Sorry for the delay in publishing! Another short chapter in word count, largely because it is mostly dialogue. That's pretty much how the writing style will be throughout-more dialogue than most stories. Let me know if you think it's too much, or needs more description.
Xx
The next day Jane and Maura managed to get away during a non-hectic time to get lunch at a café down the block. After they ordered, Jane jumped right into conversation.
"So. Maria."
"Maria."
"Yay? Nay? Crazy? Stupid? Good kisser?"
Maura's gaze shifted in thought, and she pointed her finger to answer each question. "Seems psychologically stable; not college-educated but very bright; and I don't know yet."
"Yet, huh? That's promising."
Maura nodded. "We're getting together again this Saturday, probably for a walking tour of the Freedom Trail."
"A tour, really? Don't you know everything they're gonna say?"
"Almost certainly, yes."
"So aren't you gonna have to interrupt constantly to correct the poor guy in the soldier's outfit?"
"Well his facts probably won't be entirely accurate, but I will try not to interrupt the experience for the group."
"You'll just whisper the real facts into her ear?"
Maura tilted her head, as if she hadn't thought of that option. Jane telepathically apologized to Maria in advance.
"It's not just some cliché easy date, actually. It came up in conversation that Maria doesn't really know much at all about the history of the city, except for what she learned from one middle school field trip that she barely listened during. So I offered to take her on one of the tours. They're not perfect, but it's a lot of good history for someone who doesn't know it."
Maura always seemed to feel the need to defend herself and her thought processes. Jane teased, but she never actually judged Maura for anything. She loved that she was educated, and technical, and cultured, and flirty, and everything that Jane wasn't. She was one person Maura didn't have to explain herself to. But she liked listening to her try, anyway.
"Yeah, it makes sense, Maur. It's a cute date idea."
Xx
"So I have to go to this damn diversity slash sensitivity training Wednesday. Such a waste of time." Jane was standing at Maura's kitchen counter, making herself a sandwich on Sunday afternoon. "Like I get it—don't sexually harass people, don't discriminate against the gays, don't shoot unarmed black people…I could be out solving murder cases, but no, I gotta sit for 8 hours being told how to be a decent human."
She brought her lunch out to the living room, where an unresponsive Maura was sitting doing something on her phone. "What're you doin', are you listening to me?"
Maura looked up. "Somewhat. Sorry, I'm just sending Maria the photos I took yesterday."
"Oh, lemme see." She sat down on the couch next to her. On the screen was a seemingly self-taken photo of Maura and a beautiful tan-skinned woman smiling in front of Old North Church. "Damn Maura, she's gorgeous. Wait, was this taken with a selfie stick?"
"Mmhmm! I know they're kind of silly, but it was really quite useful." She swiped through more pictures, including one of Maria lying "dead" at the site of the Boston Massacre, and the two of them happily pointing at the Bunker Hill monument.
"She looks fun, when do I get to meet her? Invite her to the Robber this week."
"Sure, I could do that." Maura set the phone down and turned on Netflix.
Xx
When Wednesday night came around, Jane, Frost, Maura, and Maria were sitting down at a booth at the bar.
"Come be our fourth wheel." Jane had said to Frost. "Help me analyze and intimidate Maura's new lady."
They talked and laughed about work and other miscellaneous topics while Jane and Frost sized up Maria. As they drank, Maria was sliding closer to Maura's side, with her arm around her and their legs clearly entertwined. Jane texted Frost under the table.
One more beer and she'll be in her lap
I mean I wouldn't mind…maybe I'll buy two more rounds :P
Jane elbowed him in the gut, but the others didn't seem to notice. Maura was looking down while Maria whispered something in her ear that made her smile.
As they were heading out, walking to their cars in separate pairs, Jane asked for her partner's opinion. "So. Thoughts?"
"What, about the two of them?"
"Yeah, do you think she's good enough for Maura?"
He shrugged. "I don't see why not. But I know you've got high standards."
"I just don't want her to waste her time and feelings on someone who's not worth it."
"Maura knows what she's doing."
Xx
The next day Maura and Jane met in the station café for a lunch break. "So Maria's really into you."
"You think so?"
Jane raised her eyebrows. "Seriously? She was all over you last night. I bet you guys had fun when you got home."
"I actually think I'm going to break it off with her."
"What? Why? She's not good enough in bed either? Damn you have high standards." Jane was genuinely surprised. They seemed to really like each other.
"Actually she's quite skilled in bed. I orgasmed twice last night." Maura wasn't one to be shy talking about sex; she said this casually, as if she was saying that it had rained last night.
"Ohh, shit I'm jealous. Most times for me the guy either doesn't know what the hell he's doing, or he doesn't care. Well you deserve it. Shame you're breaking it off, what just 'cause you're not in love?"
"No, I know I can't expect to be in love so early in a relationship. But I feel like I couldn't fall in love with her. And as good as the sex is, she's really sweet and I wouldn't want to lead her on."
Jane was a bit confused as to why Maura was only seeing these seemingly great women a few times. "It looks like you're trying to fine "the one" right off the bat…why don't you just take it slow, see what happens? You enjoy Maria's company, don't you?"
Maura only responded to part of that statement. "No, I don't expect to find "the one."