Please see Ch 1 for disclaimers…

EVERYONE: this is part 1 of 2. 14 and 15 tonight.

Jane had never been so grateful for the existence MBTA. If it wasn't for public transportation there wouldn't be a need for a bus stop.

A bus stop with a grimy, faded, rusting bench and right now it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

Jane collapsed down with huff, not caring for a moment what it looked like. She just needed a chance to restore circulation into her toes. Crossing her legs she pulled a shoe off, wincing at the cracking sound her big toe made as she flexed it.

Wriggling her toes one last time before switching feet, Jane brushed her hair out of her face so she could look over her shoulder. Maura was already inside brick store front number three searching for whatever mystery object she wasn't supposed to see yet. The name 47 Brand was familiar but she couldn't quite place it.

Waiting outside the first store had been fine. No problem. She didn't wear heels every day so Jane had figured she was due the small rubs at the top of her foot from all the walking.

But by the time they'd walked to the second store she realized she had a small blister on the top of her baby toe. Searching for the third store Jane could feel it throbbing against the leather with each step.

There was no way she was going to survive hobbling to a fourth.

She poked at the blister and winced at the hot stab of pain. Why did women think this shit was normal? What in the hell possessed Maura to shove her feet into torture chambers every day voluntarily?

Jane held her shoe by the heel and idly tapped it against her calf. The FBI should spend time profiling what sick twist of human nature made women willing to subject themselves to this, or better yet, actually collect these devices of agony.

Picturing the wall of shoes in Maura's closet Jane made a mental note to discuss a rehab program for self inflicted pain some day in the near future. Because no.

She tried to look over her shoulder again but the wind blew her hair into her face. Shoving the strands away from her lips she took a deep breath. Expensive hair or not, the second she got home it was all getting pulled into a ponytail.

Tucking her hair behind her ear yet again Jane was relieved to finally see Maura headed for her with a bag in hand. That had to be a good sign that another store was off the table.

Maura sat down beside Jane watching her massage a foot. "I keep trying to convince you to invest in a high quality heel."

Snorting, Jane eased the shoe back on. "You cannot convince me that paying more than a month's worth of groceries for a scrap of leather is going make these things feel any better." She gingerly put her foot back down. "I'm two seconds away from turning in my girl card. I hang around you and your fashionable stilts enough to call it good by osmosis. You collect enough shoes for the both of us too."

Jane tapped the bag on Maura's lap. "Success?" The answering smile on Maura's face was one that transformed her face and lit up her eyes. It was an expression that Jane could never look away from. One that she figured almost gave you permission to stare with the way Maura drew you in and held you there.

Maura excitedly dug through her purse and pulled out an envelope that she offered over with a flourish, eyes brighter, creases at the corners deepening as the smile grew. Jane could feel her own smile taking over in response.

Opening the plain white envelope Jane couldn't stop the laughter as she pulled out the Red Sox tickets. "I should have guessed but you know you didn't have to. It was hardly your fault I passed up those tickets trying to prove something. I was being a whiny bitch."

Jane checked the tickets a little closer, eyes widening as she figured out exactly where they were. "Wow, seriously, what did you do to Korsak to get these off him? Am I going to have to cover up a homicide or something? Did you adopt one of his dogs? Damn." She fanned herself with the tickets. "I wonder how in the hell Johnston ended up with these in the first place. I thought all these seats were all owned by corporations."

"Different tickets. To tomorrow's game instead." Maura grasped Jane's wrists. "Can I come?"

Jane pulled her hands away to gesture towards the afternoon sky and the cloud cover that had been building all afternoon. "Check the weather on your phone first Maura. Those clouds are here to stay. It might be drizzling. These seats are not covered." She reached out and fluffed the end of Maura's hair. "This whole thing you do with the hair? Probably not going to last."

Maura rolled her eyes and dug around in the bag on her lap. "I thought we were friends. I thought you understood me. Do you truly believe I wouldn't have considered all the external influences?"

In a smooth motion she pulled a pink Red Sox hat out of the bag and put in on her head. She clasped her hands and waited with a smile and Jane did not disappoint, a finger gesturing wildly at her.

"Oh you did not get the pink hat. Have I really taught you nothing in all these years about being a Red Sox fan?" Jane shook her head, trying to hide a smile to continue the lecture and knowing she was failing. She couldn't help it. It was Maura looking at her from under the brim of that hat so pleased with herself. She had Jane right where she wanted her and both of them knew it.

So she gave in and shook her head slightly, smiling along with Maura and enjoying the moment.

"You've been quite clear. I don't care if only posers wear the pink gear." Maura's smile was knowing. "It matches the shoes I have picked out for tomorrow." She gave Jane a slow wink. "It's who I am."

Jane laughed deeply, for a moment everything from the past few days made sense. "Uh huh. Don't think I don't see what you're doing there Dr. Isles." She sobered herself and caught Maura's eyes. "Really, thank you." Unable to help herself she reached out and fingered the brim of Maura's cap and adjusted it. "It looks good on you."

Maura let herself fall into the vortex that Jane was so very good at creating anytime she focused her full attention directly on her. She stared into brown eyes until she felt her cheeks start to warm.

Flushed, Maura reached quickly into the bag and pulled out another hat. She held out the deep, appropriate, navy Red Sox Hat . "Here, I got you a new one. Your other one was getting so tattered."

Jane had her mouth open to protest the absolute beauty of a hat that was perfectly broken in. To explain, in detail, how many hours went into creating that perfect level of fray and wear that Maura so wrongly called tattered.

But then Maura's excited expression, eyes shining looking at her from under that stupid, pink hat made Jane close her mouth so fast she winced when her teeth hit tender flesh. She pressed the back of her hand to her mouth. "Sorry, bit my tongue." The wind stirred up strands of her hair and this time Jane grabbed the hat and with a few quick adjustments, pulled her hair though the back.

"Jane, you're going to wreck your hair!" Maura made a grab for the hat, just missing when Jane ducked to the side.

Jane straightened back up and grabbed Maura's hands and held them captive. "I know and guess what? I don't care! I'm done. And next up you're going to help me hobble to the drugstore across the street and I'm going to buy flip flops to walk home in."

Maura let Jane pull her up. "I can't let you put flip flops on with that skirt." She eyed the long legs in the elegant heels. "I simply can not stand by and watch that. Come on. I'll compromise and spring for a cab."

Jane wasn't going to admit that the cab pulled over as fast as he did because it was two attractive women. She especially wasn't going to admit that she was entirely grateful for that fact. Letting Maura slide in first Jane followed and gave the cabbie her address before lounging against the door. "You want to come up and order in something for dinner?"

Maura smiled. "I can't, I have a prior commitment to go to the ICA Artist Speaks as a guest of the Director of Programs. He's a friend of my mother's." Hesitating when Jane's face went still, Maura reached out tentatively and touched Jane's knee. "I thought Saturday night was when you skyped with Casey?"

Chewing at her bottom lip it took Jane a moment to answer. "It usually is." Her teeth scraped her lower lip sharply. "I mean it is. But not until later because of the time difference. "

Maura nodded as if this explained everything. "Enjoy your talk. I'll bring breakfast by in the morning so we can fit in a run before the game."

Jane frowned at her. "I don't remember agreeing to physical activity before baseball in this whole deal. It's Sunday. I'm sleeping in."

The cab pulled up in front of her place. Jane had her hand on the door handle when Maura grabbing her coat stopped her. "Yes?"

"Please?"

Jane shook her head. "Nope."

"I'll bring donuts for breakfast?" Maura tilted her head slightly.

"Oh come on with the puppy eyes. Stop. No means no." Jane waved a hand at Maura's face but nothing changed. She squared her shoulders, pulled open the door and got out.

Bending down Jane looked back inside to say goodbye and immediately recognized a tactical error as she took one last look at Maura's expression. Damn it. "I really need to sleep in tomorrow."

Maura simply shrugged. "It's okay. Honestly, I'll run before I come over."

Jane grimaced at the thought of Maura running alone. She didn't like it when Maura looked at her like that, calmly, resigned. She waved an impatient finger in Maura's general direction. "Fine. We'll go running. But there had better be chocolate donuts and more than one."

Watching the cab drive off Jane was almost willing to admit Maura's happy smile had been worth it.

Almost.

A/N – Thanks CharlietheCAG for the beta and the laughter. Feel better!

EVERYONE: this is part 1 of 2.

We will also call these two chapters the ones in which the fandom might collectively groan. But that also means we're near resolution peeps :)