A/N - Another update? Yep - I have almost finished chapter 37, and thought why not! Don't get used to the pace of updates though - I had fun writing this one - hope it is fun for you to read as well - not easy to convey the same humor on the page but I hope it works. Somehow it always sounds better in my head! ;)

Again thank you all for the reviews - and don't worry - I don't mind if people leave to then catch up in one go (Confession, it's often how I read other fics).

Honorcpt, again thank you for the help and advice. As always any mistakes are mine.

Chapter thirty six

"Jane..."

Although trying to chastise Jane, Maura was failing - badly.

"I have just been through torture." Jane said, her voice deliberately low, seeing Maura's eyes narrow, as she began biting her bottom lip, trying not to let a moan escape.

"It was your physical therapy Jane. It is meant to be difficult. To test your body to the limits of the point of recovery you are at." The lip biting began more frantic as eyelids blinked rapidly, hands clasped primly on her lap. Trying to not react, knowing it was exactly what Jane was looking for.

"Not difficult Maur... Torturous; and I have other ways I can test my shoulder out on that are far more enjoyable for everyone involved."

A long finger continued to trail across skin wherever it was exposed.

"You are..." Maura's words hitched in her throat, and she had to swallow hard to try and get the saliva going again as it seemed as if all moisture was heading in one very specific direction. "Getting awfully full of yourself."

"I guess it's a good thing I've got you here to keep me in check then, isn't it? Not nice being tortured is it?" The chuckle that followed was deep, as if Jane had just encased the air with a velvet glove, fingertips ghosting out, completely enveloping. Soft and rich as if it was a tangible texture.

The teasing continued, verbally and physically and Maura was unable to stop the shiver that raced through her. The tingle was electrifying. She couldn't get over how just a touch from Jane could affect her so much. How, at times, Jane's voice or a look alone was enough for her body to react. It was visceral. Primordial. It was glorious!

"For gods sake." Jane's head sunk down, her chin hitting the top of her chest as suddenly the front door was being hit with repeated knocks.

"Jane... Maura?" The voice whilst muffled by the door, was loud. "JANE! C'mon I know you're in there, cos you're cars are here. Answer the damn door."

"Can I kill Tommy? Today! Ya know, do the world a favor... A big, big favor. Huge in fact."

Maura sucked in a deep breath, trying to regain composure. She could only nod, beginning to wonder why she had opened her home so readily to the Rizzoli family. Right now, it seemed like the worst idea she had ever had.

"Torture." Jane stood up, not holding back her displeasure at all, "See I told you, today has been nothing but friggin torture!"

Maura could only sigh as she stood up, trying desperately to brush the wrinkles out of her shirt and pants. She then pulled fingers through her hair, realising just how tousled it had become.

"Hey, welcome back." Frost looked up from his computer, and broke into a wide smile.

Jane scowled as she took in the mountain of files on her desk. She picked a load up, and without hesitation, virtually threw them onto Frost's desk.

"What the hell?" Frost shot back in his chair as files toppled, and he tried fruitlessly to stabilise the pile.

Jane sat down, a self satisfied smile of her face. "That's more like it. It's good to be back. I know I'm on desk duty only for now, but that doesn't mean I'm your file bitch."

"Nah, you're just a bitch." Frost grumbled as he finally managed to stop any more files or loose paperwork hitting the floor.

"Suck it up."

"Classy Rizzoli, real classy." Frost shot back.

Korsak stepped into the bullpen, and smiled as he watched the two detectives interact. He then walked over, dropping a copy of a new file on Jane's desk. Curious brown eyes slowly looked up, as she fingered the edge of the light brown manila folder. Eyebrows rose, the silent question to Korsak obvious. What is this and why are you giving it to me?

"You might be on desk duty, but it doesn't mean you can't help us try and figure out some cases, and not just file paperwork. Cavanaugh has cleared it for you to help us from here. This is what we have on our latest body that the Doc is doing the autopsy on now. Welcome back."

Jane's smile widened, and she quickly began reading, ignoring the continuing grumbling coming from Frost, as he knelt down to pick paper up from the floor.

Jane finished reading, and was about to ask Frost more about the victim, only to get a phone call from Maura.

"Jane, Vince told me you're able to help with this case."

Jane smiled, as she rested back in her chair. "Yep." Try as she might, Jane couldn't help but sound slightly smug. "Just finished reading the file now."

"Good, I have some news from the autopsy..."

Jane didn't give Maura chance to finish as the familiar excitement surged through her. "Great, Frost and I are on our way down."

Maura watched as Jane took in what she has just been told.

"Really? So, he fell, catching the ear on the side of his desk and it ripped his ear off? Ripped clean off, not just tearing a small piece?" Jane was for once completely surprised by the report Maura was delivering.

"Yes."

"And you are also telling us, he actually died because of cockroaches. Not just because of cockroaches, but because of eating..." Jane paused looking incredulous, and even she felt a little nauseous; Frost already having rushed to the sink, losing whatever contents he had in his stomach. "...eating cockroaches..." Jane's voice finally trailed off. It was times like this she wished she hadn't come back to work just yet.

"That is exactly what I am saying."

"So, what? Accidental death? Is there some kinda weird shit of who can eat the most cockroaches competition that caused this?" Jane asked, trying not to look in the container Maura had picked up, and was inspecting carefully, before she made to hand it across to Jane, who immediately recoiled, seeing the remains of one thing she detested; with their shiny appearance, long antennae and spiny legs. This was almost as bad as the snakes in her cruiser.

Jane shivered internally and swallowed hard.

"Nope, thanks but I'm good."

Maura simply shrugged her shoulders as she put the container back down on the stainless steel table by the autopsy table. "Some competitions have been held for people to eat cockroaches, but that isn't relative in this instance, since he died at home. According to his friends and family, they didn't think he had gone out today or yesterday. However, they did mention he was considering entering such a competition that is being held next week. He could well have been practicing."

Jane rubbed her hands across her face, trying not to listen to the sounds of dry heaving coming from behind her. "What can you tell us? Are we needed for a homicide, or did you just want us down here to excitedly share this riveting information. Or was it because you wanted to watch and listen to Frost losing his lunch?"

Jane's sarcasm was in full flow, and Maura simply ignored her.

"I'm ruling this a suspicious death. He had a known allergy to shellfish, and cockroaches are a relative, and can, in some people, cause the same allergic reaction. There are several recorded incidents of this happening, even though it is the first time I have seen it. It is possible he ate them not knowing that; making this accidental. However, it is also feasible someone knew of his allergy and the similarities, and used the eating of the cockroaches to cover the crime. You can easily find the information about the allergic similarities on the Internet. Was the eating his idea, or did someone else suggest it, and if they did, were they aware of the allergy link or was it innocently proposed? It isn't going to be easy to determine which is the correct scenario, unless you can find out the full circumstances behind his reason for eating the periplaneta americana."

"The peri what now?"

Maura sighed slightly, "The American cockroach Jane."

Jane ran a slightly shaky hand through her hair. "Jesus, I finally get back to work, and I find out it only takes around seven pounds of pressure to rip some poor schmucks ear off as he hit his head, and now you're telling me he died because of..." Jane pointed towards the body trying not to look at the partly digested cockroaches, "this!"

"Frost, please tell me you've found something?"

Jane looked up as Frost walked in, before settling down at his computer. "Found something." Frost looked over the monitor, white teeth showing as he smiled. "Someone on his computer did a search on cockroaches and allergies and either didn't know how to erase their search history, or they are cocky enough to believe they aren't going to get caught. With what the Doc said, we can now rule this a homicide."

Jane sat up straighter in her chair. "Great, so who had access to his computer?"

"That isn't as easy." Frost admitted. "The girlfriend and brother both apparently used his computer. Could be either of them, or someone who was just visiting and used it and we don't know about it."

Jane groaned. "A nice simple case for you Jane, Korsak said. Will be a good way to get back into the swing of things - Won't take too much of your time since you're only just back, he said... Yeah right! I should have realized the second I sat down this was never going to be easy."

"You checked where you can buy cockroaches to eat?" Jane suddenly asked, a slight frown on her features as she tried to piece it all together.

"Waiting for some places to get back to me. If we find out who bought them, it might help tie any other evidence up."

"Yeah, well, even if someone other than the victim buys the damn things, it doesn't prove they had any hand in his eating them. Unless of course they said something to someone when buying, but it's better than nothing at this stage. Guess we just need to keep working the evidence."

Finally, Jane stood up, and pulled on her jacket carefully, still mindful of her shoulder.

"Let me know if you get the girlfriend and brother in, I'm going for coffee, before heading down to see Maura. Give me a call once they're here and we'll start asking them some questions." Jane stopped, as another thought struck her. "I know he had a sister as well. I'd like to talk to her. See if she's got anything to say about all this. Ask some more around the friends, see what they might have."

"I'll sort it out now." Frost reached across, as he pulled information up off the computer and began dialling.

Jane left, and wandered into the cafe, where Angela greeted her with a wide smile.

"It's so good to see my girl back here." Angela cooed as she made to pinch and tweak Jane's cheek over the counter, and Jane immediately stepped back.

"Ma!" Jane hissed, leaning back in so she could be heard, watching Angela's hands carefully. "I'm. At. Work!"

"So, I can't show some affection towards my own daughter?"

Jane whole demeanor slumped slightly as she watched her mother winding herself up in predictable fashion. "This is about workplace boundaries Ma and respecting them."

"I don't see you and those boundaries with Maura."

Eyebrows shot up. "Really? You want to go there? What the hell? For god's sake we don't do anything."

"I don't mean you're having sex on her office desk or anything, although you might, how would I know?" Angela replied with a shrug, totally oblivious to Jane's look of pure horror at the direction the conversation had taken. "I just meant that you are always touching or feeling each other."

"And that sounds soooo much better! Forget the coffee Ma. I've gotta get back to work."

Maura watched as Jane stomped into the morgue, eyes widening as Jane threw a hand up, stalling the words that were about to spill out.

"Ma. Just..." Jane stopped, pulling Maura in by her waist, dropping her chin on top of Maura's head, taking a deep breath. "Sometimes I just wish she had an off switch."

Maura chuckled. "Dare I ask?"

"She just mentioned you and me having sex on your desk."

Maura pulled back a little, and Jane suddenly felt uncomfortable at the all too familiar glint in her eyes.

"Oh, no, no, no. Don't go getting any ideas."

"The doors have locks Jane. And I have blinds on all the windows."

"Nope, not going there."

"It would be... interesting." Maura deliberately leaned in, her voice low and husky.

Jane stuck fingers in her ears. "And I can't hear you."

Maura eased into the slight gap that had developed between them, and smoothly pulled both fingers away. She then brought each fingertip up, kissing them as she went. She heard Jane's breath catch.

"Go on, admit it. How wet did you become just thinking about taking me, bending me right over my own desk." The words were whispered, before a tongue flicked out, gently following the curve of the ear, finally nipping the lobe.

Frost barrelled into the morgue oblivious, and two people sprung apart as if someone had hit them with a thousand volts of electricity.

"I thought I told you to phone me."

Frost looked shocked at the tone of Jane's words and bristled. "Hey, I needed a report from the Doc here on another case for Korsak. Thought I'd tell you at the same time if you were here, brother, sister and girlfriend are all upstairs in separate rooms."

Shakily, Jane ran a hand through her hair. "Yeah, sorry about that." She glared back at Maura on hearing her whispered words of 'not half as sorry as I am.'

"God I want it to be one of them so bad..." Jane watched and the second she saw Maura's mouth twitch, added."-ly. I want it to be one of them so badly."

The smirk was immediate, earning a withering look from Maura.

"Did you enjoy that?"

"Why yes, yes I did. Mr Adverb is also very pleased with himself."

Jane sauntered off, a bemused Frost following.

"This is all your fault. Getting me wound up at the precinct with your talk about sex on the desk." Jane muttered, as she pushed Maura against the wall the second they entered the bedroom.

"Actually, it would be your mothers fault, since she was the one who first mentioned it."

Jane looked genuinely horrified. "And how to make me want to throw up in seconds. You do not get to talk about my mother and our sex lives in the same sentence ever again. Especially when I'm about to do this..."

Jane then turned, pushing them towards the bed, where they fell in a tangled heap.

Maura drove forward capturing Jane in a kiss that was so sinful, Jane was sure it would have made Saturn burn. It was even hotter than the fiery furnace of hell. Her toes curled, her hands making a fist, capturing whatever was available. Sheet and hair taut in gripping fingers.

Hips surged upwards, slamming into hips that were on a desperate downward thrust.

"Oh, god... please." Jane pleaded as Maura moved her lips to trail a devastating trail across already scorched skin.

Maura ignored the stinging of her hair follicles, as it was almost twisted out of her scalp by hands that were driven by pure need. She moved her own hands, digits fingering the hem of Jane's top, before slowly dragging it up, revealing glorious olive colored flesh as it inched further towards the underside of Jane's breasts.

"Don't... oh god..." Jane floundered as Maura suddenly changed pace, and went from slow and tortuous to urgently rip the top over Jane's head, barely giving her time to lift her arms and free herself from the garment. A pair of bras quickly hit the growing pile of discarded clothes, as heated skin met, eliciting a groan from both women.

"Janie. Maura."

The high pitched nasally voice of Angela suddenly broke through the fog, and hands stilled immediately.

"Tell me we locked the bedroom door?"

"I don't know," Maura admitted as she drew back a little, panic showing on her face, before she paled.

Jane immediately realized that Maura hadn't locked the door by her reaction. "Shit." Came her muffled curse. Maura could only wince and look apologetic.

Suddenly as brains caught up with the situation, both women were scrambling for clothes, hurriedly putting them back on, as Jane called out. "We'll be there in a minute Ma. Do not - I repeat do not come in here!"

Jane listened carefully, satisfied that her mother wasn't on her way into the room- yet.
Both knew they only had a small window of opportunity to avoid her crashing in on them.

"Jesus, if I was a man, I'd have blue balls by now!" Jane exclaimed, as she looked at Maura, who was straightening out her blouse.

"Blue balls?" Maura queried as she finally slipped her heels back on her feet. "Why are you talking of the condition of temporary fluid congestion, also known as vasocongestion, in the testicles and prostate region, accompanied by acute testicular pain, or a prolonged dull aching pain emanating from the prostate..."

Maura didn't get any further as Jane slammed a hand none to gently across Maura's mouth.

"Please tell me you're joking?" Jane paused, gauging Maura's reaction. "Shit, you're not joking."

Jane let go of Maura with one hand, as she pushed the other through her hair. "Okay..." Jane looked decidedly uncomfortable, "It also means that you're kept in a heightened state of... you know..."

Jane's voice dropped and her shoulders slouched down slightly, "arousal that's maintained for an extended length of time without.." Jane's hands shot out in front of her gesturing wildly, "You know... what we've been stopped from doing because of Ma!"

"Sexual orgasm?" Maura supplied with smile, watching as Jane turned a lovely shade of red.

"Yes." Jane jabbed a finger at Maur. "This!" Jane said quickly, "So, that's enough for now on that particular subject."

"But Jane, I still don't understand how it can be related to..."

Jane swung around, eye's glaring at Maura, and her frown deepened. "You are dead Doctor Isles. Dead!" Jane ground the words out as soon as she saw Maura's face, as Maura then sashayed past her, a wide grin on her face.

"No, I'm very much alive. You on the other hand, are just too easy a target with some things, particularly when it comes to sex."

Jane groaned, as a hand ran across her face, "Oh my god, you just can't help yourself sometimes can you. Just kill me now."

"Oh shoot."

Jane stifled the laugh at Maura's reaction, knowing it would get her a scowl at best, possibly other forms of retaliation that were less pleasant at a later date. Usually when she had forgotten all about it, and was least expecting the revenge. Maura might look innocent, but Jane had learned the hard way, as their friendship deepened, she was far from innocent in her reprisals over something. Her brain often came up with ideas most other people wouldn't even consider.

The last time she had been upset with Jane, it had resulted in the diet from hell. Greens on the plate at every turn, and no burgers or fries, hell no donuts even, for a solid two weeks. Even worse, Maura had taken no notice of any arguments that Jane might try. Outright pleading had garnered even less sympathy. She had even tried to sneak out to Cutty's or The Robber, citing needing to do something case related with Frost or Korsak - it never worked. Maura seemed to have some sick sixth sense over such things, and foiled her at every turn. Jane shuddered at the memories.

Then again, Jane had learned Maura was full of contradictions. She could tell Angela to butt out, but only say 'Oh shoot." when something upset or annoyed her. She could also, Jane discovered early on in their changing relationship, swear like a sailor in the bedroom, even making Jane blush. In fact, Jane had been so surprised the first time, it had stopped her dead in her tracks, much to the displeasure of Maura; who had not been amused and had not held back in letting Jane know of her umbrage. Yes indeed, Maura Dorothea Isles was a woman of many contradictions. It was just one of the things Jane also loved about her.

"Something the matter?" Jane asked as she rocked slowly back and forth, heel to toe, toe to heel, and repeat - hands clasped behind her back.

Maura looked up from her autopsy table, large clear plastic face mask in place, putting down the small circular saw she had just used to open the skull up.

"I forgot to call Pierre."

Jane frowned "Pierre? Why on earth would you be calling Pierre?"

Maura actually fidgeted, sending Jane's senses immediately into overdrive.

"Maura?" Jane locked eyes on her fiancée. "Why are you thinking of calling Pierre?" Jane's voice was low, sounding cautious.

"I needed to call him for Angela."

Eyes narrowed immediately, muscles tensed, the rocking ceasing instantly. "For Ma?"

"Yes." The word was barely a squeak.

"What the hell? Why would Ma want anything to do with Pierre?" Jane paused. "Oh god, it's to do with the wedding... Isn't it."

Maura nodded, trying to avoid Jane's penetrating glare.

"What is she up to?"

"She just wanted him to talk abou..."

A hand shot up, stopping Maura dead.

"No, you don't get to deflect, deviate or generally dodge this. Pierre is a fucking raging camp gay man, who uses..." Jane visibly shivered, "pink, fluffy and feathers in everything he touches as if they are in danger of becoming extinct and he won't ever get to use them again. It's like a Barbie explosion on a monumental scale with anything he does. He is an interior designer on the extreme end in everything for fucks sake! Jesus, if he gets involved in anything, it'll make the pink canopy bed seem like a minor blip in the existence of the universe. Shit - don't tell me she plans to use him for the reception."

"Okay, I won't tell you."

Jane slumped forward, grabbing the edge of the clear autopsy table that she had been standing in front of, knuckles visibly white.

"That's it, we are not going to the reception. The minute we exchange our vows, we outta there! Either that, or you curtail Ma somehow. I warned you that she couldn't be contained, but nope you didn't listen. Oh god, this is like Armageddon. We're doomed."