Author's note: Thank you very much for all the reviews.

Story Three: Irremediably Linked

She hadn't slept much the night before. As a matter of fact, insomnia had stormed into her life quite a while ago when she had realized a couple of things regarding her feelings for Jane.

By then, it all had crumbled down like a house of cards. Just like that, without any warning. She had stared at her reflection in the mirror of her bathroom – the same one before which she was now standing – and it had appeared clearly to her mind. Cruelly.

She was in love with Jane.

Of course, she hadn't let her friend know. It wasn't mutual and the brunette was straight. She hadn't even abandoned herself to fantasies for knowing beforehand that it was all vain and nourishing a few dreams like that would only manage to hurt her even more. Instead, she had buried it in the darkest corner of her mind – the loneliest part of her heart – and then had drawn a line under the whole thing as if it were that easy when it was actually the exact opposite.

Clutching to the edge of the sink, Maura frowned and observed her features with attention. She did look tired. Her hair up in a ponytail emphasized her obvious exhaustion while her face – usually so graceful – looked now deep and bare.

Her eyes red and puffy from all the tears she hadn't managed to keep inside her body.

Annoyed before the pitiful image sent back by the mirror, she left the room and walked down to the kitchen to pour herself a glass of wine. She should have worked, that night. It would have made everything easier to forget. But the complexity of team scheduling had pushed her to be home for New Year's Eve.

And alone.

Jane was with him. The honey blonde pursed her lips at the thought and took a deep breath. She did not want to think about that. Not now. Never, actually. She heard enough times about him like that.

She walked to the couch – bottle of wine in hand – and sat down before turning the television on. It was late but she didn't feel like going to bed. What for, anyway? She wouldn't fall asleep.

Only tears managed to rock her to sleep, lately. Bitter, burning ones.

She was about to settle her choice over some black and white movie when someone knocked at the door. Taken aback, she nonetheless stood up and walked to open to her late-night visitor yet after a vague attempt of making herself look more presentable.

"Jane?" Unable to move, Maura remained still before the Italian; blinking from time to time as if to make sure that it wasn't a mere hallucination.

Hands in the pockets of her coat, the brunette shrugged and waited patiently for her friend to let her come in. It is only when the detective entered that Maura realized she was wearing stilettos and one of her rare black dresses. Her hair was done. She had makeup on. She was dressed up to the nine, definitely not ready for a casual night at Maura's.

Nonchalantly, Jane abandoned her coat on the chair by the desk then headed to the couch in order to sit there. Hands on her lap, she stared straight in front of her; remained quiet. Maura joined her, still confused before her presence here. She had other plans, tonight. Very different ones.

"Where is Casey?" The scientist repressed the urge to make a face at the sound of his name. Even a mention – as evasive as it was – cost her a lot.

"Gone." Jane took a deep breath then folded her legs against her. She grabbed a cushion to held it as tight as she could. "He's gone. Definitely."

The words resounded loud in the living-room, carried by incomprehension. Maura frowned. It was completely unexpected. The last time she had seen her friend, the Italian was thrilled to see him in Boston for New Year's Eve.

Casey had managed to get a few days off, the first ones in months. Jane had kept on talking about it. And yet, things had obviously headed another way.

"You weren't in love with him, were you?"

For once, the honey blonde hadn't gone for implicit rules dictated by conventions. She had actually let her heart speak out; for relief and truth. Because she knew that it wasn't wishful thinking. Jane had never been in love with Casey. She simply liked the idea he brought along. And yet, she was anything but sure of it.

The brunette didn't seem to take the question badly. She barely reacted to it, as a matter of fact.

Now in a foetal position against Maura, Jane shrugged and closed her eyes. There were some things that she wasn't ready to recognize, even less say out loud. She would probably need time for that. A lot of time. For the moment, she felt lost among her very own life and a series of facts that she had taken for the right ones but had now adopted the shape of uncertainty.

She didn't know anything anymore. She didn't want to think about it.

"Are you afraid of loneliness?"

Maura stiffened but kept on caressing her friend's hair. It hurt to have her against her like that, still in her arms; the top of her head mere inches away from her lips. She swallowed hard and squinted her eyes as if to make it easier to find an answer like that. Long seconds passed by before her own voice to resound loud. Determined.

"No."

A sigh passed Jane's lips. She let one of her arms slide along her friend's waist; her leg travel up the blonde's ones. She needed to cuddle. To cuddle with Maura. Nobody else could bring her the peace she needed now. Maura was the only one. She had always been and nothing would change that.

Not a single person; even less a man.

"How come?"

A bittersweet smile embraced the medical examiner's lips. She cast a brief glance at the television. The hero was holding the woman of his dreams in his arms.

"Because I am not lonely. I ceased to be the day you made it into my life." The confession rose in the air with the sweetness of the barest sincerities and the cruelty of untold feelings. Words in poor disguise.

Maura closed her eyes to prevent some tears from rolling down her cheeks.

"I will never leave you. You know that, don't you?"

She nodded at Jane's remark, bit her lips. There was nothing less sure, in all honesty. Since the day Casey had stormed in, Jane had taken her distance with her; if only subconsciously. Little by little, she had stopped coming to Beacon Hill several nights a week. She had put an end to their evenings at the movies. Their relation had suffered from it.

Maura had simply not complained about it. She had accepted the changes in silence because it was not her role to protest. On the contrary. As a friend, she was expected to be supportive and to look happy.

As for the rest – her sleepless nights, her tears – it wasn't something that had to turn public.

"I missed you." Jane closed her eyes before her very own confession and clenched her fists. She bit the inside of her cheek as if to prevent a moan from passing her lips.

Maura smiled, almost proudly.

"Are you wearing red lingerie?" The question came up by itself as a necessary reminiscence of an odd anniversary of some sort and made Jane giggle.

"People are going to start thinking that you are obsessed with my underwear, do you realize it?"

The medical examiner smirked – raised an eyebrow – and shrugged. She grabbed her glass of wine, took a long sip as if to win time before her inevitable reply.

"I don't mind much what people might think."

"Ain't you bold..." Jane sat up – grabbed the bottle of wine – and took a sip directly out of it. She knew that Maura wouldn't say anything regarding such gesture. Not now. Not tonight. She turned around to properly look at her friend for the first time since she had arrived but didn't smile. "We are meant to spend all our remaining New Year's Eves together, aren't we?"

Amused, Maura shrugged and laughed lightly. She couldn't have asked for a better turn of events. If Jane stayed home – and she knew that the brunette would – then she would sleep well. Jane soothed her, brought her all the things she was lacking of. The Italian was her necessary balance.

The only one who could make her feel complete.

"Is it a bad thing?" The scientist looked down at her lap, uncertain of the way she was supposed to take her slight boldness.

The kiss on the scientist(s cheek resounded loud. Unexpected. It made her blush yet she didn't dare to return it. Instead, she smiled peacefully at Jane then winked.

"Happy New Year, Jane Rizzoli."

The brunette nodded – with determination – while a mysterious twinkle appeared in her eyes as she turned around and stared at the fireplace. She ran her tongue over her lips; slowly.

"Happy New Year, Maura Isles."

Her whisper sounded hopeful, different; and serene.