I don't own Rizzoli and Isles, but I wish I did

A/N: I'm not sure how busy I'll be next week, so I wanted to get another one up today.

Thanks for reading and sorry for any mistakes.

The rise and fall of laughing voices floated through the open gate that led into Vince Korsak's backyard.

At Angela Rizzoli's insistence, Jane and Frankie had hung paper lanterns from the low hanging branches that draped across the lawn. The siblings rolled their eyes when Angela said that it would give the party ambiance. Frost was relegated to icing down the drinks and setting up cornhole. Bets had already been placed on who would win the most games this year. The party guests pegged Jane to be the winner for the third year straight.

Maura hesitantly stepped through the gate into the yard where the party was already in full swing.

Never one to come to a party empty-handed, Maura armed herself with a spicy garlic hummus dip with seasoned pita chips, all organic of course. Looking around for a friendly face, Maura caught the attention of Angela.

"Maura!" Angela rushed over and enveloped the doctor in a smothering hug.

"You are too sweet," Angela gushed as she took the dip from Maura's hands. "If you're looking for Jane, she and that lovely man, Peter, are playing a round of cornhole against Frost and Frankie."

Again, Angela was evil.

Two things came to Maura's mind. One, what is Jane doing playing with Peter? Two, what in the world is cornhole?

"Would you like something to drink, Maura?" Angela asked innocently.

"Oh, a water would be nice. Thank you."

Angela walked Maura over to a bucket full of iced drinks. Angela plunged her hand into the bucket and withdrew a bottle of water and a beer.

"Here. Take this to Jane. She looks like she could use another." Angela said as she shook the water from her hand.

"Thanks, Angela. I'll do that." Maura gave her a warm smile and moved in the direction of cheering and beanbags thumping on wood.

Pot stirred. Angela smirked.

Thump!

"Ooooooohhhhhh!" Jane and Peter threw their arms in the air in triumph as Frost and Frankie groaned in defeat.

"21-16! No contest! Pay up, boys," Jane and Peter high-fived as they walked over to retrieve their winnings from the losers.

Grumbling, Frost and Frankie reached into their back pockets and pulled out their soon to be lighter wallets.

Jane looked up after counting her cash to see Maura smiling and waving a beer in her direction.

"For me?" Jane pointed to herself and gave Maura a roguish grin.

Frost's voice piped up behind them, "No, the other jackass she's waving to."

Jane looked back at her friend and growled at him through clenched teeth, "Knock it off, Frost!"

Stupid Frost. He was throwing off her game.

Frost just walked away laughing.

Maura held out the cold beverage and responded, "Yes. Angela said you'd might like one."

When their fingers touched, both women felt a tingle course through the arms and settle in their bellies.

"Thanks, Maur'." Jane smiled as she twisted off the cap and tossed it in a nearby bucket.

The two women snapped out of their own little world when they heard a throat clear.

"Oh, hey! Peter. Man, I'm sorry." Jane felt badly that she had completely forgotten that her teammate was standing next to her.

"Maura, let me introduce you to Peter. He teaches Economics." Maura extended her hand to the tall blonde man with green eyes and a beard.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Peter." Maura politely shook his hand.

Remember Maura. You need to be nice to this man. He is still your co-worker.

"Jane was just telling me about you." Peter grinned at Jane who was blushing furiously.

"Oh she was, was she?" Maura's interest was piqued as she raised an eyebrow and regarded the embarrassed brunette.

"Yes, and I'm sorry." Peter put his hand over his heart and shook his head.

"Why?" Jane and Maura exclaimed with a mixture of confusion and possible indignation.

"You got stuck with her as a mentor. What contest in hell did you win?" Peter winked and grinned at both of them.

"Ow!" Jane rewarded Peter with a punch to the arm. She had to give a lot of those lately.

"Don't listen to this guy. He's just a jackass."

Peter rubbed his arm.

"Yeah, I'm only kidding. Maura, you're lucky to have her as a mentor."

Peter gave her genuine smile. "Well, I'm going to head over and grab another beer. We, good, Rizzoli?"

"Yeah, we are." Jane waved him off.

"Oh, by the way." He stopped. "Thanks for letting me down easy," he glanced at Maura and back and gave her a lopsided grin.

"No, problem," she smiled at the man's retreating back.

Maura couldn't help herself. "Let him down easy?" A hopeful flutter settled in her chest.

"Um, yeah. I told him he was a great guy and all but I had my mind on someone else. A female someone else." Jane caught Maura's eye then looked away. "He took it really well, and the two of us just friends now."

"Oh, that's nice," Maura felt her hopes rising then crash very abruptly.

The infamous Mary Thomas had sidled up next to Jane.

"Hey, Jane. I haven't talked to you since our date." Kellie said and gave Jane a lecherous grin.

Jane hadn't admitted to the guys or anyone else for that matter that she had ended the date by fleeing her apartment. She waited outside of her own damn apartment for two hours. That's how long it took before Mary finally gave up and left. Jane shampooed her couch cushions the next day.

She started running her fingers up and down Jane's arm. "I know our date ended a bit abruptly, and maybe I came on a little too strongly for our first date, but I'd like to try again."

Maura couldn't believe the audacity of this woman. Why would Jane have even gone out with her in the first place?

Obviously uncomfortable, Jane pulled her arm free as she stepped away from Kellie and moved a little closer to Maura.

"Oh, who's this?" Kellie regarded the beautiful doctor with smile dripping in disdain.

"Kellie, this is Dr. Maura Isles," Jane beamed at mentioning Maura's name. "She's our new AP Anatomy and Bio teacher."

Maura extended a hand but it was not taken.

"Hello, Kellie. You can call me Dr. Isles."

Jane had to turn her head to hide her laugh.

Damn, Maura. Nicely, done.

"Uh," Jane said to break the tension, "Kellie, if you would excuse us, I had planned to show Maura how to play cornhole." Jane placed her hand in the small of Maura's back and led her in the direction of the boards.

Maura couldn't help herself and threw back over her shoulder, "Nice meeting you, Kellie."

Kellie's eyes shot dangers at the doctor.

Out of earshot, Jane turned to Maura, "Oh my God, thank you, Maura."

Jane slumped her shoulders in relief. "I am so glad you were there."

"What is her problem, Jane?" Maura tilted her head slightly and gave Jane a curious expression.

Oh, what the hell.

"Well, you see…" Jane regaled Maura with the story of that ill-fated day.

R&I R&I R&I

Maura's face was priceless. With her mouth hanging open, eyebrows up to her hairline, and eyes that registered a mixture of shock and disbelief, Dr. Maura Isles was rendered speechless for the first time in her life.

"No!" Maura gasped.

"Yes, I'm afraid so. It was the WORST date of my life." Jane couldn't help but laugh now.

"Remember, you can't repeat the part about me running out of my apartment to anyone, especially Frost." Jane implored.

"I swear," Maura chuckled. "I won't say a word."

"How can I trust you?" Jane crossed her arms and gave Maura a wary look.

"I break out in hives and go vasovagal if the lie is bad enough," Maura stated honestly.

"English, please," Jane smirked.

"I faint." Maura blushed. She never blushed telling someone this!

"You're lying," Jane teased, "prove it! Say Kellie Thomas has a delightful personality"

"No!" exclaimed and smacked Jane across the shoulder.

Jane threw her head back laughing.

"Ok, ok. I believe you." Jane wiped at a tear in the corner of her eye.

"Would you like to learn how to play America's favorite cook out pastime?"

Maura giggled. "Yes, I would."

At the moment, no one was playing, so Jane had the perfect opportunity to teach Maura alone.