Out of Tune

Disclaimer: Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles do not belong to me. No infringement intended and no profit will be made from their use.

Note: Italics indicate flashbacks. Again, this chapter features a lot more in flashbacks.

Thanks so much for all of your kind comments.

Jane and Maura were having dinner. Unfortunately there were two terribly boring guys at the table with them. Maura had gone out with one of them a few times and had managed to drag Jane along tonight to meet his friend, Michael. Jane tried to be interested in his stories about the wild world of investment banking but found her mind wandering to thoughts about Maura.

They'd slept together a third time. After a date with her previous guy, Maura showed up at Jane's apartment. It was quick and dirty. Maura went home within the hour.

That was a few weeks ago. Since then Maura had started dating Jack. Sure he was good looking, in good shape, and had a good job in which he made a lot of money. Was that really all Maura was looking for? Maura seemed pretty in to this guy though, so Jane was trying to be supportive, including agreeing to go on this double date.

Dinner was wrapping up. Jane knew Maura thought she should take Michael home. Given that he seemed to be her best chance of getting laid this week, Jane did take him home. Once at her apartment, though, Jane found herself unable to go through with it. The thought of having sex with him was just unappealing now. Poor guy, Jane thought, when she had to explain to him that she didn't think it would out between them and it would best if went home. She was going to tell Maura not to set her up with anyone anymore.

After a shower, Jane lay in bed, unable to fall asleep. She need to relieve some tension. Jane flipped over on her stomach and slipped a hand under her waistband. She rubbed her fingers through her warm flesh, teasing her clit, but she couldn't get wet. Jane let her mind wander to Maura. Maura's hands on her. Maura's mouth and tongue. She thought of Maura's fingers touching her. And then Jane was plenty wet and moaning Maura's name as she came.

Meanwhile, Maura had gone to her house with Jack. They were sitting in the living room, drinking glasses of wine when Jack said, "What's the deal with your friend Jane?"

"What do you mean?"

"She seemed more into you than her date and she was giving me the evil eye all through dinner."

"Don't be ridiculous."

"Come on, she's a cop, she's pretty butch."

"She's not butch, she's...sporty," Maura sputtered.

"I don't think that's a thing. But I'm pretty sure she at least has a crush on you."

Maura's face reddened, which she tried to hide. "Can we talk about something else? I'm not comfortable talking about my friend like this."

Jack narrowed his eyes and looked at Maura thoughtfully. "Remember when you told me you can't lie? Is that true?"

"Is that a trick question? Because either way I answer could be the truth or a lie."

"Maura, don't try to avoid the question. I'm trying to figure out if I'm wasting my time here. I'm getting the feeling that there's something going on between you and Jane and you haven't said anything yet to reassure me that isn't true."

Maura looked away and said softly, "I love her."

"You love her? More than a friend love her?"

"Yes."

"So what were you going out with me for? And why the double date tonight?"

"I can't be with her."

"Come on Maura, gay relationships aren't a big deal anymore."

"No, it's not that."

Jack sighed. "Fine, what is it then?"

"I'm so sorry. You must think I'm horrible for doing this to you."

"This wasn't how I expected tonight to go. But if I'm going to be dumped I wouldn't mind knowing the whole reason why."

"Are you just incredibly perceptive or is it that obvious that Jane and I are, whatever we are?" Maura asked.

"Probably a combination of both."

"We had sex." Maura blurted out.

"What?"

"Jane and I had sex, three times."

"And?"

"It was amazing."

"So what's the problem?"

"It's too much." Maura closed her eyes and nearly whispering said, "Everyone always leaves me eventually. And the one thing Jane always does is run away when there's emotions and feelings involved or relationships get difficult. I can't risk that with her."

"I think you should consider taking a risk sometime. Because what you're doing now doesn't seem to be working. It's time for me to go. I suggest you figure things out with Jane before leading somebody else on. At this point, I think one or both of you is bound to get hurt in some way no matter what, so what do you have to lose?"

Jane was in the autopsy lab to get the latest test results on their newest victim. After learning the results weren't in yet, Jane started to leave but Maura called after her. "Jane, wait. It's been a week. Please talk to me. I'm really sorry. I want to make things right."

Jane didn't say anything but didn't leave, so Maura kept talking. "I did everything wrong. I should never have suggested we have sex to begin with. When I thought maybe you were developing feelings for me, I should have stopped then. Jane, I miss you. I want us to go back to the way we were. I want my best friend back."

"I don't think that's possible, Maura. Look, I can take my share of responsibility. I was a willing partner. I should have been honest about my feelings earlier. But unless you can give me some sort of sensible reason why we can't be in an actual relationship, I don't think I can spend any time with you right now. I'm pretty sure we've been in a relationship for the past few months even if you won't admit it."

"Jane, it's complicated."

"Yes it is. We can choose to make it a lot less complicated though."

"Okay, what if we really did date and it doesn't work out? What happens then?" Maura asked.

"That's your concern? So fucking me while dating other people is working for you, but we can't date because it might not work out? I'm outta here. Email me the lab results when you get them."

Jane was washing her hands when she heard knocking at her door. She looked through the peephole, saw Maura standing on the other side of the door, and let her in.

"Oh, Jane, am I interrupting something? Is Michael still here?"

"Nope."

Maura took in Jane's appearance. "But you...Oh."

"What's going on? What happened with Jack?" Jane asked.

"Well, we are done going out with each other. What happened with Michael?"

"It's not going to work out." They were still standing in the entryway. Jane stepped closer to Maura. "Are you here to talk or for something else?"

"I...um." Maura bit her bottom lip. Jane stepped in closer and backed Maura against the door.

"Before you got here I was thinking about you. You can tell what I was doing, right?" Maura nodded. Jane dropped to her knees and pushed up Maura's dress. Jane nibbled on Maura's thigh as she pulled Maura's thong down to her ankles. "You were thinking about me too." Maura mumbled something in response and then moaned as Jane's tongue landed right where Maura needed it.