Disclaimer: Yep, still not. Thanks for all the great reviews, it's nice to know you're enjoying reading this as much as I am writing it.

Chapter 5

Kelly settled on the sofa across from Maura. Half a bottle of wine remained on the table along with their now empty glasses. They had been discussing Kelly's nursing duties at the local hospital and Maura contrasted those duties with her internship when she was a med student.

"I don't know, Kelly, on a professional note I still prefer to work with the dead," Maura said. Kelly grinned and leaned in for a kiss. She settled closer to Maura on the sofa and put her arm around the medical examiner.

Maura couldn't pinpoint the reason, but kissing Kelly wasn't exactly what she thought it would be. Kelly rested her hand on Maura's knee then felt her hand move up to Maura's thigh. Kelly kissed her again and rested her head on Maura's forehead.

"Maura, these past couple of weeks have been amazing. I-" a buzzing in Kelly's pocket stopped her. She pulled her cell phone out and checked the caller ID.

"I have to take this," she told Maura. Maura took the wine glasses into the kitchen in order to give Kelly her privacy. Rinsing them, she lingered over the task, not only to give Kelly enough time on her phone call but to collect her own thoughts.

She knew where tonight was leading from the moment Kelly led her out of The Dirty Robber. Maura had made Kelly wait a couple of weeks, saying she wanted them to get to know each other before anything physical took place, but Maura knew she was lying. She liked having Kelly as a friend but as a lover, Maura was hesitant.

The source of her hesitation hadn't spoken to her much this week. Maura hated the distance, the silence between her and Jane. Maura didn't want to lose her best friend.

"Sorry, sweetie, I have to go. Work is calling. They're short a couple of people," Kelly wrapped her arms around Maura from behind and planted a kiss on her neck. She wished she could stay with Maura all but couldn't ignore the hospital. Maura kissed her gently and Kelly let herself out.

Maura sat back down on the sofa. She didn't want to watch a movie and wasn't in the mood to go out. She flipped on the stereo and selected the classical music station.

I want Jane, I want our friendship back. Why is this so hard? I want to feel I can call Jane and invite her over for an evening without all this drama.

Maura thought for a moment and grabbed her phone. I'll see if Jane stayed at the Robber or if she went home.

Jane stood on the porch of her parents' house, her hand poised to open the front door. She wanted to speak with her mother about the situation with Maura.

Never in a million years did I ever think I was going to have this conversation with Ma, she thought. I hope they take it well. Jane opened the door and went inside.

"Janie! What are you doing here?" her mother called from the top of the stairs. Angela was dressed in her nightgown and robe and was clearly surprised to see her daughter at this time of night.

"Is everything all right, sweetie?" Angela asked. Normally she could only get Jane to come for Sunday dinner, anything through the week was like asking the pope to dinner.

"Ma, can I talk to you?" Jane felt herself close to tears.

"Of course, sweetie, let me come downstairs. Just let me tell your father where I'm going before he comes stomping downstairs, thinking I've been kidnapped."

Jane laughed in spite of herself. She could picture Frank Rizzoli doing just that, stomping down stairs looking for his wife when she didn't join him shortly.

"Want some tea, sweetie?" Angela asked.

"That'd be good, Ma, thanks," Jane's heart began to race when she realized the enormity of what she was about to do.

"Ma, can I ask you something?"

"Anything, Jane, you know that," Angela replied. Yes, I do, Jane thought, comforted.

"Are there any limits to your love for your children?" Jane asked.

"You pregnant, Janie?"

"Heaven forbid, Ma. No. I mean you, yourself. Is there anything any of the three of us could do, or tell you, that would make you stop loving us?"

Angela sat down opposite Jane and took her hands.

"Never. When Tommy admitted the accident was his fault, and he'd been drinking, sure your father and I were disappointed but we didn't stop loving him. Same with you and Frankie. When you two got in trouble at school we corrected your behavior but we didn't stop loving you," Angela replied. She looked into Jane's face, deeply. "I don't know what's bothering you, but you're my daughter. There is nothing you can say or do to make me stop loving you." Tears rolled down Jane's face as she gripped her mother's hands.

"Ma, I have a problem. I wanted to talk to you first, before I spoke to Maura."

"Is something wrong with Maura, Jane? Did you two have an argument?"

"No, but my relationship with Maura is broken and I want to fix it. Ma, Maura's been seeing someone these past couple of weeks and it's a woman," Jane said. Angela stroked Jane's hands for a moment before speaking.

"Does her relationship with a woman bother you, Jane? That's kind of surprising, coming from you. Your father and I think the world of Dr. Isles and want her to be happy. The same kind of happiness I'm looking for you and your brothers, Janie."

Jane wiped the tears from her face and looked directly into her mother's eyes.

"Ma, I have feelings for Maura that go beyond friendship. I want her to be happy, so if she's happy with Kelly then I'll learn to live with that. But I want her to be happy with me, Ma."

"You mean, instead of a boyfriend or a husband, you want to be with Maura?" Angela probed a bit. Jane nodded.

"I can't say this is a total surprise, Jane, because it isn't. I've watched you two whenever you've brought Maura over for dinner. Your father and I discussed this situation several times. Frankly we thought the two of you were already an item and didn't share it with us."

"You did?" Jane's eyes got big. Her parents already knew-and didn't have a problem with it? Angela nodded.

"What it all comes down to, honey, is wanting your children to be happy. If you have a wife instead of a husband, that's okay with us, as long as you're happy. But I'm telling you this, Jane Rizzoli. This does not get you out of giving me grandchildren, so don't forget that part." Jane began to laugh. She stood up and hugged her mother.

"Do you mind if Maura carries them, Ma? I never quite pictured myself as a barefoot and pregnant cop." Jane fairly danced her way out of the house. Now she needed to speak with Maura.

Voicemail. Maura put her phone down, frustrated. She tried calling Jane several times but all the calls went to voice mail. Oh well, guess I'm alone for the rest of the evening. Let me grab the new medical journal. At least it will help me sleep, Maura thought.

Jane pulled her phone out of her pocket and was just starting to call Maura when her phone rang.

"Yeah, Frost, what's up?"

"Hey, Jane, sorry to bother you but we caught a case."

"So what else is new? Are you okay to drive, Frost?"

"Yeah, when you didn't come back in the party broke up early. A body has been reported, Jane, and it's in Maura's neighborhood."

"Is it? Frost, tell me, is it?"

"I don't think so, hell, I hope it isn't, but the woman who found her couldn't ID the body."

"I'm on my way, Frost."

"Jane, slow down and be careful. We don't know this is Maura, okay?"

Jane snapped her phone shut and floored the gas pedal. The car jumped in its response.

TBC

LOL. You seriously didn't think I was going to let Maura sleep with Kelly, now did you?