N: It's short, but I got stuck on how to navigate them. I think i figured it out and things should move along. Read on and enjoy!

Maura

The convention hall was busy and I immediately wanted to leave. I never liked large crowds, let alone large crowds of police officers. It wasn't that I didn't like them, it was more they weren't fond of me. Back in my lab at the NYPD I had a reputation of being very unbending with the rules. Anytime and officer asked me for rushed lab results or quick guesses, I refused. I never guessed and science couldn't be rushed. Needless to say, in time I was left out of the circle and my only visitors were my fellow lab coworkers.

I gripped onto the handle of my bag, trying to calm down.

"Here Maura, I got you a name tag and a swag bag." Jane appeared at my side, digging in the large blue canvas bag. "They gave us water bottles shaped like DNA." She held up the plastic bottle with a smile. "That has to get you excited."

I smiled, taking the blue bag and my name tag. "It's a scientifically incorrect replica. The helix's are too perfect." I watched as the silly grin on Jane's face faded a bit. I frowned, pinning my name tag to a lapel. "It's very interesting though."

Jane grabbed my elbow. "What's wrong?"

I shook my head, waving her off with a small smile. "I'm fine, Jane." I glanced up, her big brown eyes bored into me. I would have a hard time pressing her away from any line of questioning. I turned to look around the room, pointing at one booth. "There's a police equipment booth right over there. Maybe we can go over there and find you a new badge holder."

That was enough distraction for Jane. She glanced at her badge hanging off her belt. "Why would I need a new one?"

I laughed, moving closer and gently removing it from her belt. I almost flinched when the back of my hand brushed against her stomach. I held up the black leather holder. "The leather is torn at the crease and the badge is hanging by a thread. The seams are worn and about to fall apart." I turned it over and spotted a bit of dried mud on the back. "It's also very dirty. Did you do landscaping with this on?"

Jane rolled her eyes, her hands falling to her hips. "I don't landscape. I have an apartment with two dead plants. The dirt is from two days ago when I chased a suspect into the woods and tackled him. I got a little dirty."

I smiled, running my fingers over the gold metal. "Maybe we should also get you a new badge. This one has scratches and the enamel is falling out of the letters." I stopped. "You're very young for a detective." My eyes fell to her hands and the scars on the top.

Jane noticed my gaze and took the badge from my hands. "The scratches tell my story. I'm not going to get a shiny new one." She clipped it back on her belt. "Let's go look at the holders."

I felt my heart drop when Jane's tone shifted to one of mild annoyance. I clasped my hands together and moved to stand next to her. "I'm sorry, Jane, if I offended you. I'm not very good at casual conversation. It's actually one of my downfalls."

Jane shrugged, shoving her hands in her pockets. "It's no big deal. I'm just old fashioned and like when things are worn and have character. It shows they've lived a life and survived. Kind of like me." The last few words were spoken softly, as if Jane didn't want me to hear them. "Come on, let's go to the booth and maybe after you can show me a few of the science ones and explain what the hell they're about." Jane smiled at me, nudging me with her shoulder. "Relax, Maura. I know conventions are a dog and pony show, but stick with me and we'll avoid all the pomp and circumstance."

I sighed and walked next to her. "I think I'd rather be at a dog show. I do not enjoy these conventions."

We arrived at the booth of police equipment. The vendor eyes lit up when he saw Jane and I. "Ladies! I have the best equipment and gear in this place. What do you need?"

Jane threw a look my way. "I guess I need a new badge holder." She unclipped her badge and showed the vendor. "I prefer real leather. None of that synthetic, fake crap."

The vendor took the badge, grinning. "Boston police. That's a great department." He pulled out a large plastic tub full of leather goods. "I was out there a couple of years ago, fitting the new group of rookies. The kids were all excited to get on the streets. There had been some sort of big manhunt for a serial killer with a scalpel and they were calling for all hands on deck." I watched Jane tense up as the vendor continued. "It was crazy. The guy was playing games with the detectives, but I didn't stay for the end of the story. Last I heard was he caught one of detectives and tortured them, but I was overseas trying to sell gear to GARDA. But man, that killer must've been smarter than they thought if he nabbed one of their own." He glanced at Jane, holding out a badge holder. "This will work for your badge. And hey, do you know if they ever caught that guy?"

Jane's jaw clenched. She said nothing, just turned and walked away from the table. Leaving both me and the vendor dazed. He looked at me. "Is she okay?"

I smiled, digging in my bag for my wallet. I handed him money and took the holder. "She's very jet lagged. It was a long flight here." I whispered a thank you and turned to find Jane had disappeared into the crowd.

I tucked the holder in my bag and went searching for Jane. It wouldn't be hard to spot her. She was one of the very few women in the hall that had her hair down. And that wild mane of curly brown hair would be hard to miss. I moved through the crowd, finally spotting the top of Jane's head in the far corner next to a booth selling law enforcement related cruises. I sighed in relief and walked towards her. I wanted to make sure she was okay.

As I wiggled past a group of county sheriffs and made eye contact with Jane, a hand fell to my shoulder.

"Maura? Is that you?"

The voice brought me to a halt. My shoulders sagged as I turned away from Jane and came face to face with the one person I never expected to ever see again.

My ex fiancé, Quinn.

XXX

Jane

For all the things I'd accomplished as a police officer and then a detective, I'd always be remembered for the morbid chess game I lost with a madman. It still chapped my ass that one moment in my career overshadowed everything else. It also still chapped my ass that whenever a jerk brought it up, I would shut down and walk away. Memories of that night filling up my mind and making my hands ache.

Cavanaugh had sent me to this conference knowing my record of closing cases would help collect funding for our new digital unit. He didn't send me here to parade on the tails of the Hoyt case. I almost half believed I could make it through the convention without the case being brought up, but boy was I wrong. I sat on a chair, running my hands through my hair listening to the guy in the booth next to me desperately trying to sell cruises to schmucks.

I felt bad for ditching Maura, but I needed to calm down before I snapped at the jerk and told him off. I had to keep my cool. I had to keep calm and focus on getting that funding for the department. I sighed, leaning my head against the wall behind me. I should get up and find her, apologize for leaving her behind. Then maybe get her to go to lunch with me outside of this convention. Maybe then she'd talk to me about why she suddenly grew quite and nervous over a water bottle.

I sucked in a breath and went to stand when I caught Maura staring at me from a few feet away. She smiled when our eyes met, and I swore my heart skipped. Maura might be socially awkward, but man was she beautiful and kind in the quirkest ways I'd ever experience. As much as it unnerved me, I actually thought it was adorable when she noticed how beat up my badge holder was. Never mind when her hand brushed against my stomach, sending shivers down my spine. I needed to apologize to her for being so short when she asked about the scratches. It was because of the scratches, it was because of the way she made my heart beat when she was so close, touching me. I shut down, pulled in my emotions like always and threw up the patented Rizzoli steel walls.

But as I looked at her hazel eyes filling with relief that she found me, I found myself slipping into a bigger crush for her. She was sincere, pure, awkward, but beautiful. I had to get to know her, I had to share some of my life with her. I wanted to melt her walls, and let her melt mine.

I stood and started walking towards Maura, when a man stopped her. She turned away from me and I couldn't see her face, but I saw the shitty pervy grin on his. Of course Maura would be hit on in this place. She wasn't in uniform, a clear sign for most of the guys in here to back off.

I flet my protective instinct kick in and I started pushing through the crowd towards her.

"Maura, it's been a really long time. How are you?"

I cringed at the overly genuine attempt in his tone.

"I, um, it's been good. Work. I've been working." Maura stumbled over her words as she tipped her head down. "Work has been busy, Quinn."

The guy chuckled, patting her shoulder in a way that made me want to snap his wrist. "I'm surprised they haven't moved you to Assistant Medical Examiner. But, again, I know they called Carla for recommendations when she left."

I was two steps away from Maura when I heard her. "Congratulations, Quinn. You and Carla had a lovely wedding."

He shrugged, the grin still on his face. "I should thank you. Those wedding hall reservations you made me make for us, came in handy. They had no problem changing the menu you selected. I'm sorry we didn't invite you, Carla didn't think it was appropriate."

I watched Maura's shoulders sag even more. I ran my hand to the small of her back, pressing against it to let her know she wasn't alone. I grinned looking at this Quinn. "Maura! I found you. I thought I lost you at the ballistics booth." I stuck out my hand. "Jane Rizzoli, nice to meet you. I apologize for interrupting your conversation, but I lost my con buddy and had to find her." I glanced at Maura looking at me. Her eyes were filled with tears and relief that I arrived.

"Quinn Rider. I'm the Deputy District Attorney in Dallas." He shook my hand, making me frown at the limp fish grip. "Maura and I are old friends."

"Sounds super." I turned to Maura, pulling her closer into my side. "Hey, I'm starving and I promised to take you to lunch."

She nodded, still fighting the tears. "You did."

I winked at Quinn. "Well, nice to meet you but we need to go. I've been waiting to take Maura on this lunch date for days. We never get time to ourselves anymore." I gently turned Maura away from Quin and waved at him. "See you around, DA Rider."

I heard him stumble over a few confused words. I smirked, happy I'd thrown him for a loop as I walked a dejected Maura out of the hall. The second we were outside, she covered her mouth, let out a heavy sob. I reacted and gathered her into my arms. "Hey, hey, it's okay, Maur. It's okay." I held her tightly, feeling her body shake as she cried into my shoulder. "I don't really know the backstory there, just the bits I overheard as I rushed to save you. Quinn sounds like a real dick and a real dumbass for ever letting you go."

I heard Maura sigh as she leaned out of my arms, wiping away tears. "How did you know?" She paused.

I shrugged, giving her a small smile as I reached up to wipe away tears from her chin. "I am a detective. I just put a few key words together, add that to the look on your face. Well, let's just say I think you're better off without the jerk." I held her chin for a moment, getting lost in her eyes. "I'm sorry for ditching you."

She smiled, closing her eyes. "I'm not a detective, but I think you have your own story. The way you locked up and fell silent when the vendor mentioned that case." She opened her eyes and met mine. "You were that detective, weren't you?"

I let out a heavy breath. "I was." I looked over Maura's shoulder, trying to fight my instincts and not shut down and run.

I felt a warm hand fall to my cheek, pulling me back to Maura. "Thank you for saving me. It's been almost a year since Quinn ended our engagement, but I clearly haven't dealt with what it would be like to see him."

I appreciated her changing the topic away from me, I leaned into her touch. "He probably thinks we're dating. So, I'm sorry for whatever questioning comes next. I just hated the look on your face, and I didn't think gut punching him would be a good idea."

Maura laughed, a genuine laugh, as her hand fell from my face. "I don't think so either." She stepped away from me, looking over her shoulder. "You mentioned something about lunch? There's a nice deli down the street. I think they have sandwiches that would suit us both." She sighed, looking back at me, our eyes meeting. "And let him think we're dating." She then turned away with a smile and started walking towards the deli. "It'd be nice for him to think I found you."

I squinted at Maura, trying to dissect what she was hinting at. Was she flirting with me? My heart pounded in my chest, begging me to grab her and ask her exactly what she meant. But as I was about to draw my conclusion, my stomach growled angrily. I patted it. "I hear ya, but next time can you choose a better time to interrupt my heart?"

I shook my head when I growled again and jogged to catch up to Maura. I grinned as she smiled when I stopped at her side. I had a theory and was going to test it over a pastrami sandwich.