* I own nothing of Rizzoli and Isles I just have the privilege of playing with the characters for a while.

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(Chapter Seven)

Maura knew that she would have to put Jane in her comfort zone if she was going to get any answers from the woman. She stopped by the Dirty Robber and picked up the "to go" order she had place while she was changing into her yoga pants. While she hated the smell that was going to be left in her car for days of greasy french-fries she deemed it a worthy endeavor if the food made Jane open up to her.

She knocked on the woman's apartment door as promised one hour later. Jane opened it and immediately had a big smile when she saw the Robber sacks in Maura's hands. This pleased Maura beyond any words could have at the moment.

"Here is your non-healthy dinner as requested Detective." She said putting forth the bags.

"You do spoil me Dr. Isles." Jane said taking one of the bags from her hands and looked in it and huffed and stomped her foot. "Maur!"

Knowing what had happened Maura busted out laughing and walked in and handed her the other bag containing her cheeseburger while she took the bag from Jane's hand that contained her healthy leafy salad.

"Better?" She asked the pouting woman.

Jane looked inside and grabbed a french-fry and popped it in her mouth. "Better," she said while chewing. They went to the breakfast bar to eat their dinner. Jane gave Maura a wine glass for the bottle she had brought while she got herself another beer.

Maura decided to let Jane guide the conversation while they ate hoping that it would ease the woman into telling her what was going on, but was frustrated when Jane announced, "There is a Sox game on."

"Jane… I didn't come over here to watch baseball."

The woman hung her head, "I know."

"What is it Jane…" Maura asked but held up from asking the big question she wanted to know. "What was that in the morgue earlier today?"

"I guess this case is bothering me is all." Jane threw out hoping to deflect a bit. "I have another set of parents coming in tomorrow to talk too about their daughter's death." She said and went and got another beer.

"Jane… something besides this case has you upset. Your mother told me that you went to mass this morning." She said trying to stave off the woman's deflection and surprise her into talking by pushing the envelope a bit.

Jane looked up in a mild shock to the statement with a look of "How?" But then she closed her eyes in a resolution of knowing and said "Alma."

"Yes… that is who Angela said had told her that you had gone to church." She agreed and reached out to touch Jane's arm when the woman sat back down. "You didn't mention that you were going to church on Saturday night. What made you go?"

Jane opened her eyes and just froze for several moments trying to gather something to answer the question with. Then she took a drink of her beer. "I just needed an answer to something and thought I could find it there but I was wrong. Anyways it doesn't matter; I've got this case to solve now."

"Jane…"

"No… Maura if I solve this case… I know I will solve my question."

Maura took a deep breath, "May I at least ask what the question is?"

"Not yet… but soon though." She said then realized that she might could get an answer from the woman if she spun it just right herself. "But you can answer another question for me."

Maura looked at her puzzled, "If Alley and Bethany were together as a couple…" she paused to let that sink in, "…do you think their love was reprehensible?"

"To me personally no, but too many it would be considered that way. Why are you asking?"

"Bethany's step mom is coming in tomorrow and she is super religious. She told me that I was committing a sin by lying to her that her step daughter was dead."

"Oh…" Maura said taking in a big breath of air in relief as Jane looked at her confusedly. "That is why you were talking to Angela about sin."

"Yeah…" Jane played it off well. "After today's mommy melt down in the morgue tomorrow maybe the opposite with the righteous explosion. And I can only imagine what will happen if I have to tell that woman her step daughter was in a gay relationship."

"But Jane… the girls might have only been good friends like we are." She said on purpose to see what would be the reaction this time. It was almost the exact same facial expression that she had received in the town house earlier but this time Jane moved to sitting on the couch with her beer instead of leaving the room. This made Maura think that Jane was having issues with their friendship. "Jane… Are you upset with me?" She asked as she came and sat by Jane on the couch.

"God no…" Jane said and looked at Maura with tears threatening in her eyes. "I just need to solve this case… I promise."

Maura could see the mixture of fear, pain, and almost anger in Jane's eyes. She realized she needed to let sleeping dogs lay for the moment. To push further would be risky, "Okay Jane… but you know I am always here for you no matter what."

Jane smiled and again pulled the woman into a hug… "I know and thank you."

"Two hugs in one day," Maura thought, "… this is serious. But I'm here for you."

She said nothing when Jane turned the Sox game on but didn't move an inch from where she was sitting. She really couldn't tell where she ended and Jane began but decided that maybe Jane was in need of closeness after the rough day. If she was honest she actually enjoyed having Jane this close. The game went into extra innings and the women found themselves in the same position they were in on Saturday… asleep on each other's shoulders.

This is a slow burn but hang on we are coming around the bend soon... promise.