I do not own the characters and I'm not making a profit.

Rated T to M

Caffeine With A Side Of Brown Eyes

AN: For my Deckhand

Chapter Four: Just A Few Words

Under the guise of asking for direction to the restaurant, I watched Jane out of the corner of my eye. On our way out of the station, I offered to drive as visions of purple contusions on my collarbone and the skin between my breasts danced through my mind. For all the pleasure of yesterday and my new friend's company, I really didn't want to mar my smooth skin for the sake of a stake of fluffed dough and some sticky syrup. There was no alternative. I had to take control of the situation. But, how to do that diplomatically?

My musing was interrupted by Jane, as she threw back her head and laughed. I must have said something funny. "I scared you that much, huh? I'm sorry, but I like to go fast." Shaking her head, obviously at my discomfort, she giggled and said, "sure. I really hate to admit, but I get tired of always being the driver. I do like to look around at the yards as we roll on by."

"You don't seem the type to enjoy just sitting back and being an observer. You're a fidget, Jane," I said, thinking about last night at supper and Jane's constant need for motion throughout the whole affair. As a last attempt to avoid the syrupy mess that my new friend will make of her outfit, I asked, "Jane, are you sure you want pancakes?"

She turned her head to look down at me. I stepped down, looking up into her dark eyes, and missed the step. I barely had time to realize I was no longer upright, before the ground started coming toward me. Then soft, strong arms wrapped around my hips, pulling me away from the concrete before my face landed on it roughly.

"Whoa there. Careful Doc, you're going to need your own medical kit if you're not more careful," Jane softly whispered, holding me close to her until I regained my balance.

I inhaled her scent, and soaked up her warmth. "I'm fine Jane." I expected her arms to release me after I straightened my dress, but they remained wrapped tightly around my hips, and the warmth from her arm seeped through the fabric of my shirt.

"I know you are. I bet you'd say you were fine if a bus just ran over your dog."

"I don't have a dog."

"Oh, I do. Yep, her name is Joe Friday, ya know like the tv character."

I laughed at her expression because she seemed so proud of her chosen pet name. "You named your dog a male name." I grinned at her, then to keep from babbling as she smiled back me, her beautiful lips curving at the corners, I said, "she's going to get a complex."

"Naw, she likes it. I think she feels more important when I call her Jo instead of Fluffy, which is the name my mother wanted to give her." The smile dropped from her face, and she cringed and shivered, then stared out the window, turning her mouth away. I silently mourned the loss. I was quickly learning that my new friend rapidly changed emotions and I was going to have to enjoy each one as it came. And I knew that she would turn back around as she spoke.

After a few seconds of staring at her reflection, she sighed and turned back to look at me, her mouth in a slight frown. "Who names their dog Fluffy? What am I? One of those crazy teen stars that dresses their little Chihuaha up in a pink sweater and a spiked collar, regardless of the dogs gender, then trying to make said pet look fierce but ending up looking like a mini furry, cross-dresser." She sucked in a breath between her teeth and eased back in the seat, her face taking on a less tense expression.

I watched her out of the corner of my eye as I drove, accurately dividing my attention between the road and my new friend. "You seem very passionate about your dog. That's a wonderful thing. I was merely trying to be funny, and it must not have been as humorous to you as it was when I thought it. I'm sorry."

"NO. Maura… don't apologize for my.." she waved her hand in a circle to visually display her point. "Whatever that was. Frustration releasing I suppose. I watch a lot of sports and television." I stared at her, then back at the road, then back to Jane.

"You don't have to defend yourself to me. Really." I nodded my chin, waiting for her to continue. She nodded back as I smiled at her again.

"Okay, I'm a tv junkie. I admit it. And I see these commercials with women, all trussed up and carrying their dog in their purse like it's an accessory. Drives me bonkers. It's a dog, ya know? You feed it, walk it, play with it. You just don't add it to your outfit like a belt and matching shoes."

I stopped at one of the many stoplights that decorated the downtown area, and mumbled as I thought of my matching purse lying in the backseat. "I know. Fashion is… a demanding concept for some people. And they do things they probably shouldn't morally all for the sake of acceptance." I made a point of glancing down at Jane's trouser legs, standard black belt and button down man's oxford shirt. "Some women value opinions more than others."

"Hey! I value opinions just as much as the next lady. I'm just more practical in my wardrobe choices. I wear what I wear because I like it, and it suits me. Okay."

I pulled into the parking lot of the breakfast joint and turned to stare directly into her eyes, making sure that I had her full attention for what I needed to say. I sensed a deep discomfort with the subject of her clothes and I wanted nothing more than to show her that I was very okay with her appearance even though I knew very little of her home life as a child.

I said in my strongest voice, "I am not judging you. I'm merely proving a point. Please, don't take offense. It's really not what I meant." I grabbed her arm, squeezing right above her slim wrist. I rubbed the underside of her arm with my thumb to soothe her, and also because her skin felt so soft.

"Good. I don't like people judging me by my appearance. That also drives me nuts. But, I realize that it's a fact of life and out of my control." She shifted in her seat so that we were not only looking at each other directly, but also so that our torsos were facing each other. She leaned closer to me, her hand sliding from under my grip and taking my hand in a gentle clasp. A very friendly clasp indeed.

I released a soft gasp before I could stop it, as her warm breath caressed my lips. I leaned in as well. The air inside the car practically sizzled with the energy between us. From my vantage point, leaning so close to Jane, I took note of the dark pupils and the flushed cheeks. I sensed that she felt what I felt when our eyes first met in the coffee shop yesterday. But would she act on it?

"You look beautiful, Jane. Regardless of what people think about your clothes." I leaned closer and whispered, "they mean very little when one considers what lies beneath."

Her fingers squeezed my hand tighter, our palms starting to sweat they clasped so tightly. We stayed locked in place, too afraid to move closer and probably not quite ready to move away yet. I said to myself in the car that I wanted more with this woman, but I was new to the area and didn't want to label myself as different for being seriously attracted to this gorgeous woman, whom I just met and would have to work with everyday of the near future.

It would have to be her move.

A car next to us honked. Jane jerked, but didn't move completely away, she put a few more inches distance between our lips than there were just a moment ago. "I'm sorry, Maura. Uhm, for letting my frustrations spew out. I gotta learn to keep it under wraps better I guess. You look so put together and I feel scruffy next to you."

"Believe me when I say this, Jane Rizzoli, you are anything but scruffy." I winked at her and released my clasp on her hand, letting her choose to stay or to go.

She squeezed my hand, looked me in the eyes, and then let go.

A/N: A quick one. I was planning to work on a few of the other half finished updates, only as I perused my file collection, I realized that most of the files are not named their titles. So, note to self: future updates need to be labeled by story title not random words that have no relation to the story subject. AlexLivPornyBits is one example. *LOL*