Thank you for all the great reviews! This chapter was a little more difficult to write for some reason. I don't normally have two plot lines going on at the same time so that may be it. Anyway - let me know what you think!


Pulled from her bed at six in the morning was no way to start a day. Jane slammed the door of her unmarked police car and pulled her jacket tightly closed. The wind was bitterly cold and she wish she had thought to grab warmer gear before leaving Maura's house. Some may have found it odd that she chose to spend the night there given the doctor was several hundred miles away but those people had never slept in the warm perfumed comfort of that giant pillow top king sized bed. Just thinking about it made her wish she was there now, snuggled under the thick comforter with her head buried under a pillow. Flashing her badge at the uniform guarding the perimeter, she stepped over the tape and made her way into the expensive brownstone.

Her thoughts turned to her best friend and the game they had started as she made her way across the lawn and into the house. They had agreed right before the detective had dropped her off at the airport that the questions wouldn't begin until the next day. Now that the day was here, Jane would have to find some time to organize her thoughts. Maura enjoyed several things and it was hard to focus on just one especially this early. She knew she loved clothes and shoes, although she doubted very much that the gorgeous blonde would trust her enough to pick those out for her. Smirking, she thought back to the note she had found taped to the bathroom mirror this morning that apparently the blonde had placed there for her before she left. In her beautiful swirly handwriting, she had written, "Dear Jane, Please remember to eat one of the granola bars and bananas I left for you. Breakfast is an important part of the day. Love, Maura". The note had made her smile and the other one on the back of the front door that simply said "Jane - breakfast" had the brunette racing back into her kitchen to grab the items before heading out. Still smiling at the memory, she found where Frost stood in the master bedroom surveying the crime scene.

"Hey there, partner. Glad to see you're so happy. Someone must have had their morning coffee" Frost greeted her, sarcasm evident in his tone.

Ignoring his deliberate attempt to get a reaction from her, she instead snapped on some gloves and began scanning the bedroom where they were standing. "What do we have?"

"Two victims. 1 male, 1 female." Vince Korsack read off as he came around the bed. "Signs of sexual intercourse, not sure if it was consensual. Female victim was tied to the bed and the male victim was tied to the chair. Female seems to have suffered multiple stab wounds and male victims throat was slashed."

Jane spun around scanning the floor "Are there any teacups?" her eyes flew up to meet Korsacks "Korsack! Are there any teacups? Is this Hoyt? Is he out?"

"No, Janie. I already checked. He is in solitaire and there are no signs of teacups"

"Well what the hell is this then?" Jane looked around again beginning to notice the differences between this scene and scenes Hoyt had left behind. Without realizing it, she began massaging the scars in the palms of her hands.

"Hey Jane, where is Maura? I would've thought she would have been here by now. It's rare that her team beats her"

Jane cursed under her breath and quickly found a crime scene tech. "I need you to take pictures of both victims now. Take as many as you can, as fast as you can." Seeing another photographer she gestured to them as well "C'mon, you too, hurry! Close ups of each wound, blood spray, everything! We are running out of time!" she urged them.

Frost and Korsack looked at each in confusion before the older detective finally said "Jane. what is going on?"

She met his eyes before glancing at her partner, "Maura is out of town"

Barry Frost went pale as Korsack began rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Oh, crap" All three detectives started furiously writing notes, while urging everyone to process the scene faster knowing their time was short.

They had just found a bloody shoe print near the bathroom door and photographed it when the on call medical examiner arrived.

"Hello detectives." Dr. Pike said piously as he walked in the door, uncaringly stepping through blood and immediately compromising the crime scene. "I assume you will be leaving soon to make room for my team to work?"

Jane slipped into the closet letting the other detectives worry about Pike. The closet was the last place near the bedroom that hadn't been cleared yet. Not expecting to find anything, she was turning to leave when something caught her eye. All of the clothes were meticulously hung, each hanger a precise distance from the next. One of the victims definitely showed signs of full blown obsessive compulsive disorder. What was interesting though was that on one side of the giant walk in closet, a small section of clothes were all jumbled as if they had hastily been shoved together. Donning a fresh glove, the detective carefully separated the hangers.

"Jane, you almost done in here?"

"Hey, Korsack, come look at this"

"Whatcha got? Oh...looks like a peephole"

"Yeah, looks like maybe we have a witness"

By the time the detective got home that night, she was beat. This case wasn't adding up and she knew she was missing something significant. Why would a witness have hidden in the closet and watched a murder? If they were in on it, why would they have hid? If it were accidental, what was with the peephole and why hadn't the police been called? There were so many questions rolling around in her head that finally she had left the station knowing she wouldn't get any further until she had some sleep. Also, she felt an intense need to talk to her best friend.

Showering quickly, she threw on a tshirt and shorts and, sitting cross legged on the bed, pulled her computer near and grabbed her phone.

Hey Maur, hows it going?She texted hoping to get an immediate response

Hi, Jane. I am doing well. I was beginning to wonder if I would hear from you today.In truth, Maura had been slightly hurt that the detective hadn't texted her but had put those feelings aside knowing that she must have been busy with a case.

Yeah, sorry about that. We pulled a case. Double homicide. I have a feeling it's going to be a tough one. I have a question for you though.. Fluffing her pillows behind her, the detective leaned back against the headboard and slipped beneath the covers.

I'd be happy to help with the case as much as I can. I'm sorry I can't be there for the autopsy but I am more than willing to look over any results you may have.

That would be awesome, Maur, and I definitely will need your help with this one. Although, right now I just have a question about your gift. :)

Of course! Maura smiled as she waited curiously for Jane's first question. Slipping off her robe, she slipped between the cool sheets on her bed.

Tapping her lip with one finger, the detective thought for a minute. She needed to get a few obvious choices out the way first before she could focus her search. Typing a quick text, she asked her first question of the night.

Can you find it at the mall?

The M.E. laughed as she read what Jane had sent remembering all of the time's Angela had tried to get her daughter to go shopping as well as the times Maura had coerced her into going. Jane Rizzoli was most definitely not usually found at the mall.

I can absolutely assure you that it is a rare occurrence that this particular gift is ever found in a mall.

Smiling at the very preciseness of her answer, Jane decided to expand this line of questioning.

What about a boutique? Can it be found in a boutique?

Smirking as she typed, Maura couldn't help but giggle a little at the idea of Jane in a boutique. Either she would refuse to go, or she would go but pout the entire time. She would never really understand why the tall, lanky and gorgeous women hated nice clothes so much. It was a continuous mystery to her.

I would be comfortable saying that there is less of a chance finding this gift in a boutique than in a mall.

Jane smiled at her response even though it wasn't the answer she was hoping for. She already found that she was missing her best friend much more than she anticipated. It seemed like she had been gone for much longer than 24 hours. Shaking her head at herself she wondered if it were the case making her feel so morose. Whatever it was, she wished Maura was there to talk to. She wouldn't deny that she really wanted her near her right now. Her hands ached and she longed for her comforting touch.

Hey, Maur, are you free for a skype call?

Pulling her laptop closer and opening it, she didn't have long to wait before a skype call came through.

"Hi, Jane" Maura's smiling face filled the screen as she settled back down on her pillows, tousled blond curls lying against pristine white sheets.

"Hey there" the detective felt an almost immediate calm come over her at the sound of the doctor's voice. Not able to hide her smile, she let her eyes take in the warm hazel ones before her. "Were you already in bed? I'm not keeping you awake am I?"

Maura tilted her head slightly, considering. "Technically, yes" she laughed "but I don't mind in the least" and it was true. While the M.E. had thought leaving town would help relieve some of her frustration and exhaustion, she had found that being away from Jane was not what she really needed.

They talked for awhile with the doctor filling her in on her day before the conversation turned to the case Jane was working on.

"I thought it was Hoyt, Maur. I thought he had gotten out" rubbing her hands she lowered her eyes for a moment before looking back up at her friend. "I probably shouldn't admit it, but it has me a little spooked"

"I wish I could be there with you, Jane"

Slipping down further in her sheets and pulling the pillow flat beneath her head, the detective sighed deeply before answering. "Me too." Hesitating before adding "I really miss you"

Maura's heart fluttered in her chest at the intensity of her gaze along with the confession. Smiling shyly she let her eyes roam over the detective's image on her screen. "I miss you too. I wish I could be there to comfort you"

"You are comforting me, but I wish you were here too"

Letting the silence fall, they both lay gazing at the other

"Do you think we could leave the skype session open until we fall asleep?" Maura knew that the detective would never ask, but she wondered if perhaps it would help Jane sleep.

"We can do that" Jane smiled at her, grateful for the suggestion. They talked a bit longer until slowly the conversation ended and the brunette watched as the M.E. drifted off to sleep. She loved when the blonde was relaxed and comfortable and watching her sleep had become a secret past time of hers whenever they spent the night together. She may not physically be able to explore the beautiful doctor but that didn't stop her gaze from sweeping over her as often as possible, pausing to memorize every inch of what she could see. Laughing softly at herself at her borderline creepy thoughts, Jane looked at her friend one more time before letting her eyes slowly close. Her last thoughts were about how much she missed her and how long it had been since they had been separated. At the beginning of their friendship, Maura had spent time each year traveling overseas for holidays or vacations. With a growing sense of surprise, Jane realized she hadn't left the country in several years. Opening her eyes one more time she took in the vision of her favorite doctor. Maybe what Maura wanted was a vacation trip? With that in mind, she closed her eyes again and snuggled deeper into the bed.


Reviews are welcome and appreciated :)