Author's note: thank you very much for all the reviews/muchas gracias a todos!

Chapter Thirty-Seven

She could do it. Jane nodded at nobody but herself. Of course, she could do it: she had landed a rather easy draw, or at least from what she had seen so far. The only issue was that, just as planned, most of her opponents were naked. Why had she accepted this? Why had she said yes to Maura? So easily, besides. Why?

Whipped. She was whipped. It was as simple and pathetic as this: she was whipped and had no chance to ever make the situation evolve. She couldn't say no to Maura, no matter what.

Table tennis racquet in hand, she took a deep breath and patiently focused on her next match. She had won the first one really easily; under the applause of her usual crowd of fans. The moment she had accepted to take part in the table tennis tournament, the whole resort had succumbed to a rather funny frenzy: everyone wanted to see Jane play, everyone was convinced that Jane would win.

It was Jane, after all. Thier Bingo Queen.

She had even heard a couple from Florida say that she was probably the Rafael Nadal of table tennis. As much as she appreciated the compliment, she knew that it was far from being the truth.

But whatever. It boosted her ego.

"You haven't drunk yet. Drink some water. Come on, you need to stay hydrated." Sitting next to her, Maura grabbed a bottle of water and held it out to Jane. "Drink! And warm up your wrists. It is paramount."

If Jane had finally accepted to be part of the tournament, Maura had preferred to hire herself as Jane's personal coach. The issue was that her constant 'do this' and 'do that' were now slightly going on Jane's nerves.

It was actually so annoying that playing a match was a lot less stress inducing than sitting on a bench next to her. But Maura's behavior was cute, too cute for Jane to say anything. It was Maura, after all; her nerdy side was showing.

Besides, Maura had woken up in a very good mood. A genuine smile had lit up her features the exact moment she had opened her eyes and leaned over to plant a kiss on Jane's lips. Jane would have gladly taken advantage of the moment to get a bit more than just a kiss but Maura had stated that she, Jane, needed to keep all her energy for the tournament.

Needless to say that Jane had showed up at said tournament rather frustrated.

"You didn't let me warm up my wrists earlier in the morning..."

Jane smirked, almost surprised by her bold innuendo. There was nothing subconscious about it: she meant what she had wanted to say. It made Maura laugh in disbelief.

"Really?"

But since they weren't alone, neither of them really insisted.

Maura bent over discreetly and looked at the trophies. It wasn't that they were ugly but she honestly hoped that the winner and the finalist got more than just cheap Hidden Beach branded statues.

"I didn't have a chance to ask what the first prize was. Have you heard anything about it? People seem to be rather silent, I hate it."

Jane smirked. Maura's competitive spirit had risen even before they had made it to the spot on the beach where the tournament was held. Glimpses appeared here and there as she talked. It cracked Jane up.

She, Jane, wanted to win for the sake of it; because she was a sporty person and that she liked the idea of a friendly competition. Maura wanted to win for the prize, for the mysterious prize neither of them knew anything about.

"Nah. I mean there're the trophies there." Jane shrugged. "And perhaps that's it."

And she would honestly be fine with it. It was okay if there was nothing else to win: no helicopter tour, no free cocktail at the bar. She could do without it. Maura, however, was unable to conceive such a thing.

She loudly snorted and crossed her arms against her chest.

"A vulgar plastic trophy? I hope you're wrong, Jane. You deserve a lot better."

End of the match. Jane waited for the two players to shake hands before approaching. She was playing against Martin, this time. She hadn't had a chance to really check his level but she was certain that it would be a piece of cake. Besides, Martin liked her too much to even plan a victory against her.

She grabbed the ball and was about to start the warming-up when music rose loudly on her right. It made her jump and stare at Marco, the bartender, in disbelief.

Really? So not only did she have to ignore the fact she was playing table tennis with naked people but she also had to focus with a medley of Gloria Estefan playing in the background? She shook her head: Maura was right, all her efforts needed a lot more than a cheap trophy if she ever won.

Maura, however, seemed to rather enjoy the idea and she happily started humming along the song. Completely off-key.

…

"You see what happens when you don't hydrate properly? Ugh! Didn't I tell you to drink water?"

Jane rolled her eyes. She really didn't need Maura to sound like her mother right now. There was something cute in her partner's patronizing tone but she could have easily done without the remarks.

"I can't win all the time, Maura." Jane angrily grabbed her cocktail and took a long sip of it. "Besides, I am hydrated."

She was. She honestly was. She had simply lost to Martin because of Gloria Estefan singing 'Conga' so loudly that she, Jane, had not even been able to hear the ball on the table. Losing in round two was slightly humiliating but she would overcome it. A lot faster than Maura.

"I refuse to believe that it was because of the music. Gloria Estefan's songs are very catchy, actually. It isn't bad at all."

Jane held back a laugh. She had no idea that Maura enjoyed the singer. Outside of Yo-Yo Ma and jazz standards, she had never heard Latino music at Maura's. Jane sank her feet in the warm sand and let a long sigh of satisfaction pass her lips. She was on the beach, enjoying a glorious sunny day. She had lost at a table tennis tournament, indeed, but there were more important things in the world.

"Well, maybe if you hadn't hummed along while standing literally three inches away from me I would still be part of this freakin' tournament."

Jane swallowed hard. What on Earth had she just said? She wanted nothing but to spend a peaceful day with Maura and yet she did it all to push her partner's buttons. That was dangerous, very dangerous.

Against all expectations, Maura didn't growl in return. She remained amazingly quiet instead. Jane slowly turned her head to look at her, to make sure that her partner was fine and not plotting her death.

Nope.

Maura seemed to be surprised but not angry at all. She had squinted her eyes so much that they almost disappeared behind a curtain of eyelashes. What was she pondering, exactly? Jane had been clear, sadly too clear.

"Oh. I see." Maura's blank voice didn't betray any emotion. She was obviously still lost in her thoughts, the ones Jane didn't manage to read. "Then I apologize. Please tell me next time I bother you. I will quiet down."

What?! Jane suspiciously looked all around her. Was there any hidden camera somewhere? Was that a prank of some sort? Maura's reaction was too quiet, too wise to not scare her.

Maybe it was weird to admit it but Jane would have really preferred Maura to scoff and lecture her. Or even yell.

This silence was suspicious and stressing.

"I mean I liked it. It's just... Err..." Alright, that was delicate. Jane needed to think every single word because allowing it to pass her lips. "I had fun. Isn't it the most important, in the end?"

This should really satisfy Maura and it wasn't a lie. Or at least not really. Jane had enjoyed playing table tennis even if her experience had turned out to be a lot shorter than what she had hoped it to be in the first place.

"Bullshit."

Maura's reply caused Jane to choke on her cocktail. The use of such word by Maura was almost as surprising and out of character as her previous silence.

"Maura... It's just a stupid little tournament... At a resort! I didn't lose at the Olympics!"

Jane pouted. She was really amused by Maura's behavior. Maura was overreacting, in the sweetest way ever. Though Jane honestly didn't understand why. She was okay with it herself. Her loss wasn't an issue.

"Of course, these weren't the Olympic Games. But still..." Maura shrugged and bit her lower lip. "You should have won it. Period."

"Why do you give so much importance to this? I'm glad you're showing a competitive spirit but... It's time to let go, Maura. I've lost an hour ago and look around you: life's going on just as sweetly as it should."

It was true. Of course, it was true. But something bothered Maura deep inside, something that she couldn't name. Her ego had been bruised by Jane's defeat and she felt sad for her partner as well.

"Since when do you show signs of wisdom, exactly?" It had been said without any sarcasm. Maura had simply been honest, and tried a bit light. "It should come from me."

But it didn't, for whatever reason.

"You don't see me as a loser, right?" Jane's voice began to shake. She didn't like advancing such idea but then she really didn't understand Maura's latent frustration. "I mean..."

This time Maura turned around to lock her eyes with her partner's. She was going too far, for absolutely no reason. And if it was because of her competitive spirit then she had to calm down immediately for it was very ridiculous.

As Jane had said it, the table tennis tournament had very little importance in the end.

"Of course not! Jane, I've known you for five years... Five years and a half... And I can assure you that you are anything but a loser. You're the brightest person I know, actually."

"Then where's the problem?"

Besides, Martin had turned out to be an excellent table tennis player. The match had been tight and if it weren't for the lack of clothes then Jane would have loved playing with him again. She hadn't been bad at all: she had done her best and someone had simply outplayed her.

It sucked but Jane accepted it.

"I don't know..." Maura took her sunglasses off and settled them on top of her head. She observed the sea in the distance and took her time before talking again. "I guess I was really eager to get the first prize. Even if I still don't know what it is."

Oh boy.

Jane rolled her eyes and laughed warmly. She leaned over then brushed Maura's shoulder of a comforting kiss. Maura could be very childish at times, but it was something Jane had always loved about her.

She found it utterly funny.