Hey, guys. Jesus, I hope I can keep this flow up. It's like a dam has been breaking! And thank you for your kind Reviews. And before you are wondering, the dog's breed I've been describing is a Labrador. I can't help it but those are one of my favorites. AND, italics is retrospectively. It actually happened to my Jane and Maura in my story.

Anyway, enjoy,

T73

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Gazing at the bloody ruffle, Jane went to bed. "Maybe he didn't take the body anywhere. Maybe he -," she added, without letting her excitement show, kneeling down and the room became quite after even Kaminski noticed the blood on the ruffle.

Jane lifted the ruffle without touching the blood. Before she was able to look underneath the bed, a deep growl made her pulling her hand back.

"Shit!" Kaminski scolded and jumped back so hard that he pushed a bedside table against the wall.

Jane saw the glint of metal in his hand and realized he had drawn his weapon.

"Get out of the way!" He was beside her, pushing her to the side and nearly knocked her over. She grabbed his arm as he aimed ruthlessly to shoot anything that moved under the bed, though he could see nothing. "What the hell are you doing?" She shouted at him.

"What the hell do you think?"

"Calm down, Detective Kaminski." Maura said and pulled his gun down.

"This dog might be our only witness." Jane stated and knelt down again.

"Well, as if the mutt could tell us what happened."

"She's right." Maura's voice was to be heard in the room, her voice was steady as ever. "Dogs can tell us a lot. Let's see if we can tame this one." She looked at Jane.

"He's probably injured." Jane stated.

"And in shock.'

Korsak stepped up and looked at Kaminski. "Look in the closet and grab some jackets. Something thick. Preferably wool. Something worn that was not washed. Maybe there are some things on the floor." He found a tennis racket on the wall, scanned dresser drawers, and discovered a tie at the back of a closet door, tied one end to the racket's handle, and made a noose with the other.

Maura returned with some jackets and spoke to the officer, "See if you can find a few blankets. Detective Kaminski, please stand at the end of the bed and lift the bedspread when we're ready."

Jane wanted to protest at that moment but the doctor's determined expression told her that an objection would more than just fall on deaf ears. And at this time it would be more than inappropriate. Jane silently agreed. Kaminski didn't know that the ME was pregnant, and it didn't concern him at all. She frowned and her eyes fell on Maura's slightly rounded belly, and the blonde's eyes grow wide, telling her silently that there was no room for arguments.

Maura handed the Italian a jacket made of expensive wool tweed. Jane sniffed the sleeve. Excellent. A faint scent of perfume still clung to it. She pulled on the jacket and pulled her sleeve down so far that she could hide the fist in it. The tennis racket in hand, she knelt down about two feet away from the bed. Maura crouched next to her as the officer put a quilt and two other blankets on the floor next to her.

"Are we ready?" Maura looked at each other. "Okay, Detective Kaminski, lift the bedspread, but slowly."

This time the dog was prepared, with wild eyes and bared teeth, he growled deep and angry. But he didn't attack. He couldn't. Beneath the bloody mass that had once been white fur, Jane saw the wound, a cut above his shoulder that had missed his throat by a hair's breadth. The sticky furl must have had stopped the bleeding temporarily. "It's okay, boy," she reassured the dog in a low voice. "We will help you. Calm down." She moved closer and reached out the sleeve that covered her hand. The dog snapped at it. She backed away and almost lost her balance. "Jesus," she whispered. Jane wondered if she'd lost her mind. She tried not to think about her aversion of syringes, but still wondered if the treatments for rabies still required six injections. She regained her balance, concentrated and tried it slower this time. The dog sniffed at the drooping sleeve and possibly recognized the smell of the owner. The growl turned into a whimper. "It's okay," Jane assured with a soothing voice, not sure if she wanted to convince herself or the dog. She moved slowly closer, tennis racket in the other hand. The tie-sling approached the dog as he watched, whimpering. She let the dog sniff the tie, carefully slipped the noose over his nose and slowly pulled on. The dog didn't resist.

"How are we supposed to get him out of there?" The officer was now kneeling beside her.

"We fold up one of the blankets and put it next to him." As soon as the officer's hand approached the dog, he growled, trying to snap, struggling against the makeshift muzzle. Finally he tried to jump at the officer. Jane took the opportunity to grab the dog from behind by the collar. She pulled him forward to the blanket and at the same time held the muzzle firmly with the tennis racket. The dog whimpered, and she was immediately worried about having his wound reopened.

"Holy shit!" Kaminski said, but this time he didn't draw his gun.

"We got him," Korsak said and waved at the young officer. The two men pulled the dog from underneath the bed. "I can drive him to the vet later."

Maura looked at her girlfriend and couldn't hide the smile, Jane rolled her eyes.

"Shit." Kaminski was back in combat mood. "All the blood on the door and in the bathtub is probably from the stupid mutt, and we have nothing."

"I would not say that." Maura contradicted. "This is clearly a crime scene, and the owner of the dog may have got the most part of the attack." She watched as Korsak and the officer carried the trembling dog safely wrapped in the blanket, and was glad that both were too busy to realize how difficult it was for her to keep her composure. I suppose the guy there ... ", she pointed to the injured animal, "has tried to intervene in the event. Maybe he has bitten a few times vigorously. Maybe some blood, especially here on the bed, comes from the offender. My people will be able to take a blood sample even though it has been wiped up."

"You think you can allow me to do my own investigation? "Kaminski browbeat her.

Jane wiped her hair from her forehead and stepped closer. God, couldn't this guy leave them alone? Then she noticed that she had blood on her hands and now on her forehead and in her hair. When she looked at Korsak, he shook his head at Kaminski and gave him a warning look, as if he was fed up with his arrogance, too. "Yes, of course, the investigation is all yours," said Jane finally, taking a corner of the blanket to help the men transport the wrapped dog. "Undoubtedly, the neighborhood will sleep well today because you're working the case." Kaminski was surprised at her sarcasm and turned red when he realized that none of the men supported him. Jane saw the officer smile, but didn't turn around to make sure Kaminski saw it too.

"Stay out of my investigation," he growled at her back, just to have the last word. "Did you hear me, Rizzoli?"

Jane didn't bother to answer the ungrateful bastard. Without them, he wouldn't even have discovered the dog.

Maura filled them but then stopped abruptly at the stairs and turned to him. "Oh, Detective Kaminski," she called. "Just one more thing, you should let analyze that lump of clay examined on the steps, unless you've dragged it in yourself and contaminated your crime scene."

Instinctively, Kaminski lifted his right foot and controlled the sole before he became aware of his defensive reaction. Korsak laughed out loud. The officer knew better and contented himself with a big smile. Kaminski turned red again. Maura just turned away and followed the others again.

"Nice, Maura." Jane stated with a broad grin. "Very nice."

The blonde huffed and rolled her eyes. "I couldn't stand this knucklehead any longer."

Jane grunted amused and Korsak laughed again.

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I clear my throat and think again that this is a terrible idea. But I also know that Ma has again set the situation up very well. But I also know that Ma means well and doesn't have the ability to stay out of some things. I take a deep breath and knock lightly at the closed door, opening it without waiting. I stick my head into the room and frown as soon as I see Maura sitting at her desk, reading some kind of report. I need a moment because I almost forgot how it felt like seeing her sitting in her office, wearing her white coat. "Um, am I interrupting," I ask as soon as she's looking up at me.

She's smiling broadly at me. "Not at all. Please, come in."

"Okay." I mumble more to myself and step into the office, frowning at the door. I think I better don't close it. Yeah, that's definitely better.

Maura's looking long at me. "To what do I owe the honor off this visit?"

I roll my eyes and sigh, holding up a brown paper bag. "I guess Ma's thinking that you're about to starve. She asked me to drop lunch."

She's raising her eyebrows high and nods slowly. "That is very ... sweet of her. I've been very busy lately." She looks long at me and points at one of the chair that's standing in front of her desk. "Please, have a seat."

Now my brows shoot up and I sit down, placing the bag in front of her. "What's ... keeping you so busy that you don't have the time for eating lunch ... or dinner?" As soon as those words leave my mouth I want to take them and stuff them back down my throat. It's been a month since Maura and I had the coffee together, and since then I heard some things ... rumors. Rumors about Maura seeing someone. And that's fine with me. Totally fine! Yeah, sure. Who am I shitting? Actually I'm not fine with it, but I'm not here to pick a fight.

Her expression is unreadable. "Work, mostly."

I nod slowly and sigh loudly, pursing my lips. "Mostly." I am such a idiot, Maura has every right to go on. I mean, I didn't even try to fix our relationship, our broken relationship, but neither did Maura. Maybe we really had reached the point of no return and breaking up was the only right thing to do. I mean, maybe I led us to believe that we'd get through this together. To be fair, I really believed it. Apparently I was wrong, and the thought of Maura being happy with someone else ... It's killing me. Ma told me that Maura is seeing a guys named Andrew Higgins, accidentally, and she regretted it the moment I was staring in disbelief at her. This Andrew guy is the reason why I was avoiding Maura. I didnt want to appear to begrudge Maura just because she found someone she can be happy with, and because I am not able to do the same. God, I am such a idiot. What was I thinking when I agreed to come here? That Maura would let me in on her new relationship? That she'd owe me an explanation? That she maybe could give me an advice how to continue with my own life. How to forget? I nearly jump up to my feed and avoid Maura's eyes. "I ... uh ... I should go again. Enjoy your meal."

"Jane -"

Her saying my name makes me swirl around and I can't keep my anger at Bay anymore. "Is it so easy for you to walk out on me?" I growl loud and the color is draining from Maura's face, her eyes are huge. "Is it so easy for you to walk out on me and pretend like nothing happened? Like we never happened?" Okay, I thought I'm only growling. Apparently I am yelling because several heads of lab techs are turning to Maura's office, but I can't keep it in anymore. This Andrew guy was just the last straw.

Maura's up to her feet in no time and she shuts the door, and the blinds. "Would you please keep your voice down?" She hisses.

"No! No, I can't!"

Maura's face is angry, and confused, and she's pointing at me. "You have been the one who left our relationship." She replies louder and all I can do is snorting. "You left me the morning I confronted you with the engagement ring."

"No, you accused me of being tactless!"

"I never did that. And you know that!"

I clench my fists and glare at her. I still see her look the moment she found out that I had an engagement ring. "You looked at me like I asked you to try again. Like I asked you to forget and to try have another baby." I pause and grit my teeth. "It was -"

"Only in your mind." Maura cuts me off and she's holding my gaze. "I was ... It was overwhelming that moment I found the box laying on the coffee table, but I knew that you would never ask to marry you while we've been grieving. And maybe what you thought you've been seeing was what I was wishing for." I am silent and she's dropping her arms to her sides. "Not right after ... and not anytime soon after we'd have gotten through this together, but ... in the future. But then you decided to end our relationship."

"You never said any of this." I reply and my head is spinning.

"Because you broke up with me that morning. Because you left me, Jane."

"I am not the bad guy in this," I growl warningly at her. "I am not."

Maura's shaking her head and steps closer to me. "No, you're not, Jane. Taylor O'Keefe is the bad guy. The person who ruined our lives, our relationship. Us."

What the hell is happening right now? Did Maura Isles really learned to tell me how she's feeling, what she's wanting in the time we haven't been a couple? I'm not giving in so easily even though I am really longing for her. "I asked you if you still love me."

And up her walls are again. She turns her back to me. "I know."

Anger is bubbling up and I furl my eyebrows, and raise my voice. I don't give a damn that we're in her office. "And you said that you loved me."

"I know."

"You said you loved me, and I asked you if you still love me, and you didn't answer my question right away."

"You didn't give me the chance -"

"Maura, it's a question you don't have to think about." I yell at her and she swirls around again. "Either you love someone or you don't! Do you ... Do you love this Andrew guy?"

Surprise is written all over her face. "How -"

My shoulders slump and my voice is sounding jaded. "Ma told me about him."

Maura closes her eyes and I know that she's torn between crying and yelling. "I can't believe it."

"It wasn't her fault." I say and my voice is soft. "It slipped out of her mouth. If I'd already met your new ... suitor."

A smile is tugging on her lips. "She did not say suitor."

I blink a couple of times clench my jaw. "No," I grumble. "Actually she said worshiper."

She's stepping closer and I have to force myself not to look at her very tempting lips. "Actually Andrew and I have been friends for a very long time."

"For how long?"

"College."

"You didn't marry him, too, did you?"

A laugh escapes from her throat. I mean, a real laugh. That kind that has been token away from her by Taylor O'Keefe. "No!"

I furrow my brows. "You sure? I mean ... the last time a man of your past showed up turned out to be your husband, and a prime suspect of a murder."

Is she really still stepping closer to me with a seductive glint in her eyes. "You've always be the one who told me that I would have a bad taste in men."

I literally holding my breath and force myself to stand still. I won't back down now. If Maura wants this, really wants this, she has to go the extra mile. I am not some sort of you that you throw away after you got what you wanted. "True."

Her voice is dropping and she's the one who's looking down at my lips, I suppress a whimper. "You sound jealous."

Jane, stand your ground. You can do this. "About what?" I asked in a hushed voice.

She shrugs and looks up at me. "About the person I might be with in the future. Are you? Jealous?"

"I'd be a blockhead if I wouldn't." Well, so much about standing my ground, but sometimes you need to concede before things are getting better. "What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Maura." Don't you dare avoiding the question.

There is the look I haven't seen for a very long time. Hurt is washing over her face like it did back in the time we haven't been together. Back then I showed up with some random woman and Maura had to force a smile on her face. It seemed like she had to force herself to like the woman at all. It's a look like I've taken all joy from her life. Her eyes drop shut and she sighs heavily. "I ... It's ... I ... It ..."

What? It never occurred to you that I start to live my life again at some point? It never occurred to you that I won't grief you for the rest of my life? It never occurred to you that someone else would want to be with me but you? That someone else but you could love me? That I couldn't love someone else like I love you? "Maura." Okay, now I'm begging because I need to hear it, I need to know how she's feeling about it if we are with someone else in a relationship. I mean it, I don't want to lose her at all. I want us to be best friends again. I know I can't lose her because that literally would kill me.

"It would hurt." She says and pulls me out of my train of thought. "It would hurt so much if I'd see you with someone who makes you happy. Probably is more able to make you happy then I was."

"You made me happy, Maura." I whisper and sound defeated.

"As you made me."

Made, not make. Past, not present. I can handle this. I can deal with it. We had a wonderful time. I frown as soon as she takes my hand in hers. "You deserve someone who makes you happy, Jane."

Hello? You made me happy! I don't need anyone but you! I want to shout that at her, but I don't. I want to wrap my arms tightly around her and never ever let go again, but I don't. I want to kiss her hard right here and right now, but I don't. I want to rip off her clothes right here in her office, but I don't. I want to smile or at least nod, but I can't. But I feel my eyes tearing up. "You never answered my question if you still love me." Why am I doing this to me?

Maura's planning her hands on my chest and kisses my cheek that's lingering. I close my eyes because I know what it means. "I love you so much that it hurts." She whispers and I exhale shakily. "And right now we're making our lives miserable if we're around each other, that's why we can't be."

I sob, and I don't give a fuck that shr can hear it, or anyone else nearby. I don't give a fuck because her words hurt, and they're true, and she's finally honest. And I have to respect them. I am suddenly crying because reality is hitting me hard, and she's crying even though she's kissing me this time to say goodbye. It's sweet and gentle, and I don't want it to end. It seems like neither does Maura and I start to pull her lab coat off her shoulders. Just one last time -

"No," she suddenly says and steps away from me. "No."

I am confused and my eyes are unfocused like they're trying to review the moment I've goofed. "I'm sorry, I thought -"

"Don't you dare apologizing, Jane Rizzoli." She cuts me off harshly and cups my face with her hands, forcing me to look straight in her eyes. "You didn't do anything wrong!"

I furrow my brows and start to ramble, "I was supposed to drop your lunch of and not ... not to pick a fight ... Apparently I am not good at this job, too. I -" My eyes flutter shut the moment she's silencing me with another kiss. It feels like she needs it as much as I do, and I let her take the lead. I frown a little the moment she pulls back but lean my forehead against hers. "Probably it's the best to shut my mouth, take this as my tip and head out."

Maura's frowning, too, but then she starts to grin. "Yes."

I nod and take the glue, leaving her office again. I sigh heavily. Maybe there's still hope.