Author's note:

I can't believe this story has hit over 200 followers! Thank you guys so much, I just hope I can keep entertaining you :P

Maura was nearing the club when a few drops of rain hit her face. She brushed them off and looked up briefly before speeding up, 30 seconds later she reached the entrance, nodding to the bouncer as she waltzed in. Like before she walked up to the bar and took a seat signalling the bartender for a drink. This evening it was a guy behind the bar, quiet but efficient, a vodka coke was in front of her within seconds. Maura tipped the man and spun around on her stool, she was here a little earlier than before so the bar had yet to fill up. She did notice a few familiar faces however so stood up and walked over.

"Hi Clare! How are you?"

"Ah! Hi again Maura, I'm good thank you" the red head replied, seated in a booth with two other women Maura didn't recognise. "Why don't you join us?"

"Thanks" Maura sat down and placed her drink on the table

"I don't think you know Sarah or Blossom?" Clare looked at each woman in turn, both beautiful, one blonde with what Maura believed to be a far from natural nose or cup size. And the other with a much more natural look and short shoulder length brunette curls.

"No I haven't, nice to meet you." Maura smiled. "Blossom, that's an interesting name?" Maura asked the blonde

"I know ya'll, don't you think it's unique? I picked it out myself. I'm just passing through here on my way to LA. I'm destined to be a model, with some acting on the side you know?" Blossom had a slight Texan drawl and the enthusiasm of a new born puppy. The girl's infectious nature made Maura grin, she took a sip of her drink and began chatting to the trio.

Meanwhile, back in the van, Jane was busy mopping up the coffee that had spurted out of her nose and mouth at hearing the conversation between Maura and Blossom.

"Ah Jane, don't be mean" Korsak chuckled "Blossom may be a great actress for all we know" Korsak helped wipe the last of the coffee off a keyboard and handed Jane a fresh cup.

"Here have some more of this"

"Thanks Korsak. So aside from a 'blossoming' young actress, anyone else stand out?" Jane slurped the strong coffee

"Well the bartender is new, he isn't on the list the manager gave us and doesn't seem overly friendly"

"Yea, but he doesn't seem hostile either, just rather efficient." Jane commented

"Well I will add him to the list anyway, he's a new player at the bar."

"Ok. So who are we looking at next?" Jane peered at the live feed from what she had dubbed Maura's boob-cam.

Back in the bar, Maura was subtly trying to quiz the three women she was sitting with.

"So, have you heard from the others I met the last time I was here?" Maura asked

"No, we don't always get the same crowd. Though now you mention it I haven't heard from Angie since the last night you were here. We thought she got lucky!" Sarah winked and nudged Maura.

"No…" Maura tried to hide the sadness she knew was showing in her eyes. "Excuse me, I need to use the bathroom." And with that Maura quickly left the table and headed to the toilets at the other end of the bar. She pushed on the door and leaned on a sink, "Get it together Maura!" She whispered sternly to herself, meeting her own gaze in the mirror, dashing the tears that briefly threatened to cloud her vision.

"Maura?"

Maura jumped as she heard Jane's soft voice. She lifted a hand up to her ear, feeling the small ear piece still in place.

"Maura, it's OK, you can do this, I know you can."

Maura looked back at the mirror, knowing Jane could see her face through the dress camera, and nodded. She took a deep breath and walked back out into the club.

Maura spent the next couple of hours mingling. The bar had been filling up all night and was now at capacity, she could see a short queue beginning to form outside and the dance floor was packed.

She had moved mainly at Jane's direction, to those she and Korsak pointed out as of interest; engaging in idle conversation about anything and everything, dancing and smiling with those she met, before slowly and subtly asking if they came here often… and if they had seen anything suspicious the night of Angie's murder. None of them had, and the free flowing alcohol ensured they didn't really pay attention to Maura's odd line of questioning, as she again found herself receiving multiple phone numbers and requests to 'call me' when she inevitably excused herself and moved on to the next person of interest.

"Maura?" Jane's voice again coming from the earpiece. Maura subtly brushed a strand of hair behind the ear in question, taking a sip of her 4th vodka coke to mask her reply.

"Yes?"

"Head back to the bar, we want you to check out the bartender, he's new."

"Copy that." Maura weaved through dancing and sweating bodies on her way back to the bar, squeezing between gorgeous women and the odd male friend looking slightly out of his depth. She suddenly jumped as she felt a small hand squeeze her pert arse and turned to try and find the culprit but no one met her gaze. Annoyed, she resumed her trek to the bar, using her elbows probably a little more than necessary to make a path, only to find her way blocked as more people queued for drinks.

She had to wait close to 10 minutes before she could catch the attention of the new bartender who merely looked at her and questioned.

"Yes?"

"Vodka coke please… wait make that two" Maura had to shout a little to be heard, thinking she may as well order a couple of drinks as it took so long to get here. The guy nodded and turned to grab the vodka bottle to pour the shots, as he added the cola, Maura tried to question him

"So, are you new around here?"

"Yep"

"Errr… Been in Boston long?"

"A while"

"What did you do before?"

"Here's your drinks, twenty dollars please" He placed the two glasses in front of Maura and held his hand out for payment. She placed a twenty dollar bill in his hand and opened her mouth to ask another question but as soon as the money let her hand he had turned to the next customer to take their order.

"Hmmf! Did you get that?" Maura quietly directed the question towards the mic on her dress strap, making her way back through the crowd with glasses in hand, the way out of the bar area much easier as people surged back the way she had come.

"Yea, thanks Maura, I think he might be one to follow up… Didn't seem too forthcoming with the answers did he…" Jane replied. Maura thought she could almost hear the frantic scratching of Jane's pen as she made notes on the taciturn barman.

Maura finally escaped the press and took a break leaning up against one wall. She sipped her drink, her gaze scanning the crowd for suspicious activity. She was so engrossed with those in front of her she ironically failed to notice Clare coming up on her left and was again startled as she nudged Maura's arm and said hello.

"Oh hi again!" Despite the shock, Maura was pleased to see a friendly face after all the questioning

"Ooh is that for me?" Clare had a thin layer of sweat covering her arms and forehead; she had obviously been in the thick of the dance floor. She smiled widely at Maura, her gaze flitting between Maura and Maura's second glass. Maura thought for a second about saying no but in the end gave in.

"Ah, of course, you look like you could use a drink" Maura passed her the glass.

Clare immediately downed the whole glass

"Thanks. Are you gonna dance Maura?"

"I don't know…" Maura hesitated

"Come on, let's have some fun! Wait till you see what Blossom is doing!" Clare grabbed Maura's arm and all but dragged her to the dance floor. After pressing their way through the crowd of bodies to what Maura assumed was roughly the center of the club, Clare spun Maura around and started dancing with her. The current song was an up-tempo number called 'Lush Life' and Maura found herself beginning to actually enjoy the night and she danced with Clare, both of them letting go a little. The music soon switched to a slower hip hop beat Maura didn't recognise, Clare was getting closer and closer, until suddenly her hands were on Maura's hips, swaying them to the beat and pushing her body up against hers. She smelled of alcohol and sweat, but Maura just went with it, trying to lose her stress and worry in the movement. Clare spun Maura around until she was behind the doctor and placed her hands on her hips, edging them slowly further round and downwards. She lifted them off briefly and Maura danced solo for a few seconds before she felt hands back on her hips again. She heard Jane's voice in her ear and moved her hand up to brush the ear with the ear piece.

"Turn around"

She turned... and was suddenly in Jane's arms.

Maura's face lit up with joy at finding Jane actually behind her and not just in her ear.

'What are you doing here?" Maura mouthed the question, fully aware that Korsak could still hear everything they said.

"It was getting crowded in here, I thought you could use some help. Korsak can provide backup if we need it." Jane stated, careful of what her partner might hear.

Maura just grinned back, her smile huge on her face. She consciously stilled it before replying.

"Thank you Jane, I'm sure this will go much quicker now"

"OK I'm gonna go check out the barman again, he seemed a bit off when you questioned him before"

"OK Jane, I'll keep an eye on things here"

"Right" Jane smiled at Maura and squeezed her arm gently before walking off in the direction of the bar.

Maura turned to watch Jane walk off, she was glad Jane had joined her. Hopefully they could get this over with quickly and leave. The loud music was giving her a headache, and part of her was longing to just skip the looming conversation between her and Jane and drag the detective straight to her bed. She bit her lip as thoughts of Jane naked and writhing on her duvet filled her head.

"Maura!"

Maura spun around at the sound of her name, spotting Sarah waving over the heads of other dancers. Maura swerved and dodged her way through the crowd until she reached the woman

"Hey, are you having a good night?" Maura asked, shouting a little to be heard. Sarah nodded, then turned to point to the left. A couple of poles were set up on the dance floor, Maura had assumed to start with that they were structurally relevant to the building but then she noticed Blossom swinging herself around one and realised they served a dual purpose.

"Look at her go!" Sarah chuckled, "do you think she's done this before?"

The two women stared at Blossom as she grabbed the pole with both hands and slid down, stumbling a little on the way in her high heels. She slowly came back up, swaying her hips as she went.

"She's OK" Maura conceded "but it's obvious she has had no formal training. Pole dance and fitness requires a great deal of skill and strength and her technique is just... well sloppy" Maura continued a little apologetically.

"You sound like you know a lot about pole dancing Maura; do you go to many strip clubs?" Sarah teased.

"Well I did visit one a few years back with a group of friends and the dancers there were very accomplished women. But I also took a course at university in pole fitness, it really helps with your core strength" Maura gestured around her abs area, still watching Blossom as she did so.

At that point, there were a number of wolf whistles as Blossom finally stood up from the pole, threw a mock bow and walked towards Maura and Sarah.

"That was awesome girl!" Sarah exclaimed

"Thanks" Blossom smiled, taking her drink back from Sarah. "Do you gals fancy a go?" Blossom swayed a little from the alcohol.

"I think Maura should!"

"What? Nooo… I couldn't" Maura protested, waving her hands and backing away slightly

"She has sooo done this before! You need to show us what you got girl!" Sarah encouraged

Maura looked from side to side, trying to think of an escape plan, whilst beside her the two women just started chanting loudly.

"Maura! Maura! Maura!"