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"Don't you dare finish that thought, Maura Isles. The last thing I want is you thinking about what Jordan and I did. Or how Casey felt about it." Jane thought for a minute before turning toward Maura. "Do you really have to imagine how it felt? Casey, well, he always assumed that we—you and I-"

Jane stopped, forcing Maura and herself to sit in what was a first for them, uncomfortable silence.

Finally, frowning as she struggled to understand the importance of the words Jane last said, Maura asked, "Jane? What did he assume that we...had...done?"

Jane placed her hands on the table and dropped her forehead onto them. She mumbled against the table, "Seriously, Maur? You can't put two and two together and figure out what he thought—what he assumed—we had done?"

She felt Maura shift in the booth beside her, her hands-the one hand that had been on her back and the other, that had fallen to her thigh when she dropped it—leave her. She knew without looking that Maura's hands were now on the table and that the ME was thinking and trying to figure out exactly what Casey had assumed about their relationship. When the silence had stretched on much too long for Jane's comfort she blurted out, "He thought we were fuck buddies, Maur."

"Language, Jane! And must you be so crude? I mean, really? There are far more mature and more appropriate ways to say that. Perhaps friends with benefits?"

"Aaargh," Jane croaked out before sitting up and turning her body to face Maura. "It doesn't matter what it's called, Maura. The fact that he thought we were fucking each other—even while he and I were dating—says a lot about him and what he thought of my relationship with him."

"Many people are polyamorous prior to marriage. Your relationship with Casey was such that you were apart more than you were together. You have to admit that it is understandable that he would assume you might seek sexual satisfaction elsewhere. Given your work schedule, our closeness, and a relationship that you yourself have described that as beyond the scope of normal best friends, it is only logical that he would arrive at that conclusion. After all, I am attractive, intelligent, successful, discreet, and well versed in the human body."

The self-assured smile that balanced smoothly on Maura's face amused Jane. "So, because you're attractive, intelligent, successful, discreet, and would know exactly what to do to get me off, I would have cheated on Casey with you?"

An embarrassed blush colored Maura's cheeks, "Well, perhaps I was being a bit presumptuous."

"That's what I'm saying," Jane agreed.

"I'm sure I wouldn't know exactly what would," and Maura did the air quotes with her fingers as she uttered the next few words, "get you off." Jane groaned, but Maura continued. "Being a woman, I would be more likely, if you will, to be successful in bringing you to la petite mort—and more than once."

Jane ran her fingers through her head. "It doesn't matter how many pedicures-"

"La petite mort means-"

"I KNOW what it is and what it means, Maura. Believe it or not, you're not the only person who knows...who knows STUFF. Both you and Casey think I'm so stupid. Poor little Janie from Boston has never been anywhere or done anything out in the world! You with your degrees and money and him with his bars and stripes and uniforms. I don't know why either of you ever even bothered with me."

"Jane, I didn't mean-"

"No, you didn't, Maura. You never do. You don't have to mean to in order to make it sound like I'm stupid. No, I didn't go to college and I haven't traveled the world like you, but I know stuff. I read. I watch television," Jane blew a frustrated long breath from her body and suddenly scooted toward Maura. "Move. I need to go."

Maura grabbed the table and steeled her body against Jane. "No. You're not running away this time, Jane."

"Maura, so help me, if you don't move..."

"What are you going to do Jane? Are you going to push me from the booth to the floor in a very crowded and very public place?" Maura watched Jane look around the establishment and internally debate what she should do. "I didn't think so. You're angry and I understand that. What I don't understand is why your anger is directed at me. I haven't seen you in almost two years and I haven't spoken to you in almost a year—and those were your decisions. And since that's the case, I can't fathom what I might have done to deserve to have your anger directed at me. So, please, educate me." Maura's demeanor had gone from 'friend Maura' to 'professional Dr. Maura Isles, Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Massachusetts' so quickly that Jane found herself off-kilter.

Her voice faltered when she tried to speak, "I can—I can't do this. Not now. Not here. I thought I was ready. I thought it would help. But seeing you and talking about this. I'm not." Her hands were trembling and her eyes began to dart around the room frantically, as if searching for a way out.

Maura noted the perspiration forming on Jane's brow and the flushed color working its way down her neck toward her chest. Jane's respiration rate had increased and Maura hypothesized that her heart rate had as well. "Jane, you need to calm down. You're in the midst of a panic attack." She took Jane's hand in her own and placed the other on her back. "Deep, slow breaths. Breathe in through your nose. Exhale through your mouth. Breathe in. Exhale. That's a good girl."

She allowed Jane the opportunity to focus on her breathing before speaking again. "I think you're right, Jane. This is neither the time nor the place to do this. Come home with me."

Jane's eyes shimmered with panic as she quickly looked up at Maura. "Now, now. Hear me out. You've only just returned from wherever it is that you have been. I sincerely doubt that you want to stay with Angela since she and Sean-"

"Stop right there. Don't ever mention Ma and him to me, especially with such a lecherous look on your face. I may know that they're doing the deed, but I don't need to KNOW that they're doing it, okay? She's still my Ma and I still consider him my boss."

Maura smiled softly. Despite the conversation they had been having earlier about the affair that ended her marriage, Jane was still very much a prude when it came to sex "You won't stay with Tommy and Frankie, well, he's living with me now so staying with him isn't an option."

"There's Frost and Korsak," Jane offered as alternatives.

"Those really aren't options either, Jane," Maura said as she stood. "Frankie can stay on the couch and you can have the guest room. I'm sure he won't mind," just as Jane went to offer yet another protestation Maura smiled broadly, "Good. It's settled. You'll stay with us, er, me."

As they walked out of the bar, Jane was pulling on her jacket and couldn't help but ask, "So, eh, Frankie sleeps in the guest room?"

"Yes. You didn't think he slept with me, did you?" Maura watched the emotions play across Jane's face. "Oh Jane!" She laughed uproariously. "There's only ever been room in my bed for one Rizzoli."

Jane was stunned into a silent stupor as Maura walked briskly toward her car.