"No way." Jane was practically yelling. "I can't believe they did that. How could they?" She took a large gulp of her beer. "How could they kill her like that?"

"Jane, it'll be okay. I'm sure they'll bring on some equally nice character to replace her." Jane gave the blonde a hard look as she paced around her living room.

"That's not the point, Maura." She finished off her beer and went to the kitchen for another.

"Then, what is the point, Jane?" Maura stood to take her empty wine glass into the kitchen.

"The point is that Kate was my favorite character." Jane popped the cap off her bottle. "Don't you get that? She was the whole reason I watched the damned show. Now, she's dead. Who am I… I mean, what am I," Jane sat her newly opened beer down on the counter top and turned away from her friend. She walked over to couch and leaned against the back of it, keeping her back to the doctor. After a few moments, she stood and turned around. Maura was surprised to see a smile playing on her lips. "I'm way too involved in my t.v. programs." She chuckled to herself. "This is all kind of silly, isn't it? I'm sorry, Maura."

Maura leaned against the counter and simply watched as Jane made her way back to her beer.

After a few moments of silence, Jane noticed that Maura was still looking at her as if she were trying to figure something out.

"What?" She picked the bottle cap off of the counter and threw it into the trashcan. "Why are you staring at me like that?"

"You watch the show because you're physically attracted to Kate." It was a statement, and Jane did not like the insinuation behind it.

"No. I already told you why I like the character." She scowled at her friend.

"Yes, you did, and part of that explanation encompassed her physical appearance." Maura took a thoughtful sip of her wine as Jane continued to glare at her. "In addition, you mentioned her intelligence and a desire for her personality to be gentler."

"Yeah, so?"

Maura set her glass down. "Jane, is there something you're not telling me?"

"No." Jane wanted to walk away, but she was certain the other woman would not leave her alone until she had the answer she was looking for. "Maura, what you trying to get at?"

"Answer me this first." Jane watched as Maura took a deep breath. It looked like she was steading herself for something. "Are you physically attracted to women? Be honest."

The detective's immediate response had always been no, but, then again, she had just admitted out loud that she thought Kate was attractive. You can't really have it both ways, and she was sure her friend was not one to judge.

"Okay, yes… fine. I find some women attractive. Are you happy now?" She let out a frustrated breath and crossed her arms.

"No, not yet." Jane rolled her eyes and made a motion that meant for Maura to get on with it. "You find Kate to be physically attractive, but you wish her personality was more like whom?"

Jane thought about it for a moment. Between the alcohol and her already tired state, her mind was beginning to become muddied. After a few slow blinks, she realized the answer but was hesitant to give it. "I… I don't really… Can we drop this?"

"No. Jane, tell me who." Maura moved closer to Jane, and it was only then that Jane realized that she was cornered in her kitchen.

"You, okay? Something closer to your personality." She sighed. "Now that I've had one of the most awkward nights of my life, can we please drop this?"

Jane leaned back a little as Maura stopped just a few inches in front of her.

"One more thing. I want you to imagine something for me, Jane… please?" Jane nodded even as she began to fidget. "Imagine me with straight hair instead of my normal wavy." Jane nodded again and squinted a little trying to see the image in her mind's eye. "Now, imagine me with black hair as opposed to my current hair color."

For a moment, Jane simple stared in furrowed concentration. Then, it hit her.

"Oh. My. God."

"Do you see it now? Does Kate remind you of anyone you know, Detective?"

"This cannot be happening." Jane tried to move away, but Maura had her cornered.

"What can't be happening?"

"Maura, I… you two could be twins." Jane could feel the shock and fear running across her face, but she couldn't stop herself. "I never made the connection."

"Maybe you didn't want to?" Maura tilted her head to one side. "It's okay, Jane. I don't mind."

"What do mean? You don't think?" Jane rapidly shook her head. "Maura, I would never… you said it yourself. I'm not even your type!" Panic was winning out over fear. What exactly was going on here?

Jane watched as Maura shot her a smile. "I lied."

"You can't lie. You hyperventilate."

"I don't hyperventilate if I'm lying to myself. It's easy to lie when you don't realize what the truth is." Jane recognized the look she saw on the other woman's face. Maura had settled on something, some fact there was no way to disprove. She had seen that look a hundred times before when she would see the ME come to some conclusion as she was working an autopsy report. Normally, that look was reassuring. At the moment, however, Jane was afraid of what it meant.

"What… what are you saying, Maura?"

"Abbie Carmichael."

Jane blinked. No matter what she thought she was going to hear, that was not the answer she was expecting. "Wha?" It was an incoherent reply, but Jane's brain just did not comprehend.

"I watch Law & Order for Abbie Carmichael just like you watch NCIS for Kate."

Neither woman had moved, and Jane was starting to get a kink in her back. In a fluid motion, she pushed herself onto the countertop. As she thought about what Maura just said, she took a moment to settle herself into a sitting position on the counter making a face at how cold it was on the backs of her exposed legs.

"We look alike. Frost mentioned it the first time he met me. I looked her up. We look a lot alike."

Maura nodded. "Exactly." She smiled up at the brunette.

Jane sat there for a moment waiting to see which emotion would win the battle. Fear was up there, but excitement and relief were there as well.

"So, what now?" She began to fidget, running her thumb over the scar on left hand.

Jane watched as Maura's smiled slid away to the face she associated with concentration. "Perhaps we should explore the meaning of what has just happened here?"

"Explore how? You mean experiment?" Fear was winning. There was no question now.

Jane's eyes widened as she watched Maura lean forward, placing her hands on Jane's knees for balance. "I suggest a field test." Before Jane could really process what was happening, their lips met.

The kiss was surprisingly sweet and gentle.

"Field test? Is that what they call it now?" Jane chuckled as she ran a finger along Maura's jawline.

"It seemed appropriate." Jane could feel Maura's hand gripping her knees. She was nervous, but she was surprised to find herself wishing those hands were moving up from their resting place.

"If you let me get down from here, maybe we can extend the testing?" Maura stepped away, and Jane found herself feeling a sudden loss at the lack of contact.

"Jane, I'm not ready for…" Another gentle kiss interrupted the doctor.

"I'm not either. Let's just sleep on it, okay?"

As they slipped into their respective sides of the bed, Jane couldn't help but sigh in relief. It was nice not having to worry about whether she might accidentally touch Maura while they lay beside each other. Tonight, she pulled Maura close to her and was gratified to her a sigh of relief come from the other women.

Tomorrow, there would be a lot to talk about and boundaries to mark out. But, for now, she was going to be content with this moment now that she understood what had been going on in her own head. She was simply happy to feel the peace of being with Maura and the relief that comes with understanding herself a little bit better.

I've got move I could put down. It's starting to turn into it's own little universe. Happy to keep posting if you guys want.

Thanks for reading!