A/N: It has been ages since I've written and I just want to thank everyone for waiting. Now that the new season has started, I'll do my best to incorporate key plot points, but there may be tangents as always.

To all of those who voted for the BRIC, read on. Did Maura stay?

Chapter 4

Way too close, Rizzoli.

Jane breathed a shaky breath and tried to take comfort in the cold metal of the wall locker against her forehead. She thanked God she was alone in the locker room. Cavanaugh had chewed her a new ass, but held off possibly due to the fact that she'd dodged another dirt nap – and caught the perp. Well, caught is an operative word. He died in a ball of smoke and fire. The man was past tense.

Jane didn't stick around while the body was dealt with. The last thing she wanted was proactive proximity to one Medical Examiner Isles.

The last several hours were a jumble of memory. Jane shook her head. It started with her coming to in the cab of the crumbled Charger, still strapped in and in one piece, albeit with a few bumps and bruises. Frost had pulled her out of the car and after being force fed an on-site EMT evaluation, she was allowed to report back to headquarters, after promising she'd get checked out at Boston Medical, check in her weapon and take a mandatory week's leave.

The old Jane would have fought it, fearing she'd look weak. But the new Jane was tired. So damn tired. Plus, the idea of a few days off with Jo, ESPN and take-out sounded like bliss.

The guys were now pushing paper upstairs in the bullpen and she was grateful for a few moments in peace. Alone. She fumbled with the combination on her locker, but managed to open it. Shirt, tank-top, BPD hoodie. She'd always kept a change of clothes at the precinct. A trick she'd quickly learned as a rookie.

Jane looked into the small mirror glued to the back of her locker. Covering half of it was a photo – bad as most awkward self-photos are – of her and Maura laughing on a beach. She'd managed to take most of them down, tuck them away somewhere, but this one she couldn't help but keep up. Hanging proudly in a private place only she knew about, it gave her hope. She stared at the photo and the weight of the day finally caught up with her.

Ever since she met the Medical Examiner, Jane had marveled at the affect just being in close proximity had on the both of them. Call it ESP, call it a sixth sense, but she knew when Maura was near. Suddenly, the hair on the back of her neck would stand on end and a fire would build in her gut. She'd look up and search until brown eyes met hazel. And judging by the way Maura acted, she could tell the feeling was mutual. Jane couldn't help but notice how even when entering a room silently out of the ME's peripheral vision, Maura would pick up on it. She'd pause, cock her head and perform the same search until she'd find Jane. And subtly, so subtly she'd smile.

Jane smiled sadly, staring into her locker. She'd seen Maura that morning standing next to Korsak. She could smell her perfume, feel the warm pulse of her proximity as soon as she'd stepped out of the elevator. Despite the fact that the two were simply colleagues now, the impact Maura made on Jane hadn't dissipated. It was jarring; disarming. Jane was defenseless so her MO was simply to ignore Maura. Not out of anger, but pure self-preservation.

Jane's walls were paper thin now, but they were erect and she had to keep them in place if she was to do her job successfully. The job was all she had.

Bruised and exhausted, Jane's eyes began to sting and she clenched her jaw, sucking air in her nose. She felt off; dizzy. The sound of the locker room door opening brought Jane out of her reverie. She closed her eyes and slammed her locker shut with a soft moan. She needed some air.

"Jane."

The detective turned and was suddenly wrapped up in a bone-crushing hug. Momentary confusion evaporated as her body naturally reacted to Maura's. Sudden closeness, more than they'd had in six months nearly knocked Jane off her feet and she had to fight to remain standing as she took in Maura's touch, her scent. Jane breathed in and felt her throat hitch, finding it impossible to say anything so she simply squeezed Maura tighter. Maura reciprocated and Jane smiled for what felt like the first time in ages.

Panic gave way to fatigue and Jane stumbled slightly, causing the Medical Examiner to quickly back away and use her arms as stabilizers. Maura quickly shifted into doctor mode and bore into Jane's eyes with her own then up and down her body, never letting go. She was so close and the worry etched on her face broke Jane's heart. Maura gripped Jane's collar, then smoothed it lightly.

"I'm sorry," Maura said, looking down. "That was inappropriate – I just. Are you alright?"

Jane straightened up, trying to quickly replace her sudden disarmament. She smiled.

"You should see the other guy."

Maura smiled and looked away. There were tears in her eyes. "I just did."