Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters as they all belong to Tess Gerritsen and TNT.

Note: My apologies for the huge break in between updates and the lack in length on this one. Unfortunately my schedule is crazy busy and things do not seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Still, I do hope that I will be able to update quicker next time. Anyways, please enjoy!

Comments and critique whether it'd be positive or negative are always helpful and appreciated. Let me know what you think! Also suggestions are always welcome.

Stop and stare

Chapter 3: Dare?

Detective Jane Rizzoli flipped open her phone reading the message her brother had just sent her. 'Dare?'
'You're on' was all she texted back while trying not to miss a step of the stairwell leading up to her apartment door.

Jane was leaning against Maura her arm resting on Maura's hip for support while the medical examiner tried to open the door.
Now that she was standing upright, Maura realized that she might have had a couple of glasses of wine too many. She could feel the detectives hand on her hip and it made her tingle all over causing the butterflies in her stomach to go crazy.
When she finally managed to open the door, which Jane had been leaning against, they both stumbled into the dark apartment.

'Let's go sit on the sofa' Jane suggested and since it was in the middle of the night and they were both too tipsy to go on a hunt for the light switch they fumbled around in the dark trying to locate the couch, so Maura grabbed both of Jane's hands and walked backwards leading them to where she thought the soft pillows would be waiting.

She realized too late though, that the apartment was smaller than she had anticipated when the back of her legs hit the edge of the sofa and she started to tumble backwards.
The detective, trained in speedy reactions from years of practice, reached out wrapping an arm around Maura's waist trying to keep her from falling. Since she's had a bit too much alcohol as well her senses were a bit dulled and her muscles wouldn't find the right strength at the right time to keep Maura from falling, but instead she placed too much of her own weight forwards so Maura did end up falling backwards onto the couch and Jane fell right on top of her. Luckily her reactions were still good enough to make sure she landed on her elbow and not face down in Maura's cleavage…or maybe that wasn't so lucky after all….

Oh dear what just happened? Maura thought looking utterly confused at a disoriented Jane.
Jane? Then it hit her as she felt the detectives weight on top of her.
Oh my…breathe Maura, breathe. Do not do anything stupid. She is your best friend. The best friend you have ever had. Breathe….

Oh fuck….was the most clear thought Jane's brain could form as the sweet scent of Maura's skin and hair clouded her senses.
Do not do anything stupid. She is your best friend. The best friend you have ever had. Do not screw this up Rizzoli. She reminded herself deciding to go slow about this. The detective however did realize that Maura's breathing had started to accelerate rapidly and her pupils were dilated. She was sure her own eyes were pitch black by now. Her body was flushing with adrenaline and all the blood in the most inappropriate places.

Jo Friday's quiet scratching on the hardwood floor while she was dreaming broke the silence that had spread across the room.

'Maura, dear God, are you okay? I'm sorry, I just lost my balance. Did I hurt you? Are you okay?' Jane found her voice again, lifting herself up and away from the scent that was clouding her better judgment.

'Yes, I'm…I am fine, Jane. Thank you for trying to break my fall.' Maura had found her voice again too, sitting up on the sofa feeling all flushed.

'Geez, so much for not turning on the lights…'Jane laughed lightly trying to overcome the awkward feeling settling on them.
'Let's find something to get this place to lighten up a bit. Do you want some more wine? I think I'm gonna have another beer. I do feel kinda sober now.' Jane offered, getting up and walking towards the kitchen finding her way more easily since her eyes had adjusted to the darkness.

'Yes, please, I will take one more glass, thank you.'

Jane returned from the kitchen balancing a huge candle and a bag of smaller candles in one hand and a bottle of her beer and Maura's wineglass in the other.

'There you go. I hope it's to your liking Doctor Isles.' She handed Maura her glass, set her bottle down and started to spread the candles around the coffee table.

'Jane…I didn't know you were such a romantic.' Maura said.

What? Romantic? What the? Is she implying…?

Jane looked at Maura confused until she noticed a smile creeping across the doctor's features. Sarcasm…

'Did I detect sarcasm? You're catching on quickly, very nice.' Jane smirked. 'But yes, I can be romantic from time to time too, is that such a big surprise to you?' she started to tease shooting Maura a vicious smile.

The medical examiner caught on to the flirtatious tone of the detective thinking that maybe she should give this a bit of a nudge in order to get everything going.
'Actually it is. I have never seen you behave in a romantic manner around anyone, so there would be no reason for me to assume that you were the romantic type.'
Maura smiled, closing her eyes and looking up at Jane in that adorable way that made her heart beat so loud she thought it was going to jump out of her chest any minute.

Could it really be that Maura was flirting with her? God…those hazel eyes…stare…forever…

'Jane?' Maura was waving a hand in front of Jane's eyes trying to get her attention, but Jane was lost in Maura's eyes and just could not stop staring.

'Huh? What?' the detective blinked a few times looking at Maura her eyes clouded with floods of arousal.
God, what's wrong with me…Must be the candles…romantic mood, huh? Geez…Frankie is so on with his stupid dare.

'You were staring Jane.' Maura chuckled slightly.

Jane scooted a little closer to her on the sofa, so her legs were touching Maura's. She had just noticed that when sitting down Maura's dress had ridden up a bit so more than half of her bare thighs were exposed.
Jane licked her lips. Get yourself together Rizzoli. Just do it.

'Sorry…I was thinking of something I was discussing with the guys earlier and I guess my mind just wandered off on its own.'

A sweet smile crossed Maura's lips as she leaned in a bit, her body heat hitting Jane's skin causing goose bumps to erupt all over her arms.

'I think I know what you mean.' Maura's tone was suddenly serious, which made Jane slightly nervous. She started to shift around on the sofa a bit.

'What do you mean Maura? You know what I mean with what?'

'I meant that I believe I know what you were referring to regarding your earlier conversation.'

Jane swallowed hard. She couldn't have heard…uh oh…play it cool Rizzoli…
'And what would that be?'

'Jane…did you really mean it? About our friendship being that important to you? You know that I have never been good around people. At least the kind that are still alive. So I hope that you know that this' she gestured between the little space that was left between the two of them 'is extremely important to me as well. I just…It is not easy for me to find friends. It never has been. Even when I was a kid I was always sort of an outsider, because of the way I talked and acted around people. The breathing kind just doesn't seem to understand me…except for you…I just wanted you to know that I feel the same way. I do…I really…' Maura's voice started to break.
This was not what she had in mind when they had left the bar. It was not what she had in mind at all.
Her eyes were watery and a small drop escaped one of her eyelids falling down to her cheek, but Jane's thumb was there immediately to wipe it away causing a shiver to run down Maura's spine.

'Maura, honey…'
All thoughts of a truth and dare game were forgotten as soon as Jane saw her best friend confessing her feelings; feelings of deep friendship that is.
Or was it?
But still, Maura was crying, which made Jane's protective mode kick in immediately. She was by her side right away, wiping the tear drop away her hand lingering on Maura's cheek.
Jane gazed into those hazel eyes, clouded with teardrops and something else…something…more...something Jane couldn't really indentify, so she just chose to let Maura decide if and when to talk about it.

'I know Maura. I know you do, but you listen to me. Even though, you know, you tend to be a little different, quirky in a way when you go off and talk Google with all those facts just blurting out, I think it's kinda cute. It's just you, you know? I don't ever want you to doubt how beautiful you are, inside and out. Just because some stupid people can't see that doesn't mean that I can't. You know I see that other side of you, right? The sweet and loving part. But it's not just that part that makes you who you are Maura. It's all of it. It's the sweet and loving and the incredibly polite, but it's also the quirky and the Google talking side of you that makes you perfect the way you are. I don't want you to doubt that, okay? Promise that you won't. Jane had adapted a serious yet loving tone the warmth reflecting in her chocolate eyes and the smile she was wearing, which made Maura feel better immediately.

'Oh you big softie…' she joked wiping away the tears that had fallen.

Jane just sighed. She knew she wasn't as bad ass on the inside as she might appear, but really, Maura was the only one she would ever allow to see that side of her, which in that moment made Jane realize that 'Geez…she really is the only one…'

In that instant her phone beeped again and she had a feeling it would be her brother again checking up on how the dare is coming along. She extended her arm to grab her phone making sure not to let go of Maura, whom she was still holding in a tight embrace. Flipping open the phone she read the new incoming message:
'Change of plans. Dare's been moved to Saturday night. Everything's been taken care of. Call me tomorrow for details. –Frost'