Author's Note: I failed to mention that I was asked by kbprincess3 to write my take on "Killer In High Heels" (4x04). Hopefully it is living up to expectations. Thanks for all the great reviews! -dkc

Chapter 2

Jane held the door open for Maura and watched her visibly exhausted friend walk into her home. Her heart broke to see Maura like this, but she knew better than to perceive her best friend as fragile.

"Are you hungry?" Jane asked once she'd closed the door.

"No, I just need to shower…again," Maura's voice was distant.

Jane walked up behind the shorter woman, placing her hand on her shoulder. She couldn't begin to imagine how violated Maura must feel after having to strip in front of her colleagues and then be taken to the hospital for a rape kit.

"I can…" Jane began to offer.

"Just be here, Jane," Maura knew Jane would have done anything for her, including helping her with the shower.

As Maura headed for the bathroom her mind went over the dozen times they had been right here. There had been too many times that they had returned home after a crisis or the near death of one of them. She wouldn't call it routine, but there certainly was something casual about the way the two women dealt with the aftermath. Maura let out a sigh as she closed the door to her en suite bathroom and began to undress. As she saw the bruises on her arms again, she cracked. Tears began to stream down her face.

Jane stood in Maura's kitchen and listened to the slight movements in the part of the house where Maura had retreated. The detective rubbed her eyes and fidgeted with her hands before deciding to go sit in Maura's bedroom just in case her friend needed her. As Jane reached the bedroom, she heard sobbing on the other side of the bathroom door. Her heart was shattering.

"Maur," Jane whispered, her hand lightly rapping against the door.

The doctor reached for her satin robe that hung on the back of the bathroom door. She wiped her now red and puffy eyes before opening the door to Jane.

"Oh, honey," Jane stepped forward to wrap Maura in her arms.

"I'm being ridiculous," Maura cried.

"You are not," Jane assured.

The two stood just inside Maura's bathroom for several minutes, the doctor sobbing into Jane's chest.

"Why don't we skip the shower and we'll get you into bed," Jane pulled back to look at Maura who had one eyebrow quirked up.

"You know what I mean. For a nap," Jane shrugged off the silent teasing.

"Will you stay?" Maura's voice was rough, broken from the tears.

"Of course," Jane answered quickly. "If you get dressed."

Jane offered Maura a smirk, resuming the slight teasing that Maura had initiated.

"And if I don't?" Maura returned the smirk.

"Deal's off," Jane responded, a blush making its way across her face.

Maura walked past Jane to the dresser where she began rummaging through her yoga clothes. The routine-oriented doctor was unaccustomed to putting on lounge clothes in the middle of the day. She pulled out a camisole and pair of shorts for herself and a pair of shorts for Jane knowing that Jane would have on a tank top under her button up and may eventually want to get out of her work clothes. She smiled at the thought of how many times they'd prepared for bed like this together.

"What?" Jane noticed the smile on Maura's face as her friend turned around.

"This is nice," Maura handed Jane a pair of shorts.

"What is?" Jane gripped the shorts and Maura's outstretched hand.

"Routine. You and me," the doctor's eyes dropped from Jane's and the detective knew Maura wasn't saying everything she was thinking.

"Maura…" Jane's rasp was deeper than usual as she stared at her best friend.

When Maura's eyes once again lifted to lock on Jane's, Jane saw tears there. She dropped the shorts she was holding on the end of Maura's bed and stepped forward to take Maura in her arms.

"We'll get past this," Jane whispered, kissing the crown of Maura's head.

"This?" Maura muttered into Jane's shoulder.

Jane pulled back slightly so she could see Maura.

"Are we having the same conversation?" Jane asked, knowing that she had meant Maura having been arrested and also knowing that Maura wasn't referring to that.

"Jane…" Maura's pleading hazel eyes looked up at Jane.

Jane took a deep breath, raising her hands to Maura's hair. She looked at her best friend with every bit of love, adoration and affection she had for the woman. It never seemed so right to be standing emotionally naked in front of Maura before.

"I…" Jane began, but stopped herself as she leaned into Maura, kissing her softly.

It was the gentlest kiss Maura had ever experienced. While it didn't last long, it soothed Maura's very being. As their lips broke contact, Maura dropped her head to Jane's chest. Jane kissed the top of her head softly as she breathed in the lavender scent that was so characteristically Jane. Maura felt her body relax into Jane as the detective dropped a hand to the small of her back.

"You should rest," Jane hummed against the top of Maura's head.

"Don't leave," Maura demanded.

"I wouldn't dream of it," Jane pulled her friend tighter to her body before kissing her head once more. "Put on your clothes and I'll lie with you."

Maura slipped into the bathroom to do as she was told. She didn't want Jane to see her body like this once again, yet she realized the camisole would not cover up the dark bruises on her forearms. It was Jane. If there was anyone in the world she trusted with all of her, good and bad, it was Jane.

As Maura walked into the bedroom, she saw Jane had pulled back the covers for Maura while lying on top of the covers on the other side of the bed. Maura crawled in, her back to Jane. Jane placed the blankets over Maura and wrapped an arm tightly around her.

"Thank you, Jane," Maura said as she relaxed into the detective once again.

"It's just a nap, Maur," Jane's lips were just above Maura's ear.

"It's so much more," Maura mumbled as her body quickly surrendered to sleep.

To be continued…