Title: Bonds

A/N: Takes place after SE2 Finale and sequel to 'Family' published in October/November 2011

CHAPTER

Dr. Maura Isles was bored. It was already 10 in the morning and she'd finished her work for the day. It was a rarity that her morgue wasn't stacked with bodies, but Maura had been spending all of her time in the lab and even her 'rainy day' filing work had long been completed.

The Chief Medical Examiner sat back and rested her head against the back of her chair. There must be something I can get done. She looked around the office and noted its impeccable cleanliness. Not one book was out of place or dust bunny in existence. She smiled. This would drive Jane nuts.

The smile evaporated.

It had all gone downhill so fast. Walls existed where trust, honesty and happiness used to exist. Jane had become her entire world, perhaps all too quickly. Maybe it had been the all-consuming job or their daily proximity. But she'd fallen completely for the detective and the world had suddenly opened up.

Now.

She couldn't be in the same room as the detective. Jane reminded her of that night, of her biological father and the only chance she'd had at finding out who she was. Jane had taken that away from her. She'd broken her trust and that hurt more than her father's death. Maura had recently accepted that personal admission. It was the truth.

But was that the real reason? Maura smiled sadly. Of course not. The real reason she couldn't be in a room with Jane Rizzoli was she couldn't trust herself around the detective. She never could.

She'd never apologized for hitting Jane.

Maura felt her eyes sting and swallowed back the sudden and familiar thickness in her throat. Taking a deep breath, Maura bolted up and paced the room, looking for a distraction. She hated idleness. Being idle allowed her to think and thinking nearly always resulted in thoughts of the brunette she knew was only a few flights above her at this very moment.

Her email inbox chimed. Hallelujah.

The medical examiner opened her computer and grinned. In her inbox sat an email from, Dr. Isaac Jermaine, a kindred spirit since their year together in Doctors Without Borders.

Maura!

Just a quick one as I borrow a friend's computer at the lab. It has been ages, but I ran into Ian who told you he says hello. Not sure if you're still loving Boston, but if you ever want to come out, we could use your help. It's tough going, but we're making good progress. We have internet now – sort of! And you should see the children. Lina started grade school today! Remember the infant you were given on your second day? I feel old! Come, be old with me and reminisce! I'm sure you miss getting dirty and sleeping on the floor and the man-size ants. Miss you, must go. You know where to reach me.

Your friend always,

Isaac xx

PS. Is it true your best friend is a real homicide detective? How cool!

Maura sat back. Maybe a change of environment is exactly what I need.

That's what she'd told Korsak after the Doyle incident. Maura had promptly taken two weeks off, visiting her mother in the hospital and seeing her safely back to Europe. Medical leave is what it said on paper but Maura couldn't deny it was to get as far away from one Jane Rizzoli as possible. She'd heard about the pending medal of honor – and Korsak had told her how Jane had taken heat for attempting to refuse it.

Always the hard way.

Maura hit 'reply' but was interrupted by her cell vibrating its way nearly off of the table. She checked her phone and realized it was an alarm. Her 'Gag Me Coffee Break' was a mid-morning break Jane had arranged more than a year ago as a way for the two women to catch-up every day. After they'd started seeing each other, coffee break took on a whole new meaning as Jane used to show up to the Morgue with the coffee and the two would find an excuse to hole themselves up in Maura's office and escape the morning grind.

She hit the 'off' switch, still unable to delete the alarm, and set her phone face down. Her stomach grumbled, perhaps as a Pavlovian reflex and the doctor smiled grimly. Maura stared at the screen and her stomach grumbled again.

Chances are Jane was either already in the bullpen or on assignment but still, the ME flinched a little at the thought of potentially encountering Jane. Well at least it was in a crowded place. Without giving herself a chance to back down, Maura grabbed her Hermes clutch and went upstairs.

Who knows? Maybe she'd run into Korsak.

The hallway was buzzing and uniforms and plain-clothed officers streaked in and out of the precinct. As Maura stepped out of the café, she nearly ran into Frost who was trotting toward the entrance, holstering his gun and wearing a blue raid vest. He looked up briefly and nodded as he trotted fast.

Korsak appeared from an adjacent elevator also wearing a blue vest. Her chest tightened. Korsak met her eyes and smiled, soliciting an immediate smile from the doctor. He walked up fussing with his vest and Maura instinctively handed him her coffee and deftly adjusted the straps, grateful for the preoccupation. She told herself to slow her breathing. She wasn't about to go vasovagal in HQ's foyer.

Korsak sipped the coffee and pulled a face.

'Just the way I like it, thanks Doc.'

'A raid?' It was all Maura could manage as she retrieved her coffee and subtly scanned the filling hallway. Korsak took her to the side to make way for a few more uniforms including a vest-clad Frankie who gave Maura a wink and took her coffee, sipping it just like Korsak.

'Hey that's—'

'My coffee,' Maura started to say cutting off Korsak but she wasn't smiling. Frankie was in a similar vest and Maura could start to feel the blood drumming in her ears and a familiar dryness in her throat.

'Wow! Sorry, my mistake!' Frankie made a gagging sound and promptly handed back the coffee.

'Raid in Roslindale.' Korsak didn't have to fill the ME in on the operation, but he knew better than not to. 'Counterfeit operation headed by a busted parolee we've got on kidnapping and murder. Just confirmed a sighting so we gotta jump. Hoping to catch the Bastard napping—'

'Yah well we won't if Jane doesn't hurry her ass up up—ah here, Jane!'

Frankie took off past Maura's shoulder leaving the ME staring into the open, caring face of Korsak. She didn't have to tell him that every hair on her neck was raised, how it was almost impossible to breathe. Frost ran back into the precinct speaking into his shoulder radio and ran past Maura and Korsak.

This wasn't a routine raid.

And suddenly Jane was there, striding down the hall flanked by Frankie, Frost and a few other uniforms. She was giving orders in that calm, but forceful way and sending people running from her with eager nods. She was still fastening her vest while walking down the hallway, never stopping.

Maura couldn't help but stare. Detective Jane Rizzoli left a mighty wake. She always did. Not so long ago, the world would stop when Jane would see Maura. And for a moment, the ME felt – knew – she was at the center of a very exclusive world.

It was different now. Jane didn't even slow her gate as she strode past.

'Let's go old man!' Jane shouted as she and her entourage exited the building.

Korsak put his hands up. 'Hey I was down here before you, Rizzoli!' He started to walk off, but not before giving Maura a squeeze. He'd noticed her subtly position himself between her and the hallway and watched her shrink against the wall.

Christ. Seas used to part for these two.

'Radio up in BRIC if you want to follow along, Doc.'

Maura smiled, grateful for not having to ask. 'Good luck, Vince.'

'You too, Doc', he said with a wink.

Five minutes later, Maura stood in the elevator bay facing a dilemma. Push 'up' and head to BRIC or 'down' and tell Isaac she'd be on the next flight out. Maura took a breath and pressed the button.

A/N: What do you think, folks? Reviews?