Maura moved in a daze. She shook hands with the last interviewer and made the compulsory thank you's while her mind was nine hundred and two miles north. Maura had scheduled her flight back to DC for tomorrow morning and as Maura drove back to the hotel she couldn't possibly fathom why. Maura packed her things with a haste and laziness that she would loathe herself for later. Shoving unfolded garments roughly in to bags. She loaded everything in to her rental and headed straight for the car rental. She dropped off her car and headed for the airport on the shuttle.

A kind looking older lady smiled up at her from the ticketing counter, 'hello Miss. What can I do for you today?'

'I need to go home,' Maura said, feeling slightly frantic and utterly relieved. Home. Home. Home. Her brain sang it on repeat.

The woman raised her eyebrows, 'are you saying you need to buy a ticket?'

Maura shook her head, 'I have a ticket for tomorrow but I need to leave tonight. I don't see any reason to stay away another night.'

The woman nodded and smiled in a way that made Maura feel slightly unhinged but she couldn't help it. Jane was one flight away. 'Can I have your name and destination please?'

Maura wasn't sure how she made it through the rest of the conversation when all she could think about was Jane but she must have managed alright because she passed over her luggage and headed for a gate with a direct flight to DC in a little over an hour and a half. Maura fidgeted until they called her board. She fidgeted as they waited to be taxied away. She fidgeted throughout the flight. She fidgeted right up to baggage claim and then in to her ride share. And then she was home. Standing in front of her own door, the light from the living room flooding the stoop.

Everything stopped. The world slowed down, her ears roaring furiously. She was here. She was here. Jane was on the other side of that door and Maura didn't know what to do. She should have gotten flowers. Or chocolates. She should have planned a surprise. Should have made it special. And then she heard Jane's laugh and Maura couldn't debate it any longer. She pressed the doorbell button.

Boston and Berry were at the door in seconds. Their barking brought tears to Maura's eyes. It took Jane forever to open the door. Maura thought she might have been dropped in to purgatory where every thing she longed for was on the other side of that door but it wouldn't open. Maura had half decided to pull out her keys when the door finally, finally opened. Light flooded her first but not by much. The dogs were on her in an instant, barking and jumping and trying their best to get to her face. Maura could process only one thought: Jane. Jane didn't answer the door.

Maura stared in confusion at the dark skinned woman standing in her doorway, answering her door. The woman was maybe 5'1" with brown almost black eyes and black hair that hung below her waist. Her eyebrows knit together like she was just as surprised and confused to see Maura as Maura was to see her. Maura felt her mouth moving trying to say something, anything. At last she managed to croak out, 'you're not Jane.' The sudden disappointment of it all swooped in on her at once. Tears swelled and she found herself sobbing embarrassingly so on her own stoop. Boston and Berry sensing the change in Maura shifted too. Berry began whining, keeping her eyes on Maura. Boston snarled a challenge in to the darkness, daring the world to try and get her human.

'Um,' the woman spoke in a clearly uncomfortable tone, 'I'm Noemi Baccay. I'll get Agent Rizzoli, that is… Jane. I'll get Jane.'

The woman disappeared in to Maura's house. The next sound to greet Maura's ears was the irritated intonations of her lover. 'How hard is it to send solicitors away Baccay. Come on! The pats were just about to-.' Jane stopped when she saw who stood in her doorway. 'Maura,' Jane breathed out. Maura barely had time to take her in. Her warm brown eyes sparkling in amazement, her dark hair wild and unkempt in Maura's favourite way, her feet were covered in her lucky red socks that had been washed so many times they were pink, her sweater sporting her favourite football team, and that smirk. That beautiful, wonderful smirk. And then Jane was on her. Sweeping her in to her arms. Maura was home. At long last. She was home. And she was never leaving again. Jane's arms held her close and tight like she had the same thought. 'You're home, you're home,' Jane whispered over and over and Maura melted. She had been silly to think Jane needed anything but this.

Maura doesn't know how long they stood like that. Long enough for the dogs to lose interest and return inside to where there were humans more willing to engage them. Long enough for the weight of the last twelve weeks to slip off Maura's shoulders. Long enough for Maura's tears to dry up and Jane's eyes to grow wet. When they pulled apart Maura pressed up and placed the softest, most loving kiss she could on Jane's lips. Maura couldn't bring herself to quite pull all the way away so her lips brushed against Jane's when she whispered, 'I've been waiting forever to do that.'

Jane sealed their lips in another kiss, her strong arms holding on to Maura with desperation. When she let go, Maura's not sure which one of them was more disappointed. 'You didn't tell me you were coming home. I would have picked you up from the airport. I would have made you a romantic dinner. I wouldn't have sent Noemi to answer the door.'

Maura laughed a bit at Jane's nervousness. 'I didn't really plan it out. All I knew was I was done in Miami and I could come home. To you. To this.' Maura buried her face back in to Jane's chest, breathing her in.

Jane gave her a squeeze, 'want me to send the recruits home? We were just watching the game. I'd much rather be with you.'

Maura shivered at the implications, 'eventually but I'd like to meet them. And maybe apologise for bursting in to tears on Noemi.' She felt a blush rising. Maura wasn't normally so emotional but Jane always brought it out in her.

'Come on,' Jane said tugging at her luggage to move it inside, 'I'll introduce you.'

They managed to pile the luggage just inside the door before Jane wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her in to the living room where the Patriots game was on and three pizza boxes sat on the coffee table along with a handful of beers. Noemi sat on one side of the loveseat, her posture rigid and uncomfortable as though she was trying hard to not touch the woman sitting next to her. Aarna Dhar was suppressing a mischievous grin. She was taller than the woman beside her, probably close to 5'10". Her features were slimmer, more angular than Noemi's. Her skin was dark too but warmer in tone than Noemi's. Her hair was darker and curlier. Her eyes glittered a warm mischievous brown colour, with a red bindi between them. Maura knew instantly why Jane gravitated to the pair of them.

Jane beamed at them, 'ladies this is the love of my life Doctor Maura Isles and she knows about your relationship Noemi so you can stop pretending you don't want to be touching Aarna right now.'

'Call me Maura, please,' Maura said with a smile for them both, 'and please don't let me intrude on your time together. I have every intention of claiming Jane's lap.'

Noemi and Jane blushed while Aarna laughed. Maura was true to her word. She pushed Jane on to the couch, grabbed herself a slice of pizza and then melted in to Jane's side, her free hand wrapping itself tightly around Jane's waist. She couldn't tell you what the pizza toppings were, what game was on, or even who was playing. All she knew was that she was exactly where she was supposed to be. It took Noemi a few minutes to get comfortable but at last she swung her legs up on to Aarna's lap and settled in the couch to watch the game. Aarna sent Maura a conspiratorial wink and Maura grinned back at her.

Maura woke some time later to Jane cheering, Noemi groaning, and Aarna laughing. 'What?'

'Pats win! Brady does it again!' Jane all but shouted. 'In your face Baccay.'

'You're insufferable,' Baccay muttered back.

'She really is,' Maura said with a wry grin and a big yawn.

'You aren't much better,' Aarna said playfully poking at Noemi's side.

Jane grinned like a wolf, 'you can pay up tomorrow Baccay. I'm taking Maura to bed. Y'all can have the guest room if you promise to clean this up and take out the dogs.'

Maura was grateful the pair agreed, leaving Jane all to Maura. Jane helped her up and didn't let go of her hand as they headed upstairs. She closed the door behind them and brought Maura to the bathroom.

'Did you want to shower before bed?' Jane asked softly, 'I know how you hate travel germs.'

Maura nodded then gulped as Jane began unbuttoning her blouse. 'What are you doing?'

'Helping,' Jane said with a wicked grin.

Maura isn't sure she has the energy to keep up with Jane but she definitely doesn't have it in her to stop Jane either. Jane's hands dance over Maura's body, disrobing and soothing her all at once. They guide her beneath warm water, lathering her up with soap and tenderness. Jane didn't push her further, didn't ask for more. This wasn't about sex, Maura realised, this was about intimacy. Jane was taking care of her, showering her in love and attention, because she could and Maura let her. Jane dried her off, brushed her hair, helped her in to pyjamas and then tucked Maura in to bed, wrapping herself around Maura completely. Utter bliss followed Maura in to her dreams.

Maura wakes in the morning to her phone ringing. Maura realised Jane must have plugged it in at some point. Maura answers, stifling a yawn, 'Doctor Isles.'

'Hey Maura!' Her little sister's voice greets her cheerily, 'it sounds like I woke you but I thought you'd be on your way to the airport already.'

'I came home early,' Maura says a blush rising as she recalled her frantic hurry to get home yesterday.

'Couldn't wait another day to see Jane?' Cailin's voice was full of humour and teasing.

'Did you call just to give me a hard time? Because if so I'm going back to bed.' Maura says grumpily in a voice that sounds remarkably like how Jane spoke to her little brothers. Cailin's laughter is bright and clear. Maura grumbles under her breath in what she is sure is exactly like Jane, 'fine. Goodbye Cailin.'

'No,' Cailin says catching her breath, 'wait! I need your help!'

Maura sat bolt upright, 'what is it? Are you okay? Is it your kidney?'

'Woah there sis. I'm fine. I need your help studying,' Cailin said, sounding somewhat guilty at worrying Maura.

'Oh,' Maura said with relief. 'What's the subject?'

'Biochem,' Cailin says, 'I just need someone who knows what I'm talking about to walk through it with me.'

Maura stifled another yawn, 'don't you have a lab partner?'

'Yeah,' Cailin said somewhat stiffly, 'I just thought….' Cailin trailed off sounding hurt.

'I'm sorry Cailin,' Maura said feeling ashamed, 'I'd love to help. I just meant I haven't taken Biochem in years. Are you sure I'm the best choice?'

'You're the smartest person I've ever met, who better to help me study, you know?' Cailin asked, sounding uncharacteristically shy, 'besides we all know you don't forget anything. You have near perfect memory.'

Maura chuckled, 'that's hardly true but I'm flattered.'

'So you'll help me?' Cailin asked sounding like the very picture of an eager kid sister.

'Of course I will,' Maura said with a grin. 'Just let me go to the restroom and grab some breakfast and we can talk through it.'

'So like five minutes?' Cailin asked.

Maura laughed, 'try fifteen.'

'Ugh, fine. But if I found out that eating breakfast is code for having sex with Jane I'm going to be pissed!'

'Cailin!' Maura said with equal parts shock and amusement.

'What? I wasn't born yesterday,' Cailin says with so much snark that Maura thinks Jane might be whispering in her ear.

'I assure you, I will be going to the bathroom alone and making coffee and eating breakfast. I will not be participating in a quick round of coitus. I'm saving that for when I can enjoy it for hours on end.' Maura grinned at her last sentence.

'Woah. T-M-I,' Cailin said sounding horrified.

'Don't start what you can't finish little sister,' Maura said cheekily.

'Whatever. Just call me when you're clothed and ready to talk Biochem.' Cailin had a way of saying 'whatever' that made Maura want to roll her eyes. She wondered if it was a generational thing or a little sibling thing. Maybe both.

'Fifteen minutes, that's all,' Maura replied before saying goodbye. She couldn't resist the grin on her face. Maura had always wondered what having a little sibling felt like and she adored it. She loved that Cailin was calling for help even if she was being particularly obnoxious about it.

Maura got ready quickly, using the restroom and pulling her hair up in a sloppy bun before heading downstairs. Jane, Aarna and Noemi were laughing in the kitchen and for a minute Maura feels guilty for sleeping in but then Jane sees her and smiles and Maura can't bring herself to care. 'Good morning ladies,' Maura said with a smile for the recruits. 'Good morning, love,' Maura said in a huskier whisper just for Jane as she pressed a kiss to Jane's cheek. 'Cailin called asking for my help with Biochem. Do you mind if I walk her through it?'

Jane pressed a fresh cup of her favourite tea in to her hands, 'nope. I'm making Ma's blueberry pancakes for everyone.'

'With extra love?' Maura asks cheekily. Jane blushes, just the way Maura likes.

'Yes,' Jane mutters while her recruits snicker behind Maura.

'Perfect,' Maura said pressing another kiss and going to the dining room to call her sister.

They were discussing the process of mapping the human genome when Jane placed a plate of blueberry pancakes in front of her with a kiss on the head. 'Good morning Cailin,' Jane said with a smile and wave to the phone.

'Hey Jane,' Cailin said glancing up from her notes with a look that Maura could only describe as study fatigue.

'Glad to see you're taking advantage of this big brain,' Jane said ruffling Maura's hair affectionately.

'Hey!' Maura yelped at the surprisingly rough treatment, 'watch the hair!'

Cailin cackled on the other end and Jane smiled a sheepish apology, 'sorry.' She pressed a second kiss to Maura's head. 'Remember to have some fun while you're studying, okay?'

Maura pouted, 'the human genome is fun Jane.'

'No, Maura, the human gnome is only fun for nerds and Cailin is not a nerd. She's cool like me,' Jane winked at Cailin through the phone which brought another laugh from Cailin.

'Genome. G-E-N-O-' Maura began but was cut off by the door bell ringing. Jane and Maura share a look, wondering if either had expected it.

'I'll get it,' Jane said with a wave to Cailin.

Maura was half a bite in to pancakes when she heard Jane answer the door. 'Can I help you fellas?'

'We're looking for Doctor Isles.' A man's voice said.

'What's this about?' Jane asked, sounding disgruntled.

'Is Doctor Isles home?' A second man's voice echoed the first.

'Cailin, that's for me,' Maura said putting her fork down and looking sadly at her pancakes, she had a feeling this was going to spoil her appetite, 'can I call you back later?'

'Yeah,' Cailin said, 'everything okay?'

'I don't know,' Maura said with a sigh.

'Okay. Call me later. Love you Maura!'

'You too Cailin.' Maura hung up then stood and went to where she could hear Jane growing increasingly frustrated. 'I'm here Jane,' Maura said coming up alongside Jane. She laid a hand on Jane's forearm, offering comfort. Jane relaxed and opened the door wider to a pair of two gentlemen in suits.

'Doctor Isles?' plain white man with androgenetic alopecia said.

'Yes, I'm Doctor Maura Isles,' Maura said with a frown.

'We're with the FBI and we need to ask you a few questions,' plain white man with psoriasis said.

'Badges?' Jane said, her tone challenging. Both men exchanged glances before pulling out FBI badges. Maura could see Jane memorising their badge numbers.

'This is my partner, Agent Jane Rizzoli,' Maura gestured to Jane.

'Agent?' Psoriasis man asked, 'with the FBI?'

Jane nodded but said nothing. Maura spoke instead, 'perhaps you could tell us what this is all about?'

'Are you related to Paddy Doyle Junior?' Alopecia man asked.

Maura bristled, 'that is a well established fact. I'm listed as his next of kin and his emergency contact.'

'Have you had any contact with him recently?' Psoriasis asked.

Jane shifted and Maura stilled her with a gentle squeeze of her hand, 'not in the last month. My last prison visit was in LA. I did receive a letter from the department of justice informing me that his transfer request to Massachusetts had been approved but I only flew back in to town last night.'

'Where were you Saturday Ma'am?' Alopecia asked.

'This is starting to sound an awful lot like an interrogation gentlemen,' Jane said, crossing her arms, 'you'd better come out with it before I demand we have a lawyer present.'

'Jane, its fine,' Maura said with a soft rebuke, 'I flew from Atlanta to Miami on Saturday. I can have the airline's confirm. Then I checked in to my hotel. Why is the FBI concerned with my whereabouts?'

'Because,' a third man said from behind the pair, this time the voice sounded familiar. Maura knew before he pushed his way through the two men exactly who had called at her door. She knew by the way Jane paled, blanching at the voice. 'Paddy Doyle escaped custody last Saturday night.' Maura wasn't sure if she was more surprised by that news or by Agent Gabriel Dean standing on her front porch.

Maura's blood ran cold. Her voice was icy, even to her, 'Agent Dean.'

'Doctor Isles,' Dean inclined his head to her, 'Agent Rizzoli.' Dean looked at Jane with something a little too like longing for Maura's liking.

'What the hell Dean?' Jane said tensing, her anger causing her to take up more space than before, 'Paddy escaped and then what? You think he came here? And we just happened to not call?'

'Hardly,' Dean said, his voice sounding soft, sincere and sorry. 'Paddy is too smart to come to his daughter who is definitely under surveillance and is living with an FBI agent even if you are that FBI agent, Jane.' Dean removed his glasses, imploring Jane to trust him. 'This is a courtesy visit, letting you know who will be surveilling you. Meet Agent Johnson and Agent Brown.'

'I'm not dirty,' Jane all but shouted in Dean's face, 'and I sure as hell don't need babysitters.'

'This is procedure Jane. That's what its always been about,' Dean said sadly, 'procedure.'

Maura can hear what he's trying to say. Maura wants to scream. Wants to claim Jane right there, her jealousy making her see red. Maura manages to calm her worst instincts speaking through gritted teeth, 'that's fine Agent Dean. I'll be sure to contact you if Paddy reaches out. Now if you'll excuse us, we'd like to get on with our day.' Maura moved to close the door, only to find a heavy hand stopping her.

'Jane,' Dean pleaded, 'come on. You're on our side now. You understand. What would you tell your recruits?'

'Fuck you Dean,' Jane spat out, 'I was always on your side I just trusted you to do your job. Can't say the same for you.' Jane turned and walked away, leaving a flabbergasted Dean behind.

'Maura, come on,' Dean said turning to her, 'talk to her. Please? We were good together. You saw it.'

Maura took the man in. He was scruffier than the last time they met, his hair a bit greyer. 'I'm sorry to inform you that Agent Rizzoli is very happily taken.'

'Oh,' Dean said, his face falling, 'I probably should have guessed that. Of course I didn't expect her to be waiting for me.' Maura almost felt a twinge of sympathy for the man. Loving Jane Rizzoli was devastating after all and Maura knew that better than most. But then Dean asked, 'whose the lucky guy?' And Maura couldn't help it. Her anger flared.

'Me!' Maura whispered heatedly in his face, watching with satisfaction as his eyes widened and his jaw dropped, 'now unless you have a warrant to search the premises I suggest you remove your arm and let me close my door.' For a moment, only a moment, Maura thinks the man might be too shocked to move but then he drops his arm and steps back. The slightly wounded look on his face is the last thing Maura sees as she closes her door.

Strong arms circle her waist and a familiar nose nuzzles her neck. Jane's voice is low and gravelly, 'I like seeing you all jealous and possessive.'

Maura sighed, a hand coming up to tangle in familiar hair as she let Jane's warm heat fill her up. 'Well I hate feeling this way. You aren't a possession to be fought over.'

Jane chuckles throatily against her neck, 'but you'd win me in every fight.'

'That goes without saying,' Maura replied steadily, 'I am an expert fencer.' Maura let Jane hold her for a minute longer before a horrible truth tugged her away. 'Jane?'

'Yeah, Maura?' Jane whispered, sounding so remarkably steady and sure of herself.

'Paddy escaped. My father broke out of jail.' Maura said it even though she hardly believed it.

'Yeah, he did,' Jane said sounding heavy. 'Come on, let's go send the recruits home and then we can talk about it.'

'What is there to talk about?'

Jane sighed, 'I might have an idea as to why he broke out.'

'You what?' Maura had the distinct sensation of a rug being pulled out from beneath her feet. Surely Jane had not helped Paddy Doyle to escape.

'Recruits, Maura,' Jane gestured back towards their kitchen. 'Besides you should probably warn Hope.'

'Fuck,' Maura said, making Jane chuckle, 'fine but then you're going to explain everything.' Jane nodded, looking resigned to it, before disappearing in to the kitchen. Maura found Hope's contact and hit the call button, a sense of dread feeling her stomach as she considered the news she had to share with her mother.