"Maura I cannot believe you accepted a dinner date for me tonight without asking me!" Jane is trying to sound furious at Maura but she is struggling. A part of her is actually thrilled to be seeing Seth again. "I told Seth I couldn't see him tonight."

"Come on Jane, I didn't know James was going to be in town tonight. And well…"

"Oh" Jane says in a low sort of growl. "I get it, you want to see James and you would feel guilty knowing I had put myself out to protect you." Jane tries to give Maura the evil eye.

"Well… yes I will admit there is some merit in your logic but Jane; come on. You like Seth. I know you do; what's the harm in us all having dinner together." Maura gives Jane her 'you're going to do what I say' look.

"Oh no Maura; don't pull that face! What if…" Jane pauses. She was about to say something then has second thoughts.

"What Jane? What's the problem?"

Jane decides to let her guard down. "Maura; you're right I do like him."

"Well good, so what is the problem Jane?"

"Maura, it is not going to work out and I'd rather walk away then get my heart broken. OK!"

"Jane, metabolically speaking hearts don't break."

"Oh don't you play that card Maura; I saw you when Ian left the last time. Your heart was shattered."

"Technically, no it wasn't. His leaving raised my serotonin levels which dictated a response from my Amygdala and Hypothalamus which generated a physical reaction to the loss I was feeling."

"Yeah for us normal human beings it's called heartbreak" Jane mutters. "I don't want sera whatever going anywhere near my amygy thingy and making me hypo Maura" Jane pleads.

"Jane, you're avoiding! Seth is lovely and I know you like him." Maura waits.

"Maura, firstly, sooner or later he's going to figure out I'm a blue-collar girl from working class Boston. And secondly, I can't afford to go out with this guy. He's asked me to some Ball, you and James are going to on Saturday night. Maura I'm still recovering from the outfit for last night. I can't afford a ball gown on top of that… and I can't dance all snooty like you do."

"Oh" Maura sounds startled. "I can see the first problem. James and I aren't going to the Boston Heart Foundation Ball. If this case is solved we were planning to have a quiet evening at his place."

"What?" Jane almost screams. "Seth said you were. I said I would go. I'm not going if you don't go; oh, hell; Maura!"

Maura laughs. "It's OK, I'll talk to James." She takes Jane's hand. "Look Jane, I don't think Seth is the type to judge where you come from. He saw you in what you were wearing today, didn't he?"

"Yes" Jane pouts.

"So just give it a chance; alright. Tonight is very casual, jeans and your favourite leather jacket will be fine. James is doing a bar-b-q; you can eat steak and drink beer. Truly; just be yourself tonight and let's see what happens."

Maura and Jane arrive at James's place. The atmosphere is immediately warm and inviting and Jane is so glad she agreed to come. James is in jeans and a warm pullover and Seth is in Jeans, a tee-shirt and leather jacket. Before long Jane feels quite at home. James has gotten her a beer and Maura a wine. He and Seth are cooking on his ground level outdoor setting and Maura and Jane are sitting inside where it's a little warmer.

"Jane how's the murder inquiry going," James shouts from outside.

Jane stands and moves closer to the doorway to where they're cooking. "Not as well as I'd like James." She responds. Maura follows her.

"Dinner smells lovely James," Maura adds. He blows Maura a kiss.

Jane finds as much as enjoying Seth's company she's enjoying watching James and Maura's interactions. Clearly they've known each other longer than Maura's let on and their relationship looks to be in a really great place. Jane likes James, he is so right for Maura and again she finds herself hoping this works out for her best friend. When Maura's around James there is an aura around Maura Jane's not seen before.

They sit and eat upstairs and after dinner Jane manages to brush off all requests to play the piano again. When Maura and Jane move to start cleaning up Seth grabs Jane and suggests they take a walk along the beach. Jane's glad to give Maura and James some time alone.

"That seems to be going well" James observes after Seth and Jane have left.

Maura wraps her arms around James and hugs him tightly. "We'll see" she replies as she reaches up to kiss him. James responds and wraps Maura in a strong embrace lifting her off the ground as he kisses her deeply. Maura laughs as they pull apart and he puts her down. "What a pity I have to go home tonight," Maura sighs.

"Maura you know I want you to stay but more than anything I want you to be safe."

Maura wraps her arms around his waist and pulls him close again. "What about you; I want you to be safe. What if I can convince Jane to stay here" Maura says.

"Maura I think you should go home with Jane. I mean she packs a gun." They both laugh. "Plus we have all the time in the world. If you'll have me I'm planning on being by your side for the rest of my life."

"I'm sorry" Maura looks at James in surprise. He smiles at her. He pulls her back into a tight hug and kisses Maura deeply. She relaxes and returns the passion. When they come up for air Maura looks at him, "did I hear you correctly" she asks.

He laughs "I hope so." He looks with longing into Maura eyes before speaking again. "Maura I love everything about you. This isn't the way I wanted to ask, I promise I'll do it properly when this is all over; but will you think about it. Will you think about being my wife?"

Tears well in Maura eyes and start to spill down her cheeks. "Oh James" comes out in a choked sob. He doesn't let her continue he reaches in and kisses Maura again.

James pulls back. "Come on, they'll be gone for a while. Just because you can't stay doesn't mean we can't play." He lifts Maura up and carries her upstairs. She screams at first then it turns to laughter. She's never been so happy.

As Jane and Seth walk along the beach, he puts an arm around Jane to keep her warm. "I thought we should give those two lovebirds some time alone" Seth smiles.

"Good idea," Jane laughs.

"Besides I wanted some time alone with you" he adds.

"You did?" Jane hesitates.

Seth stops her and turns her to look at him. "Jane you are an incredibly attractive woman and so far I like the substance of the woman behind the beauty. I'd like to get to know you a lot better." He leans in to kiss her and Jane pulls back slightly.

"I'm afraid when you do you might not feel the same." Jane stares at him.

"What do you mean" Seth looks at her, waiting for a response.

"Seth, I'm not from your world. I'm a cop who never went to College. My fathers a plumber and I'm blue-collar through and through."

"Is that what's holding you back." Seth laughs. "Jane, I don't come from money. I have to work for a living. Yeah I'm the CEO of an art gallery so I mix with the high and mighty, but I pride myself on not being one of them. I promise. I got through College on a Scholarship; my parents couldn't afford to send me."

"Oh" Jane laughs. Seth leans in and kisses Jane and the electric charge runs through her every nerve to the tips of her toes. They explore each other for some time although Jane stops short of making love to him. "Not quite ready for that Seth" she laughs. He laughs too as they decide to sit on the beach. Jane leans into him and he holds her. "I love the ocean, I can sit and watch it for hours" Jane says in a whisper.

Seth kisses the top of her head, "I know what you mean."

When Jane and Seth return Jane shouts 'Maura' hoping she'll be heard from wherever in the house she and James had escaped. Shortly after, Maura comes to the top of the stairs. She's neat and tidy albeit a little flushed in the face. Jane smiles inwardly.

"I'm sorry Jane, Seth" Maura is stuttering.

Jane laughs. "It's OK Maura we didn't think we'd left you two here to wash the dishes. But we do have to go." James walks up behind Maura and hugs her, he's made it back into his Jeans and shirt, but the warm jumper is missing. They finally make their goodbyes and Jane and Maura drive back to Maura's in a comfortable silence.

Jane's lying in bed thinking about Seth. She's wide awake. Next thing there is a gentle tap on her door. It can only be Maura. "Come in" Jane says. Maura sneaks through the door and pops herself on Jane's bed beside her.

"Sorry Jane, I couldn't sleep" Maura says.

"What's up" Jane pulls up to a sitting position.

"James asked me to marry him" Maura looks at Jane, waiting for a response.

"Oh my God Maura that's amazing. I'm so happy for you." Jane throws her arms around Maura and hugs her.

Maura laughs, "He said he would do it properly when all this business was over and I was safe but he wanted me to know in advance so I could think about it."

"Maura, you and James are the perfect couple."

"Yes we are" Maura laughs. "And of course there's nothing to think about. So would you hurry up and solve this case so James and I can make this all official."

The girls talk into the night. Maura explains why it took her so long to tell Jane about James and Jane fills Maura in on how her evening had gone with Seth. When Jane wakes the next morning she doesn't remember Maura leaving but she's gone. Jane gets up and heads to the shower.

Maura's been up for a while and has made fresh coffee. She's been expecting her mother and Angela to pop in for breakfast at any minute but there is still no sign of them. Maura hears Jane stir and head for the shower. She decides to walk out to the guest house to see what her Mother and Angela are up too. When she arrives the door is open. "Mother, Angela" Maura calls as she enters. She hears a stifled cry from one of the rooms and starts to run. When she enters Angela is lying on the floor. She has a bloody nose and split lip. The way her arm is laying it looks to Maura like it's broken.

"My God, Angela what happened" Maura says with concern as she takes up beside Angela to offer some comfort.

Angela shakes her head and then manages to get Constance's name out followed by the word 'taken'.

"What" Maura exclaims in terror. "Wait right here I'll get Jane and call an ambulance." Maura runs inside screaming for Jane.

"What the hell" Jane says as she gets out of the shower and wraps a towel around her. She's heard Maura's shouting. At that minute Maura bursts into the bathroom. "Hell Maura, do you mind" Jane exclaims.

"Jane your mothers hurt and mines been taken" Maura blurts out.

"What?" Jane says shaken.

"I'm calling 911, get dressed would you we have to find Mother." Maura runs back out of the bathroom, cell phone in hand. Jane runs to the guest room and dresses as quickly as she can. She's still pulling a boot on as she runs out to the guest house. Maura is comforting Angela when Jane gets there.

"Oh Ma," Jane says as she gets down beside Maura and her mother. Jane looks at Maura.

"I suspect a concussion Jane and I have no doubt she has a broken arm" Maura explains.

"Maura did you touch anything" Jane's mind goes into cop mode.

"No Jane" I didn't.

"Good" Jane replies.

At last they hear sirens blaring. Within minutes paramedics are entering and taking over from Maura. Korsack and Frost follow not far behind. Uniforms surround the guest house and turn it into a crime scene.

Frankie arrives as they are wheeling Angela out to the ambulance. "Great Frankie, you're here" Jane says. "Can you go with Ma to the hospital? I'll get there as soon as I can."

"Sure Jane, what the hell happened" Frankie asks.

"I don't know yet but Ma's been beaten up and Constance is missing" Jane explains.

"I thought you were here to protect everyone Jane" Frankie says annoyed.

"Frankie, don't go there. I checked Ma and Constance were OK when I got home from dinner last night. I didn't hear a thing after that; OK."

"Yeah, OK I'm sorry. That wasn't fair. I'll go with Ma" Frankie pulls back

"Thank you" Jane pats her brother on the shoulder.

Jane then looks around for Maura and she's nowhere to be seen. She looks at Korsack and Frost who are examining the scene. "Hey guys; where did Maura go" she asks.

Frost replies. "She was here a minute ago."

Jane leaves and heads inside the main house. Maura's not in the kitchen. She calls for Maura and there is no response. Finally she checks her bedroom. Maura is sitting on her bed; she's holding one of her bed pillows tight against her chest. "Hey Maura" Jane says gently. Are you alright?"

"Jane, Mothers dead" Maura sobs.

"Hey, hey, hey" Jane sits beside Maura and wraps her in her arms. "We don't know that Maura."

"Every other victim of this monster is dead; a single forty calibre bullet through the temporal lobe Jane" Maura almost spits the words out.

"Maura, if it's him and we don't know that for sure; he's never taken a hostage before. Remember he's shot them where's he's found them. That tells me he wanted Constance for a reason and that she's still alive. OK; but we have to find her and we are going to need you to help us do that, Maura."

Maura leans into Jane's shoulder, "I can't lose her now Jane, we've only just started to really get to know each other."

"Maura I'll find her for you, I promise, but I need your help, so please try to stay strong for me; please Maura."

Frost finds them. When he sees Maura so upset he offers his apologies. Jane urges him to tell them what he's found. "Jane, a footprint" Frost explains. "The techs have taken soil samples and photos of the print but to the naked eye, it looks very close to the print at Judge Holmes place and here."

"Good work Frost." Jane turns to Maura. "Maura I need you at the lab to find out everything you can about those boots and the soil samples. OK."

With something to focus on Maura finds strength. "OK, I'll get to work Jane; you find my mother; please!" Maura stares at Jane. Jane nods as she passes her friend some tissues.