Chapter Seven;

As she woke up, she felt the sliver of pale moonlight fall across her eyes, and the feint chirping of crickets nearby. The brunette sighed and stretched her neck a little before she leaned up on her elbows, opening her eyes as they adjusted to the darkness in the bunk. She looked around and raised a brow. Maura wasn't in her own bed. It was only then, Jane looked beside herself and saw the blonde's sleeping form, highlighted in the moonlight. The brunette softly smiled to herself and rolled herself onto her side so she could watch Maura. The blonde looked so peaceful laying there.

It was just then, the peaceful blonde began to rouse from her sleep beside Jane and she murmured a little as the pale light from the moon splashed across her face. Jane stayed there, frozen in case Maura moved and found that Jane was not next her. She sat up and blinked a little as he eyes adjusted to the light in the dark bunk.

"Jane?" she whispered out softly.

"Hey, it's okay, I'm here." Jane smiled and leaned in closer to Maura, taking her in her arms and smiling.

"I thought you'd left me here." Maura whispered again.

"Why would I leave you, Maura?" Jane asked, just about able to look into Maura's hazel eyes.

"People have never really made an effort with me, Jane." the blonde replied and sighed, looking down to her lap gently. She thought of all the times in school or at home when nobody bothered with her because she was happy just doing her own thing; chemistry and biology to even care what people thought of her. Maura knew one day she would be a scientist of some description, and what scientist wasn't a little odd?

"Well, I'm here now. I'm making the effort to be your friend, and the truth is...all the other girls are scared of me, and so are the boys." Jane sighed and then laughed a little.

Maura joined in a little, propping herself up now on her pillows next to Jane, "And you don't mind this?"

"Mind what?"

"The fact people are scared of you?"

"Maura, I honestly don't mind. In fact, it's a little form of flattery, is it not?" Jane beamed a little.

"Well, it is classed as flattery, but I'm not so sure since fear is a negative emotion." Maura replied.

Jane just stared at her. Was this Maura for real?

The two sat and talked, looking between each other, sharing stories, memories, candies. It was Sunday morning the next day, so it was just lazy morning, letters to be written, nothing special. Maura was fascinated to hear about Jane's family, about her brothers, her grandma, their dog. The blonde wished she had siblings who she could be close with, who she could protect or be protected by when someone else picked on her.

"Yeah, this one time, Frankie was just five years old. This big bruiser kid came outta nowhere, and I mean he was a bruiser!" Jane imitated how large the young boy had been by puffing herself up and making herself look stocky, before she continued with the story, "Anyway, he pushed Frankie off of the swing, I was having my own crisis with this boy called Joey. When I heard my little brother crying and this kid laughing, I marched right up to him and spit in his eye. Not...very ladylike but, it taught the kid a lesson." Jane shrugged and then yawned.

Maura made a note of this, "You know, it is getting quite late. Or rather, it's early, we should sleep. I've enjoyed learning about your family though, Jane." she smiled, snuggling herself down in the bed and continuing to look at her newest and first best friend.

"Of course, you're right. But, I look forward to hearing more about you Maura." Jane smiled softly as she too settled herself back down into the bed, moving her flyaway hair away from her face before she spoke up again, "Goodnight Maura..."

No answer.

"Goodnight Maura..." she tried again.

Again, no answer came from the blonde beside her.

Jane softly leaned up and saw that Maura had already fallen asleep, "Well...goodnight." she whispered to her friend.

By the time Jane woke up when the daylight hours finally appeared, she found Maura was gone again, her towel was also gone, as was her shower caddy. It took Jane a few moments to fully process this as she looked from the empty space beside her in the bed, to wear Maura's belongings should have been and she realised that the blonde had gone to the showers. The outdoor showers behind their bunk.

Jane bolted upright in bed and quickly hauled herself up and off the side, her feet going straight into her flip flops as her feet touched the floor, she rushed around the bunk to get changed out of her sleepwear and wrap the towel around her body before purposely leaving her shower caddy where it was on the shelves. She headed for the door and outside to join Maura in the shower block. Perhaps, with some literal meaning behind her thinking.

A/N: Yes, not a very long chapter again...thanks for reading though. Please review too. =)