Jane walked into the precinct with Korsak to follow up on their finding at the crime scene. Jane especially wanted to check on Frost's research. She kept thinking about those cameras, and the woman that the victim, Stephanie Blackwell, had spoke about. The only woman there was Corine Little. She wanted to know when she really got there. Were there cameras in the auditorium, and how in the hell where they going to cordon off the mezzanine during Maura and Jane's date tomorrow.
"Jane, I went over the cameras and it is weird. There is no proof that Corine Little even went into the building. The only people there were Rowling, Blackwell, and this dude," Frost threw the video of a man getting out of a cab. Aviators covered most of his face, and all you could see was blonde hair that fell over his brow and eyes, swept stylishly to the side. A dark brown long pea coat, slacks and what looked like loafers adorned his feet.
"Frost is there any way we can clean it up, or zoom?" Jane asked as she studied the image, but Frost shook his head.
"I have tried every angle, different cameras, slow motion, everything. We can't get the guys face. All we know is he is short and blonde," Frost said. And Jane turned.
"How short?" she paced while watching Frost. I would say about 5 feet 6 inches," he guessed. Jane nodded.
"Actually, that man looks to be about 5 foot 3 inches," a voice came from behind them. Jane immediately smiled when she turned around.
"Hey," she said feeling butterflies flutter about her stomach. Then she cleared her throat as she swallowed and straightened herself up. But the smile never left her lips as she looked toward the doctor.
"How do you gather that doc?" Korsak asked as he pointed to the difference in the top of the cab and the top of the suspects head. She walked to the screen and pointed.
"They are elevated by the curb they are standing on," she said then turned around. She waited for a split second and then Jane snapped as if a thought hit her. She looked down at her watch. It was pushing 7:30 in the evening.
"Guys, I think this is a good place to stop. Thanks, Maur. Good catch. Excellent job of finding this guy Frost," Jane smiled to her partner and he nodded with a small smile. "Vince… About earlier. I get it. I just wanted you to know that," before Korsak could reply Jane sped to her desk retrieved her blazer, and then walked with Maura to the elevator.
Frost and Korsak watched the women standing together, close but not too close, and when the doors opened Jane's hand moved to the middle of Maura's back almost intimately escorting the woman into the box. Frost looked up to the older detective.
"Do you think something is going on between them?" Frost asked seeing a small smile of Korsak's lips.
"Not my place to say and if there was, I don't care. They seem happy around one another," Korsak said looking to Frost with a raised eyebrow as if challenging the tech savvy detective.
"Don't get me wrong, I think they are perfect for one another, its just," Frost paused and tilted his head, "I like the way things are right now. You know?" Frost said. Korsak's eyebrow raised higher as words he said earlier were echoed back to him. He nodded.
"I am alright with that change Frost. Its time Jane was happy," Vince said as he remembered back to their moment in the car. "If Maura can chase away Jane's demons, I am all for them being together," Korsak said to Frost. Frost thought about it. He realized there was still so much he didn't know, or understand, or he was simply lost on.
"What did she mean about getting it?" Frost asked as he saved his info to the cloud, and then grabbed his own coat and started walking with the Sargent to the elevators.
"It was nothing. Just ghosts," Korsak replied and clapped the man on the shoulder looking at Barry, "I hope you never ever tell me that you understand something like that," Korsak smiled as Frost nodded his head and they entered the elevator.
OOOoooOOOooo
"Do you want to go to the Robber?" Maura asked Jane. Jane smiled and shook her head. Jane stood on the sidewalk and took a deep breath and looked into Maura's eyes.
"I don't want to be around a bunch of cops right now. How about dinner? There is a good deli a few blocks away, what do you say to some sandwiches to go?" Jane asked. Maura's smile was radiant.
"I think that is wonderful. I'll take us and we can head to my place. We can have some wine as well as…" Maura's smile slipped as she looked away and paused. Jane reached out and hooked her fingers with Maura's shaking them getting those gorgeous eyes to look at her.
"That sounds great," Jane affirmed. Maura's smile returned as they head to her car. Jane and Maura arrived at the deli ordered their sandwiches, a turkey and swiss on dark rye with spicy brown mustard and iceberg lettuce for Jane, and for Maura a grilled chicken on whole grain with a vinaigrette and shredded lettuce and tomatoes. Sandwiches in hand the ride to Maura's was silent but comfortable.
"I like that we don't have to talk to feel like we belong together," Jane said as she watched the darkness fly by with lights intermingling with the backdrop. Jane pulled her eyes away from the world outside and focused on the word in the car. Maura's lips turned up in a lazy smirk.
"I like that too. Most of the time I feel like I have to say something, but instantly regret it because what I say is usually not understood, or not filtered or simply odd," Maura spoke truthfully.
"I like it though," Jane said then she blinked swallowed, and then thought about that small statement and then smiled, "I like that I know you will not lie to me, you are honest. Its almost pure. That's the only way I can explain you and your conversations, especially with me," Jane elaborated with a cool yet shy smile.
"You think I am pure?" Maura asked with a grin as they pulled up to Maura's home. Jane opened the door and looked at Maura over the car. Her dark eyes, and striking cheekbones looked honestly at Maura. It made Maura shudder slightly.
"No," Jane deadpanned, eyes unblinking, face straight. Maura blinked then Jane began to chuckle. "I believe your intentions are pure," Jane reiterated as she walked around the car.
"I see," Maura tilted her head as she unlocked the door and met Jane's eyes, "Thank you for being honest with me," Maura smiled as she walked into the house.
Jane followed and placed the sandwiches on the island counter and looked around. She saw that Maura didn't lock the door and she sighed and looked at her friend. The blonde watched the detective walk back to the door and lock the deadbolt and door lock and lean against the door, eyes closed. It was stupid she knew, and it was not her house, but she had to. She had to make sure the door was locked, she had to feel safe, and if it was as small as locking the door in Maura's house she would do it. After standing there, refocusing her thoughts, she looked and saw Maura watching her from the kitchen.
"I'm sorry," Jane began as she walked back taking off her blazer. She sat on one of the bar stools just as Maura handed her a plate with her sandwich resting in the middle of it. Jane gratefully took it.
"Its alright. I should probably get better about locking my door anyways," Maura took a bite of her sandwich and watched her friend. She was Jane, well of course she was Jane, but something was off. Something had unsettled Jane recently, and she wanted to know what it was, but you cannot push Jane, Jane will run, and the last thing Maura wanted was for Jane to run.
"Can I ask you for a favor?" Maura asked as she sipped a glass of water. Her mouth suddenly felt like she had sawdust in her mouth, and her chest dropped to her stomach and her heart was in her throat. Jane took a bite from her sandwich and nodded.
"Could you stay with me again?" Maura asked her question with a strength she had no idea she was capable of in that moment.
Maura watched as Jane froze. Her mouth closed, mid chew, her brown almost black eyes wide. Then Maura waited as she saw the small functions in Jane's facial muscles began to move again. Jane chewed, continued chewing, and then swallowed. She reached out and took the glass of water waiting for her and sipped from it. No, strike that, she chugged the entire glass of water.
"Jane you don't…" Maura began as she tried to save any dignity she had then Jane held up a hand.
"No, its ok. I will," Jane pulled her hands together, rubbed her scars in contemplation.
"Why do you seem uncomfortable?" Maura asked shifting from foot to foot.
"Maur, can I ask you a question?" Jane looked up and then Maura nodded this time as she placed her hands on the counter to keep her standing.
"In your dreams…" Jane began and noticed Maura shift from foot to foot and then began to twist the ring on her finger nervously, "Are they always nightmares?" Jane asked her question and Maura's eyes shot up, "I don't want to be a nightmare for you," Jane whispered, "I don't want my worst fears to become your nightmares," Jane looked away as she felt her eyes burn.
Maura walked around the counter quickly and took the detective into her arms. She was shocked when the proud, heroic woman fell into her wrapped her arms around her. When she felt the fabric about her neck saturate she clenched her eyes closed as stroked Jane's hair shushing her friend. She kissed Jane's temple, holding her tightly.
"What happened today?" Maura asked in Jane's ear standing there being a rock for the woman she…
"We found a woman, she was beaten and barely alive in the balcony," Jane began, and Maura gasped, "I went up there to see the scene from a different point of view. I there was so much blood. It hit me, reminded me of…" Jane stopped and pulled from Maura.
She had enough, she couldn't do this, she couldn't spill her fears, and terror, and demons to Maura. Maura felt the lost of contact like a bucket of cold water spilling over her. Jane stood got her jacket, eyes glazed over and tears streaming down her cheeks.
"No," Maura spoke louder than she wanted as she grabbed Jane's wrist and pulled with all her might.
The sensation was hard, and then soft and warm. Never had Maura thought that she could associate the word 'no' with such a phenomenal experience. She froze as Jane's wrist fell from her grasp, and Jane's hands slid to Maura's biceps. Jane's thumbs stroked back and forth over Maura's flesh as they stood pressed together. Lips as soft as water and yet as hard as a mountain. God, she wasn't a huge believer in God, but in that moment all she could do was thank whom ever created Jane's perfect lips. It was simple, it was just the pressing of one's lips to another, but it was right.
"Please," Maura begged against Jane's lips, "Please don't go," Maura pulled away and pressed her head to Jane's jaw then her neck as she slid her arms around Jane's waist, "Not like this, not distraught, and hurting. You don't have to stay with me, but just don't go like this," Maura whispered as she held Jane.
Jane's hands slid up Maura's back and caressed up and down as she held her tighter to her body. She took in the scent of Maura's shampoo, the way her body fit to hers, and how Maura's words were like a salve to her frayed heart and soul.
"Ok," Jane rasped. Maura nodded against Jane's shoulder. Jane took a deep breath, "I had a flashback. As I slowly went to the noise. I made sure I had backup, I called Korsak, and waited," Jane said as she held Maura, "I waited because…" Jane paused, she couldn't do it she felt the words in her throat, but they would not flow. Maura tightened her arms about Jane letting her know it was ok, she could tell her.
"I waited because of you," Jane barely spoke above the whisper and if Maura was not as close as she was she would have missed those words. Jane felt Maura tense, and then pull back, but not away. Hazel eyes met deep brown.
"I don't understand," Maura said blinking. Jane smiled slightly but felt nervous.
"I instantly thought of you when I heard that noise. I could not put you through another hospital visit if it went wrong," Jane confessed waiting for Maura to run. Waiting for the good doctor to tell her to leave, or at the very least pull away from her.
"Thank you," Maura said still holding back, but still in Jane's arms.
She looked to the stairs and then to Jane and tugged her toward them. Jane smiled softly and said a silent prayer. Thanking God for keeping Maura there, with her. Jane showered in the guest bathroom, changed her clothes from the collection she had in the guest bedroom, and then walked to Maura's room and knocked. Maura was already scrubbed clean in her own pajamas when Jane opened the door. Maura looked up and pulled back the covers for Jane. The brunette slid between the sheets and faced her best friend. Maura reached out and slipped a stray lock of hair behind Jane's ear to keep it from her face. She cupped Jane's cheek, stroked her jaw and then put her hand on the bed between them.
"No," Maura said, and Jane's eyes narrowed, and Maura grinned slightly, "No not all of my dreams about you are nightmares," Maura answered Jane's earlier question. Jane let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. She slipped her hand over Maura's between them.
"Good," Jane squeezed Maura's hand in response. Maura's word choice did not go unnoticed by Jane. With a sigh from both women, they fell into slumber, hands clasped like a lifeline to chase away the phantoms.