh you let slip when I say something goofy. I miss your teasing. You have no idea how much I miss you giving me that blank stare when I start to go off on google talk. Even though I know it's just a facade," Maura's voice cracked.
"Oh my god. Are you crying? You know I can't handle it when you cry."
Jane pulled the hand that was resting on her abdomen and the woman it belonged to around to her front. She cradled the woman's head in her hands.
"It hurts me to see you cry," Jane sniffled kissing Maura softly on the lips.
Returning the kiss, Maura replied, "We are a pair, huh?"
"Yup. But you're mine and I love you."
"I love you, too."
"I thought for sure this was gonna turn into an argument."
"I don't want to argue. I just want to cuddle and sleep with you."
"You go warm up the bed. I'll be there in a minute."
"Jane."
"Scout's honor," Jane held up her hand performing the pledge.
Maura's heart sunk knowing that the pledge meant nothing but she gave Jane what she needed. Space.
"Okay," standing on her toes, Maura stole one more kiss.
She walked to the archway in the living room and turn once more to see Jane resume her previous pose. Shoulder against the wall, arms crossed. Eyes focused on the street.