A:N/ Thank you to all the new followers of not just this story but my others as well.
I haven't got many reviews on this so I'm not sure if this worth still working on or is it a flop?
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"Jane, foods here!" Maura shouted through the closed door.
"Be right out," Jane said. She opened the door and came out in nothing but a towel. Maura had been chewing on one of her fries when she saw Jane. Her quick intake of breath from the beautiful sight before her was quickly overshadowed by a cough and gasping for air.
Jane rushed to her friend's side. "Maura," she said putting her hand on Maura's back, rubbing it. "Are you okay?" Maura saw Jane's close proximately and thought her eyes would bug out of her head. She only nodded yes. "Put your hands up in the air," Jane said taking Maura's hands as she moved closer to her friend, lifting her own arms up. "Don't take deep breaths. It's just went down the wrong way," Jane said assuring her friend.
"Thanks," Maura finally managed to get out. "Death by fry- how harrowing," she said coughing one last time and clearing her throat. She opened her bottled water and took a few sips.
"Geez Maura, and I thought I was hungry. Chew the food next time huh?" Jane said winking.
"I'll keep that in mind," Maura smiled back to her friend. God, if only she knew the real reason I nearly was sacrificed to the fast food god.
"I just needed to get these," Jane said picking up her pajama bottoms, "be right back."
"I'll be here," Maura said putting on her best face. The door to the bathroom closed. "God could that have been any quicker?" Maura wondered. She chuckled and laughed at her predicament. If she didn't…she'd probably end up crying.
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"Anything good on for a movie?" Maura asked Jane was flipping through a schedule.
"Let's see…Terminator 2."
"No thanks."
"What no Linda Hamilton?" Jane asked. "She's buff in the movie."
"Yeah…a little too burly and brawny."
"What you don't like your women butch huh?"
"I'm not having this discussion with you," Maura said throwing her pillow at Jane.
"No I'm serious. ?"
"I'm not into a category or manner …It's the person inside you know?" Maura said seriously.
"Okay what inside a person attracts you?" Jane asked suddenly very serious.
"You're just full of questions today aren't you?"
"Yes I am."
"What kind of person am I rapt too? Hmm," Maura said thinking of the answer first, "well I guess I always saw myself with someone who respects themselves you know? Respects me too. Someone who has a big heart and a good sense of wit. Someone who I couldn't wait to see. I'd know they were the one because I'd go to bed at night thinking about them and wake up thinking about them." Jane was just watching Maura. "What?" Maura asked.
"Nothing," Jane said smiling softly.
"So what else is on?" Maura asked.
"Let's see…no T2 for you. Hum…oh nice!" Jane exclaimed excitedly.
"What?"
"Stewardess Cannibal Vixens Unchained on the Spice Channel!" She looked at Maura and burst out laughing. "Sorry- I had too."
"Ha-Ha," Maura fake laughed and then smiled, "Anything else besides Porn and Terminators?"
"Hum- oh yeah- there's ever after with Drew Barrymore. I've never seen that."
"Me either. Want to watch that one?"
"Sounds like a plan," Jane smiled. She clicked on the remote. The movie would be starting in about 30 minutes.
"I'm going to go shower too. I'll be back."
"Have fun," Jane waved Maura on. Maura entered the bathroom and closed the door. Jane slapped her head with her hand. "Why did I say that?" she wondered. "Like Maura would watch a porn," Jane said. The thought of Maura watching a dirty movie popped into her head. Jane burst out laughing. "Too funny!"
The bathroom door opened slightly, "What's too funny?" Maura asked coming out.
"Ahh- what?" Crap.
Maura picked out her tooth brush from the bag. "What's too funny?"
"Oh um…well honestly? I was picturing you watching a dirty movie. I found it kind of funny."
"Why's that?" Maura asked defensively in a playful tone.
"You watching a dirty movie…Dr. Maura Isles- Chief Medical Examiner of Boston…It was just tickling my funny bone."
"Tickling your funny bone?" Maura paused. "Jane I'm quite familiar with the skeletal system and hate to disappoint you but there is no funny bone."
"Really Maura?" Jane asked but saw the smile on her best friends face. "Ok you got me.
"Yeah I did."
"Yeah" Jane said beginning to laugh again.
"I'll show you tickling the funny bone," Maura said rushing her friend. Jane wasn't prepared for a battle attack so she was in no position to defend herself. Maura threw herself on top of Jane, tickling her sides, the places she knew Jane was very ticklish.
"Ahhh- Maura…." Jane said between gasping for breaths between laughs, "Stop! Please! I'm sorry…I'm sorry…Hahaha…Stop!" Jane said laughing.
"Say you're sorry and mean it," Maura said playfully, straddling Jane.
"I'm sorry! Sorry! Forgive…haha…ha…forgive me please!" Jane said her face turning red and tears forming in her eyes.
"Okay," Maura said ceasing her tickling efforts. "I'll let it go this time," she said smiling. Suddenly Maura realized the position she was in, with Jane beneath her. "I…hehe…sorry," Maura said getting off her friend quickly. She went to walk back into the bathroom but stopped at the door. She turned back around and looked at Jane. "Let that be a warning," she winked and closed the door.
For her own part, Jane just sat on the bed, stunned. Her face was flush. She smiled, and rolled on her side. "Vixen," Jane smiled and continued watching TV again.
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"Wow- this movie is so good," Jane mumbled in-between the kiss the prince shared with the woman he loved.
"I know isn't it? I mean- gosh giving up all you are and all you own for love. The definitive surrender. It's just so passionate and amorous all at once."
"Yes," pause, "Amorous."
Maura smiled.
"Oh-oh, Maura's getting deep," Jane said playfully.
"Hush," Maura teased her friend. "I was just saying that she is clearly in love with him, and he is clearly in love with her…but pride is an awful thing, Jane."
"Gosh I hope they get their happy ending," Jane said tossing some pretzels in her mouth.
"I'm sure they do. After all- it's Hollywood."
"God wouldn't it be great if life was that easy," Jane asked.
"Tell me about it!" Maura laughed.
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Movie over, lights out, both women lay in their beds.
"Maura?"
"Yeah?"
"Today was the best."
"Thanks."
"I mean it," Jane said sitting up in bed and looking at her friend's bed. She couldn't quite make out Maura's face- just the silhouettes of her, "with everything we've been going through the last few months…I mean this trip was the best idea."
"Well I'm just glad we were both able to do this."
"So tomorrow is a whole new day huh?"
"Yup."
"Maura."
"Hum?"
"I love you."
Maura held her breath for the briefest of seconds. "I love you too, Jane."
"Goodnight," Jane said smiling and rolling over. Maura lay there looking up at the ceiling from her own bed. She smiled.
"Goodnight."
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"Just where in the heck are we?" Jane asked looking ahead of her and then back at the map. "I'm so confused."
"This coming from the Detective? Great."
Jane laughed. "Shut up Doc!"
"I'm not that bad with directions," Jane said laughing. "Besides Maur, you'd get lost going from my place to your place if it wasn't for that GPS in your little green car."
"Oh wait- that's our exit," Jane said pointing to the exit they just drove by. "He- hee sorry," Jane said feeling bad. She was certainly not the best navigator. Maura was not mad; she just smiled and assured her friend.
"We'll just get off at the next exit and then back track."
"So where is this place again?" Maura asked. "And what's it called?"
"Six Flags," Jane answered. "You've never heard of six flags?"
"Nope, can't say I have. I've heard of Bush Gardens though. And that place in Florida…oh what's it called…you know the one with the mouse?" Maura looked serious, but it wasn't till Jane glanced a look at her face she knew her friend teased her yet again.
"This park is great. You should see the roller coasters they have there."
"I love roller coasters. The centrifugal force, the science of it. Fascinating."
"Well you're going to love these."
"Loops?"
"Oh yeah!"
"Excellent!"
"Oh turn it up!" Jane said reaching in for the radio. "I love this song. Aerosmith rocks! I saw them in concert once with Frankie."
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"It's kind of funny but we literally drove in a circle today."
"How do you figure that?"
"Well," Maura said looking at the map, "we started here…drove here yesterday, and came back this way to get to Jersey."
"Oh my God, you're right. Too funny." Jane looked at their room. This one wasn't quite as big as the one from the night before. It had two queen size beds, but the beds seemed to occupy the whole room. There was not much walking space, and Jane was sure that although it was a no smoking room, the last occupants smoked in it.
"Let's go swimming," Maura said glancing out the window.
"It's freezing, you can't be serious?" Jane laughed.
"Look- indoor pool. I bet it'll be empty!"
Jane looked around the room. "Sure beats being cooped up in here. Let's go," she said grabbing her bag and looking for her bathing suit.
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"You're right, it is dead in here," Jane said looking around. "Kind of a creepy dead at that."
"Aww- you scared?" Maura teased.
"Yeah- and any other sane person would too Maura. Besides I've got my gun."
"Right behind you," Maura said dropping her towel. She however did not jump in just as Jane had. She walked around to the side of the pool and slowly made her way in by the steps.
"Now look who is scared," Jane teased. She watched Maura make her way in to the pool water. Jane took the moment to appreciate Maura. She was beautiful, there was no doubt of that. 'What…whoa. This is Maura…Maura and beautiful shouldn't belong in the same sentence,' she thought to herself. Though she could not deny it. Her friend was breathtaking.
"Hello? Earth to Jane," Maura called out. Jane's concentration broke she looked up at Maura. "Sorry- sort of drifted there," she said laughing.
"Don't worry about it."
"Want to play Marko-Polo?" Jane asked grinning.
"Can you play that with just two people?" Maura questioned. "I thought you needed a group to play." Not that Maura would know. She'd never been included in or played pool games as a child.
"Nah- you can play with just two people." Jane said swimming up next to Maura from behind. She leaned forward and whispered in her ears, "close your eyes and count to fifteen."
Maura felt the heat from Jane's breath on her ear. "Okay," she said softly.
Maura began counting. By the time she got to 15 she called out Marko.
"Polo," said a voice from behind her. Maura swam to the direction she thought she could hear her friend.
"Marko," she called out again.
She heard a giggle, "Polo."
"Bingo," Maura thought swimming fast to one area, "Marko."
"Polo.
"Marko." There was no answer. "I said Marko you trickster."
"Oh I thought you were talking to someone else…"said Jane's voice clearly one the move.
"Marko," Maura said not waiting for the polo and jumping forward. She had been able to determine where Jane was hiding. From what Maura recalled of the pool design, Jane was in the corner, and was just walking the parameter. She felt Jane under her arms. Jane burst out laughing.
"You peeked!"
"I did no such thing!" Maura said opening her eyes. She was holding on to Jane now, arms around her waist.
"I don't play with cheaters," Jane laughed.
"Oh really Ms. 'I thought you were talking to someone else'," Maura loosen her grip on Jane but did not let her go entirely. Her brain was screaming for her too…but something in Maura's body refused to let go. Jane wasn't moving either. They just stood there, bodies touching, wet from the swim, each smiling mischievously. Maura licked her lips slowly and began to move forward.
"Daddy!" screamed the little girl from the entrance. Startled, Jane and Maura both moved away from each other, swimming in opposite directions. "I want to swim in the big girl's pool."
"Jane let's get some dinner huh?" Maura said trying to gain control of the situation.
"Sure, dinner sound great." Both women got out of the pool each wrapped up in their own thoughts.
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It amazed both women how the other could act like nothing happened…even though they were both guilty of "pretending." It was as if an hour ago never existed. Not the 'almost shared kiss' the chemistry that passed between the two of them never happened. Not the beatings of their hearts, the breaths they held. Nothing.
Very Weird, Jane had thought.
Very anomalous indeed, Maura considered.
Jane sipped on her diet coke and played with her salad. She kept running the pool event over in her mind.
'What was that exactly. Was she going to kiss me? Did I want her to kiss me? It sure wouldn't be the first time I thought it was going to happen between us. Could Maura maybe feel something for me?'
"Your salad okay?" Maura asked her friend.
"Oh yeah it's fine," Jane smiled. "They went a little heavy on the oil, but hey what are you going to do about it?"
"Right. What are you going to do about it?" Maura let the sentence hang in her mind for a moment. What would she do about it? It had happened again. She almost acted on impulse and it could have wrecked everything. Maura knew she needed to keep her feelings hidden and in check.
"How about your turkey sandwich. Is it any good?" Jane asked pointing to Maura's half eaten sandwich.
"Yeah it's fine. Just not too hungry," Maura said smiling. She looked out the window of the restaurant. Across the street she could see their motel.
"So you must be excited about the park tomorrow huh?" Jane asked.
"I can't wait!" Maura said feeling herself pick up out of her low point.
"So how many roller coasters does this place have again?"
"Seven," Maura said excitedly.
"And they are all safe right?"
"Yes of course Jane. The code specifics for a rollercoaster vary by state but on any given month a ride undergoes at least 10 inspections."
"Okay just checking," Jane said back.
"You finished?" Maura asked.
"All set here."
"Great…want to go see a movie?"
"Sure- is there a theater around here?" Jane wondered.
"Yup, right down the street. I saw it when we walked here. I think there was a late evening show for that new Ryan Reynolds film."
"Sounds like a plan. I love Ryan Reynolds. Let's go."
The women threw their money on the table and made their way outside. Walking to the theatre in relative silence, Jane noticed that Maura had been putting distance between them since the pool. She wasn't sure how or even if she would broach the topic of conversation with her friend. 'Maybe we just need to sleep on it?" she wondered.
Once inside the theatre, Jane got in line for popcorn while Maura went in ahead and got their seats.
Jane made her way inside a dark theater. It wasn't too busy. In fact, it was pretty dead. "Got to love mid week evening films," Jane mumbled. She spotted Maura and made her way down the row.
"I bring popcorn and other candy goodness," Jane said. "Extra butter too, just the way you like it."
"You're the best!" Maura said smiling at her friend. They held each other's gazes for a moment. The playback for the movie was starting.
As the movie played on, Maura and Jane reached for popcorn. Their hands would touch briefly, and they'd always say how sorry they were. Finally, both just gave up. Contact was inevitable.
"This is a great movie," Jane said leaning in and whispering in Maura's ear. Jane couldn't help but smell Maura's sweet fragrance. 'Was that a new perfume?' she wondered. It smelt wonderful.
"Yeah it's great."
"Are you wearing new perfume?" Jane asked smelling her friend.
Maura almost laughed. Almost. If it wasn't for the blush that crept up her cheek, she might have. 'Jane noticed my new perfume. Wow.'
"It's smells good," Jane said to Maura's head nod. "I like it."
Maura looked at Jane and smiled. "Thanks."
Maura was suddenly aware how close they were, legs touching, and shoulders too.
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Movie over, the two women made their way back to the hotel room. They each changed into their pajamas and made phone calls home, updating their families where they were going to be tomorrow. Now, in bed, and under covers, Jane started the conversation.
"It's your turn to ask me something."
"What?"
"Well the point of this trip is for us to get even closer than before right?"
"Partly yes."
"Okay then…ask me something. Anything you want to. No holds bar here Maura."
For just a split second, Maura knew exactly what she wanted to ask. 'Did you want me to kiss you tonight Jane? It looked that way to me.' No. No she couldn't ask that. Anything Maura wanted and anything Jane wanted were two very different things at this point.
"Hmm…let me think of a second."
"Oh-oh…I don't like the sound of that."
"Okay- I've got something," Maura said sitting up and crossing her legs. She was now facing Jane in the dark.
"Okay. Go ahead. Just remember I said you could ask me anything. I didn't say anything about me answering it," Jane said laughing.
Maura started laughing as well. "Okay fair enough. Okay…your first time…was it everything you thought it would be?"
"Really Maura! I'm not answering that question," Jane said feeling a blush creep up her face.
"Aww come on Jane. I won't tell anyone. I've just been thinking about it lately."
"Wonderful- you've been thinking about me and sex lately. Is that what you're saying?" Jane asked playfully. She turned her light on only to toss a pillow at Maura.
"No," Maura said feeling very embarrassed, "that's not what I meant!"
"Maura," Jane said smiling, "I was just teasing you. It's okay."
"I…I just meant…first times."
"So are we talking about first times in general, yours, or mine?"
"All of the above," Maura answered.
"So your first time?" Jane asked tilting her head slightly. "High school? College?"
"High school."
"Oh a local guy- nice touch Doc," Jane teased.
"Not a local guy."
"Someone from the school? A teacher!"
"No," Maura blushed.
"Maura you went to an all female school," Jane began but paused.
"Wait…are you saying that you're first time…"
"Do you have an issue with that?" Maura didn't ask it like it was a question, more of a statement.
"None," Jane answered quickly and honestly. Jane couldn't help herself. "What about Ian?"
"You and Ian are two very different people Jane. I mean our relationship is so much deeper. I…don't get me wrong, I loved Ian very much Jane. But…but what we share Jane…I wouldn't trade that for anything in this world. You're my best friend, my confidant, and I love you." Maura said brining her hand up and caressing Jane's cheek. Jane closed her eyes and let out a content sigh.
"Thank you Maura."
"For what?" Maura asked.
"For being you," Jane said leaning in and kissing her friend on the cheek. "Goodnight." Jane got out of her bed and got into her own.
Maura touched her cheek and smiled, "Goodnight."
"Tomorrow roller coasters, cotton candy and log rides. Yeah baby!" Jane shouted out to the dark room. Maura couldn't help herself. She just laughed.
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