Chapter 7

"I'm just going to put on my nightgown. You're welcome. You're lucky to know a doctor who is so willing to patch you up," Maura playfully responded to Jane's gratitude.

Jane hobbled over to the bedroom following Maura's voice, but Jane didn't need to see where she was going...she knew this path all too well.

Maura lit a candle that was always on her table by her bed along with matches. She liked to be prepared for life's anomalies and candlelight provided that sense of meditation.

Jane glared at her friend within the warm glow. She was a sight of an angel, honey blonde hair soft and halo like, once again those hazel green eyes, now dancing brighter against the emerald green of her men's tuxedo silk pajamas, breath taking. In the stillness, Jane admired her friend.

Maura decided to keep the conversation going, "So, may I inquire as to what brings you here at this hour? To my home?"

With a hint of a smile Jane husked out, "Well, doctor once the power went out, I was thrown out the door into the bitter cold, by my mother's request to perform a 'wellness check' on my best friend."

As Maura walked across her bedroom to throw her towel into the hamper, she let out a huff.

"Wellness check? You nearly blinded me!" Maura chided.

"I said I was sorry," Jane whimpered while shrugging her shoulders.

"Best friend? Do I still bare that title...with you? With us? After a year with no contact...are we still best friends?" Maura questioned as she walked closer to where Jane was standing.

Jane could feel a lump rising in her throat, trying to swallow it she sputtered, "Sure Maura, yeah...yes, we're still best friends...nothing's gonna change that, "without getting too emotional Jane switched gears, "Listen it's gonna get cold soon, I'm gonna light the fireplace. You want both of them going, the living room and the bedroom, or just one and close the door to conserve the heat?"

"We'll light both. I had the inspection completed months ago, so everything's up to par and safety standards."

"I would have never questioned that," Jane mumbled.

Taking the flashlight, Jane pointed towards the hallway and said, "I'm gonna get started downstairs and work my way up. Do you need anything?"

Maura could have taken a flirtatious tone with that, but choose to be safe and responded all business like, "I can certainly start the bedroom, Jane, I AM a self-sufficient woman!"

"I never for a minute thought otherwise, Maura. I just figured I could help. I know you. I'm gonna..."

"Sorry Jane. Yes...Yes you go. I'll meet you downstairs. Will you stay? For drinks, so we may catch up? Or just stay?" Maura appeared hopeful.

Jane was almost through the threshold when she stopped, looked back at Maura and flashed a deep dimpled smile, "Sure, Maura, I'll stay."

Maura caught her friend's smile within the hue of the candlelight and her heart picked up a few beats.

Jane made it downstairs. Gathered what she needed and started the fireplace. She got a good flame going, as the living room started to heat up. She grabbed her phone and sent a quick text to her mother, knowing she'd be fine with Ron.

Ma staying here with Maura. Everything's ok. Everyone's fine. Just gonna stay and Ma DON'T START PLEASE. Love you. Night.

Angela replied: Glad to hear. Be safe baby and please be good! Make good choices. Love ya.

Jane rolled her eyes and then called upstairs, "Maur...you good?"

Just then Maura was making her way down, "Yes, Jane. Bedroom is heating up!"

Both women smiled at that.

Maura proceeded into the kitchen to open a bottle of red wine. As she poured, she flashed back to a time when this was an everyday action for them. Winding down after a case, reminiscing the day while enjoying a glass of wine together.

She very much so missed this.

Jane got comfortable on Maura's couch and gladly accepted the glass from her friend. They clinked glasses and toasted to power outages and friendship. Maura was about to sit down, but set her wine glass on the table, as Jane set a coaster down for her and made her way over to the linen closet, to grab some blankets and spare pillows. Maura then set them on the couch.

"It's already 11:30, I'm not sure how much longer I can stay awake. Even though I enjoy your company Jane, I'm afraid I may fall asleep first. I do so want to hear what you've been so busy with, that you couldn't call your best friend."

Jane took a healthy sip of her wine and answered, "Maur...come on, it goes both ways. I wasn't busy...just...preoccupied."

"Well now sounds like something I'd say." Maura took some pillows and blankets from the couch, and placed them on the floor near the fireplace and chose to sit there.

Jane stayed on the couch, clutching her wine glass.

Maura looked breath-takingly beautiful. She hasn't changed within this past year they were separated. If anything, Jane would say Maura has improved, appeared healthier...glowing. Is that because of Jack? Does he make her this happy? Or is she...no...no, she can't be. Jane's mind veered off.

Maura on the other hand, couldn't take her eyes off Jane. Jane was still stunning. Dark raven wild long locks, those deep coffee brown eyes that mesmerized your gaze, that olive Italian skin, strong jaw, lilith frame, but tall and strong bones. So sexy!

The warmth and orange glow from the crackling embers produced from the fire, mixed with the dry sweetness of the wine, set the tone for something to erupt. Like chess pieces, who was going to make the first strategic move.

After admiring one another, a pop and hiss came from the fire. Jane used the poker to break apart some of the logs, to even out the flame causing her to leave her spot on the couch. As she did so, she decided to make the first move. Regrettably so.

Jane cleared her voice and out came, "Maura, are you pregnant?"

Maura nearly spat out her wine. "WHAT! What would make you draw that conclusion? Do I appear to have put on some weight? Jane?!"

"No. No..not at all! It's just...just..." Jane stammered face covered in a red blush now painting her neck with embarrassment.

"Just what Jane!" Maura still waiting on an answer.

"You're...glowing. You're happy. You're...beautiful. You're so beautiful, Maura." Jane admitted shyly.

Now Maura was blushing. "Thank you, Jane. I am happy. NOT pregnant."

"Does Jack make you happy? I haven't seen you in a year...my fault, I know, but did he do this? Make you glow?"

Maura was absolutely touched by this observation by her friend, by Jane. She took a slow sip of her wine, smiled and answered, truthfully, "No. Jack didn't do this. Actually, Jack doesn't do this at all. Jane why haven't you called me or reached out to me?"

Confused after Maura's answer, then bombarded with that aching question, she just came out with it.

"Maur...ok...Maur as mother would say I was brooding."

"Brooding? Angela said that? I thought she wasn't in my corner?"

"Wait, what corner? Anyway Yes, brooding. I figured ma got that from you, but I've discovered she's a walking thesaurus! Yes, I was moody. Yes, I shut the world out. I was trying to figure things out, mainly me. Bottom line I'm gay. I did some detective 'work' on myself and came to the conclusion of why hide who I am. Even though I dated Casey, Dean, Davies, apparently ma knew. She still pushed men towards me, but I guess she always knew. Maybe in her Catholic ways she thought it would never be unearthed, who knows, but she loves me no matter what. Anyways, I figured it out when I bumped into Claire. Remember her?"

"The dark-haired mysterious woman from the undercover operation at Merch?" Maura got out in one breath not wanting to interrupt Jane's train of thought.

"Yes, we hooked up. Dated for about five months."

"Oh." Maura sighed disappointedly.

Jane was still in front of the fireplace, as she spilled her guts to Maura. Sensing Maura's disappointment, Jane dropped the poker, moved closer to Maura and lifted her chin with her index finger so that they were making eye contact. In her sexy smokey voice Jane trapped Maura's gaze and said, "Your engagement crushed me. But I was brooding because of you. Doctor Isles you did something to me. Actually, you DO something to me that I can't fight. I can't lock it away. I can't get over this...I just have to..."

Jane started to move in closer, invading Maura's personal space, all the while licking her own lips. Maura couldn't breathe, frozen by Jane's confession and proximity, Maura could only manage to whisper, "You just have to what...Jane?"

Jane's breath ghosted upon Maura's lips as Jane softly whispered, "Kiss you."

Maura closed the gap and Jane's lips were gliding and dancing with Maura's. First light kisses, still new, then longer deep kisses, exploring as Maura grabbed hold of the back of Jane's neck then quickly moving her hands up through raven locks trying to steady herself while anxiously and feverishly pushing Jane closer. Oh, how she wanted this! Maura sooo wanted this!

Jane was stunned! Jane was elated! Jane had fireworks building beneath her eyelids and a base drum pounding between her ribs. Holy fuck! The mantra was now playing over and over in Jane's subconscious.

The kisses were getting wet, wild, sloppy, hurried...it was maddening!

Jane's hands clutched onto Maura's hips pulling her closer. Jane lost her balance from her crouched position on the floor and Maura fell on top of Jane. Both women still kissing within a heated embrace. In between kisses and deep breaths, Maura managed to blur while panting, "I'm glowing because of you...I'm happy because of you, Jane. YOU make me happy; I've missed you!" Kisses then more kisses. Tongues now wrestling and skimming over teeth, breathing becoming impossible, hands wanting to feel more...then Jane stopped.

At this moment her ears were ringing, head foggy and she felt dizzy. Her heart pounding so fast, now she was sweating and her eyes darted about as if she was casing a crime scene. AIR...she needed air, she gasped and wheezed for oxygen.

The doctor in Maura took over, "Jane...breathe...ssshhh just breathe...look at me, sweetheart...ssshhh inhale...with me, and now exhale...Jane stay with me...breathe...calm...that's it...it's ok, you're ok."

Jane slowed her heart rate, the ringing stopped as she breathed with Maura.

"What the fuck was that?" Jane held her hand to her chest and yelled out.

"The heavy kissing or the panic attack?" Maura answered alluringly.

"Panic attack?" Jane was befuddled.

"I think you were just overwhelmed by the intensity of the moment, Jane. Are you alright?"

"I duno...am I doc? Maur...I'm..."

"It's ok, I apologize. I jumped the gun, as you would say."

"No...no...no...you didn't! Jesus...Maura, it felt so good! So right! I wanna try it again, but I think we lost the moment, or did I lose the moment? SHIT! Maybe there's too many things involved...I think that's why I panicked. I...BLEW IT, ONCE AGAIN...what's wrong with me?!"

Maura directed Jane to sit down on the couch, while she retrieved some water for her. Jane looked like a crushed warrior. Maura handed the water to Jane, let her take a healthy gulp, then took the glass from Jane and placed it on the table with a coaster.

Realizing Jane's doubts and after assessing that Jane was in fact alright, Maura proceeded to straddle Jane's lap. Jane looked up at Maura confused, but trusting Maura within her actions. Maura placed Jane's scappled scared hands on either side of her hips and Jane once again felt the smoothness of Maura's silk pajamas. As Maura tilted her head down towards Jane, her honey blonde hair fell like a vail as she inched closer to Jane's lips, saying "If you're ok, let us have this now...tonight." Then Maura slowly kissed Jane, making it a tender one, with so much meaning behind it. Once the kiss was released, Jane looked at Maura with soulful eyes and replied, "I'll want tomorrow and forever. I can't wake up next to you, knowing you're with...Jack. I want you, Maura, always...my heart beats for you and you alone."

With that Maura understood Jane's panic attack. Maura would have to make a decision. Jane's to much of a good person and doesn't deserve to be a 'threesome' or throuple...Maura wouldn't even allow that, no matter how fluid she thought sexuality was. Jane made it clear, she wants Maura and no one else. Maura only ever wanted Jane. She can't do this to Jane...not like this. Maura gave Jane another kiss, then moved off of her and said, "Then, let's just sleep together like we used too. Just hold me tonight so we can stay warm and I can feel your heartbeat.

A little crestfallen, Jane agreed. So, the two best friends made a little bed out of the blankets and pillows in front of the warm lite fire and Maura curled up against Jane's right side and laid her head on her chest, while Jane wrapped her right arm around Maura and caressed Maura's arm with her left. Both not saying anything more, they drifted off to sleep.