Author's note: thanks everyone for taking the time to read. And especially to those taking the time to comment. This is the first time I have written fiction in 20 years. And I could never have imagined it actually, even a few months ago, but I have been inspired by not just some of the amazing efforts on here, but also people's willingness to give things a go.

I had to look up OOC. I'm not sure if Jane gets far out of character. I think she says she doesn't like to guess, but really what she means, is that like most psychiatrists in my experience, she doesn't like stating anything unequivocally. Much a psychiatrist's job is guessing IMHO, as there are almost never any absolutes. So maybe a stretch, but I couldn't let the opportunity for her to refuse to guess for Maura go by ;-)

I have one more chapter ready for editing and then I think I will post a little less frequently as I am busy the next wee while. But I have a trajectory for the story in my mind so I will finish it. I need to get to the Rizzles!

...

"Maura Isles"

"Ms Isles, Jane Rizzoli. I wondered if you might like to come in and sit in with me this week when I see Nathaniel?"

"would that be appropriate?"

"Nathaniel is comfortable with it, or else I wouldn't offer. He still isn't able to give a particularly clear account of things, and you may be disappointed by how much of 'not much' it looks like we do in a session, as I imagine you tend to be business like and efficient. But he is happy for you to sit in for a session, and I guess you can judge whether there is anything of use to you as his advocate, in our progress"

…..

Jane and Maura met outside the correctional facility for adolescents. Jane smiled to herself, wondering how often four inch heels walked through the front door. Much like herself, most of the staff favoured fairly utilitarian clothing and shoes. Utilitarian was the last word to describe Maura's outfit. She appeared to almost flow from flowing hair, down to a draped long sleeved top with abstract pattern, in to beautifully fitted pale blue tailored trousers, narrow legged, to emphasise the co-ordinated 4 inch heels. Jane idly mused on whether the outfit was designed to encourage observers to run their eyes down the lawyer's appearance. Not sure what to do, she put her hand out to shake

"Ms Isles, a pleasure to see you again"

Maura smiled warmly at this apparently friendlier iteration of the doctor

"Dr Rizzoli. Thank you for the invitation"

….

Jane and Maura walked out of the building, blinking as they adjusted to the still bright early evening light.

"Dr Rizzoli, can I buy you dinner?"

Jane startled, and replied brusquely. "Please, I think you'd best call me Jane. But ah, no, I don't think that dinner would be appropriate"

Maura looked perplexed by the apparent softening with the suggestion of first names, but then rapid dismissal of dinner as if it was unthinkable "I am sorry, I didn't mean to presume. I imagine you are busy and have family to go to. It was silly of me. I just thought if I was going to pick your brains about helping Nathaniel I could at least provide you some food. Lawyers have a long tradition of the working lunch or dinner. But I imagine medics are quite the opposite – you probably learn to bolt your food down in case of emergency. I see that it would be more suitable for me to arrange a time to meet you in your office for further discussion"

Jane fought the urge to hit her own head with her left palm. How she could have interpreted a polite offer of a business dinner from a gorgeous woman as even close to suggesting the woman had a personal interest in her and that she needed to defend against it?…..sigh! Jane reminded herself to muse later about what it was about this woman that was causing her to overcompensate so badly, that every time she thought about her, she became anxious there would be some professional boundary violation. Overcompensating to the point she was so brusque about an innocent invitation, that the poor woman appeared now to be anxiously trying to work out what she had done wrong. When she was just doing her business, and Jane was having trouble with perspective. Jane wondered how to fix the situation.

"No, no, I am sorry. I didn't mean to sound so brisk. You're right, I guess my idea of dinner with colleagues is trying to shovel down food in the hospital café. Which is never food to linger over, and seldom with time to linger. And I guess I do worry about suitable settings to discuss cases, confidentiality and all. But if the offer stands, I am happy to listen at least to your thoughts on the legal matters over dinner….if it would be helpful to you, and Nathaniel, of course".

Jane figured the smoothing over had gone okay when Maura beamed at her. Like genuinely seemed to beam at her. Maybe she was a good actress and being able to smile warmly was a reason she was successful mixing in society circles. Or maybe she just liked it when things work okay. She had appeared somewhat crestfallen when Jane initially dismissed the idea of dinner. Maybe, reflected Jane, that was my brusqueness. Or maybe reading social interactions doesn't come as easy to her as I imagine, and she is just pleased to have solved the uncomfortable moment.

"Lovely, Jane. What would you like to eat?"

"A cheeseburger sounds…"Jane enthusiastically began, before stopping. Realising lawyers probably didn't conduct business dinners in burger joints, and nor could she imagine this beautifully attired woman suddenly chowing down "….ah good, or maybe a…um salad" she finished somewhat lamely.

Maura smiled "I think even I can ascertain you won't be wanting to try the new Raw Food Restaurant near here I have heard great reviews of. How about a nice thai place – maybe a nice cross between salad and meat?"

…

As Jane tried to remember to chew her bite of chicken delicately in company, Maura asked

"so his assertion "I did it". Do you think that really is it, and I should just try and find mitigation and try for as therapeutic a sentence as possible?"

Jane looked up thoughtfully, rubbing her chin

"Ya know, I'm not sure it is as simple as that. I still haven't gotten clear in my mind what he means by "I did it". On the surface it seems like a confession, but I am not sure it means he was holding the knife when his parents were stabbed." Jane chuckled "you are probably now wondering what you have been paying for. They do say that you can never get a straight answer from a psychiatrist. Or a simple answer. Or something. But anyway, what I was meaning was, are you religious at all?"

Jane felt almost out of her own body. She could hear her own voice talking. And a separate bit of her was watching for the small changes in Maura's demeanour in response to her conversation. The question about religion clearly was not one she expected. Jane wondered whether it was impeccable breeding or innate politeness that lead to Maura matter of factly responding rather than challenging where Jane was going with this

"well Jane, my parents versed me in a wide range of various religious traditions of diverse cultures of the world from a young age. So I understand the concept of religions and their sense of meaning to human populations. But if you ask if I have been immersed in a particular belief structure, I guess not"

"well I am Boston Italian, and so pretty much as a matter of course, brought up Catholic. And as you probably know, Catholics like their guilt, everyone jokes about it. But I think the difficult thing is all the things there are to be guilty about. That idea that thoughts ought to be pure. It isn't enough for a catholic to behave in a moral fashion, we want to go a step further and believe true decency is not having the thought in the first place. And thus that the thought is as bad as the action. A possibility is that Nathaniel feels he did it, because he wished it to happen. Possibly in his mind, he need not have actually have held the knife to feel the guilt. I am not sure that moves you on much though. Weeks in, and the main thing I can tell you is that I can't yet get it to make sense in my mind. I do think he may have done it. But I can't clearly explain why he would have done it, and it would be unusual for such a non-violent young man to suddenly act so impulsively and aggressively. I think you are right to keep an open mind, and yet I can see your clock is ticking, and really I have nothing to encourage you one way or the other"

"Well Jane, your honesty is a refreshing. I like to know where I stand. I guess I would like some clarity, but I accept you can't give me that now. I guess it reassures me a bit that you sound like you might share some of my sense that despite how the case looks, it might not be open and shut"

Jane smiled encouragingly at her and Maura continued

"I guess I know I am not a good judge of people, and a bit socially inept, and so I feel strangely relieved that you don't think I am completely lost suggesting there is something unusual going on"

Jane looked up, wondering how to respond to the hesitancy in front of her

"Maura, I think you are fairly harsh on yourself. I am not sure what evidence you base your social skills on. But I enjoy talking with you. I imagine your husband does, all those people that I saw smiling at you in the social events photos…" Jane suddenly paused, realising she had rather revealed her googling activities. Jane regretted having accepted the beer that Maura suggested would match her main beautifully. Just enough inhibition to drop your reserve, and reveal your stalkerish tendencies.

But Maura appeared more focussed on the early conversation

"Husband? No husband Jane. I am not sure what gave you that impression"

"Oh, I'm sorry, I saw you often appeared with a man, apologies."

"You mean Garrett?"

"Ah, I guess"

"That's how these things work Jane. Garrett is a friend of the family. I need to be seen with someone on occasions, he needs to be seen with someone, everyone is happy. Garrett and I did try dating back in my early twenties as it seemed everyone around us wanted us to. I was clear though I would rather go home alone at night than go home with Garrett. And Jane, I guess I thought you would know this, but those smiles and nods and things at society functions, they're not actually connection, it is just like an elaborate series of mating dances. Well not actual mating fortunately, but I just mean stereotyped interactions I need to have with people to meet my social obligations. I am sure it would make a marvellous anthropological study..."

Jane thought she picked up a mix of sadness in vulnerability in the way Maura made these comments.

"I'm sorry" murmured Jane. "I had never really thought about it. Never really attending one of those things. They look frightening to me. Being seen to be seen. So not part of my world, I wouldn't know what to do with myself. BUt I imagine you're right. Most things that are designed to be seen tend to be fairly superficial"

Maura smiled "maybe the anthropologist could write a text book. Of all the unwritten rules. That would then be written. But honestly, sometimes it just makes my brain nearly melt. Moments like this where I can just sit and talk to someone are so rare in my world Jane". As she said this, she gently ran her hand up Jane's left forearm.

Jane felt the hand like electricity. She pulled her forearm quickly away, as if burnt.

Tersely "You can't do that…ah, I mean, I'm not a touchy feely kind of a person maura. I can see other people might like that but…ah….I like to keep to myself." As she looked up she saw again a wave of vulnerability pass the woman in front of her's features before it was quickly shut down.

"My apologies, Jane. I am a little inclined to physical displays of intimacy. I do need to restrain myself. I just forgot myself a little"

Jane again found herself wondering how to retrieve this. It was as if her ability to act tonight was a few steps ahead of her ability to process. She now realised again the aura of loneliness from the woman across the table, and she felt guilty she had rather clumsily shut the gentle overture down.

"No it's me Maura. You know that theory of going against your upbringing? I got stuck in a warm, hugging, touchy feely Italian family. I over-react against it. Don't mind me" she smiled, and was met with a small hopeful smile from the woman opposite.

"look Jane it has been lovely, but I had best get home to Bass before he wonders where I have been all night."