FLASHBACK SURVIVOR THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK

"Do you understand why I had to do that?" Ian asked as he sat down next to her.

Maura shook her head and brushed her tears away. "He was a part of our alliance. He was our friend."

"He was," Ian agreed easily. "But there can only be two winners and that's me and you, right? That's what we said?"

Maura nodded. "That doesn't mean you needed to blindside him like that. I can't imagine what he is feeling now." Sadness laced her tone.

"He is thinking that you promised you would never vote for him and you stuck by it."

Maura's surprised eyes flashed to Ian's. "You did it for me?"

Ian nodded. "You promised him and Garrett that you wouldn't vote for them. How do you think we can get to the final two without you needing to break that promise?"

Maura looked down. As a genius she was surprised that she'd never even considered that. "I understand. Are we voting out Dennis at the next tribal council?"

"You are."

Maura frowned at him.

"Dennis and I are voting Garrett. Think about it Maura."

"I'm not going to lie to him about it."

Ian laughed. "I never expected you to. I know you can't lie."

SURVIVOR SECOND CHANCE

DAY THIRTEEN

The tribe members of Otokai were enjoying a relaxing morning lying in the sand, using thin sticks to clean their teeth. Energy had been lacking in the tribe this morning following yesterday's incident and no one was sure how to fix it. This year's Survivor contract had expressly forbidden physical violence or verbal threats. Previous contracts had also outlined that these acts were against the rules but this year's had definitely been much more involved. No one had questioned it until today. It was on everyone's minds. Had the producers been so concerned about putting Maura and Garrett into the same season again that they had felt the contract needed it? And if they had been so concerned why had they let them both come back?

Susie reached for some insect repellent and began to rub it into her arms and legs. Insect repellent was an item they were given but was never shown on TV. She felt confident that her use of it would mean the cameras were off or pointed away and she was free to talk.

"I think they did it to get a bigger audience. It is still the thing mentioned every year. It is good drama," Susie observed.

"It's someone's life, they shouldn't have done it," Robin added.

Jane was silent, hesitant to join the conversation. Maura was sitting near the water and out of hearing range.

"I wish they had aired it," Nina said.

Five sets of eyes turned to stare at her.

"Not like you're thinking. All we have ever heard is the summary. There was a challenge. Something went wrong. There's gotta be more to it than that, right?" She explained.

"She fell off a cliff and Garrett was forced to leave the game. I don't think we need more information than that," Casey cut in before leaving with a fishing spear.

"What do you think Jane?" Frost asked.

"I think that we shouldn't be talking about one of our tribe members as if she was a zoo attraction."

Conversation was stopped.

A nervous looking cameraman approached the group. "Jane, can you do a video confessional now?"

"No, I'm busy," Jane snapped back.

"OK. It's just that… it's day thirteen and you haven't done one yet. They are in your contract." The poor man looked terrified.

"There's a lot in those contracts. I've said 'no'. I'm busy."

The man scurried away and over to a group of crewmembers, obviously relaying Jane's refusal.

"I think you made him wet himself," Frost joked.

"Whatever. I'm checking tree mail."

"What's up her butt?" Frost wondered out loud when she was gone.

The mood improved slightly when they walked into the reward challenge. Otokai had a group understanding that they needed to win and rub it in Garrett's face. They were also curious to see who had been voted off and for Maura and Jane they were worried that it would be Korsak.

"Otokai getting your first look at Bomwi. Giovanni voted out at the last tribal council."

Maura and Robin shared a sad smile for their fallen tribes mate.

"Today's challenge is called 'Tribal stomp-ede'. In this basket are six different items. Coffee beans, a pineapple, a bag of rice, a can of beans, a coconut and a tin of tuna. One at a time you will stomp on an adjustable plank of wood to try and fling your item into the basket on top of the tower. Each tribe member must stomp an item into the basket. The first tribe with all six items in their basket wins the reward. Want to hear what you're playing for? Because this is Survivor, second chance and everyone here claims to be the best at this game we have given you absolutely no rations of food. You must be getting pretty sick of coconuts and seafood by now, right? Well the first tribe with their items in the basket wins this large crate with two full bags of rice. You will also win all the items in the basket. And if that's not enough, there's a bit of alcohol in the crate to help with the beach boredom. Worth playing for? Otokai you have one extra member who are you sitting out?"

"I am," Nina said, raising her hand.

"Alright Nina take a seat. I'll give everyone else a minute to strategize."

"Casey you won this in Africa didn't you?" Frost asked.

"Yeah. There's no real strategy. Take your first shot and go from there. Let's do alphabetical order. Barry, me, Jane, Maura, Robin then Susie. Sound good?"

"Alright. Survivors ready? Go!"

Frost grabbed the first thing from the basket, the pineapple, and ran to the tower. One stomp and it went straight in.

Casey grabbed the coffee beans. One stomp. Missed. Second stomp. In.

"Bomwi and Otokai tied at two items each," Jeff yelled.

Jane grabbed the tuna. She knew it would be the most difficult and wanted to get it in early. One stomp. Miss. Second stomp. Miss. Third stomp. In.

"Bomwi is pulling ahead with four. Otokai has three."

Maura grabbed the coconut. One stomp. In.

"Tribes are tied. Otokai have rice and beans left and Bomwi have tuna and beans."

Robin grabbed the beans. One stomp. Missed. Second stomp. In.

"Otokai with one item left. Ian is struggling with the tuna."

Susie grabbed the rice.

"Bomwi with only one item left. Susie can win it with this. And she does! Otokai wins reward!"

Otokai cheered and shared in a group hug. They were dominating. Jane looked over the heads of her tribe mates to Bomwi. All of their heads were down except one and that one head had a fierce glare directed straight at the doctor. Jane felt her spine tingle. She could feel that something bad was coming.

FLASHBACK SURVIVOR THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK

Ian and Garrett took a walk into the Australian bush to get the tree mail for the next immunity challenge, leaving Maura and Dennis alone in the shelter.

"She fall for it?" Garrett asked.

"Of course she did. She votes Dennis and we all vote her."

"What if she wins immunity?"

"Then we don't let that happen."

"You know she's going to hate you, right?"

Ian shrugged. "Let her. She's too weird anyway. I was going to take her to the final two with me in the beginning because she seemed unable to make friends but somehow everyone likes her. She'll get all the votes if she makes it there."

"I understand. Me and you, final two."

"Me and you."

SURVIVOR SECOND CHANCE

"Come get your reward Otokai. Oh before you guys go and enjoy that, I want to remind you that video confessionals are compulsory. Jane make that the first thing you do when you get back, OK?"

Otokai laughed at the pout that covered Jane's face. She hadn't liked doing them the first time and she'd enjoyed avoiding them for her first twelve days.

They had barely returned to the shelter when the same cameraman from before approached Jane. With an irritated grumble she followed him to where they had been filming video confessionals. There was a large rock in the sand surrounded by trees. It was only a short walk from the shelter but it was far enough to be private. Video confessionals usually took an hour. The cameraman would ask a series of questions that a producer had given them and the interview would then be edited into small comments to be shown at the relevant times during the episode.

"Jane this may take a while, I have questions from day one."

Jane grumbled and dropped her head for a second. Eventually she muttered, "Fine." This was part of the game. Jane knew she needed to be guarded with her answers. They were always cut to make the person saying them look horrible.

"What was your first opinion of your tribe members?"

"Cool."

"Jane…"

"Fine. When I first saw who was on my tribe I knew we had it won. The ex-cop, the army guy, the brain, the swimmer… and Frost. Who could beat that?" Jane sincerely hoped that Frost would see the joke when that aired.

"What was your reaction when you first saw Vince?"

"When Korsak walked into the game we struck up an alliance, straight away. All we had to do was get to the merge."

"What was your reaction when you saw Maura?"

Jane's brows rose. That was an odd question. She had never had any interaction with Maura outside of the game so why would their first meeting matter. Jane thought back to her first thoughts on seeing Maura. "Doctor Isles was THE first Survivor and the best to ever play this game. When she walked in I knew I was playing in the big leagues. There were two options now, play with her or play against her. What sane person would want to play against her?"

"Were you surprised that she was back?"

"Yes." Jane was short. She didn't like where this line of questioning was going.

The cameraman noticed and moved on.

"What was it like when you first arrived on Otokai beach?"

"It was beautiful! I'd definitely recommend Survivor on a beach over Africa. We got to work straight away, taking on our roles, Casey anointing himself captain. That was fine with me. Everyone knows the captains are the first to go. We had a lot of natural food thanks to Mau-Doctor Isles," Jane corrected herself.

"Did you have an alliance?"

"Frost approached me straight off the boat and offered an alliance with him and Susie. I'm not a fool. I took it. We added Sean and had the numbers needed to control this tribe."

"During the first challenge Kaua took an early and large lead. What were your thoughts?"

"When Kaua won the challenge there was no doubt that Maura was back in this game. Sorry, that Doctor Isles was back in this game. She dominated challenges back in Australia and she was already doing the same thing here. She has a brain to be envied. And a pretty great body." The last sentence slipped out of her mouth and it was immediately too late to take it back.

"Otokai struggled to get fire the first few days, what was that like?"

"Without fire we couldn't have water or anything other than coconut. It was tough. We were dehydrated and feeling sick. How do you compete without any energy?"

"How did you get fire?"

Jane swallowed. They obviously had it on camera or he wouldn't be asking. "Before a challenge there are a few minutes to talk, sometimes to other tribes. I spoke to Maura and she gave me a complete explanation on how to make fire. She basically fed and watered us."

"During that second challenge there was a moment when someone from another tribe helped Otokai to win the challenge. What happened?"

Jane gulped. The next hour went on in the same fashion. Question after question about her relationship with Maura. Jane's frustration was increasing but she was forced into that interview by her signed contract.

"Last question."

"Thank fuck."

"Lots of people have been noticing the interactions between you and Maura. Is there something more than friendship there?"

It suddenly made sense to Jane. They were planning to focus heavily on this relationship when it aired. Every season there seemed to be a favourite pair that had more screen time than anyone else. She'd experienced it personally in Africa and there hadn't actually been a relationship there. Not that she had one with Maura yet either. Jane knew, with the way everything had been building to this question, that she wouldn't be able to get out of it. She was trapped. Her answer would be aired. Her family would see it. Her friends would see it. Strangers would see it. Maura would see it. Maura… she was talking to Maura… she knew what to say.

"Maura Isles is the most amazing and beautiful person I have ever met and I'm not just talking about her external beauty. She is so smart that I think she has a fact on every single subject stored up in her brain. The more I know her… the more time I want to spend with her. This has nothing to do with the game."

The cameraman looked shocked at the honesty, maybe expecting a lie or half-truth but Maura deserved more than that. Maura didn't need to watch this and hear game talking about alliances, or playing the game… not like she had heard in Australia. Jane was different and she was going to prove it.

The cameraman finally let Jane go. By now it was late afternoon and the sun was quickly setting.

"Jane's back!" Frost cheered when she walked into the living area shelter. "How was it?"

"Long. They made me answer questions about day one. I could barely remember what I thought of your scrawny ass back then but don't worry, I did remember and now it's all on camera."

Frost frowned. "You're mean."

Jane laughed and plonked herself down on the wooden bench seat right next to Maura.

"We made sure to leave a spot next to the Doc for you, didn't want to risk your wrath," Frost smirked, enjoying a small piece of revenge.

Jane glared at his teasing but swung an arm around Maura anyway. She was OK with people knowing there was something between them.

"Was it really that bad?" Maura asked quickly so that Jane was the only one that could hear her."

Jane frowned. "All the questions were about you, about us."

Maura nodded, surprising Jane. "I've had the same. I don't make assumptions but-"

"You think we're going to be that featured couple?"

"Yes. What did you say?" There was insecurity in Maura's voice that broke Jane's heart.

"The truth. The girl won't give me the time of day and rejects all of my advances," she made sure there was obvious humour in her voice and added a smirk to be sure.

Maura laughed and slapped her shoulder.

"You'll find out when you watch it."

Maura seemed to accept that answer and they joined in the conversation with the rest of Otokai. The crate had held four bottles of wine and a large jar of whiskey that were quickly shared around. The next day was a free day and everyone was more than fine with spending it hung-over. Jane, Frost and Casey shared the whiskey while Maura, Nina, Susie and Robin had a bottle of wine each.

"You know what?" Frost slurred. "I love this tribe. This tribe rocks. Otokai for life. I'm gonna get a tattoo that says exactly that."

Casey laughed. "Well I'm going to bed and away from you drunkies. Goodnight everyone."

"One sec, I'll join you. Anyone want to finish my wine?" Nina asked, standing.

"Me!" Maura reached a hand for it. "Don't worry I'll share."

Nina and Casey left, dropping the weaved doorway behind them.

"I think they're gonna do it," Frost stage whispered.

Everyone laughed.

"No way! If anyone is gonna do it, it's Maura and Jane," Susie giggled.

Jane laughed and pulled Maura back to her side after she had leaned forward for the extra wine. Maura sent her a smile.

"Jane and I aren't going to have intercourse because I have trust issues."

Everyone laughed again.

"A drunk and unable to lie doctor is my very favourite doctor," Robin joked.

"Yes I do believe I am inebriated."

"Well Maur that's what happens when you have an entire bottle of wine on a very hungry stomach."

"That is correct. It's because of the enzymes… the alcohol dehydrogenase and the acetaldehyde dehydrogenase."

"How is she still saying those words?" Robin wondered.

Jane, Susie and Frost laughed. Maura swayed and rested her head heavily on Jane's shoulder.

"Maybe I should get this one to bed."

"Get that girrrrrrl," Frost cheered.

"To sleep you pervert."

"Party pooper," Frost pouted.

Jane laughed and pulled Maura lightly to her feet. The doctor looked exhausted and unable to walk. Jane lifted her, bridal style, and carried her to the shelter, with a quick 'goodnight' over her shoulder.

Casey and Nina were already fast asleep on the opposite side of the shelter when they arrived. Jane knew that Robin, Susie and Frost would need to climb over them to get into the shelter but she didn't really care. She placed the already snoozing doctor lightly on the thin mattress and pulled the wool blanket up over her. The nights were quickly getting colder. Jane crawled in next to Maura and wrapped her arms around the shorter woman. Jane took a deep breath.

"Mmm, you smell good Maur."

She felt more than heard the rumble of Maura's chest against her as the doctor laughed. "I haven't showered in thirteen days. I can't possibly smell good."

Jane looked down into gorgeous hazel eyes. Her left her arm was wrapped under the doctor while the other was on a soft hip. She raised her right arm and brushed the loose strands from Maura's eyes. "You smell fantastic."

"I'll try to not shower more often."

Jane laughed quietly and stroked her hand softly down Maura's blanket covered side.

"I'm sorry about my trust issues," Maura pouted.

Jane smiled at her. "You have nothing to be sorry for. I'm here when you're ready."

Maura shuffled even closer. Their chests were pressed together and their legs became tangled. "I want to kiss you."

"I want to kiss you too," Jane responded quickly.

Maura leaned even closer, her lips a millimetre from Jane's before Jane stopped her. "I want to kiss you but I won't."

Hurt flashed through Maura's eyes.

"Because when I kiss you, I don't want you to have needed a bottle of wine first. I'm going to wait for you to be ready because when you are, I'm not going to hold back and I'm not going to let you go."

"I'm ready," Maura said firmly, her brow furrowed.

Jane reached her hand up and smoothed out Maura's forehead. "Tell me that in the morning." Jane brushed her lips against Maura's warm cheek, the flushed heat solidifying her argument.

Maura bit her lip and Jane almost lost all of her resolve. "Goodnight."

"Night."

Maura's eyes slid shut and she buried her head into Jane's neck.

"I really want you to remember Maur."

"I will."

Jane closed her eyes.

DAY FOURTEEN

It was almost noon the next day when Jane woke up. Her instant headache was nowhere near as bad as she thought it was going to be. Frost, Susie and Robin were all asleep still but Casey, Nina and Maura were all missing. Jane's arms felt slightly empty after so many mornings of waking up together. Jane quickly found Casey and Nina talking around the fire.

"Morning," they greeted her brightly, obviously not suffering a hangover.

"You guys seen Maura?" Jane asked, no patience for small talk.

"She went to the spring. She wasn't looking too good," Casey answered.

"Thanks."

Jane quickly grabbed her water and headed for the spring, not bothering to wait for the rice Nina was cooking. The walk seemed much longer this time but luckily Jane's head was clearing with each step. Jane couldn't see Maura in or around the water when she arrived so she followed her instinct and headed straight to the hidden cave they had found. Her head cleared completely when she found her doctor sitting on their rock looking out through the waterfall.

"Good morning Jane," she greeted without turning her head.

Jane couldn't get a read on the emotion in her voice and she couldn't see her face. She moved closer and sat next to her. "Morning Maur," she greeted hesitantly.

Maura's face was still hidden. "Any signs of veisalgia?"

Jane squinted, unable to identify the word. "Vassal what?"

"Veisalgia. Hangover."

There was humour in Maura's voice. She was in a good mood.

"Not anymore. Anyone ever told you that you're a sight for sore eyes?" Jane flirted, adding extra cheese as she said it.

She was rewarded when Maura laughed and turned to face her completely. "I'm experiencing cephalalgia – a headache – and nausea."

"Do you remember?" Jane blurted out. To be honest she was proud of her self-control for keeping the question in for that long.

"I appreciate and admire your restraint last night."

Jane's smile reached from ear to ear. She remembered. Jane leaned forward, making her intentions obvious.

Maura reached up a hand a brushed it lightly over Jane's angled cheekbone. "How is it possible to feel so close to someone after only fourteen days?"

"Not sure. Let me know when you find out." Jane leaned closer.

"I'm not accustomed to having a friend."

Jane's eyes scanned Maura's face, taking in every emotion. She was surprised at how much she saw and how easily she understood it. Maura was scared, that was obvious. She was scared of being hurt, of giving her heart to another person, of giving her heart to another person in Survivor. She was also hopeful. Jane could see that Maura really wanted to put herself on the line and give Jane a chance, even if it meant that it would blow up in her face again. And that's why Jane pulled back. She had no intention of hurting Maura, actually the thought of it was too horrible to consider, but that didn't mean that it wouldn't happen. This was a game. Things changed. There were twists and plans and schemes in place that Jane had no control over and she wasn't going to get Maura hurt in the crossfire.

Jane opened her mouth, trying to say the words to explain how she felt. Maura shook her head and placed a finger over Jane's mouth.

"I understand and I agree."

Jane smiled but it soon turned into a frown when Maura's mouth was suddenly inches from her own. "Maur?"

"The game is off in here, remember? No cameras."

Jane closed her eyes, needing to enjoy and remember every single thing of what was about to come. She felt small puffs of air ghost over her face. She felt a small hand stroke her cheek. She felt her own tongue dart out and wet her lips. And finally, she felt sparks when Maura's lips pressed against her own. In that small touch it was already the best kiss she ever had. Her entire body was on fire, needing more of Maura all at once. Jane wrapped her arms around Maura's hips, pulling the doctor onto her lap. Maura's soft tongue poked at her lips and she opened, granting her access. As soon as Maura's tongue swiped her own they pulled back, both red and laughing.

"I guess hygiene is really important to making out," Jane cringed. Fourteen days without brushing teeth and living almost entirely on fish mixed with slight hangovers was not a good taste.

Maura burrowed her head into Jane's neck, trying to hide from the embarrassment.

"Hey, at least we can say we've seen each other at our worst," Jane joked.

"I sincerely hope that cleaning products are the next reward," Maura muttered against Jane's neck.

Jane laughed. "Now that our bad breath has ruined the mood, are you ready to head back into the game?"

Maura nodded and the pair walked back to their beach.

DAY FIFTEEN

Jane's cop gut churned as she walked into the challenge.

"Today's challenge is called 'Pilfering Pirates'. It was first played in Survivor the Amazon but this time it's going to run a little differently. Instead of taking place over the ocean, it was all be on dry land."

Behind Jeff was a series of bamboo walkways that connected four large coloured platforms, two red and two green. One red and one green platform had a wall with 20 flag pegs. The two coloured platform on the opposite side of the area held boxes that contained coloured flags.

"Last year this challenge became the first in Survivor history to allow physical contact between competitors and as such it has very specific rules."

Jane's gut was a wild storm by now.

"You will walk across the narrow bamboo pathways, collect a coloured flag, and bring it all the way back where you will put it on a peg. You must use the small platforms between pathways to give way to the first person to reach that path. If two survivors reach the large plank over the water at the same time then the two of you will try to push the other off. The first person to hit the water needs to go back to the start without a flag. There is to be no physical contact anywhere else on the pathways. If there is you will be disqualified from the challenge and may risk disqualification from the game. Am I clear? You must enter the course in a set order and there can be no more than 3 people from each tribe on the course at a time. The first tribe to collect 20 flags wins immunity. Otokai, you have one extra person, who are you sitting out?"

Jane desperately wanted to overrule the group decision and announce that Maura was sitting out but Susie beat her to it.

"I am Jeff."

"OK Susie, take a seat. I'll give you a minute to strategize."

Otokai moved to their platform.

"Alphabetical?" Casey asked.

Everyone agreed. Jane breathed deeply. At least she would be right in front of Maura on the course.

"Survivors ready? Go!"

Frost took off, balancing easily on his feet, obviously good at this after his experience with this challenge the year before. Casey followed, having a bit more trouble than Frost but managing. Jane was next. She crossed over with Frost halfway and she knew that meant that Maura was about to enter the course. She tried to look backwards but she couldn't keep her feet steady. She'd have to focus on walking and hope that Maura was OK. Jane grabbed a flag and headed back, smirking at Maura as they crossed paths.

The challenge was hectic and moved quickly. Otokai was slightly ahead of Bumwi with 14 flags to their 12. So far no one had challenged anyone at the attack zone. Jane felt herself become more focused and driven, wanting to finish this challenge quickly. She was reaching for a flag when she heard Jeff's call.

"Everyone stop! We have our first challenge."

She knew who it was before she even turned; she could feel it in her veins.

Maura stood at one end of the plank and Garrett stood at the other. Cameramen and crew ran towards the plank for every direction. This was the moment all of America was desperate to see. Jane kept her eyes on Maura. There was nothing she could do to stop this, she just had to hope that it would be fine and that Maura would hit the water safely and head back to the start slightly wet.

Maura felt all of her muscles burn in an effort not to shake. She refused to show fear but all she could see was in her head was Australia.

FLASHBACK SURVIVOR THE AUSTRALIAN OUTBACK

Today's immunity challenge was very difficult. With only a harness and a safety line for protection they needed to scale the Cliffside leading to where tribal councils took place. The cliff had various marks and indents and looked to be very easy to climb. They had sharp hooks to help them.

"Survivors ready? Go!"

Maura took a jump, trying to get some height onto the wall. Her three competitors all had her beat in upper body strength but she was smart and agile. If she moved quickly and planned ahead then she had a chance to win. The pace she'd set was excruciating at the halfway point. Her hair was damp with sweat and her palms were losing grip. Dennis had been struggling and she was slightly in front of Ian. Garrett was showing he was just as agile as she was and was about a body in front of her. She pushed herself harder. His foot slipped. She overtook him.

It happened in his next movement. Her left hand and foot moved at the same time, leaving all of her weight on her right side, Garrett's side. She didn't understand what had happened at first as she dropped, all of her weight being focused on her sweaty right fingertips. It was only when she tried to pull her right leg up for grip that she realised there was a palm wrapped around her ankle. She looked down and into the darkest eyes she had ever seen. This must be what the bodies on her autopsy table see right before they reach her.

She looked towards Ian and Dennis. They couldn't see what was happening.

She kicked her foot, trying to force Garrett to let go. It was the wrong thing to do. A loud snap and she was freefalling straight down into the water 20 feet beneath them. Information fought through the fear in Maura's mind. La Quebrada. She spun in the air, moving quickly, and bent her knees. She pulled her arms in tight and slapped the water.

SURVIVOR SECOND CHANCE

In the blackness that had followed Maura's body had fought to the surface of the water where Jeff and several camera crew had fished her out. No one could explain why the rope had snapped but Garrett's hand had been caught on camera. Garrett was removed from the game and Maura joined the final three.

Looking again into Garrett's eyes Maura could see that same black. She knew that she could decide not to do this, pull herself from the challenge and risk losing immunity. She also knew that she could jump straight into the water before he could even touch her. But she thought of Jane and of how she wanted to find a way to trust her and she thought of how facing your demons head on was what all psychologists seemed to recommend.

So she stepped out into the white attack zone.

"On my count," Jeff's voice was shaking. He wanted to stop this. "3."

Maura and Garrett crouched.

"2."

All of the survivors grew silent.

"1."

There's a poll about this story on my profile. See you all after Easter. Peace xx