Disclaimer: I don't own Rizzoli and Isles


Two


"Here you go, coffee and pancakes." Angela set the food down and stood, hands clasped, waiting for Maura's reaction.

"Thank you, Angela." She picked up her fork and stared. "It's an elephant...Wow, Angela that must have taken a lot of work."

"It did, so don't tell me you don't like to eat carbs in the morning."

She didn't have the energy to refuse and in truth, she really did want to eat the pancakes. "Thank you, Angela," she repeated, cutting off one of the elephant's legs and eating it.

Angela didn't leave; she just leaned on the table and watched Maura eat. "You just look so sad..."

"I'm fine, I'm just tired." She wondered how many times over the course of the day that she would say that. How many times over the next few weeks she would use it as an excuse to hide her pain.

"Really?"

"Jane found out about Casey last night."

"Oh...How is she?"

"She's fine. I mean, after the initial shock she was - and is- very positive about the whole situation."

"I'm so glad; they deserve to be happy together. They've both been through so much."

And so have I, right along with them, Maura thought bitterly to herself. Then she chastised herself again, it wasn't their fault, it was hers - hers for tapping into her feelings and realising she was in love.

"Yes, they do. I hope they can make it work."

"Oh, maybe I should have them over for dinner."

Which would end up being at my house since you live in my pool house.

Instead Maura said, "Maybe you should wait a little while, they did want to take it slow."

See, I'm being nice, I'm helping them out so they're not through before they even get a fair chance. If she did anything to sabotage Jane and Casey's relationship it would always come between them, whether they were friends or possibly something more.

"Oh...right... I guess they would."

Maura slid gracefully from the seat, she couldn't take much more. "Do you mind terribly if I get this coffee to go?"

"Of course not, one second dear."

Maura breathed a sigh of relief and put some money on the table.

She turned, sensing someone behind her. The electric presence was Jane heading through the lobby and her eyes were drawn to the dark haired woman. She had to force herself to look away and hope that Jane didn't see her. She wasn't ready to deal with any more overly cheerful Jane.

Angela returned and Maura hoped that she wouldn't notice Jane and call her over.

She didn't, only handed off the cup of coffee and wished her a good day.

Maura didn't have much hope for a good day or even a mediocre day. At least there was no case, which meant that she wouldn't have to face Jane.

Yet.


When she got back to the morgue from her solitary lunch, she found Jane sitting on one of the stainless steel tables, swinging her legs.

"Hey."

"Hello."

"I missed you at lunch today."

And I missed you. "I had errands to run." More lies. She was getting too good at this and she didn't like it.

Jane was bursting, "I have a date with Casey."

Maura's heart seemed to crack – another scientific impossibility. She couldn`t move from her place by the door.

"That was fast, I...uh...thought that you were going to take it slow."

She played with her phone in her lap, "I texted him, asking him how his day was and he answered right away."

"Sooo...taking it slow..."

"Exactly." Jane nodded enthusiastically, "We've been talking all morning and then I asked if he wanted to see a movie-'

"And he said yes." Maura interrupted, suddenly able to move. She crossed the room and started organizing instruments on the other autopsy slab.

"Yes."

"Not so slow." She couldn't keep the tension out of her voice.

"It's good right?"

Just like that, Jane's confidence seemed to melt away and Maura mentally kicked herself.

"I don't know it could be as long as you don't plan on going rollerblading."

"No, it's just a movie."

"Much better." Maura managed a smile.

"I hope so."

"You're really going on a date?"

"Yeah."

"Ok." Maura turned around again and started moving around the instruments on the other table.

"Maura?"

"Mhm..."

"Are you sure I should do this?"

Inside she was yelling and screaming, she wanted to tell her not to go. The internal struggle was tearing her apart, making her head hurt and her stomach churn. Physical symptoms that could be explained by hormones...but she knew in her gut, her gut, that it was love making her so unlike herself.

"If it feels right, then you should."

"You know...it does..." Jane jumped off the table, "Thanks, Maura."

She smiled tightly, "No problem Jane, have fun and call me later."

"I will."

Maura nodded, lips pressed together.

Jane reached out and touched Maura's arm, lightly and inadvertently caressing her forearm.

Her skin jumped and sizzled from the touch. Was Jane really so unaffected or did she get the same jolt of electricity? She put her hand over the spot Jane had touched, expecting to feel heat emanating from it.

She didn't.

She moved to brush her own hand over the spot in hopes of calming the nerve endings but she didn't, couldn't. Doing so would wipe away the little connection to Jane.

"Hey, are you ok?"

"Yes, fine." Her response was clipped and she offered no explanation. She didn't want to add another lie to the pile that was crushing her heart and her spirit.

"Ok, I'll call you later. Get some sleep and no beer."

She was gone, her curly dark hair swinging behind her. Maura stood staring in the direction Jane had gone until the door slowly stopped its swinging motion.

Get some sleep and no beer.

Maura laughed at that - same old Jane.

Sometimes.


A/N: Thanks to my lovely beta for this story – lollabie.