A/N: I realize I made quite a few writing (grammar etc) mistakes in the previous chapter and I am working to fix them. Sorry about that! Also, if anyone could tell me if there is a way to edit the story without deleting the whole thing and reposting it I would love you to death. Maybe I am just technologically impaired and it's really obvious I don't know shh please don't judge me.

Anyhow, thanks so much for reading and reviewing (even if it's just a few reviews I really appreciate all of them) as well as being so kind and constructive! I hope you enjoy the story and please let me know anything and everything you're thinking. Okay, maybe that's a bit excessive... Hope you like it!

Chapter Two

-Two Weeks, Six Days Earlier—

Shopping for shoes was something Maura Isles considered a bit of a guilty pleasure. Admittedly, one she indulged in often, very often and not very discreetly. But it certainly wasn't a secret so she supposed it might not count as a guilty pleasure at all. She called it one anyway because everyone has a guilty pleasure and this is the one she wanted. She loved opening the thick cardstock boxes and carefully pulling back the powder white tissue paper that coddled whatever simmering pair of shoes, likely heels, she had purchased. Getting a new pair gave Maura a rush of giddy happiness that she couldn't ever get tired of. She gazed down at her pitiful looking Jimmy Choo's, and a tear slid down the side of her soft, blushed cheek. The rustic orange suede pumps had been the newest addition to her beloved collection, and she hated to see them go so soon. The 3.5 inch heel had been a reasonably short height and hardly the equivalent of the Empire State building. Come to think of it, she doubted they actually helped Jane to reach the desired bottle of chemicals at all. Setting the gallon jug down on the cold surface of an autopsy table, she gently scooped up the pitiful remains of her shoes. Stepping into her office, she sat timidly down at her desk and wept softly. Of course, it was hardly just because of the shoes. Maura was confused. She was more than confused, she was losing her mind. Everything was building up and she knew it. It starts with embarrassingly pitiful sulking and sniffling, and then it all goes downhill from there. A pint of ice cream should be a proactive advance against this destructive path, shouldn't it?

It was driving her crazy that that wild haired brunette could make her laugh about her precious pair of shoes being destroyed right before her eyes. That every time she walked into the room and smiled in her direction or made an adorable face, she blushed and her stomach flipped around a dozen times. She didn't understand why this was happening. Especially with her. Maura had never had a best friend. She never really had any friends at all. And now that she's nearly considered family, even if they're just being nice, now that she has this wonderful, amazing friend, she has to ruin it with these-these feelings, whatever they may be. She had even done research on what she might be feeling and what would be causing it and the result was completely inconclusive. What does that tell you? She couldn't go on like this, though. It wasn't fair to Jane.

So, she sat weeping over a pair of snapped heels. And absolutely nothing else.


Jane knew it was a mistake to have run off like that. Maura probably thought she was crazy. She didn't even give her an excuse, just stormed out the door. On top of it all she broke her new shoes. She could have just gotten a box or a book or something, anything else to stand on. Or get someone taller to get her stupid chemicals. But none of it matters because she couldn't think about that right now. She can't think about Maura or anything remotely close to a Maura. Ever. Never Ever Never. EVER AGAIN. She needed a distraction, a case. A case without a murder because she wouldn't want to have to see Maura… This would be hard, really hard.

"Janie!" The shrill voice hollered across the precinct and rang out in Jane's ears. Oh great, now I've got Ma on my back.

"What Ma, what do you need? I'm working." The exasperated reply made her mother scoff out a light whine before replying.

"I just thought I'd check up on you! Can't a mother come and see her own daughter for no reason anymore?" When Jane didn't reply, but simply shrugged in a 'what do you want me to do' manner she pursed her lips in frustration. "Well fine then, I'll go say hello to Maura. My favorite daughter! My favorite, good daughter!" Jane jumped up in panic and grabbed her mother's arm, whipping her back around before she could take a step further to the elevator.

"NO! No, you um- you can't go down to the morgue right now because Mau-she's busy." Not missing the slight correction in avoiding saying Maura's name, Angela narrowed her eyes suspiciously at her daughter and snatched her arm back.

"Maura always let's me visit her, even when she's busy. Just to say hi, it's not like I'm staying down there all day!" She turned and headed towards the elevator. Stomping around in a fitful circle Jane groaned and ran after her mother.

"Ughhragh, fine Ma, I'll come with you." She grumbled in submission. At least this way she could keep an eye on her mother, even if that meant keeping her eye on Maura; Or rather, trying to keep her eyes off of Maura. NO. STOP IT. STOP THINKING ABOUT HER. STOP THINKING ABOUT STOPPING THINKING ABOUT HER. STOP THINKING IN GENERAL JUST—UGH WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?!

A/N: Okay, I know it's short. But I need to block some things out and I promise it will be longer next time! Love you all!