This chapter is a little different. It's not nearly as "M" rated as the others but I thought it would be good to show another layer of their relationship. I've posted another story called "How Do You Know?". Check it out if you have time and let me know what you think. Thanks for reading!

"Where is she, Frankie?! Where is she?"

"Calm down, Jane. She's ok. A little shaken up, you know, but doing ok. We are at her house. I'll stay here and you can meet us there."

Jane had already grabbed her jacket and keys and was sprinting for the front door. Maura had been missing for 15 hours and 23 minutes. For 15 hours and 23 minutes, Jane was unable to find her and had no idea who had taken her and what was happening. After finding her purse and phone dropped near the delivery door to the morgue at 8:30 that morning, they had frantically poured over security camera footage and past case files looking for something, anything that could help them locate the M.E. Frankie's call that Maura just stumbled in her back door had been the first news they had had since her disappearance. Thankfully, he had been assigned to sit at her house to keep an eye on things there.

Jane's heart raced with fear and anxiety over what Maura may have had to endure as she pressed down harder on the accelerator aiming in the direction of the doctor's Beacon Hill home. Tires squealed as she pulled into the paved driveway. Slamming the car into park, Jane raced for the front door only to be stopped right before barreling through.

"Janie slow down, she's ok" Frankie grasped both of her upper arms holding her in place.

"I need to see her. Let me go!" The detective fought to get past

"She is in the shower, Jane. You will have to wait a few minutes anyway. So just take a deep breath and relax."

The brunette glared at her brother knowing that he was right but also not wanting to wait another second to gather her love into her arms and assure herself that she was indeed ok. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm down. "What happened, Frankie? Where was she? Who did this? If they hurt her, I swear…"

"She's ok, Janie. I promise." Frankie cut in. "I will let her explain but she is fine. I think maybe a little shaken up but she isn't hurt. Not at all, ok?" he waited for her to nod before ushering her in the front door. "Look, I have to get back to the station. I went ahead and took her statement. Why don't you sit down and drink a beer or something until she comes back down? I'm sure she would even let you stay tonight if it would make you feel better."

Collapsing on one of the kitchen stools, she nodded. "Yeah, ok. I will just wait for her here. Thank you, Frankie, and thanks for taking care of her"

"Hey, no problem. You know she is family and family always takes care of family" He hugged her tightly before turning to leave.

The door had barely shut behind him when Jane shot off the stool and raced up the stairs, pausing only to hurriedly lock the door and set the alarm. Reaching Maura's bedroom, she paused as the towel clad doctor jumped and turned towards her. "Maur" she choked out as she reached for her, dark brown eyes catching and holding hazel ones. Overcome by emotions, tears raced down her face as she tried but failed at blinking them back.

The M.E. pressed as close to Jane as possible, wrapping her arms around her and resting her head on her chest, letting the sound of her steady heartbeat soothe her nerves.

"Maur..I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry I wasn't there to protect you."

"It wasn't your fault, Jane." The doctor said with a quivering voice.

"Where did you go? Who was it?" The detective dropped several kisses on the honey colored hair still damp from the shower.

"I'm not sure where they took me..it was a warehouse. I was blindfolded on the way there and on the way back here. It was Paddy's men. He suffered a gunshot wound and they needed someone to provide medical care"

"Damn..I had a feeling it had something to do with him!" Jane ran her hands up and down Maura's arms, looking at her carefully as she asked her next question. "Did they….did they hurt you?"

Maura swallowed back a sob as she shook her head. "No, Jane. I'm ok..honestly. I was just so scared".

Wrapping her arms snugly around her doctor, Jane breathed in her scent. She had been crazy with fear that she would never see Maura again and that something terrible would happen to her. "At least with Paddy there, you were relatively safe. I don't trust the bastard further than I can spit but he does seem to be protective when it comes to you."

"I wasn't scared for me, Jane. I was scared for you. I was so worried that you would do something that would get you killed when you realized I was missing. I was so terrified that I would never get to…" her voice broke on a sob and she took a moment to gather her composure before continuing "I was so terrified that I would never get to see you again, to hold you, and to tell you how much I love you" she said as tears continued to fall from her beautiful hazel eyes.

"Shh...it's ok Maura, I'm here. We are both here and we are safe. I promise I will let the boys deal with Paddy and his men, Ok? I promise".

Maura nodded as she buried her face against Jane's chest not willing to be parted from her just yet. They stayed like that for a long moment, just enjoying their nearness.

"Hey, how about I make you some tea and we can snuggle up tonight and watch one of those documentaries you have recorded?" the brunette said, drawing soothing circles on her back.

Maura shook her head "No, Jane. I...I need you tonight"

"I'm right here, baby. I promise I am not going anywhere. I will stay here tonight and even tomorrow. Hell, I will take off as much time as you need me to."

"No, Jane. I mean yes, that would be great but that's not what I was trying to say. I need you. Please, Jane." Maura took a half step back and loosened the knot of her towel letting it drop to the ground. "Make love to me, Jane. Please. I need to feel you against me and inside me".

Jane's throat went suddenly dry and her eyes darkened instantly as her gaze swept over the woman before her. She was so beautiful it made her heart ache. She reached out, cupping her face gently in her palms, she kissed her long and deep letting her tongue explore her mouth. It hadn't even been 24 hours since they had parted but it seemed like a lifetime ago. "I love you so much" she whispered in between leaving wet open mouth kisses down her neck and across her shoulder. Her thumbs brushed over erect nipples as she palmed each mound, kneading gently. Maura whimpered and leaned into her as she let her hands roam over the naked expanse of the doctor's back before drifting down to cup her firm ass. Pulling her flush against her, she started moving them back towards the bed.

"Jane, wait"

Confused she stopped in her tracks wondering if she had somehow missed a signal somewhere. "What's wrong Maur? Did I…"

Maura interrupted her before she could finish. "No love, you are wearing way too many clothes. I would like to help you remove them."

The detective swallowed hard glancing quickly at the spot her clothes would normally be folded and placed. "Shh..love. Please, let me do it". Maura soothed as she reached for the hem of her shirt. Tonight was not the night for games. Tonight they both needed something deeper.

Maura kissed and stroked her way down Jane's body as she took her time removing and folding each item of clothing. By the time the detective was as naked as her they were both trembling with need and desire. "I love you so much, Jane. Please take me to bed."

Their night was filled with whispered words of love and comfort as they both cherished each other, body and soul. They loved each other slowly and deeply, their passion sated by deep caresses and cries of wonderment and ecstasy. It was nearing midnight before they both finally drifted off to sleep in each other's arms feeling completely safe and loved.