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

E

(Chapter Twelve)

Maura turned the corner from the stairs and almost stepped on Angela as she was heading into the kitchen.

"Watch out!" Was yelled up in a panic.

"Angela…" Maura said being startled at the woman kneeling at her feet. "I didn't see you there. What are you doing?"

"Cleaning up after my sloppy daughter… that's what. I know she was the one who spilt this beer all over your floor and left it here." She said waving here arms over the space before her. "You do not drink beer."

Maura brought her hand up to her nose and rubbed it trying to hide the smile that came with the knowledge of how the beer got on the floor in the first place. "Don't worry about that. I will mop it up later… I'm sure she just got distracted and meant to clean it up." She said knowing it really was the truth and she wasn't in danger of hives at the explanation.

"Where is she? I will at least have a talk with her about cleaning up behind herself."

"Oh…" Maura looked up the stairs, "We got in late last night and she is in the guest bedroom." She said breathing a sigh of relief for that too was the truth at the moment. "Why are you in here so early?"

"Oh… I needed to borrow your big stock pot today. Alma never returned mine and I wanted to make some broth up." She said as she washed her hands and grabbed the big pot and lid. "Tell Jane I want to talk to her. There is no excuse…"

"Angela it really is okay… trust me. Jane has had a rough time with this case… give her some rope."

Angela looked at the woman puzzled then realized she was saying "give Jane some slack." She smiled and patted Maura on the arm as she was leaving, "Okay… if you aren't mad and it's your floor then why should I be?" She said and left.

When the woman had totally gone into the cottage house Maura turned to face up the stairs and yelled up, "You can come down now the ocean is clear."

Jane popped her head around and looked down at Maura, "You mean the coast is clear."

"What?"

"You mean the coast is clear." She said as she came down the stairs.

"Yeah… that too," Maura said laughing as she reach and hugged the woman. Jane just smiled and kissed the woman's head like it was an everyday event for them to greet each other this way.

They both weren't ready to talk about all the ramifications of what had happened the night before and neither were ready for it to end either so they did what they always did… incorporated it into their relationship without words or questions for the moment.

"I see ma cleaned up the beer." Jane said looking down at the floor.

Maura pulled away, "Yes she did while fussing at you the whole time."

"Me…" She said with a whine pointing back at herself, "You were the one that caused me to drop it in the first place then pulled me up the stairs before I could clean it up."

"Yes… I was…" She said and smiled a satisfying grin, "…did you want me to admit that to your mother?" She asked with the grin still on her face.

"God… no!"

"Well then…" she basked in the moment awhile longer. "Don't worry Jane… I explained you were probably distracted and meant to clean it up and to give you some rope since this case has been a tough one."

Jane gave her the same look that Angela had given her when she had said the same thing to her earlier, "That's give me some slack… Maur." Jane said when she finally pieced together the woman's meaning.

"Whatever… she is okay with you now." She said as she went to make an expresso. "What are you planning to do with the investigation today?" She asked giving them something different to talk and think about.

"I thought I would go and check out that church that the girls were going too. Maybe the pastor might know something."

"Oh… I would love to go with you. I haven't spoken with Pastor Catherine in over a year."

"Pastor Catherine…" Jane said looking totally out of the loop that Maura knew the Pastor of a church.

"Yes… I spoke with her at a charity function to feed the homeless in our city."

"Of course you did." Jane whispered under her breath and smiled. She loved how giving Maura was.

"What was that?"

"I said I would enjoy your company." She said as she took the first cup of fancy coffee that Maura handed her.

"Good… We can go after breakfast." She said and smiled at Jane. She was also hoping that Pastor Catherine just might have some words to help them with their new development as well.

We are coming around the bend...

Oh...for those not use to my writings... :p

when I mention twists... they come in the most unexpected places and most of the time not the

next chapter. There is still a twist coming in this story but even I am not sure where

it will be put. That's what makes it fun for me too.