A/N: For some odd reason, I could not seem to get this chapter done. What I had planned for this chapter was a lot more different from what I've actually written here. Writer's block, I tell ya. The story didn't seem to flow correctly and I wasn't able to connect chapter 6 properly with the original chapter 7. Something in the back of my head nagged me to do a flashback. So, I started writing about what happened before the events of New Year's. AND IT WORKED. IT FLOWED. HAHA! NICE TRY WRITER'S BLOCK.


Flashback
Late June of last year

Towards the end of June, the streets of Boston bustled with activity as the summer break forged on. School was out of session, families were out enjoying the weather, and tourists from all over the world visited with glee. Bostonians and visitors alike went to varying locations for food and drink; they watched baseball games at Fenway Park; admired beautiful art at museums, and enjoyed every moment they could before reality called for their attentions. Despite the many activities one could enjoy, three detectives and a chief medical examiner were not able to participate. They needed to focus on their piles of paperwork and cases.

While the three detectives waited on two warrants –one for their victim's apartment and another to search the suspect's home– they each worked on individual tasks. Korsak briefly discussed the motive, evidence, and reasoning of their charges against their suspect to the DA in hopes of pushing the case to a jury. Although their case was strong, the DA went over details with the Sergeant to clarify a few points. The DA showed his support in the charges and informed Korsak to come to his office the next day to further discuss their plan of action. Jane dedicated her time to influence the victim's relatives to attend the court hearing. They weren't very close to the victim; however, they would greatly affect the chances of sending the murderer to prison by being present.

And while his partners paid attention to their current case, Frost began compiling witness statements and evidence for another case they worked on in the past. Frost contacted the witnesses to inform them that the trial had finally been scheduled next week. For four months a disheartened family waited for their turn at trial, wondering what would become of the woman they thought they knew. The unhinged woman committed a grisly double homicide against her husband and child. To keep his witnesses –and her family– sharp for the judge and jury, Frost wanted to coach them through the hearing with their attorney. They were going to send a murderer to prison next week.

Downstairs, Maura and Senior Criminalist Susie Chang worked together on an autopsy. With Chang's assistance, Maura turned the body to face her to expose a gunshot wound in the victim's back. While Maura held the body in place, Susie took several pictures of the wound, then pried the bullet out of the man's flesh. Susie recorded the bullet's caliber on paper and placed the bullet in a small evidence bag. When they completed the exterior examination, Susie went off to place the bullet in the chain of custody records and turn in blood samples to the lab.

Since her shift was over soon and she didn't have any other autopsies to focus on, Maura took her time with the examination. The chief medical examiner never missed details while performing autopsies; it wasn't in her nature to make slapdash efforts, even if her schedule became very busy. She had all the time she needed to look at every crevice, organ, and notable scar, injury, or altered part of the healthy man's body.

The medical examiner worked ceremoniously for two hours. She made a y-incision in the victim's chest and abdominal region, then removed his ribs to observe his organs. She extracted his chest organs first and examined them, notating any oddities in her findings. Maura worked quickly since there were no notable discoveries and even got through examining most of the man's abdominal organs.

"Hey Maur, you want me to massage your face?" The sudden interruption made the medical examiner jump. She placed the liver back into the cavity and watched the weary detective throw her blazer over a shoulder. Jane pushed a hand into her pocket as she simpered at the ME's bewildered expression.

For the past three hours, the detective sat at her desk in the stuffy heat. The windows were wide open, but their office stood no chance of enjoying any passing breezes since they were located in the back of the building –blocked by much taller buildings. Electrical fans were not helpful either. Thank goodness it was only 80°F out –the department really needed to fix the air conditioning.

After the detective convinced –and gratefully got the support of– their current victim's relatives to testify in court, Jane grabbed her things and decided to see her friend. And enjoy the cold air that would guarantee her sweat spots to fade away.

Maura pulled her face shield up, "Massage my face?" She placed the scalpel she'd been holding on a tray. She instinctively crossed her wrists in front of her to keep herself from contaminating her gloves among other things. "Thank you for the offer, but not now."

Jane threw the blazer over a shoulder, moving to the opposite side of her friend. They were standing next to the corpse, facing each other, pulling faces. "You realize I'm kidding?"

"You can still massage my face," Maura pulled the shield down, "...since you offered." The blonde gave a grateful smile, but it transformed into a lopsided grin, "However, now that I think about it, your hands might be too rough." The blonde squinted her eyes and took the scalpel up again. "Why my face? I'd rather have you massage my shoulders than my face."

The detective crossed her arms, dropped her head slightly, and left her jaw open, "Maura, no. I was kidding. And your face because it looked tense. And I will never massage you, that's why you have your fancy masseuses." Jane leaned forward a bit, her eyebrow arching. "Or is it mass-eye?"

Maura tilted her head slightly and chuckled at the detective's silliness, "First of all, my face corresponds to the emotions and thoughts I have."

The brunette nodded, biting her bottom lip. Her voice lilted as she replied, "As does my face."

"The tension you saw revealed the intensity of my level of concentration –which you have broken." Maura laughed under her breath at the snotty expression on Jane's face. "And to answer your question: no, it is not massi. The plural is in fact," Maura bobbed her head as she bobbed the scalpel in her hand, "...masseuses."

The detective rose her nose, arms still crossed, "Doctor Smarty-Pants, one last thing."

"Yes, Detective Bossy-Pants?"

Jane squared her shoulders, "Two things...,"

Maura waited, placing the scalpel down again. "Go ahead detective."

"My hands are not rough, they're dry." The brunette spread her feet further and draped the blazer over her shoulders, resembling a mafia boss or pimp. "And two, do you wanna go out to dinner after...," she waved at the corpse and the morgue, "...this?"

The answer was obvious; the question unnecessary. Maura picked up the scalpel and liver again, then cut out a piece of tissue that didn't match the rest. The symptoms would not have presented itself yet, it was too early to know –he might have survived the cancer. But, Gage Santos died from a gunshot wound.

"Maura?" Jane bent down to catch the woman's eyes. "You all right?"

"Yes, sorry." She set the organ aside, then prepared a slide with the tissue. "You're going to wait an hour for me?" Maura marked the the glass slide, notated it on the microphone and report, then carefully placed it in a box with the others. "I still need to look at these slides and write my report."

She shrugged with no urgency. Jane wanted to review her current case and outline, with her partners, the presentation they needed to make tomorrow with the DA. They had gone over it briefly after Korsak ended his call with the attorney. But, they all agreed to take a break from the uncomfortable humidity in the bullpen.

"I'll head back up to the pen to finish planning our presentation for tomorrow morning. That should take an hour or so."

Maura bagged the chest and the abdominal organs in separate bags, "When we're done, we can meet by the café. Then head to the Dirty Robber?" She also took the brain she'd extracted earlier and put it in formaldehyde.

"I still can't understand how the smell of deco- and flesh never fazed me, but that," Jane closed her eyes and grimaced, "...gets to me." She took her blazer off and covered her mouth with it. "I'll see you in a bit." Jane walked off, making it halfway across the room when Maura called her.

"Are you still hot?" Maura pointedly looked at her friend.

The blue blazer moved away from her mouth when she answered, "No?" Jane clenched her lips together and grinned widely. The blonde's eyes twinkled, eyebrows raising at the detective, "What? I didn't come in here just for air conditioning. I wanted to see you too." Jane lolled her head at the shorter woman.

The medical examiner nodded, training her eyes back to the corpse, "Please tell your colleagues not to loiter here for the air conditioning." She picked up a large curved needle and pierced the flesh, "I don't need a crowd of detectives and officers pretending they're interested in my practices." She sutured the incision, adding with finality, "However, I don't mind giving a few lessons on the human anatomy. I can make the learning experience hands on too."

Jane wasn't using the AC to her advantage on purpose... sorta. She knew she had to comply with Maura's request; if not, Jane would be the reluctant student listening to an earful of her friend's medical jargon. And she wouldn't be able to leave with some made up pathetic excuse because Maura was her best-friend. They were connected professionally and personally, so Maura wouldn't hesitate to call the detective on her fibs.

Her blazer went back over her mouth. It came out muffled, but Maura could hear her distinctively, "Yes ma'am. Yes Doctor Bossy-Pants."

Maura crinkled her nose at her, "Go and leave, so I can get my work done."

"Duh, I have to get work done too. But someone keeps distracting me." Jane rolled her head to look back at Maura.

"Detective Smarty-Pants." Maura scolded. They both knew Maura's efforts to sound serious were ruined by the moniker.

"Fine okay, okay." She walked to the door as Susie opened it, "What's up Chang?"

"Hi Detective, I just ran into a couple of officers down the hall—,"

The brunette slowly turned to look at the defiant grin on the ME's face, "You want to teach a class today?" Chang stepped into the morgue, the door swinging into the detective, but Jane held it in place.

"Not particularly, since I plan on eating dinner tonight with you." Maura didn't forget what she had told the detective. She just didn't think it was going to happen this soon. "I'd rather not delay dinner, but you're more than welcome to go alone." The medical examiner tried her hand at sarcasm.

She pushed the door open to step out, turning her head to look at the all too familiar smirk on the blonde woman's face. "I've got someone to take your spot. Don't worry." Jane left, hoping the statement would stir a little jealousy or wonder in the medical examiner.

Maura couldn't clarify the gravity of the words spoken or who might take her spot with Jane at the dinner table –the brunette left too soon for her to ask. The medical examiner hoped that Jane was only pulling her leg. They always went out to eat together; however, they weren't obligated to go out with each other all the time either. So Maura couldn't let that dark shadowy stranger, that she created, consume her thoughts. Not when the brunette was clearly messing with her.

Still, Maura's eyebrows knit together and she frowned, displeasure and –what was it?– jealousy forming in her chest. She shook those feelings away, checking to see if Chang had noticed her reaction. But the Senior Criminalist was oblivious. So Maura continued with her tasks. She finished stitching the corpse and, with Susie's help, they maneuvered the body to a mobile table and stored it in a large freezer. After completing that, Maura removed her PPE and requested Susie to finish the preservation of organs and sterilization of their equipment. The medical examiner placed a fresh pair of gloves on then collected her box of slides to inspect the tissues. She moved towards the wall by the double doors and placed the first slide into the microscope. As she studied and recorded her observations on a sheet of paper, the medical examiner's thoughts wandered to the brunette detective.

She couldn't help but let the woman's words control her thoughts. Maura was certain that Jane only said those words in jest, but now a new idea simmered on her mind: relationships. Maura wondered how the dynamic of her relationship with Jane would change if the brunette started dating.

A best friend would be supportive, encouraging, and open for discussions about the dates and person of interest. The blonde watched movies portraying women having conversations about their handsome, charming dates. She even took pleasure in the excitement the women on screen conveyed. Maura and Jane did that: talk about dates –but not as passionately as they should have. Somehow their conversations became more about them than the man they had originally brought up. If the man that Jane showed interest in became a permanent figure in the brunette's life, Maura, frankly, would not be that supportive, encouraging, or open best friend. The blonde saw herself as somewhat encouraging; she would avoid the topic of Jane's significant other, and would most likely avoid the brunette altogether. There was no doubt in Maura's mind, that she would definitely be awkward in every interaction with the brunette. Maura was not going to be a good friend.

Susie tapped Maura on her shoulder, rousing the ME out of her trance, "Doctor Isles, I can finish examining the slides if you want to start your report."

Maura nodded out of obligation, realizing how frightened she was at the thought of losing her best friend to another person. If Jane ever found someone else to love or become close to, Maura would find herself alone and lonely –a fact she'd been comfortable with in the past, but no more.

"Thank you Susie. I'll be in my office if you need me." Maura stripped the gloves off and monotonously walked to her office with her recorder and paperwork.

The Senior Criminalist took over at the microscope for her boss. She inspected the tissue samples that Maura collected while contemplating the change of her boss's demeanor. She also didn't forget the fact that Dr. Isles had stared at the wall for a good three minutes before Susie stepped in.

Chang neared the six-month mark working with and for the highly recognized medical examiner. Chang was also fortunate enough to work with the famed Boston detective too –the same one that escaped a serial killer's scalpel. She never paid much attention to coworkers and regularly avoided socializing beyond the workplace. But Detective Rizzoli, her team, and Doctor Isles easily became acquaintances that Susie came to trust and admire. However, because of her close working relationship with Doctor Isles, Chang was more tuned to the blonde's feelings and unspoken cues. That was the perk of being reserved: Susie Chang read people without others knowing of her personal observations. Despite the short six month employment at the morgue and lab, Susie distinguished an underlying tension between her colleagues.

Chang had close friends; Maura and Jane were close friends. But whatever was going on between the ME and detective, whatever tension Chang could sense, it wasn't friendly.

"Tell them not to come down unless all of you want to hear Doctor Isles' prepared lesson plan for the day." Jane pushed the officers toward the elevator, "She's more than ready for class participation too."

The four officers exchanged looks, thinking very carefully what that might mean for them. Two of them, a stout man with an amazing head of hair and a freckled brunette woman, faced the elevator doors to leave. The other half shrugged at the lanky detective and attempted to walk towards the morgue. Jane held her arm out to stop them.

"You two ever heard of sarcasm?" They didn't care. They wanted to cool off, but the detective would not let them pass. "Find someplace else to share your BO. We have to keep these hallways open for officers and detectives that need to be here."

The shortest officer of the two who refused to leave, grunted at the detective. He mumbled as he, again, tried to walk to the morgue, "Must be nice," He smugly glanced at the brunette, "...being friendly with the ME." His colleague, who hid his tattoos on his forearm with a sleeve, knew Detective Rizzoli's reputation. He did not push the button for the elevator –being the smart man he was, he went to the staircase instead. He abandoned the fool for slaughter.

"Officer Jenkins?" She pushed her arms through her blazer, tugging it closer to her midriff. Jane looked him directly in the eyes, her upper lip quivering as she snarled, "This isn't high school. Doctor Isles kicked me out for over staying my visit. If you don't got business down here," she stepped into his personal bubble, pushing the boundaries as she got into his face, "...get the hell out."

The officer felt slightly rattled, but he had dealt with more intimidating people than her. He didn't enjoy her invading his space, but he chose to let it slide. He got out of her way, pressing the button for an elevator and commented, "Detective, it's not like you run the lab. You got no say."

"Correct me if I'm wrong Officer Jenkins, but I am in charge here, right? And please, interrupt me if this is not true, but you are new to the department?"

Jane restrained from outwardly gloating, making sure her facial expression remained stern, yet passive. Maura stood a few inches away from the man, looking at him directly. Her tall brunette detective took a few steps back, letting the feisty ME take her spot in the ring.

"I ordered Detective Rizzoli to redirect anyone who took advantage of this space back to where they came from. Is Detective Rizzoli in the wrong?" The elevator closed again, taking no passengers since Officer Jenkins was being berated. Maura crossed her arms, speaking over the babbling officer, "Officer Jenkins, I would appreciate you so much if you would let your colleagues know that they are all welcome to enjoy the air conditioning." She took one more step forward, "If they have business to conduct."

Maura's misplaced friendly tone and ironic glowering facial expression –combined with her command presence– made the officer's arrogant face and attitude disappear very quickly. She uncrossed her arms, pushed for the elevator again, and smiled.

Officer Jenkins felt like he'd been gutted. He was humiliated, "I...," he tried to say, but his throat was too dry. He swallowed repeatedly, the heat in his neck rising steadily as the Doctor continued smiling. The detective looked just as shock, but impressed –and something else too. "I'm going," he stepped backwards into the open elevator, "...I'll notify...," he couldn't get the words out.

The last thing Maura and Jane saw before the doors closed were Officer Jenkins's eyes go blank, his face turn red, and his lips part slightly. He was at a loss for words. That would be the last time he ever went down to the morgue.

The detective scratched the back of her head, tucking her opposite arm underneath a cool armpit. "Wow," Jane leaned towards the shorter woman's ear, murmuring under her breath, "And they say I'm mean."

Maura didn't realize how close the brunette stood. When she turned to face her, Maura's cheek nearly collided with Jane's lips. Jane pulled back, covering her mouth and held Maura's shoulder. The ME followed suit grasping the brunette's forearms. They chuckled in unison.

"At least I won't have loitering officers and detectives down here." Maura composed herself.

"That you won't, my friend." Jane chuckled, squeezing the woman's shoulder, "So dinner still on?"

Maura bit her lip subconsciously, and bounced slightly with glee, "If I'm the one you're taking out, yes."

The detective clapped her hands on the woman's shoulders. Jane gently shook the ME. It did work. "Man, I really wanted to invite Officer Jenkins though. I think he'd just die in your presence." Jane threw her head back and laughed rambunctiously.

The medical examiner responded with an eye roll, shrugging the detective's hands off. Maura sauntered back to her office, not giving Jane the satisfaction of any other response.

"What? That was a good one!" Jane threw her arms up at the withdrawing ME. "See you later!" She waved at her back.

The side of her lip curled up, Jane rocked back and forth on her feet. She was proud of the joke she'd made and was even more excited that she had an effect on Maura. Her heart grew immensely, so she puffed out her chest and took a satisfying breath in. She waited for an elevator to take her back up to the pen, but when it didn't come as quickly as she expected, the brunette shrugged and went to the staircase instead. Her enthusiasm gave her the boost of energy to climb up six flights of stairs. Jane Rizzoli did not stop to take a breath as she practically leaped every other step. Reaching her floor, she swung the door open and contentedly stepped out. She took heaving breaths of air, stalking to her desk. Once there, she felt all the adrenaline escape her body.

"Holy shit!" Jane gasped. She stretched, pulling her arms over her head, then placed her palms at the base of her skull to expand her lungs. She collapsed into her chair, trying to calm her oxygen deprived lungs and rapidly beating heart.

"You run a marathon or something?" Frost sat back in his chair, glancing quizzically at the detective.

Her breathing labored. The warmth of the office hit her –now she was sweating profusely too. She pulled off her blazer and set it on her chair, "I climbed up the stairs." Frost's face contorted, "Where's Korsak?"

"He went downstairs to collect some evidence for the previous case we worked on."

She panted, looking for some way to cool down, "D'you think...," she leaned as close as she possibly could to Frost, despite the wooden desks and computers being in the way, "...I would get in deep shit for taking my shirt off?"

"What?" Frost quirked his head, his face expressing confusion and mild shock.

"Man, let's go somewhere else with some damn air conditioning." Jane swiped the beads of sweat from her forehead and upper lip, "You really think you can focus on organizing our presentation for tomorrow and prepare for the trial next week in this heat?"

He paused, tilted his head to the telephone to check the time, then gave a nod. "Let's get outta here." Frost hopped out of his seat, grabbed everything he deemed necessary for their preparation –as did Jane– and went to the elevator.

They went down to the café and placed their belongings at a table. Jane called Korsak and informed him of their new plans. The Sergeant willingly went along with them.


A/N: I updated this chapter. So there were some changes made, but it wasn't too drastic. And although I have most of the plot planned out, do any of you guys want to see anything happen in particular? Maybe I can work it into the story? Also, a lot's been happening, but I will be doing my best to update every week as promised!