Authors note: general disclaimer, I don't own rizzoli & isles or any characters involved etc I wish I did but Santa can't get you everything it seems!
this is my first ever fanfic so apologies if its awful but as a newbie any comments would be amazing and feedback good or bad will always be appreciated :)
It had been a long day, the end of a tough case and Jane was feeling it. As she got in behind the wheel of her car and her eyes involuntarily closed with tiredness she knew that she should just go to her apartment and sleep. She reached down and un-clipped her phone bringing up a text message from two hours earlier;
Maura: I hope your day has improved you know where I am if you need me. If you would like to stay over you know you have a bed. M x ps. I also bought your beer x
Jane smiled and started the engine, she knew that by now Maura would be asleep either in her bed or on the couch but she also knew that Maura wouldn't have offered if she didn't want to. It's why Jane had a spare key. Some people thought it was strange that Jane had a key, some people thought it was odd the amount of time they spent together if they were 'just friends', a lot of guys couldn't understand why they often shared a bed even at Maura's where she had a spare room. They both understood though and that's all that mattered, Maura knew that Jane found it tough to sleep at the best of times never mind during a case, and Jane knew that Maura had nightmares about her ordeal with Hoyt, and even though neither of them spoke about it, they both knew intrinsically that they would be there for each other no matter what, and if sharing a bed and holding each other helped one or both sleep then that's what they would do.
Jane used her key and as predicted Maura was dressed for bed and cuddled up on the sofa, eyes closed, breathing softly. Jane took off her boots as quietly as she could, wandered over to the fridge and got out one of her beers. She smiled as she made her way to the couch, Maura was always so kind and considerate, it didn't matter to her that she didn't drink beer, she always made sure she had some for Jane, just in case. Jane gently settled on the couch next to Maura trying not to wake her, Maura mumbled and moved herself round to cuddle up against Jane. Jane chuckled as she could just about make out her name being mumbled against her shoulder and moved her arm around the ME's back to cuddle her closer.
Maura was almost asleep when she heard the front door open, her ears pricked up but she settled once she heard the telltale footsteps of her best friend. She didn't need to open her eyes to know where Jane was and what she was doing and when the couch moved under the detective's weight she sighed gently, happy to know she was safe and could help Jane relax. She tried to greet Jane but she must be more tired than she realised as she struggled to enunciate. As Jane chuckled at her sleepiness Maura simply buried her head against Jane and as the brunette's arm settled across her back and pulls her closer Maura can't help but smile slightly as she fits just perfectly.
They sit for a couple of moments the only noises being Maura's soft steady breathing and the occasional sound of Jane drinking her beer. Jane loved moments like this, so at ease together they don't need to talk, Maura doesn't need to ask how her day went. Right now none of it matters anyway. Maura is struggling to keep herself conscious, she wants to be there in case Jane needs to talk, but she just feels so warm and comfortable and relaxing... The two women both sighed deeply at the same time and settled further into the couch and each other, Maura could feel herself floating to sleep when she suffered a hypnic myoclonia and jerked. Jane simply held onto her a little tighter and waited for her breathing to settle again. Once she was settled again Jane turned gently and pressed the tiniest kiss to Maura's temple and Maura smiled in her sleep pressed against Jane a little more and turned to thank her but she was so close her lips brushed Jane's neck.
Maura jerked again but this time didn't allow Jane to keep her in place instead got up and retired to her bedroom. Jane watched her go, downed the end of the beer and went to get another, the last thing she wanted was to be coherent before she attempted sleep.
Maura lay on her bed puzzled, the first jerk was absolutely hypnic myoclonia, a completely normal occurrence before slipping fully into REM sleep, it was the second bodily reaction she couldn't grasp. She had no problems cuddling Jane, in fact they were very touchy feely with each other, which was unusual for both of them, her especially growing up without much physical affection, and though Jane's family being Boston Italian were usually tactile people, Jane was less so, no doubt due to the scars left on her hands by Hoyt. It never hindered the tactile nature of their friendship though, hugging, touching and sharing the same bed was just something they did but Maura couldn't help but notice the electric spark that ran down her spine when her lips brushed Jane's neck. She frowned as she curled onto her side. Of course Jane wasn't unattractive, her raven hair, chocolate eyes and impressive body were stunning and the Rizzoli swagger and confidence only added to her attractiveness but Maura had never experienced such a physical arousal from her before. She yawned and rubbed her eyes, it was probably due to her lethargy, she shook the thoughts out and snuggled into her pillow instead.
Swallowing the last drop of her third beer Jane decides to call it a night, she is experiencing a pleasant buzz from the alcohol and knows if she has anymore then shopping with Maura tomorrow will be more unbearable than usual. She smiles to herself, the medical examiner is the only one who convinces her to go shopping, her Ma still drags her kicking and screaming but with Maura she doesn't even need to ask.
Jane plods sleepily to the guest bedroom, the bed is made up, the throw pillows still in tact and there are no clothes laid out, she double checks the en-suite but smiles and heads down to Maura's room, she sneaks in and smiles. Maura is fast asleep half hugging a pillow with one leg out of the covers. It's moments like this that Jane revels in, the perfect medical examiner who always looks like she's ready for a photo-shoot lying haphazardly in bed, so content. On Jane's side of the bed there are pyjamas and toiletries laid out for her. Another little touch that makes Jane so proud of her best friend and makes her feel more at home here than she does in her own apartment. She goes to collect the stuff, pausing to tuck Maura's leg under the covers and stroke her hair behind her ear. Jane can't resist but place a gentle kiss in her hairline and Maura sighs deeply and in her sleep mumbles out Jane's name, she rolls over to where Jane was but Jane has gone into the bathroom to get ready.
Dressed in Maura's pyjamas Jane leans against the en-suite doorway looking at Maura. "She's so beautiful." Jane sighs deeply and then moves to leave the room, she pauses slightly as she heard Maura mumble her name again and she smiles and turns to look at her again but instead of seeing Maura's beautiful face peacefully sleeping she sees a face scrunched up in pain, her breathing elevated. Jane drops her clothes and rushes over to Maura's side, she is still asleep but having a nightmare now crying and wailing Jane's name. Jane sits on the bed and gathers Maura to her hushing her cries, stroking her hair and holding her tight, she puts her lips gently against Maura's ear "I'm right here Maur. I got you." Immediately Maura relaxes against Jane and snuggles into her neck, Jane gently manoeuvres herself under the covers and pulls Maura gently, as she relaxes half on top of her she breathes out Jane's name and Jane settles down lips still pressed against Maura. "Here."
Maura squints against the light on her face and snuggles her head further into what she thought was Jane but finds herself snuggling into a now cold pillow. She opens her eyes begrudgingly and sees Jane isn't there. She thinks back to last night but was so tired she has no idea whether Jane stayed with her but her side of the bed is messy and Maura has slept deeply as she only really does when Jane is lying next to her. Maura yawns and rolls over, it is 6:03am, she smiles, Jane will definitely not be up for a while and that means she has time for a long shower and can make them both breakfast.
She gets out of bed stretching and heads into her en-suite, she strips off and goes to get in the shower when she notices her bottom drawer in her bathroom cabinet open, she pauses, bends down and opens it fully. Her eyes grow wide and she smiles cheekily "Been snooping have we Detective?" Grabbing a hand towel that barely covers her front she scampers to the guest bedroom, she knocks gently but when there is no answer she sneaks in. Standing in the doorway she pauses to smile affectionately. Jane is lying like a starfish in the middle of the bed with the covers all askew. She chuckles and remembers fondly that many a morning when they have shared a bed Maura often wakes up with Jane half on top of her. Not that the medical examiner would ever admit how waking up like that sets her heart racing and has other significant bodily reactions. Recently however Jane had been getting up in the middle of the night and swapping beds, Maura wasn't offended of course but she did miss the contact and it was odd timing, nothing significant had happened recently. Even when Casey was back on the scene they would still often share a bed and still cuddle and be as close as ever... Perhaps Jane's nightmares which had acted as the catalyst for the cuddling, were easing off. Maura wasn't sure how she felt about that, of course happy that the traumatic events her best friend had gone through were not affecting her so prominently anymore but she also felt a sadness of a loss somehow. Maura shook her head and chuckled, Jane would tell her she was over thinking it all and then call her google mouth or some other good natured nickname.
Back to the mission in hand Maura ventured into the guest en-suite and shook her head and grinned when she found what she was looking for lying on the side of the sink. She tutted "Detective, you are getting careless" she smiled as she picked it up, it wasn't the first time Jane had discovered it, Maura knew but usually the detective was much more careful and secretive. Perhaps she was more exhausted than usual. She lets out a giggle as she ponders why Jane feels the need before she gets into bed without fail, even if she's already been in bed she just can't resist. "Insatiable" She lets out another giggle and Jane stirs, not wanting to get caught with it in her hand Maura scampers back toward her bedroom. Jane cracks open an eye and spies a naked butt leaving her room, she shakes her head and groans with a hangover and puts her arm across her face.