A/N: Another quick update. Happy Pride month and I wish that everyone could be their authentic selves everyday!
After their intense but quick play in Maura's office, the couple lay in each others arms on Maura's office couch. Each was just enjoying the closeness and hearing their synced heart beats. They would have loved to stay like that but knew that the morgue wasn't all that private and the fact that they hadn't already been discovered was a small miracle.
As Maura pulled back to start getting dressed, she took Jane's hand in hers and kissed her palm, beckoning Jane to look at her. "My dearest Jane, I don't think you will truly know how much this meant to me. You have made me so happy today. But-" Jane had been smiling at her lovingly until she had gotten to that word and looking at the distress that was quickly overtaking the happiness on her beautiful face, Maura rushed out " I owe you an apology."
Jane took a second to process Maura's words but as she did, the look of confusion that crossed her face almost made Maura laugh. "My love, I should never have treated you like that earlier. It was completely unprofessional of me to bring our personal problems to work and especially to a crime scene. You deserve far better than that, and for all of that I am so sorry." She pressed her lips to Jane's scar and brought the hand up to her cheek. Maura needed Jane to not just know but feel the depth of her love.
They each just gazed at each other and finally Jane broke the silence by clearing her throat. "I have to admit I was really confused. I had no clue what I did to deserve that from you, but I knew you wouldn't have bitten my head off like that if I hadn't done something. I am just sorry it took me so long to figure out what it was." Maura went to interrupt Jane to correct her about deserving anything like how she had treated her but Jane moved the hand that Maura held and placed a finger on her lips, successfully silencing her.
"I know we have been super busy with work but we talked about what we both needed when we started this trip and I shouldn't forget things like that. I am not saying that you can act like that every time you are frustrated but I could do a better job of noticing to begin with." Jane leaned in and replaced her fingers with her own lips, giving Maura a gentle but thorough kiss. "And just so you know, I will be getting some payback for how you embarrassed me like that" Jane said with a smirk as she pulled back.
Just as Maura was going to respond, they both heard a knock on Maura's door. Both sets of eyes widened and an intense scramble to find clothes and turn on lights ensued. It would have been extremely comical if it wasn't so terrifying.
"Doctor Isles, the initial tox results are back on our Jane Doe" Senior Criminalist Susie Chang's voice said on the other side of the door. Maura had just gotten herself mostly put together and took a quick breath to try not to sound out of breath as she responded. "Thank you Susie, I will be out there in a minute to go over the results."
Maura thought she had been successful in warning off Susie but then she heard a slight chuckle and could just make out the words "Get it Doctor Isles" as footsteps led away from her door.
Maura looked over at Jane who was beet red and sat with her head in her hands on the couch, only half dressed. Maura knew that Jane was mortified and she knew she should be as well but she was mostly relieved and almost glad that someone knew what she and Jane were getting up to.
"Jane," she started but was quickly shushed when Jane held up her arm to stop her. "No, Maur. Nothing you can say right now will make this better. I will have to do a walk of shame as I leave here, even if it's only Susie that knows. Thankfully she worships the ground you walk on so I know she won't tell anyone if you ask her not to," came the muffled voice of the clearly embarrassed detective.
Maura knew better than to push Jane at the moment. Her detective needed time to process this on her own and would most likely come barging back in later like a bull in a china shop in a tizzy with her thoughts. Until then, Maura could wait. Maura would always wait for Jane.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Oh. My. God. Really, Susie? Susie, of all people, was the first one to know about them. Quiet little Susie, who spooked so easily when Jane simply looked at her, was now the keeper of her secret. Jane knew intellectually that Susie didn't exactly know it was her in Maura's office or at least hadn't known that until she had left and run right into her.
SUSIE! Ugh, Jane thought, as she ran her hands through her wild curls for the millionth time. Jane had envisioned telling Frost first and then Korsak and then maybe Frankie. Of course she would save her mom for last. But Susie! Susie hadn't even made her list! Jane let out a huge breath, startling Frost who had been watching his partner quietly freak out for the last ten minutes.
"Jane...you all right there? Fix things with the doc yet?" Frost was looking at her like she might explode at any moment. And honestly, she just might. Everything was just too much.
"Hey, Frosty, let's go grab some coffee," Jane said as she got up and grabbed her suit jacket. She snatched her keys and headed toward the elevator not checking to see if Frost was following her because she knew he was. Frost was good like that.
As she stepped into the elevator, Frost came sliding in just as the doors started to close. "Cutting it a little close there, aren't you Frost?" Jane said with a chuckle. She watched him out of the corner of her eye as she stared at the metal doors. He seemed full of nervous energy and with her own nerves on 100, there were almost visible sparks bouncing off the walls of the metal box.
The doors opened on the ground floor and Frost started walking toward the cafe. Jane just kept walking, heading out the main doors. Jane knew Frost was confused but, being the amazing partner and friend that he was, he just kept following her. Jane decided she could not have this conversation inside the precinct. Not after Susie freakin' Chang had found out. Jane thought about keeping the fact that Susie knew from Frost. She knew he would be hurt that he wasn't the first to know, but it hadn't been Jane's choice! Jane let out another exasperated breath and could feel the intense gaze of her partner sear her back but she kept trudging along.
They ended up at a cafe a few blocks away from the precinct that was not frequented by anyone from BPD. After getting their coffees, Jane chose a table in the corner that gave them a hint of privacy. For several moments they sat there in tense silence; Jane stalling while Frost analyzed. Finally, Jane built up her nerve enough and just spit out "Maura and I are dating."
She didn't know what she expected but the laughter that came from the other side of the table was definitely not it. Looking up, Jane saw Frost leaned back precariously in his chair laughing so hard that his eyes were watering. Not particularly enjoying this reaction, Jane let out a huff and went to kick his chair under the table to topple him over. Frost seemed to understand her intentions quicker than she was able to enact them and shoved his chair back, out of the way.
"Hey! You don't have to try to kill me twice there Jane!" Frost said wiping his eyes and getting himself back under control. He scooted back to the table and took a sip of his coffee. Jane was glaring a hole in his head, waiting for him to explain himself.
"Frost!" she hissed, looking around quickly to see some of the patrons staring at them. "What the hell was that?" Jane whisper yelled. She resumed her glaring and waiting.
"Oh Janie, where do I begin" Frost said still chuckling. "First off, congrats! I am glad that you finally admitted to dating the woman you have been secretly not so secretly crushing on since I met you." This earned him a quick jab to the arm. "OW! No violence if you want me to finish." Frost was pouting and batting his ridiculously long eyelashes at Jane. After another huff and a quick shove for good measure, Jane held up her hands in surrender. "Fine. Continue Sir Barold."
Frost shook his head at Jane and her antics but was smiling as he continued. "I was laughing because Jane, I think it was obvious to everyone but you that you and Doctor Isles have been dating for a very long time." Jane looked up confused at this statement and saw only sincerity in Frost's light brown eyes. She trusted this man with her life on a daily basis and knew that he wouldn't lie to her.
"You know we weren't officially dating until a few months ago, Frost. I can admit that I had deeper feelings for Maura longer than that, but I didn't do anything about them until then," Jane said shyly. Jane was never good with emotions but to think that everyone knew how she felt about her doctor before she was ready to reveal her feelings was very unnerving to Jane. It had her feeling very vulnerable and when she was vulnerable she tended to lash out.
Apparently Frost could see that she was gearing up to take a verbal swat at him and he put his hands up as if to surrender. "Look Jane, I am not saying you were broadcasting anything, but come on, I don't know too many best friends that act the way you and Doctor Isles do. Please don't take this the wrong way, but it's pretty obvious to anyone who pays attention that she's your lobster." Frost said the last bit with a big cheesy grin on his face and made his index finger and thumb on each hand interlock into a chain, simulating linked lobster claws.
Jane huffed but totally got the Friends reference since Frost knew that Jane secretly loved the show and had seen every episode. "You are such a cheese ball, Bar-old," Jane drawled teasing him right back. It felt good to know that her partner and best friend other than Maura was happy for her. Maybe it wouldn't be so hard to tell her family, both blood and chosen, about her relationship with Maura.
"Do you think I have to tell Korsak and Frankie? Or will they just figure it out when I kiss Maura in front of them?" Jane asked with a sly grin. This caused Frost to laugh out loud again, once again teetering on his chair.
"Please make sure I am there with a camera when you decided to do that! I've gotta get Frankie's face for posterity!" Jane laughed out loud thinking of her brother's face when she laid a big one on Maura in front of him. Yeah, this coming out thing wasn't so bad after all.
A/N: I thought this fitting for Pride month and don't worry, you will get to see how Angela finds out about our lovely ladies very soon...muahahaha. Don't forget to let me know if you are still enjoying the story.