The stray dog was sniffing around. It has been the third day that Jane spent her lunchbreak in the park and everyday he seemed to come a bit closer until he finally stood in front her picnic table. The brunette looked into his big sad eyes and then at her sandwich.

With a silent huff she took some ham out of the bread and tossed it to the dog who only consisted of ribs and fur. He snapped it from the air and greedily ate it.

"You are hungry." Jane stated and earned a ginger tail wag. "I have nothing more to give you. Look its only bread left." She showed him the rest of the sandwich and felt somehow stupid. The dog glanced at her as if he understood. Staying put they stared at each other.

Jane asked a woman who passed by if she knew who the dog belonged to. But the woman just shrugged and continued to walk.

"Okay. Know what? I take you to a vet to see if you are chipped or something." She finally said, feeling sorry for the dog. To her surprise he followed her to her cruiser and hopped into the backseat. Jane tried to reach Korsak, but he didn't reply. So, she looked up the address for the best reviewed vet in the proximity and drove there.

The dog followed her reluctantly into the clinic and sat down while she talked to one of the employees. The woman behind the counter looked bored and pointed out that they are no shelter, and that Jane would have to pay for any treatment and that they wouldn't keep him. Looking at the big black and sad eyes again, Jane decided that there was no way she could bring the dog to a schelter and agreed to the terms, asking for a doctor to see her. While waiting she grabbed one of the journals which were on a small table next to the window.

It happened to be a medical journal and she felt a knot in her gut when she thought of Maura who hadn't talked to her in days. This was bad she thought when someone called her name and led her into a room.

The doctor, an elderly man with a friendly smile asked her about the dog before looking for a chip. There was none.

"He must have been out there for a long time." He ended up telling her after doing an examination. "He has and infection at two of his teeth. That's why he probably stopped eating." He continued with a concerned look at the black and white dog.

"Can you fix it?" Jane asked and he nodded. "Sure." He named the price and Jane agreed without hesitation while shuffling through the dog's hair.

"We can make an appointment for tomorrow if you like." The doc reached into a cupboard and handed her some package. "He should be able to eat this food even with his bad teeth. Its soft so it wont hurt him. Usually we give this to help puppies to develop faster. It's a booster if you like. It will help him too. Lots of vitamins and stuff he needs."

The dog glanced between Jane and the doc, seemingly worried. It was then when Jane heard a familiar thud. One she had heard a long time ago when spending her first night at Maura's.

"Its just my tortoise." The doc grinned calm, when seeing the strange expression on Janes face. "I know." She muttered under her breath. The doc invited her to follow him into the adjoining room, where the noisemaker was sitting cozily under a warming lamp.

"This is Bass." He introduced the animal and Janes heart sunk.

"Bass?" she asked after swallowing hard while the tortoise gave her a bored and yet so familiar look.

"Yes." He laughed. A friend trusted him into my hands a few years ago when she left the states for Paris.

"Dr. Isles?" jane asked and now he was the one to give her a strange glance.

"Yes. How do you know?"

"She's my wife. I know Bass." She rambled.

"Oh. Do you think that she wants to have him back? I mean im happy to keep him, but she looked so sad when she brought him here."

"Yes. I'm pretty sure she would love that." The idea to surprise Maura was born. With a dog and a tortoise in tow Jane finally left the clinic. Bass was his usually grumpy self when she placed him onto the floor in his old room. Just as if he had never been away,t he padded to his favorite spot to make himself comfortable while the dog watched the scene. Jane who had stopped on her way home to buy some strawberries put down one in front of him and he began to munch happily away.

At least someone who isn't mad at me Jane thought as she went into the kitchen to prepare the dogs food. "What are we going to call you?" she asked silently while he too began to eat.

"Call who? You didn't bring another kid home, did you?" Angela's voice came around the corner. Jane rolled her eyes and felt the dog stiffen. Hence, she rounded the corner before Angela could and announced what had happened.

"I need to go back to the office ma." She mumbled and waited for the dog to finish his meal before bringing him back to the car. He felt highly uncomfortable when she wasn't around as she soon noticed so she let him sleep under her desk while she worked.

"I have a present for you. She typed with a smile thinking of Maura.

What present? Hopefully not diamonds. Because diamonds are not the girl's best friend.

Jane chuckled relieved. The first response in days.

Another message came in when Jane thought about how to reply. I miss you Jane and I was being unfair. (I'm not saying that because of the present)

Jane knew that it wasn't because of the present and smiled. I know babe. I miss you too. I try to come home when the case is solved.

The girls have asked me if we could fly over to you. We can come too.

Sounds great. I would love that.

Next weekend?

Sure. I'll give you your present then.

What is it?

Cant tell you. But I hope you like it.

R&I

It was the next Friday night and Jane was sitting on the couch, munching some take away pizza while watching a game and drinking beer – all under the watchful eyes of a much better feeling dog. She had named him Buddy.

By the time Korsak had called her back Jane had already decided to adopt him. He was fun and seeing him getting better everyday warmed Janes heart. After having his teeth pulled and getting some infusions he slowly began to run.

Every night he was laying on the rug and watching TV with her and she talked to him all the time. When he abruptly sat up and strained his ears, Jane knew that they were going to have a visitor. Soon after a key was turned in the lock and a bunch of excited voices filled the house and Janes heart.

"Surprise!" Julia exclaimed when appearing in the living room. Buddy was curious and anxious at the same time. He half hid behind Jane who stood to hug her daughter. She had missed her family so much and couldn't let go of them.

Meanwhile Amanda patted the dog. "He's so thin." She sounded shocked. "Yeah. I saved him from the park. He has already gained weight since I found him." Jane explained to the family whose eyes were darting between her and the newfoundland.

Then Maura pulled her into a hug and gave her a kiss. She didn't need to say that she had missed Jane. The brunette could read it in all of her family members minds. She giggled when Maura began scolding her for eating pizza and unhealthy food. Oh yeah, she had really missed her.

"So, that's my surprise?" Maura asked and Jane tilted her head. Like on command or maybe because he had recognized her voice, Bass made a loud thud. Maura looked at her in disbelieve. Jane nodded with a grin.

"I brought Bass home." She stated with a soft smile as tears formed in Maura's eyes. The blonde flung her arms around her wife and Jane felt some tears damping her polo-shirt. The kids didn't understand, and Jane explained them by using the word turtle on purpose. Maura was too emotional to scold her but walked down the hallway towards the constant thumping. Jane quickly fetched a bowl of strawberries and followed her family with the dog. Buddy never left her side, but he seemed to warm up to the people which had suddenly intruded his home.

When Jane arrived at the room Maura was sitting on the floor in front of Bass and tears kept streaming down her face. She was patting his shell and he looked less grumpy for a change. Jane silently handed her wife the strawberries, feeling happy for causing so much joy in Maura.

"A turtle? Really?" Sophie huffed. "You had a turtle?"

"It's an African spurred… I don't know what." Jane chimed in and Maura scolded them.

"This is a tortoise. The difference between a turtle and a tortoise is…" she googled mouthed the family and everybody suddenly got busy. Jane laughed softly when the girls mentioned that they had to bring their luggage to their rooms, leaving Will, Jane and Buddy with Maura behind.

Jane and Will sat down next to the blonde and their son got to hold one strawberry out to Bass. "I missed you." Jane said, while they watched him. She bent over to place a kiss onto her wife's cheek.