As promised, time seemed to drag on. I couldn't concentrate on anything and I felt Frost and Korsak looking at me.
"Why are you guys staring at me?"
"Well, you've been humming and smiling all morning." Korsak answered.
"So?" I said, defensively.
"Well, we couldn't help but notice since you don't normally hum or have a permanent smile glued to your face."
I opened my mouth to tell Korsak off when I felt my phone buzz.
It was Maura.
I managed to stifle my grin before it started. I didn't want to give the guys more ammunition against me.
"Great news, we have some of the test results back. You may to come down here." Maura's text explained.
I jumped up from my desk almost knocking my chair over. This earned a smirk from Frost and a light chuckle from Korsak.
"What? There's news on the case, gotta go check it out." I gave them a dirty look and sprinted out of the room.
Once in the elevator, I tried to convince myself that my impatience over the long ride was due to the excitement of the lab results.
Good try, but you KNOW you're excited to see Maura again.
Well, it's been like half the day since I saw her last, so yeah.
I burst through the doors while they were still opening and clipped my shoulder on my way out.
That's gonna leave a mark.
Maura was in the lab and saw me enter the morgue. It looked like slow motion as she walked towards me and this time I couldn't stop the grin from exploding on my face. She looked like she was floating in that way that was pure Maura. By the time she reached me she was smiling and it made my heart swell.
"I can tell you're excited for the results so here goes…" Maura started.
I had already forgotten that was why I was here. The only thing on my mind was her and how gorgeous she was. I was excited to hear about what she had to say but I found myself more interested in how her mouth moved when she talked. I couldn't help wondering how it would feel against my own mouth.
I bet she's a great kisser.
I felt a familiar flush and my eyes widen as I had that thought. Maura stopped talking and bit her lip which made me realize she caught me staring at her mouth. My face grew hotter and I turned away from her in order to break the trance I was under.
Shit, you are not very subtle. You're worse than a guy…might as well be staring at her…
Ohhhh… Ummm, don't finish that thought!
"So, as I was saying… some evidence collected at the first crime scene did turn out to be paint; car paint to be exact." Maura concluded.
This got my immediate attention and I went into work mode.
"When I went to the crime scenes yesterday, I found a sliver of something at the second location. I put it in my jacket and forgot all about it. It's not much to go on but maybe it's enough to compare to your sample." I said, hopeful.
"Where is it?"
"It's in my car, I'll go get it."
I returned several minutes later with the plastic bag I retrieved from my jacket. Maura rushed it into the lab to be processed.
"I feel like such an ass. It's not like me to forget about something so crucial."
"Well, you've had a lot on your mind lately." Maura reasoned.
I glanced quickly at her.
"You know, what with your nightmare about Hoyt and all." Maura said.
I didn't miss the slight knowing smile as she turned away from me.
"Right, exactly… a lot to think about." I countered.
"So, the paint chip…what did you find out about it?" I said, trying to turn the conversation back towards work.
"It is a white automotive paint used primarily by Toyota. I don't know if we can narrow it down to a specific model. I'm not sure if they use the same color white in all of their vehicles." Maura answered.
"Can you get me the chemical composition and anything else you know about it? I will have Frost contact Toyota and see if they can give us more information."
"Certainly, I will have it for you within the hour. Hopefully, we will have the results of your paint sliver by then too."
"Great, Maur…I'm going to see if Frost found anything on the surveillance footage showing a white Toyota and get him started on the paint research. Talk to you soon."
"Don't forget about dinner tonight, I'm making Fettuccini Alfredo. I'm sorry that I won't have time to make homemade noodles though." Maura said, a bit sadly.
"I won't forget." I responded, shyly.
"Good, you better not. If you have time, would you mind picking up more of that Cabernet Sauvignon you bought last time? It wouldn't normally be paired with Fettuccini Alfredo but I really enjoyed it." Maura beamed.
"It would be my pleasure." I grinned.
I practically bounced out of the room.
This is going to be a good night, I can just feel it!
I picked the wine up on my way home so I wouldn't have to do it with Jo Friday in the car again. I was planning on bringing her to Maura's house since she made it such a point last time. Not that I minded the teasing and flirty side of Maura one bit. I thought about picking up flowers also but it seemed too cheesy.
As usual, Jo was excited to see me and even more so to go on her walk. I was in a fantastic mood and I found myself half humming/half singing the Alicia Keys song "No One". I vaguely remembered hearing it in the car when Maura drove me home from the Dirty Robber.
I didn't just hear it…she was singing it! Ohh, she sounded good too.
That made me nervous of what other things I couldn't remember from the night.
Can't be that bad, she is still talking to me and she left me that cd.
Once Jo was satisfied with her walk, we went back up to the apartment so I could shower and change. It felt like all I was doing lately was showering and fussing over what clothes to wear.
I turned on the Norah Jones cd so that I could listen to it while I got ready. The smooth sounds of her voice instantly put me at ease and raised my excitement level at the same time. I had no idea what the night would hold for us but it was obvious that Maura seemed to be on a similar path as me. The idea that in less than a week, I could fall in love with her and that she might actually feel the same was almost too much to contemplate. It made my head swim.
I got dressed as quickly as possible. I opted for my standard black pants and dress boots combo because they were both very comfortable. I picked out an olive green dressy t-shirt to complement my skin tone and threw my hair up again.
She's not the only one who can look good in green.
It was a wicked but satisfying thought that maybe I could distract her for once.
Two can play that game, Dr.
I smiled at my reflection and it winked back at me.
I got Jo hooked up to her leash again, picked up the wine and headed to the car. I thought about throwing an overnight bag together but didn't want to seem presumptuous. Not that it ever stopped either of us from staying over before.
Before driving off, I shot Maura a quick "I'm on my way" text and chose "Titanium" from my iPod and turned up the volume.
The song had its usual effect on me and got me pumped up. I was on top of the world.
I pulled into Maura's driveway. I gathered up my phone, the wine, and Jo Friday. I knocked on the door despite Maura always saying I didn't have to. Because of our new and uncharted waters, I especially didn't feel comfortable just walking into her house. I gave myself a quick once over and smoothed out my clothes while I waited.
Maura finally opened the door and the look on her face was not a pleasant one.
"Hey Maur…" I started.
"Jane, I tried calling you…I tried and tried and you didn't answer. We need to…" Maura said frantically.
What I saw over her shoulder made me want to throw up. A man; but not just any man, it was Ian. The amazingly perfect albeit largely absent on-again/off-again flame of Maura's. The great doctor who healed those in need in Africa.
WHAT-THE-FUCK.
My injured heart took over and didn't let my brain think. I shoved the bottle of wine at Maura and without another word, I was back in the car with Jo and peeling out of the driveway.
I didn't know where I was going but I knew I had to get out of there. I couldn't bear looking back in Maura's direction but I could tell from the amount of light that she had to still be standing in the doorway. Moments later, my phone rang. I wanted to throw it out the window; instead I just silenced it. I was gripping the steering wheel with both hands, which had turned white from the pressure.
I should have fucking known that she couldn't possibly love me back. Fucking Ian. Why didn't she tell me he was back? Was this her way of breaking it to me gently… by the three of us sitting down to dinner together? Christ, that's just cruel.
I stopped at a traffic light and picked up my iPod. I wanted music but I had to be very careful with what I chose. It was an easy choice, Rihanna's album "Rated R." Her music always seemed to distract me.
I got onto I-93 and headed north. I didn't have any destination in mind, I just had to drive. I didn't want to go home.
I had been driving for over a half hour and was almost through the whole cd when number 11, "Te Amo" started playing.
Oh hell no, I am NOT listening to this… she clearly does NOT love me.
I clicked to the next song. Like many of the songs I had been hearing lately, this next one snuck up on me.
"On my roof
Dark and I'm burning a rose
I don't need proof
I'm torn apart & you know
What you did to me was a crime
Cold Case Love
And I let you reach me one more time
But that's enough
Your love was breaking the law
But I needed a witness
So pick me up when it's over
It don't make any difference
Will it ever be solved
Or am I taking the fall
Truth was there all along
Tell me how did we miss it
We opened up a cold case love
And it got the best of us
And now prints, pictures & white outlines
Are all that's left at the scene of a crime
Of a cold case love
Should've investigated
But love blinded eyes couldn't see (no)
And then I tried to cage it
But your love ain't the kind you can keep
Release me now cause I did my time
Of this cold case love
My heart's no longer cold & confined
I've had enough
Your love was breaking the law
But I needed a witness
So pick me up when it's over
It don't make any difference
Will it ever be solved
Or am I taking the fall
Truth was there all along
Tell me how did we miss it
We opened up a cold case love
And it got the best of us
And now prints, pictures & white outline
sAre all that's left at the scene of a crime
Of a cold case love
We lost our way
Took this too far
Now I'll never find the pieces of my heart
We've lost enough
Looking for a truth
That was here all along
Cold case love
And it got the best of us
and now prints, pictures & white outlines
Are all that's left at the scene of a crime
Of a cold case love
We opened up a cold case love
And it got the best of us
and now prints, pictures & white outlines
Are all that's left at the scene of a crime
Of a cold case love"
This got my attention and the tears started.
We didn't even have a chance to get started and now there's no hope.
I set the song to repeat and got off on the next exit to turn around for home.
A/N: So I have been working 20 days in a row with no days off. I apologize for not updating sooner. It has been driving me insane to not be able to write. I hope to update again soon. This was a pretty angsty end to the chapter but since when does love make sense or play fair?