Jane Rizzoli: A Case Study

Part Seven: Experiment Three

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Summary: Maura's not a guesser. So, when she comes up with a theory as to her best friend's recent change in behavior, she sets out to test her hypothesis the only way she knows how: careful observation and experimentation. Slow burn, fluff, eventual smut, some angst.

Warnings: The following fic is rated M (NC-17) for language and sexual situations. Readers be warned.

With another case open, the team was busier than ever. Maura didn't even get a chance to talk to Jane alone until the end of the day. While the leads had dried up for Jane, Maura was still busy compiling evidence and completing reports by the time six o'clock rolled around. She was so busy, in fact, that she didn't even notice Jane wander into her office until the brunette was nearly at her desk.

"Oh!" Maura jumped as she noticed a figure in the periphery of her vision.

"Sorry," Jane apologized, "I didn't mean to startle you."

Instantly, a smile spread over Maura's face. She closed the file folder on her desk and stood up. Despite her nervousness about how to proceed, Maura was happy to have Jane alone, especially with that warm smile.

"I'm glad you're feeling better," Jane grinned, hovering close to her. She rubbed Maura's arm sympathetically. "You had me worried this morning."

"I'm sorry about that," Maura said, feeling a bit awkward. She was anxious Jane would ask her again what it had all been about. The honey blond was still not convinced that the full truth would be the best move. She still didn't know what Jane's reaction would be if she told her how she felt.

Jane squeezed her shoulder supportively, "You don't have to be sorry. It's okay… So, you ready to go home?"

Maura smiled appreciatively. "I just have a few things to finish up," she said, stacking some of the folders on her desk. "Can I meet you upstairs in twenty minutes?"

"Sure," Jane beamed.

The two ended up at Maura's house. Jane ordered pizza and Maura took out some of her favorite wine. They ended up watching the DVR recording of last night's game. As Jane watched the TV, Maura mostly watched Jane.

"I can feel you staring at me." Jane said, taking a sip of her beer.

"Sorry," Maura shook her head, blushing. She had been trying to figure out how to start the conversation but could not find a way to bring it up.

"Was there something you wanted to talk about?" Jane smiled, looking at Maura out of the corner of her eye as she took another sip.

"Nothing too … specific." Technically it was true. She wanted to bring up the topic of dating. She hoped that might lead them in the right direction.

"Really?" Jane smirked, raising an eyebrow.

Maura struggled with where to start. It would be too blatant to simply say 'I'm attracted to women.' Jane would probably wonder where the hell that came from. She decided, after a long, awkward silence, to bring up something about Jane.

"I just wonder …" she began, watching Jane's casual glances for some hints as to her thoughts, "why were you so upset a couple weeks ago when I talked about my date with Daniel?"

"Wow," Jane said, not looking away from the TV, "Random."

"I'm just curious," Maura said, wishing Jane would look at her.

Jane glanced at her only briefly, "Who said I was upset?"

"You just changed the subject so quickly. I wondered why."

Finally, Jane looked at her, turning towards her slightly, "Is this why you've been upset?"

Maura shifted to face her as well, "Not… exactly."

"Huh?"

"I just…" Maura said, searching Jane's eyes, wondering how far she could get before Jane would shut down. "I wonder why you've been so opposed to talking about dating."

Jane turned back to the TV, shrugging her shoulders, "I don't know…"

Maura put her hand on Jane's shoulder, causing her to look back at her. "Does it bother you when I talk about my dates?"

Again, Jane shrugged, "No. Not really."

The honey blond might not be able to lie, but she was pretty good at figuring out when Jane was. She tugged on Jane's shoulder, tilting her head knowingly, "Jane."

Jane glanced at her only briefly, then back down at her beer. She peeled at the label as she admitted, "Okay, I might be a bit jealous."

"Jealous?" Maura frowned, trying to control the palpitations in her chest.

The brunette was quiet for a moment. Then, rather lamely, she added, "You know … that you're dating and I'm not."

"Oh…" Maura whispered, her heart sinking. She had been convinced for a moment that Jane was confessing what she could only suspect.

"I'm sorry I brushed you off," Jane apologized, looking at her sympathetically. "If you want to talk about Daniel, I'll listen now."

Maura looked away and at the TV. She tried to fight the pang in her chest. "It's okay. I don't want to talk about Daniel. I'm not really interested in him anyway."

"Oh…" Jane said, turning back to the TV as well.

There was a long, awkward silence as they both tried to focus on the game. At least Maura thought Jane was trying to watch, but she did notice the brunette glancing at her out of the corner of her eye. She wondered if Jane was going to ask why she even brought up Daniel in the first place. Ultimately, Maura's own question ate at her until she just had to ask.

"I just wonder…" Maura finally said, "why aren't you dating anyone?"

Jane took a moment to answer. Then, she shrugged, "I don't know … I guess I haven't …" she turned to look at Maura, "found the right … guy."

Maura could almost swear Jane had choked on the word "guy," but she couldn't trust herself. Instead of address Jane's inflection, she decided to keep the conversation more casual.

"So, what is it that makes the 'right' guy?" Maura said conspiringly, scooching a bit closer.

The brunette chuckled, "Oh, so we're going to have this kind of talk."

"What?"

"You know, girl talk."

"Girl talk?"

Jane laughed, pausing the game and turning to face Maura. "You know, about boys."

"Boys?" Maura said, sincerely confused.

Jane shook her head, "Men. Whatever. You know what I mean."

"You don't want to talk about men?"

"I didn't say that."

"So, what makes the perfect man?" Maura smirked playfully.

"Perfect?" Jane laughed.

"You know, what qualities are you looking for?" she replied, as if it were obvious.

"I don't know," Jane shrugged. She took a moment to consider, looking at the still image on the TV as she came up with her answer. "I guess … strong… intelligent, kind, athletic … not self-centered … interesting to talk to…"

"Hm…" Maura considered. She wondered how far she would be able to push this conversation. She wasn't sure how Jane would react if she brought up dating women outright.

"What about you?"

"Huh?"

"What about you?" Jane said, only glancing at Maura. "What do you look for in a guy?"

"I guess what I look for in a partner is …" Maura said carefully, "strength—both mental and physical—intelligence, of course; kindness and compassion, openness to vulnerability …"

"What you're describing is a woman," Jane joked.

"I'm open to that too," Maura shrugged.

"What?" Jane said, her face pale as she looked at Maura in shock.

The honey blond shrugged again, "I've dated women before. I'm open to doing so again."

"You—?" Jane choked, gulping. Maura had not truly understood the idiom 'like a deer in the headlights' until that moment.

"I told you about Kitty, right?" Maura said, trying to keep her tone even, casual. She wasn't sure what she expected Jane's reaction to be, but the fear in Jane's eyes was starting to worry her. Could Jane not even handle the idea?

"Your college roommate?" Jane asked breathlessly.

Maura nodded, "We lived together briefly, yes, but she wasn't technically my roommate."

"What about Kate?" Jane said, gulping and sitting up. She looked terribly uncomfortable.

"No," Maura shook her head, "she was very beautiful, but straight. We were just roommates."

Jane looked as if her head was spinning. Maura imagined a thousand questions buzzing around in her mind. She only hoped the anxiety in her eyes wasn't the instinct to run.

"And Jasmine—no, Janna?" Jane said at last.

Maura nodded.

"Why didn't you…?" Jane said, the color returning to her face. Maura hoped the red on Jane's cheeks was not from anger.

"We don't talk about my college days much." Maura said softly, "You've always seemed sensitive about the topic. I know you wanted to go there."

"This was at BCU?"

"I had a few casual relationships in graduate school, too, but nothing serious. I was too busy with medical school."

Jane was quiet for a long time. She didn't look at Maura; instead, she looked far away. Maura started to worry that Jane was overwhelmed by this news.

The brunette finally looked at her, "How have you not mentioned this?"

"I did," Maura nodded, "you asked about my friends in college. I told you about some of my girlfriends."

"I assumed you meant…" Jane stared at her, "like … friends that are girls."

"I've never really had many of those." Maura said a bit sadly.

"Oh, Maura," Jane said, putting a hand on her arm sympathetically.

Jane blushed when Maura looked at her hand. The brunette pulled away. She sat up awkwardly, avoiding Maura's eyes.

"Jane?" Maura said softly, struggling to steady her voice, "The fact that I've dated women doesn't bother you, does it?"

"No!" Jane said quickly, "Of course not."

"Good…" Maura breathed.

There was another long, awkward silence. Jane tried to smile at her, but Maura could tell she was anxious. She hoped it was because Jane was starting to put some of the pieces together about her behavior, but she couldn't know for sure. She just prayed Jane would not ask her outright. Maura wouldn't be able to lie, but she also wasn't prepared to risk everything on Jane's response to such a confession.

"So…" Jane said, her posture relaxing. She glanced at Maura curiously, "why haven't you dated any women lately?"

Maura was glad that Jane wasn't trying to avoid the topic altogether, but she was coming dangerously close to forcing a concession.

"I, uh …" Maura struggled with how to answer the question while not revealing the whole truth. Her heart could not take it if Jane rejected her, no matter how softly she might try to do it. "I guess I haven't… caught the right woman's attention."

She dared to glance into Jane's coffee brown eyes. There was a faint blush over Jane's cheeks. Her mouth was slightly open, almost as if in surprise. She was fidgeting with the beer bottle, looking into Maura's eyes only briefly. Maura wondered if Jane was struggling with a confession of her own.

"Maura …" Jane said at last, "I—"

"Hello ladies!" Angela called loudly from the kitchen.

They both jumped. Jane quickly moved to place her beer bottle on the coffee table and stood up. Maura watched her look at her mother frightfully.

"Hello, Angela," Maura said, standing up reluctantly. The older woman had unfortunate timing.

"Hi, Ma…" Jane said walking to towards the kitchen. Though her voice was steady, she rubbed her palms nervously.

"Hi honey," Angela smiled. She waved Jane away, "Don't let me interrupt. I was just getting some things from the fridge." She called into the living room, "Maura, you don't mind, do you? I still need to go the store."

"Of course not," Maura smiled, walking up behind Jane. "You know you're welcome to anything."

"Thanks," Angela beamed. "So," she added conversationally as she looked through the fridge, "what are the two of you up to."

"Nothing." Jane said quickly.

Maura glanced at her, replying, "Just talking."

"But I should really get going…" Jane said, looking at Maura with an awkward smile.

"Really?" Angela and Maura said simultaneously.

"I'm tired, and I really need to walk Jo." Jane said, looking apologetic.

"You can't have finished watching the game?" Angela frowned.

"No," Jane shrugged, "but Frost spoiled it for me anyway. They lost."

"Okay…" Angela sighed. As Jane turned to leave, Angela watched Maura's reaction.

"Good night Jane!" Maura called after her.

"Good night," Jane waved over her shoulder.

To be continued