Detective Frost heaved once again into a trash can. Korsak just laughed. "What is it Frost? Something wrong with your lunch?"
Frost just gave him a pointed look, deciding not to answer. When he finally stopped being sick, he wiped his mouth and brought up something he wanted to mention earlier, before he got too close to the corpse, that is.
"Hey, Korsak, have you noticed anything different about Jane today? I can't quite put a finger on it."
They chanced a glance at said detective. She was working on the crime scene, pointing out evidence to the photographer. Frost was trying his best not to even look at the rotting old body.
"Everything looks normal to me," Korsak said, shrugging his shoulders.
"Really, detective? And how many times have you heard Jane whistle?"
"You know what, you are right," he looked at his colleague in thought. "I haven't heard her whistle or sing to herself ever since… you know… the surgeon case."
"I thought as much. Let's go find out what's up."
"Alright," Korsak agreed.
Frost stopped him just after one step. "But discreetly, ok?"
"Of course. Discreetly. Hey, Jane! What's got you in such a good mood?" Vince yelled across the entire crime scene.
"Oh, god." Frost rolled his eyes. "Really?" Korsak ignored him, instead he focused his attention on his old partner, as she raised her eyes from a muddy footprint and looked at him.
"What? I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Weren't you whistling just now?"
"Yeah, maybe I was. So what? Can't a woman whistle for god's sake?" She was getting defensive.
"Come on, don't hold back on us. Tell us all about it."
"Can you spell: none of your damn business?" Jane asked half seriously.
Frost said "Ha ha, very funny, Jane. Oh, hello doctor Isles." On her ever-present high heels, chief medical examiner doctor Isles entered the crime scene. Jane immediately looked back down on the footprint.
"Good morning, detective Frost. Detective Korsak. Jane." Vince nodded his head in greeting, while Jane whispered in her hoarse voice "Good morning, Maura." Frost's eyes glided from one to another, but he didn't comment. Instead he said "Back to the topic. I think we should go to Joe's tonight. Give us a fair chance to loosen your tongue, Jane."
"You know what? It doesn't sound that bad. The lab techs will probably take forever with this guy. Or what's left of him, anyways," she said while glancing at the cadaver. "I guess I can go for a beer. How about you, Maura? Do you wanna go to Joe's tonight?"
Jane was speaking in perfectly friendly manner. Just a colleague inviting another colleague to go for a drink. Maura looked into her eyes. She hesitated a second longer with her answer. 'Maybe I shouldn't kiss her. It was probably way too early.' Jane couldn't help but doubt her earlier actions.
Korsak saved the silence from prolonging. "Yeah, that's a great idea. How about it, doc? Will you hang out with a bunch of old detectives tonight?"
"Speak for yourself, old man. Jane and I are in our prime."
Maura didn't break eye contact with Jane. In the end she gave her a reassuring smile. "Alright. I'll be happy to join you."
Jane realized that she's smiling at her, not saying or doing anything. And so, she cleared her throat and went on to do her job.
They were sitting at Joe's at a table for four. Maura sitting next to Jane. As it was, they were talking about their current case. It took a while for Korsak to remember their initial task of getting some gossip out of Jane.
"So, now will you tell us, Jane? What got you whistling this morning?"
After a few drinks, Barry's good manners were almost forgotten. "Yeah, what put you in such a good mood? Did you get some recently?"
"Oh, come on, Frost! What made you think of that as a first option?!"
Maura didn't speak much that night, however she picked this moment to chime in. "Actually, Jane, detective Frost's hypothesis holds a lot of potential as orgasms are proven to bring many health benefits as well as bettering one's mood."
Korsak was stunned to silence and Jane felt her face getting hot. Frost, however, in his inebriated state, latched onto the thought. "See, here you have it straight from the doctor. So, who is that special gentleman of yours?"
Jane shared a brief look with her old partner, suppressing the need to rub her palms.
"Maybe I just had a good night sleep."
And she was speaking the truth. The fact that she finally plucked the courage and talked to Maura outside of work and even got to a first name basis with her made her so happy that for the first time in ages she had no nightmares. She still didn't dare to hope, but just took it as a sign that she has made a move in the right direction.
"Yeah, I like me some good night sleep after a wild night. Now, really. Is it some guy at the office? Come on!"
Maura looked at her with curious eyes. In their encounters they have yet to discuss sexual orientation and the ME looked like she had trouble figuring Jane out.
Jane decided that after the dive in after the dinner she should perhaps slow down a bit and have a proper conversation. Maura seemed to enjoy the kiss, but with her social awkwardness she maybe took it as something completely else than what Jane meant. The clearing of the air was due. But not right now. Maybe later or some other time, but without Frost and Korsak present.
She was so lost in thought she forgot to answer. Luckily, Korsak saved her once again. "Beat it, Frost. Are you calling me the nosy one? Seriously?"
"Alright, alright. I'm just saying that it's nice to see our broody detective smile for a change, that's all. Keep it up. You go, girl."
"Oh, Frost. You're such a light weight. You sound like you drank a whole keg."
They had a nice evening in the pub, drinking and having fun. Afterwards, Jane and Maura found themselves standing at the sidewalk, waiting for a cab, neither of them being a fan of driving under influence.
"Oh, god. I haven't done anything like this in a long time," Maura admitted. "In a few hours I expect the results to be ready. I have to get some sleep."
"How far it is to your place?" Jane asked.
"About half an hour by car, it depends on the traffic."
"My apartment is closer, if you want to crash." After a while of silence, she added jokingly. "Don't worry, I won't try anything inappropriate."
Maura's voice was tinged with sadness as she said "It's just… I've never had a sleepover before."
"Ever?"
"No, never. I heard some other girls at my boarding school had sleepovers of sorts from time to time, but no one ever invited me."
Jane focused on the woman in front of her instead of her ideas of what adventures might have happened on an all-girl school dormitory. "Well, now you have been invited. Either we'll get some sleep so we are useful tomorrow, or we can just pull an all-nighter and save it with coffee. So, what do you say?"
Maura looked genuinely sorry, when she answered. "As much as I would love to, I have to get home. Bass, my tortoise, just got back from his vet and I need to make sure he's eating properly."
The detective tried to say something nice. "Hey, it's alright. There's plenty more nights in the future. Consider this an open invitation for a proper sleepover. Everyone should experience it, you are no exception!"
"Thank you, Jane," she said, smiling.
The taxi rolled to the sidewalk.
"See you in the morning. Have a good night, Jane." And with that, and to the complete surprise of the detective, Maura leaned in and gently kissed Jane on the lips.
All she could manage as an answer was "Good night." Her mind was running twenty miles an hour. 'Does she realize that I'm into her? Does she understand I like women? Does she even see the kiss in anything more than a friendly gesture? She said she didn't really have any friends… What if she now thinks this is normal and before she knows it she kisses half the department?!' She started the walk toward her apartment, trying to calm her thoughts, her fingertips running over her palms again. There was way too much on her mind. No way this night will be good.
'That talk is really overdue!' she thought, and she promised herself to try and talk to Maura about things before this case is closed.
As she lay in her bed, alone in the darkness, she fantasized, that Maura knew exactly what she was doing when she kissed her goodbye, tonight. She let these thoughts calm her and help her fall asleep, help her ignore that voice. The surgeon's voice, whispering to her ear that she is his and his alone.
Note: Thank you very much for the reviews. They really help me to write on. Also, I apologize for the big delay, I was in the wilderness. Anyway, I made it through and I'm back for some Rizzles. Soon again, BaconAndOnion.