Maura clicked the send button on her email, sending off what she hoped would be the final revisions on her book. Her editor had raved about her last draft, teeming with authentic details from her time in Paris. Maura hoped she would be able to publish before the holiday season. Boston's whining interrupted Maura's train of thought. Boston was every bit the rambunctious puppy and she was quick to let Maura know when she was bored. Berry, true to herself, lay patiently by Boston's side. Only Jane could convince Berry to leave Boston's side for any real length of time. Where Boston was over energetic and eager, Berry was quiet and polite. Where Boston was curious, Berry was cautious. Boston was always moving, always sniffing, never staying in one place long enough for pets or snuggles. Berry, however, soaked in all the love Jane and Maura had to give. Boston whined again.

'Alright girls, let's go to the park ,' Maura said with a happy chuckle. Life in Quantico was quieter than Boston. Her mornings were spent writing or peer-reviewing, during lunch she would take the dogs to the dog park or for a run. Her afternoons she spent treating a slew of sniffles in the clinic. Most nights both she or Jane were home by dinner. Maura knew that Jane missed her family. She even suspected that Jane missed parts of the job but Maura knew she hadn't had a nightmare in weeks. She was happier. Calmer. And that made Maura happy.

The dog park was a large fenced in park, with towering trees to provide shade and benches and trash cans spaced strategically throughout, though thankfully not near one another. It had taken much reinforcement but with nearly daily practice both dogs would sit and wait for Maura to open the gate and let them in. Berry would sniff the other dogs politely before wandering away to sniff at the fenceline. Boston would bounce, literally bounce, between dogs before taking off flat out, her tongue lolling as she cajoled the others in to chasing her. Berry returned often to Maura, seeking affection and encouragement. Boston had to be bribed in to taking water breaks. Only Berry could convince Boston to leave but they were working on that too. On the weekends, Jane would join them and Maura would laugh at how similar Boston and Jane's excitement levels were.

Yes, Maura decided as they walked home from the park, she was quite happy in Quantico. Her ringtone for Jane interrupted her musings, 'Hello Jane.'

'Hey Maura! How are my girls today?' Jane's voice was warm.

'We're all doing well. Just walking home from the park.'

'Thought I'd call and check in on my lunch break. Are you at the clinic this afternoon?'

'Yes. The flu season is almost upon us. How did your student assessment go?'

'Ah the scourge!' Jane replied, shifting her phone to her other ear as she spoke, 'for me? Fine. For the students? Not so hot.'

Maura frowned, the notion of doing poorly on a test disturbed her, 'did they not know the material?'

'No, but I think having all the answers be A might have thrown them,' Jane replied with a chuckle.

'Jane!' Maura said, horrified, 'you didn't!'

'Sure did. It's my job Maura. Suspects are going to try to lead them down certain paths, going to try to give them the answers, to mess with them. They have to be able to spot it and be able to stand on their own two feet, confident in their knowledge.'

Maura stopped to consider this for a moment causing both dogs to look back at her, displeased with the interruption. 'You just made that up didn't you?'

Jane laughed, 'yeah but it sounded good so I'm going with it. Expect the unexpected, you know? Anyways, I just wanted to let you know Agent Davies invited me to join him and some of the other instructors for a drink tonight so I probably won't be home for dinner.'

'Agent Davies,' Maura asked her chest fluttering, 'is that still a thing? I haven't heard you talk about him since Boston?' The agent had been cute, polite, funny and Jane had truly seemed to like him. Maura did not but she tried her best to hide that fact.

'Nah,' Jane said, 'but I figured I'm over due for the whole get to know your new colleagues deal and at least this way, there will be alcohol. You could join us if you wanted.'

Maura let out a breath she hadn't realised she had been holding. 'No, that's alright. Get to know your co-workers, have some fun. Let me know if you need a ride.'

'You sure?' Jane asked, 'It'd be more fun with you.'

'Yes,' Maura said with a small smile, 'I have some reading to catch up on.'

'Okay, well I'll see you later then!'

Maura said her goodbye and finished her walk. She wasn't going to let Agent Davies get to her. She didn't even know the man. Why should he have the power to upset her day. Maura didn't notice that Berry and Boston stayed glued to her side until she left for the clinic.


Jane took another swig from her beer. The get-to-know-you was fine but if Jane was honest, she wanted to go home. Maura had probably made better food than the dry but still greasy food she was currently bored-consuming. Her colleagues were nice enough but Jane felt out of sorts. The group had pre-established dynamics, inside jokes... it was a level of comfort that made Jane feel like an intruder. Agent Davies was polite enough, asking her questions and making conversation. Jane liked him. She just didn't like him. He was handsome and funny and they'd had a good time the last time they had gone out but Jane really didn't see anything further.

Her phone buzzed. Jane looked down to see a picture of their dogs looking sad and tired on the dog bed. 'They miss you!' the text said.

Jane smiled and typed back, 'aw I miss you guys!'

'How's the get-to-know you?'

'It's fine. Weird. Makes me miss Korsack and Frankie.'

'Maybe we should plan a Boston trip. You have a long weekend coming up, right?'

'Yeah. Labor day. Let's do it!'

'I'll make the arrangements. Hopefully the girls don't get carsick.'

Jane responded with the pukey face emoji before putting her phone down. Agent Davies turned to face her, 'so, Jane, how are you liking Quantico?'

Jane smiled and sipped her beer, 'it's been a nice change of pace.'

Davies smiled back, 'good. I hope you aren't missing Boston too much.'

'Maura and I were just talking about visiting on Labor day.' Jane replied.

'I bet she would love to see you again. It's hard when your best friend moves away.'

Jane gulped guiltily, 'uh actually, Maura moved with me.'

Davies looked at her with a quizzical glance, 'she did?'

Jane nodded, 'we're partners, you know. She didn't want to do the whole crime fighting thing without me.'

'Partners?' Davies asked a little too evenly.

'Yeah. Star detective, brilliant forensic scientist. Partners.' Jane said with a smile.

Davies let out a forced chuckle, 'so she just moved with you?'

Jane, picking up on his discomfort, nodded stiffly. 'I mean, she's not exactly lacking for job prospects and after our month in Paris together... she decided she wanted to move to Virginia.'

'You spent your month off... in Paris... with Maura,' Davies asked, his eyebrows knit together.

'Yes.' Jane replied, feeling herself get hot.

'And then you moved in together?'

'Yes.'

'Huh,' Davies said taking a swirl of his drink, 'should have seen that one coming.' He smiled wryly at Jane and said, 'I wish you both all the happiness. Glad you have a partner.' He walked away then, leaving Jane feeling confused.

Jane opened her phone and sent off a text, 'Can you come get me. I'm ready to leave now.'

Jane didn't have to open her phone to know what Maura's response was. She was on her way.

Maura pulled up to the front of the bar with two over eager pups whinning excitedly in the back. When they spotted Jane they both began yipping happily. Jane greeted the dogs first. Maura smiled when Jane climbed in, 'everything okay?'

Jane nodded and then spoke, 'all of our coworkers think we're in a committed relationship now.'

Maura turned her head sideways, 'we are in a committed relationship Jane.'

Jane stared at Maura, her eyes wide, 'we are?'

'Certainly,' Maura replied steadily, 'we own a house and two dogs together. I'm not sure it gets much more committed.'

'I didn't know...' Jane murmurred softly, more to herself than to Maura. 'I'm not sure if I'm comfortable with that.'

'Oh,' Maura said disappointed, 'well of course I want you to be comfortable, so whatever you need.'

'Can we go home now?' Jane asked, her head throbbing.

Maura frowned but nodded. The drive home was quiet. The pair went about their nightly routines in silence. In fact, the only sound made that night was Berry's barking at Jane until she came to Maura's bed. Jane climbed in to her side of the bed and fell asleep quickly. Maura lay awake, wondering how to make Jane feel comfortable.