See Ch 1 for disclaimers…

Casey took a sip of his wine. Jane was again flipping the silverware over next to her plate. He watched her give a soft sigh before picking up a piece of bread. She seemed to sense his gaze and looked up. "Are you okay Jane?"

She broke apart the roll and buttered half of it before answering. "It was one of those days at work."

He nodded. "We could have done this a different night."

Reaching out Jane covered his hand for a minute before pulling away. "No, I wanted to see you tonight." She let out a sigh, deciding to be honest. "Maura ended up in hot water last night down at the station. She apparently has found a new hobby in urban spelunking and she was picked up on the Northshore for a B&E." She decided to withhold the information about barely escaping a drug charge. "I'm worried about her."

Casey gave a deep laugh. "Maura Isles is into urban exploration? With the dirt and the rats? And she got arrested?"

Jane was surprised when she felt defensive. She took a long sip of wine until she could get her emotions back on track. "She wasn't arrested, just picked up. The officer was an old buddy of Korsak's so he went and picked her up." Not able to help herself she tossed in a little white lie. "She's upset and promised me she'd never do anything like that again."

They were interrupted by the waitress and after she left with their orders they stared at each other across the table.

Jane gave him a little smile. Casey could feel a gentle vibration through the table under his hands. Jane must be bouncing her knee against the table leg. He had faced enough battles in life to know when to retreat. "Jane, you might be sitting here but you're not here." She looked at him sharply but deflated just as quickly.

"Sorry, it was just something when I left Maura's before coming over here. My detective brain is running on high right now." Jane fidgeted in her seat, trying to relax. Casey seemed to be alternating between amusement and curiosity. The analysis irritated her and she glared at him before she could stop herself. She watched his face slowly fall.

Picking up his wine glass, he tipped it towards her. "Jane, you're concerned. I don't want to sit here feeling like I'm holding someone back from being someplace they'd rather be. I'm at a point in my life that I don't like to play the fool. Please go put your mind at rest."

She was going to deny and stay right where she was but she could feel it in her gut that she needed to move. She stood up. "You're a good guy Casey. I'll call you?"

He nodded. "We'll talk later I'm sure. Take care Jane."

His choice of words gave her a sad sense of relief. "You too." She put her hand on his shoulder as she walked past. "Good bye Casey."

She didn't hear a reply as she walked out.

Jane parked her car on the narrow street a few doors down from Maura's house while she tried to think of a reason that she was back. A small older Honda Civic made its way past her and turned into the alley between Maura's brownstone and the building next to it. She was out the door and walking up the driveway before the driver of the Honda had their foot off the brake. The driver's arms appeared before their body and the colorful tattoos made Jane rage float to the surface. She cleared her throat and the guy slowly turned around. His black bowling shirt and straw fedora made her grit her teeth.

She stood there with her hands on her hips, holding her jacket back so the setting sun hit the metal shield on her belt. She could see the minute he noticed it by the nervous shove of his hands into his pants. She slowly approached. "Devon I presume." Standing in front of him she looked him up and down slowly. "You have the wrong address buddy."

He looked slightly confused. "I prefer Bruno and I was invited."

"She made a mistake. A big mistake and I'm here to let you know." Jane heard the front door open behind her. She refused to turn around but she knew it was Maura by the way Bruno stood up and squared his shoulders. Jane lowered her voice. "I wouldn't if I were you. It would be best if you just turned around, got into that car and left."

Maura took in the scene. Bruno was staring at her and Jane's hands were fisted against her hips. Her heart started to thud and she flicked her eyes around the courtyard aware of the neighborhood around her, a sudden reminder that some choices were not hers to make without social consequence. She could tell Jane wasn't about to back down. "Jane, don't, I invited him. Let's not do this outside."

Jane held up a hand. "I'm not disputing that Maura, but you are missing some of the facts." She looked at the guy in front of her. "Get in the car before I put you in the car. Because the only way you are setting foot inside is over my dead body."

He opened the car door behind him before pride drove him to turn around to face Jane. "I'm going but it's not like I have a choice when one of us has a badge to hide behind."

Jane raised an eyebrow and pulled her shield off her belt. She held it up at him for a moment before tossing it down the driveway. "Problem solved. I'm not here as a member of the police department. I'm here as a friend." She stepped closer to him. "Thank you by the way. Now I feel free to fuck your shit up."

Maura ran down the steps and put her hand on Jane's elbow. "Jane please don't, please. It's not worth both of us ending up with incidents at work." She looked at Bruno. "I'm sorry but I need you to go." She waited until his car was backing out the drive before she turned around and stormed back into the house, slamming the door behind her.

Jane stood in the driveway, breathing heavily for a long moment before turning around to stare, outraged, at the closed door. "She did not just do that."Growling to herself she stormed up to the front door.

A/N - Anybody interested with what happens on the other side of that door? With the right motivation I might share ;)