Notes: So yeah it has been like forever. Yeah I know I keep saying it won't be long for the next chapter. I really didn't mean to lie but I had a really hard time writing this one. I'm going to be honest...there are probably a lot of mistakes in this chapter. I tried to fix as many as possible but I thought you wouldn't mind if it meant you get to read it sooner. Let me know if there is any super bad ones. Thanks and please review.

Disclaimer: Ya know the drill!

"Are you going to join me Jane?" Maura asked as she unbuckled herself from the driver's seat of her Mercedes and held the buckle to keep it clattering into the door.

Jane reached for her buckle but stopped short slapping her hand on her lap. "Yeah, I don't think so Maura. I better sit this one out. If not, we may not make it to the scene in at timely manner. I'll just chill in here."

"Yes, that would mostly likely be true if you did join me as I changed. I will be only a few minutes and you can listen to the radio if you would like." She opened the door and exited the sports car as gracefully as she had been taught as a young girl. She began to shut the door but stopped when she heard Jane's voice again.

Jane leaned over the gear shift so that they could meet eyes. "Take your time. There's a reason I said 20 minutes when you only live about 5 away from the scene. And because I'm usually around 10 minutes later than whenever I tell them I'll be there, you have a solid 30 minutes." Jane smirked at her own craftiness and waited for her girlfriend's response.

Maura smiled brightly and jokingly said, "Jane, you know 15 minutes is barely enough time for me to merely assemble an appropriate outfit let alone actually put it on." Her smile turned to a sweeter one and she said genuinely, "Thank you, Jane. That was very thoughtful."

Jane just shrugged and said, "Eh…it's what I do."

With that Maura giggled and gently shut the car door. As she made her way to the front door she felt Jane's eyes watch her all to the front door of her house. After she had turned the key and entered the threshold she stopped and turned her head to the side and smiled knowing Jane would see it.

What is she, physic?

Jane couldn't help but laugh at Maura's intuition. She didn't mind one bit being caught ogling though. She didn't have to worry about that anymore. Maura was her girlfriend now.

Wow. Girlfriend. I like…no I love the sound of that. Can most definitely get used to that.

Jane decided that she would prefer the welcomed silence over the music. It had been the first time she had been able to actually think peaceful since before her and Maura had gone to the Dirty Robber. She closed her eyes and laid her head on the pristine leather cushion behind it.

Talk about something happening over night. We went from like 0 to 100 in 5 seconds flat. We should really take this slow though. Even though we've know each other for awhile now, this is a brand new thing for us and as much I want to just dive in head first and just be with her, I don't want that to hinder our relationship in anyway.

Jane's head popped up and her eyes snapped open.

God, I don't want to have to deal with that U-haul thing, or whatever that stupid stereotype is, right away.

In another wave of realization, Jane's eyebrows furrowed.

A lesbian stereotype? … Does this make me a lesbian? Does it really matter?

She shook her head.

I'll be anything as long as I get to be with Maura. I guess that answers that.

She was still exhausted from having to deal with Maura's assaulter.

If I plan to get in a full day of work, I'm going to need an ass load of coffee.

Remembering that Maura had once told her that meditation increased a person's energy levels by clearing one's mind of worries and straining thoughts, she thought she'd put that theory to the test. She returned to her previous resting state and did just what Maura had told her.

Being in this calmed state, Jane never even heard Maura open the driver's door and seat herself, but was even more startled when Maura had closed the door.

Nearly hitting her head on the roof, Jane leaped out of her seat screaming, "Holy shit!" She nearly pulled her gun on Maura, but at the sight of her stopped herself short.

Not fazed by Jane's apparent fear, Maura looked suspicious when she titled her head and narrowed her eyes. "What were you doing just before I enter the car, Jane?"

Still panting slightly, she shot Maura a hard look. "You mean before you scared the living shit out of me?" She shook her head then rested her elbow on the door to prop her head up with her hand covering most of her face. "I was meditating actually."

Maura seemed to be in a slight state of disbelief. "Really? Why is that?"

Jane couldn't hold back her urge to roll her eyes and sigh, "Because you told me once during yoga that meditating can give you more energy or something like that. I thought it was worth a shot considering how drained I am." She yawned then looked up at Maura who was making a face. Unable to determine what that face meant she automatically assumed the worst. "Aw shit, Maur. I'm sorry I didn't mean to be an ass. See, this is what I meant about messing things up earlier…Maura?"

Maura looked as though she was about to burst into tears at any second now. "You were actually listening?"

Jane reached across the consul and grabbed Maura's hand that wasn't on her chest. "Well, yeah. Of course I listen when you talk. I may look…okay a may actually be bored, but I still listen to you no matter what."

By some miracle, Maura was able to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. "Oh, Jane. I thought you had become accustomed to 'tuning me out' and just pretending to listen."

"Never, Maur. I always pay attention to you when you talk. During that time I may be staring at your lips, but I still listen to you." Jane leaned further over and laid a gentle kiss on the honey blonde's expectant lips. Jane only pulled away slightly as the kiss came to an end, keeping her eyes closed as a smile spread across her face. She only opened them as she began to speak again. "Okay, babe?"

Maura couldn't contain her giggle before she gave Jane another quick peck on the lips. "Of course, Jane." She quickly moved to buckle-up and start the car. "Barry and Vince will be wondering where we are if we don't arrive shortly."

Jane mirrored her and made sure her seat belt was fastened before reaching for Maura's hand again turning so she could reach with her right hand.

They both sat in contented silence until they were about a minute or so away from the destination.

"So what are we gonna tell the boys? I mean we don't have to tell them anything but what if they suspect something? We are going to roll up in your car together which is pretty rare. We usually only drive together using my car, not yours. Anyway, what do you think?" Jane finally took a deep calming breath. "Wow…I really need to stop doing that."

"I'm not sure what we should do either, Jane. I don't believe that I am ready to announce our newfound change in our relationship yet. It's not that I am uncomfortable with telling people that I am in a gay relationship with you. I would much rather keep this to ourselves because we are still becoming comfortable with what is happening ourselves. I don't think it is wise to than make this transition even more challenging by having to deal with other's emotions as well as our own. Though I refuse to lie about us if someone questions me, Jane. I would prefer you to do the same but if you don't think that you want to do that then do as you feel necessary." Maura looked over to Jane with a smile. "How do you feel about that?"

Jane smiled back softly. "I think that you are brilliant and I agree completely. This is about us right now, not anyone else."

Maura pulled into a parking spot about a block away from the crime scene, turned the car completely off and pulled the key out of the ignition and placed it in her purse.

Jane looked out the window at the street and buildings in confusion. "Um…hey Maur? You know we can pull right up to the yellow tape, right?"

"Of course I know that." Maura replied completely calm with a sly smile knowing exactly where the conversation was headed.

"Yeah…okay…so why did you park an entire block away?" Jane queered with a raised eyebrow having a hunch that her girlfriend had something up her sleeve.

"Well if you insist on knowing Jane…" Maura continued as she unbuckled herself, "If we park where all the uniformed officers, detectives and our other co-workers can see us…I can't do this." She made a lightning quick motion to place both of her hands on Jane's cheeks (careful to avoid the stitches) and lay a smoldering kiss on her.

At first Jane was too confused to kiss back, but she soon gave in and closed her wide eyes and let her face melt from confusion to pleasure. With her uninjured arm, she reached around Maura's neck and used her slender hand to pull them closer together.

Maura gladly let Jane take the lead as Jane's tongue darted out of her mouth slightly to caress Maura's bottom lip. It was an unspoken request but by no means was missed by Maura who parted her rosy lips to allow Jane what she wanted. Though there first kiss was merely one night before, both women kissed each other as if they had been together for years.

As the moments passed each movement, each granted request, each gasp, and each moan became more and more heated and hungered.

Jane became more and more confident when Maura allowed her to dominate her mouth completely, eliciting a guttural moan from deep within the smaller woman that even surprised her. Just as Jane had taken other cues from Maura's reaction, Jane absentmindedly did the same with what she heard. Her hand had found its way to the small of Maura's back but now was moving up and searching for the zipper of her dress.

In one of the split seconds they parted lips to take a quick breath, Jane took notice to what she was about to do and forced herself to stop and pull away.

"I'm sorry," Jane whispered as she stared down at her hand in her lap.

Maura was left begging for more and let a small whimper escaper her lips when Jane moved away. Just as soon as she made the small noise, her brain seemed to kick-start again and the realization that they were in a very public place.

Maura cleared her throat and began to run her hands down the front of her dress clearly embarrassed.

"Maur, I'm sorry. I lost control and…" Jane began shaking her head as she continued to stare at her hands.

"Jane, don't apologize. Just promise me something." Maura said looking unreadable even to Jane.

"Anything." Jane said without a hint of hesitation.

Maura placed her hand on Jane's injured cheek and forced her to return eye contact.

"After we take you to the hospital and you are cleared," she began to smile, "we continue that… intimate moment."

Jane cleared her own throat as her mouth suddenly had gone dry. In a dead stare she replied, "I've never wanted to go to the hospital, but I guess there's a first for everything."

"Good."

They both laughed as they exited the car and stood on either side attempting to straighten up. Maura continued to remove wrinkles from her dress and Jane her hair, which had become even more unruly than usual, into a ponytail.

Maura joined Jane on the sidewalk to walk the remaining block to the crime scene.

"So…do you think that leaving for the hospital as soon as we are done here is too soon?" Jane asked as she gave Maura a side glance and smirk.

Maura gave a cute little smile in return. "As far as getting pain medication, I think you should obtain a prescription as quickly as possible. As far as…that other thing…I'm not entirely sure. I hadn't anticipated my idea to work that hastily. Although I must admit, if this new found tension is not relieved before long, I may have some trouble completely my work duties. But I can tell you this…there won't be much more happening than what we have already experienced until your left hand is fully healed."

"Oh c'mon, Maur! God, why did that asshole's skull have to be so hard?" Jane wasn't even sure herself if she was joking or not.

"I'm sorry, Jane. I just think it is important that our first time being together that way, we are both healthy and fully able to enjoy one another." Maura seemed slightly sad but Jane could tell she was speaking from her heart.

"I completely agree. I want to be with you but not if I can't be everything you need because I'm hurt. If I can't be 100% there with you, then we should definitely wait. And like I said before, I want to take this slow and do this right. I hope you still feel the same."

Maura stopped Jane by grabbing her gently by the hand. "And like I said before, I completely agree."

Jane smiled down at her softly and said, "Good. I just wanted to make sure it's what you still wanted too." She looked around to make sure they were out of sight of the other officers and leaned down and placed the sweetest kiss Jane had ever offered to anyone before. When the kiss ended they began walking once again.

The rest of the walk they merely enjoyed one another's presence. There was nothing more either of them could say to make the moment anymore perfect.

Jane held the yellow tape up for Maura to duck under then followed soot and flashed her badge at the officer on duty who gave her a nod and wrote both her and Maura's name on his clipboard. She held the glove out and stopped Maura, "Can I get a little help?"

"Of course." Maura placed her bag on the ground and took the glove and began to work it on Jane's hand. Maura squeezed the hand in hers gently and smiled at her affectionately when she was certain no one was paying them any attention. Jane returned the gesture with a smirk that seemed even more charming than normal. The one that makes Maura weak in the knees, her stomach flutter, her heart melt, brain to effectively become mush (though she would never admit that it was scientifically possible).

She was certain that she began to sway but balanced herself against Jane's hand with her own. When the exchange was over they moved into view of the boys.

"What'da we got?" Jane said in general as she looked between Frost and Korsak.

"Hey Rizzoli…wow you look like hell! That guy really did a number on you!"

"I don't remember the asshole breakin' your nose," Frost said taking a closer at the two of them. "And why are both of your faces flushed?"

"Gee, thanks Korsak. I'm okay by the way." Jane looked at Maura and sighed before turning back to the boys. "First of all, Maur drove me back to her place to fix up my cheek and hand. While we were there we had a little…incident and she accidently hit me in the face with the door. Second of all, umm…the heater…in her car…was stuck on high and we were goddamn nearly melting to death in there."

Frost and Korsak looked at one another before returning there suspicious glares to Maura who they knew could do nothing but give them a straight answer.

"It was rather warm, wasn't it?" She was doing her best to remain unreadable until the boys both turned their attention back to the body. She quickly looked Jane and gave a quick over-exaggerated wink before making her way next to the body.

Jane let out a small snicker and shook her head. Putting on her detective look on again she walked around the body in the small alley so that she could squat by it across from Maura.

"Valarie Walker," he held her driver's license and school ID up to his face as he threw on his reading glasses and squinted to read, "23 year-old, grad-student at BCU. Guy over there," he pointed to a man talking to another officer who was taking his official statement, "called it in. His name's Jerry Donavin. He saw this poor thing when he was bringing his trash out."

From what Jane gathered, it seemed to be an extremely brutal beating. The body was on its back in a large puddle of blood. Bruises covered her body as well as what looked like defensive wounds on her hands and arms.

"Anything else?" Jane asked looking up at him obviously shaken by the scene.

"Well, we did find blood on the corner of the dumpster which is probably what killed her…" Maura shot her head up and gave him a playful glare. "But we'll leave that Dr. Isles to figure out. Anyway, Frost is checking in it and the other trash cans from the apartments. If we're lucky she'll have lived in one of em'."

The team remained at the scene to finish their usual procedure and was preparing to part.

Jane went over what everyone was supposed to be looking into.

"Frost, run the names off the mail you found in the trash and see if anything pops. And Korsak you're checking up on the people living in the apartments, right?"

Both nodded and grumbled in agreement.

"Okay, Maura is taking me to the hospital to get checked out. When we get back I'll hunt down the family. If you guys find anything call." Jane and Maura were moving to the car when Korsak stopped them.

In a shocked and confused face, Korsak asked, "You, Jane Rizzoli, are going to the hospital on your own free will? Dr. Isles, please tell me this is really Jane. And how'd you convinced her anyway?"

"Who said it was Maura who convinced me? How do you know I just thought I should go all on my own?" Jane seemed slightly pissed. "I have a brain, ya know?"

Korsak and Frost looked at each other before looking at Jane with blank stares.

"Okay, fine. It was Maura's idea." Jane said with a sigh.

Looking at Maura with amazement Frost asked, "How'd you get her to agree to that? If we tried that, we'd have to drug her coffee just to get her in the car."

With a wink and a smile she simply replied, "Oh, I can be quite persuasive."

With that Jane and Maura laughed to each other and walked to the car with Jane's good arm locked with Maura's left. The boys stood mouths wide open and motionless. When they reached the cars Jane looked down the block to see that they hadn't moved an inch.

Yelling down the block, Jane said, "Okay, enough drooling! We got bad guys to catch and murders to solve!" She jumped in the car and waved at them with a stupid grin when they passed them who moved only to follow the Mercedes with their eyes.

Pleased with herself Jane leaned back her seat and put her right hand behind her head. "God I love doing that. So…persuasive, huh?" she said with a smirk as she glanced over at her girlfriend.

"Yes, I believe I can be very persuasive. The key to any attempt at persuasion and/or compromise is to make an offer that the intended target can't refuse. Would you say that I did so?"

"Maur…you have no idea." For what seemed like the thousandth time that day, Jane's mouth went completely dry.

As they reached a red light, Maura leaned over and gave Jane a short yet passionate kiss.

"You're so cute when you're flustered." She giggled at Jane's expense.

Jane couldn't muster a response other than her typical sigh and eye roll. At the realization of her thoughts, she sat up and looked out the window at the unusually beautiful Boston autumn.

She's lucky I love her…

Notes: So what'd ya think? Sorry it took so long. I really wanted to get this ending right and just wasn't able to come up with anything for a while. But thanks for all of you that have stuck it out with me. I promise I'll get better with each story and review. As I before, said this the last chapter. I hope to start somehting new soon but I don't know when. I wish I had something more deep to say but...Thanks for reading and please review.