A/N: Just a little something that came to me after I watched 5x13 for like the fifth time this week. Just a one shot.
Once the laughter had died down and the meal had digested, she found herself on the precipice of a life changing decision. Standing in the door way ready to say goodnight to her dearest friend, Detective Jane Rizzoli had an epiphany. "Maur," she started, before cutting herself of as the doubts immediately crept in. Not tonight.
Doctor Maura Isles raised an intrigued eyebrow at her friend as the study of chocolate brown eyes revealed hidden emotions that she couldn't quite identify. "Jane?" Her inflection implying a cross between curiosity and concern.
The detective took a moment to soak in the natural beauty of the woman standing before her. Golden locks perfectly framing one of the kindest and uncorrupted faces she knew. Hazel eyes pierced right through her internal defences and caused a raging battle to break out in her head. Do what the head demanded or accept the risk of pursuing what the heart wanted.
Realising that perhaps she had been staring too long Jane ducked her head shyly, tucking a stray lick of dark hair back behind her ear. She felt like a school girl with her first crush; every emotion she felt multiplied a hundred fold, or at least so it felt. "I did think of you."
Lips pursed and brow furrowed, "Thought of me?" Curiosity had faded straight into confusion as her thoughts tried to sift through what on earth Jane was talking about. It only took the Chief Medical Examiner of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts a few moments to recall the conversation she had shared with the detective in her office. "Well of course you did Jane, maybe not when you were falling towards the water and fantasising about ravioli and beer. But I have no doubt that you would have thought about me, your friends and family while out there swimming for your life." It seemed to her that it would be rather odd if a person in mortal danger didn't think back to those they cared about. Jane cared about her; ergo it was only natural that she be in her friends thoughts.
Jane offered up a sad smile, her courage fading and her head clearly winning the battle. "I just wanted to clarify that. It's been gnawing at me since our talk."
Maura nodded thoughtfully. "Thank you, but Jane?"
"Yes?
"Try to think of me before you jump next time."
"Promise." She wasn't sure if she could keep it, not that she had any intention or inclination to jump off any bridge at all in the future. Next time it might be a moving car or a gunshot or any other danger that she would instinctively put herself in front of for the sake of protecting someone during the course of doing her job. She really was hard to love. "Goodnight Maura."
The doctor leaned over and gave her friend a brief hug. "I wasn't being literal; I did actually mean anything you might choose to jump in front of, out of or off of."
Jane chuckled and pulled out of the hug so she could make eye contact with Maura, "I know."
"Good." Her smile vibrant and wide, "Goodnight Jane."
The detective turned and took a couple of steps into the night air before pausing to consider the battle raging between her heart and head one more time. Swallowing the doubt caught in her throat she turned to look at her friend who was about to close the door. "Maur, wait!"
Maura paused and once again found herself looking at the detective with curious eyes. She couldn't remember the last time she had seen Jane filled with so much trepidation. "What is…"
Jane silenced Maura with a kiss; a tender kiss that released all the pent up frustration and fear she had been fighting for years. She had only needed a moment, just a brief kiss. Pulling back she searched her friend's eyes for answers to the unspoken question.
"Well that was unexpected." Maura stepped back from the doorway, "I think maybe you better come back inside."
"Maura, I…" she was feeling uncertain, worried.
"Correct me if I am wrong here Jane, but I do believe that was your way of telling me you are attracted to me?"
The smile that followed her question relaxed the churning in Jane's gut. "Well duh." She laughed a little.
"I see." Maura pursed her lips thoughtfully, cocked her head to the side so that it angled towards the interior of the house. "I really think you should come back inside."
In that moment it dawned on Jane that maybe she should be careful what she wished for. One foot after another she stepped past her friend and watched with rising desire as the woman who owned her heart closed the front door behind them. "Maura…"
"Jane?" Her eyes gave away the mischievousness of her intentions, "Just shut up and kiss me."
Yep Jane thought as she obeyed the command really should be careful what I wish for. She knew that nothing would be the same again and Maura was going to be even more incorrigible, but that was just fine by the detective. Just fine.