3/4ths a bottle and four beers later, Maura has removed her heels and joined Jane on the couch. The Discovery Channel is providing light in the living room as the two women face each other.
Jane left leg is tucked beneath her.
Maura's are crossed.
Jane puts her phone back on the coffee table and rubs her eyes drunkenly. "I didn't realize it was so late."
Maura laughs drunkenly. It's interrupted by a hiccup that brings a smile to Jane's face. A drunk Maura has always been one of her favorites to observe. The way her friend's movements are circumstantially slow and how her eyes are drooped closed but she stays awake.
"What time is it?" Maura runs a hand through her honey-blonde hair.
"Midnight." Jane rolls her neck until it cracks. She groans. "Gotta be at BPD in seven hours." She groans again and more deeply at the realization and presses a pillow to her face.
"May I ask you something, Jane?"
There's a beat. She thinks for a moment her best friend fell asleep.
"Sure," comes the muffled, thick reply. "Shoot."
Maura hesitates, sure that she's only worked up the courage because of the wine in her blood. She adjusts in her spot and it's enough for Jane to remove the pillow. She looks at the M.E. with encouraging brown eyes.
"Why do I feel so comfortable with you?"
Jane doesn't understand. Her brows come together in a tight knit and she sits up. "Whaddya mean?" Her words a little lazy.
"I don't know." Maura shrugs. "I just feel very comfortable with you. At dinner last night, I was very nervous. I was unsure of what to say. I've always been that way but it never truly stopped me from dating but then I met you and," she shrugs exaggeratedly. "I just don't feel nervous."
"Not even a little?"
"Nope."
"Not even at first?"
Maura smiles. "Nope."
"Huh,"
"Indeed."
"I felt nervous around you."
"Really?"
"Mhm," Jane sits up like they're about to start talking about cute boys. "I practiced almost every conversation we had in my head and when you didn't follow the script I had planned, I freaked. It's why I was kind of mean at first."
"Kind of?" Maura laughs. "You were a nightmare. I constantly felt unsure of my friendship with you. You belittled my entire approach to forensics and I somehow still wanted to be your friend."
"Yeah," Jane says regrettably. "I'm sorry about that. I respected you a lot. Still do. I dunno, I'm just a bitch I guess. I'm glad you stuck with me."
"Me too."
"So tell me about this date," she leans forward and touches her friend's thigh. It's soft and warm. Her hand lingers, and both women stare at it with vaguely aroused looks, then she pulls it back into her lap.
"James?" she emits an unimpressive grunt. "He was very sweet and kind. He seemed interested in everything about me."
"But?" Jane asks, almost hopeful.
Maura almost says, "he's not you." Instead she licks her lips. "No buts. We decided we'd play for casual."
The brunette snorts. "Casual being cheap dinners and sex?"
"I'll have you know, sex with me is at least an expensive dinner."
Jane laughs, then Maura does too. "Hell if that's all it takes to get you into bed then I'll take you to Red Lobster now."
"Luckily, you wouldn't have to go through so much trouble."
"Ah," Jane smirks. "So for me you're easy?"
"Not easy," she slaps Jane's arm. "I would like at least some effort."
"How about I start using coasters at your place, that enough effort?" Jane scoots in closer.
Maura thinks for a moment then decides that's not enough.
"How about I start buying the whole wheat bread instead?" She's leaning towards Maura now.
"I suppose changing your dietary habits which in hindsight would save your life is a big enough effort."
Their lips are a centimeter apart. She can feel Maura's warm breath on her lips. She can smell, and even taste, the wine on her friend's breath. She nods and whispers almost as seductively as her drunk mind can manage. "I'll pick some up at the store tomorrow."
It's Maura that finishes the distance.
She presses her lips to Jane's and at first they stay like that. Their lips unmoving and it's a little awkward, until Jane's jaw moves involuntarily. The kiss deepens to something more fierce, something neither women could explain.
The room became hot, quiet, and dark.
Jane leans forward, gently pushing Maura into a laying position. She was atop her best friend, kissing her, hands roaming her friend's flush skin. It felt entirely unfamiliar and yet unmistakably arousing and comfortable.
She thinks it should feel awkward. It shouldn't feel right. Maura's her best friend. Maura's out of her league. Maura's a geek. Maura's a freaking woman. But it's Maura. And Maura feels good beneath her. Maura feels warm and inviting. Maura feels like home. She feels light and she tastes sweet. She smells divine. She sounds heavenly.
Maura hears her name coming from Jane's lips, like a desperate whisper. It's begging and urging but she doesn't know what to do. She wants to give Jane whatever she's asking for but she doesn't understand.
So she presses her fingers to her best friend's sides, and Jane sighs in relief. Maura slides her hands up and Jane's plaid shirt lifts with it. She can feel the brunette's warm skin, her exposed abdomen, taut and muscular. Her fingers graze the brim of Jane's jeans.
"Shit," Jane groans, pushing herself into Maura's core.
It brings forth a moan of her own. It's a deep guttural weightless groan of pleasure she didn't think Jane would ever witness.
"You feel so good," Jane whispers, her lips now on Maura's neck. And the honey-blonde tilting her head to give her friend easier access.
Their hands are fumbling and knocking awkwardly into each other. Jane wants Maura's skirt off. Maura wants Jane's shirt off.
It's not until Jane becomes increasingly frustrated that she can't just yank the damn skirt down does she realize what she's doing. She's making out with her best friend on her couch in the dark. Her very female best friend. She wouldn't even know what to do if she got the skirt off.
She pulls away from Maura and a big, loud, wet sucking noise is the last sound that is heard before there's utter distance between both women.
Only the muted television and their heavy breathing is between them.
Maura swallows hard and keeps her eyes averted to the ceiling.
Jane looks down at Maura's hiked up skirt. "Shit," she stands quickly. "Shit, shit, shit." She fixes her shirt. "I'm sorry,"
But Maura doesn't know if she's apologizing for the kiss or the string of crass language. She swallows again and sits up.
"I'm...I..." Jane's first instinct is to run but she's annoyingly aware that she's in her own apartment. "I-"
"I'll go." Maura stands, briskly. Like the kiss didn't happen.
"You can't." Jane stops her. But she doesn't know why. "You had a lot to drink." She swallows visibly.
Maura opens her mouth but then shuts it.
"Sleep here." Off Maura's widened eyes, she continues after an insecure laugh. "In the guest room."
Maura looks a little relieved. "Okay," she says as though there's three syllables in the word. "I'll sleep in the guest room."
"Okay." Jane drops her arm. "I- goodnight?"
"Goodnight, Jane." Maura looks tired. As though she's already suffering the hangover. The two women part down the hall, but stay firmly pressed against the door.
When there's no movement in the hall after a moment they both deflate. Utterly confused about what just transpired between them.
A/N: want more? review, man.