Disclaimer: located at top of chapter 1.

A/N: I am using the quotation with italic for ASL.

Chapter 2

In interrogation room.

"What's your name?" Jane asked as Maura interpreted.

"Emmett Bledsoe", he finger-spelled rapidly with ABC signs. Maura's forehead furrowed.

Frustrated Maura signed back, "please slow down."

"E m m e t t B l e d s o e" , he finger-spelled slowly. He gave Maura an 'are-you-satisfied?' look. Maura sighed and she translated his name to Jane.

"Emmett, can you read my lip?" Jane spoke loudly facing Emmett. Maura grimaced thinking, I have to remind Jane not to yell at him or any deaf person in the future.

"Look, can you read my signs?" he signed facing Jane sarcastically as Maura relayed. Emmett looked up at Maura and signed, "I read your lip while I was arrested. You told her that I am hearing impaired. Here is my question for you. Do you think that you are deaf impaired?"

"Oh I apologize for using the improper words!" Maura signed back with apologetic look. Emmett waved his hand accepting her apology. Maura told Jane as she shook her head disgustingly at the politically incorrect silliness instead of murder questioning. By seeing Jane's nasty facial expression, Emmett stood up signing to Jane, "what's your fucking problem? Do you think I am deaf and dumb?" with his fist against his forehead as Maura relayed nervously. Jane stood up slowly and said calmly, "look, I am sorry for the misunderstanding between us and you are here for the questioning related to the murder not fucking politically incorrect related to deaf. Please sit down." After Maura interpreted slowly, Emmett sat down as he was told. Maura reminded herself to scold Jane for that language later.

"Why you were running away from me when I want to ask you some questions on the murder?" Jane questioned as Maura interpreted. Emmett was getting frustrated with Maura's awkward interpreting skills.

"I want a lawyer and a professional ASL interpreter. Also I need to contact my mother from my iPhone. Hope you don't feel offended for my interpreter request," Emmett replied slowly with his apologetic smile.

"That's OK. I am not offended," Maura nodded with her weak smile and she told Jane what they were talking about.

In ME office.

"Why he doesn't want you to interpret for us? I thought you are genius with many foreign languages?" Jane asked Maura gently.

"I rather not to interpret for him while interrogating because I'm not expert with ASL which stands for American Sign Language. I'm sorry I am not genius as you thought" Maura said with a hint of hurt.

"Oh honey, you are always my genius Googlemouth regardless of your limited ASL" Jane rubbed Maura's back.

"Well, Emmett has his rights to request for the professional ASL interpreter based on the Americans with Disabilities Act. ADA is a Federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in State and local governments services so therefore our police department is covered. ADA affects virtually everything that we do, for example, interrogating witnesses, arresting, booking, and holding suspects. Hence we are required by the ADA to ensure effective communication with individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Whether a qualified sign language interpreter or other communication aid is required will depend on the nature of the communication and the needs of the requesting individual. Obviously, Emmet is culturally deaf with his primary language, ASL and he is not a proficient lip reader so we need to call the professional ASL interpreter to prevent any misunderstanding that might lead a potential lawsuit." Maura explained.

"Why you considered him as culturally deaf?", Jane questioned.

"When I talked with him with ASL which I learned by taking a several courses at my university and my deaf friend Melody years ago, he signs so fast which I cannot comprehend him completely. He sounds like he is trying to frustrate me like he did to you." Maura sighed and looked down with her watery eyes. She looked up at Jane as she recited monotonously from Wikipedia, "Deaf culture describes the social beliefs, behaviors, art, literary traditions, history, values and shared institutions of communities that are affected by deafness and which use sign languages as the main means of communication."

Jane wrapped her and she rocked Maura tenderly on the sofa while she was sobbing on her crook of neck. Jane didn't mind her wetting her neck because she loves her.

At Boston Police Department bullpen.

A female stranger tapped Frost's shoulder unexpectedly while he was working on the paperwork that involves Emmett Bledsoe. Frost snapped back defensively. He stood up facing her and his eyes narrowed at her for the unnecessary rapping.

"What were you doing? You would get cited for 'assaulting' the officer." Frost said angrily with air quote gesture but he was startled by seeing her breathtaking beauty. He thought to himself, "Damn, she is so beautiful and maybe I would ask her for a date if everything settles down."

The gorgeous lady gestured"writing anote" to Frost with her 'don't-you-mind' look. He was trying figure what she was trying to tell him. She sighed desperately as she spoke clearly as she could, "Pen. Note." She pointed the notepad and pen laying near his favorite action figure on Frost's desk.

When Frost realized that she might be deaf and related to Emmett, he tapped his index finger on his head saying "Oh, Sorry! Stupid of me." He immediately handed his notepad and pen to her, "here you go" while he was making a mental note to himself, next time anyone shows hand gesture, deaf come first in my mind.

Maura and Jane walked out of the elevator seeing the lady scribing the note beside Frost who stared at her adoringly. Jane felt like she wants to smack his back of head for his ogling at that lady. They paced toward them but Maura was stunned by recognizing the lady.

"Melody?" Maura voiced and signed her name at same time. The gorgeous face of the lady brightened seeing Maura and they embraced tightly like they haven't seen each other for years. Jane felt the pang of the jealousy seeing their tight embrace.

"Maura, how have you been doing? It been long time no see each other! Why didn't you keep in touch with me after I sent you the few last emails years ago?" Melody's hands flying rapidly as Maura tried to keep up with her. Jane stepped back slightly so she didn't want one of her eyes poked by her stray finger accidentally.

Maura felt ashamed by Melody's 'ranting' and she signed timidly, "I am truly sorry for not in touch with you lately because my life is full of unexpected events and my career takes lot of my time. Please forgive me,Melody?" In her back of mind, she didn't want her to know her one major reason why she stopped contacting her.

Melody noticed that Maura's ASL is rusty and awkward and she signed "Maura, I forgive you. Now I need to ask you one question. When is the last time you used ASL?"

In flashback at Maura's BCU university.

At Maura's ASL class III, the instructor informed the audience that they have to social with any deaf person or attending the deaf event in order to practice with your sign skills which is 40% of your grade. Feeling motivated, Maura saw a deaf group at the college cafe and she asked them if she can sit with them. She explained that she wanted to learn more ASL from them. Few of them gave her the dirty looks and one deaf guy asked her if she wants to take advantage of their precious language for her own college credits and throw them out as outcasts. Maura felt that she offended them somehow so she walked away with her teary eyes. One of them stood up and chastened them for giving her a hard time because of her being 'hearie'. She left the deaf group looking for Maura outside and she found Maura sitting by the tree crying. She sat down by her and tapping her leg gently for her attention. Maura looked up startled thinking that she wanted to taunt her continuously from the group. However her facial expression showed sincere and compassion as she told her that she apologized for the 'deafie' group being jerk to her. Maura smiled gratefully and she learned her name was Melody. They became good friends even she improved her ASL gradually while she kept socializing with Melody despite of her awkward social skills. Eventually, Maura took Melody to Europe for their college spring break vacation as "Thank you for getting her 'A' on her ASL course." After one year of their friendship, Maura began her romantic feeling for Melody but her feeling went downhill after Melody began dating that deaf guy who never apologized for belittling Maura about her college credit on ASL. Maura cut down her spending time with Melody little by little. They contacted with emails once a while after their college graduations. They stopped contacting after Maura declined the invitation to Melody's wedding with same deaf guy.

Back to present at BPD bullpen.

Maura told Melody truthfully that her last time using ASL was at college. Melody stared at her incredulously as Maura cringed at her facial expression. As Melody snapped out of her shock, she told Maura that she was impressed that she still remembered most of ASL regardless. Maura smiled appreciatively as she told Jane what they were talking about.

"Hi, my name is Elaine and I am here as professional ASL interpreter," Elaine voiced and signed simultaneously as she came from the entrance. Jane led her to the interrogation room as she explained about Emmett situation. Elaine nodded listening to Jane while walking with her.

Near Frost's desk, Melody asked Maura in ASL, "anyway, I came here for my son Emmett who texted me that he was arrested without a probable cause." Maura looked at her dumbfounded because she didn't realize that it has been 18 years since she saw Melody.