Frankie dropped a few bills in the tip jar at the Boston Joes and moved past the growing line of people waiting for coffee. This was not how he wanted to spend his first Sunday morning off in forever. Not when Nina was also home, very asleep, and very naked. Rondo was a horrible partner change for the morning. Only the knowledge that Jane would kick his ass had made him keep his promise to meet Rondo on the other side of Boston at 7 in the morning. Frankie set the black coffee down in front of the old man.

'Thanks Baby Vanilla,' Rondo said, grabbing the cup and cradling to himself. Frankie made a mental note to find Rondo a thermal blanket. It was too warm for the shelters to be open at night and too cold for someone as old as Rondo to be sleeping on the street. As a patrol man, it had broken Frankie's heart. He'd done everything he could to see the homeless taken in by shelters. After years of being on the force, Frankie knew he couldn't fix every one's problems. Especially not someone like Rondo who saw other street dwellers as his flock, his people. Rondo wouldn't leave his life on the streets until there wasn't a homeless soul left. Rondo sipped his coffee, a slow smile spreading across his face. Frankie softened a bit at that.

'Did you find your CI?' Frankie asked taking his own sip of his, much sweeter, coffee. Frankie had spent the better part of a week tracking Rondo down after his conversation with Jane. Then Rondo had spent the better part of the next week tracking down his informant.

'Mmmm hmmmm,' Rondo said as he took another long sip.

'Great,' Frankie said, 'what are we waiting for, let's go.'

'No can do Baby Vanilla,' Rondo said.

Frankie stared at Rondo, willing him to be joking. 'What?'

Rondo clucked his tongue, 'my CI isn't going to talk to some five-oh-bro.'

'Are you serious?' Frankie asked. 'Rondo I gotta talk to this guy. He could know something. Something that could help me figure out why people are asking about Doctor Isles. Something that could get Janie off my back. So I gotta talk to him.'

Rondo looked at him, something like sympathy playing out across his face, 'I know what you need, that's why Rondo's here Baby Vanilla. But you're going to have to do it my way.'

Frankie sighed, 'what's you way? You want me to pose as your homeless friend?'

Rondo laughed. Hard. 'No way Baby Vanilla. That baby soft skin of yours and those big brown eyes would give you away.'

Frankie shifted uncomfortably in his seat, 'alright. So?'

Rondo's eyes twinkled, a mischievous smile played on his lips, 'I'm going in undercover, wired.'

Frankie stared at Rondo for a moment, scrutinising the idea in his head. It could work Frankie thought… if he also wore an ear piece. Every one got what they wanted then. The CI stayed a CI, Frankie got his answers and Rondo… well Rondo got to play policeman. 'Alright,' Frankie said, 'but you're also wearing an earpiece. You're asking the questions I ask.' Frankie tried to keep his voice firm.

'I'll ask what you want Baby Vanilla,' Rondo said with a placating grin, 'but I'm not gonna ask them the way you ask 'em. I don't want to sound like some babyfaced white boy.'

It was good enough for Frankie. Frankie made a call, then took Rondo to breakfast.

Nina smiled as she walked in. Frankie tried not to smile when she walked in. They were in business mode. Detective/partner mode. Not fiancé mode. Frankie almost had it. And then she sat down across from him and he couldn't help it. He just couldn't. His fiancé was gorgeous. Nina pulled the hot mic from her purse. She slid them across the table to Frankie before snagging his last piece of bacon. 'Here you go boys.'

'Thank you Ms. James,' Rondo said with his hand on his heart. 'It is lovely to see you, you are looking fine as ever.'

Frankie grinned harder, 'he's right, you are.'

Nina giggled and flapped a hand at them, 'you two!' She smiled softly at Frankie, her eyes conveying every bit of warmth in the world. 'So what kind of trouble are you two up to?'

Rondo grinned, 'I'm going undercover. My CI won't talk to a cop. Even one as good looking as Baby Vanilla.'

Frankie sighed, taking the ribbing in stride, 'it was a good idea. Plus I can send the interview to Jane directly instead of having her call me a thousand times a day asking questions about it.'

Nina nodded, 'sounds good. My computer is all hooked up, just tell us where we're going Rondo.' She snagged Frankie's toast and slid out of the booth so Rondo could follow. Frankie paid the tab and left after them.

Nina parked at a nearby park and Frankie helped Rondo get all wired up. It helped that most of Rondo's clothes were slightly too big. It helped even more that Rondo wore layers upon layers. No one would be able to make the mic under all that clothes. What Frankie hated was being able to see the old man's shrunken ribs. He probably needed to feed the old man more, making sure he had a hot meal every time they met. Frankie could do that.

'Alright Rondo, put this in your ear. Go stand over there and we'll test it out.' Frankie pointed to some park restrooms.

Rondo nodded, bounding almost gleefully from the car, 'you got it baby vanilla.' Frankie took the passenger seat and watched the old man go, shaking his head. Frankie knew he had been the same way during his first undercover assignment.

'Rondo? Do you read me?' Frankie asked in to his own mic.

'Loud and clear baby vanilla,' Rondo said. 'Wanna croon me a song there Etta?'

Nina laughed, 'in your dreams old man.' Frankie fought from blushing. Nina loved to sing. In the shower, in the car, making dinner. He loved her voice.

'Rondo, remember what we said. These mics have a pretty short radius so if you have to go too far, we will have to follow.' Frankie said.

'I got it Baby Vanilla.' Rondo replied. He strode casually up to another homeless man greeting him. 'Herb! How are you my brother?' Frankie watched the two men hug and listened as they discussed the weather and the shelters.

On and on Rondo went. Greeting almost every one at the park like he knew them all personally. Actually, Frankie thought, that was a distinct possibility. Rondo knew people. It was part of what made him a great CI. Rondo disappeared around a group of trees.

'We've lost sight of you Rondo, just so you know,' Nina said. They got a grunt of acknowledgement in return.

Rondo greeted two more people. Frankie rolled his eyes. Listening to Rondo was worse than when his mother said she was 'just' going to say a 'quick' goodbye at a party. They could be here all day. 'Heads up Vanilla, I'm approaching my target,' Rondo whispered softly.

Nina looked at Frankie, who sat up straighter, 'got it, we need to know everything we can.'

'Snickers!' Rondo called, 'whatchu doing girl?' He seemed genuinely pleased to see her.

'Old man,' the voice called back, 'you staying warm?' Frankie looked at Nina seeing the same concern on her face. Rondo's CI was a kid.

'Doing alright, how 'bout you?' Rondo asked, 'you eaten lately? Where's Kit-Kat?'

The girl sounded closer, 'we're okay. Kit's been clearing folks leaves, it's not a lot but it's enough to eat.'

'I wish you girls would go to the shelter,' Rondo said, 'you'd be warm and fed there.'

'Don't start this again old man,' Snickers said, her voice sounding like this was an aged argument. 'You know the shelter isn't safe for kids like us.'

Nina raised an eyebrow at Frankie and mouthed 'LGBTQ?' Frankie shrugged. It fit. A runaway who felt unsafe at a shelter?

'Snickers,' Rondo said full of grandfatherly affection, 'I could help.'

'You already do, old man,' Snickers said, 'you already do. So what are you doing here? Isn't Sunday usually your church morning?'

Rondo sighed, 'I need to ask again about the man asking questions about Doctor Isles.'

Snickers sighed, 'I already told you all I know.'

'I know,' Rondo said sounding amicably guilty, 'but Doctor Isles is a friend. I just want to help her too.'

'You have too many friends old man,' Snickers said, their voice sounding soft and affectionate.

Rondo chuckled, 'perhaps kid. Perhaps.'

Snickers sighed, 'what do ya wanna know?'

'Have her start over again,' Frankie prompted Rondo through the microphone.

'I know you've already told me but tell me again, what happened?' Rondo asked.

'Kit and I were going through the trash for recyclables. We saw some guy shaking down one of us. He had a photo. Wasn't sure who it was at first but he kept asking about a Doctor Isles. Name didn't mean nothing to most of us. Then he spoke to Pigeons.'

'Pigeons?' Frankie asked.

'You mean Ruthie?' Rondo asks, obediently, 'the one who always feeds the park pigeons?'

'Duh, you feeling okay old man?' Snickers asked.

'Right as rain kid,' Rondo said cheerily, 'just clarifying.

'Sure,' Snickers said, 'so any ways Pigeons said that's Doctor Isles. The guy asked her a bunch of questions. Who she was, what she did, stuff like that. Pigeons told her about how Doctor Isles helped her after her husband died. She made sure Pigeons got to say goodbye. Even helped her with a nasty cut. The guy kept asking more questions. Pigeons asked him why he was so curious about Paddy Doyle's daughter, said it wasn't smart to be asking questions like that. The guy got real nervous then. Started fidgeting. Asking what she meant by that. So Pigeons told him.'

'What did pigeons tell him?' Frankie prompted.

'She told him about Doyle's gang?' Rondo asked.

'Mmmhmmm, she told him all about Ray Murphy being found with an ice pick in his chest through a picture of Paddy's kid. Said he wouldn't find information like that in the newspapers, too horrid, but we all got the message. Doctor Isles is off limits.' Snickers said. She sounded a bit awed.

'What happened next?' Frankie asked.

'Then what?' Rondo asked.

'Nothing much,' Snickers replied, 'he got all pale, said to forget he asked and walked away.'

'Walk away to where?' Frankie and Rondo asked at the same point.

'The street. I watched him. He got in a dark car and drove away.'

'Did she see any of the plates?' Frankie asked.

'Did you catch a license plate Snickers? Or anything unusual about the car?' Rondo asked.

'They weren't from Boston.' Snickers said.

'How do you know that?' Rondo asked, not needing to be prompted.

'The license plate. Also they had a red turkey on their window. I don't do sports but even I know everyone in Boston roots for the sox.'

'Can she describe the man?' Frankie asked.

'Thank you Snickers,' Rondo said, 'you're being real helpful. Think you could tell me what this man looked like?'

There was silence for a minute. 'Nah. Just another old white dick to me.' Frankie was so busy cursing he almost missed the next words she muttered, 'but Kit might be able to sketch him. She's better at that sort of thing.'

'Really?' Rondo asked, 'I didn't know Kit liked to draw.'

'Mmm hmm, she's real good too,' Snickers said her voice taking on that same dreamy quality Frankie heard in his own voice every time he bragged about Nina. 'She'll be back this evening if you want to come calling. I know Kit would like to see you.'

Frankie sighed. He was going to spend his day off in the park waiting on a teenage runaway. Nina grabbed his hand a show of silent solidarity. He supposed there were worse things to do than spend his day with his fiancé in the park. 'Tell her you'll be back. Ask what they want for dinner too.'

'You've been really helpful Snickers. So how about I bring y'all dinner and I'll be back around sunset for the sketch.' Rondo offered, 'what do you want?'

'Anything?' Snickers asked.

'Nothing alcoholic,' Rondo said, 'but anything else.'

'We don't drink. Losing your senses on the street isn't safe,' Snickers replied with a tone that said that was obvious. 'We both love Boston Burgers.'

Frankie could hear the smile in Rondo's voice, 'me too. How do you like them?'

Frankie jotted down the girls order as she spoke. 'Got it,' Frankie said, 'thanks Rondo. Come back to the car when you get a chance and we will unhook you.' Frankie muted their mics and turned to Nina, 'what do you think?'

The corner of Nina's mouth were pulled down, her eyebrows knitted together, her lips pursed, 'I think…' Nina began pausing to finish her thoughts, 'that dinner is a good start but we need to find a way to help those girls.'

Frankie blinked twice. He'd been thinking about the case. What could they do to help two run aways besides reporting them? Then they'd be separated, they'd be sent home or to foster care. Was that really best? Frankie wasn't sure. 'Okay,' Frankie said, 'we'll figure it out together.' He squeezed Nina's hand. She smiled back at him, her eyes twinkling.


Jane lay panting next to Maura, trying to catch her breath and slow her thumping heart. Jane thought it was safe to say she had never had so much sex in her life. It wasn't that she had been touch starved in her past relationships. It wasn't even that they hadn't been active. They had but it had usually been over pretty quickly after the guy finished and it usually took a while to get it back up. Jane had never been particularly bothered by that before. It had always felt efficient. She liked it, they liked it, and then it was over. She should have known that sex with Maura would be completely different.

Sex with Maura was like an addiction. She craved it, longed for it, bathed in it. Maura would probably tell her the neurochemicals associated with addiction and love were similar yada yada yada. To begin with, it never truly felt over. She could coax climax after climax from Maura in a string of beautiful symphony of sound, touch and taste, what's more, she wanted to. Even when they weren't actively touching, Jane was keenly aware that they could be, that sense of coiled tension never quite left her. One smile, the brush of their fingers, one simple little thing and Jane felt an overwhelming primal urge. Jane had never felt that way before. She'd never felt so much like a horny teenager in her life, even when she had actually been a horny teenager.

'A Franklin for your thoughts?' Maura laid on the pillow beside Jane, her body curling in to Jane's space.. Jane turned to look at her. Her cheeks were rosy, her hair mussed, and her eyes were a dazzling green in the afternoon light. They were studying Jane, roaming the familiar lines of her face. Jane gulped, there was that tension again.

'A hundred dollars? For one thought?' Jane replied, 'you're seriously overpaying.'

Maura grinned, 'I'd pay significantly more for any thought of yours Jane.'

Jane's heart melted a bit, so of course her reply was sarcastic, 'you're a horrible business woman. You're supposed to be negotiating me down, not outbidding yourself.'

Maura laughed, 'what can I say, recent events have lead me to understand how much I value you.'

Jane chuckled, 'you're going to make me a very rich woman.'

Maura's eyes glinted at that, 'I very much intend to.'

It was as closed as either one of them had gotten to talking about marriage. Jane gulped again for a very different reason. One that she wasn't quite ready to process yet. 'Um… I was just thinking…' then Jane remembered what she was thinking and she choked on her thought, startling a cough that threatened to suffocate her and forced her to sit up. Maura pounded helpfully on her back until Jane could breath normally.

'So it was about sex then?' Maura asked, a smirk on her lips and a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. 'You know we are having sex now, it's okay to talk about it.'

Jane who had been gulping down water, choked again at Maura's words. When she had managed to swallow, she gasped, 'you can't do that to me!'

Maura chuckled, 'I can't talk to you about sex?'

'Not when I'm drinking!' Jane half shouted.

That made Maura giggle outright, 'I apologise for making you choke on your water.'

'You should be!' Jane said.

'So are you going to tell me what you were thinking?' Maura asked, winding her arms around Jane's waist and pressing her very naked chest in to Jane's arm.

'No,' Jane growled.

Maura grinned, 'alright. Is there something else you want to talk about? Something you want to do before you drive back?'

Jane thought about it. 'There actually is but maybe we could shower first?'

Maura released her arms, 'sure, I'll let you go first.'

Jane stood and walked to the door before turning around to look at Maura. She bit her lip, hesitant to say what she wanted, 'I wouldn't mind sharing a shower with you.'

Maura grinned, 'is that so?'

'Yep,' Jane nodded, 'I think I'd quite like it, actually.'

'Jane,' Maura prompted softly, 'are you asking me to shower with you?' Maura smiled, her tone teasing, 'how very scandalous of you.'

Jane blushed a deep red, 'I'm going now.'

Maura's laugh followed her out of the room. Jane turned on the water, letting it warm up. Jane had just stepped under the hot water when she felt Maura slip in behind her, her arms snaking around Jane as she pressed a gentle kiss to Jane's neck. Jane supposed it might have been an apology kiss but before Jane had time to consider it, Maura's hands began to move in some very distracting ways.

A not insignificant time later found Jane and Maura strolling through Federal Hill Park admiring the harbour and Baltimore skyline. Maura had linked their arms, claiming to be cold. Jane didn't mind. Jane liked having Maura close. 'I don't want to leave,' Jane murmured as the sun began to sink. The air was growing colder and their time was dwindling.

'I don't want you to go,' Maura murmured back.

Jane nodded, her throat tight. 'A little while longer can't hurt,' Jane whispered, wrapping Maura up in a hug and burying her face in Maura's hair.

As Jane drove away, Maura in the rearview, Jane tried to silence her gut that was screaming that something bad was coming. She was just a paranoid ex cop. That was all. It had to be all. Jane couldn't lose Maura, she just couldn't.