Hopefully the length of this chapter will bring a smile to your face, and tide you over while I prep the next update!

MPOV

Maura paced listlessly in her office, clenching and unclenching her fists absentmindedly. Jane had dropped her off after the crime scene was done being processed. She knew that Jane was worried about what was happening with the case, but every time Maura tried to breach the subject she would turn the radio on a little louder; her silent cue she didn't want to talk about it. Maura had grown increasingly frustrated at the detectives actions, they had so much to talk about and right now she didn't need the silent treatment.

She wanted to talk to her best friend, process everything that was happening. More than anything, she wanted to know that everything was going to be ok. She sighed mimicking Jane's familiar behavior of running her hand through her hair. She glanced through the open door at Dr Pike performing an autopsy on the latest body. She could see her staff rolling their eyes at his eccentric behavior and smiled softly to herself, she was almost glad he was here; she had never received so many compliments and praises from her staff then when he was in her autopsy room.

She closed the door and glanced at her watch again, she was waiting for the note that had been left in the woman's hand to finish drying after she had laced it with the DFO chemical. She hadn't told anyone, but she was hoping to find a latent fingerprint on the clean but crumbled piece of paper, perhaps he had been hasty in writing the note and his sweat had left behind a hidden clue. She had another 15 minutes before she should check on the paper, but it was hard to not double and triple check her work; she breathed deeply forcing her body to relax. Today was not her day for patience.

Huffing, she dropped her body into her chair staring listlessly at the open door opposite her desk. She allowed herself to silently hope that Jane would burst through as she normally does, a huge smile on her face. Lately it was the only thing in her life that consistently made her feel better, she was the only thing in her life that made her feel whole. She didn't want to think about Jane right now though, she needed to focus on the life threatening situation she was involved in. Drumming her fingers on her desk, mindlessly checking her watch again she couldn't think of anything else. She allowed her mind to drift again to Jane. It had been hours since she had seen her and she still didn't know how she felt with everything that was revolving around them.

Dealing with ambiguity was not her strong suit and lately thats all her life has been. It was a far cry from her previous life, her life before Jane Rizzoli. Where things fit neatly into an organized schema that she could understand and control. Family was not loud or messy, they did not fight or confront. Friends were not aggressive, or permanent; they did not elicit romantic feelings or delve to deeply beneath the carefully constructed layers she had worked all her life to construct. And lovers, well; they did not make her forget to breath or make her knees weak with a simple touch or a smile God she has a gorgeous smile Maura mused to herself. No, the men in her life, unlike Jane, were disposable figurines that came and went with little regard to anything long term.

She looked again at the counter where the note was drying and she had everything laid out perfectly. Order; the mere thought of it made her feel serene. Everything in her life was classifiable, categorical. Everything in her life, from her family to the men she slept with, fit in their compartments easily. Jane however, refused to be sorted, organized, or filed away. She insisted on demanding attention, refused to fit wherever Maura tried to place her. She was the anomaly in her life, and it drove her deliriously crazy.

Maura tried to hide her smile underneath her fingers as she thought about Jane's reaction to her in the car. The way her muscles tensed as she slowly ran her fingers up her thigh. Maura felt a familiar twitch in her own core as she remembered the same leg digging into her body. She had lost control the moment Jane's thigh reached for her. Losing all function in her legs as they gave way at Jane's gratuitous touch. She shuddered as she remembered their bodies grinding into each other. She was surprised at her own bodies reaction, recognizing how little control she actually exhibited to Jane's touch. She was used to being turned on by her lovers, but not like with Jane, she could hardly contain herself with Jane. She sighed again picking up her phone, this time not to check the time, but to send Jane a message, "Hey". She sent the simple message and put the phone down, not sure what else she should say. It was Jane's usual greeting, not Maura's; but she couldn't think of anything else to say, anything else to break the tension that laid between them.

A moment later Jane's response caused her phone to vibrate shocking her out of her own thoughts, "Hey back, how ya holdin up?"

Maura smiled, she didn't bother to correct Jane's grammar, having been explained once already by Jane that when you text, grammar doesn't count. She paused thinking, allowing herself for just one moment to actually take stock of her situation. She had never been directly threatened, never been in the line of fire. And yet here she was, the direct focus of some unknown threat, and yet she felt confident and secure that she would be fine. She had Jane on her side. Protecting her, watching over her. For now that felt like enough, and thinking about the situation felt overwhelming, "ok, just thinking..."

Jane responded before Maura could put the phone back down, " thinking? about?".

Maura sighed, she was overwhelmed with thoughts, she was scared for her life, for Jane's; she was worried about never finding out who was causing all this to happen, she was concerned about losing her friend now that their feelings were out there hanging in some abyss neither had control over. She bit her lower lip, typing out her response slowly, "Y. O. U."

Jane didn't respond right away, the wait causing her to feel nerves through every inch of her body, her stomach tumbling as she nervously continued to bite her lip wondering if she had once again crossed a line. She was just about to text an apology when her phone vibrated in her hands, "Me 2" was her response. A huge smile attached itself to Maura's lips. She looked around the room self consciously before forgetting she was alone with only her thoughts. Her thoughts and Jane's messages.

Maura: You're thinking about yourself? Or me?

Jane: REALLY? You need to ask? U of course, I havnt been able to stop.

Maura: Specifics please.

Jane: I'm thinkin about last night...you...wet...

Maura: It was raining Jane.

Jane: Thats not the wet I was referring to...

Maura: JANE!

Jane: I can still feel your body on top of mine

Maura: This is...inappropriate...don't you think?

Jane: Not anymore inappropriate than what I'm thinking of...

Maura: I'm intrigued

Jane: I'm wet

Maura gasped as she read the message, her face blushing as she recognized the same thoughts were creeping through her own mind. She quickly stood up, recognizing the same arousal soaking in between her thighs, her core aching for Jane's touch again. She crossed the room and plugged in the iron and stared at it while she waited for it to warm up, her mind drifting to Jane's message; to her own thoughts of a strong, impressive Jane Rizzoli on top of her.

Jane burst through her door so suddenly that Maura almost dropped the iron. "You didn't answer my message", she burst out breathing heavily, pausing only when she realized what Maura was holding. "Is that? Are you holding an iron? Fuck that is kinky Maur." A slow smile spread across her lips giving away her intent at humor unintentionally.

"What? Language Jane!" Maura felt a deep warm blush spread across her face as recognition hit her. "No, I...I need the heat Jane" she couldn't stop herself from stuttering as she took in the out of breath detective. She was amazed that she had never noticed how her muscles flex as she strut around her office, how her eyes grew darker when she was aroused.

"I can provide all the heat you need" Jane stepped closer, her raspy voice dropping an octave.

Maura could feel her breath hitch, she couldn't focus as Jane moved in closer. A familiar feeling overcame her, the feeling of being stalked. A feeling of being prey to the hungry eyes of Jane. "Its for the note" She offered meekly, not trusting her voice to be any louder.

"Hmm" Jane offered back, suddenly slacking in her prowess. "The one in the victims hand? The one meant for..."

"Don't!" Maura suddenly felt herself shout out, her hands shot up as if she could physically stop the room from caving in on her. She couldn't handle hearing the truth out loud; that Jane was in danger because of her. "Please don't" she pleaded, her eyes full of fear as she watched Jane retreat slowly, allowing herself to lean against her large wooden desk. Maura focused on how Jane's olive skin matched perfectly against the dark grain of the wood, how her long form leaning against the structure looked perfectly masculine and feminine at the same time. It turned her on to see a relaxed Jane, in comparison to her own ball of nerves. "I just can't. I can't hear it right now Jane" She knew she was storing away these feelings, not trusting herself to deal with the situation in the moment.

Jane met her gaze and for a moment Maura forgot to breath. She was surprised by how intense Jane's gaze was. How much her eyes could speak to her despite her face being trained to not give an inch away. She knew that despite the years Jane had spent training herself to not give away an ounce of emotion, her eyes spoke volumes to Maura's attuned eyes.

Jane fidgeted slightly, the movement lost to anyone but Maura. "Is this" she paused breathing deeply, for the first time Maura realized that Jane was nervous, and this realization brought a soft smile to her face. "Do you think that maybe, just maybe, your? This is happening because of...because of the threat?" Jane blurted quickly rushing the sentence out into the still air that lay between them.

"What do you mean? I don't understand your question" Maura responded back, suddenly gripping the edge of the countertop she was leaning against. She didn't want to think about the implications of what she was feeling towards Jane, she didn't want to think about consequences or misguided actions. She didn't want the possibility that Jane could see her desperation to ignore the inevitable by focusing on her incredible body as an escape.

Jane cocked her eyebrow at her trying her best to hide her nerves, "What I mean is, do you think that maybe this isn't real? Maybe its just a response to the case? To being in danger? What we did, how you...feel?"

Maura paused a moment reflecting on Jane's question; letting it lay thickly before them before she would answer it. "Your referring to emotional regulation?" Maura asked calmly, finally moving into territory she was comfortable with, she took a step closer to

Jane watching as the detective licked her lips at her movement, nodding her head absentmindedly. Maura knew she had no idea what she was talking about, but watching Jane react to her was heaven.

"Attempts individuals make to influence what they feel, when they feel it and how these emotions are expressed and experienced?" She paused in front of Jane letting the delicious heat from her body soak into her. "Such efforts can be automatic" she leaned her hips into Jane, letting her body rest against her best friend, "controlled" she pushed herself into her, digging into the welcoming spread of Jane's legs. The sudden action caused Jane to lean back and support herself with her hands, leaving herself vulnerable to Maura. Whispering in her ear she continued, "conscious" Maura let her lips and tongue guide itself from Jane's ear to her neck kissing its way down her jugular vein feeling the pulse vibrate beneath her lips, she dung in deeper in the detectives core feeling her push back. "Or unconscious" she whispered into Jane's neck feeling a deep throaty groan escape from the detective as she felt her wrap her legs around her hips.

"Maur..." Jane breathed into her hair, the sound mixing softly with a sharp exhale of air from her lungs. The feeling of Jane's hot breath blowing softly against her hair, her legs wrapped tightly against her own body, her core pushing into Jane as she pushed back; it was all too much for Maura to contain and she felt a moan escape her lips before she could contain it.

The response was immediate, Jane wrapped her hands into her hair demanding her lips with such an animalistic response it took Maura by surprise. She hungrily took in Jane's lips, opening her mouth inviting the invading tongue in. Her mind reeled at the sensation pulling Jane deeper into her, needing to feel every inch of Jane pressed against her body; needing to hear her moan in response to her touch.

It was only the second time in her life Maura had allowed herself to lose control; the second time she had felt a hunger gnawing at her so fierce she felt she would never satiate the thirst welling inside of her. The first time she felt this insatiable need was with Jane, in her home. And now, Maura cared little of consequences, only needing to feel Jane grind against her, responding only to her touch.

They broke apart for a moment, both chests heaving as they tried to bring desperately needed air into their lungs. Maura's head spun as she tried to take stock of the situation, her entire body felt like it was vibrating against Jane's touch, an uncontrollable desire spread from her core through her chest and out her hands demanding Jane. The break didn't last long as Maura dug her hands into Jane's back again forcing her close as their lips met. Tongues and hands roaming frantically as hips ground and pressed against the other in a frenzy. Moans escaped from deep within, but Maura could no longer discern who was moaning, she or Jane. The litany of sounds resounding in her ears as she pressed her core deeper into Jane never wanting the feeling to end or the sound of Jane moaning in pleasure to stop.

Suddenly, the air in the room changes as the door from the morgue swings open and Maura feels herself propelled away from Jane's luscious body, her mind whirling in response trying to figure out why she suddenly was no longer permanently attached to the lithe body. Her mind tried to piece together the scattered pieces of information as they filtered in past her groggy Jane seduced brain. She finally pieced together the realization that Jane had pushed her away at the sudden intrusion.

"Dr Isles, I have a complaint to lodge against the homicide squad, they refuse to announce their arrival prior to entering the morgue." Dr Pike punched his hand emphasizing his point.

"What the fuck Pike?" Jane growls out, her face flushed with desire as she licked her scowling lips. Maura watched as Jane wrung her hands with frustration. "Its called knocking!"

"I beg your pardon!" Dr Pike responded aghast at Jane's response as Frost entered Maura's office a smirk on his face.

He winked at Maura and Jane as his smile grew, noticing the flush crawl up their necks and faces. "Hey, watcha guys doin?"

"What the fuck do you want Frost?" Jane groaned into her hands realizing the implications of Frost being there.

"Jane! Language!" Maura chided trying to compose herself in front of what was becoming quickly a small crowd.

"I came down to find you two and I found this guy instead," he indicated to Pike as he scowled his response in return, "I think I might have found something relevant to the case" he hesitated waiting for Jane to take her focus off of Maura. "Unless you two want to continue whatever you were up to?" he added knowing what to say to bring Jane back to the conversation.

Jane snapped to attention at his comment. "This better be good Frost, I don't want to waste anymore time on useless leads. I want to get ahead of this guy, not keep playing catchup." Jane growled out hitting Frost below the belt, "I have pressing matters to attend too" Jane licked her lips, allowing herself to take Maura in fully looking her up and down slowly

Frost cleared his throat again blushing as he looked down at the file in his hands, "I, uh, found this case that Dr. Isles was assisting with. It was a serial murder, they caught a guy and pinned it on him but there was someone else they were considering. A horticulturist who they didn't even interview."

Dr Pike rolling his eyes, "Dr Isles, I would like your attention to the pressing matter of protocol please." He waved his hands in the air, as if trying to force the air to dissipate between them in the office. "I am in charge of what happens in that morgue and I would appreciate a little more respect around here!" He practically stomped his foot in frustration.

Jane ignored him and took the file from Frosts hands, flipping through the various pages, "looks like they closed the case after the prime suspect was arrested, why's this important to you?" she asked handing him back his notepad that had been under the file.

"Dr Isles" Pike practically screamed at Maura who finally turned her head in response, she had become engrossed in the conversation between Jane and Frost, trying her best to ignore Pike and his incessant complaining.

"Dr Pike, we are discussing important case findings, I would appreciate it if you would also follow protocol and recognize that I am working and still the Head Medical Examinor, not playing goalie during a football match here!" Maura huffed her response.

"Hockey" Jane added to yet another shocked response by Dr. Pike without turning her gaze towards Maura. He huffed out of the office as Korsak came in taking his place.

"Hey, whats goin on? Having a party and don't invite the old guy?" He asked, his hurt feelings evident.

"Well" Frost continued ignoring everything that was happening in front of him, "Dr. Isles thought that they had the wrong guy, she had testified that the findings didn't match up, despite what the M.E. at the time said." He handed each one of them a copy of her notes. She looked them over immediately recognizing the case he was referring to.

"I remember this case!" Maura offered surprised that she remembered everything despite the length of time that had passed. "He, they..." she trailed off for a moment collecting her thoughts and trying to focus her mind. She needed to compartmentalize the situation so she could be most effective. All she could do was stare at her own writing as a realization slowly started taking place.

Jane looked over the paperwork taking in the information slowly. She suddenly became aware that Maura had stopped talking, "Why don't we take a break, calm down and reconvened with cooler heads" she asked, eyeing Maura warily. "We can all go over the notes and file and compare notes."

"That sounds like a lovely idea" the foreign voice causes everyone to jump as they turn their attention to Rebecca leaning against the other door frame, her arms crossed against her chest as she eyed the four of them cooly. "Perhaps I could convince one of you to reconvene in my office?" She eyed Jane slowly taking in the nervous detectives form.

"How long have you been standing there?" Jane croaked out, her husky voice suddenly raspy and dry.

"Long enough to watch the...dynamic between all of you" she turned her gaze towards Maura, who noticed her jaw set in as she finished the statement. Rebecca's eyes shooting daggers into her own.

Jane smoothed herself out and stepped away from the desk, Maura instantly recognized the same smolder that she was used to getting from Jane directed at Rebecca. An unfamiliar emotion stirred deep inside as a small trace of fear allowed itself to be away in her subconscious. She knew that Jane and Rebecca had dated, but she hadn't even thought of the possibility that something was still happening between them. She felt sick and had a hard time swallowing, her breath coming in shallow as she tried to focus. "I thought all the decisions had been made? Why speak to us now?" Jane turned on her smile and Maura fought the urge to physically intervene between them.

"I'd like to do some follow up interviews, see how things are working now that everyone has had a chance to work together" Rebecca added briskly smiling warmly at Frost and Korsak who appeared to melt under her gaze.

"We are kind of in the middle of an investigation" Jane contended chancing a glance at Maura for the first time.

"Are you?" Rebecca's gaze turned frosty as she once again focused her attention on Jane and Maura, "I was under the understanding that you were pulled from the case Detective Rizzoli, and you Dr. Isles..." She paused staring down Maura briefly before smiling broadly, "I would assume you would want to stay as far away from this investigation as possible. For your safety of course. We wouldn't want people getting the wrong impression about our involvement with...the case...now would we?"

Maura suddenly felt the focus of the room shift to her. She kept her face as stoic as she could not wanting to give her the satisfaction of knowing she had gotten under her skin. "I'm not sure I understand what you are referring too." She cooly replied doing her best to stay focused on the red head and not allow herself to look at Jane. "My department acts with the highest regard to the legal process, I assure you there is nothing to be concerned of here."

"I'd just hate for another investigation to occur in this small department. It seems you lot enjoy bucking the rules." Maura thought for sure that Rebecca had sneered the statement through a false smile.

"I got time, I can go now" Korsak added quickly before Jane could respond. Maura finally looked at the detectives still form, noticing her hands clenched in small fists at Rebecca's last statement. She leaned against the shelf behind her wanting to blend in with the wall.

"Oh, yes. Lovely! Perhaps after Detective Rizzoli and I could meet" Rebecca quipped as Korsak started walking out the door with her.

"Actually," Frost suddenly pipped up, Maura had completely forgotten he was even in the room, "I have some things I'd like to talk about." He refused to look at Jane or Maura as both their faces blushed. Maura afforded herself a quick glance at Jane who read the same panic look that was clearly written in both their eyes. Jane's face didn't give anything away as she watched Korsak leave with Rebecca, smiling her response to the woman's wave goodbye through a clenched jaw.