Happy New Year's everyone!
Chapter 11
With the television droning on in the background, Maura nestled between long legs as she leaned back against Jane's chest. With one leg bent and the other stretched out along the sofa, Jane shifted slightly to acuminate the smaller body that was attempting to snuggle against her own. As Maura finally found a comfortable position, she leaned her head back so she could look up at Jane who was smiling down at her with a slightly goofy grin.
"Why are you grinning like that?" Maura moved her head to the side causing her hair to cascade down her shoulder blocking Jane's view of her neck.
"Hmmm…" Jane moved to push Maura's hair aside giving her a better view of the soft skin she was dying to touch with her lips. "I really like how well we fit together." As her fingers traced along Maura's neck Jane felt a shiver running through both of their bodies causing her to sigh in contentment. When she felt Maura taking her other hand and intertwining their fingers together, Jane couldn't help but marvel at how good the smaller hand felt in her own. She flexed her fingers once before bringing their joined hands up to her mouth to kiss the back of Maura's. It was a move that had Maura shivering all over again and Jane couldn't help but smile.
"I like the way we fit together too." Maura sighed, shivering at the feeling of Jane's lips skimming across the back of her hand. "Are you sure you're ready for this?"
"Absolutely…after what happened today… I don't want to lose you." Jane moved her other hand to caress Maura's cheek before running her fingers through silky reddish-blonde hair.
"Can I ask you something?" Maura turned around so she could see Jane.
The move made it easier for Jane to wrap an arm around Maura's waist, pressing their bodies together. "Uhh…huh…" Jane held the smaller body close to her own as she looked into hazel-green eyes.
"What were you and Viv talking about earlier?" Maura's eyes moved from the somewhat sultry look in Jane's eyes, to her lips, back up to her eyes again.
"Let's just say she was trying to talk some sense into this stubborn, hard headed detective." Jane chuckled lightly causing her body to shake.
Pressing a hand down on Jane's chest, Maura pushed herself up so she could look down at Jane who was gently laughing. She couldn't stop the frown from furrowing her brow as she tried to understand exactly what Jane was saying.
The confused and unsure expression that flitted across Maura's face caused Jane to take a heavy breath as she realized that Maura hadn't quite understood what she was saying. "She told me that if I waited too long, someone else would come along and take you away from me." Jane's voice turned serious as she tried to explain to Maura.
"Oh…" Maura's voice was quiet as she continued to look down into Jane's eyes. "Do you believe that?"
"I think that maybe...yes." Jane held Maura's gaze. "I'd be a fool to let that happen."
"You're not a fool Jane…" Maura tried to reassure.
"Not anymore…" Jane sighed as she wrapped both arms around Maura's waist. "Viv was right…it's time I take the initiative. I don't want to wait any longer…"
The kiss that Jane bestowed upon Maura's lips was soft and gentle, so much so that it took Maura by surprise. "Are you sure you want this Jane?" Maura asked breathlessly as she pulled away from Jane's mouth. "Because if we start this…I don't think I can stop."
Jane recognized the plea for what it was. Maura was asking her not to start something she couldn't finish. "Yes Maura…I'm sure. I think I've know that for a long time…"
"Then why did you want to wait?" The question was innocent but hit a nerve in Jane.
"I guess I was afraid…" Jane tried to look away but Maura's fingers moved to her chin, bringing her face back so she could look at her. "I don't want to lose what we have…our friendship…this…" She tightened her arms around Maura.
"As long as you're always honest about how you feel…" Maura laid her head down on Jane's chest seeking the comfort and security she knew she would find there. "I know we have a chance at something more."
Jane let out a heavy sigh which was more from relief than anything else before kissing the top of Maura's head. "It's been a rough day…hasn't it?"
"Yep…" Maura let out a breath as she relaxed against Jane's body.
"Glad it's over?" Jane inquired.
"Absolutely…" Maura sighed again.
"Wanna go to bed?" The question lingered in the space between them as Jane started running her fingers through Maura's hair again.
"Ummm…that sounds like a divine idea..." Maura murmured sleepily before her eyes closed and she succumbed to the warmth of Jane's body against her own. She couldn't fight the overwhelming feeling of fatigue that washed over her. It had been a long day and an even longer evening as Vivian, Danny, and Jane argued over theories and ideas. Nothing she had heard that evening seemed to resonate with her. There was just something she couldn't put her finger on when it came to the serial killings, something that had her wondering what the true motive was.
The feeling of Maura's body relaxing against her own indicated that sleep had won out and Jane let herself relax as well. Although sleep was far from her mind, she couldn't stop herself from letting out a tired sigh. It had indeed been a long day, one filled with twists and turns that both excited and scared Jane. Reaching up, she touched the tender spot above her eyebrow where the butterfly stitches held her small cut closed and she couldn't help but sigh again. The cut was sore to the touch and the beginnings of a dull headache distracted her thoughts. Having found the roses and bottle of cognac had been a wake-up call for both of them and Jane realized that things had taken a serious turn for the worse and they were still no closer to finding the person responsible.
When Maura shifted and let out a soft snore it caused Jane to chuckle lightly as she continued to run her fingers through silky soft hair. A feeling of contentment washed over her as she thought about a future that would end like this every night after a hard day at work and Jane knew it was without a doubt something she wanted with all of her heart. She made a vow to herself that she would do whatever she needed to ensure that they had a future together. As a comfortable silence surrounded them, it didn't take long for Jane to notice that they weren't alone.
When Angela slipped into the living room she hadn't expected to find anyone up because it was so quiet, but to her surprise she found Jane and Maura wrapped around each other on the sofa. Stopping just shy of Jane being able to see her, she studied the two women with a measured eye. It wasn't the first time she had found Maura encompassed in Jane's arms as they slept but there was something different, something she couldn't quiet place her finger on that is until she noticed the reverent way that Jane was running her hand through Maura's hair. It appeared that Maura was sound asleep but Angela could see that Jane wasn't. As she stood quietly trying to puzzle through her thoughts, she was startled by Jane's low but quiet voice.
"What're you doing here Ma?" Jane quietly asked.
"I saw everyone leave so I thought I'd come over and see if you girls wanted me to make dinner…" Angela moved to stand closer to the sofa but not too close.
"Nah…we're fine. Maura is wiped…" Jane moved her hand to trace soothing circles over Maura's back.
"You sure? It won't take me long…" Angela's voice held a hopeful tone as she moved closer still.
"What is it Ma?" Jane let out a slightly impatient huff.
"Nothing…it's just…" Angela paused as she leaned against the sofa and tried to stifle her smile. "Something's changed hasn't it?"
With an arched eyebrow Jane studied her mother trying to gauge what her reaction was going to be. She wasn't sure where her mother would stand on this new development but being that the only thing she knew for certain was that she wanted this, she really didn't care what her mother thought…at least not much. "Are we going to have a problem with this?" Jane asked cautiously.
"Depends on what this is…" Angela crossed her arms and gazed down at Jane.
"This is something I've wanted for a while…" Jane looked down at the sleeping body on hers causing her to soften her expression. "I've just been too stubborn to realize it."
"Does she want the same thing?" Angela ventured to ask. When Jane nodded her ascent the smile that filled Angela's face told Jane everything she needed to know. "Then we won't have a problem…"
"Thanks Ma…" Jane gave her a sheepish grin. "How long have you known?"
"Long enough…" Angela leaned over the arm of the sofa to get a better look at Jane's face. "What happened?" She pointed to the discolored spot under the butterfly stitches.
"Got into an argument with a door…" Jane shifted slightly because her leg was falling asleep.
"Looks like the door won…" Angela couldn't stop herself from frowning at the sight of bruising that was beginning to make its way under Jane's eye.
"Yeah well…what can I say?" Jane gave a gentle shrug of her shoulders so as not to disturb Maura.
"What is it Jane?" Angela could tell that there was something bothering Jane, something she wasn't talking about.
"I don't know Ma…I didn't see it coming. One minute I was talking to Danny and the next…I was seeing stars…" Jane shook her head as she tried to gather her thoughts. "I really need to do better…"
"Don't lose sight of what's important." Angela tried to reason.
"I promise I'll try harder Ma…" Jane said with a renewed resolve. She surmised that the distraction of trying to keep her heart out of the equation was causing her more distraction than just giving in to it. Now that she and Maura had finally agreed to take the next step in their relationship, her focus was sharper than it had ever been.
"You promise you'll try harder at what Jane?" Maura blinked her eyes open and turned in Jane's arms so she could look at her.
"I promise to try harder at protecting you…" Jane smiled down at Maura before kissing the top of her head.
With the stealth moves of a feline, Maura moved up until she was face to face with Jane. Just as she was about to kiss Jane Maura stopped when she felt the body beneath hers stiffen uncomfortably. "I presume we are not alone…" She blew out a frustrated breath. "Angela…" Maura pushed herself up to face the older woman.
"Maura…" Angela smiled. "I was just about to make dinner…any requests?"
"Um…no, whatever you make will be fine, but I think I'll go up and take a shower." Maura said as she stood over Jane who was still reclining lazily as she watched Maura.
"Need some help?" Jane asked with a saucy wink.
"You have company…" Maura gave Jane's leg a pat before turning to Angela with a smile. She wasn't sure what Angela's reaction would be to finding out about her and Jane but something in the way that Angela was grinning at her put Maura at ease. "I'll just be a few minutes…"
"Take your time Maura." Angela watched Maura leave before turning to Jane. "You have no shame…" She reached out a hand for Jane to take so she could help her up and off of the sofa.
Taking her mother's hand Jane found herself upright within seconds. "Yeah, yeah…" Jane waved Angela off. "Can't help it you don't knock…"
"I guess I'd better start…huh?" Angela gave Jane's stomach a gentle slap.
"Yep…now let's get that dinner started, I'm suddenly starving.' Jane put her hands on her mother's shoulders, turned her towards the kitchen and then pushed her in the direction of the food.
When the sun light slipped past the blinds, touching Maura on the cheek with its warmth she slowly blinked her eyes open to find herself alone. With a heavy sigh she rolled over onto her back to look up at the ceiling wondering where Jane had disappeared to. It didn't take long for her question to be answered when the smell of freshly brewed coffee filled her senses as she took a deep breath. She couldn't stop herself from reaching out to touch the place where Jane had slept the night before and shivered at the warmth that lingered. With another heavy sigh she rolled her eyes as she remembered that she had fallen asleep before Jane had gotten out of the shower. She had slept so soundly that she hadn't even felt when Jane slipped into bed next to her. The only thing she did remember was feeling Jane's arms holding her tightly as they both did nothing more than sleep. A sense of disappointment washed over her as she thought about what might have happened if she hadn't fallen asleep but she also knew that they both needed time to get used to the idea of being together.
"Hey sleepy head…" Jane peeked around the door frame surprising Maura from her thoughts. "Ya gonna get up today?"
"What time is it?" Maura moaned as she pushed up on her elbows so she could look at Jane.
"Seven…" Jane's voice was all too chipper.
"Wow…I guess I did sleep in but what's the occasion…you're usually not up before me?" Maura inquired.
"Hmmm…just couldn't sleep I guess..." Jane shrugged her shoulders even though she knew exactly why she was up so early. It was true that she hadn't been able to sleep but mostly it had been pure torture to have Maura so close, yet so far. "Anyway, Suzie called…said they needed you down at the lab…something about interns…" Jane rambled on.
"Seems as if someone has had their morning cup of coffee or two…" Maura raised an eyebrow at Jane.
"Yeah, well…since you showed me how to use that space aged coffee maker…what can I say…I like my caffeine fix." Jane leaned further into the room. "Now get dressed…I've got your coffee and favorite blueberry muffin waiting for you and then I'll take you to the station."
"Alright, alright…" Maura gave a dismissive wave in Jane's direction as she moved to get out of bed but something stopped her. "Jane…?" She called out to stop Jane from leaving giving an apologetic smile when Jane looked at her expectantly. "I'm sorry about last night…"
"Why?" Jane asked.
"I fell asleep…before…um…before you came to bed." Maura sighed. "I had planned on a different ending to the evening…"
Jane rolled her eyes dramatically and smiled. "No worries my dear…we have plenty of time…" She said but she couldn't help but worry that time was not on their side.
It had been a few weeks since Maura had last been in the comfortable surrounds of her own lab and the minute she stepped into her office she felt a rush of relief wash over her. The familiarity of her own space was something she had missed since spending most of her time working on the case at Vivian's lab but she understood the reasoning. There was a leak at their station and the less the press knew, the better off they all were.
"Dr. Isles…?" A timid voice called out from her open door.
Looking up, Maura was surprised to see the intern she had come to know only as Lorelei standing in her doorway. Most interns only lasted a semester and couldn't wait to move on once their time was over, but Lorelei was different because she actually seemed to be at home in the morgue. It was something that Maura could identify with and it had caused them to form a sort of kinship.
To say that Lorelei was odd was a stretch of the imagination because she was beyond odd but it was something that Maura had found endearing. The plain girl with the mousey brown hair and glasses set herself apart from her peers by being better at everything than anyone before or after her arrival. Sometimes it surprised Maura at how astute the young woman was, sometimes she even saw her younger self when she looked into the hazel eyes that were so like hers.
"Is something different Lorelei?" Maura sat down at her desk before a stack of files.
"I took your advice and got contacts…" Lorelei said with a shy smile.
"You look great…" Maura sifted through the paper work waiting for her attention before looking up. "And it probably helps not having to push your glasses up your nose all of the time."
"As usual, you are right Dr. Isles." Lorelei moved further into the office when Maura waved her in.
"Did you need something?" Maura gave her a smile as she watched the young woman timidly stepped into her office. "I don't have much time, but I can spare you a minute if you need to talk about something."
"Um…well…" Lorelei stammered before finding her voice. "I only have one more semester after this one and I would like to stay on if I may…"
"Of course…" Maura shifted the files around until she found the one she was looking for. "I'll make a note on your file right now while I'm thinking about it."
"Thank you Dr. Isles…I appreciate it." Lorelei moved closer to Maura's desk. She couldn't help but admire Maura who was so like her in many ways. Just as she was about to say something else, Maura gave her an expectant look that caused her to back track.
"Will that be all?" Maura asked. "I need to finish up these evaluations so I can get back to work."
Lorelei smiled again and shove her hands into her lab coat pockets as she wordless acknowledged that she was indeed finished. As she turned to leave she couldn't help but look back at Maura whose head was bent in concentration and the need to speak overwhelmed her. "Is it true…?" She spoke before she could change her mind.
"Is what true?" Maura felt panic rising in her chest that maybe it had gotten out that her and Jane were more than just friends.
"That you are working on the Raven Cliff serial killings?" There was a hesitancy to Lorelei's voice as she studied Maura, noticing the wave of panic that washed over the doctor.
"Oh…well…you know I can't discuss that Lorelei…" Maura tried to smile. "But let's just say I may have a hand in it…" She said with a knowing wink.
"Umm…hummm…" Lorelei nodded as she stood in the doorway. "Then I'm glad…although we miss you around here." She added as an afterthought.
"Thank you…" Maura gave her a genuine smile before turning her attention back to her work.
Before Lorelei could leave, Jane came around the corner expecting to find Maura alone. As she stepped into the office, she all but stepped right into Lorelei. Holding her hands up to stop the collision from knocking them both to the floor, Jane found a very flustered young woman practically falling into her arms.
"Sorry detective…" Lorelei moved quickly away from Jane, her face a bright red. She couldn't quiet meet the dark eyes that held a hint of playfulness as she scrambled to leave as quickly as possible.
"No harm no foul." Jane chuckled as Lorelei side stepped to get past her. The fact that the younger woman had a massive crush on Jane hadn't gone unnoticed by either her or Maura and she couldn't help but gently tease the quiet intern whenever she had the chance. "Hey…you're not wearing your glasses…"
"Contacts…" Lorelei mumbled with her head bent as she scrambled to leave.
"Um…okay." Jane shrugged her shoulders in response. She wasn't sure but she thought that she heard Lorelei say she had contacts. Turning her attention to Maura she stopped in her approach when she saw a slight frown on the perfect lips she had been thinking about all morning. "What?"
"You shouldn't tease her like that…you know she is extremely shy." Maura chastised. "And we both know she has a crush on you."
"All I did was ask her about her glasses." Jane tried to defend herself.
"Yeah, in that deep, sultry tone you use to make her blush." The warmth that rose in her cheeks surprised Maura as she realized it had the same effect on her.
"Seems like she's not the only one who can't resist my charms…" Jane couldn't stop herself from grinning as she watched Maura's face turn pink. "So you think she has a crush on me?"
"We both know she does…" Maura tried not to smirk at the confident look on Jane's face. "Now…did you need something? I have a lot of work to finish if I want to get out of here before dinner…" Maura turned her attention back to the paperwork spread out on her desk.
"Well…I just wanted to check on you." Jane tried not to pout as she dropped down into the chair in front of Maura's desk with a heavy sigh. She pushed her long dark hair out of her face as she quietly watched Maura work. With each passing moment they sat in silence, Jane's thoughts began to drift to the young woman named Lorelei. It hadn't escaped Jane's attention that the intern held a striking resemblance to her mentor or at least her eyes did. At first they had been hidden behind thick glasses but on those rare occasions she had taken them off, Jane had been surprised how similar to Maura's they had been in color and shape. The only difference was that Maura's eyes held those flecks of green that swam lazily around the hazel that Jane had come to love so much. As far as the physical similarities, they were about the same height and that is where it ended. Where Maura was all soft curves, Lorelei was skinny and wiry lacking the soft femininity that Maura exhibited so well. Lorelei's plain brown hair was almost the color of ash and held none of the shine or bounce that was characteristic of Maura's reddish blonde hair that fell around her shoulders in delicate waves. Perhaps it was the fact that when Lorelei spoke, she spouted off facts and figures to rival those that came from Maura that had everyone comparing the two woman, but in Jane's mind there was no comparison at all.
"She's too young for you…" Maura broke the silence. The quiet that had filled the room was comfortable but something caused her to look up to find Jane with a soft smile on her face. She could only assume that Jane was thinking about her new admirer.
"I certainly hope not…" Jane smirked as she leaned over to place her elbows on Maura's desk. "Cause last time I checked…we were the same age." She wagged her finger between the two of them.
This time the blush that spread over Maura's face quickly turned from a light pink to a bright red causing Jane to laugh lightly.
"I love that I can make you blush like that." The tone of Jane's voice lowered as she looked from Maura's eyes to gaze at her full lips. The need to feel those lips against hers almost overwhelmed her but their gaze was suddenly broken when Maura leaned back in her chair and began to stammer nervously.
"Well, blushing is generally when someone's face turns red, brought on by emotional stress associated with embarrassment, anger or…" Maura paused and blushed brighter. "Romantic stimulation…"
"You are too cute…" Jane reached out, grabbed Maura's arm and pulled her across the desk so they were merely inches away from each other's face. "And right now I want to kiss you so bad it's almost painful…" She stopped when she saw Maura hesitate and look away. With a patience Jane never knew she had, she placed two fingers under Maura's chin and gently forced her to look back at her. "But I know this is neither the time nor place so I will just have to take a raincheck." And with those final words she traced Maura's bottom lip with the pad of her thumb once and then again before she pulled away. "Why do I feel like the tables have turned?" She raised a questioning eyebrow. "Why so shy all of a sudden?"
Letting out a heavy breath of both frustration and uncertainty, Maura leaned back in her chair again and gave Jane a bashful smile. "I don't know…" Her hands moved over her desk with a nervous energy that Jane was unaccustomed to seeing. "I guess I'm nervous."
"Nervous? You are the least nervous person I know…what gives?" Jane leaned back and propped her feet op on the edge of Maura's desk reclining her long, lean frame as she relaxed. Resting her hands on her chest, she made a triangle out of her index fingers and thumbs before placing her chin on the tip of the triangle giving Maura an intent look of deep concentration.
"I've never wanted anything this much in my life Jane…I guess I've been dreaming about being with you for so long…that the reality is a little overwhelming. I just hope I can live up to the expectation…" Maura started to say only to be stopped as Jane popped up from her reclined position startling her from her musings.
"Hey…what did I tell you this morning? We have all the time in the world to get to know each other…that way…" Jane gave Maura a sheepish grin as her face warmed with an unexpected blush. "Damn…now you've got me doing it." She sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair again.
"Okay…one day at a time." Maura laughed at Jane's flustered state. "I do, you know…" The statement caused Jane's expression to turn serious as she waited for Maura to finish. "Want you more than anything I have ever wanted anything in my whole life…"
"Well…" Jane's dark brown eyes smoldered as she looked into Maura's hazel. "That's cuz you can't resist my charming personality…" The playful smirk brought a much needed levity to the conversation.
"Yeah and it seems I'm not the only one…" Maura nodded towards the door where a very flustered Lorelei stood with a piece of paper in her hand. "May we help you Lorelei?"
"Um…detective Korsak asked me to give this to you…" Lorelei stumbled into the office, shoved the paper into Jane's hand, and then disappeared before Jane could say 'thank you.'
"Strange one that is…" Jane chuckled as she read the paper Lorelei had delivered.
"What is it?" Maura asked when she saw the small frown appear on Jane's face.
"The lead we had is a dead end…" Jane crumbled the piece of paper up and tossed it towards the wastebasket by the door.
"Care to elaborate?" Maura pressed as she watched the ball of paper sail across the room before landing in the trash.
"Seems the old lady that delivered the bottle of cognac to the flower shop has nothing new to add to the description the liquor store owner gave us." Jane huffed impatiently.
"So, as it stands…we are looking for a white male in his mid-twenties to early thirties, dark hair, glasses, tall and thin…" Maura thought out loud.
"Yep…and as it stands…that is the description of about a third of the population around here…" Jane pushed herself up from the chair she was sitting in. "I guess I'll let you finish up here so we can get out of here…maybe I can take you out to dinner."
"Do you think that would be a good idea…the going out part?" Maura asked.
"Well, frankly my dear…I don't give a damn. I want to take you out to dinner…everything else can wait." The movie reference went over Maura's head causing Jane to roll her eyes. "You've never seen Gone with the Wind have you?"
"No…" Maura shrugged her shoulders. "You know I don't have time to watch movies…"
"Gone with the Wind isn't just a 'movie' Maura…it's a classic." Jane threw her hands up in the air.
"Well then, I look forward to seeing it with you, after all we have all the time in the world to share with each other…" Maura smiled over at Jane.
"All the time in the world…" Jane mumbled as she slipped from Maura's office with a heavy foreboding sitting in the pit of her stomach. Time was fickle and Jane could feel it slipping away from them with each day the serial killer walked freely among them. As she stood alone in the elevator before the doors closed, she vowed to herself that she and Maura would have a lifetime to share with each other. Jane was so lost in thought that she didn't notice Lorelei standing in the hallway watching her as the elevator doors slide closed because if she had, she may have thought twice about teasing the younger woman the next time they met.