Jane sat in her car, hand lingering on the key in the ignition. She wasn't sure how she was going to do a weekend with Maura without falling apart. Jane pulled her hand without starting her car. She grabbed her phone and sent Maura a text:

'Hey. Are you sure you want me to come? I know you're busy.'

Jane wasn't sure what she was hoping for. She wanted to see Maura. She really, truly did. More than anything but she also wasn't sure how to do that without telling her everything. Without freaking out. Without making Maura feel guilty. Jane didn't have long to stew on it. Maura was video calling her. Jane flinched but clicked the green button anyways.

'Jane Clementine Rizzoli,' Maura began her face furrowed and worried, 'don't you dare.'

'Maura,' Jane replied, her voice tired. 'I just don't want to burden you.'

'Don't you dare put this on me Jane!' Maura replied her tone wounded and angry, 'I get that you are worried about me but avoiding me isn't doing either of us any favours and I'm done with it. I haven't seen you in a month. I'm angry and I miss you. So either you make the drive or I do. Choose.'

'Maura, come on, you have a book reading tonight and that meeting tomorrow. You don't have time for me,' Jane said. It sounded weak even in her ears.

'Choose,' Maura replied, stone faced.

Jane sat silent, scowling. She hated this. It was Maura. She could always talk to Maura. 'Maura…' Jane began, not sure of how to finish.

'Choose, Jane,' Maura held up her keys, 'or I will choose for you.'

Jane ran her free hand through her hair, shaking it slightly, as if she could comb her fears out. 'I'm coming. Okay? I'm coming. Don't cancel anything.'

Maura smiled, satisfied, 'good. I will see you in two hours.'

Jane gave a shaky smile in return. Jane could never not be happy to see Maura. She supposed her time was up, she had to face the consequences eventually. She started the car, backing out of the driveway. She supposed she had two hours to decide how she wanted to do this. Two hours was definitely not enough time to figure out how to explain why Jane was avoiding Maura.

Jane pulled in to the hotel parking lot and cut the engine. She took a few steadying breaths. She could do this. It was Maura. Her Maura. Jane grabbed her bag from the text and headed for the lobby, texting Maura she was there. In response, Jane got a room number. Jane hit the up button on the elevator. The elevator ride felt like an eternity and like no time at all. Jane took another steadying breath as she stared at room 328. Jane was about to answer when Maura opened the door. Jane was surprised, 'Maura, hi.'

'Jane!' Maura exclaimed, grabbing at Jane and pulling her in to a tight hug. Jane wasn't sure what she was expecting. A slap perhaps. She deserved it. Instead Maura was holding her. That broke Jane. Her eyes welled up and she clung back to Maura. Sweet, strong Maura who was safe in her arms at last. Maura pulled away but did not let go completely, she pulled Jane in to her room by her hand and guided her to the couch. 'Sit, please.' Jane did, feeling meek. Maura knelt on the ground before Jane, taking Jane's face in her hands and looked in to her eyes. Hazel eyes met brown. Jane's stomach churned at the heart ache she saw on Maura's face, ache caused by Jane's emotional constipation.

'Maura…' Jane began.

Maura shook her head. 'Not yet. Just let me look at you.' Looking, apparently, also meant touching. Maura's hands traced her cheek bones before falling back to Jane's scalp, tugging softly on her hair. They traced the back of her neck, along the muscles from neck to shoulder, down her arms and to her hands. Maura drew each hand softly to her lips pressing a quiet kiss to each one before she met Jane's eyes again. This time Maura pressed forward, claiming a soft kiss from Jane's lips. She followed this with a kiss to Jane's left cheek, then her right, and finally her forehead. 'I was so worried about you,' she whispered softly. Jane was dumbstruck. Maura's life was in danger and she was worried about Jane. When Maura pulled back, she stood up and sat on the couch as close to Jane as she could without being in Jane's physical lap. She took Jane's hand in her own, lacing their fingers together, 'talk to me, please?'

It's a request. For all of Maura's bluster, she was asking Jane to participate. Jane could still refuse. Maura always gave Jane an option. An out. Jane was pretty sure Maura would even understand if Jane took it. Instead Jane nodded. 'I'm scared. I hate knowing you're in danger. I hate knowing I can't protect you. I hate that this is happening while you're on tour.'

Maura nodded, 'I know that sweetie. I really do. So why are you avoiding me?'

Jane hung her head. She wasn't really sure anymore. It had made sense at the time but now? Sitting with Maura? Jane wasn't sure. 'I think I thought I was protecting you. You didn't think it was a big deal and if you weren't scared or worried… I guess I didn't want you to take on mine. I know it doesn't make much sense.'

Maura brushed a tear from her cheek, 'I did though. You weren't talking to me. I knew you were worried and scared and alone. So was I. You made it all worse by not letting me in. By avoiding me. All I've wanted is to talk to you.'

'I know,' Jane murmured feeling ashamed. 'I know I made it worse.'

Maura nodded, 'I love you too much to not talk to you for weeks on end. I need you too much to not talk to you. Okay?' Jane nodded, feeling her own tears falling. 'So from now on, we share our feelings okay? We're partners. We shouldn't have to do any of this alone.' Jane nodded again. Maura pulled her in for a hug. Holding her as she cried. Jane let it all out. Her anger, her frustration, her worry. She cried until she didn't have tears left to cry any more and let Maura hold her. Jane never knew how it was that Maura could make her feel simultaneously so vulnerable and so secure. It never failed to confuse and amaze Jane.

'Better?' Maura asked, pressing a kiss to Jane's head.

Jane nodded, 'yes. Thank you and I'm sorry for not talking to you earlier.'

Maura smiled wryly above her, 'you're forgiven. Fear and love can make us do crazy things.'

'Oh yeah?' Jane asked, curious to see if there was something more behind that statement.

Maura blushed slightly, 'I may have been ready to make the drive myself.'

'So you said,' Jane replied.

'I might also have a pair of handcuffs that I was prepared to use to make you talk,' Maura replied.

'Maura!' Jane replied sitting up, 'you were going to trap me?'

Maura chuckled, 'I was going to handcuff us together, yes.' Jane looked at her, eyes narrowed in disbelief. Then she laughed. 'I'm glad it didn't come to that,' Maura said with a relieved little smile.

'Me too,' Jane said pressing a kiss to Maura's cheek, 'and I promise to never make you want to use handcuffs again.'

Maura shrugged, 'I'm not completely opposed to handcuffs in the bedroom.'

'Doctor Isles!' Jane shouted with a laugh, 'Who knew you're the handcuff kind?'

Maura smirked, 'I certainly don't have a problem with you having been a cop.'

'Don't you have a book reading to get to,' Jane asked shaking her head. They were getting in to dangerous territory, territory that she had not researched in all of her worry.

Maura sighed and stood. She stretched, her body elongating in a tantalising way. 'I suppose though I'm certainly open to other opportunities should they arrive.' Maura wriggled her eyebrows suggestively.

Jane felt her cheeks glow as she chuckled, 'go get ready. I want to hear you read.'

'I could always read to you in bed,' Maura replied with a seductive sort of grin, 'you could be my personal audience of one.'

That thought left Jane's mouth dry and her tongue heavy. 'Nnnngh,' Jane said blinking.

Maura laughed, relenting, 'I'm going, I'm going.' And she did. Leaving Jane feeling uncomfortably turned on and desperately wishing she had spent the last two weeks figuring out the whole lady-sex thing.


Aarna was finishing frying the last of dosas. Her potato and onion curry was simmering ready to stuff the crepe. She had already dished up the chutney. She was hoping to have dinner mostly ready by the time Noie got back with the dogs from the dog park. Dog sitting for Agent Rizzoli was as good an excuse to have a private date. Aarna intended to show Noie every bit of love she could this weekend, since they had the house to themselves. They didn't have to worry about being caught out. They could just be them. Aarna was kicking the weekend off by making Masala Dosas. She had set the mood with candles, a fire in the fireplace, soft music playing. She'd set the coffee table, complete with blankets and couch cushions so they could have a fireside picnic. Aarna swayed her hips in beat to the music.

Noie came in the back door. 'Aarna! We're back,' she called, as though the dogs running through the house wouldn't alert Aarna.

'Welcome home love!' Aarna said with a smile, 'would you be so kind as to go on a date with me?'

Noie blinked as she looked around. Some people had a hard time reading Noemi's face. Some of the men in the program made jokes about her having a resting bitch face. It had taken most of Aarna's will power to not settle the matter with fists. She settled for implying their penises must be incredibly small if they were threatened by Noemi's facial structure. It had silenced the group rather effectively. Aarna never struggled with reading Noemi's face. It was subtle, sure, but that was part of what Aarna loved about it. You had to give Noie your full attention. You had to earn it. A glance could never do. Right now, Noemi's face was showing amazement which suited Aarna just fine.

'Mahál!' Noemi said, 'did you do all of this for me?' She walked toward Aarna. Aarna pulled the last dosa from the pan, turning the stove off. Then she opened her arms for Noemi to settle in to.

'For us, of course,' Aarna replied with a smile. She pressed a kiss to Noemi's head, careful to keep her oily hands away from Noie's clothing.

Noemi pulled away, her hands holding Aarna in place as she looked up in to Aarna's eyes. 'You're wonderful. Have I mentioned that?' Noemi pressed up on to her tip toes to press a kiss to Aarna's lips. Aarna couldn't help the smile that played across her face. Noemi pulled away, wearing her own soft smile.

'Dinner still needs a few moments,' Aarna said. 'I have to stuff the dosas.'

'Do you need help?' Noemi asked quirking her head to the left.

'Nope,' Aarna replied pressing a kiss to the tip of Noie's nose, 'I've got it. Go sit down.'

Noie pout was slight. Easy to miss but oh how Aarna loved it when she made that pout appear, 'but mahál if I sit, my view is obstructed.'

Aarna laughed, 'well I wouldn't want to ruin the view but I do have to move.'

Noemi's pout deepened, 'what if I don't want you to? What if I like having you right here, unable to do anything in return.'

Aarna licked her lips, a familiar heat in her belly. Noemi was unlike any Aarna had ever known before. It took her a sentence. A single sentence to turn Aarna in to a writhing mess. 'Noie,' Aarna groaned. She wasn't sure what she was begging for, more or less.

Noie pushed her back in to the counter top, her hands on Aarna's hips burning even through Aarna's clothes. 'What if,' Noemi asked her eyes blazing with heat, 'I want you like this. Right here, right now?'

Aarna struggled to breath. Her mind racing. 'I have ghee on my fingers love.'

Noemi laughed softly, 'who said you'd need your hands?' She pressed a tender kiss to Aarna's neck, finding that spot that always made Aarna's bones feel all melty.

'Mmmm,' Aarna moaned, 'but I like touching you.'

Noemi nipped softly at the spot her lips had been a moment before, 'you're very good at too but sometimes I want you all to myself. I'm selfish like that.' Noemi's hands tugged at the hem of her shirt, slipping beneath the layer and on to Aarna's bare skin. Her thumbs stroking burning paths of pleasure along her stomach.

Aarna felt a whimper leave her throat. 'Noie,' she let out a whispered breath.

Noemi's fingers found her pant button, undoing the thing in a smooth motion. Aarna squeezed her eyes shut in overwhelming pleasure. 'I want you Aarna,' Noie whispered in to the shell of Aarna's ear, her breath hot and ragged. It was like dragging nails across her spine.

Aarna gave in, acquiescing to her lovers desire. If Noemi wanted her now, she was powerless to fight it. She moved her hands back behind her to brace against the counter. Just as Noemi's sly fingers began to slip beneath her underwear Aarna's hand exploded with searing heat. And not the sexy good kind. She yelped and pulled her hand off the hot burner she had set her hand on.

Aarna would never be able to tell you how Noemi could move so quickly. Her hand was freed from Aarna's pants and cradling Aarna's own burned hand in the blink of an eye. When she spoke, her voice was tight with concern, 'oh god Aarna! Your hand!'

Aarna tried to force a chuckle through the pain, 'but the sex!'

Noemi rolled her eyes, her smile affectionate. She reached around Aarna and turned off the simmering curry. She looked closely at Aarna's hand. It didn't seem too bad. Red but not blistering. 'Let's run this under water,' Noemi murmured, 'then I'll find some gauze for it. Okay?'

Aarna hurt too much to fight too hard, 'fine but only if we can role-play sexy doctor afterwards.'

Noemi snorted, 'you're impossible.'

'That's not a no,' Aarna pointed out.

Noemi turned on the tap to luke warm and guided Aarna's hand beneath. Aarna sighed at the relief as Noemi slowly turned the water colder. 'It's not a no,' Noemi said, pressing a kiss to Aarna's cheek. Noemi frowned as the skin began to blister. 'It's a good thing we were going to the clinic tomorrow anyways.'

Aarna pursed her lips. She hated going to the doctor. 'I'm fine Noemi. Just throw some gauze on it, it'll be fine.'

Noemi stared at her hard, 'you are not fine. That is a second degree burn at the minimum. You're crazy if you think we are going to go interview those nurses without asking at least one of them to look at your hand.'

Behind her Berry and Boston barked as if she was agreeing with Noemi. How was Aarna supposed to overrule them when it was three to one. In an exaggerated sigh of surrender she said, 'fine.'

Noemi smiled at her, 'now lets go see if we can alleviate your doctor phobia.' She took Aarna's unburned hand and leads her up the stairs.