Hey guys, did you miss me? :) Sorry I disappeared on you. I unfortunately lost both of my jobs, one full time and one part time, on the same day. Through no fault of my own, I might add. I wasn't blowing glitter into customers' faces or screaming obscenities, both companies just went out of business. On the same day...*sigh* It was rough and I lost my way for a bit, but I'm back now.

Anyway, I realized that all the characters I have named in this story thus far are named Dick (Jane's date and her turtle) and that seemed extremely wrong. So I bring you a new character this chapter, hopefully you'll like her. Enjoy!


Maura clicked effortlessly through restaurant listing after restaurant listing, noting several that she would personally love to visit. There was Minado, a new high class sushi bar that supposedly had sashimi to die for. Addis Red Sea, her favorite Ethiopian restaurant, which she had missed dearly since she and her date had been banned nearly a year ago. Even after all this time she still wasn't sure how Derek had gone from complaining about the food to picking a fight with the owner. The ban only lasted six months of course, but she still hadn't quite gotten over her embarrassment of the whole situation.

So lost in her own thoughts she didn't notice Detective Frost until his hand was squeezing her shoulder. She jumped, "Barry...you gave me such a start."

"Sorry Doc, I called your name but you seemed a little zoned out." He apologized with his trademark smile in place, "Whatca looking at?"

"I'm trying to find the perfect restaurant for my date tomorrow night. It's a more difficult task then I imagined." She explained sadly, as she swiveled in her chair to face her guest."What can I do for you?"

"I need the Forrester autopsy report." he answered.

She handed over the file, "Cause of death was blood lost due to genital amputation." She watched Barry's face turn slightly green at her answer.

He swallowed thickly, "Yeah...not a good way to go."

She nodded in agreement, before turning back to her laptop. The medical examiner scrolled further down the page, hoping the perfect restaurant would leap out at her. Realistically, she knew the chances of that happening were statistically improbable and getting worse as time wore on.

"What makes this date so special? You go out to fancy restaurants all the time." Frost leaned against the edge of her desk, holding the file against his chest.

Maura kept her face carefully hidden by the curtain of her hair, she wasn't certain Jane had explained their relationship to her partner yet. She didn't want to take that away from Jane or share something that she wasn't comfortable sharing. "My date isn't as...adventurous with food as I am. I don't think the Dirty Robber would be an appropriate venue...but..." she trailed off, hoping the detective would pick up on her thought and draw his own conclusions.

He did.

"It's his type of place." Barry concluded, Maura didn't correct him. He thought for a moment, "Take him to a Gastro Pub. It's familiar pub food, done with a fine dining flair. That way everyone's happy."

Maura gave him a bright smile, "That's a fantastic idea, Barry."

"I aim to please." He grinned, bowing gallantly before disappearing upstairs with his file.

The blonde typed 'Gastro Pub' into her Google search bar, finding the first result to be especially fitting. 'The Gallows' was an Anglo Gastro Pub sporting several five star reviews as well as a menu that she knew would please them both. The name and theme of the restaurant seemed to be something out of Poe, it appealed to Maura in a roundabout way. Dinner was her choice, the part of the date representative of herself and it appealed to her on a certain level. She hoped Jane wouldn't think her morbid for choosing it.

She logged off her laptop and quickly made her way upstairs. She just couldn't wait to tell Jane she had found the perfect restaurant for their first date.


Jane heard the heavenly rhythm of her girlfriend's shoes long before she caught sight of the woman herself. Still she couldn't help the grin that appeared on her face, or the way it widened when she saw the tray of coffee in the blonde's hands.

"What's up doc?" Jane asked, a loving smile on her face as Maura placed a coffee at each of Frost & Korsak's desks before making her way over to her own.

"Coffee." Maura answered, handing over Jane's cup before she sat down on the chair leaning against the brunette's desk.

Jane watched the elegant way her lover crossed her legs, and the tiny glimpse of pale thigh that was revealed before Maura smoothed down her dress. She took a sip of her coffee, as she imagined tugging the blonde onto her lap and nipping the edge of her jaw. Maura would purr in her arms, baring the smooth column of her throat beseechingly as her hand slipped between her legs...

Korsak's voice broke her out of her daydream. "Thanks Doctor Isles." He took a quick gulp. "Coffee always tastes so much better when you bring it."

Jane and Frost turned to him with the same look on their face, "What?" he responded, "It does..." he muttered before turning back to his monitor.

"Suck up." Jane murmured, before turning back to Maura.

The blonde was smirking at her, "Nutmeg." She whispered softly enough that only the two of them could hear the word.

"You're too good to us." Jane responded, smile firmly in place.

Maura grinned and took a sip of her own beverage, before replying "The sapphic relations help."

The word 'sapphic' wasn't familiar to Jane, but she recognized the fire in Maura's eyes immediately. She rolled backwards in her chair a little, trying to distance herself from the hot blonde temptress in front of her.

"So what are you doing tonight?" she asked the question casually, but as far as she was concerned the only acceptable answer was 'You'.

"She's got a hot date." Barry Frost announced from his desk.

Jane's eyebrow arched, "Really?"

Maura bit her lip and shook her head, "Tomorrow night." She corrected.

"Don't you have a date tomorrow too, Jane? You two doubling again?" Korsak questioned, before swallowing the last gulp of his coffee. It was just too good to savor.

"No, we're not going on a double date. In fact I'm never going on a double date again. Ever." Jane announced.

"Jane..." Maura scolded, "Our last one wasn't that bad. Jorge was sweet."

"He gave me cavities, Maura. Besides, I have a bigger pair than he does." Frost and Korsak snickered at that. "Shut up." Jane muttered, giving them each a glare. "You know what I meant." She added, waving her hand dismissively.

'And what a lovely pair they are.' Maura thought as her eyes lingered on Jane's breasts, she found the brunette's pectoral muscles to be especially attractive. "In answer to your question, I'm attending a fundraising event for a charitable organization I support. Would you like to come with me? I'm sure I could purchase another ticket at the door."

The hope in Maura's voice and the look in her eyes was nearly Jane's undoing. "I have some errands to run tonight." The detective replied, an apologetic smile on her face. Maura's frown quickly turned into a pout. "You can drag me to the next one. I promise." Jane added.

Maura grinned suddenly, "Can I dress you?" the blonde countered sweetly, with a distinct twinkle in her eye.

Jane rolled her eyes, "Don't push it, Maura."

The blonde laughed as she stood, "We'll I'll see you later detectives." She gave them all a brief wave before heading down to the morgue. News of the perfect restaurant choice could wait until a more private venue.

Korsak and Frost both looked at Jane expectantly. Korsak finally offered the time old gesture of a whip cracking, complete with sound effects. Jane gave him a gesture of her own, "Oh Doctor Isles, coffee always tastes better when you bring it." She parroted back to him, putting a breathy school girl inflection into her tone. "If I'm whipped I'm not the only one."

Frost laughed at the look of dismay on the portly detective's face, before shooting his empty coffee cup in the garbage bin across the room.

"Rejected." Jane sing-songed as it bounced off the rim of the garbage can. She finished her own cup and shot it at the same garbage can, over a foot farther away than Frost's vantage point. "Swoosh!" she exclaimed, grinning stupidly at Frost as he stood to dispose of his wayward shot.

Jane turned back to her desk. All she had to do was clean up her apartment a little, find a movie for the two of them and everything was set for their first date. She couldn't wait.


Jane sighed, running her hand through her hair and staring at the rack in front of her with nothing but frustration. She should have suggested that she and Maura go out and see a movie in the theater after dinner. There were usually four or five decent movies playing at one time, probably only one or two that they would both enjoy. But still.

Yet she had stupidly held on to the idea of snuggling on her couch with her favorite medical examiner while watching the perfect movie.

Now that she was at her local video store she realized what a monumental task finding the "perfect" movie was. She glanced around the store at rack after rack of DVDs to choose from.

Maura of course had one of those slick download movies on demand programs, not to mention a line up of digital and pay per view channels that would make any couch potato drool. Jane however, liked the freedom and simplicity of wandering through the video store and looking at potential movie choices in her own time. There was something about holding a movie in your hand, not clicking a button on a screen. Plus there was the added benefit of the employees. In the past when she had brought up a truly bad movie the staff had steered her clear of it. No automated service would do that.

It really didn't matter though, whether she rented movies in person or downloaded them online. Simply put the problem was choice.

"If you're trying to destroy that bay of movies with your laser heat vision I'm going to have to ask you to leave the store."

Jane's eyes snapped to the young woman at the end of the aisle. She took in her charming smirk, casual posture and the logo emblazoned on the chest of her black T-shirt that clearly defined her as a member of the staff. "Got tired of asking 'Is there anything I can help you with'?" Jane asked, unable to stop herself from smiling at the rather unique ice breaker.

"Actually, I've been highly trained to say anything but." The young brunette explained as she made her way over. "The company is trying to set us apart from the competition. It's also the reason why we say, 'good afternoon' or 'good evening' when someone enters the store now. Of course I doubt anyone at head office realized we'd sound like creepy butlers or vampires on the prowl when we say it."

Jane held in her chuckle. She didn't remember anyone greeting her as she walked in.

"Anyway, you're looking for something special, the perfect movie to set the atmosphere and make it a great evening. Am I right?" she asked.

Jane rolled her eyes. "Isn't everyone?"

"Sure. But this movie isn't just for you..." she trailed off for a moment as she eyed the other woman, "Is it for a date?"

Jane's eyes widened, a little bewildered that she was pegged so easily. "How the heck did you know that? Movie store psychology?"

A large grin bloomed on the girl's face. "Years of practice, my friend. But if you want movie store psychology, here goes. If it was a movie just for yourself you would have found it already or asked one of us to help you find a specific title. Instead you've been pacing around the store, becoming more and more frustrated. That tells me you want to make a great impression with someone. If it was a family member you would have likely called someone for help, sister, brother, mother etc. But you haven't, which makes me think it's for a date."

Jane leaned against the rack, taken back at how observant the brunette in front of her was. A skill like that was either born into you or took years to develop through training and hard work. "So you've been stalking me this whole time?" She replied, a snort escaping her at the thought.

The young woman pointed above them, "People think the mirrors on the ceiling and the glass pillars around the store are just there for artistic style, but they're really an anti-theft feature. I can be stuck at cash but able to see every inch of the store."

Jane caught a glimpse of the woman's hands as she pointed, realizing that she had been hiding them for the entire conversation. Both of her wrists were encased in dull gray braces. Jane felt a sympathetic pulse of pain flare over her palms at the sight. "What's your name?"

"Sherri." The young woman supplied with a smile.

"I'm Jane, and yeah it's for a date. A first date, actually." The brunette explained, hoping that Sherri could help her find exactly what she was looking for.

"With your best friend?" Sherri asked softly as she took a few steps to close the distance between them.

Jane took a step back, "This is getting creepy."

Sherri laughed, "Well you would have called them for help already, if you could. So tell me all about them and I'll find you the perfect movie."

Describe Maura...Jane thought for a moment, "She's blonde, beautiful, brilliant..."

"Blunt, bashful, bossy?" Sherri teased with a grin.

"Shut up." Jane murmured in response, "You're supposed to be helping."

"I am. Romantic movies are usually great for dates. Hmm...Well we have a couple of foreign films about lesbians...I think." The young woman replied with a frown.

"I'm not reading subtitles on a first date." Jane retorted, "Besides I don't need a 'lesbian movie'," she made it a point to use air quotes, although she couldn't explain why, "I just need a good movie."

Sherri's eyes lit up, "I've got it!" she exclaimed. Disappearing into another aisle so quickly, Jane had to hurry to catch up with her.

She held out the cover for the older woman to take. Jane picked it up noticing two couples on the front cover.

"It's called, 'Imagine Me & You'. It's about Rachel, who meets a woman on her wedding day that she has an instant connection with. Problem is she's married to a great guy, named Hector that she's been with for years. She talks about love like it's a warm bath; something that you gradually slide into that feels safe and comfortable. After meeting Luce, she's not so sure that's what love is really about any more. It's a great movie, I actually own it. It's all about two women falling in love in an unlikely situation."

Jane looked up from the case to Sherri, "I could kiss you right now."

Sherri wrinkled her nose, "For that to be enjoyable for me...I'd really need you to have a penis."

Jane laughed, "You're something else."

Sherri shrugged and smirked, "I try." She led Jane up to the cash register. "Can I interest you in some popcorn, chocolate or candy?"

Jane considered the un-healthy display of chips, popcorn and several chocolate covered treats in front of her. "It's your first date. You have to go all out." Sherri added with a cheeky smile on her face.

The detective groaned and grabbed an armful of snacks, piling them up on the counter-top in front of Sherri before fishing out her membership card. During the course of the checkout the young brunette was also able to sell her some kind of rewards program although she wasn't exactly sure how she had been talked into it. She had to admit that the girl was a fantastic sales woman.

As Sherri was handing over her bag, stuffed full of snacks and of course her movie, she asked the question she'd been wondering about for the last several minutes. "Carpel Tunnel?"

Sherri shook her head, her smile becoming a little smaller and the light in her eyes a little dimmer. "Something else..." she replied. "Make sure you give Blondie the night of her life, Jane." She added before turning away to deal with another customer.

Jane nodded, giving her a brief wave before departing. All she had to do now was tidy up her place and she was all set...except she still had to figure out what she was going to wear.


So did you guys like Sherri? Want to see her make another appearance? Let me know! :)

And did those autopsy results strike a cord with anyone? Let me know if you got it. ;)