Chapter 2

Detective Frost was immersed in his work when he heard the sound of heels clicking on the floor. He looked up to see Maura enter the bullpen, looking around the room for one brunette detective. "If you're looking for Jane," he said, "she and Korsak are interviewing Arnold Whistler, the owner of the burned down warehouse."

"Do you think they are going to be much longer?" Maura asked, checking her watch.

Frost shook his head, and closed the file he had been looking at, "nah, they should be almost done."

"I guess I'll wait here then," Maura perched herself against Jane's desk.

While waiting, Frost and Maura spoke about the current case they were working on.

The M.E. had determined that the death of Greg Hill, the fire fighter that was killed last night, was not an accident as they had originally thought, but a homicide.

The doctor had also determined that the fire itself was caused by a faulty space heater. To confirm some additional suspicions she had, she had sent out an inquiry to get documentation on other fires in the area that may have been started in the same way. But she wouldn't get those files until tomorrow morning.

With nothing else that could be done at the moment, she was ready to go home for today. She just hoped her detective was ready as well.

Maura got her answer fairly quickly, when Korsak and Jane appeared around the corner, still quietly talking to each other.

As soon as Jane noticed the blonde leaning against her desk, a big smile appeared on her face.

"How did the interview go?" Maura asked, taking a few steps closer to Jane, but keeping a professional distance.

"A waste of time," the brunette responded, running a hand through her hair, "guy's a pervert, but I don't think he had anything to do with the fire. Back to square one."

"We'll figure it out," Frost said confidently.

Jane gave her partner an appreciative nod, before directing her attention back to her fiancee, "you look like you're ready to go home."

"I am, and I was hoping you were as well," Maura replied, sounding eager. "My father flew in this afternoon, and I was thinking we could all have dinner tonight at the 'Ivory Table'."

Jane nodded, then looked over at Korsak and Frost. "You guys okay if I head out for today?"

"You sure you're ready to spend time with the in-laws?" Korsak laughed at his own joke, but when he was met with a steady stare and a raised eyebrow from both Jane and Maura, he turned serious and waved them away. "Go, it's fine. There's not much more we can do tonight anyway, we'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay, let's go." Jane grabbed her things and led the way outside.

Thirty minutes later Jane and Maura stepped through the front door of their home; quiet conversation greeting them upon entering.

"Maura, there you are." A tall, still handsome, middle aged man stood up from the couch and headed towards them, Constance not far behind.

"Father, it's so good to see you." Maura responded, greeting her father in the same way as she had her mother last night; european style, with a kiss on each cheek.

"And you must be Jane," the man said, reaching out his hand towards the detective. "I've heard a lot about you. It's nice to finally meet you in person."

"Likewise, Mr. …uh... Isles. It's nice to meet you too," the brunette awkwardly mumbled, while giving the man a firm handshake.

"Call me Alexander," he said kindly, brushing off the formality. Jane smiled, she liked him already.

Both Constance and Alexander Isles had a certain air around them; they were posh people. Elegant, classy, stylish. They looked like they were used to enjoying the finer things in life. But they also had a certain kindness and warmth, that they had obviously passed on to their daughter.

Jane knew they had been somewhat lacking as parents, but both Mr. and Mrs. Isles were trying to reconnect with Maura, regretting how their own lives had gotten in the way of really getting to know their own daughter.

The detective felt a little frumpy, especially standing next to these people, who were dressed immaculately. After being at work all day, Jane's clothes were wrinkled and her hair was a mess. It definitely wasn't the way she had wanted to look when first meeting Maura's father. But since it was done now, she really just wanted to jump in the shower, get changed, and go for dinner. They were called out early that morning and she hadn't really eaten anything of substance all day; she was starving.

"Maur, I am going to take a quick shower and get ready, okay?" Jane said, catching the blonde's attention.

"Oh, yes." Maura replied, suddenly realizing she was still in her 'work' clothes as well. "We have reservations at 8 p.m. so we have some time still." They quickly excused themselves and got ready for their evening out.

The doctor had already chosen what Jane should wear tonight, and for once the brunette did not complain, even when she did squirm a little.

The four of them sat down for a lovely dinner at the 'Ivory Table'.

After an initial awkward warm up phase, conversation started to flow freely and comfortably.

"Tell me," Alexander said after a while, taking a sip from his wine, "how did you two first meet?"

Jane and Maura quickly glanced at each other, both blushing a little.

"Yes, darling. Share the story with us. You never did tell me how you two met," Constance looked at them both expectantly.

"Well," Jane started, remembering the day. "When our paths first crossed, I was still working for the drug unit."

"And I had just started working for BPD," the doctor added.

"When you're a girl, and you do buy busts, you got to be a hooker," Jane explained, looking a little nervous. She was hoping the Isles' wouldn't be offended, but they just looked like they were enjoying themselves. So the brunette continued, "I just came back from my shift, I was at the division one cafe at BPD. I had no ID, no money, and I'm starving. I really just wanted a cup of coffee and something to eat. But Stanley, the owner, pretended not to know me."

"She was wearing an outfit that was sure to be fashion homicide, including fishnet stockings and terrible make-up," Maura added, eliciting a soft laugh from Constance.

Jane and Maura told the rest of the story together, each injecting their own take on their first meeting.

"I was just trying to be friendly, trying to pay for her drink," Maura finally said, smiling, giving the brunette a sideways glance, "and I gave her some healthy food options."

Jane playfully rolled her eyes. "Yes, but you put on your gloves first."

All four of them laughed heartily at the strange circumstances they had met in.

"We didn't really see much of each other after that, not until Jane got promoted to the homicide squad." Maura finished, "and the rest as they say, is the past."

The brunette smiled, gently grabbing a hold of Maura's hand under the table. "History," she whispered.

"History?" Maura asked.

"Yes, they say, the rest is history," she affectionately smiled at the doctor, "but I like your version too."

They spent another hour or so at the restaurant, eating desert and drinking some wine.

It wasn't until Alexander quietly stifled a yawn, they decided to wrap up the evening.

"I'm sorry, I'm still on Tanzanian time," he apologized, then motioned for the waiter to bring him the check.

After settling the bill they made their way outside, taking their time walking back to the car.

They had just started crossing the street when out of nowhere a black car came racing down the street, heading straight for Maura at full speed. It would have hit her too if it wasn't for Jane's quick reaction, pushing the doctor out of the way, and to the ground; the car narrowly missing them both.

The car stopped momentarily about twenty feet away from them, it just sat there for a few long seconds, then quickly sped off with screeching tires.

Jane quickly helped Maura up from the ground, aided by her parents. "Are you okay?" she asked the blonde, her hands cupping her face, looking intently in her eyes.

"I…I'm fine, I think." Maura stood there in shock at what happened. Thinking about all the ways this could have gone different. If her parents would have crossed the street first, or if Jane wouldn't have pushed her away.

The brunette checked Maura over for injuries, but when nothing but a few scrapes were found, she pulled her into a tight embrace, breathing in the essence of her; taking just a moment to reassure herself of the woman's safety.

When she finally pulled back, she grabbed her cell phone, first dialing the station and then her partner. "Frost", she said, quickly shifting into cop mode and relaying the events. "...No, no license plate, but it was an old 70's police cruiser. …yeah, that's what I was thinking, there shouldn't be too many of those around anymore. …No, but it did have a diamond shaped sticker on the back window. …okay, put out a BOLO."

When Jane ended the call, she pulled the blonde gently to the side, out of her parents earshot. "Maura, soon as the cops arrive, I am going to have a squad car drive you and your parents home, okay?" the detective looked entirely stressed and upset.

"You're not coming home with us?" Maura asked, her voice small.

Jane shook her head, "I was going to stay here. I want to make sure we find whoever just tried to run you over."

Maura tried to put on a brave face and nodded, but she wasn't fooling anyone; she was shaken up.

Jane took a deep breath, briefly considering where she was needed more at the moment. The decision was quickly made when she saw the clear distress in her fiancee's eyes, "Okay, how about instead of a squad car, I'll drive us all home. Just give me a few minutes until Frost gets here, okay? You and your parents can go wait in the car, and I'll be there as soon as I can."

Maura instantly looked relieved, she felt a little guilty and needy, but she really didn't want to be away from Jane right now.

Several squad cars arrived at the scene shortly after, instantly roping off the area to preserve any evidence. Frost and Korsak got there soon after.

"Jane, is everything okay, is anyone hurt?" the older detective looked concerned.

"Maura fell and got a few cuts and scrapes, but she'll be fine" the brunette quickly responded. "But listen," she said, all business, "there was something weird about this car."

"Weird how?" Frost asked.

"It's just a feeling. The car came at us full speed, out of nowhere, like it had been waiting. And the way it stopped, before driving off, it was weird. Almost like they, whoever it was, wanted to make sure they had hit their target. It didn't feel accidental, it felt like a hit."

"Then we'll treat it as such." Korsak said, "we'll make sure everything gets taken care off Jane. We'll have an unmarked follow you home and posted outside your house as well."

"Thanks, but…make sure they keep their distance, and keep it quiet for now. Who knows, I might just be seeing things here, maybe it was just an accident." Jane looked over at her own car, knowing the people inside were still waiting for her. "I don't want to freak Maura out, or her parents, at least not anymore than they already are. Especially not this weekend."

"We'll take care of it, okay?" Frost reassured his partner, "we'll call if we find anything at all."

Jane nodded. Now finished with what needed to be done, the brunette made her way to their car, got in, and drove them home.

The ride back to the house was definitely a very subdued affair. It had been such a pleasant evening, but it had been rudely interrupted by some maniac driver.

Jane was hoping she was just seeing things, that this was just an unfortunate event, a happenstance. Maybe a drunk driver. But deep inside, her gut instinct told her there was definitely something more going on here, they would just have to figure out what it was.

Either way there wasn't more that she could do tonight, she had passed on her suspicions to her partner, and Korsak.

She trusted them to help her figure it out, yet she knew she wouldn't be able to rest until they did.