A/N Big thanks to everyone reading and reviewing.
The title of the story refers to the Dropkick Murphys' song The Warrior's Code. I was going to try to work something about the song into the story but I don't know if it'll happen.
Disclaimer: These characters do not belong to me. No infringement intended and no profit will be made from their use.
Friday night, Dr. Maura Isles couldn't sleep. During the past two evenings with Jane, they'd had the most intimate conversations Maura had ever had with anyone. But after their conversation earlier that night, Jane had practically run out the door and Maura didn't know why. Maura kept replaying the past few days in her head over and over. By 3am she thought she had figured it out: Jane was trying to warn her. Warn her not to get too close, not get attached. Because Jane's first priority would always be her job and on the job Jane acted first and thought later. She was almost killed by Hoyt because she didn't take the time to get backup and she'd do the same thing again and again.
But it was too late because Maura was already too close and already attached.
Maura and Jane didn't talk again until seeing each other at work Monday. Maura didn't know how to approach Jane. She was afraid Jane would close herself off now. She wanted to figure how to move forward with Jane without scaring her away so she decided to let Jane take the lead. At least for now. She needed more time to determine how Jane really felt about her.
Jane and Frost caught a case Sunday evening and Jane came down to the morgue when Maura started the autopsy Monday afternoon. Maura was nervous, but Jane didn't act like anything was different. She was still teasing and flirty with Maura. Of course Maura hadn't really noticed before that Jane was flirting. That had been one of the things she'd realized during her weekend of thinking.
Over the next few weeks, Maura noticed some subtle differences. Jane was more patient about Maura's meticulous pace of work. Jane stopped pressuring her to guess about cause of death or to identify a reddish brown stain before the lab results came back. Maura had been afraid that Jane would try to keep a distance between them but the opposite happened. Having lunch together when they were both at work was now assumed rather than something one of them had to ask the other about.
Within a month they were having dinner on a regular basis. Soon after that they were spending their free evenings together, although with their schedules it wasn't as often as Maura would have liked. Jane always let Maura decide what they should do or where they should go. Often it was just take-out and a movie at Jane's apartment, but Jane always wanted Maura to pick the restaurant and the movie. And they talked. Maura was sure Jane knew almost everything about her now.
They always went to Jane's apartment. It was closer to work and Jane had Jo to take care of. Maura was fine with that arrangement. It allowed her leave and analyze their time together in a Jane-free zone. Jane avoided most physical contact and Maura never even tried to spend the night. But Maura was increasingly certain that Jane was attracted to her. She often noticed Jane staring at her and sometimes even noticed Jane exhibiting signs of attraction and even arousal when they were alone together.
After a few months of this routine, Maura conceded that Jane was never going to act and that she was going to have to do it. To take the first step towards something more.
Friday night after Maura came to her conclusion they were again at Jane's watching a movie. Maura fell asleep on the couch during the second half of the movie. When she woke up, she heard Jane in the kitchen cleaning up food and dishes. Maura knew she had to act now before she chickened out. She walked into the kitchen and leaned against the counter, gathering her courage.
Jane saw movement from the corner of her eye and looked up from the sink. "Hey, you're awake."
"Jane, are you happy?"
Jane shrugged, "Sure."
"I mean, are you happy with me, with us?"
Jane turned fully around to look at Maura. "Of course. Why? What's wrong? Did I do something?"
"It's just that this...what we're doing now...it's...it isn't enough." Maura walked across the room until she was standing directly in front of Jane. "It's not enough. I need more." Maura stood up on her toes and placed her lips on Jane's. Jane leaned in, kissing her back, her hands gripping Maura's waist and pulling her as close as possible. Jane parted her lips, allowing Maura entrance. Maura felt like she was melting into Jane, like she wouldn't be able to stand if Jane wasn't holding on to her.
When they pulled apart to breathe, Jane rested her forehead on Maura's. Jane's eyes were closed. She suddenly dropped her hands from Maura's waist and almost whispering said, "You should go now." Jane turned back around to the sink and didn't move until she heard Maura walk out and the sound of the door closing.