A/N Hey! So glad to see you guys enjoying. I'm writing at a faster pace now because, well I enjoy this more than my Postgrad. Hoping to start wrapping up relatively soon (you may or may not be glad to hear). Onwards...

Chapter 8

Maura composed herself as she walked away from the brunette, finding her heart hammering so hard she was concerned she might experience dizziness.

The heat of the moment and touch was very uncharacteristic for her and she wasn't entirely sure if she knew how to deal with the situation. Or to that matter, what had come over her? Within normal circumstances (as 'normal' as they could get for a pair in their career path) she would never dare to be so bold to instigate flirting in such a physical way. Maura knew her strength lay in the subtext, the hidden meaning behind their conversations. It held some level of shielding which she could hide behind should her attempts be rebuffed or if things got intense. She could always feign ignorance. Physical flirting was something she rarely tiptoed into. The occasional body language slip, a hand caressing her neck more provocatively than necessary or biting her lip when she felt Jane's presence. These things she tried to hide but again, they were one sided. What she found herself doing now was directly involving Jane in her seduction.

Her cheeks flushed at the realisation, she was trying to seduce her best friend. Her thoughts had strayed to the idea often, their obvious attraction almost palpable at times. Yet Jane's unconscious refusal to admit to this stymied things. Despite this the thought of Jane's raven curls cascading over Maura's skin, that voice growling in appreciation of her, Jane's warm lips seeking out the flesh being her ear often kept her awake at nights desperate for release.

She somehow found herself back at the bar and whilst she still reeled from the moment shared Maura knew it was over and that Jane would compartmentalise the whole thing simply as Maura getting caught up in her role.

She continued her job serving drinks, occasionally waiting tables and generally keeping herself busy. Bianca remained with Jane, except on occasion to replace her bottle of Blue Moon.

Maura continued to find her colleagues aloof and found she was losing interest in the character and role she had so ardently volunteered for. She was becoming more disenchanted with the idea of gleaning any information in this way and expected to explain as much at the briefing with MC and the rest of the team at the following shift.

As she was restocking glasses, getting ready to round out the nights endeavours she quickly glanced over towards the 'casino' and realised Jane was nowhere to be seen. She scoured the club area and again discovered her friend wasn't in sight. Neither could she spot Bianca. Wondering whether they had moved to one of the booths, she suddenly became fearful and her mind raced. She cleaned and replaced glasses fervently, images of Jane being beaten or terrorised running through her head, surely she couldn't have been discovered so late in the game? She tried to recall the layout of the club as she'd been shown at initial induction. Where might they have taken her? She became slightly frantic, scanning the entire floor again. Without warning a Bianca appeared at the bar. A wry smile crept onto the womans lips.

"How do you feel like moonlighting?" She asked bluntly. Maura was aghast, her best friend was no where to be seen and this ridiculous woman was asking if she wished to have a second job?

"I'm sorry?" She replied slightly incredulous.

"Now, under normal circumstances this would be highly irregular and I wouldn't even normally request but, I seem to recall you saying your shift was due to end around now. Have I remembered correctly?" Bianca leaned against the bar, clearly mistaking Maura's inner turmoil for confusion because she pressed on, "I personally would love to engage our newest client but you two seem to have had some connection I cannot overrule. Were it allowed, she would request your company in one of our private areas." Maura's relief at hearing her friend was safe was a parallel of emotions; she felt elated, galvanised and exhausted all at the same time. She wasn't even paying great heed to what her acquaintance was saying. However she continued unabashed.

"I've had a quiet word with the boss and as you're almost off shift, if you'd like to consider meeting with Miss Masiello in more of a...," she leaned in a little closer. Maura had stopped drying her glass, Bianca lowered her voice to almost a whisper, "companion role, it can be arranged? I have somewhere you can freshen up if you'd like? And the general rules for new members will be firmly in place, obviously." Maura must have shown some level of confusion in her face. Bianca let out a short, soft laugh. "Of course no one will have explained, silly me. New members have certain restrictions particularly when in the private areas." She winked knowingly. "Anyway there's no point explaining all of that if you're not interested!" She drawled. "What do ya think sugar? Fancy a little one on one time with our lovely new lady friend? No pressure of course. If you'd rather not, Ithink I'd quite enjoy doing my best to let her down gently." Another wink, this time more provocatively.

Nothing could have made Maura's mind up faster.