"And you eat that crap out of choice?" Jane eyed Maura's salad distastefully.
"It's highly nutritious. The spinach contains high amounts of vitamin A, which is beneficial for the skin and eyes, and boosts the immune system to fight infections. The watercress-"
For once, Jane let her talk. It was nice to hear her voice, rising in pitch at the end of her sentences as she tried to contain her leafy-vegetable-based excitement. And the way her hands moved as she spoke…
No, she shouldn't stare. Casting her gaze around the restaurant, Jane watched a pair of kids kick each other below the table. And a couple at the window. She had to look away.
"…which is essential for bone health." Maura paused, and Jane looked up guiltily. "I-Is that Giovanni?"
"What? Where?"
"Behind you" Maura hissed, ducking down behind the menu, "Don't turn around, you'll draw attention to us"
"O-kaay"
"In fact, I have to go to the bathroom..."
"Hey don't leave me-" Jane grabbed her bag, standing up.

"Hey!" Giovanni waved from across the room, coming over to meet them. "Looking hot"
"Oh, thank you" Maura smiled politely.
"Hey Jane, I had something to ask you. I heard your Ma talking about a guy called Casey… does this mean you too aren't… I mean, you changed your minds or something?"
Crap
"Ermm…"
Jane and Casey had broken up once and for all the previous month, by the time that Casey had virtually healed after his surgery. Maybe because she no longer had to feel guilty about leaving him in his time of need. Maybe it was because she preferred spending time with her best friend anyway.
Even so, this kind of messed up their lesbian couple act.
"Cause you know if you have changed your minds-"
Quite the opposite
"No, no we haven't" Jane assured him quickly, taking Maura's hand. "No, that was just a… fling"
'Awh, bummer," Giovanni folded his arms, watching them. "Did I tell you two you look hot?"
"You did" From behind, Jane hastily wrapped her other arm around Maura, but froze as she felt her body tense.
She feels uncomfortable
She knows
Of course she knows, she knows everything

"Um, Maura? You alright?" Giovanni was looking slightly alarmed.
Jane felt her nod, but couldn't see her face.
"Fine, I'm fine," Maura insisted, her voice catching. "I'm sorry I have to go." She pulled away and rushed to the door. For a second Jane was too bewildered to move.
"Hey, is she alright?" Giovanni nudged Jane. "She looked kind of teary. Hey, I think she was crying."
"I.. I don't know, G" She replied helplessly. "I'm gonna go after her... wait she left her coat" Grabbing both this and her own coat, she ran her hand through her hair; "Uhh.. I'll see you around okay?"

…..

Maura burst out of the restaurant doors into the street. The cold night air was refreshing, and by the time she reached the end of the street her mind felt noticeably clearer.
It was the heat of the restaurant; that was it. Tearfulness could be related to the chemicals released in conjunction with the fight or flight response to stress, triggered by high temperatures after a stressful day at work.
..And it may be vaguely conceivable that the lesbian act hit a nerve.
Either way, she was fine. Calm and in control.
But she couldn't face Jane yet. No, not until she had a suitable explanation and apology and was feeling slightly less hysterical; she couldn't risk their friendship like that. She could text Jane to let her know she was okay, and leave it at that.
So where could she go until then? If Jane wanted to find her, her apartment would be the first place she'd look. Next would be her own apartment. Where did that leave? She had nowhere else in Boston.
If she could find a café to sit in for a few hours, that would be fine. And warm, at least.
It was then that she realised she'd left her coat in the restaurant. Her Cassandra Strickenberg coat, she realised in dismay. But Jane would pick it up for her, she was sure. If she could just text… but no, her phone was in her coat pocket. Nevermind, you can ask her tomorrow. Or the next day…

Perhaps it was her job making her paranoid, but Maura felt slightly uneasy wandering the dark streets. She'd been walking for twenty minutes and still no sign of anywhere to stay; but she'd been getting plenty of funny looks from the gangs of people bordering the shop windows.

Her hands had begun to sting with the cold, and she could feel a blister forming on her foot, courtesy of her new high heels. Longingly, she thought of her comfortable sofa.
Thinking rationally, it was unlikely Jane would try to find her anyway. She didn't need to know her whereabouts 24/7, after all. It would be okay to go home. Now if she could just find a taxi…

It was then that she found the pub. Although she very nearly walked straight past it; the windows were boarded up, and the only chinks of light came from the gaps around the door. Yet there was the 'open' sign…

Maura Isles did not usually act on impulse. Yet she found herself walking in without being totally sure why.

The room was barely any lighter than the streets outside, and the air was heavy with cigarette smoke. Yet it was surprisingly busy; groups of men sat around tables, drinking or playing cards. Maura couldn't see anyone who wasn't male. Or wasn't over 40. But she felt no urge to leave. Oh, maybe this is my rebellious teenage phase kicking in at last!
She edged around the tables -pulling her scarf up around her mouth to minimise the second-hand smoke inhalation- to a seat at the bar.
"Can I get you anything... Miss?" The barman looked at her smart dress with slight amusement.
"Yes please, I'll have... something alcoholic"
"That's a good idea" The barman snorted, reaching for a glass.
"Oh but not too alcoholic" Maura amended quickly.

Maura sipped her drink quietly, trying to avoid grimacing at the taste.
"Tastes less like cat piss on the third round"
Maura jumped, narrowly avoiding spilling her drink.
"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you." A bald man was sat beside her, his wide smile revealing 2 gold teeth.
"Oh, no, that's okay"
"You drinking your sorrows away too?"
Maura considered this. "Yes, yes I suppose I am"
He eyed her sympathetically. "I'll buy you another drink, they'll go faster"

…..

Where did she go?
She has to be somewhere…

Jane pounded the streets in agitation. It had been over half an hour.
If she's hurt somewhere
Trying to slow her breathing, as Maura would suggest, Jane tried to think clearly. Maura had no coat, and no phone. Chances were she'd just gone home.
Signalling to a passing cab, she climbed in quickly, giving the driver Maura's address.

…..

"..And then…" The bald man hiccupped, swaying slightly in his seat. "Then she just left me"
Maura nodded sympathetically, subtly trying to slide the man's drink away from him. "I'm so sorry, that must be terrible"
He shrugged dejectedly and pulled his drink towards him. "So," Another hiccup, "What's your story?"
"I'm sorry?"
"Did you get.. get dumped too?"
"No, no"
The man looked a little confused. "Did your cat die?"
Well, he's not going to remember it anyway..
Maybe this could act as a form of talking therapy.

"My… friend" Maura began
"I'm real close to my cat too" The man nodded understandingly.
"No no, my human friend"
"Died?"
"No, no one died."
"Man, I'm running out of guesses now," He finished the last of his drink but continued to hold onto it tightly. "Your human friend doesn't like you back?"
"That… may be a reasonably accurate description of events" Maura became aware that she was fidgeting.
"Yeah? I'm good right?" He seemed pleased with himself.
"Very good" She agreed.
"Why doesn't he like you back?" He tilted his head a little "You got nice tits"
"Um, thank you." Maura coughed, "Well, actually 'he' is a she."
The man seemed impressed by this. "Aw, and… she doesn't like girls?"
"I assume not"
The man went to drink from his empty glass. "Hey, you know.. you know what assume makes?"
How much has he had? "I'm sorry?"
"An ass out of you and me" He burst out laughing, resting his head on the bar.
Maura looked at him blankly. When he'd stopped laughing, the man pulled himself to an upright position. "So the moral is, don't assume"
"Right, okay" Maura nodded vaguely, still trying to work out what was so funny.
"So it was nice talking to you... now go get some"
"Excuse me?" She looked up. The man seemed to have finished talking to her, and was turning to leave himself.
"Action! Go!" Called the man, with another hiccup as he walked away, "Before she gets on the plane!"
"She's not actually-" But the man was gone.

…..

I can list and evaluate all the options, Maura decided.
Then tomorrow I can carry out the option with the highest advantage:disadvantage ratio.
So far, Doing Nothing was winning. Partly because this was the only option she'd come up with.
I don't need to take advice from a drunken old man.
She took her keys from her pocket and unlocked her front door.
I am completely in control of my own emotions
I am completely calm and-
"Maur where've you been?!" Jane rushed over and threw her arms around her.
I am completely and insanely in love with my best friend.