A/N: First of all, and it's always a first…you guys continue to humble me in your reviews. I hope you know that is from the bottom of my heart. I never expected to be so well received with my rambling writing. Thank you so much for reading and I'm so glad you like the story and have hung in with me even after such a sad start.
Second: let's just get down to business. I'm taking a lot of liberty with chemistry and bomb making in this chapter because even though Google is a wonderful thing, I don't want Homeland Security adding me to their items of interest.
Once I started writing this chapter, as is typical for me, it just kept going and it became so long with life and some much happening, I had to split it into parts.
THANK YOU for reading! I hope you like it.
"I would think that you go to yoga for the numerous emotional and physical benefits." Maura's sleep filled voice seemed suddenly loud to Jane's ears. Again. Coffee. Everywhere. Not to mention Frost's laughter. Shit! How much has she heard?
While the detective tried desperately to regain her composure, fanning her shirt out to keep the scalding to a minimum, the doctor managed a graceful stretch while crossing to the adjoining kitchen and grabbing a towel on her circuit back to rest on the arm of the sofa. Reaching for her detective's mug, she handed over the checkered cloth, taking a deep draw from the dark liquid, her eyes on Frost as she glanced over the rim at the stack of files with genuine curiosity. "So. Have you found out anything interesting?"
Warm caramel brown eyes locked with the Doc's as an otherwise sharp brain stumbled to a stop. He blinked several times but couldn't seem to answer such a seemingly loaded question. "Um…" Thankfully, Jane cut him off, standing somewhat awkwardly, she guided Maura and her former coffee mug into her seat with her left hand linked with the doctor's slender fingers. "Let me grab another cup and we'll talk." She winked and smiled widely in spite of herself. When she caught Frost's smirk, she glared menacingly in return and in a very adult move stuck her tongue out at him behind Maura's back before flipping him off with a glare.
Once in the kitchen, Jane poured a fresh mug of coffee on autopilot as she watched Frost point out a few things to the doctor in the various files. If there were a perfect companion piece to Rodin's The Thinker, Maura could easily pose as The Listener; she was the embodiment of concentrated focus and attention, leaning in toward the speaker with pursed lips and wide eyes as she practically telegraphed 'tell me what you know.' Jane couldn't help but dwell on her partner's words and turn them over in her mind as she blindly watched the swirl of the silver spoon stirring carefully added ingredients that would transform the liquid into the doctor's preferred brew. She had known for a while that she cared more for the quirky medical examiner than was dictated by the mantle of best friend. Hell, she had shot a man through her own body to ensure her safety along with her brother's. She just wasn't certain it would be the right thing to follow through… so much was at stake… and while she had heard Frost's words, the danger factor still loomed large and heavy in her mind and left her mired in fear for her best friend.
Her brow furrowed into a deep crease and she chewed on the corner of her bottom lip as the gravity of their situation hit her again. They were looking for a killer without their normal resources and the full force of the Boston PD backing them up. As much as she wanted to believe that they could play it by the book, she knew they were straying outside of the law whether Cavanaugh sanctioned it or not. That alone should've been cause for alarm but this guy wanted Maura. Maura. Her eyes pinched shut and her jaw clenched, hands fisting painfully against the cold counter and the ceramic handle she held in her left hand, her pulse beginning to throb against her neck.
"Jane." Soft and soothing, Maura's voice instantly calmed her, small hand on her right forearm for good measure. When dark brown eyes found concerned hazel green, she smiled apologetically and tried to make light of her mood. "Hey. Sorry. Just got caught up a little in things." In a friendly hostage exchange, the detective slid the steaming coffee mug across the countertop into eager hands as her former cup was placed safely in front of her…empty. A faux glare appeared for a few beats but slid easily into a grin. Their gaze held and she knew her friend could read her like no other as she poured a fresh cup. The hand on her arm squeezed gently as her left lifted to tuck an unruly curl behind the doctor's ear.
"Ehhmm." Frost clearing his throat from the adjoining room brought them back to the task at hand and they separated quickly. "I'll just…um, yeah." Her eyes never leaving the doctor's, Jane smiled and added sugar to her cup without care of measure. Maura seemed to find it equally hard to look away no matter how much she had coached herself in appropriate friendship behavior, her eyes studying and cataloging each fleck of brown that contributed to the mosaic of her friend's deep chocolate eyes. Even if pressed, the doctor couldn't quite put her finger on what was happening between them but she could feel the weight of importance in her chest as if it were a physical entity. Typically, she was uncomfortable with the unknown but this…whatever it was… involved Jane and that fact alone left her with a sense of calm and reinforced her patience.
Jane broke the silence with a smile. "It's a good thing you are up. There's a lot of technical mumbo jumbo that you can probably shed some light on, science-y formulas and crap that make my head explode." Wrinkling her nose in mock disgust, she grinned at the doctor's glare. Her coffee sufficiently sweetened to her taste, she gestured toward the den. "Shall we?" Caught up in her own thoughts, Maura almost stuttered but made a stellar recovery. "I…I yes. I'm looking forward to helping." Smiling brightly, she picked up her mug and headed back into the den, finding her seat on the sofa.
Taking a moment to blink away the thoughts she should NOT be having about her best friend, Jane shook her head and followed, head down in silent coaching to her runaway heart as she reached the great room only to notice that Frost had taken the chair across from the couch. Catching his smirk, she managed a quick glare as she settled in next to Maura and rolled her aching neck with a few chalkboard scratching cracks. "Okay, so these are all of the open case files on mob related executions with one common denominator; the detonator signature. One that we now know is linked to The German." Chuckling slightly, she felt a little punch-drunk and couldn't help herself. "Can I just say how lame that name is? I mean…Really? Maybe we could dig up an old Rocky movie with 'The Russian' and leave it at that. Seriously, someone in the mob needs to do a better job on the nicknames." She vigorously rubbed the scars on her palms unconsciously as she pondered what her moniker would be. Maura's cool, steady hand over hers drew her back to focus. "Right. Let's dig in." Cutting the 'deck' of case folders in front of her, she handed the doctor a portion, saving the rest as her own.
Immersed in the study of the various files, sifting and searching for some sort of clue, any information that might lead them to the identity of the mysterious 'German,' the three settled into a comfortable silence interrupted only by Jane's occasional pacing and mumbling. Maura had read through each of the files as if she were preparing for an upcoming murder trial where conviction would sway in the balance of her testimony; taking in every minute detail, careful not to omit even the most obscure and benign while filing it all away for later analysis and comparison. There was something in the reports; she could feel it with a growing sense of urgency mixed with the frustration of not yet knowing exactly what her subconscious brain was processing. She needed to figure this out and soon; not for her own safety but for that of her friends. Rubbing her forehead, she was able to study Jane without being too obvious.
Subtle weight loss was evident on her lean frame accompanied by a tightness in her posture and facial expressions that seemed to radiate general discomfort. Her typically warm olive complexion was the slightest bit sallow which the doctor knew would improve if she would only allow herself the appropriate rest. A gentle smile graced Maura's lips as she dropped her hand back to her side, eyes still on the lanky detective who was currently chewing on her thumb nail completely engrossed in the open file in her lap, long legs stretched out and resting on the coffee table. She couldn't deny it. Even in her current state, Jane was stunning; utterly and achingly beautiful. As if she had felt the medical examiner's unabashed appraisal, dark eyes looked up into warm hazel green and they shared a secret smile. God, she really is breath taking.
Feeling a flush creep up her neck, Maura closed the file she had been reading and reached for her now empty coffee mug on the side table before standing. "I…think I need a refill. Can I get either of you anything while I'm up?" She tried her best not to look Jane in the eye, knowing she would possibly give her thoughts away choosing instead to focus her gaze on Barry. "No thanks, Doc. I think I've had enough coffee before lunch." Shooting his partner a quick look he turned his full attention back with a winning smile. "Any more and I might get all jittery and start babbling crazy shiii…um, things." Smiling politely, she turned back toward the sofa and called forth the most casual of tones. "Jane?" When their eyes met, she raised an eyebrow in question. "Um, no. I'm fine for now. Thanks." Lifting her mug in confirmation, Jane took a generous sip as she followed the doctor's retreating form before returning to the file in her lap, muttering a low warning without looking up. "Shut it, Frost."
Once in the kitchen, the doctor took a cleansing breath and rested her palms against the cool countertop, closing her eyes to reign in her emotions. Her concern wasn't for herself. She felt much the same way she did the first time Patrick Doyle entered her life and had given her a cellular phone as means to reveal the name of her half-brother's killer. Jane had argued with her to be the one to make the call that would certainly result in another bad man's death but ultimately ensure the medical examiner's survival. She had never wanted to place her friend in a position to compromise her integrity but it seemed their current predicament asked not only that but the detective put her life on the line as well. Slender hands were shaking as she poured the coffee into her empty mug. A glance at her watch told her it was fifteen minutes after noon but it barely registered as she added sugar to her coffee without recognition of the act. Her mind was locked on the danger of their current situation. A man, the so-called German was trying to kill her as some sort of revenge scheme but she couldn't seem to let go of the fact that Jane had been injured in her place and she could be hurt again. "Maura."
Startled out of her reverie, her hands jerked at the unexpected interruption and her mug went flying across the narrow galley before shattering against the opposite cabinets, sending coffee and ceramic shards splashing and skittering across the floor. "God, Jane! I'm so sorry. I wasn't expecting…Let me just…" She immediately stepped toward the carnage only to have a strong arm around her waist pull her back flush against the detective's lean body and stop her progress. "Wait." The word breathed softly next to her ear left the medical examiner off balance, her heart rate slightly elevated with the intimate contact and her previous thoughts. She turned her head to find familiar intense brown eyes that seemed to hold something more before they glanced toward the floor.
"You're barefoot. You'll cut yourself." Dark eyes lowered to the doctor's mouth and Jane swallowed hard, realizing just how close they were. She could only blink and stare as Maura's tongue peaked out to moisten suddenly dry lips. "I… I will clean it up. Just…stand back so you don't get hurt." Smiling a little sadly, she loosened her grip and stepped back, leaving a stunned medical examiner to shiver at the loss of warmth in her wake. "Have you seen a broom around here or a dust pan?" Yanking some paper towels off the roll, the detective carefully squatted to the floor and began sopping up the spilled coffee.
Maura took a deep breath and mentally scolded herself for her reactions while she looked around the small kitchen area for something useful in the cleanup. Crouching down, she opened the cabinet doors below the kitchen sink and was not surprised to find an array of various cleaning products. The doctor always found facts comforting so she indulged in the luxury of losing herself temporarily in the wealth of information stored in her 'big brain;' smiling at the inaccurate term the detective seemed so fond of using. Unable to find anything helpful to the current spillage, she stood and faced her friend. "Did you know that the average home contains more than sixty-three hazardous chemical products with the majority stored under the kitchen sink?" She wrinkled her nose and tilted her head slightly before continuing. "In fact, seventy percent of households with children under six years of age keep their products in the same space without any encumbrance." She smiled at the incredulous look on Jane's face before she faltered; everything falling into place like the tumblers in a near impossible to crack safe. Ammonia. Her eyes went wide and she grabbed the detective's wrist pulling her back into the great room completely ignoring her grumblings. "Ammonia, Jane!"
Guiding her friend back to the sofa, she ignored Frost for the time being, her excitement at fitting a puzzle piece too much to control. "Ammonia. More specifically, ammonium nitrate." She stared expectantly between both detectives who wore identical blank expressions and shook her head, picking up several files, flipping paper until each were turned to the "sciencey stuff" as her friend so eloquently phrased it. She focused all of her attention on Jane locking on those deep chocolate eyes, tapping a well-manicured nail against each open page as definite punctuation. "Ammonium nitrate was a common component in all of these cases… it's highly combustible because it is such a strong oxidant." Not understanding the importance, the detective felt the need to interject. "Yeah, we know, Maura. It's the stuff used in fertilizer and explosives and…" She didn't get a chance to finish her sentence as her friend talked over her waving a hand in the air as she paced, getting a little louder as her words came faster with the need to get all the facts out into the open.
"Yes, Jane. You are absolutely correct for typical ammonium nitrate, NH4NO3, but look at the composition there…" She stopped and tapped her finger again on one of the open files as the detective leaned forward and squinted a little trying to figure out the importance of the chemical equation. Frost stood up and smoothed a hand down his tie, the medical examiner's animated energy transferring to his instinct that they were finally going to have something to go on; a solid lead that he could sink his teeth into. Maura's voice automatically softened as she leaned toward Jane across the coffee table and their eyes met. "This is a modification of the ammonia molecule; industrial strength." She reached out and placed her hand over the detective's and smiled. "Terrorist usage of the compound in bomb making prompted the government to strongly regulate distribution." Her grin widened when she saw Jane's eyes catch fire in recognition, her smoky voice finishing her thoughts with a flourish of her hands. "Whoever bought this has to be licensed and on file… all the hits were in the Boston metropolitan area so it stands to reason that the guy that bought this stuff took delivery somewhere in the area if not too far outside the city limits." At this, the doctor frowned. "I don't really like conjecture."
Jane rolled her eyes and stood gingerly, sudden exhaustion warring with her gut instinct to chase down the leads now that they had something to go on. "Frost…" She didn't have to say it. "I'm already on it, partner." He was back in his seat, booting up his laptop, fingers flying across the keys. Turning toward Maura, she couldn't help her smile as she lifted a hand up between them. "You totally did it." Crickets... Left hanging on the 'high five,' she settled for a hug, pulling her friend in and resting her chin on soft curls, her voice lowered to an almost whisper. "I told you we'd figure this out, didn't I? Hell, with you on the case, bad guys should just run and hide or give up on the spot." The doctor's warm chuckle shook them both, her head comfortable against Jane's chest. The detective's eyes slipped closed, lost for a moment until the loud rumbling of a hungry stomach gurgled between them.
"Damn, Jane. Was that you? After three donuts?" Frost smiled and set his laptop on the coffee table before standing. Nodding his head toward his computer, "The program I'm running will take some time so what do you say I run out and pick us up a pizza? Doc Romano's sound good? Oh and some salad to go along…maybe some bread sticks? Oooh. Calzones." He rubbed his hands together and smacked his lips just thinking about the possibilities. The answering rumble of the doctor's stomach made Jane laugh. "Yeah. You better hurry though. I don't know how much more Mount Vesuvius over here can take it... Ow! Shit!" Her banter earned her a pinch on the ear from the good but hungry doctor. Frost just rolled his eyes at the obvious, picking up his suit coat. "I won't be long. I'll grab a cab a few blocks away. It may take an hour or so though once I double back."
Once Barry was gone, Maura took control, facing her stubborn friend, guiding her back down onto the sofa and taking a seat next to her on the edge of the cushions. Their fingers twined together, she had no intention of mincing words. "You need to rest while he's gone." Expecting the retort, she placed her fingertips against warm lips as she gently pushed her detective into a reclining position, a little surprised at the lack of resistance. "I'm going to shower and I've seen the way your mind works, Jane. You will figure this out but not if you are so exhausted that you can't make heads or mole hills..." She stopped and frowned. "Actually, I'm not sure what the appropriate colloquialism is to use but I think you understand what I'm saying." She smiled the smile that only Jane could inspire as she gently brushed unruly dark curls away from a crinkled forehead. "Please just rest. Your body needs it to heal. You don't have to actually sleep… just lie still and close your eyes." If she were being honest, the detective would've done anything the doctor asked as long as she kept combing those skilled fingers through her hair. Narrowing her already half hooded eyes into a faux glare, the corners of her lips fought against the urge to curl upward. "Fine… but only if you will do the same later." Maura's grin was automatic as well as her flirty response. "Only if you agree to tuck me in." With that, she was off the sofa and walking back toward their bedroom leaving Jane to gape at the sway of her hips. Oh my god! She IS trying to kill me.
Okay, so just a short cut...it's just the place that felt right given the pages I had written. I promise not to tease much longer. ;) Thanks for reading. Please let me know what you think.