Authors Note:
Thanks so much to everyone that read, reviewed and added the story to their alerts. I appreciate it so much. I, like so many others, love this pairing. I have read more fanfic than I care to admit but I haven't wrote anything in a long time. Anyway hope that everyone enjoys this story- wherever it might go- and please leave feedback if you can. Good or bad it all helps. Thanks!
The sun had long gone down beneath the clouds and the chill of the Boston night air was formidable. But Dr. Maura Isles still kept running. Logically she knew that if anyone, especially her best friend, was aware that she was out at this time of night they would be less than happy. That was of little concern to her because she had to do something, anything to get her mind off of what had been haunting her for weeks. She was certain that drinking wine on her couch, alone, would do nothing to help her. 'I'm going to start dating women'. Over and over again, those words have played in her head -definitive huskiness still lacing each syllable.
Shaking her head to try the rid the thought of Jane Rizzoli, Maura tried to focus instead on her running- perfect form of course. For a while it worked and all that could be heard was the pounding of shoes on the pavement. She had decided to wear shoes after Jane had gaffed at her apparel at the marathon. And there she was back to the beginning thinking of Jane again. She had spent a large portion of her time for the past few weeks, thinking about Jane and when she wasn't thinking about her, she was trying to discern why it was that she could think of nothing else. After all she was just her best friend, not her lover. And Maura only remembered thinking of someone as much as she did Jane, when she had a fancied them romantically.
She definitely did not want Jane in that way. Yes, she was attractive, beautiful, and gorgeous even but that was something that everyone noticed. She was strong, supportive, loyal- all qualities that a good friend should have. But what Maura Isles could not chalk up to friendship was the sharp, burning sensation that she felt from her legs to her lungs. She suspected it had little to do with her run and everything to do with the fact that Jane was on a date right now.
She started to slow her pace as she neared the front door of her house. Head down, breathing hard she wasn't really sure how long she had run but she suspected it was miles. The attempt to clear her head and relax had proven to be futile. She had arrived at her house in the same shape she left it in-tense and anxious. Perhaps this is why she didn't hear the footsteps approaching. So when she felt long, slender fingers on her shoulder-she shuddered in fear and recognition. The gasp was audible as she swung around, but she was rendered speechless thereafter. It was amazing how close she was to the other figure. Standing eye to eye, green to brown, lips barely Inches from lips.
"What the hell are you doing Maura?" Jane husked as she took in her friend's rapid breathing, and running gear.
"Isn't it pretty obvious that I was running?"
"Okay smartass, but what I meant is why are you running at 10 o'clock at night? I can't even begin to tell you how dangerous that is. And by yourself at that, the next time you want to go for a run at night will you call me at least?"
Maura said nothing for a while, and instead moved to open the door to her house brushing past Jane who had somehow moved even closer to her. She tried to ignore the jolt she felt.
Walking inside her foyer through to her kitchen she quickly grabbed a bottle of wine, and glass for herself.
"Beer, Jane?"
"Maura." She ground out. Apparently Jane Rizzoli was mad.
"Jane, I'm pretty sure that I am an adult and that I can take care of myself" The clipped shortness of her statement surprised the doctor. Apparently she was mad too.
"Well I guess you can't take care of yourself. If you would think that it's a good idea for you to go out by yourself, in Boston at night."
While Jane was being a bit annoying currently, Maura could not deny that this streak of protectiveness was quite sexy. It occurred to her though that she had no idea why the detective had even shown up at her doorstep in the first place.
"Right Jane. Anyway how was your date with Clara?"
"Claire. And it was wonderful." Maura couldn't help but notice that the detectives eyes, changed with her statement, they seemed to have genuine light in them.
"This was your third date right?"
"MMhm"
"So what are you doing here my friend? Shouldn't you be having hot sex right now?"
"Yes, I could be. I mean we were well on our way…light touches all through dinner, smiles and long gazes over the wine glass…."
"I'm well aware of the mating dance Jane." The Doctor couldn't help but wonder if there could be anything more excruciating than listening to these details.
" Anyway so it's going well through dinner, we go back to my apartment and start kissing, it's nice the best kiss I have ever had for sure. It was crazy really; we couldn't keep our hands off of each other. We moved to the couch and..."
"Jane I am sorry but I really don't want the details".
"Why Maura? I always give you details about the guys I date. Is this because it's a woman? Does this bother you because if it does than you are obviously not the person I thought you were." Jane couldn't help the hurt that crept up her throat, if Maura didn't want to be with her that was one thing, but to think that she didn't accept her. Well that hurt.
" Jane, Don't be ridiculous, you know that I have no problem with homosexuality…its just" She couldn't really give voice to why this bothered her so much so she ignored it" I'm sorry, its fine, what happened next?"
"Nothing really, things were progressing but when she suggested we move to the bedroom. I just couldn't do it. I have no idea what happened. I just froze and tensed up. It's like I can't feel, I can't let anyone in."
Maura had never been a religious person, science had ruined that for her, yet she thanked whatever being that was responsible for Jane Rizzoli being here right now instead of in that woman's arms. But the tears she saw pooling in her best friends eyes tempered her joy. Maura moved closer to her friend, noticing for the first time that they were still standing in the kitchen. Opening her arms she wrapped them securely around her taller friend. Jane quickly melted into the embrace, burying her face into the surprisingly strong shoulders of the doctor. The softness of each other's bodies was all that could be felt ;the easy, synchronization of their breaths was all that could be heard. And as the silence enclosed them again, it only felt right to whisper.
"You are the most open, loving person I have ever known". She continued to hold her detective, thinking not for the first time, that nothing could be more perfect than this.
